Home and garden
Early morning shoppers in Oxford Street, London, Monday April 12, 2021. Millions of people in Britain will get their first chance in months for haircuts, casual shopping and restaurant meals on Monday, as the government takes the next step on its lockdown-lifting road map. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)
Chilly weather doesn't dampen UK joy at lockdown easing

By Jill Lawless 7 hrs ago

Eugenia Alexander is planning to build a creative green safe space for the community serving the city of East Saint Louis at the intersection of Trendley Ave. and 11th St. (Derik Holtmann/Belleville News-Democrat via AP)
Urban farmers work to bring fresh food to southwest Illinois

By Deasia Paige Apr. 11, 2021 01:01 AM EDT

A beam is measured and marked at a housing site in Madison County, Miss., Tuesday, March 16, 2021. After a year of spending more time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, homeowners are looking to adapt their spaces to their new realities. In 2021, expect to see more interest in creating dedicated spaces within the home. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
5 Home Remodeling Trends to Watch for in 2021

Carol J. Alexander Of Nerdwallet Apr. 07, 2021 07:42 AM EDT

People watch parade of royal mummies in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, April 3, 2021. Egypt held a parade celebrating the transport of 22 of its prized royal mummies from Egyptian Museum to he newly opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. (AP Photo)
In show of Pharaonic heritage, Egypt parades royal mummies

By Samy Magdy Apr. 03, 2021 12:46 PM EDT

This image provided by Hello PR Group shows a childs room. Philadelphia-based interiors firm Marguerite Rodgers added a playful, cheery red pocket door to a recent kids' room project on the Jersey Shore. "The pop of color really ties the space together," says designer Kaitlyn Murphy. "You can easily refresh existing millwork by adding a wallcovering, textile or a fun paint color. (Halkin | Mason Photography/Hello PR Group via AP)
Shaking off a dark winter with a spring cleaning, refresh

By Kim Cook Apr. 01, 2021 10:01 AM EDT

An orchid purchased at Trader Joe's grocery store that has rebloomed is pictured on March 4, 2021, in Atlanta. Once the flowers on an orchid die, though it's tempting to toss the plant, that orchid can bloom again. (AP Photo/Ali Kaufman)
The ubiquitous orchid: A pandemic project with surprises

By Beth Harpaz Mar. 23, 2021 08:47 AM EDT

In this Wednesday, March 3, 2021 photo, a high number of container ships dot the coast of Long Beach at sunset waiting to dock at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach off the California Coast. A trade bottleneck born of the COVID-19 outbreak has U.S. businesses waiting for shipments from Asia _ while off the coast of California, dozens of container ships have been anchored, unable to unload their cargo. ( AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Supply bottlenecks leave ships stranded, businesses stymied

By Joyce M. Rosenberg Mar. 21, 2021 08:19 AM EDT

Report: veterans home has good infection control practices

Mar. 19, 2021 10:52 AM EDT
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A state infection control assessment conducted at the New Hampshire Veterans Home shows sufficient personal protective equipment at the...

This image provided by Nicholas McGinn, Jr.shows an open planned kitchen. Amhad Freeman, founder of the Nashville, Tennessee-based Amhad Freeman Interiors, says clients now have time to really think about what they need from a room. People are also cooking more than ever before and many of his clients are using money they're not spending on travel and restaurant meals to invest in serious kitchen renovations. (Nicholas McGinn, Jr. via AP)
A homebound year has meant rethinking our rooms, belongings

By Melissa Rayworth Mar. 10, 2021 10:33 AM EST

Editorial Roundup: North Carolina

By The Associated Press Feb. 17, 2021 08:20 AM EST
Recent editorials from North Carolina newspapers: ___ Feb. 16 The Greensboro Record & News and...

This image provided by Jonathan Adler shows a candlestick holder. Designer Jonathan Adler pays homage to Paris' Pompidou Center with a candelabra he calls Eve; a ringlet of white porcelain hands stands ready to grip tapers, like a circle of dancers. (Jonathan Adler via AP)
Candles a decor favorite this winter for light, scent, mood

By Kim Cook Feb. 16, 2021 10:26 AM EST

Kansas proposal against transgender athletes gets traction

By John Hanna Feb. 12, 2021 01:44 PM EST
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A proposal aimed at keeping transgender students out of girls' and women's sports is attracting enough interest in the Republican...

A Valentine's Day decoration, signed by first lady Jill Biden, sits on the North Lawn of the White House, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Bidens view Valentine's Day decorations on White House lawn

Feb. 12, 2021 10:00 AM EST

Vegetable seedlings and citrus plants appear in pots, jars and cans on a ledge inside a home in Westchester County, N.Y. on Feb. 4, 2021. Deep into this pandemic winter, it can be hard to remember what a refuge gardens were for many people last spring and summer. But even in winter the garden can provide comfort and perspective. (AP Photo/Julia Rubin)
In an anxious winter, the garden still offers consolation

By Julia Rubin Feb. 10, 2021 03:00 AM EST

Charlotte "Charlie" Jallans-Daly, right, and her wife, Sharon Jallans-Daly, pose for a picture behind giant ruby slippers which are part of Wizard of Oz "house float" decorations for Mardi Gras. Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 in New Orleans. All around the city, thousands of houses are being decorated as floats because the coronavirus pandemic has canceled parades that usually take place on Mardi Gras. (AP Photo/Janet McConnaughey)
No Mardi Gras parades, so thousands make 'house floats'

By Janet Mcconnaughey Jan. 27, 2021 01:05 AM EST

This image provided by Jan Kath Design GmbH shows an outer space themed rug. German designer Jan Kath has created a rug collection called Spacecrafted inspired by imagery of gas clouds and asteroid nebulae from the Hubble telescope. (Dimo Feldmann/Jan Kath Design GmbH via AP)
RIGHT AT HOME: Space-themed decor brings the heavens indoors

By Kim Cook Jan. 26, 2021 09:03 AM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2017, file photo, Martin Shkreli arrives at federal court in New York. A federal judge has rejected convicted pharmaceutical executive's Martin Shkreli's second request to be let out of prison early, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, showing skepticism about his claim in court papers that mental health issues have weakened his immune system and made him more susceptible to contracting the coronavirus.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
'Pharma Bro' Shkreli loses 2nd bid for early prison release

By Michael R. Sisak Jan. 19, 2021 03:37 PM EST

Whiskey tasting room manager Melinda Maddox moves a propane-fueled outdoor space heater in downtown Fort Collins, Colo., in preparation for opening on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Maddox and other bar and restaurant managers say they've sometimes struggled to find propane necessary for space heaters while they seat customers outside to comply with coronavirus public health restrictions. (AP Photo/Mead Gruver)
Restaurants, bars scramble for propane amid pandemic winter

By Mead Gruver Jan. 16, 2021 11:25 AM EST

A sale sign is displayed near the entrance of a Hallmark store Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. Retail sales fell for a third straight month, as a surge in virus cases kept people away from stores and restaurants during the holiday shopping season. The report released Friday is yet another sign that the pandemic is slowing the U.S. economy. Last month, the country lost jobs for the first time since the spring.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
U.S. retail sales fell in December for 3rd straight month

By Joseph Pisani Jan. 15, 2021 08:45 AM EST

Vaccine appointments now being taken for 75 years and older

By Susan Haigh Jan. 14, 2021 01:35 PM EST
Roughly 277,000 Connecticut residents who are 75 years and older were allowed Thursday to begin making appointments online or via telephone for their COVID-19...