Who says summer vacation has to stay limited to summer? A growing number of American families think it can be any time of year, even during the school year—with educational benefits. Parents are taking their children out of school to travel during cheaper, less crowded times of year, and many say what their kids learn…
When a wildfire erupts, its flames are not the only destructive concern homeowners need to watch out for. Tiny embers—pieces of burning vegetation, debris, and the like—can be carried by the wind a mile or more ahead of the main fire, then land on roofs, decks, mulch, patio furniture, or other flammable material. Texas A&M…
A backyard can act as a bubble against the rest of the world, existing within the outside world but shielded from it as an extension of a person’s home. For one Ohio homeowner, that changed quickly and frighteningly when helicopters began circling overhead, and armed officers started crossing his property. Tim Damschroder, a lifelong resident…
Pulling weeds is about as standard as backyard chores get, as familiar as it is repetitive and tiring. But for one Illinois family, it ended with a 7-year-old spending two days in the hospital. Rayden Vollrath was helping clear the yard along his family’s backyard fence when he pulled up a plant with purple berries,…
For some Utah homeowners, a dreamy mountain view was a big part of what made their home extra appealing. Now, a massive backyard structure is rising behind their homes, blocking parts of that view and, residents say, cutting off sunlight—all, reportedly, with little warning. According to KSL, the structure in question has been described as…
An Ohio man who bragged about his hunting prowess on TikTok now has to return to the same platform with a completely different message. As different as it gets, in fact. In May, 21-year-old Carter J. Hickey pleaded guilty to 17 wildlife crimes after a multi-state investigation. Outdoor Life writes that the investigation began with…
A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter made a hard landing in the Colorado foothills Tuesday morning after residents said it flew unusually low over nearby homes. The helicopter came down Aug. 25 on the side of Thorodin Mountain in Gilpin County. One homeowner said neighbors told him the helicopter passed close enough to their second-story…
Airport security workers have been fighting against handing TSA checkpoints to private companies, arguing that any money saved could come at the cost of workers—and traveler safety. The dispute centered on TSA Gold+, a new program that would have replaced federal Transportation Security Officers with private contractors at participating airports. Gold+ would have put contractors…
Globetrotting Americans say they come home from Europe with more than a colorful souvenir: a lower number on the scale. Some travelers have said they lose weight despite eating more of the foods they would normally restrict at home, especially bread, pasta, cheese, and whatever sweet treat is for dessert. This concept is getting renewed…