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Bedbugs can cause people to lose sleep — and blood

Lifestyles

NEW YORK — Bedbugs are sometimes called the vampires of the insect world — hiding during the day and coming out at night to feast on human blood. Generations of children have been told: “Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.” Well, bad news: Bedbug infestations are increasing. This is the time of year when they tend to be at their worst. And some scientists think the reviled pests might be capable of spreading an antibiotic-resistant infection called MRSA. “They certainly are out there,” said Christopher Hayes, a North Carolina State University assistant professor ...

Try water aerobics to lose weight

Lifestyles

DEAR HELOISE: I read the letter from Patty, who wants to lose weight but can’t exercise due to having bad knees. My hint for her is to try water aerobics! It’s non-weight-bearing exercise, and her knees won’t be affected. — Helen, via email Helen, this is an excellent idea! I’ve tried water aerobics, and it was fun. Plus, I met and made a new friend! — Heloise DEAR HELOISE: We all know that plastic bags are a problem in our environment. They choke animals, create garbage and break down into microplastics that have even been found in babies’ placentas! Here are some ...

Bridge by Steve Becker

Lifestyles

Yesterday, we saw how a team that was losing by 53 IMPs with 16 deals to go in the 2004 Vanderbilt semifinal managed to tie the match on the very last board when a close double gained an extra IMP to produce the deadlock. Without the double, Richard Schwartz’s team would have lost the 64-deal match to Nick Nickell’s squad by a single IMP. The tie necessitated an eight-board playoff, and as the players began the last deal, Nickell led -- by 1 IMP! The bidding shown took place when Peter Boyd and Steve Robinson of the Schwartz team held the North-South cards. Robinson won the heart ...

Vaccine lowers risk of getting shingles

Lifestyles

DEAR DR. ROACH: I was reading your recent column about shingles. Several years ago, I contracted shingles, even after getting the shingles vaccine. It hit me in my left eye, so I went to my eye doctor. (I wasn’t sure what the problem was.) He took one look at my eye and diagnosed me with shingles. He gave me an antibiotic that cleared up the problem. At no time was I in any pain, which I attributed to my getting the vaccine. Do you concur with my observation? I’m aware that getting shingles can be very painful. —L.J. ANSWER: Shingles is caused by a reactivation of the ...

Powers presents Gary Allan

Ticket

Staff report Gary Allan will play Powers Auditorium on Oct. 29. Since his debut in 1996, Allan has sold more than 8 million albums, with three certified platinum for sales of a million copies. Allan has 14 top 10 country hits, including “Man to Man,” “Tough Little Boys,” “Nothing On but the Radio,” “Watching Airplanes” and “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain).” He has appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live” as well as the covers of People, Pollstar and ...

US school vaccination rates inch down yet again

Lifestyles

NEW YORK — U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates inched down again last year and the share of children with exemptions rose to an all-time high, according to federal data posted Monday. The fraction of kids exempted from vaccine requirements rose to 4.2%, up from 3.6% the year before. That's ...