Arizona moves to allow guns in bars, worrying some saloon owners who say it’s a bad mixPHOENIX — There was a time in the Wild West that cowboys had to check their guns before they could pull up a bar stool for a drink — rules that protected against the saloon gunfights that came to define the frontier era in places like Arizona. What will signal consumers are back? Look for facials and massages, and big breakfasts outWASHINGTON — Dayne Morris eats out less, cooks at home more. He hunts for online bargains and shops at discount stores. Russian study: Alcohol to blame for half of Russian deaths in era following Soviet collapseMOSCOW — A new study by an international team of public health researchers documents the devastating impact of alcohol abuse on Russia — showing that drinking caused more than half of deaths among Russians aged 15 to 54 in the turbulent era following the Soviet collapse. Pepsi Bottling Group will distribute Rockstar Energy Drink in MexicoSOMERS, N.Y. — Pepsi bottling company The Pepsi Bottling Group Inc. on Wednesday said it will distribute the Rockstar Energy Drink Inc.’s Rockstar drink in Mexico, expanding its distribution agreement for the beverage. Tastes great but less filling leads to $5K fine for NJ casino that mislabeled beer kegsATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Ever wonder what the difference is between “tastes great” and “less filling?” Arizona Senate votes to allow guns in restaurants serving booze; bill now heads to HousePHOENIX — The Arizona Senate has reversed itself and voted to allow people with concealed-carry permits to take handguns into restaurants that serve alcohol. Value in the vines: A trip to California’s wine country doesn’t have to drain your wallet drySONOMA, Calif. — With a wedding planned for California’s wine country in the middle of the recession, my fiance and I worried not just about what we were spending, but also about our guests. After all, the July event is taking place in a region where $400-a-night hotel rooms and $240 fixed price meals can intimidate even the most budget-savvy traveler. Maine topless coffee shop destroyed by fire still shopless, but now serving coffee in tentVASSALBORO, Maine — A topless coffee shop in Maine is now shopless after a fire, but waitresses are serving coffee again. Wine enthusiasts buy in sips not gulps at Napa Valley wine auction for charitiesST. HELENA, Calif. — The Napa Valley wine auction, an annual assembly of the affluent, scaled down the glitz and raised a little more than half of last year’s total for charity. But the $5.7 million take was just fine with organizers. Recession halves intake at Napa wine auction; organizers streamline approach for the timesST. HELENA, Calif. — The Napa Valley wine auction, an annual barometer of bling, scaled down this year with no celebrities, lowered expectations and a final tally of about $5.7 million, a little more than half the take last year. Maine topless coffee shop destroyed by fire plans to give out doughnuts while taking donationsVASSALBORO, Maine — The owner of a Maine topless coffee shop destroyed by fire says he plans to have clothed waitresses collect donations in the parking lot to raise money to rebuild. The French get their Obama moment when the president goes privatePARIS — People gawked and cameras clicked as the Obamas cut a wide figure through the French capital even while confined to a presidential motorcade. It was more personal for the few kept not so distant — the restaurant owner who “saw God,” the chauffeur reveling in a “magnificent mission.” Grumbling behind bars: Prisons cut back meals to save, critics say hungry inmates turn violentATLANTA — The recession is hitting home for inmates, too: Some cash-strapped states are taking aim at prison menus. Wine collection, private jet up for liquidation in alleged Caribbean Ponzi schemeSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A court-appointed receiver wants to sell off a wine collection, a private jet and two Cadillacs, among other property, to pay off victims of an alleged Ponzi scheme involving a Caribbean offshore bank, according to court documents. Maine coffee shop with topless staff is gutted by fire hours after owner discusses expansionVASSALBORO, Maine — A deliberately set fire destroyed a topless coffee shop early Wednesday, just hours after the owner talked with local officials about making the business more like a strip club, investigators said. Fire guts topless coffee shop in Maine; owner was seeking to make it more like a strip clubVASSALBORO, Maine — A topless coffee shop in Maine has been gutted by fire. Austrian Health Ministry: Traces of cocaine found in Red Bull Cola energy drinkVIENNA — Austria’s health ministry says traces of cocaine have been found in samples of Red Bull Cola energy drinks. Sign of the times: Struggling French pawning off grands crus as economic crisis bitesPARIS — The French have confronted their worst economic outlook in 30 years by locking up their bosses, marching on the capital and barricading oil terminals. Now the cruelest cut of all: They’re pawning off their wine. Sign of the times: Paris lender sells off grands crus in exchange for cashPARIS — The French have confronted their worst economic outlook in 30 years by locking up their bosses, marching on the capital and barricading oil terminals. Now the cruelest cut of all: they’re selling off their wine. ‘Zion curtains’ come down in Utah restaurants; cocktails can now be served over bar counterSALT LAKE CITY — Utah bartenders may serve alcoholic drinks to patrons directly over bar counters instead of having to walk around them under a new law that took effect Tuesday. Coffee selling heats up at McDonald’s, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts with new ads, price cutsNEW YORK — Specialty coffee retailers, now including the nation’s biggest hamburger chain, are hoping new ad campaigns and price cuts that start this week will entice more latte lovers to take a sip. Old book from Texas pharmacy where Dr Pepper was invented goes up for auctionDALLAS — Poking through antiques stores while traveling through the Texas Panhandle, Bill Waters stumbled across a tattered old ledger book filled with formulas. Remoteness hurts winery-oriented businesses in Walla Walla, Wash., during recessionWALLA WALLA, Wash. — Getting a positive national review for his French-influenced restaurant in this remote farming town thrilled Mike Davis. Product Recalls: chocolate chip cookiesThe following recall has been announced: Calif. GOP, state lawmaker criticize poster from ‘tea party’ event as anti-SemiticSACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Republican Party and a Democratic state senator are denouncing as anti-Semitic an online poster that promoted last week’s nationwide “tea parties.” |