Hard water is a nuisance. It can clog up your home's plumbing, reduce the effectiveness of your soap and detergents, and make your laundry feel rough. That slimy feeling on your skin after bathing or ...

Denise Caine once lived in a big four-bedroom house in downtown Antioch and worked in a bank. But on a recent Saturday, the 52-year-old mother of six was standing in a line for some free socks, a hot ...