Oregon kids, lean and green

Oregon has the nation’s lowest rate of obese children, according to a new government study. And it was the only state where childhood obesity fell significantly from 2003 to 2007.

Experts are dying to know Oregon’s secret, but The Buzz suspects it might be as simple as this: Parents in the Beaver State simply employ four magic words: “Go outside and play.”

Nickel and dimed: Airlines racked up $7.8 billion in extra fees last year, the federal government says. One airline disclosed that 21 percent of its operating income came from added fees.

The way things are going, the airlines soon will start assessing customers a Captain Didn’t Crash the Plane convenience charge.

Make ‘em an offer: Car sales cooled in April as shoppers awaited a fresh round of incentives from manufacturers.

Among the planned deal sweeteners are Chrysler’s “Betcha Didn’t Know We Still Make Cars” campaign and Toyota’s “We Pledge to Bow Deeply from the Waist If This Car Develops Unexplained Problems” program.

— Mark Carlson, Herald Staff

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