DEAR BOB: I am paying one-half of my son's mortgage payments, but my name is not on the mortgage papers. However, my name is on the title to the home. Can I deduct one-half of the mortgage interest and property taxes on my 2007 income tax returns? --Rhoda J.

DEAR RHODA: Yes. It is irrelevant that your name is not on the mortgage obligation. What matters is your name is on the title to the residence, making you legally obligated to be sure the mortgage and property taxes are paid.  more...

Like many small towns, the City of Hanford wanted to retain its prosperous downtown commercial area without discouraging "big box" stores such as Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Sears and Target from opening in planned commercial (PC) zones.

Hanford's downtown has 12 furniture stores. To discourage these stores from moving out to the PC area near the big stores, the city council enacted an ordinance allowing PC zone furniture sales only in stores with at least 50,000 square feet and furniture sales areas not exceeding 2,500 square feet.  more...