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Home Improvement
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Improve your curb appeal with a few outdoor painting projects
Summer is finally here, and with warmer temperatures and longer days, it's the perfect time to brighten up your home with a few outdoor painting projects. You can add the right amount of color and increase your curb appeal in just one weekend, leaving you the rest of the season to enjoy the finished product.
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Upgrade your outdoor space and increase value of your home
Whether you are looking for a way to increase the marketability of your home, or simply looking for a way to make your outdoor space more enjoyable, a deck remodel adds living space to your home and value to your house. And if you start your project now, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy it during the warmer months.
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Easy exterior projects that add lasting beauty to your home
In the current economy, homeowners want to improve their home's exterior while saving time, labor and money. You can enhance your lifestyle by choosing options that extend product performance and add beauty and enjoyment to outdoor living.
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Considering air duct cleaning? What homeowners must know
Imagine 40 pounds of dust spread throughout your home, pushed into the air for you and your family to breathe up to seven times a day, via your heating and cooling system. Pretty gross thought, right? Well, unfortunately there is a high possibility that this is the exact situation in your house right now. Here's what you...
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Look up to spectacular ceilings in a basement remodel
Finishing a basement is an ideal way to expand your living space without expanding your house. Since your basement already has the basics of a room in place - walls, floor, ceiling - it doesn't take a lot of time, effort or money to turn that generally unused space into something functional and enjoyable for your family.
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Save money and help the environment by checking on your water quality
Nearly 90 percent of American homes have hard water - water containing high levels of calcium and magnesium, according to The U.S. Geological Survey. If your shampoo and soap don't lather up like they should, if you see scaling on your pipes and showerheads or if you have nasty brown rings in your sinks and toilets, your...
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Three things to consider before purchasing your first home
Buying your first home will likely be one of the most exciting and scary times of your life. Beyond the basic considerations - location, number of bathrooms, ranch style vs. multilevel - there are a number of important financial factors to determine before deciding which house is right for you.
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Think of lighting as art for your home
Lighting is possibly the most powerful tool you have when it comes to interior design. It does not make sense to invest in beautiful furniture, rugs, paintings and accessories if they are in the dark. The perfect light fixture not only illuminates a space - it is also a beautiful, decorative design element.
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How to use the three Ps of decorating for an instant home and garden makeover
Looking for a trendy home and garden makeover that gives instant gratification and doesn't require a lot of time and resources? The latest trends in fashion and home decorating are drawing inspiration from the bright colors and laid-back attitudes of the tropics.
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Gift ideas for the handyman
For some families, the local handyman never gets a call because the right man for the job is already at home ready to tackle do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. Show him that his hard work around the house has not gone unnoticed. Whether it's for Father's Day, or any other occasion throughout the year, here are a few gift ide...
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How to make sure your indoor air is healthy
As soon as the temperatures warm up, you open up the doors and windows and let the "fresh" air in. Many people go on a cleaning spree, vacuuming, dusting and getting rid of all the dust bunnies hiding under furniture. With a fresh, clean house, you assume you'll be breathing much easier. Think again. Here's what every ho...
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Save time and energy with tips for smart home improvement
The weather is warm and the sun is shining, making it the perfect time to start your home improvement projects. Whether it's a little tidying up, or a full-on home repair, some tips will help you complete your projects without a lot of headaches.
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national news
More poor people now live in U.S. suburbs than cities - study

Newly constructed homes in an unfinished subdivision is surrounded by weeds in CoolidgeWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of people living in poverty in U.S. suburbs surpassed the number of poor in cities over the past decade, driven by strong growth in overall suburban populations, according to an analysis released on Monday. The change is posing a challenge to some traditional U.S. approaches to fighting poverty, which were aimed primarily at poverty in urban settings, the Brookings Institution study found. The number of poor people living in suburbs rose 64 percent between 2000 and 2011, reaching 16.4 million, it showed. ...


Mon May 20 11:55:15 UTC 2013
Powerful tornadoes strike in four central U.S. states

A tornado touches down southwest of Wichita, Kan. near the town of Viola on Sunday, May 19, 2013. The tornado was part of a line of storms that past through the central plains on Sunday. (AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Travis Heying)By Chris Francescani (Reuters) - A massive storm front swept north through the central United States on Sunday, hammering the region with fist-sized hail, blinding rain and tornadoes, including a half-mile wide twister that struck near Oklahoma City. News reports said at least one person had died. By 9:30 p.m. Central Standard Time, more than two dozen tornadoes had been spotted in parts of Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and local news reports. ...


Mon May 20 10:41:51 UTC 2013
Connecticut governor tells commuters to work from home this week while crash repaired
By Richard Weizel and Edith Honan MILFORD, Conn./NEW YORK (Reuters) - Thousands of Connecticut commuters faced delays and crowded trains on Monday as Metro-North workers scrambled to repair damage on the United States' busiest rail line, caused by the collision of two trains. Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy said commuters should expect "serious disruptions" throughout the week and encouraged riders to stay home if possible. ...
Mon May 20 11:42:52 UTC 2013
Tornadoes tear through central U.S. [VIDEO]
Less than a week after a string of tornadoes killed six people in north Texas, a massive storm system that tore through the center of the country on Sunday spawned at least a dozen tornadoes, killed at least two people, injured dozens and caused extensive damage from Georgia to Minnesota. A tornado at least a [...]
Mon May 20 08:28:31 UTC 2013