Online Features
Family Living
RSV - Three letters every new parent should know
(BPT) - Like many parents, Heidi Staats had never heard of respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV, until she almost lost her son to the common, yet potentially severe disease it can cause. Heidi’s son, Brett, was born only a month preterm. Despite his early arrival, Brett weighed a hearty seven pounds and was deemed ready for discharge after a few short days. Because of his healthy appearance, doctors didn’t think of Brett as a typical “preemie” and didn’t inform Heidi of the in...
full story
5U1Z_16463186_web.jpg
How age and ethnicity influence women's financial security
(BPT) - The need for retirement security cuts across all social, gender and ethnic lines. The fact is, everyone is going to age and will need support after leaving the workforce. Studies show that women approach this issue differently than men, and women of different ethnicities have varying viewpoints when it comes to ...
full story
5KNY_16769702_web.jpg
New campaign targets vitamin A deficiency in children worldwide
(BPT) - Vitamin A deficiency is a health concern affecting millions of children worldwide, and it is a major underlying cause of child mortality and blindness. Because of this, Flintstones Vitamins is embarking on a new mission: 10 Million Stronger. Aligning with the brand’s storied heritage of providing children with...
full story
G1FJ_16617905_web.jpg
Four steps to combat hearing loss: the silent epidemic
(BPT) - An estimated 275 million people across the globe can’t hear clearly all the sounds they love. These people suffer from hearing loss, which the World Health Organization lists as the No. 1 sensory disability in the world. Some people never had their hearing, as they were born deaf, but the majority had something...
full story
2V4P_16358932_web.jpg
One in 10 women will be called back after a screening mammogram: time for panic or patience?
(BPT) - It’s the telephone call no woman wants to receive – you need to come back for additional tests after you’ve had your annual mammogram. It happens more often than you would think - one in 10 women will be asked to come back because the doctor spotted a potential area of concern. Before you panic, you should know ...
full story
GO1F_15136452_web.jpg
Top 6 tips to save money on winter travel
(BPT) - Whether you need a break from the cold, some time off after the busy season at work, or simply need to get away after a hectic holiday season, a winter vacation can be a welcome respite. Winter can also be the most cost-effective time of year to book a vacation, before the summer travel season heats up and famil...
full story
ESRB_17166655_web.jpg
The busy person's guide for entertaining on short notice
(BPT) - Ideally, you’ll have a few days notice to get everything in order when you’re hosting guests. But everyone knows that’s not always the case. Drop-ins happen and you can make a choice between panicking or embracing the spontaneity of a last-minute get-together with your friends and family. The key to being an unf...
full story
6ZY5_17162678_web.jpg
Tips and advice to tackle parenthood's messes and stresses
(BPT) - Life with kids is fast-paced, challenging and can be stressful. So, it’s always good to stay up on helpful parenting tips and advice – whether you’re a first-time mom, an experienced dad, or a seasoned grandmother. Actor and comedian David Koechner - who appears in Anchorman and “The Office” – is the father of ...
full story
BZKK_17194882_web.jpg
Snow-fighters keep roads clear and save lives
(BPT) - Snow and ice affect more than 70 percent of the U.S. population, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Each winter the average driver in these areas will see more than five inches of snow on the roads. And when the snow is falling there are few things more comforting than the sight of snow plows and s...
full story
B46V_17039335_web.jpg
How to give your child a head start in math, science and beyond
(BPT) - Throughout the busy school year, many high school students across the country are already taking steps to explore college and other post-graduation opportunities. In fact, in today’s challenging economic climate and competitive job market, it has become increasingly important to begin planning for future career ...
full story
5SLB_17190491_web.jpg
'Til death do us part, but how do you handle 'in sickness and in health'?
(BPT) - Apparently “in sickness and in health” can mean different things to men and women. As the population ages and the need for extended health care increases, a recent nationwide omnibus survey of 1,005 American adults shows that men and women approach the issue of long-term care planning and insurance from differen...
full story
6B12_16918229_web.jpg
How to get a discount on expensive health care prescriptions
(BPT) - After Carol Vanderploeg’s family experienced a double-job loss last spring; she worried about affording the $1,300 average monthly cost of her husband’s epilepsy prescriptions. The couple only had enough pills to last a few months when they moved to Augusta, Ga., in search of new jobs. Even after finding anothe...
full story
national news

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 16:23:34 UTC 2013

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
(Reuters) - The Peace Corps said on Tuesday it will start accepting applications next month from same-sex couples who want to volunteer together as part of the overseas service program. But not all of the 76 countries that host the program established by former U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1961 will be open as assignments for those couples, an agency spokeswoman said. "The Peace Corps is only going to consider placement for same-sex couples in countries where homosexual acts are not criminalized," spokeswoman Shira Kramer said. ...
Tue May 21 16:28:14 UTC 2013
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