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Money & Finance
How to recharge your resolutions
(BPT) - Many find that the new year is a time to wipe the slate clean. In fact, 45 percent of Americans made New Year’s resolutions, according to the Journal of Clinical Psychology from the University of Scranton. But while it is easy to make resolutions, the hard part is actually following through with them. By the first few weeks of the new year, nearly two-thirds of Americans who made resolutions will have already broken them the journal also states. Avoid becoming a failed resolution st...
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Consumers, be aware: Know the facts when it comes to oil changes
(BPT) - With more than 300 million vehicles on the road today, motor oil is the lifeblood of any engine and can help protect and prolong its life, whether you’re driving a compact car, pickup truck or SUV. However, not just any motor oil will ensure the healthy life of an engine and, unfortunately, discounted deals for ...
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Spring car shopping? Take care of financing first
(BPT) - Auto shows dotting the country paired with rising temperatures leave many people longing for a new car or truck. But purchasing a new vehicle is a complex process – one that doesn’t start with finding the right car, but with making sure your finances are in order. It’s important to plan ahead so there are no sur...
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Hiring pros for spring cleaning tasks? What to look for and what it should cost
(BPT) - Some traditional spring cleaning tasks are easily accomplished on your own, like clearing out clutter or rearranging storage areas. Other important tasks such as cleaning air ducts or your carpets may require professional assistance – and that’s where things can get confusing. When you hire a professional to ha...
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Get organized to help grow your business
(BPT) - Small businesses are always trying to find ways to get organized so employees can work more efficiently and save money in the process. With tax time just around the corner and projects opening and closing on a daily basis, taking your business organization standards to a new and improved level might seem like a ...
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Protect your information during the tax-season identity theft boom
(BPT) - Tax season can be stressful, and each year people scramble to send in their tax returns, right down to the deadline. But for those who do a little preparation and avoid procrastinating, it can be significantly less tense. However, whether you’re a last-minute rusher or an ahead-of-the-game planner, you need to t...
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Class of 2013: The future careers of this year's high school graduates
(BPT) - High school seniors nationwide are preparing to graduate, receiving college acceptance letters and possibly enrolling in a college or university. The challenging economy has made many of these young adults acutely aware of the important role their degree can play when they face commencement once again, this time...
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Deductions that could dramatically cut your tax bill
(BPT) - For all the talk about taxes during the “fiscal cliff” debate at the end of 2012, many people are still left wondering what it means to them as the April 15 filing date approaches.  "'Is it a big deal? Or is it business as usual?' are questions I'm hearing," says Scott Halliwell, a certified financial planner with USAA. "While many issues were resolved, a lot of taxpayers still aren't sure how their tax returns and deductions are affected.” If you're one of those people, brush up o...
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The 5 money habits that can help you find true wealth
(BPT) - When did money get so complicated? From spending and charity to saving and investing, it’s hard to know exactly what to do with your finances. Cut through the confusion and consider five smart ways you can use your money to your advantage today. Bruce Helmer , award winning financial services advisor, author a...
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Money advice for expectant and new parents
(BPT) - Have you ever heard the saying that “babies don’t come with owner’s manuals”? It’s true that no matter how many books you read, classes you take, or experienced parents you talk to, you can never be completely prepared for the challenges and joys of parenthood. You can, however, prepare yourself for the costs of...
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Smart spending tips for spring home improvements
(BPT) - Spring home improvement season is on the way, and if you’re like most homeowners you have a list of jobs you want to accomplish. Some will be small, economical do-it-yourself projects. Others may require the services of a professional and a greater monetary investment. However you accomplish your home improvemen...
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Don't let these myths rain on your retirement party
(BPT) - Do you dream of the day you can retire, but aren't sure how to get there? You're not alone. Many people find it easier to avoid reality when it comes to planning for retirement. "That can lead to big mistakes in their retirement income planning ," says Zachary Gipson, vice president of retirement and wealth planning at USAA. Here's a look at five common myths that could derail your expectations for income when you retire. Myth 1: You won't be around long enough to go through your...
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national news
Hunt for Jimmy Hoffa's body brings investigators to Michigan field

Yellow crime tape surrounds a field for Hoffa investigation, in suburban DetroitBy Joseph Lichterman OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, Michigan (Reuters) - The search for former Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa, missing since 1975 and thought to have been murdered by members of organized crime, brought investigators with shovels on Monday to an overgrown field in suburban Detroit, not far from where Hoffa was last seen alive. A backhoe was driven onto the property, and video recorded from a helicopter by Detroit television station WDIV showed agents for the Federal Bureau of Investigation digging for the union leader's remains. ...


2013-06-17 19:49:41 -0500
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
Accused California killer tells jurors, 'I'm not the monster'
By Ronnie Cohen SAN RAFAEL, California (Reuters) - An elderly California photographer charged with the slayings of four prostitutes dating back to the 1970s opened his own defense at his serial-murder trial on Monday, declaring to jurors, "I'm not the monster that killed these women." Joseph Naso, 79, who has admitted a penchant for taking erotic pictures of women and displayed dozens of such photos in court on Monday, stood stoop-shouldered in a blue suit and tie, his hands crossed behind his back, as he politely greeted the 12 men and women who will decide his fate. ...
2013-06-17 22:33:19 -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