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Home Improvement
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Homeowners tackling more home improvement projects themselves
(BPT) - On any given weekend, homeowners can be found climbing around in attics to add insulation, repairing shingles on the roof, installing new floors in kitchens and bathrooms, and handling many other home improvement projects that, with a little elbow grease, they are able to do themselves. This trend is crossing...
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Fire safety tips protect your family through the holiday season
(BPT) - With colder temperatures forecast across the country, activities are moving indoors, and families are preparing to celebrate time-honored traditions and new beginnings. Boxes of decorations, candles and strings of lights will be unpacked and spread throughout homes. Seasonal family feasts will be prepared. Whil...
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Selling your home this winter? A great deck spruces up the curb appeal
Smart sellers know that taking extra steps to care for and present a home's exterior is a worthwhile investment, particularly during the real estate off-season. There is one improvement you can make that will help boost your home's outdoor appeal no matter what the season: a deck.
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Home remodeling tips for baby boomers entering their golden years
As America's 77 million-strong baby boomers reach retirement age, one thing is absolutely clear -- they are not going to quietly retreat into their golden years. The most active generation in America's history wants homes that will support their active lifestyles, and homes that will accommodate the challenges boomers wi...
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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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Make your home smarter and more efficient this winter
The coldest time of the year can also be the busiest. With holiday entertaining, overnight guests and winter getaways, it can be hard to ensure your home heating and other systems are performing for optimal comfort and efficiency. In addition, the Department of Energy reports that no matter what energy source you use, he...
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Four fast fixes for a fabulous shower
For many people, the shower is an escape from reality ... perhaps the only "me time" in an otherwise hectic day. But if your current shower isn't living up to your relaxing expectations, it may be time for a facelift. Don't think you have the time or money? Don't throw in the towel just yet - an improved shower is withi...
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Protect what matters this holiday season
The winter holiday season is here, which means we can look forward to a lot of decorating, parties and possibly some travel during the next few months. But with all the hustle and bustle of shopping and celebrating, it's important not to lose sight of what matters most: the safety of your family and home.
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Home tech: affordable and uncomplicated ideas to add enjoyment to your home
Did you know it's almost the year that Michael J. Fox went "back to the future?" While we don't have hover boards or flying cars, our innovations have changed drastically since 1985, especially when it comes to technology in the home. Now there are many affordable innovations that are simple to use and can add unique ben...
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What you need to know about composite decking
Although composite decking is not new, lack of familiarity with the product may lead you to be confused when making a decision about the type of product you should choose for your deck. To make this decision-making process easier, it often helps to go back to the basics.
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Beautiful basements made easy
With cold weather approaching, homeowners may wonder whether they have enough space to accommodate their family, pets and holiday guests all winter long. Additions can be notoriously time-consuming and costly, but that doesn't mean you have to feel cramped in your current space. To add livable square footage to your exis...
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How to 'green' your home in 48 hours
Our lives are more hectic than ever. With everyday maintenance tasks depleting your free time, you may think it's impossible to fit in bigger home improvement projects. It's time to change your mindset and re-evaluate your home improvement to-do list.
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national news
Money tangle: The IRS and its tea party tempest

Ousted IRS chief Steven Miller is sworn in on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Friday, May 17, 2013, prior to testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the extra scrutiny the IRS gave Tea Party and other conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)The Internal Revenue Service is feeling the sort of heat that targeted taxpayers feel from the tax agency. It's the sense that a powerful someone is breathing down your neck.


Sun May 19 06:57:53 UTC 2013
$590M-plus Powerball: 1 winning ticket sold in Fla.

A woman prepares to choose her numbers on a lottery ticket Saturday, May 18, 2013, in the Chinatown district in Oakland, Calif. A record Powerball jackpot has climbed to $600 million, and lottery officials speculated the jackpot would continue to soar in the run-up to Saturday’s drawing. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)It's all about the odds, and one lone ticket in Florida has beaten them all by matching each of the numbers drawn for the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million, lottery officials said Sunday.


Sun May 19 04:38:45 UTC 2013
Probe into Conn. train crash giving way to cleanup

Emergency personnel work at the scene where two Metro North commuter trains collided, Friday, May 17, 2013 near Fairfield, Conn. Bill Kaempffer, a spokesman for Bridgeport public safety, told The Associated Press approximately 49 people were injured, including four with serious injuries. About 250 people were on board the two trains, he said. (AP Photo/The Connecticut Post, Christian Abraham) MANDATORY CREDIT: CONNECTICUT POST, CHRISTIAN ABRAHAMThe focus begins to shift toward cleanup and rebuilding ahead of challenging times for travelers and commuters along the Northeast Corridor.


Sun May 19 01:18:39 UTC 2013