Online Features
Family Living
Taye Diggs joins the fight against childhood hunger with breakfast program
(BPT) - Studies show and experts agree: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. After a good night’s rest without eating, kids’ brains and bodies are ready to refuel. Breakfast can help kick-start a child’s metabolism, energy and focus for learning according to a report published in the Annals of Nutrition and ...
by
ARA
Site 1
full story
Five steps to help improve financial - and physical - health
(BPT) - Plans to improve health and finances are among the most common resolutions Americans make each year. Both are worthy goals, but did you know that improving your financial health may boost your physical health as well? “Money problems are a well-known cause of stress, and the negative impact that stress has on o...
by
ARA
Site 1
full story
Rx for the busy parent: Simple tips to reduce stress and feel your best
(BPT) - Few Americans are more time-strapped than parents. From the moment the alarm chimes, it can feel like a race to get through the day. From prepping for school or day care, to finalizing school projects and running to after-school activities, there’s hardly a moment to spare! And with career demands, the stress of...
by
ARA
Site 1
full story
Car care tips that can extend the life of your vehicle
(BPT) - There is no truer saying than, “Take care of your car and it will take care of you.” Taking care of your vehicle should be at the top of your priority list when you rely on it to transport you, your family and friends. You don’t have to be a mechanical expert to take care of your car, you just need to be aware o...
by
ARA
Site 1
full story
Tips for being safe in the dark with your outdoor equipment
(BPT) - In dark corners and spaces where the sun doesn’t shine – or has gone below the horizon for the night – the most useful tool in the world is a light. Having a light source helps keep you safe from tripping, running into objects and causing injuries. Safety is a big concern for those who enjoy the outdoors, esp...
by
ARA
Site 1
full story
Insight and inspiration for GED seekers
(BPT) - More than 39 million Americans 16 and older lack a high school diploma, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. And while a new survey indicates their reasons for dropping out range from lack of parental support to becoming parents themselves, those seeking a second chance at an education often find hope in General E...
by
ARA
Site 1
full story
Five tips to improve your financial health in 2013
(BPT) - Creating better financial habits tops many New Year’s resolution lists every year. If it is on your list for 2013, there are a few steps you could consider to help you pursue your goals. According the Fall Merrill Edge Report , 77 percent of mass affluent Americans – those with $50,000 to $250,000 in investabl...
by
ARA
Site 1
full story
Packing, eating and reheating: Food safety from the store to the table
(BPT) - Today’s busy families are always on the go, which means less time for shopping, preparing and eating food. However, there is one thing you can’t skimp on no matter how fast you’re going, and that’s food safety. From grocery shopping to reheating leftovers, you can use several tips to ensure that the food you eat...
by
ARA
Site 1
full story
The six most common identity theft risks at tax time
(BPT) - Tax time is always tough. Whether you will owe or anticipate a refund, plan to do your own taxes or pay a professional to do them for you, preparing and filing your taxes can be a tedious task. It can also be a risky one: the information needed to prepare your taxes is a treasure trove for enterprising identity ...
by
ARA
Site 1
full story
The 10 'never-break' rules of good credit
(BPT) - Some rules are meant to be broken – like the one about not wearing white after Labor Day. Others should remain sacrosanct, such as the rules of good credit. Those are the kind of rules that can make life easier and happier when you follow them – and help ensure your finances stay in good order, too. Unlike fash...
by
ARA
Site 1
full story
Swimming: Not just for summer anymore
(BPT) - It’s dark. It’s cold. Heading to the pool might be the furthest thing from your mind. While summer is the time of year for playing at the beach, pool parties and outdoor water sports, the colder months are actually a great time to start swimming. “Swimming is a low-impact exercise that depending, on the intensi...
by
ARA
Site 1
full story
How to make your proposal perfect
(BPT) - You’ve picked the perfect ring. You’ve practiced the words you’ll use when you propose. But you know she would be livid if you asked her on the big screen at a sporting event. Making an engagement truly memorable will win you points for a lifetime each time she retells your engagement story. These tips will hel...
by
ARA
Site 1
full story
By David Schwartz PHOENIX (Reuters) - The foreman of an Arizona jury that deadlocked over whether Jodi Arias should be put to death for murdering her ex-boyfriend believes she was mentally abused, but said on Friday that had not been enough to excuse her crime. Arias, a former waitress from California, was found guilty this month of murdering Travis Alexander, whose body was found slumped in the shower of his Phoenix-area home in June 2008. He had been stabbed 27 times, had his throat slashed and been shot in the face. ...
By Joanne von Alroth SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (Reuters) - The Illinois House of Representatives on Friday voted overwhelmingly to allow residents to carry concealed guns, taking the state one step closer to joining all others in allowing some form of carrying guns in public. Illinois is the only state in the nation to ban most people from carrying a concealed gun outside the home. Lawmakers acted on Friday after a federal appeals court in January struck down the ban, saying it violated the right to bear arms enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. ...
By Jonathan Kaminsky OLYMPIA, Washington (Reuters) - A bridge collapse that sent cars and drivers tumbling into a frigid river in Washington state appears to have been caused when a semi-trailer truck carrying an oversize load struck a bridge support beam, officials said on Friday. The truck crossed the bridge safely before a portion of the structure collapsed, sending two vehicles and a mass of concrete and steel into the Skagit River Thursday evening. Three people had to be rescued, officials said. ...