The people of Fargo, North Dakota, can’t seem to catch a break. Just as the threat of flooding began to recede, a massive snowstorm started pounding the area. Meteorologists say Fargo could have as much as 16 inches of snow over the next few days. Two people have died and 50 other people have been injured thus far. Officials say most of the injuries are the result of car accidents, but there have also been other problems, including carbon monoxide poisoning.

With the situation in Fargo, it seems like a good time to remind folks of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. When the power goes out and people use alternative sources to heat their homes, it can lead to some huge problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 400 people die each year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. What’s so tricky about carbon monoxide poisoning is that it’s often hard to detect. That’s why it’s called “the silent killer.” So here are some things you need to keep in mind to protect your family.

1. Carbon monoxide can kill In a matter of minutes According to the Environmental Protection Agency you can’t see, smell or taste carbon monoxide. It is produced whenever gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal is burned in an area that is not properly ventilated. The elderly and young children are especially vulnerable to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

2. What are the symptoms? According to MayoClinic.com, the most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. People who are sleeping or who have been drinking alcohol can die from CO poisoning before ever having symptoms.

3. How can I avoid CO poisoning? The CDC  suggests the following:
• Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home.
• Never leave the motor running in your car while it’s in the garage or another enclosed space.
• Never use a charcoal grill, hibachi, lantern or portable camping stove inside a home, tent or camper.

As some of my readers and viewers might know, I grew up in Canada. So you can guess how tickled pink I was to get a chance to interview the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper yesterday, just before he set out to the G20 Summit in London, which kicks off on Thursday.

Now I have no doubt some of you are rolling your eyes and wondering why you should care about Canada, especially right now when America is busy worrying about its own deepening recession. After all, Canada is the one other country out there that looks like America - at least in most respects.

But the state of the American economy is exactly why you should care about Canada right now. Let's take a look at some facts about the Canadian economy, some of which might surprise you.

1) There's no sub-prime mortgage crisis in Canada. That's because over the last two decades, the Canadian government didn’t loosen regulatory standards like the U.S. government did, so Canadian banks did not end up giving out those pesky sub-prime loans that are now coming back to bite American bankers on their bottoms.

2) Last year, the World Economic Forum ranked Canada's banking system the healthiest in the world. America's banking system was ranked a depressing number 40! Even now, Canada's banking system is 100 percent private, and expanding its influence. That's because U.S. banks are shrinking rapidly because of their many blunders. In fact, right now TD Bank - which is Canadian - is the fifth largest bank in all of North America.

3) The Canadian economy is inextricably linked with the U.S. economy. Canada is the single largest provider of oil and natural gas to the United States. U.S. automakers employ roughly 30,000 workers in Canada, with another 181,000 Canadians working for parts suppliers and some 140,000 working at auto dealerships. All that boils down to this: Changes in U.S. energy policy and governmental decisions regarding failing American automakers have a huge effect not only on us, but also our neighbor to the north.

While Canada is also suffering the effects of the worldwide recession, it has managed to do a lot of things right, and it might do Americans some good to learn a few lessons from those Canuckle-heads as the American government begins to think about reforming the U.S. banking system in the months and years to come.

Ali Velshi is CNN’s Chief Business Correspondent and the author of “Gimme My Money Back: Your Guide Through the Financial Crisis.” You can follow Ali on Twitter @alivelshi.

The number if children with autism has risen dramatically in the past decade. According to the group Autism Speaks, a new case of autism is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says the earlier the diagnosis, the sooner a child can begin an effective intervention program.

Here are some of the signs and symptoms that the AAP says are associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder in children:

1) Social differences. A child doesn't snuggle when picked up, but arches his back instead. The child doesn't keep eye contact, doesn't respond to a parent's smile, doesn't point to objects, doesn't show concern for others and is unable to make friends.

2) Communication differences. No single words are said by 15 months, or 2-word phrases by 24 months. A child loses language skills at any age, doesn't respond to his name being called or doesn't start or continue a conversation.

3) Behavioral differences. A child rocks, spins, sways, twirls fingers or flaps hands. He likes routines, order and rituals and may be obsessed with a few activities, engaging in them repeatedly during the day. The child doesn't cry if in pain or doesn't seem to have any fear.

Experts point out that no two children with autism have the exact same symptoms. If you see any of the signs above, check with a pediatric specialist.

Judy Fortin's Health Minute segment runs daily on HLN from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays.

Property taxes are up almost 14 percent from 2005, this—even as the value of your home may be way down. Here's how you can cut that bill.

1) Get the lowdown

Why is it that the value of your home is down, while you're still paying the same (or more) in taxes? For starters, your home's assessment is not just based on your home's value. It also takes into account the replacement cost of your home. In other words, what it would cost to rebuild your home from scratch. Secondly, there is a lag time. Your property may be assessed once every two to three years. And finally, local government is hurting for cash, and property taxes are one way to boost revenue.

2) Cut your taxes

Check the accuracy of your own assessment. To do this, go to the assessor's office and look for your property card that contains details of your home. Ask how your assessment value has been calculated. And then go over the details with a fine tooth comb and highlight the errors. Errors like the number of rooms there are to square footage that’s listed or whether your basement is listed as finished when it isn’t. If there’s an error—you can probably get a correction on the spot. And find out what your neighbor’s assessment is—that’s all a matter of public record. If comparable homes are assessed at a difference of 10 percent of what your home is assessed at you have a good case.

3) Make your case

Gather evidence. Take photos of similar houses with lower assessments. You may need to get an appraisal in some cases—but be careful—this could cost you a couple hundred dollars. You generally have one to two months after you get your bill to appeal your property tax to your county assessors office. You may need to have a hearing before a local property tax appeals board.

For more of Gerri's Top Tips, watch CNN weekdays at 11:20 am Eastern Time.

Dandruff. It’s not the most popular water cooler topic but it affects almost all of us from time to time. An itchy scalp and the white flakes that follow are a nuisance and can hurt your confidence. The good news is that dandruff rarely is a sign of a serious medical condition.

Experts aren’t entirely sure what causes it, but the flakes you see are excess oil or dry skin. It develops most often on the scalp in infants and adults. Some studies show men are more likely to have dandruff than women.

Certain lifestyle changes can help reduce the severity of dandruff.

Get some sunshine: Outdoor activities, especially in the sun, have been proved to help reduce the signs of dandruff. Take advantage of the sunny days to come.

Eat vitamin-rich foods: Research shows that people who eat foods rich in zinc, omega-3 and vitamin B, they are less likely to have dandruff. Pack your diet with delicious foods including lean meat, yogurt, and nuts, seeds, avocado and fish.

Cut back on your hair products: Using styling creams and sprays in your hair can irritate the scalp and cause dandruff. Also, if you are prone to oily hair, be sure to wash often to avoid buildup.

Most cases of dandruff go away on their own or can be cleared up with over-the-counter medicated shampoos. The National Institutes of Health suggest shampoos that include salicylic acid, coal tar, zinc, resorcin, ketoconazole, or selenium. But dermatologists warn that all skin types react differently.  A person may need to switch between two different kinds of anti-dandruff shampoos and also wash with a regular shampoo from time to time. Check with your physician if unclear what the best method is for your skin type.

Be sure to tune in to Dr. Sanjay Gupta every weekend on HOUSE CALL. You'll find the answers to your medical questions Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET on CNN.

Mortgage rates are lower than 5 percent—but how can you get the best refinancing deal?

1) Seize the moment

Look—there is opportunity here.  Thirty-year year fixed mortgage rates are at 4.6 percent. Historically, that rate is 8 percent. If you take out a 30 year fixed rate loan at 5 percent on a house that costs $170,300, your monthly payment is $914.21. For that same house, you would pay an extra $335 a month if you had a rate that was at 8 percent. That's a yearly savings of over $4,000.

2) Beware of pitfalls

There are potential pitfalls you’ll want to be cautious of. First, the mortgage industry has downsized, there are fewer people taking your paperwork, and that means it will take longer for your refi to go through. Secondly, according to bankrate.com, Fannie and Freddie have increased their fees. So you could be paying extra fees of 1 percent or 2 percent of the loan amount, and sometimes even higher on top of all other closing costs.

3) Get your stuff together

Having enough equity is one of the biggest obstacles. These days you’ll need at least 20 percent equity to get the best rates. Make sure you keep your credit score as high as possible.  Get copies of your credit report to make sure there are no errors that need correcting. Get them free at annualcreditreport.com. Get all your paperwork together now. It’s taking banks two months to get through all those applications when in the past it was only two weeks.

Here's what you'll need: Two years of tax returns, one month of paystubs from all wage earners, three months asset statements and your most recent mortgage statement.

Watch Gerri every Saturday on "Your Bottom Line," 9:30 am Eastern Time on CNN.

The Dow surged a whopping 497 points yesterday, which isn’t just the biggest point gain this year: it's the fifth biggest single day point gain ever. Investors were all aflutter over the Administration's new plan to start buying up toxic assets from banks. The past few months we have been awash in big government plans - the bank bailout plan, the housing plan, the stimulus plan - so why is this one such a big deal?

Because it's primary goal is to free up credit - the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. Restoring credit means that businesses could again get loans to cover costs, like paying employees and expanding operations, and you and I could start getting loans to buy houses, cars, and education.

So how exactly is this plan going to do that? To me, it's easiest to think about it like a garage sale.

Toxic assets are like all the old junk the person having the garage sale wants to get rid of - old socks, broken bikes, a beat-up dresser. Up until now, the socks and bikes and dresser have been cluttering up the garage and making doing other things difficult, just like the toxic assets, by weighing down the banks' balance sheets, have been preventing them from making loans and doing the things banks do. Besides, the person having the garage sale - the banks - need the cash.

But who is going to buy a beat-up dresser? Someone who sees value in it - who understands that even if the dresser doesn’t look great now, touch it up with some varnish and the old thing can be sold for twice the profit at an antique store.

This new government plan is basically creating that potential buyer. the government, partnered with private investors, is going to buy up the banks' toxic assets (the old dresser) and sit on them in the hopes that, given time, they have real value. Then, sometime in the future, the government and private investors can head over to the antique shop and sell, sell, sell for considerable profits.

At least that’s the hope. Some critics say the toxic assets - loans on houses and securities tied to those loans - actually are almost worthless, and will stay that way. It's a big risk to take, to be sure. Even so, having these assets out of the banks' garages should vastly improve the banks' ability to lend, and that is a very good thing for everybody.

Ali Velshi is CNN’s Chief Business Correspondent and the author of "Gimme My Money Back: Your Guide Through the Financial Crisis." You can follow Ali on Twitter @alivelshi.

It's that time of year, when everyone around me at work seems to be coughing, sniffling and sneezing. It makes me wonder whether they're suffering from a cold, which is caused by a virus, or seasonal allergies brought on by budding trees and flowers.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has some tips on helping you and your doctor make the right diagnosis.

1) I'm burning up! If you have a fever, you probably have the flu or (less likely) a cold. Fever is not associated with allergies.

2) Bad taste, bad smell. Runny noses, sneezing, watery and itchy eyes can affect both allergy sufferers and those with a cold or the flu. Doctors can tell the difference between the two conditions by looking at the color of the nasal discharge. Allergies usually cause clear discharge. Colds usually result in yellow, bad-tasting and -smelling discharge.

3) Seasonal problems. Colds and the flu usually occur in the winter when people spend more time indoors. Outdoor allergies or hay fever can happen any time of the year, but typically in the spring, summer or fall.

4) When will it end? Cold and flu symptoms rarely last more than 10 days. Allergy symptoms can be chronic and last as long as you are exposed to an allergen.

There is no cure for allergies or a cold or the flu, but over-the-counter medications may help relieve some of the symptoms.

Judy Fortin's Health Minute segment runs daily on HLN from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays.

Last week, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine caught my eye. Researchers found that black adults developed heart failure at a rate 20 times higher than their white counterparts.

That means a 35-year-old black person has the same heart failure rate as a 55-year-old white person. So what's going on? Researchers say there are a variety of reasons for the disparity, ranging from family history and genetics to the high rates of obesity in the African American community.

As doctors told my colleague Shahreen Abedin, this study should be a wakeup call to the African American community. If you are worried about your heart health, the Association of Black Cardiologists suggests you should take the following steps:

1. See the doctor If you don't already have a doctor, find one. He or she can help you come up with an exercise program and diet that's right for you. If you need help finding a heart doctor, the Association of Black Cardiologists has resources to help.

2. Check your cholesterol levels Have your total cholesterol level checked, including HDL-C and triglycerides, at least every five years, or more frequently if your results are not within normal limits.

3. Eat healthy food  Eating the right foods and the right amounts can help you live a longer, healthier life. For a heart-healthy diet, eat a variety of foods, including: vegetables, especially dark-green leafy and deep yellow vegetables, like spinach and carrots, lean meats, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products.  To read more about the best foods for your heart, click here.

4. Get moving! Aim for at least moderate activity – such as brisk walking, raking leaves or house cleaning – for 30 minutes most days of the week. Before you start exercising or start a new diet talk to your doctor.

Companies are looking for ways to whittle down costs. A recent survey suggests that forty-two percent of companies have already frozen salaries. But here are some strategies on getting a raise, even in a down economy.

1) Make a plan

When asking for a raise, make sure you time it right. If you've just achieved a major success, you have a better chance of scoring a raise. And make sure you don't barge into your boss's office on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon. Schedule an appointment when your boss is less busy. And make sure you've outlined all your achievements. Your boss will want to know how you've contributed to the company's bottom line. And finally, be flexible. Let your boss know that you understand that times are tough. Maybe you don’t get the raise you wanted, but maybe you can negotiate for work-at-home Fridays

2) What NOT to do

No begging, whining or getting angry if you don't get the raise that you want. Remember, you don’t know how tenuous your job is. And when asking for that raise, don’t make it about you. No one cares that your expenses have gone up. Remember, necessity never made a good bargain.

3) Don't give up

Don't give up if it seems like you've been hitting a brick wall. It helps to be persistent. Ask the boss if he or she will consider a second meeting six months down the road or perhaps an accelerated annual review. If you can’t get a raise, take the long-term view and think about how your company can help you take the next step on your career path. Perhaps you can ask your employer to pay for additional education, training or career-development courses that will raise your value despite the economy.

Watch Gerri every Saturday at 9:30 am Eastern Time on Your Bottom Line.