NEW YORK — U.S. flu infections surged over the holidays, and health officials are calling it a severe season that is likely to get worse. New government data posted Monday — for flu activity through the week of Christmas — showed that by some measures this season is already surpassing ...

DEAR HELOISE: People spend their hard-earned money on outdoor flags only to have the hems fray in a short time from weather. If you turn the hem over and restitch on a sewing machine, the edges will not become ragged from the elements. I especially like to see the American flag flying fray-free ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: My friend has cryptogenic cirrhosis. She says that the doctors don’t know what causes it. Where could this have come from, and what does this mean for her? — A.T.G. ANSWER: “Cryptogenic” is from the Greek roots “krytpo-” (meaning hidden) and -genic (for ...

Q. My dad is a good man. He is also an alcoholic. He has been in recovery for seven years. Today, he admitted to my family that he has been getting drunk on Listerine! A. Good people can sometimes become addicted to alcohol. We have heard from more than 100 readers about the dangers of ...

The outcome of most contracts depends largely on how the defender’s cards are distributed. This refers not only to how the suits are divided, but also to the location of the missing high cards. Nevertheless, a thoughtful declarer can sometimes overcome a bad lie of the cards by allowing for ...

Gardening myths — we all have heard one or the other through our gardening journey — whether passed down through generations from family members, neighbors or the vast web of the internet. While some tips stand the test of time, others are based on myths that can actually harm plants or ...