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Tricks to take care of clogged drains
(BPT) - “The bathroom sink drain is clogged!” Those words strike fear and loathing into a homeowner’s heart. Nothing can ruin a pleasant day faster than the thought of shutting down a crucial room in your home until the plumber arrives. But it’s a fact of home-owning life: At some point, the drains in your home will be...
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Decked out for summer: Three easy tips for making your dream deck a reality
(BPT) - Summer means deck time for many Americans. A deck is an ideal spot for relaxation and entertaining. Imagine a cook-out with friends, snoozing in the sun on a hot day, snuggling with your sweetheart watching shooting stars, or having a backyard camp-out with the kids. Are you dreaming of deck time this summer, b...
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Steps to an updated outdoor entertaining space
(BPT) - With milder weather finally here, it’s time to start planning your outdoor projects. Is your outdoor patio or deck looking a bit dated and dingy? Does it reflect your home’s personality? Whether you’re planning to host outdoor festivities with friends and family or just grilling up gourmet creations, a few chang...
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Four simple tips to help you land a great job
(BPT) - Whether you’re just graduating and entering the job market for the first time or you’re changing careers, job searching is never easy. And if you’re among the more than 1.5 million college grads looking for work this year, you will need to work smarter to stand above the crowd and land that dream job or internsh...
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Stay safe on the road this summer
(BPT) - As you hit the road for this year’s vacation, you may see an increasing number of vehicles on the sides of the highway broken down either with mechanical problems or flat tires. Don’t derail your travel fun by being one of them. A few simple steps will help you avoid being stuck on the side of the road – or at l...
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Tart cherries may help naturally manage pain [Infographic]
According to a growing body of research, tart cherries may help athletes reduce muscle damage and exercise-related pain to recover faster from a tough workout. It’s the antioxidant compounds in tart cherries – called anthocyanins – that are linked to reducing pain and inflammation, and at levels comparable to some well-known pain medications. Available year-round in dried, frozen and juice forms, tart cherries are a convenient and flavorful way to manage pain – from topping oatmeal or a sala...
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Surviving summer vacation: 5 tips for an enjoyable season with family
(BPT) - With summer ahead, parents are busy making plans for camps, sports and vacations. This time of year can be challenging, but there are ways to make it more enjoyable. Learn to love this summer with your family using these five easy tips: 1. Eat foods that keep you going Nutrition has a way of impacting almost ...
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Kitchen remodeling 101: Brush up on the basics
(BPT) - In this economy, taking on a kitchen remodel can be a scary proposition. You’re probably asking yourself plenty of questions. How drastically should you change the room? Do you need to hire a professional? Can you still recoup money spent on remodeling if you sell the house? Have no fear - these six tips from S...
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Simple ways to give meals a boost of flavor
(BPT) - Flavor is a top priority whether you’re cooking for a gathering or simply putting food on the table for a weeknight meal. Great tasting food can do a lot: turn a party into a success, make guests rave and even get the kids to clean their plates. Luckily, you don’t have to be a five-star chef to give your meals a...
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Do you really know who is providing your medical care?
(BPT) - Whether you’re being treated for a minor injury or undergoing major surgery, it’s likely you’ll encounter not just one, but a team of health care professionals. While having multiple professionals working to provide you with the highest quality and safest care eases some fear, it also can cause confusion. When u...
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College career services go social to connect students and employers
(BPT) - College students need little encouragement to use social media to interact with their classmates, family and friends, but many are still leery of using the platforms when it comes to seeking employment. Only 20 percent of college career center professionals felt students were enthusiastic about using social med...
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Simple ways older drivers can save money on auto insurance
(BPT) - Are your auto insurance premiums too high? Maybe they are, but not for reasons you might think. Insurance companies aren’t charging you higher premiums because you’re in an over-50 age group. You may be paying too much because you haven’t done anything to lower the cost of your premiums. Check out these money-sa...
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national news

Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez talks on a phone during media day for the NFL Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis(Reuters) - Massachusetts State Police searched the home of New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez on Tuesday as part of a probe into a suspected homicide, according to ABC News. Hernandez was initially uncooperative with police after the body of a 27-year-old man was found in an industrial park near his home in North Attleborough on Monday, ABC News said, citing unnamed law enforcement sources. A police spokesman confirmed there was a homicide investigation under way in North Attleborough, but declined to give further details. ...


2013-06-18 22:07:10 -0500

A man carries flags at a rally in support of same-sex marriage at the State of California Supreme Court in San FranciscoBy Peter Henderson SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The fight over legalizing gay marriage in the most populous U.S. state may go back to the ballot box in 2014 with California voters asked once again to settle the matter even after the Supreme Court's expected ruling this month on the issue. Experts believe the top court is unlikely to proclaim a national right to same-sex marriage in its decisions. The court is set to rule on a challenge to California's ban on same-sex marriage and on a provision of federal law denying certain benefits for married same-sex couples. ...


2013-06-19 00:11:14 -0500
By Susan Kelly CHICAGO (Reuters) - Shares of U.S. hospital operators have been on a tear this year, on average posting triple the gains of the broader stock market, as investors tallied up the benefits of President Barack Obama's healthcare reform. While some on Wall Street have held back amid signs of trouble as U.S. states prepare to implement the reform law, long-term investors still see more reward than risk on the horizon for hospital stocks. They expect company earnings to strengthen as more Americans gain insurance coverage and hospitals lose less money treating the uninsured. ...
2013-06-19 00:05:37 -0500
Michael Hastings, the award-winning journalist whose explosive 2010 Rolling Stone profile of U.S. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal ("The Runaway General") led to McChrystal's resignation, died Tuesday in an early morning car accident in Los Angeles, the magazine said. He was 33. "Hard-charging, unabashedly opinionated, Hastings was original and at times abrasive," Rolling Stone, where he [...]
2013-06-18 19:23:00 -0500