After years of keeping patients on waiting lists, PeaceHealth officials say their expanded dialysis center has finally given them the breathing room they needed.The dialysis center in PeaceHealth's Broadway Campus was expanded in May because of increased local need. At that time there were 10 people on a waiting list who had to travel to Vancouver or Portland for their three-times-a-week treatment until a local slot opened up.

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Understanding Economic Data: New-Home Construction

Every day, new information comes along to help investors make financial decisions. And as previous articles in this ongoing "Understanding Economic Data" series have discussed, releases of economic data on topics such as the U.S. current account and the Producer Price Index not only affect the financial markets those investors are involved in but also provide keys to understanding the overall economy. Today, we'll take a look at economic data as it relates to the housing industry. We'll help you understand how the numbers are calculated and what they mean to the economy.

With the boom in the real estate market over the past several years, the health of the economy has become increasingly dependent on business activity related to housing. Conversely, homebuilders such as Pulte (NYSE: PHM), Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL), and Centex (NYSE: CTX) rely on a healthy housing market to sell their products.

Contractor General launches formal probe into Trafigura contract

Contractor General Greg Christie has launched a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the awarding of a contract to the international trading firm Trafigura Baheer.

Plans for the investigation were outlined by the Office of Contractor General in a letter to Industry, Technology and Energy Minister, Phillip Paulwell.The letter, dated Monday, outlines several documents and information which the Contractor General wants the Ministry to provide within two weeks.Among the information demanded by the Contractor General are details on the public body which awarded the contract and all the persons who signed the contract.Mr. Christie also wants to know who negotiated the contract, when was it signed and when it was renewed.He is also questioning if the contract received prior endorsement from the National Contracts Committee and or the Cabinet and if Trafigura has a contract with any other Government entity or public official.The Contractor General has promised to submit his findings to Parliament.

Lawmakers pass bill, hit trail

JACKSON - The Legislature on Thursday passed a modular-housing tax cut aimed at Katrina recovery, with lawmakers clocking their personal best time getting in and out of the Capitol for a special session - two hours.

"The people of Mississippi, especially those on the Coast, thank you," House Speaker Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi, told House members after their vote.

Tilley 7-Day Home Power Test Planned

At least six qualified energy professionals will go to a remotely located modular home and garage that are powered exclusively by the Tilley Home Power system, to test the system for at least seven days, to verify that the fuelless technology works as claimed.

Contractor Registration Well Under Way

The recently introduced Registered Agricultural Contractor scheme has been well received with over 20 Rural Contractors signing up for the process in the first three weeks.

RACF Executive Director Roger Parton said that the uptake was steady and he expected it to continue at that pace foe sometime. “This is the start of the busy season and contractors’ thoughts are elsewhere at the moment” he said. “However as the farming and lifestyle communities come to understand the benefits of engaging contractors who have been through a registration process, the rate should pick up”.

Contractors seeking to become registered simply apply to the Federation, by phone (0508 787 253) email (Roger[at]rural-contractors.org.nz or download the form from www.rural-contractors.org.nz.