Online Features
Hot Topics
70J7_17140323_web.jpg
Boomerang kids: When your empty nest fills up again
(BPT) - With a slowly growing economy and a still sluggish job market, there has been a continued increase in children moving back home after having lived independently on their own. These so called “boomerang kids” are popping up more frequently and when this situation is managed improperly, it can cause serious tensio...
full story
IUR1_16917542_web.jpg
What to expect from the wireless industry in 2013
(BPT) - Faster data speeds. Rapid-fire communication. Bigger screens. The wireless industry is creeping ever closer to instantaneous interaction all the time according to mobile experts. Noah Kravitz, a mobile expert and founder of the new consumer buyer's guide FutureSmarter.com, believes that the wireless industry is...
full story
G9AG_17155339_web.jpg
New year, new school? Online learning can ease transitions
(BPT) - A new trend in American public education finds many K-12 students transferring schools mid-year - even when the family doesn’t move. Many families are looking to give their child a fresh start for a variety of reasons, both academic and social. A 2012 Parent Satisfaction Survey conducted by virtual education pr...
full story
1BQY_17103995_web.jpg
Three-year degree programs shorten the path to rewarding careers
(BPT) - Three-year bachelor’s degree programs are gaining popularity as many students look for ways to enter the workforce faster. Though these programs are common in Europe and Canada, condensed programs are now attracting greater interest in the United States as students and education providers realize the unique bene...
full story
AB3X_16869683_web.jpg
Six must-follow tips to avoid identity theft during the holidays
(BPT) - While you’re celebrating the season shopping for gifts, decorating your home and hosting festive parties, are thieves having their own celebration with your credit card and identity without you knowing it? The spirit of the holiday season can quickly be dampened if you become a victim of identity theft, but a fe...
full story
UV5_17076102_web.jpg
Don't lose sleep over holiday gift buying
(BPT) - Is holiday gift buying causing you stress? Searching for a gift that is practical, yet personal? You are not alone in the struggle to find the “perfect gift.” The National Retail Federation estimates that holiday sales will reach $586 billion this season, with the average consumer spending around $550 on gifts....
full story
88Y8_16277852_web.jpg
Women urged to speak up about silent symptom of menopause
(BPT) - Mood swings, hot flashes and night sweats are common complaints from women going through menopause. But there is another common menopause symptom that is affecting millions of women, yet only 25 percent of sufferers seek medical help. Vaginal discomfort, which may be caused by a condition called vaginal atrophy...
full story
8C1G_16885758_web.jpg
The holiday gift that keeps on giving: opt to adopt a pet, save a life
(BPT) - It’s not surprising that pets are often a popular holiday gift. The darling image of the bow-bedecked puppy or the kitten-stuffed stocking is a holiday classic, but gift givers should make sure that an animal’s charm doesn’t overshadow other important factors to consider when making a pet purchase, including whe...
full story
DO9Q_16121228_web.jpg
What you need to know about tax deductions
(BPT) - You probably know tax deductions are an important part of your income tax return and that you want as many as possible. But do you understand how deductions actually save you money or how to determine which ones you can claim on your tax return? “Simply put, deductions lower the amount of your taxable income,” ...
full story
CTHE_17047434_web.jpg
Customization trend is changing how we shop, cook and eat
(BPT) - It seems consumers want to customize just about everything these days. Why? Because they can. Advances in online capabilities and a growing desire to make life’s experiences uniquely our own are changing the way we shop, cook and eat. While customization has been around for some time, the accessibility of onlin...
full story
A year in review: top searches of 2012
(BPT) - This year marked a time of change, innovation, trials and hope. But what was the most memorable moment of 2012? A great place to look is online searches, as they mark the people, places and events that mattered most in a given year. According to Bing, everything from Hurricane Sandy, Kim Kardashian, the Olympics and Honey Boo Boo are among the top Internet searches that mark this year’s most important people, places and moments in time. With the new year quickly approaching, it’s t...
full story
C0EW_17046887_web.jpg
Spruce up your home before the holiday
(BPT) - Looking for simple and quick ways to spruce up your home for the holiday season? Get your home looking its best before the guests arrive with some easy home improvement projects and seasonal inspirations. By making a few simple updates and adding new design pieces to your home, you can deter some of those winter...
full story
national news
Tornado insured losses estimated at $2 billion-$5 billion
(Reuters) - Tornadoes that struck the United States from May 18 to May 20 caused between $2 billion to $5 billion of insured losses, disaster modeling company Eqecat said late Thursday. At the high end of the range, the tornado outbreak may rank as the second-worst ever in terms of insured losses, behind the late-April 2011 twisters that devastated Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and other communities. Eqecat said most of the losses were attributed to the tornado that devastated Moore, Oklahoma, on Monday. ...
Fri May 24 07:55:01 UTC 2013
Truck crash may have caused Washington state bridge collapse

I-5 Bridge Collapses On Skagit River In WashingtonBy Jonathan Kaminsky OLYMPIA, Washington (Reuters) - A truck crashed into a four-lane freeway bridge in Washington state Thursday evening and may have caused it to collapse, sending vehicles and drivers tumbling into a frigid river, officials said. A U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigation into what led part of the Interstate 5 bridge to fall into the Skagit River 55 miles north of Seattle was expected to continue on Friday. Three people were rescued from the river and no one died, officials said. Two of those rescued were hospitalized with hypothermia. ...


Fri May 24 08:11:25 UTC 2013
Magnitude 5.7 quake strikes Northern California
(Reuters) - A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Northern California on Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter of the quake was 6 miles northwest of the town of Greenville, and near the smaller community of Canyondam, the USGS said. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Allen Shephard, a hunting and fishing guide at Quail Lodge at Lake Almanor in Canyondam, said the quake knocked him "right off the couch and onto the floor." The floor of the lodge was littered with broken dishware, and cabinets were in disarray, said Shephard, 62. ...
Fri May 24 01:53:09 UTC 2013
Cop arrested on suspicion of firebombing police captain’s house
A police officer from Edison, N. J., was arrested Thursday on five counts of attempted murder and one count of aggravated arson in connection with the firebombing of another officer's house, NJ.com reports. Michael A. Dotro was taken into custody after a massive search, and he has been suspended from the force with pay. Bail [...]
Fri May 24 09:09:20 UTC 2013