Author: Dee-ann Durbin
-
Super Bowl ads try to overcome tough times with health, caring and the usual laughs
At a difficult time for America, Super Bowl advertisers ask viewers to take care of themselves and others — and maybe even crack a smile. Ring shows how neighbors can use their doorbell cameras to find lost pets. A Budweiser Clydesdale protects a bald eagle chick from the rain. Novartis touts a blood test that…
-
Starbucks workers kick off 65-store US strike on company’s busy Red Cup Day
More than 1,000 unionized Starbucks workers went on strike at 65 U.S. stores Thursday to protest a lack of progress in labor negotiations with the company. The strike was intended to disrupt Starbucks’ Red Cup Day, which is typically one of the company’s busiest days of the year. Since 2018, Starbucks has given out free,…
-
Small grocers and convenience stores feel an impact as customers go without SNAP benefits
—
by
A little more than a year ago, Ryan Sprankle welcomed President Donald Trump to one of the three grocery stores his family owns near Pittsburgh. Trump was on the campaign trail; they talked about high grocery prices, and the Republican nominee picked up a bag of popcorn. But these days, Sprankle would have a different message…
-
Instacart, DoorDash among companies offering discounts to SNAP recipients
Instacart said Friday it will offer customers who receive SNAP benefits 50% on their next grocery order to ease strain as the government prepares to cut off food aid payments. Instacart said any customer who placed an order in October using a SNAP/EBT card will be eligible for the discount, which will be available even…
-
Starbucks to close stores, lay off 900 workers as part of turnaround plan
Starbucks is laying off around 900 non-retail employees and closing some U.S. and Canadian stores as it focuses more of its resources on a turnaround. The Seattle coffee giant will notify employees whose positions are being eliminated early Friday and said that it plans to close an undetermined number of stores in North America in…
-
FTC sues Ticketmaster, saying it forces fans to pay more for concerts and events
The Federal Trade Commission and a bipartisan group of state attorneys general sued Ticketmaster and its parent company Thursday, saying they are forcing consumers to pay more to see live events through a variety of illegal tactics. The FTC said Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, have deceived artists and consumers by advertising lower ticket…