Sept. 14 — The floodwaters receded, but now flood victims are fighting a darker, fuzzier enemy.

Tracks of greenish-black mold are streaking across walls and spreading into the fabric of clothes and furniture of homes damaged by Tropical Storm Irene. That is the visible part.

The real trouble hides behind walls, under carpets, and even in the air where spores float around looking for new places to propagate.

By Andrew DeMillo Associated Press

BASTROP, Texas — Fire crews made progress Saturday fighting massive wildfires sweeping across central Texas, but concerns over still-smoldering hotspots have kept thousands of residents from returning home.

By Purva Patel, Houston Chronicle

Sept. 07 — Coastal home owners are no strangers to insurance companies raising rates because of losses from disasters like Hurricane Ike.

But insurers also have become more likely to shave rates for policyholders who take preventive measures to lower their odds of big losses in the future, experts who follow the industry say.

The days of inefficient light bulbs are slowly coming to an end and recent tests from Consumer Reports showcase more than 30 different compact fluorescents and light-emitting diodes that can brighten indoor and outdoor spaces.