Latest news

Supermarket chain praised for its low prices opens new store in Springfield: they will expand nationwide

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BJ's Wholesale Club storefront with red signage and curbside pickup at Springfield location

The warehouse club, praised by loyalists as “better than Costco,” will return to its Massachusetts roots this winter—sparking hundreds of jobs and signaling a coast‑to‑coast building spree. BJ’s Wholesale Club will anchor the new Springfield Crossing shopping center on Boston Road, reviving the long‑shuttered Eastfield Mall site and hiring 100‑150 employees. The winter‑2025 debut marks the Marlborough‑based chain’s … Read more

Confirmed: Harley-Davidson recalls over 82,000 Softail motorcycles due to shock absorber defect

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Harley-Davidson motorcycle fuel tank with logo in close-up view

A broken adjuster mount could gouge the rear tire and cause sudden pressure loss, federal safety officials warn, prompting one of the company’s largest recalls in years. Harley‑Davidson riders who own a 2018‑2024 Softail may want to schedule a service visit—fast. The Milwaukee icon is pulling back 82,117 bikes after the National Highway Traffic Safety … Read more

A man working at a gas station has his life changed by a coin from the cash register: it is worth $3.2 million

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Close-up of gas station cash register with quarters and bills, where rare $3.2 million coin was discovered

An everyday till count ended in a life‑changing windfall after Steve Whitmore spotted a gleaming rarity hiding among the quarters. Steve Whitmore thought he was just setting up for another morning shift in South Conway, Arkansas. Instead, a single half‑dollar tucked in his register turned an ordinary Tuesday into a headline‑making payday worth $3.21 million. How a routine cash‑drawer … Read more

Confirmed: beloved barbecue chain closes all but one restaurant after 40 years

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Front of Armadillo Willy’s barbecue restaurant with outdoor seating and close-up of smoked meat platter with sauce

Armadillo Willy’s trims four‑decade footprint to a single San Mateo location, stunning longtime brisket lovers across Silicon Valley. Barbecue fans who grew up on Armadillo Willy’s mesquite‑kissed ribs woke up to a shock this week: the homegrown chain has quietly closed its Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and Blossom Hill smokehouses, keeping only the San Mateo store running. After 40 years of wood‑fired pride, … Read more

Discover a medieval 18-karat gold ring with a rare purple sapphire dating back 700 years: its origin is more than 7,000 km away.

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medieval 18-karat gold ring with rare purple sapphire found in Slovak castle

A bishop’s lost jewel, clad in 18‑karat gold and guarded by twin lions, reappears after seven centuries to illuminate medieval trade and faith. The rediscovery of a reddish‑purple sapphire ring at Zvolen Castle, central Slovakia, is rewriting what we thought we knew about medieval luxury. Found by a treasure hunter in 2001 but studied only … Read more

A woman works for 35 years in Social Security and now her financial future hangs in the balance thanks to Trump

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Woman looks out from doorway, concerned about federal retirement cuts after 35 years of Social Security service

House measure would scrap the special FERS supplement, trimming thousands of dollars from longtime employees’ expected income. For Michele Santa Maria, who spent 35 years guiding Social Security claimants through red tape, the promise of a full pension plus a bridge payment from 57 to 62 made the long days worthwhile. Now that bridge is cracking. A … Read more

Confirmed: July 1 license plate change will affect all Texas drivers and car dealers—are you ready?

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Vintage license plates from various U.S. states, highlighting changes in vehicle identification laws like Texas' new July 1 metal plate rule

Paper tags disappear under HB 718 as state cracks down on fraud. Starting July 1, 2025, the familiar paper temporary tag becomes history in Texas. House Bill 718 demands that all vehicles—whether newly purchased, in transit, or on a test drive—carry metal license plates that can’t be faked with a home printer. Motorists, dealers, and county offices all … Read more

No license, no Real ID: Apple’s digital passport could get you through TSA next fall

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Illustration of a U.S. passport next to an Apple Wallet digital ID screen, indicating transition to digital IDs for TSA checkpoints.

Starting with iOS 26, U.S. travelers will be able to flash a passport stored in Apple Wallet and skip digging out paper documents at select domestic checkpoints. Apple’s next iPhone update will bring a feature many fliers have been waiting for: the option to create a secure digital version of a U.S. passport that the Transportation Security … Read more

Airport security crackdown: seven spreadable foods now barred in hand luggage

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TSA officer inspects carry-on luggage at airport security checkpoint while traveler waits during bag screening process

New 3.4‑ounce enforcement targets creamy cheeses, hummus, and other spreadables that travelers often pack for flights. The Transportation Security Administration has quietly tightened its liquid‑and‑gel rules, singling out seven everyday snacks that many passengers toss into a backpack without a second thought. Anyone caught with more than 3.4 ounces of these foods in a carry‑on risks … Read more

Historic discovery in this country: a gigantic gold vein weighing a thousand tons that could become the most valuable ever found

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Hand holding several natural gold nuggets after historic discovery in China’s Hunan province

Discovery of a 1,000‑ton deposit could redraw the global gold map and hand Beijing a powerful economic lever. China has confirmed the largest gold find ever recorded—an extraordinary ore body beneath Pingjiang County, Hunan, holding an estimated 1,000 metric tons worth more than $80 billion. If commercial mining hits its stride, the country’s influence over bullion markets may … Read more

This $2 bill could be any collector’s dream and be in your home: it’s worth up to $20,000

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Rare $2 bills with unique serial numbers under magnifying glass

Millions of two‑dollar bills remain in circulation, but savvy collectors will pay five figures for the rarest—sometimes as much as $20,000 for a single pristine note. Anyone with an old wallet, a forgotten lockbox, or a parent’s dresser drawer could hit the mini‑lottery. Why? Because the small details on a humble $2 bill can turn … Read more

These are the new laws that will take effect in California on July 1, 2025: Ten changes in citizens’ lives to keep in mind

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Gavin Newsom in front of Texas welcome sign during policy discussion

California’s July 1, 2025 rulebook ushers in big shifts for schools, apps, housing and healthFrom drug‑tested bus drivers to one‑click subscription cancellation, dozens of statutes hit the Golden State this summer. On July 1, California activates laws passed during the 2023‑24 session that touch classrooms, delivery platforms, short‑term rentals and more. Miss the fine print and you could … Read more

It’s official: the United States needs to sell more than 104 million hectares of public land: this is the largest auction in modern history

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Logos of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service over a federal grassland targeted for public land auction

The Senate has green‑lit the biggest divestiture of federal land in modern U.S. history, ordering the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to auction up to 104.4 million hectares across 11 western states. Lawmakers say the revenue—an estimated $29 billion between 2025 and 2034—will help fund promised tax cuts and speed new housing construction. … Read more

Confirmed: Apple postpones revamped Siri after AI upgrade falls short of expectations

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Hand holding an iPhone displaying Siri and ChatGPT logos, representing Apple’s delayed AI Siri upgrade

Apple confirms its overhauled voice assistant needs a new architecture, leaving iPhone owners waiting longer than expected. Apple fans counting on a smarter Siri will have to wait. The company has admitted that the “Apple Intelligence” refresh, first teased at WWDC 2024 and penciled in for late 2025, will not be ready until sometime in … Read more

It’s official: Texas is imposing fines of $10,000 and up to ten years in prison for drivers who fail to comply with the new law

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Heavy traffic on a Texas highway as stricter DWI laws impose up to $10,000 in fines and prison

Motorists now face up to $10,000 in fines and potentially a decade behind bars if caught driving while intoxicated. Texas has raised the stakes for anyone who chooses to drive after drinking or using drugs. The new rules take aim at repeat offenders, under‑21 motorists, and anyone endangering children on Lone Star roads—all while promising … Read more

Stricter U.S. student visa rules: social media must be public and full disclosure now required

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Group of diverse international students celebrating graduation, holding diplomas in caps and gowns outdoors

Beginning this week, international students and exchange visitors face a new hurdle: every F, M, and J applicant must set social media accounts to “public” and list every handle from the last five years. Foreign students eyeing American campuses will find the visa interview a lot more personal. Consular officers will still review passports, transcripts, and bank … Read more

Confirmed: Walt Disney World is saying goodbye to three beloved attractions at this theme park, which will close permanently on July 7

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Walt Disney World characters posing on Main Street with Cinderella Castle in the background before attraction closures

Disney confirms the permanent closure of three Magic Kingdom touchstones, clearing space for a Pixar‑themed Piston Peak National Park and a rumored Villains Land. Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is about to lose three of its calmest corners. On July 7, the legendary Liberty Square Riverboat, Tom Sawyer Island, and the surrounding Rivers of America waterway will sail, raft, and ripple for … Read more

SNAP benefits of up to $292 reach EBT cards June 22-28—see if your state is on the list

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Map of the United States with June 2025 calendar and SNAP benefits logo indicating EBT deposit dates

Up to $292 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will land on Electronic Benefit Transfer cards between June 22 and June 28, closing out June payments for nine states and Puerto Rico. June’s last round of food‑stamp money is almost here. Recipients in Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Puerto Rico, and other participating areas have just … Read more

Goodbye to this supermarket: plans to shut 60 supermarkets over 18 months in nationwide shake-up

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Kroger Food & Pharmacy storefront with prominent blue logo on brick-and-stone facade, illustrating the chain’s planned 60-store closure.

The Cincinnati‑based grocer says the closures—about 5 percent of its footprint—will free up cash to upgrade surviving stores amid a tough retail climate. Kroger will close 60 supermarkets over the next year and a half, trimming roughly one in twenty of its 1,239 U.S. locations. The decision, announced alongside first‑quarter earnings, follows a $100 million impairment charge … Read more