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Distracted drivers plague nation's roadways
Many people who encounter a car weaving wildly out of its lane, speeding up and slowing down randomly, veering into oncoming traffic or breezing through stop signs will immediately think "drunk driver." While drunk driving is an extremely dangerous hazard on American roadways, this behavior is just as easily associated w...
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Grocery insight: What is fair trade and how does it make a difference?
When buying groceries, shoppers have the potential to impact countless people who work behind the scenes producing the foods and beverages that end up in households across America. Purchasing Fair Trade Certified products has been on the rise for the last 30 years, but most people still aren't aware of the impact fair tr...
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Gift ideas that embrace the true meaning of the holiday season
When the commotion of the holidays sets in, it's easy to forget the true meaning of the season. Giving back and helping others is what makes this time of year so special. As you rush from store to store buying gifts for your loved one, you might wonder how you can make a difference. Some simple steps can have a big impac...
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Harnessing the power of the moustache
Do you sport a retro moustache that complements your style? Or maybe a chevron moustache that says you don't mess around? Now you can use your facial hair style for good when you participate in Movember.
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Awareness and education are key to bridging the communication gap between people with diabetic nerve pain and healthcare providers
In the United States there are nearly 26 million people with diabetes and one of the most common complications of the condition is diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a form of nerve damage. More than one in five of these people experience painful DPN, also known as diabetic nerve pain, as a direct result of this nerve...
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Five easy ways to support the troops during the holidays
Supporting the troops is an important thing to do - but sometimes it's hard to figure out how to give your support. Here are five easy ways to thank those people who keep us safe every single day - even if you don't personally know someone serving. And it's the perfect time of year to do it. With the holidays coming up, ...
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Creativity, organization, and activism help communities cope with police budget cuts
With schools back in session and the holidays approaching, many of us start to think more about the security of our communities. While crime is down, budget cuts in police departments across the country add to local concerns, and people in your community may be seeking new, cost-effective ways to make your neighborhoods ...
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Clean Water Act celebrates 40 years of water improvements
The Clean Water Act was established 40 years ago with the goal of protecting waterways and ensuring homes and offices receive clean drinking water. As the legislation marks its 40th anniversary, water officials and water consumers alike are looking back on the accomplishments and planning for new ways to continue water q...
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Lift loved ones up when medical costs get them down
Medical costs are the leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S., according to crowdsourcing.org. So how do you help family and friends struggling with sometimes overwhelming expenses? For many, crowdsourcing websites are becoming an empowering source of financial support, with estimates that more than $2.8 billion will be ...
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Recognizing the stories of remarkable women pioneers, known and untold
Women continue to break the glass ceiling barriers and establish equal footing in leadership, business and government, all thanks to female pioneers who make positive impacts in their communities, display leadership qualities and lead by example through their vision, courage and ingenuity.
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Online service delivers your A-through-F letter grade to any member of Congress
With public opinion surveys showing the popularity of Congress at or near all-time lows, a free online service is empowering thousands of citizens to send an easy-to-understand letter grade to any member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives.
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Fighting the growing problem of childhood hunger in America
When thinking about childhood hunger, many people envision poverty-stricken regions on another continent, far from home. However, millions of children right here in the United States don't know where their next meal will come from. It's called "food insecurity," and it's a big problem in communities across the country.
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national news
Powerful tornadoes strike in four central U.S. states

A tornado touches down southwest of Wichita, Kan. near the town of Viola on Sunday, May 19, 2013. The tornado was part of a line of storms that past through the central plains on Sunday. (AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Travis Heying)By Chris Francescani (Reuters) - A massive storm front swept north through the central United States on Sunday, hammering the region with fist-sized hail, blinding rain and tornadoes, including a half-mile wide twister that struck near Oklahoma City. News reports said at least one person had died. By 9:30 p.m. Central Standard Time, more than two dozen tornadoes had been spotted in parts of Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and local news reports. ...


Mon May 20 03:05:00 UTC 2013
Monster machines fan out on U.S. farms facing slow sow

A farm sits in the distance near a corn field in RedkeyBy Tom Polansek and Mark Weinraub SHERIDAN, Illinois (Reuters) - With the U.S. spring planting season off to a historically slow start, an increasing number of farmers are counting on powerful tools to catch up: Monster machines that sow 36 rows of corn at once and feature high-tech innovations like computer-guided directional equipment. The technological wizardry from companies like Deere & Co and AGCO Corp is pitted in a frantic race against time, with farmers scrambling to get seeds in the ground because a slow start depresses yields and reduces the size of their harvest. ...


Mon May 20 06:04:59 UTC 2013
Insight: The road to a greener America is littered with road-kill

A special hydro-cell vehicle gets refueled at an alternative energy facility into hydrogen in Honolulu in this file photoBy Nichola Groom LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In October 2004, then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger rolled up to a pioneering fueling station at Los Angeles International Airport in a hydrogen-powered metallic blue Hummer loaned to him by General Motors Corp. The "California Hydrogen Highway," Schwarzenegger's vision to ensure that every Californian would have access to a hydrogen fueling station by the end of 2010, called for the state to spend more than $50 million to help deploy up to 100 hydrogen fuel stations that would serve 2,000 fuel cell vehicles. ...


Mon May 20 00:05:50 UTC 2013
Sticker shock: New college graduates, here is why your education cost so much money
When high school senior Jenny Bonilla got her college acceptance letter in March, she felt shock and heartbreak rather than joy. That’s because the letter from Goucher College, a private liberal arts school in Baltimore, also brought news that she would owe an unaffordable $20,000 a year in tuition and board, even with a scholarship [...]
Mon May 20 04:21:17 UTC 2013