Online Features
Travel
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How to get more out of your Tuscany tour
The Italian region of Tuscany has taken on legendary status for travelers – it’s an absolute must on everyone’s list, whether they love wine, food, history, art or the simple beauty of nature. But with so many attractions, it’s easy to end up feeling like you’re rushing – and still not getting a complete experience. How...
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Top 5 hot food trends for 2013
(BPT) - Grab your fork and knife. Amateur and professional foodies alike highly anticipate the newest food trends, and 2013 will not disappoint. Throughout the country, restaurants and home cooks are utilizing their creativity to make food that satisfies the palate and leaves a lasting impression. Indulge your passion ...
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Top 6 tips to save money on winter travel
(BPT) - Whether you need a break from the cold, some time off after the busy season at work, or simply need to get away after a hectic holiday season, a winter vacation can be a welcome respite. Winter can also be the most cost-effective time of year to book a vacation, before the summer travel season heats up and famil...
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Travel: What's hot in 2013
(BPT) - There are two kinds of travelers out there: those who plan and those who wing it. But what they have in common is a love of travel and exploring new destinations. Whether you take two-day weekend trips or 10-day vacations, here are some must-see destinations that travel-inspiration site Away.com selected for 2...
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Snow-fighters keep roads clear and save lives
(BPT) - Snow and ice affect more than 70 percent of the U.S. population, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Each winter the average driver in these areas will see more than five inches of snow on the roads. And when the snow is falling there are few things more comforting than the sight of snow plows and s...
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Tanzania: the ultimate African safari destination
It’s the trip that tops most travelers’ lifetime dream lists: an African safari . The words themselves evoke a magic that is unmatched, and conjure visions of lions stalking across the savannah and wildebeest running in thundering, vast herds. It’s not uncommon to think that those amazing sights will remain a distant f...
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How to avoid getting sick before and during your travels
(BPT) - You research what museums and restaurants you want to visit, plan everything you’re going to pack, and count down the days until you leave. Anticipating a vacation is exciting – unless you suddenly get sick. Falling ill before or during your trip can derail the fun quickly, and that’s why it’s so important to ...
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Start new holiday traditions with family vacations
If you’re looking for a fresh and convenient way to celebrate the holidays, it might be a good time to consider a getaway with the whole family. Choosing a holiday-friendly destination can add an extra element of fun to your holiday get-together, and allow everyone to relax and enjoy each other since nobody needs to host. You only have so much time off, you can maximize the vacation time you get during the holidays and spend it with the ones you love. Doing something a little different and ...
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Runflat tires: many pumped up about them
(BPT) - The last thing any driver wants is a flat tire. It’s also the last thing tire manufacturers want to happen. Even though tires are a lot more high-tech than the average consumer imagines, tire makers are well aware that flats can deflate the public’s opinion of a tire. That’s why tire engineers have been working ...
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Tips for traveling safely with your food-allergic child
(BPT) - Traffic delays, long wait times and hungry little tummies – for all the rewards of spending time with your children, traveling with kids can be a challenge. But when the child has food allergies, those challenges can start to look like insurmountable - and even life-threatening - obstacles. “It is possible to t...
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Pamper yourself with a winter wonderland vacation
(BPT) - The holiday season is magical, with colorful lights sparkling in the snow and festivities abounding. But once the holidays are over, don’t let the lingering winter force you inside. Instead, use the winter months as the perfect opportunity to take a winter wonderland vacation . When the snow arrives, the outdo...
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Niagara Falls vacation: a natural wonder - and so much more
Even when compared to the many astounding sights the natural world has to offer, Niagara Falls stands out for its spectacular power and beauty. In fact, it’s counted among the seven natural wonders of the world, along with Mount Everest, the Grand Canyon and more. For travelers, a visit is, quite simply, an essential pa...
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national news
By Caren Bohan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The technology industry and organized labor are locked in a fight that threatens to complicate the U.S. Senate's immigration bill. At the heart of the debate is whether there is a shortage of Americans with the math and science skills needed for work at technology firms like Facebook Inc, Google Inc and Microsoft Corp. Labor is brandishing research that says the scarcity of workers is a myth while the tech industry is pointing to other studies that say the shortage is very real and is a threat to U.S. competitiveness. ...
Sat May 18 00:00:57 UTC 2013

Outgoing acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller is sworn-in during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the Internal Revenue Service targeting conservative groups on Capitol Hill in WashingtonBy Andy Sullivan and Kim Dixon WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The outgoing head of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service angered Republican lawmakers on Friday by resisting their demands that he identify who at the tax-collection agency had inappropriately targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny. But during the first hearing into a growing IRS scandal that could preoccupy Washington for months, Republicans did learn that a top official in President Barack Obama's administration knew that the IRS was looking into targeting by the tax agency nearly a year ago. ...


Fri May 17 19:54:32 UTC 2013

Martos holds a marijuana leaf at the Canna Pi medical marijuana dispensary in SeattleBy Joanne von Alroth SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (Reuters) - The Illinois Senate on Friday voted to approve the use of marijuana for medical purposes, which if signed into law would make it the second-most-populous state in the nation after California to allow the drug's use for medical purposes. The bill, approved by the Illinois House in April, now moves to Governor Pat Quinn's desk to await his signature. Quinn has indicated he is sympathetic to the bill, especially as it would benefit injured veterans. "We fully expect Gov. ...


Fri May 17 15:12:51 UTC 2013
A series of 16 violent tornadoes ransacked north Texas this week, killing six people and flattening entire neighborhoods. Seven people who were reported missing early Friday morning have now been accounted for, but the storms aren't over yet. Severe thunderstorms are expected late Friday in Alabama and Mississippi, and the Plains and the Midwest face [...]
Fri May 17 19:53:22 UTC 2013