Hartford, CT
On Your Side
Prime Big Deal Days Return As Amazon Tightens Benefit Sharing Rules: What To Know Prime Big Deal Days Return As Amazon Tightens Benefit Sharing Rules: What To Know
Prime Big Deal Days Return As Amazon Tightens Benefit Sharing Rules: What To Know Amazon Prime's latest major promotion is promising millions of early holiday discounts just days after new restrictions on account sharing are set to begin. Prime Big Deal Days will begin at 3:01 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 7, Amazon announced in a news release on Tuesday, Sept. 16. Early offers are already live, including up to 50% off Samsonite travel gear, 40% off holiday décor and entertaining items, and fall clothing starting at $10. Amazon is promoting deals across toys, electronics, home goods, beauty, and seasonal décor. Members can also shop curated lists like the…

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by Chris Spiker
Bethesda, MD
On Your Side
Toddler's Death Prompts Massive Recall Of Toy Kitchens Toddler's Death Prompts Massive Recall Of Toy Kitchens
Toddler's Death Prompts Massive Recall Of Toy Kitchens Nearly 200,000 toy kitchens are being recalled after a toddler was killed by the playset. Backyard Kids is recalling about 192,000 KidKraft Farm to Table Model Play Kitchens sold in the US and Canada, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday, July 31. Plastic and metal hooks for holding toy pots and pans can snag children's clothing, creating risks of serious injuries or death. The recall comes after a 23-month-old Oregon boy died by asphyxiation in February 2023, according to the CPSC. The toddler's shirt got caught on one of the hooks as he cli…

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by Chris Spiker
Hartford, CT
On Your Side
Starbucks Adding New Menu Items As Chain's Sales Slump: Here's What's Coming Starbucks Adding New Menu Items As Chain's Sales Slump: Here's What's Coming
Starbucks Adding New Menu Items As Chain's Sales Slump: Here's What's Coming The head of Starbucks is downplaying the coffeehouse chain's latest sales slump as the company tries to get more customers back into its stores. Starbucks saw a 2% drop in US and global sales during its third quarter of fiscal year 2025, the company said in its earnings report on Tuesday, July 29. This is the chain's sixth consecutive quarter of shrinking comparable sales, CNBC reported. CEO Brian Niccol said the company's turnaround is "ahead of schedule." "While our financial results don't yet reflect all the progress we've made, the signs are clear — we're gaining momentum," s…

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by Chris Spiker
Hartford, CT
On Your Side
Wendy's Newest Meal Takes Dark Turn With Wednesday Addams: See What's In It Wendy's Newest Meal Takes Dark Turn With Wednesday Addams: See What's In It
Wendy's Newest Meal Takes Dark Turn With Wednesday Addams: See What's In It It's a collaboration of dreams (or nightmares, really) for fans of a hit Netflix show. Wendy's is releasing a "Meal of Misfortune," themed after the mysterious comedy "Wednesday." The meals will be available in US restaurants on Monday, Aug. 4. The show starring Jenna Ortega features Wednesday Addams, a character originally from the classic sitcom "The Addams Family." Part one of the second season debuts on Wednesday, Aug. 6. The limited-time meal includes "Rest in 10-Piece" chicken nuggets, small "Cursed & Crispy" french fries, two mystery "Dips of Dread" sauces, and a cherr…

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by Chris Spiker
Hartford, CT
On Your Side
Snack Wrap Hype Boosts McDonald's Sales After Slump, New Data Shows Snack Wrap Hype Boosts McDonald's Sales After Slump, New Data Shows
Snack Wrap Hype Boosts McDonald's Sales After Slump, New Data Shows The return of the McDonald's Snack Wrap has spiced things up for the chain after it suffered a sharp sales decline as Americans cut back on restaurant spending. The snack wrap returned to US menus on Thursday, July 10. On that day, McDonald's saw a 15% jump in foot traffic compared to an average day in 2025, and an 11.4% jump compared to a typical Thursday, according to Placer.ai. The surge continued into the weekend, with a 22.3% traffic rise on Friday, July 11, compared to an average 2025 day. "After nine years of pent-up demand, fans showed up in full force to celebrate the re…

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by Chris Spiker
Stamford, CT
On Your Side
Alert Issued After Plastic Found In Popular Beef Jerky Products Alert Issued After Plastic Found In Popular Beef Jerky Products
Alert Issued After Plastic Found In Popular Beef Jerky Products A possible contamination risk has triggered a nationwide warning for beef jerky sticks distributed across the US and Puerto Rico. Federal officials say some of the ready-to-eat snacks may contain pieces of clear plastic — prompting a public health alert from the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The affected products include: 6.9-ounce bags of “Riverbend Ranch Original Beef Stick,” with six 1.15-ounce vacuum-sealed packages inside and a best-by date of Nov. 27, 2026 6.9-ounce bags of “Riverbend Ranch Jalapeño Beef Stick,” with the same size and date…

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by Joe Lombardi
Egg Harbor Township, NJ
On Your Side
EHT's Spirit Halloween Hiring 50K Workers To Prepare For 'Killer Season': How To Apply EHT's Spirit Halloween Hiring 50K Workers To Prepare For 'Killer Season': How To Apply
EHT's Spirit Halloween Hiring 50K Workers To Prepare For 'Killer Season': How To Apply Summer is just beginning, but Halloween lovers looking for some extra cash can already get started on spooky season. Spirit Halloween is hiring for more than 50,000 retail jobs, the retailer said in a news release on Wednesday, June 25. The company based in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, is aiming to open more than 1,500 temporary stores across the US and Canada. According to Spirit Halloween, workers will enjoy perks like flexible schedules, competitive pay, and a premium incentive program. "With the anticipation for Halloween at an all-time high, we are committed to creating the s…

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by Chris Spiker
Hartford, CT
On Your Side
Starbucks Reportedly Tweaks Pricing For Drink Charges: Here's What's New Starbucks Reportedly Tweaks Pricing For Drink Charges: Here's What's New
Starbucks Reportedly Tweaks Pricing For Drink Charges: Here's What's New Starbucks is changing how it charges for some drink add-ons in a move the company claims will simplify pricing and save customers money, according to reports. Customers in the US and Canada will now pay a flat 80 cents for any combination of sauces and syrups, no matter how many pumps or flavors are added, Starbucks said. The news was first reported by Bloomberg. Previously, the cost of modifications varied depending on the drink or specific flavor. The change applies only to company-operated stores. A Starbucks spokesperson told Bloomberg that it'll also be free to add or swap any sy…

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by Chris Spiker
National Interest
Home Listings Surge To Record $698 Billion As Buyers Back Off Home Listings Surge To Record $698 Billion As Buyers Back Off
Home Listings Surge To Record $698 Billion As Buyers Back Off A swelling supply of unsold homes and a slowdown in buyer activity have sent the housing market to a record high — $698 billion in total listings, the largest dollar value seen in more than a decade. That figure, reported by Redfin, is based on the combined asking prices of all active home listings across the US at the end of April. It marks a 20.3 percent increase from one year ago, and the highest value since Redfin began tracking the data in 2012. Much of that growth is driven by stale inventory. More than $330 billion worth of homes have sat on the market for 60 days or longer, accordin…

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by Joe Lombardi
New Rochelle, NY
On Your Side
Sunny Days Ahead: Netflix Welcomes Sesame Street To Streaming Platform Sunny Days Ahead: Netflix Welcomes Sesame Street To Streaming Platform
Sunny Days Ahead: Netflix Welcomes Sesame Street To Streaming Platform More than 50 years after first welcoming viewers to its sunny neighborhood, Sesame Street is heading to Netflix with a revamped 56th season and 90 hours of classic episodes – even as the show's creators face layoffs, unionizing staff, and lost funding. Sesame Street will debut its 56th season on Netflix later in 2025, the show said in a news release on Monday, May 19. The deal gives Netflix exclusive global premiere rights to the show, which will also remain free to US viewers through PBS and PBS Kids digital platforms. The reimagined season features one 11-minute story per episode, new int…

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by Chris Spiker
Alexandria, VA
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Business Travel May Suffer As Trump's Tariffs, Border Policies Fuel Global Concerns: Survey Business Travel May Suffer As Trump's Tariffs, Border Policies Fuel Global Concerns: Survey
Business Travel May Suffer As Trump's Tariffs, Border Policies Fuel Global Concerns: Survey Business travel may soon decline as international companies reassess economic and logistical hurdles created by President Donald Trump's trade wars and border policies. Nearly a third (29%) of corporate travel buyers now expect their company's travel volume to drop in 2025, according to an April survey from the Global Business Travel Association. US firms are forecasting a slightly steeper average decline than international companies. Those expecting less business travel are projecting a 21% drop for their companies on average. Nearly one in five (19%) said they're uncertain about the …

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by Chris Spiker
Hartford, CT
On Your Side
DHL Ends High-Value Delivery Pause As Trump's Tariffs Spark Customs Backlog DHL Ends High-Value Delivery Pause As Trump's Tariffs Spark Customs Backlog
DHL Ends High-Value Delivery Pause As Trump's Tariffs Spark Customs Backlog A major global shipping company has lifted its pause on high-value shipments to the US after stopping them for a week due to President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. DHL has resumed business-to-consumer deliveries for packages with declared values of $800 or more. The company made the announcement in a website update on Monday, April 28.  The German shipping giant paused high-value shipments on Monday, April 21. DHL warned customers that the latest tariff-driven rule changes to inspections had overwhelmed its clearance systems, triggering multi-day delays. The re…

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by Chris Spiker