Online Features
All Categories
CG75_18018861_web.jpg
Father's Day gift ideas to make Dad feel like a king
(BPT) - You need to come up with the perfect Father’s Day gift this year. But combing through the vast array of items on his wish list can be a challenge. Here are some great ideas to make your selection easier - and make any dad feel like the king he truly is. For on-the-go dad Whether he’s hiking in the mountains, h...
full story
1KLX_17787711_web.jpg
Fun tips for fantastic family vacations
(BPT) - Family vacations are always a great time for family bonding and exploring new places. With some careful planning, the trip can be packed full of fun from the minute you lock the front door to the minute you arrive back home, exhausted and ready to share stories of your adventures with friends and family. Travel...
full story
HS1H_17846562_web.jpg
Impromptu party planning: How to create great gatherings in 30 minutes or less
(BPT) - Parents have never been more crunched for time. Balancing work demands with parental duties is complex – 56 percent of working moms and 50 percent of working dads say they find it very or somewhat difficult to balance these responsibilities, according to a 2013 report about modern parenthood from the Pew Resea...
full story
Quenching your yard thirst [Infographic]
As water bills rise and the hours spent on lawn care seem to multiply, outdoor watering can easily become a homeowner’s most daunting chore. Often times, the need to keep your lawn looking healthy and green feels more like wasted time, energy and money – especially as temperatures increase, which is commonly seen as an indicator to water more. However, watering doesn’t have to "drain" precious resources. Water-efficient lawns and landscapes, for example, allow homeowners to efficiently uti...
full story
HOL5_16981533_web.jpg
Five super nutrients that help you age well
(BPT) - Parents often use the adage “You are what you eat!” to encourage children to make healthy food choices, but the saying is equally true for mature adults. Providing your body with a variety of nutrients lets you feel your best, and may even prevent disease and help you live longer. Allison Tannis is a nutritioni...
full story
278F_17850314_web.jpg
Five questions to ask before hiring a real estate agent
(BPT) - Want to sell your property quickly? Looking for your dream house? Are you hoping to get the best deal possible during the complex process of buying or selling a home? With so much money – and often, emotion – at stake, going it alone is generally not the best way to reach your goals. The secret for getting exact...
full story
5OAB_1790117_web.jpg
Three must-have features to add to your backyard this summer
(BPT) - Is your backyard ready for bliss this summer? You probably look forward to spending as much time outdoors as possible during warmer months. But do you really have everything you need to ensure you can enjoy your outdoor living space from dawn to dusk – and beyond? Here are three must-have backyard features that...
full story
CV5X_18026980_web.jpg
Four simple tips to better hearing
(BPT) - Staying socially active and engaged with friends and family is important as people age, and hearing well is crucial to making that happen. New research shows that hearing loss is associated not only with a range of physical problems, but also mental health problems such as social isolation and even dementia. ...
full story
6MOV_17499814_web.jpg
Secrets of what's driving American travelers this season
(BPT) - Now that spring has sprung, drivers will be hitting the road in earnest to enjoy the warmer weather. In fact, according to Hankook Tire’s latest Quarterly Gauge Index, 56 percent of Americans are planning to take a road trip that involves driving 50 miles or more. On average, they estimate they will drive 1,02...
full story
Planting, growing and harvesting times [Infographic]
Home vegetable and fruit gardening participation has increased exponentially in the past decade. In 2011, U.S. households spent a total $29.1 billion on their lawns and gardens. A study conducted in 2008 projected that a family who gardens would get on average a 25-1 return on their investment. With benefits like better food, saving money and spending time outdoors, it is no wonder more Americans are getting involved in growing their own produce. This infographic , brought to you by Avant ...
full story
EYL2_17771121_web.jpg
Smarter snacking for spring and summer
(BPT) - The air turns mild and warm, people gladly shed winter coats, and the days grow longer – everything about spring is lighter and brighter. Since the warmer months bring about many occasions to enjoy the best of backyard cookouts and boardwalk fare, the season’s more indulgently delicious offerings may cause us to...
full story
C49H_16809767_web.jpg
Programming your child's health - 5 nutrition tips for baby's future health
(BPT) - What if you could program the future of your child’s health as simply as you program your alarm clock? Push a button, choose a selected wake-up time, click and you’re done. It’s not quite that simple, but studies show that what a woman eats just before and during pregnancy will impact the health of her child for...
full story
national news
Tornado insured losses estimated at $2 billion-$5 billion

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
Truck crash may have caused Washington state bridge collapse

I-5 Bridge Collapses On Skagit River In WashingtonBy Jonathan Kaminsky OLYMPIA, Washington (Reuters) - A truck crashed into a four-lane freeway bridge in Washington state Thursday evening and may have caused it to collapse, sending vehicles and drivers tumbling into a frigid river, officials said. A U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigation into what led part of the Interstate 5 bridge to fall into the Skagit River 55 miles north of Seattle was expected to continue on Friday. Three people were rescued from the river and no one died, officials said. Two of those rescued were hospitalized with hypothermia. ...


Fri May 24 08:11:25 UTC 2013
Magnitude 5.7 quake strikes Northern California
(Reuters) - A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Northern California on Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter of the quake was 6 miles northwest of the town of Greenville, and near the smaller community of Canyondam, the USGS said. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Allen Shephard, a hunting and fishing guide at Quail Lodge at Lake Almanor in Canyondam, said the quake knocked him "right off the couch and onto the floor." The floor of the lodge was littered with broken dishware, and cabinets were in disarray, said Shephard, 62. ...
Fri May 24 01:53:09 UTC 2013
Cop arrested on suspicion of firebombing police captain’s house
A police officer from Edison, N. J., was arrested Thursday on five counts of attempted murder and one count of aggravated arson in connection with the firebombing of another officer's house, NJ.com reports. Michael A. Dotro was taken into custody after a massive search, and he has been suspended from the force with pay. Bail [...]
Fri May 24 09:09:20 UTC 2013