Author: Michael Erst

A lawsuit cites a report from two non-profits – a science group and holistic parenting group – that found traces of lead and a herbicide in Girl Scout cookies. Does that mean we can’t eat Thin Mints?Lawsuit filed against Girl ScoutsA New York woman has filed a class action lawsuit against the Girl Scouts after a study about toxic contaminants allegedly found in their cookies went viral on social media.Fox – 5 AtlantaGirl Scout cookie season is upon us. But you may have heard some concerning things about the annual treats (Thin Mints, I’m looking at you).First, a non-peer-reviewed study…

Kroger is testing new robot technology to keep closer tabs on inventory.Kroger ousts long-time CEO after probe into personal conductLongtime Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen has resigned after an internal investigation found that his personal conduct was “inconsistent” with the company’s ethics policy.ReutersIn the past few months, Greater Cincinnati Kroger shoppers may have noticed something out of the ordinary: a robot with shining blue lights, perusing shelves and casting a narrow ray of bright light at merchandise.Fear not. These are not our new robot overlords, but a pilot program in 35 citywide locations testing the new technology to keep closer tabs…

‘Makes me cry’: Teachers, students react to Education Dept. cutsFormer students and teachers are reacting to the Trump administration’s funding cuts and layoffs at the Department of Education.Receiving a big refund at tax time may feel like getting a windfall, but you probably know the old advice that you shouldn’t give an interest-free loan to the government.Yet tax and finance professionals say it’s a bit more nuanced than those two options. With some caveats, they say, most people should withhold or make estimated payments throughout the year that get them as close to what they will eventually owe as possible.“I…

Florida-based Publix Super Markets Inc. reported its 2024 results last week showing sales of $59.7 billion, a 4.6% increase from $57.1 billion in 2023. Comparable-store sales for the fiscal year ended Dec. 28 increased 2.9%, Publix said in a news release.  “Publix’s success is due to our associates,” Publix CEO Kevin Murphy said in the release. “I’m so thankful to serve with them in making shopping at Publix a pleasure.” Net earnings for the fiscal year ended Dec. 28 were $4.6 billion, compared with $4.3 billion in 2023, an increase of 6.6%.Earnings per share for the fiscal year ended Dec. 28 increased to…

Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favorOdds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.The Powerball jackpot rose to $353 million for Wednesday’s drawing after no one won the top prize on Monday.If someone matches all six numbers, they can choose a one-time cash payment of $165.7 million.There were no lucky winners on Monday as no one won either the jackpot, $2 million or $1 million prizes.A lucky player in Oregon had the first jackpot-winning Powerball ticket…

Rent-a-chicken: A solution to high egg prices and shortagesSome people are turning to creative ways to circumvent the high cost of eggs by renting their own chickens.Egg prices continued to climb in February, despite some easing of inflation, according to the latest consumer price index released on Wednesday.Though grocery price gains have slowed after a pandemic-related surge, they’ve accelerated recently, in part because of drought, hurricanes and a two-year bird flu outbreak that has caused egg prices to rise. Egg costs overall jumped another 10.4% last month after a 15.2% rise in January, when seasonally adjusted, according to the latest…

When was ice cream invented? It’s more complicated than you think.The origins of ice cream are surprisingly mysterious. Here’s what to know about the dessert’s history.Wendy’s will soon offer customers new ways to get creative with its popular Frosty desserts.The company announced at its Investor Day last week that Frosty Swirls and Frosty Fusions will be hitting menus nationwide this spring.According to the fast food chain, Frosty Swirls are created with a choice of Classic Chocolate or Vanilla Frosty swirled with a choice of delicious sauce. Frosty Fusions, on the other hand, blends those sauces with mix-ins for a “one-of-a-kind…

Joann’s is no longer accepting gift cards after announcing all 800 of its locations will close last month, although going-out-of-business sales are ongoing. Some customers are furious.2025 store closures: Joann and JCPenney join Macy’s, Kohl’sJCPenney and Joann will shutter stores this year. They are joining Macy’s and Kohl’s which have announced plans to close stores in recent months.The closure of every Joann store in the nation is upsetting for most fabric and craft shoppers, but especially those with gift cards.When announcing that every location would shutter, the U.S. retailer said gift cards will no longer be accepted at any store.…

Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favorOdds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.The Mega Millions jackpot has risen to $256 million for Tuesday’s drawing after no one won the top prize on Friday night.If someone matches all six numbers, they can choose a one-time cash payment of $119.7 million. The numbers were drawn just after 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday, and we have the results below.The most recent big Mega Millions winner was a lucky…

Toxic Girl Scout cookies?Researchers with GMOScience.org say yes. Good Day Atlanta’s Alyse Eady breaks it all down.Fox – 5 AtlantaA New York woman filed a lawsuit against the Girl Scouts of America alleging their cookies contain harmful levels of heavy metals and pesticides.The Girl Scouts maintain that their cookies are safe and adhere to all food safety standards set by the FDA and EPA.The organization states that trace amounts of heavy metals and glyphosate can be found naturally in many foods and do not pose a health risk.A New York woman has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against the Girl…