After a year of spending more time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many homeowners are looking for ways to make their homes fit their new realities. Open floor plans are out; dedicated spaces for remote work and learning are in. Yards are being transformed into entertainment spaces and ...
I got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Now what? ------------------- Don’t panic. U.S. health officials on Tuesday recommended pausing vaccinations with J&J’s shot as they look into reports of six clots out of nearly 7 million doses given in the country. Health ...
Spring in the vegetable or flower garden is a carefully orchestrated series of events. The goal is to keep things moving forward with the warming season, taking into account weather predictions and, because those are just predictions, average spring warming trends where you garden. Many ...
NEW YORK — An Orthodox Jewish couple sued two New York City agencies that supervise affordable housing lotteries Tuesday, saying their family of eight faced religious discrimination when they were repeatedly rejected because of their family’s size. In the Manhattan federal court lawsuit, ...
Not so long ago, orchids were regarded as rare and exotic. But these days, thanks to new propagation techniques, certain varieties are mass-produced. Moth orchids, gorgeous but common, with sweet patterned faces, are widely sold by supermarkets and other retailers. In fact, orchids are now ...
MILWAUKEE (AP) — It’s been another record for home sales in Wisconsin this past month. The latest figures from the Wisconsin Realtors Association found nearly 4,395 homes were sold in February, up 5.5 percent from the same month last year. Marquette University economist David Clark, ...
NEW YORK — Could the French bulldog become America’s favorite purebred pooch? After riding a rocket ship to popularity over the last quarter-century, Frenchies came in second only to Labrador retrievers — the leaders for 30 straight years — in the American Kennel Club’s latest ...
The Pritzker Architecture Prize, the field’s highest honor, has been awarded to the Paris-based duo of Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal for “prioritizing the enrichment of human life,” especially in the context of public housing. The selection of the French laureates, who have long ...
No matter that winter winds and snow still come and go in much of the country. The sun’s earlier rising and higher climb into the sky let us know that spring is on the way. Even houseplants indoors feel the changing season. Take a closer look at the stems of your houseplants. Any young, new ...
Insurance is notoriously complicated, and few people have the time or desire to pore over their policies. But some basic knowledge can go a long way — and that’s where an insurance agent can help, by clearing up some of the most common misconceptions they encounter. Here are five things ...
If you want to freshen up your kitchen, look no further than Grandma’s old casserole dishes. Vintage kitchenware is back in style — pieces from the mid-20th century painted with flowers, bright colors, and specific functions, such as bracketed chip and dip bowls or four-piece ...
How are experts tracking variants of the coronavirus? ---------------------------- Scientists are scanning virus samples taken from infected people to look for mutations, through a process called genome sequencing. It’s the same method researchers have been using for years to study ...
If a candle is burning in a dark room, we don’t see the darkness, we see the light. Perhaps that’s why candles have become such a popular decor element over the course of the pandemic. Little lights you can place anywhere, candles can make a room feel cozy and ...
Deep into this pandemic winter, it can be hard to remember what a refuge gardens were last spring and summer. In those frightening early days of COVID-19, victory gardens and household vegetable plots sprang up all over. Seed companies reported shortages. Hardware stores saw a run on garden ...
ASK THE AP -------------- Which COVID-19 tests are required for international travel? -------------- It depends on where you’re going. In an effort to limit the spread of new coronavirus variants, many countries require incoming travelers to show a recent negative test. The U.S., ...
It was a tough year here on Earth, but 2020 was a bright spot for space exploration. SpaceX sent its futuristic Starship to new heights, three countries launched Mars missions, and robots grabbed debris from the moon and an asteroid. This next year promises more, including a planned launch ...
WASHINGTON — U.S. construction spending rose a moderate 1% in December as the number of new homes offset a sustained weakness in nonresidential construction. The increase followed a 1.1% gain in November, the Commerce Department reported Monday. Last month’s strength came from a 3.1% jump ...
WASHINGTON — U.S. home prices jumped in November at the fastest pace in more than six years, fueled by demand for more living space as Americans stick closer to home during the pandemic. Home prices soared 9.1% in November compared with 12 months ago, according to Tuesday’s report on ...
In this winter of hunkering down at home, there’s a trend that’s just right for the times: quilts as decor and as art. An artistic quilt might be displayed prominently on a wall, thrown over a couch, or just folded and hung from the rungs of a ladder. (Or you could cozy up with ...
What should I know about COVID-19 vaccines if I’m pregnant? -------------- Vaccination is likely the best way to prevent COVID-19 in pregnancy, when risks for severe illness and death from the virus are higher than usual. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says ...