Online Features
Green Living
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Green home improvements that can make a real difference in home value
(BPT) - What your home is worth to you is one thing; what it’s worth to someone else may be totally different. If you want to boost the value of your home for yourself and in the eyes of others, one of the best ways to do that in today’s real estate market is to make green home improvements. Going green can mean a lot ...
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The beauty of upcycling
(BPT) - Everything old is new again. At least that’s a simplistic take on the tenets of upcycling, which translates to giving renewed purpose to something others send to landfills. For consumers with a passion for do-it-yourself projects, and the boards on Pinterest to prove it, upcycling has taken root. Some ideas are ...
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Resolving to be green in 2013
It’s that time of year again, when many Americans resolve to lose weight, get out of debt and spend more time with family and friends. Many Americans also plan to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle in the coming years - so they are looking for simple steps to help the environment, according to a recent national survey. Due to the rapid increase in recycling programs - particularly plastics recycling - it’s now easier than ever for Americans to keep resolutions to live a greener life. Recycl...
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Why greener schools can make a difference in kids' lives
(BPT) - As awareness about the environment continues to grow, it’s becoming more apparent that “going green” not only benefits the planet – it benefits the entire population, especially its youngest segment. When children learn in safe, comfortable, toxin-free school environments, their futures are that much brighter. ...
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Shopping? Seek out recycled plastics to close the recycling loop
Almost all Americans now have access to recycling - and more than 90 percent say they recycle in their daily lives, according to a recent national survey. And it’s never been easier to recycle, including the plastic bottles, caps and containers we use every day. But less than a third of Americans say they actively seek...
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How to earn a Ph.D. in water savings [Infographic]
Drought conditions have hit nearly every corner of the United States in recent years, costing Americans more than $30 billion. Installing high-efficiency products in the bathroom and kitchen enables homeowners to cut back on water usage and save money. For additional tips, visit americanstandard.com/watersense .  
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Don't get caught in the cold: Know the facts about winter gas mileage
Winter and colder temperatures are notorious for creating difficult driving conditions that can place strain on drivers and their vehicles. And as the temperature drops this winter, so will your gas mileage.
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'Green' ideas for winter-white weddings
You're ready to say your "I do's" in front of your family and friends. Planning a memorable celebration of your commitment to each other, however, doesn't mean you have to compromise on your commitment to the environment. It's possible to create the wedding of your dreams and stay "green," even in the cold, white months ...
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Gas-saving holiday travel tips
The holidays are for giving, but with all the driving around for shopping, parties and family events, you may end up giving more at the gas station due to Grinch-like fuel costs. Holiday jeer can quickly become holiday cheer, though, by simply practicing some gas-saving tips.
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Style and sustainability: Two ways to really raise the roof
While green is increasingly a factor in today's roofing choices, having the ability to choose from a wide variety of colors in sustainable roofing is also a point of great satisfaction for discerning homeowners.
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Holiday tips on lightening your environmental footprint
Americans generate about 25 percent more waste than usual - an extra million tons - between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That's a lot of garbage. If you typically strive to tread lightly on the Earth, you don't necessarily have to abandon your green lifestyle to ...
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Innovation is key to America's breadbasket
The holiday season is a good time to recognize the important contribution of America's farmers to our quality of life. Agriculture is a tough business. Yet according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, America's 2 million farms are the world's most productive, not only feeding our nation, but providing crucial grains ...
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national news

Newly constructed homes in an unfinished subdivision is surrounded by weeds in CoolidgeWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of people living in poverty in U.S. suburbs surpassed the number of poor in cities over the past decade, driven by strong growth in overall suburban populations, according to an analysis released on Monday. The change is posing a challenge to some traditional U.S. approaches to fighting poverty, which were aimed primarily at poverty in urban settings, the Brookings Institution study found. The number of poor people living in suburbs rose 64 percent between 2000 and 2011, reaching 16.4 million, it showed. ...


Mon May 20 11:55:15 UTC 2013

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 10:41:51 UTC 2013
By Richard Weizel and Edith Honan MILFORD, Conn./NEW YORK (Reuters) - Thousands of Connecticut commuters faced delays and crowded trains on Monday as Metro-North workers scrambled to repair damage on the United States' busiest rail line, caused by the collision of two trains. Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy said commuters should expect "serious disruptions" throughout the week and encouraged riders to stay home if possible. ...
Mon May 20 11:42:52 UTC 2013
Several tornadoes tore through the Midwest on Sunday, May 19, laying waste to entire neighborhoods and killing at least two people.
Mon May 20 13:23:13 UTC 2013