Online Features
Pets
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Add years to your pet's life with expert tips
(BPT) - Few things in life are as special as the unconditional love and loyalty a pet provides. With 78.2 million owned dogs and 86.4 million owned cats in the United States, according to The Humane Society, it’s obvious Americans enjoy having pets. What might not be so apparent is how best to care for them. When it com...
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Tips to protect your pet - and your home - from fleas and ticks
(BPT) - Fleas and ticks are on every pet owner’s radar when warm weather flourishes. This is the season when both pets and people are itching to get outside, but without proper protection, four-legged friends can end up itching even more. However, if fleas and ticks take hold, and an infestation starts, this seasonal co...
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Housetraining your puppy: Tips for keeping your dog behaved and your home clean
(BPT) - Few things are as exciting as bringing home a new puppy. Whether Chihuahua or Great Dane, a pup’s playful antics delight people of all ages. Having a dog can bring many years of companionship and precious memories, but before you ask, “How much is that doggie in the window?” consider a few expert tips for positi...
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Birdfeeder basics: Bring on backyard birds with the right feeders
(BPT) - When you dine, do you prefer clean and attractive tableware? Does ambiance enhance your enjoyment of your food? Birds feel the same way about their dining habits – the type and cleanliness of your bird feeders directly affects the number and species of birds that will visit your backyard this season. To attract...
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Help your pet shed unhealthy weight
(BPT) - Are you killing your pet with kindness? We’re not talking about the compassion that motivates us to vaccinate our pets, or keep them warm in cold weather. Kindness that can be harmful to pets comes in the form of an overabundance of food and treats. The all-too-common result is a pet that becomes overweight or e...
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Scratching the right itch: Does your pet have seasonal allergies?
(BPT) - Humans may sneeze and sniffle when trees and flowers start to bud in the spring, but many pet owners wouldn’t know if their pet was suffering from treatable allergy symptoms, which are likely to occur at the same time of year. According to the Pet Allergy Worldwide Survey (PAWS) sponsored by Novartis Animal Hea...
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Busted: The top 4 most common pet myths
(BPT) - It’s no secret that Americans love their pets. When it comes to U.S. pet ownership, 39 percent of households own at least one dog, and 33 percent own at least one cat, according to the Humane Society of the United States . Furry family members bring joy and excitement to a household, and providing the best care...
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Boarding your four-legged family member
(BPT) - Whether traveling for business or fun, it’s not always practical to take along a four-legged family member. Arranging care of a beloved pet for an extended absence can be daunting. Knowing what to look for in a kennel, and what to look out for, can help you choose wisely. Ask around “Family and friends can be ...
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How to find the right vet for your pet
(BPT) - Pet owners have many responsibilities, and keeping your pet healthy with veterinary care is a significant one. To help make sure your pet receives high quality medical care, several veterinarians offer advice on how to find the right vet for your pet. Ask for recommendations “A good way to begin your search for...
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Dogged by pricey pet care? Cost-cutting tips for pet owners
(BPT) - These days, everyone is searching for ways to save money and stretch budgets. Consumer experts advise people to sniff out deeper discounts, saving opportunities and additional ways to cut costs. For pet owners, it can feel challenging to cut costs without compromising on care. Being vigilant is key, according t...
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national news
U.S. says surveillance thwarted NYSE attack, Somali funding

A street sign for Wall Street hangs in front of the New York Stock ExchangeBy John Shiffman and Mark Hosenball (Reuters) WASHINGTON - U.S. intelligence officials on Tuesday identified two of the more than 50 classified cases in which they say National Security Agency eavesdropping helped thwart terrorist plots including a planned attack on the New York Stock Exchange. The other, a San Diego money laundering investigation tied to financing for a Somali militia, is among the 27 cases cited in a Reuters report Tuesday [ID:nL2N0ET0PZ] in which the U.S. government filed public notice that it used a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant. ...


2013-06-18 15:37:00 -0500
Illinois pension fix headed to legislative conference committee

Blue sky is seen over a blanket of fog enveloping the skyline of ChicagoCHICAGO (Reuters) - Seeking to break a weeks-long impasse in efforts to fix the state's woefully underfunded pension system, Illinois will turn to a rarely used legislative conference committee in hopes of reaching a compromise solution, Governor Pat Quinn's office said on Tuesday. State lawmakers return to the state capitol on Wednesday for a special session on pensions called by Quinn. A series of meetings over the last two weeks has brought the Democratic Senate president and House speaker no closer to tackling the state's nearly $100 billion unfunded pension liability. ...


2013-06-18 15:28:01 -0500
FBI releases new video of suspect in 2008 Times Square bombing
By Noreen O'Donnell NEW YORK (Reuters) - Federal authorities announced a $65,000 reward on Tuesday in the unsolved 2008 case of the Times Square bomber who tried to destroy a military recruiting station before escaping on a bicycle. Authorities released new videos of the suspect and a picture of the bomb. They said the explosion - which went off in one of the city's busiest intersections - might be related to two earlier bombings in New York, one at the British Consulate in 2005 and another at the Mexican Consulate in 2007. ...
2013-06-18 15:49:08 -0500
The money mattress: A Spanish invention stores cash in beds
For Spanish businessman Paco Santos, the safest place to keep money is still under a mattress—or rather, inside it. Santos, according to NPR, who was laid off from Spain’s largest mattress manufacturer three years ago, is the inventor of the Caja de ahorros Micolchon, or “My Mattress Safe." It's a plush, padded mattress with a [...]
2013-06-18 16:12:55 -0500