Jonas Brothers buy house in Dallas-Fort Worth area

The Jonas Brothers reportedly bought a house in a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb - and some young neighbors sound thrilled.

• AP Entertainment Minute

Rescue of mortgage giants could hit $25 billion

A federal rescue of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could cost taxpayers $25 billion, congressional budget experts said, as the House scheduled a Wednesday vote on legislation that would tap the mortgage giants' profits to cover any losses from saving 400,000 homeowners from foreclosure.

• Rescue of mortgage giants could hit $25 billion
• Fannie and Freddie: Getting to know powerful pair
• Paulson says financial stability is top priority

Paulson says financial stability is top priority

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson spent another day stumping for the U.S. banking system, declaring Tuesday that his top priority was ensuring "stability and confidence in our markets and financial institutions."

Miami Blue butterfly fast disappearing

A suite of 25 or 30 related butterflies in South Florida, including blues and hairstreaks, is in danger of disappearing, says one of the state's leading butterfly experts.

Hammocks and unique gifts beckon at Nicamaka

You can say anything you want about Raymond Baur, but you could never accuse him of leading an uneventful life. Nicamaka, a small shop in the lobby of the Grand Hotel in Miami filled with hundreds of brightly colored hammocks, is his idea and creation. It came about after he started traveling to Nicaragua, where he discovered ``the most comfortable hammocks in the world.''

SPRUCING UP

Little touches make guest bath classy

If you really want to impress your house guests, look no further than your bathroom. With some thoughtful decorating and accessorizing, you can transform your bathroom from a bland facilities center to a private oasis, a warm, soothing refuge where anything your guests desire will be at their fingertips.

FURNITURE

A low profile makes platform beds popular

John and Valarie Feaster like contemporary decor and used a lot of it in their previous home in Fresno, Calif. But when they recently bought and restored a 100-year-old Colonial Revival-style house, ''we kind of switched'' because (of the house's age), says John Feaster, a retired dentist.

WATCH IT GROW

Plumbago's an easy-going sort as long as it's not wet

Name: Plumbago, Cape leadwort Botanical name: Plumbago auriculata (Plumbago capensis) Description: We went to Boulders Beach south of Cape Town, South Africa, to see the penguins. Walking past the boulders we found two famous landscape plants of the region, Cape honeysuckle and Cape leadwort or plumbago, taking in the winter sun and salt air. The climate on the Western Cape is said to be Mediterranean, meaning cool and wet winters and dry, warm summers. Bringing the plumbago to a subtropical climate...

PLANT CLINIC

Use care when moving orchids attached to tree

Q: I would like to move my orchids growing on the bark of my tree to another spot. How should I do this? A: Lightly spray the roots with water several times for a minute or so and wait two to three minutes between sprays. This will help make the roots easier to pry off the bark. Gently pry off as many of the roots as possible. The orchid needs at least two to three inches of intact roots firmly attached to the plant.

WASHINGTON REPORT

Federal mortgage relief bill almost done

After six months of haggling and political gamesmanship, a massive housing relief bill is heading for final approval. The centerpiece is a $300 billion ''HOPE'' program designed to provide refinancing lifelines to as many as 400,000 homeowners in deep trouble on their current loans.