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Green gardening tools and techniques that really work
(BPT) - Americans have embraced recycling and are enthusiastic about cleaner energy sources. Yet when it comes to caring for their outdoor environment, many people still use less earth-friendly tools and techniques. So what’s standing in the way of Americans going green in their gardens and landscapes? One answer may b...
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Stylish stairs: Five can-do ideas that add personality
(BPT) - Stairs are no longer just a way to get from one floor to another. Realizing that staircases are quite often major focal points in their homes, homeowners are showing love to this once underappreciated space with a wide variety of creative and easy updates. Add personality and perk-up the daily climb in your hom...
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London travel: How to get an insider's view of one of the world's great cities
Some cities are more than just a place to live – they shape the world and have for centuries. London is one of those exceptional cities. Since its founding in the early years of the first century A.D., it has risen to become one of the most powerful places on earth. For the visitor, any London travel experience is cer...
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Get the best deal on travel with these travel hacks [Infographic]
As the travel industry continues to rebound in 2013, the ever-changing economic landscape will create a new set of challenges and opportunities for both consumers and businesses alike. To help travelers best navigate the road ahead, the experts at Hotels.com(R) have identified the top tips to guide guests searching for the perfect place and price by using new technology and the well-respected Hotel Price Index(TM) (HPI(R)) . The HPI is a regular survey of hotel prices in major destination...
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How to freshen up your spring cuisine
(BPT) - For food fanatics, spring is the perfect time of year to add fresh produce back into your recipes and meals. Using seasonal ingredients can really help capture and enhance the flavors of spring and bring your cuisine to life. Whether you’re using first yields from your garden or visiting the farmers market as s...
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Money and marriage: Tips to achieve financial happiness
(BPT) - Fights over finances are a commonly known cause of stress and divorce, and a new survey indicates that while the average couple fights over money five times a year, they discuss finances reasonably fewer than two times a month. Every couple knows there are some topics you just don’t bring up – his mother’s dre...
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What parents need to know about concussions
(BPT) - Parents of young athletes know that along with the many benefits of participating in sports, there comes a certain amount of injury risk. And while most would agree that the benefits of being active and involved in athletics outweigh those risks, it’s important to make sure your child gets proper treatment if an...
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Trouble falling back to sleep? How to beat middle of the night wakefulness
Have you been hitting the snooze button on your insomnia? Or wishing you could? For many adults suffering sleep problems, the challenge is not necessarily falling asleep, but staying asleep – and getting back to sleep if they wake in the middle of the night. A prescription sleep aid, taken before bedtime, may help you ...
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Making money health more manageable
(BPT) - When you stray from your fitness goals with a fast-food meal or by skipping a few days at the gym, it’s important to not use those moments as an excuse to stop trying. Financial fitness is the same. When you miss a month of paying into your savings, or allow a credit card balance to roll over to the next month, ...
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Making heads or tails of health care plan options
Health insurance is confusing – regardless of whether your employer provides your insurance, you qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, or if you are footing the bill yourself for private insurance. If you’re in the market to buy insurance on your own, you may worry you might be turned down due to a pre-existing medical con...
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Go green and live comfortably all year long
(BPT) - Milder temperatures and longer days mean winter is fast becoming a distant memory. However, environmentally conscious homeowners know that the arrival of warmer weather also means the likelihood of increased air-conditioner use and higher energy bills. With more green solutions available on the market, homeowne...
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Don't miss a beat this college basketball season
(BPT) - The college basketball tournament is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans across the country, so much so that workplace productivity takes a nosedive. According to a survey by MSN and Impulse Research, 30 percent of people spend three hours or more per day following the tournament during work – that’s almost half of the average work day! Whether you’re watching from your desk or from your couch, the following tips can help you stay in the know this season...
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national news

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sits next to U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski during the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in KirunaBy Yereth Rosen ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska publicly backed gay marriage on Wednesday, becoming the third Republican senator to do so as she spoke out ahead of potentially landmark rulings from the Supreme Court on the issue. Murkowski, 56, wrote in an essay posted on her Senate website that her decision was swayed, in part, by meeting a lesbian couple from Anchorage, one of whom was in the National Guard, who had adopted four children. "This first-class Alaskan family still lives a second-class existence," Murkowski said in her essay. ...


2013-06-19 15:59:11 -0500
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three male midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy have been charged with raping a female midshipman and making false statements, the school said on Wednesday, the latest in a string of sexual assault allegations in the U.S. military. The charges mean the midshipmen will face an Article 32 proceeding, similar to a preliminary hearing in civilian law. The hearing will kick off a process similar to a grand jury to determine if a general court-martial is warranted. ...
2013-06-19 16:49:58 -0500
By Karen Brooks (Reuters) - A 13-year-old boy has been charged with murder in New Orleans after causing the death of his 5-year-old half-sister using wrestling moves he had seen on television, police said. Viloude Louis died Sunday afternoon of blunt force trauma to her body, including broken ribs and a damaged liver, police said, after the boy wrestled with her using World Wrestling Entertainment-style moves while babysitting her at their home. No parents were at the home at the time, police said. The boy, who is not being named because he is a juvenile, was charged with second-degree murder. ...
2013-06-19 16:16:17 -0500
America’s problem with portion size has sparked a strange new photo trend, one in which parents set their newborn babies alongside massive burritos on restaurant tabletops. According to the U.K.’s Daily Mail, a Mexican restaurant in Seattle, Wash., is saying that any diners who take photos of their babies next to one of the restaurant's [...]
2013-06-19 15:51:08 -0500