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Strategies for managing and reducing debt
(BPT) - Are you feeling overwhelmed by your monthly bills? Do you only pay the minimum on your credit cards each month, or use several credit cards to spread out your debt? These are all warning signs that your habits may be keeping you from reaching your financial goals. The good news is, you can take steps to manage y...
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'Phone, Keys, Gum' helps you remember your essentials [Infographic]
What’s worse than leaving your cellphone or keys at home? According to a recent survey by Trident, the only things worse than leaving these essentials behind are waiting in line at the DMV or having jury duty. To ensure this never happens again, a catchy song and dance titled, “Phone, Keys, Gum,” starring Comedy Central comedian Thomas Lennon and directed by David Wain of “Role Models," will help people remember what’s important. For more on the super-exclusive, world premiere, sneak previe...
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Pets make powerful partners in weight loss
(BPT) - Lives. Homes. Furniture. Even beds. People share a lot when a dog or cat is part of the family. Unfortunately, one trait that far too many owners and pets have in common is excess weight. In fact, two-thirds of U.S. adults and 55 percent of U.S. pets are considered overweight, according to the National Health an...
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A clean HVAC system is a breath of fresh air for allergy sufferers
(BPT) - Gesundheit! If allergy season has you sneezing and sniffling, you might believe you’re better protected inside your house than outside in the fresh air. Think again. In a typical six-room house, everyday living creates up to 40 pounds of dust every year, according to NADCA: The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and R...
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More Americans choosing generic drugs
(BPT) - Have you ever gone to fill a prescription and the pharmacist asks if you’d like the generic version of the medication, perhaps reminding you that it is at a considerable cost savings over the brand-named drug? Or you’re told that your insurance will only cover the generic equivalent of what your doctor has presc...
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Sun safety: How to protect your eyes and vision [Infographic]
As summer approaches, consumers will stock up on sunscreen to help protect against skin cancer. However, what people don’t realize is that prolonged sun exposure without proper UV protection for their eyes may also lead to a variety of vision disorders.
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Guidance to help parents keep kids smoke-free
Children often learn by example. They grow up watching Mom and Dad’s behaviors, learning at a very early age how to mimic their elders. In school, the examples shown by peers help to develop children, both academically and socially. So when it comes to smoking, children might not be prepared to take an individual stanc...
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Five unexpected ways to get your kids to eat veggies - and like them
(BPT) - Peas, carrots, broccoli and spinach ... some kids love vegetables, but many do not. We know that veggies provide nourishment, especially for growing children, but getting your kids to eat healthier can be a challenge. Luckily, there are plenty of creative ways to increase the amount of veggies in your kids’ diet...
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New survey shows working from home sometimes means working from bed [Infographic]
From checking emails and surfing the web, to watching television and making phone calls, respondents in a recent Serta-sponsored CARAVAN omnibus survey showed that seven in 10 (69%) Americans regularly do work related and personal activities in their bed.  
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Making summer fun to teach your kids life lessons
(BPT) - Ah, the hot days of summer when a neighborhood lemonade stand is the perfect place to buy – or sell – a cold, refreshing drink. While a lemonade stand is a classic summer activity for kids and their parents, it’s also a great way to help teach children about earning money, building community and expressing creat...
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How to keep your scents light and sensible this summer
(BPT) - The seasons affect everything we wear, eat and feel – including the scents we choose. When weather warms, Americans turn to lighter scents in everything from body lotions and perfumes to clothing fabric softeners. “Annual American perfume sales are around $5.2 billion,” notes Sue Phillips, founder and president...
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Greener decorating for your deck and patio
(BPT) - Outdoor living spaces cry out for an eco-friendly touch. Whether you’re adding a patio, updating a deck or livening up your landscaping, the last thing you want to do is harm the environment. Greener decorating and building practices can help you protect and pay homage to Mother Nature while creating a space whe...
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national news
Lawmaker, university spar over 'control' of Chinese dissident in U.S.

Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng speaks to journalists following an appearance in New YorkBy Paul Eckert WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. congressman who has been blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng's main champion in Washington said people working for New York University have tried to keep him from meeting Chen, barging into a meeting on Capitol Hill and pulling Chen out on one occasion. U.S. Representative Chris Smith, an outspoken supporter of Chinese dissidents since the 1980s, described repeated instances of various people he says were from NYU interfering in his attempts to meet with Chen. ...


2013-06-20 02:08:46 -0500
North Carolina governor signs law aimed at restarting executions

North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate, former Charlotte Mayor McCrory meets supporters during U.S. presidential election in CharlotteBy Colleen Jenkins WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (Reuters) - North Carolina's governor, hoping to resume executions in his state, on Wednesday signed the repeal of a law that has allowed death row inmates to seek a reduced sentence if they could prove racial bias affected their punishment. The Racial Justice Act, the only law of its kind in the United States, had led to four inmates getting their sentences changed to life in prison without parole after taking effect in 2009. ...


2013-06-19 20:20:27 -0500
Stop force-feeding Guantanamo prisoners: Senator

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
4 shot, 3 dead in Ky. condominium complex shooting

Residents Kora Thompson, left, and Joey Hopper watch activity at the scene of the Lakeview Condominiums shooting in Louisville, Ky., on Wednesday, June 19, 2013. Three people were shot to death and a fourth was seriously injured at a condominium building Wednesday. (AP Photo/The Courier-Journal, Matt Herp) NO SALES; MAGS OUT; NO ARCHIVE; MANDATORY CREDITLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A domestic situation apparently prompted the midweek shooting at a condominium complex in an upscale Louisville neighborhood that claimed three lives and left a fourth person badly wounded, police said.


2013-06-20 05:49:05 -0500