Pre-season has been delayed for a pair of Fremantle veterans as teams return to the track from their post-Christmas break.
Read More »
Fremantle Dockers veterans Nat Fyfe, Michael Walters go under knife for knee surgery
BREAKING: Mahama revokes appointment of MMDCEs
President John Dramani Mahama has revoked certain appointments made by the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government. More soon…
The post BREAKING: Mahama revokes appointment of MMDCEs appeared first on MyNewsGh.
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 […]
The post Assafuah urges voters to recognize the value of experienced MPs for sustained development appeared first on MyNewsGh.
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."
RELATED: Big Lots Closes Deal to Keep Hundreds of Stores Open—What You Need to Know.
JOANN filed for bankruptcy last year.
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."
RELATED: The Container Store Files for Bankruptcy—Are Closings Afoot?
Meanwhile, Hobby Lobby is opening stores.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tens of thousands have also been forced to evacuate as a fire in Pacific Palisades spreads uncontrolled.
The clip shows fire raging just meters from a man’s house in the affluent neighbourhood as it engulfs his yard.
With floor to ceiling glass windows, the full length of the flames can be seen just feet from his kitchen table and couch in the lounge.
Some of the flames reach several meters high and angrily flick back and forth as strong gusts blow them around.
The lounge is lit up in bright orange and red colors as the flames burn away on the edge of the home.
The man can be heard telling his dog: “You’re going to be okay, alright?”
He tells his pal to not open the window and to stay away from the windows.
The wind can be heard howling past the windows as gusts of up to 100mph are hitting LA and causing the fire to quickly spread.
It is not clear why the pair decided to stay at the house despite being in a situation that could easily take their lives.
Reports claimed the pair and the dog had got to safety.
Another clip shows a pair of friends in a home north of Rustic Canyon.
The clip begins by showing the next door home completely ablaze.
The fire alarm can be heard ringing as the pair decide to leave and run out of the home.
One says: “Let’s get out of here, we tried, sorry bro, we tried our best.”
When they get outside, embers are flying through the air and trees in the neighborhood have caught on fire.
A state of emergency has been issued by Mayor Karen Bass with President Joe Biden also offering the federal government’s support.
Four named fires have erupted in LA – with the largest in the western neighborhood of Pacific Palisades starting on Tuesday.
That fire is currently “zero per cent” contained, according to the LA County Fire Department.
Celebrities like Mark Hamill, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, and Travis Barker’s kids Alabama and Landon have all evacuated their homes.
The area is also home to dozens of A-listers like Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
The Palisades Fire has now spread some 3,000 acres backed by 100mph gusts and reached the neighboring celeb haunts of Malibu and Santa Monica.
Weather forecasters think the “worst is yet to come” as a dry windstorm is expected to last for days.
Horrifying aerial footage has shown the massive scale of the fires from the sky.
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.”
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.
Nara confirmed that she was leaving in July 2024 as she declared “now I must be alone”.
However, the split has not been civil and have turned messy between the two.
Reports in November claimed that Icardi was dating his divorce lawyer.
Now it has emerged that he sent Nara explicit text messages begging to have him back.
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.
“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.
In December, she called the police to evict Icardi from her home near Buenos Aires.
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.
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.
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.
Previously, a mother-in-law was “slammed” for her reaction to a gender reveal.
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.
“What do you mean?”, the mother in law replies.
“This is our baby, I don’t think this was right”, the wife shoots back.
“I’m excited that you’re having a baby”, the mum in law says, becoming defensive.
The wife then explains that she thinks it’s unfair that she wasn’t given the opportunity to hug her husband after such a special moment.
“He hugs you every day, like what’s the problem?” the mother in law said, unable to see an issue with her behaviour.
The altercation continued, with the husband then stepping in to defend his mum.
“Everyone’s just happy, come on,” he said, trying to defuse the situation.
“Are you a bit hormonal, do you want to go and lie down?” the mother in law then cruelly commented.
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 […]
Read More »
Actress Wamiqa Gabbi Spotted At Airport In Mumbai – Gallery
The post Actress Wamiqa Gabbi Spotted At Airport In Mumbai – Gallery appeared first on Social News XYZ.