Black Friday kicked off holiday shopping with a bang across the Bay area as retailers bent over backward to help shoppers navigate deals (even while they stood in line) and small stores emulated the big boys by opening even earlier. ...more

November 28, 2009

Lisa Westerman got her first taste of Black Friday 2009 shortly after midnight. That's when she got to Toys R Us at The Grove at Wesley Chapel shopping center. ...more

November 28, 2009

L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara $9.99, Blackest Black; available at Target, Walgreens and other large retail stores ...more

November 28, 2009

The Justice Department has concluded that the Obama administration lawfully can pay the community group ACORN for services provided under contracts signed before Congress banned the government from providing money to the group. ...more

November 28, 2009

The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission conceded Tuesday the agency "hasn't been acting as quickly as it should" on crib safety problems. ...more

November 24, 2009

Santa's fine-tuned his list of who is naughty or nice, who hasn't called and who forgot to write. Turkeys will thaw for Thanksgiving Day and it won't be long before it's Black Friday. ...more

November 22, 2009

TEAMS TO WATCH GULF: If you were a fly on the wall in the Gulf wrestling room, here's a Cliffs Notes version of what you likely heard: Here's your goal and what is expected of you - Sunshine Athletic Conference, district and region titles. There's a target on your chest; and if you fall short, it's your fault. Why so cut-and-dried? The Buccaneers are stacked. The squad returns five state qualifiers - three of whom placed, including state runner-up at 152 pounds Ladarious Jackson. Travis DeWalt also is known to be greedy with the tournament trophies, and he expects the best. ...more

November 22, 2009

a program that has exposed taxpayers to financial risk for too long. ...more

November 22, 2009

If you're never quite sure whether the ads for popular beauty products can be believed, relax. Our 4you Beauty Board is made up of veteran testers ready to try the latest when it comes to all things beauty. We'll share what worked and what bombed with the hope of making life a little easier for you. ...more

November 21, 2009

Children's toys carrying the Barbie and Disney logos have turned up with high levels of lead in them, according to a California-based advocacy group - a finding that may give consumers pause as they shop for the holiday season. ...more

November 19, 2009