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Hammer-swinging singles [Infographic]
As more single people buy homes, they're tackling at least half the DIY work themselves. But they're working on different areas of their homes. Typically, men are working on dining room and basement remodels, while women are remodeling bathrooms.
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Three ways to bring added entertainment to your outdoor experiences
(BPT) - There’s a reason it’s called the “great” outdoors. Nothing can quite compare with the beauty and majesty of wild places. When summer rolls around, the urge to explore grows for many people, inspiring millions of travelers to camp, hike and tour the country’s natural wonders. Modern outdoor enthusiasts have disco...
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Technology makes it easy to work from home and enjoy summer to the max
(BPT) - No one wants to see a cloud on a sunny summer day, but when it comes to how technology can make your life better, a different type of cloud can actually brighten your day. Cloud storage – often referred to as just “the cloud” – makes it easy to work at home or from anywhere, plus it makes it a snap to plan summe...
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Cool ways to enjoy your outdoor spaces through the dog days of summer
(BPT) - When warm weather arrives, does your family head outdoors to enjoy your patio or deck? Do they then turn around and head right back into the air-conditioned comfort when summer sun and temperatures make outdoor living spaces too hot to handle? “In many areas of the country, the window of opportunity for enjoyin...
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How to avoid a big tax bill or fine-tune your refund
(BPT) - Think back to your last income tax return. Did you owe Uncle Sam a lot of money, or did he give you a big refund? Whatever your situation, you can influence next year’s outcome by adjusting your payroll withholding. Remember the IRS Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, your employer asked you...
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PTSD: Not just a military problem
(BPT) - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. While it is often closely associated with combat veterans and other members of the military, the fact is PTSD can affect anyone who experiences a traumatic event. During the past year, many communi...
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Father's Day gift guide for the outdoorsy dad
Year after year, moms and children are faced with the same question: “What are we going to get dad for Father’s Day?”  Finding the right gift can be stressful and the department stores filled sky-high with matching tie and sock combinations are less than helpful. This Father’s Day, take the guesswork out of gift-giving...
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Create an outdoor space that 'wows'
(BPT) - Whether you own a cozy cottage or mega mansion, as a homeowner, you likely embrace the outdoor living trend. But when you look at your deck or patio, does it leave something to be desired? By taking a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach, you can affordably create outdoor spaces that enhance the style and functionality...
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100 percent live like they mean it, 61 percent invest like they do [Infographic]
Charles Schwab surveyed 1,000 Americans who express a significant degree of personal ownership in their everyday lives, and found that a majority are also highly engaged in investing: nearly two-thirds (61 percent) are actively involved in their portfolios.  Though a majority of those surveyed also grab hold of the wheel when it comes to investing, a sizeable number of go-getters in life say they are not actively involved in their investment portfolio, revealing a dichotomy between how they...
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Add years to your pet's life with expert tips
(BPT) - Few things in life are as special as the unconditional love and loyalty a pet provides. With 78.2 million owned dogs and 86.4 million owned cats in the United States, according to The Humane Society, it’s obvious Americans enjoy having pets. What might not be so apparent is how best to care for them. When it com...
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Navigating a lung cancer diagnosis
(BPT) - Far too often, people make the mistake of assuming that lung cancer only affects people who smoke, but the disease can affect anyone. In fact, approximately 10 percent of patients with lung cancer have never smoked and approximately 50 percent of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients have already quit smoking. U...
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The skinny on summer snacking [Infographic]
Americans love to snack, and summer snacking is among the most popular of American traditions. When the sun is shining and the weather is wonderful, we enjoy feasting on our favorite treats at ballgames, picnics and outdoor activities. Yet the desire for indulgent taste can often get in the way of making good nutritional choices, especially while out and about. Snack smarter this summer and nosh on snacks that will fill you up, but not out.
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national news

Gamers play the slot machines at the Empire City Casino in Yonkers, New YorkBy Francesca Trianni NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo struck a deal with state lawmakers to license new resort-style casinos, in an effort to help revive a stagnant economy in upstate New York, the governor said on Wednesday. The agreement would amend the state constitution to legalize public, non Native American casino gambling with an initial four Las-Vegas style casinos in the Hudson Valley, the Binghamton area and the Albany region. Until now, New York has allowed table gambling only on Native American tribal land or slot machine gambling at horse racing tracks. ...


2013-06-19 15:01:56 -0500
By David Beasley ATLANTA (Reuters) - Indictments against 35 former public educators charged in a sweeping standardized test cheating case in Atlanta appeared to be on shaky ground Wednesday after a judge said he would likely rule they were coerced into talking to investigators. Fulton County Judge Jerry Baxter indicated his position on Tuesday at a hearing, where defense attorneys argued that the teachers and administrators were threatened with losing their jobs if they did not cooperate with the state probe. ...
2013-06-19 15:12:16 -0500

A bowl of free New York City condoms are seen in a lobby at the AIDS Service Center of New York City (ASC/NYC) lower Manhattan headquartersBy Stephanie Simon (Reuters) - Students at all Boston public high schools may soon be able to obtain free condoms at the front office - as long as they sit through a few minutes of counseling about safe sex - under a policy due to be voted on Wednesday by the school board. Condoms are already available in 19 high schools with on-site health centers. The policy, up for a vote by the Boston School Committee, would expand distribution to all 32 high schools in the system. Parents would have the right to exempt their children. Several U.S. ...


2013-06-19 14:52:05 -0500
NEW YORK -- Staten Island resident Donna Lokhammer can add another chore to her list: sorting through her garbage for organic waste like potato peels, coffee grounds, and chicken bones, and gathering these scraps in a bin to be put out on curb every Saturday morning. “I’m not so crazy about the size of the [...]
2013-06-19 14:29:37 -0500