T horny elaeagnus has long been a popular shrub with highway landscapers, who planted the hardy, drought-resistant bushes in medians across the South to shield nighttime drivers from the glare of headlights. Now, however, it is falling out of favor as evidence emerges that the shrub (pronounced el-e-AG-nus) is luring thousands of birds to their demise.

At least you can be pretty sure these checks won't bounce.

The present recession, compounded by the war on terrorism, could fundamentally transform the economy.

There's been a lot of hand wringing in my hometown. Our second largest private employer is leaving.

The report's findings and recommendations were predictable. Indeed, you could have written the report yourself. If you ask a bunch of outsiders to look for inefficiencies in Zenith City's government, they will inevitably discover them--lots of them. After all, city government is full of inefficiencies. As director of the city's Department of Administration, you've known that for years.