Trenton portion of Pro Cycling Tour history?

A Thursday press release issued by Threshold Sports (the tour's organizers) announcing a change in format for the USPRO Cycling Championships in Philadelphia failed to mention New Jersey's state capital, which is the usual second stop in the three-race series.

The middle date (June 8) site simply was listed as "TBD" (to be determined).

Trenton's 91-mile race has been a staple of the series since the early '90s.

The overhaul of the series came about after Wachovia Bank recently announced that it would no longer sponsor the races. So the founders of the 21-year-old Philly race, which features the famous Manayunk Wall, are pushing ahead with a new Philadelphia International Championship (U.S. vs. the world) on Sunday, June 11, 2006.

But no word yet on whether Trenton will continue as the second leg, which will now be called the PCT Invitational.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.