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Fraud alert: Grandparent scam continues to trick people out of money
(BPT) - Imagine being woken by a phone call in the middle of the night. It’s your crying grandchild, who is asking for money because of an accident. Of course you want to help your loved one, so you do whatever you can in this emergency situation. You open your wallet without hesitation. Unfortunately you’ve just becom...
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New baby checklist: Tips to start securing your child's future
(BPT) - Your new bundle of joy has just arrived. In addition to midnight feedings and changing diapers, new parents need to take important steps to set up their children for success in the years to come. According to FindLaw.com , the nation’s leading website for free legal information, the first and most important st...
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Affected by diabetes? Important facts and developments you should know
(BPT) - A disease so prevalent that it is labeled an epidemic in America, diabetes affects nearly 26 million children and adults, according to the American Diabetes Association (the Association). As this number grows, so does the urgency of finding a cure. Health experts around the world research type 1, type 2 and ges...
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Gearing college grads up for the workforce
(BPT) - The job market doesn’t appear to be as tight as it was a year ago. The unemployment rate dropped to 7.5 percent in April 2013, down from the 8.1 percent we faced in April 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Even so, finding a job remains a tough challenge for new college graduates who are eager ...
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Women athletes have races geared just for them
(BPT) - Women are busier than ever these days - the latest report from RunningUSA says women account for nearly eight million U.S. road-race finishers, with the number continuing to climb. For many women, running provides an opportunity to take a break from the challenges of work, family and other stress to be their bes...
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Steps to an updated outdoor entertaining space
(BPT) - With milder weather finally here, it’s time to start planning your outdoor projects. Is your outdoor patio or deck looking a bit dated and dingy? Does it reflect your home’s personality? Whether you’re planning to host outdoor festivities with friends and family or just grilling up gourmet creations, a few chang...
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From your closet to the catwalk: DIY ideas to make your wardrobe runway-worthy
(BPT) - It’s the cycle of fashion – trends are always recycling, returning and changing. Save time and money by transforming your existing wardrobe into stylish, on-trend pieces with a few simple tricks. Do-over your denim Shorts are a fashionable warm weather staple – and a great way to show off your tan. Make a pers...
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Four simple tips to help you land a great job
(BPT) - Whether you’re just graduating and entering the job market for the first time or you’re changing careers, job searching is never easy. And if you’re among the more than 1.5 million college grads looking for work this year, you will need to work smarter to stand above the crowd and land that dream job or internsh...
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Food for thought: Cutting back on salt may cause you to eat more
(BPT) - Our bodies naturally crave salt, a necessary nutrient, and research shows that we gravitate to the amount we need for our bodies to function properly. Salt deficiency has been linked to a host of health concerns, including insulin resistance, increased risk of heart attacks and reduced cognition. But what if eat...
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Decked out for summer: Three easy tips for making your dream deck a reality
(BPT) - Summer means deck time for many Americans. A deck is an ideal spot for relaxation and entertaining. Imagine a cook-out with friends, snoozing in the sun on a hot day, snuggling with your sweetheart watching shooting stars, or having a backyard camp-out with the kids. Are you dreaming of deck time this summer, b...
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Tricks to take care of clogged drains
(BPT) - “The bathroom sink drain is clogged!” Those words strike fear and loathing into a homeowner’s heart. Nothing can ruin a pleasant day faster than the thought of shutting down a crucial room in your home until the plumber arrives. But it’s a fact of home-owning life: At some point, the drains in your home will be...
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Tart cherries may help naturally manage pain [Infographic]
According to a growing body of research, tart cherries may help athletes reduce muscle damage and exercise-related pain to recover faster from a tough workout. It’s the antioxidant compounds in tart cherries – called anthocyanins – that are linked to reducing pain and inflammation, and at levels comparable to some well-known pain medications. Available year-round in dried, frozen and juice forms, tart cherries are a convenient and flavorful way to manage pain – from topping oatmeal or a sala...
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national news

A selection of lunch meals offered to detainees are displayed in a food preparation area at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo BayBy Jane Sutton GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein urged the Pentagon on Wednesday to stop force-feeding hunger-striking prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and called the practice "out of step" with medical ethics and international norms. Feinstein, a California Democrat who chairs the Senate intelligence committee, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, saying the Guantanamo force-feeding policy was also out of synch with policies in the civilian federal prisons. ...


2013-06-19 18:07:32 -0500

Robert Mueller gestures at the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee at an oversight hearing about the FBI on Capitol Hill in WashingtonBy David Ingram WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States uses drones for surveillance in some limited law enforcement situations, FBI Director Robert Mueller said on Wednesday, sparking additional debate about President Barack Obama's use of domestic surveillance. The acknowledgement came in response to questions from U.S. senators who said they wanted to know more about the federal government's increasing use of unmanned aircraft. "Does the FBI use drones for surveillance on U.S. soil?" Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa asked during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. ...


2013-06-19 17:19:45 -0500

One of two men arrested for a string of fatal shootings appears in court in PhoenixPHOENIX (Reuters) - An Arizona death row inmate who wrote to the state Supreme Court asking for a speedy execution died on Wednesday after being found unresponsive in his cell, authorities said. Dale Hausner, dubbed the "Serial Shooter," was sentenced to die by lethal injection four years ago for gunning down four men and two women during a 14-month shooting spree. He and an accomplice were arrested in August 2006. ...


2013-06-19 18:51:26 -0500

Jeremy Beach wipes away a tear as he sees his home off Ravine Drive West for the first time since the Black forest fire started last week, Tuesday, June 18, 2013, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Residents were allowed back into the area for a short period of time to view the properties that sustained the most damage from the fire. The Black Forest Fire, the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history, has destroyed 502 homes and charred more than 22 square miles. It was 85 percent contained Tuesday. (AP Photo/The Colorado Springs Gazette, Michael Ciaglo) MAGS OUTEVERGREEN, Colo. (AP) — A new wildfire in the foothills southwest of Denver forced the evacuation of dozens of homes Wednesday as hot and windy conditions in much of Colorado and elsewhere in the West made it easy for fires to start and spread.


2013-06-19 19:47:58 -0500