The best places to retire in 2012

Golf courses and ocean views are no longer the only things that draw people to retirement communities. Niche retirement communities now cater to groups of senior citizens who share interests and cultures, ranging from Harley-Davidson enthusiasts to those who desire to go back to college.

Florida's $9 billion orange crop, the largest in the world after Brazil's, may not survive an incurable disease that threatens to wipe out citrus groves throughout the United States.

Wednesday marked the official start to spring — a chilly, snowy and, in some parts of Canada, downright miserable start to the season. And it looks like there’s more to come. “As much as people want me to say we’ll have warm weather by the middle of next week, that doesn’t seem to be what the models are indicating,” Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson said Wednesday.

Gregor Macdonald submits: The February issue of Gregor.us Monthly, Energy Supply and the Individual States, has now been published.

More than half of the nation’s foreclosures last year took place in 35 counties

Tomato growers in Florida and other states accuse Mexican farmers of illegal dumping. The Commerce Department may side with them, though some U.S. groups disagree.MEXICO CITY — Mexico and the United States are gearing for a costly showdown over fresh tomatoes — a $3.5-billion business for the two countries — in a move that could boost the fortunes of some American tomato farmers but raise prices for U.S.

Going into debt to fund pensions seems like a ridiculous thing to do, especially for a company had a chance to shed more of those pension obligations in bankruptcy. Please consider the Wall Street Journal story GM Wants to Up Credit Line

Conservatives interested in the question of how to get non-white people to vote for conservative politicians would do well to take some lessons from the state of Florida, where the historical orientation of the Cuban-American community to fanatical anti-communism has created a bunch of politicians who are accustomed to winning Hispanic votes. As you’ll see, avoiding legislative initiatives that are likely to lead to massive racial discrimination is part of the strategy. Here’s Senator George LeMieux trying to avoid antagonizing the right while clearly condemning the law: