2 weeks agoNews PlusComments Off on Assafuah urges voters to recognize the value of experienced MPs for sustained development
Vincent Ekow Assafuah has reiterated the critical need for legislators to remain in office to maximize their ability to effect meaningful change. According to the Member of Parliament for Old-Tafo, the practical experience gained over time is vital for MPs to enhance their skills and become more effective advocates for their constituents. In an interview […]
2 weeks agoNews PlusComments Off on JOANN Is Closing More Stores—Here’s Where and When
Another day, another closure notice from a major retailer. In the past month alone, we've had news about store closings from Big Lots, Party City, Walmart, CVS, and Macy's, among others. Now, JOANN is the latest company to announce that it will close locations in 2025. The 82-year-old craft and fabric store confirmed the news to Retail Dive, with Amanda Hayes, JOANN's director of corporate communications, diversity, and inclusion, saying the stores "are being closed as part of routine store location evaluation and optimization."
In March 2024, JOANN filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, noting that it had secured $132 million in funding to pay off its debt, as The Washington Post reported. Some analysts opined that the store had fallen on hard times due to a post-Covid slump, inflation, and customers taking their business to Hobby Lobby, which tends to offer lower prices.
However, at the time, the retailer operated 829 stores in 49 states and said it had no plans to close any of them—until now.
JOANN is closing at least six stores.
In an email to Retail Dive, Hayes confirmed that JOANN will close its locations in the following six cities:
Burlington, Iowa
Owings Mills, Maryland
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Ithaca, New York
Hickory, North Carolina
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Local news outlets have also reported the closure of the following locations:
Hayes did not provide details on when these stores will close and if there will be additional closures in the coming year. However, she did note that JOANN "opened new and remodeled locations in recent months, including new stores in Great Falls, MT and Maplewood, MN."
Best Life has reached out to JOANN for more information, and we will update this story with their response.
Shoppers can expect major sales at these locations.
Though it's not been confirmed by JOANN, shoppers can likely expect major sales at shuttering locations. In reporting on the closing of the Hermitage, Pennsylvania store, local NBC affiliate 21 WFMJ said there were signs in the windows advertising 50 to 70 percent off the entire store.
Likewise, Barbara Boyles, the store manager of the Burlington, Iowa store told The Hawk Eye that they were instructed to start a liquidation sale of 70 to 90 percent off that ran from Dec. 1 to its final closing on Jan. 19. She said at some point during that time, the company would likely tell employees to stop cutting fabric "which will then be sold by what is left on the bolt."
On the other end of the spectrum, JOANN's main rival, Hobby Lobby, recently opened five new locations in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, South Carolina, and Idaho, as Best Life reported.
"Inflation has negatively impacted nearly all businesses, individuals, and families over the past several years, Hobby Lobby's founder and CEO David Green said in a press release. "We have worked hard to hold our prices down, and are thankful for our continued success as a company."
2 weeks agoNews PlusComments Off on BrewDog to shut SIX more bars in wave of rapid closures
BEER giant BrewDog announced it’s starting the new year by axing six bars.
The closures come after the Scots firm’s latest accounts revealed it lost a record £63 million.
Brewdog is the UK’s largest beer brand and has sites across the world[/caption]
The Brewdog bar in Nice, France, is closing for good[/caption]
Now the shutters are coming down at three venues in Europe, one in China and another two in England.
It’s the third year in a row Brewdog, based in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, has closed boozers
CEO James Arrow broke the grim news to staff and shareholders.
He said: “As you will be very aware, the hospitality sector has faced unprecedented challenges over the last few years – both in the UK and around the world.
“And whilst our bar estate has been very resilient, we’ve not been immune, and some locations have felt the impact more acutely than others.
“Unfortunately, we recently made the tough decision to close four of our international bars.
“Our focus has been on liaising with affected teams and finding them alternative locations where possible.”
Brewdog’s bars in Paris and Nice are closing along with its site in Frankfurt, Germany.
While the chain’s flagship first bar to open in China, based in Shanghai, is also shutting down for good.
The two English pubs in Bradford and Huddersfield were run as a franchise by Tokyo Industries until they decided to throw in the towel.
But James revealed they will continue to work with the craft beer firm as a partner.
The news comes as former Brewdog CEO James Watt was blasted for claiming that people don’t need a “work-life” balance”.
In October the company shared its latest accounts which showed a loss of £63 million, after a £22million shortfall the previous year.
The last time it made a profit was in 2019 but boss James vowed to take it out of the red.
Controversial former Brewdog boss James Watt[/caption]
And he claimed things are still looking good, even after the latest closures.
James said: “Despite this, our bar business remains strong, with a great customer proposition and strong plans are in place to support growth.
“New franchise openings from 2024 are all operating really well too, including Bangkok, Perth and Rotterdam.
“As well as at transport hubs including Edinburgh Waverley and Belfast Grand Central.
“I am confident in 2025 our bar business will continue to go from strength to strength, as we continue spreading our passion for quality beer around the globe.”
One fan of the Brewdog pub in Paris said: “Such a shame.”
Another added: “Such sad news for the staff. Good luck everyone.”
One shareholder, known as an equity punk, said: “It’s the staff who suffer from all of this. I think many of us are concerned that bars are closing rapidly.”
In 2022 the axe fell on six Brewdog sites. Soaring energy prices were blamed.
While the following year another three venues in England and one Pittsburgh in the US shuttered for good.
Brewdog is the UK’s largest craft beer brand and employs more than 2,600 people across the globe.
Last year it came under fire after it dropped the real living wage for workers.
2 weeks agoNews PlusComments Off on Horror vid shows two men & dog trapped inside home surrounded by LA wildfires with firestorm inferno raging just outside
HORRIFYING video shows two men and a dog trapped inside a Los Angeles home as a fire rages just feet from it.
The apocalyptic footage has emerged out of the massive wildfires which have hit the city and gutted celebrity homes.
Huge flames can be seen outside the lounge window[/caption]
The flames are meters high and are recorded by people still inside the home[/caption]
The flames turn to bright yellow at one point in the video[/caption]
LA‘s bright lights were swamped and overtaken by the fires in the northwest of the city.
The terrifying scale of these fires was caught on camera by a passenger aboard a flight out of LAX Airport.
Celebs in the path of LA's monster fires
TERRIFYING wildfires have swept through Los Angeles and have forced around 30,000 people to flee, including major A-list celebs.
The largest of the raging fires has hit the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
This area is home to some of LA’s wealthiest residents and their multi-million dollar pads.
Here are some of the stars who could be forced to evacuate the coastal area as authorities warn the “worst is yet to come”.
Tom Hanks
The movie legend, 68, and his wife Rita Wilson, 68, own a $26 million mansion in the neighborhood.
They reportedly bought the sprawling 14,513 square-foot house in 2010.
Ben Affleck
The actor, 52, reportedly bought his $20.5 million bachelor pad on the same day as his now ex-wife Jennifer Lopez’s birthday.
His 6,200 square-foot property, which sits on an acre of land, is near the desired Pacific Palisades area.
Mark Hamill
The Star Wars legend revealed he was evacuated from his home in Malibu.
Hamill, 73, said he fled to his daughter Chelsea’s house in Hollywood with his wife Marilou and their dog Trixie.
Miles Teller
The actor, 37, and his model wife Keleigh Sperry, 32, own a $7.5 million mansion.
This couple purchased their 6,622 square-foot LA home in March 2023.
Jhene Aiko
The singer, 36, reportedly lives in her $5.6 million Pacific Palisades home with her rapper boyfriend Big Sean, 36.
Aiko’s five bedroom and five bathroom home sits on half an acre of land in the affluent area.
Ralf Moeller
Gladiator star Ralf Moeller told German newspaper Bild he had fled his home and had never seen anything like it in his 30 years living in the US.
He said: “The hot desert winds blowing at speeds of more than 60 kilometers per hour are fanning the flames like a hairdryer held over the hot embers.”
Alabama and Landon Barker
The children of drummer Travis Barker revealed they were forced to evacuate their LA home.
Alabama, 19, told her followers: “They are saying the fire are spreading football field amounts in seconds.”
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag
The reality TV couple revealed the heartbreaking news that their home had been completely destroyed by the wildfire.
They were able to flee their $3 million mansion with their two children in time.
Eugene Levy
Actor Eugene Levy, known for his role in the American Pie films and Schitt’s Creek TV show, found himself stuck as he tried to flee.
He told the LA Times: “The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon… I couldn’t see any flames but the smoke was very dark.”
A tree burns outside a McDonald’s in Pacific Palisades[/caption]
2 weeks agoNews PlusComments Off on Mauro Icardi sent X-rated sex texts to estranged wife Wanda Nara as messy divorce takes new twist
MAURO ICARDI’s messy divorce from Wanda Nara has taken a new twist as it was revealed he sent her X-rated sex texts.
The Galatasaray striker is splitting from Nara after their 10-year tumultuous relationship.
Mauro Icardi sent X-rated messages to Wanda Nara despite their divorce proceedings[/caption]
The couple’s relationship ended in 2024 after ten years[/caption]
Nara’s lawyer presented the messages as part of the divorce proceedings.
As quoted by Bild, they read: “Do you think I want to f*** another girl? You think I want to do something with another girl.
“I can’t! I want to do it with you, […], like I’ve been doing it for 10 years and I’m crazy about it and I love it so much!!!
“Why do you keep saying nasty things about me?
“I want to feel that peace that I feel when you sit on me and we make love, I want to have that love that has filled me with so much pride for 10 years.
“Whatever you want… it’s the love of my life!!!! And I want it to last forever.
Nara and Icardi have a complicated history[/caption]
The couple have broken up and got back together in the past[/caption]
“We will look for a solution to everything… but let me do it.
“I know you’re dying to f*** me […]. Will you give us a chance? Will you leave me?”
However, the messages have not appeared to have turned Nara’s head as the divorce is still expected to go ahead.
The 31-year-old former PSG star has now been served with a restraining order stating he has to stay away from his ex and her home.
Icardi will be out of action for the rest of the season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury in Galatasaray’s match against Spurs last year.
Wanda recently called the cops on Icardi to evict him from her home[/caption]
He has been with a restraining order from Wanda[/caption]
2 weeks agoNews PlusComments Off on Gamer couple uses GTA Online for ‘wholesome’ gender reveal & people say it’s 100% better than balloon popping nonsense
FORGET forking out a fortune on balloons and decorations – one gaming couple has taken the web by storm after finding out the gender of their baby on GTA Online.
Although fans are still waiting for just about any updates about GTA 6, GTA Online will keep millions around the world going right up until launch day.
One couple has gone viral after finding out the gender of their baby on GTA Online[/caption]
The heartwarming moment the parents-to-be realised they would be welcoming a baby boy[/caption]
The online portion of GTA 5 is a huge sandbox, jam-packed with things to do, people to see, and of course, crimes to commit.
However, GTA Online is also home to a huge community of players who engage in roleplay and use it to hang out with friends – or to organise virtual gender reveals.
In what might be the most oddly ”wholesome” video from the online universe so far, one couple has used the game site for their baby’s gender reveal.
Posted on the GTA subreddit, one gaming-loving couple appeared to have ditched the balloon-popping trend and went for something a little more unique.
Waiting at a spot overlooking the virtual sea sporting fitting pink and blue outfits, the excited pair wait for a series of blue and pink planes to fly over Los Santos, a huge and sprawling metropolis in GTA Online.
Just moments later, as the parents-to-be follow the journey in real life, the planes shift to a blue colour to confirm the gender as a boy.
It was a heartwarming moment, with the woman and her partner embracing one another in a hug – and the Reddit community has reacted in kind.
“I can get behind this. No deaths. No injuries. No property damage,” wrote one social media user.
”And it didn’t cost thousands of dollars.”
“Ngl thats kinda wholesome and way better than a regular gender reveal,” another added.
Meanwhile, someone else joked that it would be all too easy for a griefer to turn up and start messing things up.
”This is a good way to do a gender reveal. No wild fires, just a shared love of GTA. Awesome,” a fourth gave the idea a thumbs-up.
Another confessed that although they desperately wanted to hate the idea, they simply couldn’t.
”Honestly, I want to talk sh*t. I can’t though. Simple, fun and entertaining enough. Well done.”
What’s the Deal with Gender Reveals & Why is Everyone Having Them?
What Is A Gender Reveal?
Gender reveal parties are celebrations where expectant parents announce the sex of their baby in a creative and often dramatic way.
These events have gained significant popularity, especially through social media.
The trend began in the late 2000s and has since exploded in popularity.
The concept was popularised by parents who wanted to share their excitement with family and friends in a memorable and engaging way.
Common Methods:
Cakes: Cutting a cake filled with either blue or pink filling.
Balloons: Popping a balloon to release colored confetti.
Smoke Bombs: Releasing colored smoke.
Piñatas: Breaking a piñata to reveal colored candies or confetti.
Fireworks: Using fireworks to display blue or pink colors.
Why Are They So Popular?
Social Media Influence: Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube have amplified the trend, with many parents posting videos and photos that go viral.
Milestone Celebration: It’s an additional way for parents to celebrate a significant milestone during pregnancy.
Creativity: These events offer an outlet for parents to be creative and personalize their announcement.
Community Sharing: They provide an opportunity to include extended family and friends in the pregnancy journey.
Controversies:
Safety Concerns: Some gender reveal methods have led to accidents and even wildfires.
Environmental Impact: The use of non-biodegradable materials and fireworks can have environmental consequences.
Inclusivity: There’s growing awareness and sensitivity towards non-binary and transgender identities, leading to criticism that these events can be exclusionary.
Despite the controversies, gender reveal parties continue to evolve.
Some parents are opting for more eco-friendly and inclusive ways to celebrate, while others are choosing to forgo the tradition altogether.
In summary, gender reveals are a modern trend driven by social media, creativity, and the desire to celebrate milestones.
However, they also come with their share of controversies, prompting some to reconsider how they choose to share their baby news.
A British couple were so excited to find out the sex of their first ever child, but the mum-to-be was left fuming after her husband’s mother ‘ruined’ the moment.
In a video shared by the @itsgoneviral TikTok account, the excited couple can be seen pulling on a confetti canon and jumping for joy when pink paper flies out of the canon, indicating that they are going to have a baby girl.
The mum-to-be turns to give her husband a hug but is taken aback when her mother-in-law barges past her and jumps on to her son, knocking him on to the sofa as she envelopes him in a tight hug.
“She’s gonna be like her nanny, she’s gonna be like her nanny”, the grandmother-to-be cries, as she continues to tightly wrap her arms around her son, whilst his wife looks visibly upset.
Fighting back tears, the wife storms over to her mother-in-law, to give her a piece of her mind.
“You just completely stole our moment”, she fumes.
2 weeks agoNews PlusComments Off on Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt Lose Home in Pacific Palisades Fire
Spencer Pratt’s sister, Stephanie Pratt, revealed her brother and his wife, Heidi Montag, lost their Los Angeles home as the Pacific Palisades fire continues to ravage the Los Angeles area. According to an Instagram post from Stephanie, Montag, 38, and Pratt, 41, lost their property as the blaze took hold of the star-studded area on […]
2 weeks agoNews PlusComments Off on Фрази, які ніколи не можна говорити жінці, яка перебуває в декретній відпустці
0 Виходити на роботу через місяць після народження малюка чи залишатися вдома на три декретних роки — вирішує тільки сама мама. Але є слова, які жодна з них не хотіла б почути від друзів і близьких. Чим ти займаєшся весь день? Запитати таке може тільки людина, яка ніколи не залишалася з дитиною наодинці більше, ніж […]
2 weeks agoNews PlusComments Off on Prison officer who filmed cell romp with lag is sharing cushy jail wing with Sara Sharif’s killer stepmum & Lucy Letby
Disgraced prison guard Linda De Sousa Abreu who reluctantly had sex in her cell shares a wing with Sara Sharif’s ...