Online Features
Seasonal
Get glowing with simple tips for summer skincare
(BPT) - Sunshine and fresh air make us fall in love with summer every year. It’s a time to explore the outdoors and enjoy fashions like tank tops, flip-flops and sun dresses. How can you get beautiful summer-ready skin while keeping it protected from the sun’s hot rays? Get healthy, radiant skin that you’ll be proud to show off with these skin care tips and tricks for warm weather months: Toss your old sunscreen Long days playing in the sun are a part of what makes summer such a special s...
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The food and the fun that define summer
(BPT) - When the weather warms, there are plenty of fun outdoor activities to enjoy, which means there’s also a bounty of summer fare to eat. From the traditional to the intriguing, you never know what interesting food choices you may find while out and about. What better way to kick off summer than with a few fun activ...
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Cycling into spring [Infographic]
Check your tire pressure and strap on your helmet! It’s time to get bikes out of storage and head out for a ride in the warm, fresh air – shaking off winter for good. Master Lock recently surveyed consumers to find out their safety and security habits – can you believe almost half of bike riders have either had their bike stolen or know someone who has? Check out the company’s survey results, safety information and fun facts below. Pedal on!
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The skinny on lighter fare for summer
(BPT) - Summer is a time to switch out our wardrobes, exchange coats for swimsuits and boots for flip-flops. But if the winter months took a toll on your waistline you may not want to shed those extra layers. Lighten up for warmer summer days by making simple swaps and conscious diet decisions.  It’s possible to enjoy ...
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What happens to a business when the power goes out?
(BPT) - Losing power leads to instant anxiety: when will it return? Aside from the absence of everyday luxuries like turning on the TV or connecting to the Internet, you may worry about the food in the fridge spoiling, and wonder when you’ll be able to take a hot shower. While these types of events present real problems...
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Four fun, easy ways to spend more time on the water this summer
(BPT) - Whether it’s the wind in your hair, the whine of a reel or the thrill of watersports, every summer the water invites us to jump in and have some fun. Many might be surprised to learn that boating is an accessible and active hobby close to home, making it easy to plan a day on the water. More than 60 percent of ...
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Prevention, detection tips for the most common type of cancer
(BPT) - One in five Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, has steadily increased over the past three decades – to the rate of one American dying an hour from it, according to the...
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Cleaning the right way to remove allergens
(BPT) - When you’re done with your regular cleaning routine, you may assume you’ve eliminated any allergy triggers that were lurking in your home. But the truth is, if you don’t clean the right way, you might be making the problem worse. More than 40 million Americans suffer from allergy problems, and 25 million have a...
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Spring into action for a lush summer lawn
(BPT) - There’s little as inviting on a hot summer day as a lush, green lawn. To make sure your yard is ready for summertime fun, invest a little time and attention into it this spring. “As seasonal temperatures rise across the country, we’re entering prime lawn growing season and the perfect time to so some basic main...
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Tips and tools to prepare for power outages
(BPT) - Storms have been packing big punches in recent years. While the debate about the cause might rage on, so do the natural elements that wreak havoc on private homes and public infrastructure. As has been seen in recent years, the aging of the American power grid has resulted in extended power outages – and that in...
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Add economical living space with an outdoor room
(BPT) - Adding living space to your home can be an expensive prospect. However, creating an outdoor room is a budget-friendly option that gives you more square footage, as well as additional opportunities to enjoy the season. As an extension of the home, outdoor rooms with decks or pergolas can be personalized to truly ...
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No backyard? No problem - the new trend of yardless gardening
(BPT) - Backyard or back patio, it’s time to get planting, no matter where you live. The number of American households engaging in do-it-yourself lawn and garden activities rose by more than 3 million in recent years, the National Gardening Association’s National Garden 2012 Survey found. That can include you, even if y...
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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

Charred trees burnt during the Doce Fire stand along a mountain side in Yavapai County, ArizonaBy Tim Gaynor and Alex Dobuzinskis PHOENIX/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An Arizona wildfire whipped up by strong winds threatened hundreds of homes on Wednesday, even as firefighters were gaining an edge on a California blaze raging near a pristine wilderness, authorities said. More than 500 firefighters were battling the Doce Fire, which has burned through 7,000 acres of chaparral, pine and juniper since Tuesday morning near Prescott, about 100 miles north of Phoenix, the Prescott National Forest said in a statement. ...


2013-06-19 17:31:53 -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 18:42:02 -0500