Buick Regal GS offers finesse, force

How many couples do we all know who gave up the fun car when the first kid came along?

Oakland offers repertoire of experiences

OAKLAND (AP) - It's not easy being Oakland, existing in the shadow of glamorous San Francisco. But this is no ugly stepsister of a city.

Mercedes-Benz scores with luxury SUV model

Mercedes-Benz has finally merged the concepts of SUV and luxury sedan with its redesigned M-Class.

Russian River: Huck Finn would enjoy

The lazy days of summer are straight-ahead and that means it's prime season for one of Sonoma County's favorite family adventures – a Huck Finn type of getaway that is neither expensive nor difficult to get to. For decades people of all ages have made their annual pilgrimage to the Russian River to get a river-level view of some of the best scenery and wildlife California has to offer.

2013 Kia ‘Optima-izes’ style & luxury

The 2013 Optima SX Limited combines style and luxury. This upscale and fully-loaded sedan features a chrome-highlighted deck lid spoiler to go along with the unique designed 18-inch chrome alloy rims, displaying hints of the red-painted brake calipers. That's just for starters. Under the hood is Kia's 2.0-liter turbo gas direct injected four-cylinder engine that packs 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet torque. In terms of fuel efficiency, this four-door sedan ...

Hudson River Park: Manhattan waterside destination

NEW YORK (AP) - In the last decade, the decrepit piers and industrial zones along five miles of the Hudson River on Manhattan's West Side have been utterly transformed. Hudson River Park is now a destination that gets 17 million visits annually, with a bike path, green spaces, playgrounds and recreation ranging from mini-golf and skateboarding to kayaking and even stand-up paddleboarding.

Artist brings 3-D pavement art to Grand Canyon

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - Uninspired by modern art, Kurt Wenner set out to learn how European masters made architecture soar and figures float in ceiling frescoes.

American Chevrolet upgrades dealership

MODESTO – Remodeling was recently completed at American Chevrolet. According to Jim Halvorson, vice president and general manager of the Modesto dealership at 4742 McHenry Avenue, renovations started in early February as part of the General Motors program that called for a company-wide uniformed look. The fresh and appealing look includes silver metal siding and a large Chevrolet signage and logo against a vibrant blue façade. Interior work consisted of new furnishings ...

Super rich eye Thames water highway to Olympics

LONDON (AP) - In two weeks, if the worst transportation predictions come true, the streets of London will be clogged with hopeless Olympic gridlock, the venerable but tottering subway will be a nightmare of delays and overcrowding and commuter trains will slow to a crawl.

CNG Civic: Green has rewards, challenges

Honda has sold a natural-gas powered Civic since 1998, but it will make a bigger push this year to put more of these alt-fuel compacts in more garages.

5-Oh-5: A race-grade Corvette

The tires are so sticky, so soft for grip that pebbles and road grit stick to the near slick-like face of the tires, then fling off in ticking melodies as the 505-hp Corvette Z06 moves out.

2013 Altima: more punch, better mileage

TRACY – Coming soon to Tracy Nissan: The 2013 Altima. The best-selling sedan is currently on display in the showroom of the dealership located at 3195 Naglee Road. Arrival of the 2013 model is expected to hit the lot in the next few weeks. The new Altima, for starters, packs more of a punch thanks to a 2.5-liter inline-four cylinder engine, generating 182 horsepower. That's seven more in horsepower compared to ...

Exhibit tells history from NM pueblos' perspective

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico's pueblos have a history with the federal government unlike any other American Indian tribe.

Honda Civic natural gas: Green rewards & challenges

Honda has sold a natural-gas powered Civic since 1998, but it will make a bigger push this year to put more of these alt-fuel compacts in more garages.

Chevy offers money-back guarantee on new vehicles

DETROIT (AP) - Chevrolet is trying to pull more customers into its dealerships this summer by offering a money-back guarantee on new cars and trucks.

Brothers part of Steves traditition

OAKDALE – Nick and Alan Berg are part of the dedicated staff at Steves Chevrolet Buick. Their connections go beyond the job. Nick and Alan are also closed-knit brothers. "We get along so well that if we didn't work together we probably would see each other," Nick Berg said Wednesday at the Oakdale dealership located at 1285 East F St. Alan Berg is the fleet manager there. He has 23 years experience on that very ...

Cruises get good buzz from new ships, overhauls

NEW YORK (AP) - The 2013 cruise season began with a nightmare: A Carnival ship adrift with no power. But in the last month or so, several cruise companies - including Carnival - have announced major overhauls to old ships and exciting innovations on new ships, from engineering upgrades to theme park-style rides.

DODGE CHARGER SRT8 SUPER BEE

Remember dog-dish hubcaps? Those "no-frills" nut covers were common on muscle cars of the '60s, including the Dodge Super Bee.

Hellmann’s whips up campaign for centennial

NEW YORK (AP) - A lot changes in 100 years, but the key to Hellmann's success may be that not much has changed for the mayonnaise.

Cruise ship fitness class designed by The Rockettes

ABOARD NORWEGIAN BREAKAWAY - I'd been at sea on Norwegian Cruise Line's new ship, Norwegian Breakaway, for more than 14 hours but I didn't feel the ship moving until I tried to do a dance move with the Rockettes.

RULES OF THE ROAD DMV answer drivers’ questions

Q: What are "buy-here-pay-here" dealers?

Chevy Spark: Mini-car is a city hustler

The Chevy Spark is rough but ready.

Does God really hear our prayers?

By Phil Waterford & Margarita Soto

Giving with no expectations

"I am not a hero. I'm a local business owner who is struggling like most business owners in one of the worst economies our nation has ever experience." I shared with the audience that God has put something heavy on my heart and that there is something special that I must do. I turned to two of our wounded warriors, Christopher Braley and Jose Jaurequi and presented them both envelopes. I informed them that ...

Sometimes wherever we are is where we’re supposed to be...

By PHIL WATERFORD

A Miracle was performed

Bob Gutierrez comes from a very musical family. He has an amazing voice and has always had a passion to sing. He was scheduled to appear on television's most popular "The Mike Douglas Show" in the early 70s to showcase his talents. Five days before he was to return home from Vietnam he suffered a bizarre injury when a rocket exploded in his face and severed his neck from ear-to-ear. His fellow soldiers had ...

Is this coincidental or just divine intervention?

Specialists from all over the world have no explanation of how his vocal cords have grown. Gutierrez, a Texas resident, drives all over the country sharing his amazing story. When he was invited back to Manteca for the Not Forgotten ceremony he was experiencing car trouble. He attended a church service asking the congregation for prayer that his car would get him home safely.

Crossover is almost a convertible

Rankin Ranch: Family favorite for generation

By CARY ORDWAY

Toyota’s hybrid vehicle sales pass 5 million

TOKYO (AP) - Toyota's global sales of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles have surpassed 5 million in a milestone for a technology that was initially greeted with skepticism.