Online Features
Home Improvement
8G1R_17664457_web.jpg
Popular remodeling trends for spring home improvement
(BPT) - It’s time to think spring which means fresh home updates. Spring home improvement projects will help you update your home, add comfort and save more of your hard-earned paycheck. “You can save time, money and stress by planning ahead,” says Kathy Krafka Harkema, Pella Windows and Doors expert. “Seek out expert ...
full story
DUJE_17061986_web.jpg
Five home improvements for the love of sunshine and fresh air
(BPT) - Improved value, curb appeal and livability are the benchmarks for any smart home improvement. But some upgrades you do for the sheer joy of it. The best home improvements deliver all those smart qualities and speak to your heart at the same time. With home improvement season in full swing here are five home imp...
full story
GA7M_17653986_web.jpg
Tips for knowing when it's time to replace products on your home
(BPT) - Owning a home means giving constant attention to the building products that go into protecting the structure of your house. While we’d like to believe items like our roof, siding and windows will last forever, that’s not the case. Mark Clement, co-host of the national home improvement radio show MyFixitUpLife ...
full story
BKOD_17442236_web.jpg
How to breathe easier in your own home this spring
(BPT) - With spring on the horizon, airborne allergens and pollutants can cause much grief to homeowners who suffer from breathing problems such as asthma and seasonal allergies. With the potential for increased irritation, allergy sufferers typically seek long-term, consistent relief any way they can. Regardless of th...
full story
7O56_17198263_web.jpg
What to look for when buying a zero-turn mower
(BPT) - Ever wonder how those lawn-care guys get so much done in a day? They use zero-turn radius mowers that can significantly trim the time and effort involved in cutting grass. If you have a large yard to cut, a zero-turn mower can make your task quicker and easier. These mowers offer the ability to cut tight contou...
full story
3VV8_16482221_web.jpg
The most common mistakes homeowners make when choosing a home improvement contractor and how to avoid them
(BPT) - Consumer complaints and lawsuits regarding home improvements are on the rise according to Ripoff Reports; a homeowner that does not do their homework before embarking on a project could find themselves with poor workmanship, inferior products, health and safety issues or even legal problems. So what’s a homeown...
full story
1D6M_17547455_web.jpg
2013's hottest home trends and easy upgrades
(BPT) - The top home decor trends for 2013 are already emerging, and homeowners seeking a fresh look will find a lot to love. Not only can these looks be accomplished in minimal time – they’re budget friendly and easy enough for DIYers to finish in a weekend or less. Giving your home an updated feel doesn’t require a f...
full story
4IRD_17615924_web.jpg
Moving or improving? Tips for a flawless painting project
(BPT) - Did you know spring is the best time to sell your home? And now that the housing market is bouncing back, there’s never been a better time to do it. But even if you’re planning to stay put for the long haul, chances are there are some much-needed touch-ups you could be doing to keep your home in tip-top shape. A...
full story
JMFT_17158472_web.jpg
Weekend home improvement projects that add value and curb appeal
(BPT) - Weekend warriors rule as 2013 is proving to be the year that the do-it-yourself trend reaches full momentum. If you have a weekend to spare, you have plenty of time to make some home improvements that add value and curb appeal. The key is to choose projects that have a big impact, but only take a few days to com...
full story
CTMT_17038816_web.jpg
Expanding outdoor living space adds value to your home
(BPT) - Even during a challenging economy, the outdoor living trend remains popular as homeowners seek to add lasting value and functional living space under the sky and stars. Whether it’s a do-it-yourself patio or a professionally installed outdoor kitchen, the beauty, usefulness, value and ease of maintenance in outd...
full story
LDPU_17243315_web.jpg
Backyard trends: Save money installing your own vinyl fence
(BPT) - If you want the maintenance-free benefits of a vinyl fence but are intimidated by the price tag, you’re not alone. Many homeowners are initially surprised at the cost of a vinyl fence, particularly since the installation costs are generally as much as the materials. Recent trends show that more and more homeowne...
full story
8FNQ_17060316_web.jpg
Productivity-boosting improvements for your home office
(BPT) - Let’s face it – not everyone has a home office that inspires productivity. But if you work from home at all – and the Bureau of Labor Statistics says 24 percent of people employed outside the home do at least some of their work at home – having a comfortable, organized and appealing home office can make your j...
full story
national news
Lawyer Cliff Sloan faces tough assignment: Closing Guantanamo

The interior of an unoccupied communal cellblock is seen at Camp VI, a prison used to house detainees at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo BayBy Steve Holland and Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cliff Sloan has represented Jon Bon Jovi's band in legal matters and argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Now, he has perhaps his toughest assignment: Helping to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Washington attorney was named on Monday as the State Department's Guantanamo Bay envoy, a central player in President Barack Obama's renewed push to make good on a 2008 campaign promise to shut the installation where the United States holds terrorism suspects. ...


2013-06-17 20:09:29 -0500
Airlines' performance improves, lags other industries: U.S. poll

A passenger plane approaches to land as other aircraft taxi to the runway at the San Diego International Airport in San Diego, CaliforniaBy Chris Michaud (Reuters) - U.S. consumers are more satisfied with airlines in recent years but the industry still gets relatively low marks, mainly due to the onboard experience, according to a new customer poll released on Tuesday. The American Consumer Satisfaction Index, which surveys some 70,000 U.S. customers annually on more than 40 industries ranging from apparel and hospitals to banks and insurance, found only television and internet service providers ranked lower. ...


2013-06-18 00:16:15 -0500
Lawyers probe jurors for hidden agendas in Trayvon Martin murder case

Trayvon Martin's parents Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin on the fifth day of jury selection at Seminole circuit court in SanfordBy Barbara Liston SANFORD, Florida (Reuters) - A white man with a chest-length gray beard wrote in a questionnaire for prospective jurors that he could keep an open mind about George Zimmerman's guilt or innocence but he failed to mention the $20 donation he made to the murder defendant's legal fund. The donation came to light in open court Monday under questioning by state prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda. "Don't you have a stake in this already?" Rionda asked the man. ...


2013-06-18 00:18:00 -0500
Snowden: U.S. ‘not going to be able to cover this up by jailing or murdering me’
Edward Snowden, America's most-wanted whistle-blower, says the truth about the government spying program he revealed will eventually come out, regardless of what happens to him. "All I can say right now is the US Government is not going to be able to cover this up by jailing or murdering me," Snowden wrote in a live [...]
2013-06-17 09:42:20 -0500