The Daily Beast reports: Sweetgreen will begin accepting cash again at all 94 of its nationwide locations by September 30, Bloomberg reports. The popular fast-casual salad chain stopped accepting cash in 2016, a decision that was met with criticism. Critics argue that cashless businesses discriminate against customers who might not have access to lines of credit or mobile payment apps. …
Read More »Major Tennessee Employers Object To Anti-LGBT Bills In Joint Letter: Ikea, Hilton, Unilever, Marriott, Nike, More
The Tennessean reports: IKEA, Lyft, Hilton and Warby Parker and several other businesses operating in Tennessee are speaking out against legislation affecting LGBT individuals, arguing the proposed bills will make employee recruitment more difficult and harm the state’s business climate. These companies, which sent a signed letter to Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and House Speaker Glen Casada, join a growing …
Read More »San Jose City Council Votes To Hang Rainbow Flags Near New Airport Chick-Fil-A In Sign Of LGBT Solidarity
NBC News reports: A California city that last year approved the opening of a Chick-fil-A at its local airport now wants to send a message of support to LGBTQ people as the opening date for the fast-food restaurant nears. The San Jose City Council voted 11-0 on Tuesday to hang rainbow flags in support of LGBTQ people and pink, blue …
Read More »Disney CEO: Hitler Would Have Loved Social Media
Variety reports: Bob Iger didn’t mince words while being honored Thursday by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Upon receiving the Humanitarian Award at the organization’s National Tribute Dinner from Jeffrey Katzenberg, the Walt Disney Co. chairman and CEO delivered a scathing critique of social media and the current state of political discourse. “Hitler would have loved social media,” Iger said. “It’s …
Read More »Cruise Line To Drop Brunei Stops Over Anti-Gay Law
Travel Agent Central reports: Princess Cruises is looking to change its calls to Brunei after the destination introduced a harsh penal code that includes laws that make gay sex and adultery punishable by stoning to death, a spokesperson for the cruise line tells Travel Agent. “Princess Cruises is aware of the news stories circulating about the country of Brunei and …
Read More »Paint-By-Numbers Creator Dies At Age 93 [VIDEO]
The Associated Press reports: The artist who created the first paint-by-numbers pictures and helped turn the kits into an American sensation during the 1950s has died, his family confirmed. Dan Robbins’ son says his father died Monday in Sylvania, Ohio. He was 93. Robbins came up with the idea for paint-by-numbers photos in the 1940s while working for the Palmer …
Read More »Motel 6 Settles ICE Collaboration Suit For $12 Million
The Associated Press reports: The national chain Motel 6 has agreed to pay $12 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Washington state claiming names of hotel guests were provided to immigration officials for two years. State Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Thursday the company also signed an agreement to stop the practice and to provide training to employees to …
Read More »Bezos Divorce: He Keeps All Of WaPo, 75% Of Amazon
NBC News reports: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Bezos, have finalized their divorce. The powerful business executive, whose portfolio includes The Washington Post, and his now-former wife announced the dissolution of their marriage in separate statements on Twitter. “Grateful to have finished the process of dissolving my marriage with Jeff with support from each other and everyone who reached …
Read More »Online Shopping Overtakes Brick-And-Mortar Sales
CNBC reports: Online shopping led by Amazon hit a new milestone in February. The total market share of “non-store,” or online U.S. retail sales was higher than general sales for the first time in history, according to a report from the Commerce Department this week. Non-store retail sales last month accounted for 11.813 percent of the total, compared with 11.807 …
Read More »Shell Leaves Oil Lobby Group Under Climate Pressure
Reuters reports: Royal Dutch Shell on Tuesday became the first major oil and gas company to announce plans to leave a leading U.S. refining lobby due to disagreement on climate policies. In its first review of its association with 19 key industry groups, the company said it had found “material misalignment” over climate policy with the American Fuel & Petrochemical …
Read More »Prison Tosses Pharma Douche Into Solitary Confinement
Forbes reports: The much-maligned pharmaceutical businessman and uber troll Martin Shkreli has been put in solitary confinement at Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey, Forbes has been told by two sources with knowledge of the situation. That came after the Wall Street Journal described how he was using a contraband phone to run his pharma business from behind …
Read More »Protest Scuttles Chick-Fil-A Location In Buffalo Airport
The Buffalo News reports: Air travelers hungry for a chicken sandwich can stop at a Chick-fil-A restaurant inside 28 airports around the United States, but not at Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Nor will they any time soon. Delaware North Cos. on Friday apparently scuttled plans for the area’s second Chick-fil-A announced not even 24 hours previously by the Niagara Frontier …
Read More »Burger King Launches Vegetarian Whopper [VIDEO]
The New York Times reports: Would you like that Whopper with or without beef? This week, Burger King is introducing a version of its iconic Whopper sandwich filled with a vegetarian patty from the start-up Impossible Foods. The Impossible Whopper, as it will be known, is the biggest validation — and expansion opportunity — for a young industry that is …
Read More »Disney Bans Smoking And Vaping At All Theme Parks
The Orlando Sentinel reports: With Disney’s theme parks becoming more crowded, the company announced it is banning smoking and vaping inside the gates and oversized strollers, moves meant to free up space and make visitors have a better time. The sweeping changes were announced Thursday. One change took effect immediately — prohibiting dry or loose ice, typically brought in coolers …
Read More »FAA To Revamp Oversight Of New Aircraft Models
The Associated Press reports: The Federal Aviation Administration plans to revamp oversight of airplane development after the two deadly crashes of Boeing’s new 737 Max raised questions of whether the FAA has gone too far in letting companies regulate themselves, according to testimony prepared for a Capitol Hill hearing on Wednesday. For decades, the FAA has delegated some authority for …
Read More »Purdue Pharma Settles First Opioid Suit For $270M
The Daily Beast reports: Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, will pay $270 million to settle claims by the Oklahoma attorney general that the company helped fuel America’s opioid crisis, The Wall Street Journal reports. It’s the first settlement to be agreed upon from more than 1,600 opioid lawsuits the OxyContin maker faces various from states, cities, and …
Read More »LIVE VIDEO: Apple Unveils New Streaming TV Service
CNET reports: Slick new gadgets are usually the stars of Apple’s splashy events. But on Monday, the company will put the spotlight on subscriptions and services. A star-studded new TV service is expected to headline Apple’s event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California. Apple will likely unveil a news subscription service built into a reimagined Apple News, as …
Read More »GERMANY: Owners Of Global Conglomerate To Donate Millions After Revelations Of Nazi Slave Labor Past
Slate reports: One of Germany’s richest families is coming to terms with a disturbing past. The family that owns a controlling stake in Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Panera Bread, among others, will donate $11 million to charity after learning that their ancestors were staunch supporters of Adolf Hitler and extensively used forced labor. The family announced its planned charitable donation …
Read More »Pilots Trained For Boeing Model With Online Course
CNN reports: Pilots transitioning to the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft from older 737 models were given a short, self-administered online course that made no mention of a new system now at the center of two crash investigations, pilots’ unions spokesmen for two American carriers told CNN. “The course was not instructor-led. It was self-administered,” said Mike Trevino, a spokesman …
Read More »Chick-Fil-A Rejected For Texas Airport Location After Filings Show Continued Massive Anti-LGBT Donations
Out In San Antonio reports: The San Antonio City Council voted on March 21 against allowing the opening of a Chick-Fil-A concession at the city’s airport in a vote of 6 to 4 with one abstention. Chick-Fil-A has long had a reputation for being anti-LGBTQ. In 2012, the company’s CEO, Dan T. Cathy, said he opposed marriage equality. It was …
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