Online Features
Seasonal
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Frequent spring allergy questions answered
(BPT) - Spring is in the air – and that means pollen, mold spores and other airborne allergens are going to bring on sneezing and wheezing for an estimated 40 to 50 million Americans. The spring season can be especially bothersome with so much conflicting information on how to find relief. To help you better understand...
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Red carpet tips to make the most of awards season
(BPT) - The Awards race is heating up. The Golden Globes and People’s Choice Awards started the season off with a bang in January, bringing to light some expected (and not so expected) winners in the film and television industry. From the Oscars to the Grammys, it doesn’t matter if you’re a music buff, movie mogul or somewhere in between, there’s an awards show for everyone to watch from home. With so many red carpets rolling out, make the most of the season, and have some fun along the way...
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Keep your office healthy to prevent a flu outbreak
(BPT) - A flu outbreak in your workforce can cause problems in several different areas of your business. The best flu prevention is encouraging and educating workers on how to be proactive at fending off the flu virus. By making sure your employees do the best they can to stay in good health and flu free, you can keep y...
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Tips for avoiding costly errors on your tax return
(BPT) - Making mistakes is one of Americans’ biggest fears at tax time. A single error can delay the processing of your return or even cause it to be rejected by the IRS. If that happens and you’re entitled to a refund, get ready to wait. Today’s sophisticated tax preparation products make doing your own taxes perfect ...
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Score big with a game-day snacking strategy
(BPT) - Upwards of 100 million viewers will tune in to watch a professional sporting event this winter and spring season. As the fans wait for those historic moments of triumph and dramatic play-by-play recaps, they also partake in a celebration of food and feasting at halftime, and throughout the game. Wings, onion ri...
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Stop your relationship rut: 3 simple steps to a fresh start this Valentine's Day
(BPT) - Feeling like you’re in a relationship rut? You’re not alone. Whether you’re single or married, getting stuck in a routine may be normal, but that’s no excuse to keep on down the same path. Take control of your love life and break out of your relationship habits. Relationship expert and author of “Cheat On Your Husband With Your Husband,” Andrea Syrtash, shares three simple steps to help you identify your patterns, make small changes and ultimately decide if this is the right relation...
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Simple tips to declutter your digital life
(BPT) - Owning multiple gadgets is no longer the domain of tech geeks – it’s the new normal for just about everyone. Between multiple computers, phones, tablets, readers and music players, and the files that fill them up, people have a lot on their digital hands. Because that can be both costly and cumbersome, people ar...
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Small energy improvements that save big money in the new year
(BPT) - The beginning of the year is a great time to make positive changes in your home. While many will wait until March to embrace “spring cleaning” season and make home improvements, a few simple changes can be made now to help you conserve energy and start saving money right away. Here are some steps that can help l...
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Getting happy in 2013 [Infographic]
Americans are optimistic about keeping their 2013 New Year’s resolutions, with 76 percent of respondents noting their dedication will lend them a more positive outlook for the entire year, according to a recent national survey released by Hampton Hotels. To help make their goals a reality beyond January, Hampton partnered with Dr. Christine Carter, sociologist and happiness expert at the University of California, Berkeley, to provide five tips for a happier, healthier 2013: 1. Pick a resolu...
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Three beautiful new date-night looks
(BPT) - Getting ready for a date night can be fun, but finding the perfect look can be overwhelming. Going out today can mean so many things – it’s not just dinner and movie anymore, there is a style for everything. Whether it’s a cozy evening at home with your sweetie, a big date night or a night out on the town with y...
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Add some New Orleans flavor to your game day recipes
(BPT) - When it comes to planning for the big football game in New Orleans this year, instead of turning to grease-heavy and heartburn-inducing foods, why not consider some tasty and healthier options that will have everyone giving you a high score for food options? New Orleans-based executive chef Tory McPhail, of the...
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Setting the stage for great game-day watching
(BPT) - When you’re playing a sport, the playing field is a key component of the experience, whether it’s a muddy lot in the neighborhood park or top-quality turf in a pro-style stadium. When you’re watching your favorite sport, the viewing environment is just as much a part of the fun as the field is for game play. As...
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national news
Whole neighborhoods razed by Oklahoma tornado that killed 24

People look at the destruction after a huge tornado struck Moore, OklahomaBy Carey Gillam and Ian Simpson MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - Rescuers went building to building in search of victims and thousands of survivors were homeless on Tuesday, a day after a massive tornado tore through a suburb of Oklahoma City, wiping out whole blocks of homes and killing at least 24 people. The death toll was lower than initially feared, but nine children were among the dead, including seven who died at Plaza Towers Elementary School, which took a direct hit in the deadliest tornado to hit the United States in two years. ...


Tue May 21 16:59:02 UTC 2013
Oklahoma tornado brings back fear in recovering Joplin, Missouri
By Kevin Murphy KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - Less than three hours after a deadly twister on Monday flattened a swath of Moore, Oklahoma, tornado warning sirens sounded in Joplin, Missouri, 215 miles to the northeast. While no twister touched down, the Oklahoma disaster and the sirens stirred painful memories in Joplin, which on Wednesday observes the second anniversary of one of the most catastrophic tornadoes in American history. "It brought back a lot of fear, especially since there was a chance that a tornado could hit here," Sarah Jo Radcliffe, a Joplin resident, said on Tuesday. ...
Tue May 21 17:13:55 UTC 2013
Moore shows that as cities grow, tornado damage grows with them

Rescue workers look through the rubble at Plaza Towers Elementary school in MooreBy Ben Berkowitz and Julie Steenhuysen (Reuters) - Moore, Oklahoma, has had the bad luck of being hit by two highly destructive tornadoes, both in the month of May, 14 years apart. But the Moore that got struck on Monday is not the same as in 1999. Like a lot of towns across America and in the so-called "Tornado Alley," rapid growth has made it a bigger target, vulnerable to more damage. The tornado, with winds that may have topped 200 miles per hour, killed at least 24 people and injured hundreds more, with many of the casualties children from two schools that were destroyed. ...


Tue May 21 15:34:25 UTC 2013
Man watched tornado destroy his home: ‘I just felt totally helpless’
OKLAHOMA CITY—Anthony Connel was sitting in traffic off of South 149th Street, about a mile from his home, when he saw it happen: A dark black cloud, so ominous and wide that it didn’t even look like a tornado, dropped to the ground—and headed straight for his house. Connel, a sales manager at Anheuser-Busch, had [...]
Tue May 21 15:58:37 UTC 2013