2025-07-01T08:01:00
(BPT) – From prevention to intervention, Our Rescue collaborates with partners and communities around the globe to provide direct services and support to people who are forced into sex trafficking and children who are exploited.
2025-07-01T12:31:00
(BPT) – When you love fishing, taking your loved ones out on the water might just be one of life’s greatest joys. There’s simply nothing better than spending uninterrupted time together, telling stories and relaxing in between bent rods and photos of the widest grins you’ve ever seen under the hot summer sun.
It’s always great to introduce your family to something you love, but it’s important to do it right.
Whether your family members are equally as obsessed as you are, or they’ve never held a rod in their lives, here are some great tips from the folks at Rapala, the legendary lure-maker, to ensure you have the most fun possible on the water together this summer.
First things first, bring snacks – Low blood sugar is a sure-fire way for light-hearted trash talk to turn vicious. Have each person pick out their favorite snack and bring it on board to keep everyone happy. Plus, it’s hot out there. Bring a sports drink or lemonade for electrolytes!
Meet everyone where they’re at, skill-wise – Spend time and patience teaching the newbies of the group so they can have fun (and be safe) on the water, whatever that means for them! If the pros wanna “pro-out,” dedicate special time for them to let their competitive flag fly. If you do this, make sure to take photos to inspire the rookies.
Incorporate everyone’s interests – Believe it or not, every angler has something different about the sport that reeled them in for the first time. Maybe your teen just likes tanning on the boat. Maybe your little one wants to be like his big brother. Maybe Mom really loves setting personal records. Maybe Dad just likes having everyone all together. Ask everyone what they are most looking forward to before the trip starts to ensure that everyone has a great time — and wants to do it again next year!
Bring a healthy mix of baits – While some anglers might be ready for a technical hard bait lure like the Rapala PXR Mavrik™ 110 or the Jigging Rap®, the little ones or rookies on the boat might prefer to start with soft plastics like the CrushCity™ Mooch Minnow™ or the Freeloader™. Designed in collaboration with the world’s number one angler, Jacob Wheeler, these soft plastics promise pros and rookies alike maximum crushability.
Let each person pick out their own gear – Sometimes, anticipation can be just as sweet as a thing itself. There’s no better way to get everyone excited for the trip ahead than to let them pick out a brand-new toy to try on the water. Whether it’s a new rod, like the Myth Spinning Rod by 13 Fishing, or a bait in a fun new color (a CrushCity Janitor™ in Ghost Morning Dawn is great for a little one in a princess phase), gifts are a great way to dial up the anticipation for a summer trip.
Create traditions – A truly great fishing trip entails a lot more than just fishing. Think of the things your family loves doing together. Maybe it’s stopping at your favorite restaurant in town, making s’mores with peanut butter cups, or watching a specific movie. Whatever it is, make it a tradition to revisit every year and create special memories that last.
Bring a scale to inspire some fun competition – A little healthy competition is a great way to engage anglers of all levels. Bring a scale, like this one from Rapala, to weigh in your catches. Keep score of everyone’s heaviest fish. Winner gets bragging rights until next year!
For new anglers, don’t do too much too fast – Don’t hand a kiddo that’s never held a fish a slimy, squirmy sunfish and expect them to have a good time. Start by holding it yourself, then let the little ones gently pet the scales until they get used to it.
Bring other activities – Coloring books and card games are a godsend for when the littles lose patience and the pros want to keep casting. Remember, the most important thing is spending time together.
Take lots of photos – The kiddos will definitely want to document their “legendary” catches, even if it’s just a little perch. If you have teens or young adults, they might want to post their wins on social media.
Do your research – Try to find a destination where catchability is high and the water is clear. Morale can run low if bites are few and far between, or if weeds run rampant.
The safer you are, the more fun you’ll have – Bring sunscreen, lifejackets, lots of water, and always have a first-aid kit on your boat. A dehydrated, burnt angler is a sad angler! Make sure you take care of your body and help others do the same. Also, a good lesson on hook and water safety is never a waste of time.
2025-06-30T19:15:00
(BPT) – If you’re in the midst of menopause or perimenopause, you probably already know how annoying hot flashes and night sweats — not to mention body odor — can be. Hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause can affect your sweat and body odor. When temperatures rise in the summer, these symptoms may feel worse, leaving you seeking any relief you can find.
The good news is that women are opening up more about their experiences including the ways they have learned to manage these and other bothersome symptoms.
“Menopause — and the years leading up to it, called perimenopause — is a completely natural part of life, and thankfully, women are finally starting to talk about it more openly,” said board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Jessica Shepherd. “The more we share our real stories, the more we can help each other figure out what actually works. Rather than tough it out in silence or brush off what you’re feeling, there’s support out there from other women who’ve been through it. Your health care provider can also be a valuable resource in managing your symptoms.”
Here are tips that can help you feel confident and in command when these symptoms show up, day or night.
1. Dress to keep cool
Make sure all your summer clothing is lightweight and made from breathable fabrics, including choices like rayon, bamboo, linen and cotton. This goes double for pajamas. Light, loose-fitting fabric that dries quickly and can wick moisture away from your body is ideal to help you cope with night sweats. Experiment to see which fabrics and styles work best for you.
2. Think layers
This tactic can help you feel comfortable when you’re in air conditioning, giving you the option to take an outer layer off when you feel a hot flash coming on. For example, wear a lightweight t-shirt or camisole, with a roomy button-down shirt or light jacket that can be removed when your body temperature is on the rise.
3. Use effective deodorant and antiperspirant
Say goodbye to your nightstand fan. The right deodorant and antiperspirant can make a big difference, night and day. You can feel cool all over by combining two products: Secret Whole Body Dry Feel Deodorant and Secret Clinical Antiperspirant. This powerful duo is designed to help keep you feeling dry, even overnight.
The new Secret Whole Body Dry Feel Deodorant is its first aluminum-free sweat control deodorant that delivers 24/7 protection anywhere you need it. As a complement, the Secret Clinical Stick provides two times the sweat protection compared to ordinary antiperspirants and can be applied to underarms to prevent wetness and odor. Its weightless, quick-drying formula leaves no residue, ensuring comfort and confidence throughout the day and night. These products are more than just an effective regimen; they’re about feeling good in your skin, no matter what.
Pro tip: Apply both products before bedtime to help tackle odor-causing bacteria for up to 10 hours of overnight dry feel, so you wake up feeling fresh.
4. Cut down on alcohol and caffeine
Both alcohol and caffeine can increase these symptoms for some people, so it’s a good idea to watch your intake — and pay attention to circumstances, foods or drinks that seem to make your symptoms worse.
“For many women, this can be a part of the journey, but not everyone experiences it the same way,” says Dr. Shepherd. “The good news is, there are supportive steps you can take to feel more like yourself, like tracking when symptoms tend to shift and choosing products that help you feel clean, confident, and cared for.”
Secret Deodorant is available at major retailers nationwide. For more information visit Secret.com.
5. Cool your bedroom
Start with an overall cooler room temperature before you hit the hay, then make sure your bed is supplied with cooling sheets and pillowcases to help with night sweats. Breathable fabrics and cooling technology can make a big difference in keeping your bedding feeling more comfortable overnight. Then, keep a bottle of cold water on your nightstand to sip as needed to cool your body down.
2025-06-30T14:01:00
(BPT) – Everyone loves a deal, but when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. The same thing holds true when it comes to purchasing deeply discounted stamps. Scams involving counterfeit U.S. postage are costing the U.S. Postal Service millions and could cost you too. Customers using counterfeit postage risk having their items confiscated and could face stiff penalties. That’s not all. Now scammers are targeting job seekers with work-from-home scams that use counterfeit postage to reship packages.
How big of a concern are these scams? Since October 2024, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has already seized more than 6.3 million counterfeit stamps and have issued 138 cease-and-desist orders to individuals and businesses using counterfeit postage.
Here’s how to avoid common scams.
Hefty discounts
Have you seen online offers for United States Forever® stamps at 50% off? When you do, keep scrolling … stamps offered at such a steep discount are likely counterfeit. You may see offers on social media marketplaces, e-commerce sites via third-party vendors and other sites, often sold in bulk quantities at a significant discount — anywhere from 20% to 50% off the face value of the stamps.
Work-from-home scams
These scams often start with a job posting on social media. The job sounds so easy — you to work from home reshipping packages to their intended recipient.
Here’s how the scam works. The scammer sends items, usually purchased with stolen credit cards, and instructs the work-from-home employee to reship the package to the recipient using prepaid shipping labels they provide. Those labels are usually counterfeit and the employee has now, oftentimes unknowingly, committed a crime.
Still unsure if the business is legitimate? Contact the human resources department of the company offering work-from-home opportunities to verify the job or reach out to your state’s attorney general’s office or consumer affairs office, the Federal Trade Commission or Better Business Bureau.
Suspicious packages
What could be better than getting an unexpected package? But you didn’t order it, and it’s not from someone you know. You may get a package addressed to you with no return address or with a retailer’s name. Unfortunately, when seemingly harmless free items come from a company, they may come with a higher cost than you realize. Unsolicited merchandise can be part of a larger “brushing” scam, which is illegal in the U.S. In these scams the sender is usually an international third-party seller who found your address online, and sends you merchandise to designate you as a “verified buyer.” The retailer then writes a fake review in your name to fraudulently boost product ratings and sales numbers — which they hope results in more sales.
A new variation on brushing aims to steal your personal information — often to commit fraud or steal your identity. Called “quishing” or QR code phishing, this scam involves, packages containing cards with QR codes. The recipient is instructed to scan the code to get more information or discover who sent the gift.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service encourages you to share these tips with family and friends to avoid bogus stamps and scams. Learn more at Counterfeit Stamps — United States Postal Inspection Service, and report suspected scams at USPIS.gov/report.
2025-06-30T09:01:01
(BPT) – Now more than ever, first-time homebuyers are dialed into the interest rate environment and what it means for purchasing a house. That’s why many experts advise that buyers “marry the home and date the rate” — in other words, buy a house you love and at a price you can afford with the option of refinancing if there’s a better rate in the future.
Beyond mortgage rates, buyers also have to weigh home prices, insurance premiums, property taxes and even their own financial readiness to take on homeownership. However, not everyone can afford to wait around for the perfect scenario to buy a home.
“Whether it’s because of a new job, a major life change or seeking a new school district, we see people needing to move for all kinds of reasons,” said Ana Munoz, Senior Home Lending Advisor for Chase Home Lending. “Instead of focusing on the rates, it can be helpful for borrowers to focus on what they can control, which is their financial preparedness. If you feel ready to take on the costs of homeownership, it’s important to meet with a mortgage professional to understand your options.”
Whether you’re just starting your homebuying journey or are ready to buy this summer, the experts at Chase Home Lending offer these tips on prepping to buy a home:
Explore educational resources: Consumers planning to purchase a home, particularly first-time buyers, should start by educating themselves on the homebuying process. It’s easy to feel like you’re in over your head because you don’t know what you don’t know. Luckily, there are resources available to help boost your homebuying knowledge such as webinars, podcasts and articles, like the Chase Beginner to Buyer Podcast.
Determine when the time is right: Understand your needs and wants for homeownership, and what will best fit with your lifestyle and budget. Consider additional costs including property taxes, home maintenance and more, along with the advantages — like building home equity — to determine if it’s the right time for you to buy.
Understand the upfront costs of homeownership: Affordability is still top of mind for prospective homeowners, especially for first-time buyers. The upfront costs of homeownership, such as closing costs, a down payment and fees, may catch some buyers off guard. Online tools like an Affordability Calculator can help you determine how much you can afford.
To feel better prepared, borrowers can research and review homeowner and down payment assistance programs and grants they may be eligible for to address the initial costs of owning a home. A great tool to help you right from your phone or computer is Chase’s Homebuyer Assistance Finder, which helps borrowers find all the assistance they might be eligible for.
Work with trusted professionals: Before you begin your home search, consult a home lending professional. They can help you get preapproved, navigate the local homebuying market and review loan options. It can also be worthwhile to check with your bank since many offer discounted rates to eligible borrowers, so be on the lookout for your bank’s relationship pricing options.
Lock in your rate: Interest rates can rise and fall quickly. Being able to lock in an interest rate with a lender can give you assurance of how much you’ll pay in interest for your home loan. For example, Chase offers their Homebuyer Advantage with Lock and Shop, which lets you shop with confidence because you’ve locked in your interest rate.
Bonus: Common misconceptions about homeownership
There are a few misconceptions about buying a home that may be keeping some prospective buyers on the sidelines. Here, we break down what’s myth vs. fact about homebuying:
Ready to start planning for your dream home? Visit Chase.com/afford.
For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.
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