Online Features
Lawn & Garden
Spring cleaning for your backyard pond
Spring has officially sprung. That means it is once again time to start your spring cleaning. While you may not be motivated to clean your house, now is the perfect time to start preparing your backyard pond or water garden for the warmer months ahead.
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All-weather barbecuing: A guide to getting great smokehouse flavor
It's barbecue season, and no one's ever going to complain about a delicious cut of meat cooked over a hot flame, no matter how you slice it. But do you want to merely satisfy your guests' hunger, or have them talking for the rest of the season about that perfectly juicy and tender smoked pork they had at your house - and...
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The buzz on battling flying, stinging summer bugs
Summer picnic season is upon us, and that means it is time to grab the sunglasses, cooler and sunscreen, and head outdoors. But people are not the only ones who want to enjoy the warm weather. Flying, stinging insects like bees and wasps are abuzz, and make their presence known when collecting pollen and nectar as the we...
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Practical 2-for-1 solutions for gardeners
What gardener doesn't find tasks like weeding and watering tiresome? To tackle recurring chores like these and more with greater ease and efficiency, consider some practical tools that offer two-in-one solutions.
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How to make your salad the life of the summer party
As summer approaches, you're more inclined to opt for fresher foods and simpler meals. But lighter fare doesn't mean a boring bed of lettuce. There are plenty of delicious ways to get creative with your leafy greens, making your salad the star of the cookout.
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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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Summer games in the garden
The sun is shining, birds are singing, butterflies are darting from colorful flower to colorful flower ... and children across the country are complaining about being bored. Eliminate this by taking advantage of the weather. Get the family outside and interact with nature.
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Summer entertaining: Spend less time preparing, more time enjoying
There's no question why summer is the best-loved season of the year: it's all about fun, relaxation and enjoying the beautiful outdoors. So, it follows that homeowners don't want to waste a minute of those glorious months of sunshine. When planning traditional summer get-togethers, save time by taking steps to ensure tha...
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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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Choosing the right mower for you
As the weather continues to warm, it's time to get back outside and start working in the yard again. If your mower is on its last leg, it may be time to invest in a new one, and now is the perfect time to research which unit is right for you.
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Easy lawn and garden tips for summer
Having a beautiful lawn and garden doesn't mean the work has to be difficult or complicated. With a little planning and the right tools, you'll spend less time working and more time hosting cookouts, lounging in the sun and watching the kids play in the backyard. Here are some top lawn and garden tips that keep work easy.
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Attract hummingbirds to bring excitement to your garden
Attract hummingbirds to bring excitement to your garden Tiny, quick, and agile hummingbirds are loved by birdwatchers young and old. Their large appetites, their territorial nature at feeders, and their helicopter-like hovering fascinate many, as well as their ability to travel thousands of miles with such little wings....
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national news

A home destroyed nearly five months ago during the landfall of Superstorm Sandy is pictured in Mantoloking, New JerseyBy Victoria Cavaliere SEASIDE HEIGHTS, New Jersey (Reuters) - The New Jersey shore ushered in the unofficial start of summer on Friday, with businesses making last-minute preparations and officials declaring the resort towns ready for visitors seven months after Superstorm Sandy. Governor Chris Christie oversaw a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open a freshly re-constructed boardwalk in Seaside Heights and declared it "a great day for New Jersey." "We're here with the whole country welcoming the Jersey shore back," he said. ...


Fri May 24 12:25:59 UTC 2013

Obama signs a bill designating the Congressional Gold Medal commemorating lives of four young girls killed in 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church bombing of Birmingham, Alabama, in Washington(Reuters) - President Barack Obama signed a bill into law on Friday granting the United States' highest civilian honor to four black girls killed in a civil rights-era church bombing that shocked the nation in 1963. Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to 14-year-olds Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, and 11-year-old Denise McNair, who were killed in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. ...


Fri May 24 14:52:41 UTC 2013

Jason Owen digs through debris as he helps his mother to salvage items from her uncle's home after it was almost destroyed by a tornado in Moore, Oklahoma(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
From William Ray Fullmer: "My nephew, Sgt. Derek Tillman Roberts, spilled his blood on the sands of Iraq to extend the right to live free to the people of the Middle East. On June 14, 2007, Derek was killed by a roadside bomb in Kirkuk, placed by those too cowardly to face him on the [...]
Fri May 24 13:55:25 UTC 2013