We live in a region surrounded by water. Three major rivers come together right in the Tri-Cities. Most of us cross them several times a week.

Former patrons who wrote off attending another concert or theatrical production at the Toyota Center in Kennewick because they couldn't see, couldn't hear or both will want to give the new arrangement a try.

By the Herald editorial staff

Back in the day, most military deferments were because of flat feet, poor eyesight or some other physical impairment.

By the Herald editorial staff

Hospital stays can be scary -- especially for kids.

The gang rape of a teenage girl in Richmond, Calif. -- witnessed by dozens but reported by no one -- gives special urgency to an appeal by a well-known but perhaps tragically underused local agency.

I must say that when I got an invitation to join the community discussion on health care reform, I had to think about it for a couple of days before accepting, knowing that "discussions" of this sort can easily get out of hand. That situation, however, never materialized and we had a meaningful discussion that represented virtually all points of view on health care.

I began the conversation with the conviction that health care is a right and left unchanged in that thought at the end of two evenings of conversation, skillfully moderated by members of the Benton Franklin Dispute Resolution Center. In that sense, one could conclude "the conversation" did little to address solutions or resolve the contentious issues of health care reform which seem mostly focused on the level of government involvement.

The recent Community Conversation on health care was a positive one. The views presented from all sides were widely varied. I felt we all lack focus because we don't know if the target is health insurance reform or health care reform.

In a community that is so predominantly conservative, I was surprised by the absence of conservative voices in the Herald's Community Conversation on health care. In a group of about 30, only one participant was clearly and consistently conservative, and a couple strayed occasionally from diehard, orthodox liberal viewpoints. Of course I was quite comfortable with a 29:1 ratio in my favor.

No one can deny that the recession has hurt businesses and families. Now more than ever, people are taking a critical look at where they spend their money, especially their philanthropic dollars.

By Jim Stoffels, In Focus

During a recent visit to Berlin, I stayed in an apartment overlooking Checkpoint Charlie, the border crossing where Allied and Russian troops grimly faced each other for nearly three decades.

There has been little normalcy in financial matters the last couple of years, which extends to tax strategies.

EVANSTON, Ill. - Paraphrasing a noted Spanish philosopher, Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said he had this to say to the players after the important part of the season ended Saturday:

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Before venturing into Spartan Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Michael Kosnitzky made it a point to make a stop at a sizable Penn State rally on Michigan State's campus.

CLEMSON, S.C. - From Dabo Swinney's Gatorade-soaked sweatshirt to the players singing the alma mater on the tiger paw at midfield, there were signs everywhere Saturday at Death Valley that the celebration of Clemson's ACC Atlantic Division championship was as sweet as it comes.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Ducks are 7-11-3 and they remain in the Western Conference basement. To list all the problem areas would be laborious and also presumptuous, since the act of digesting it would waste most of your Sunday morning quality time.