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Business
CT Ranks Among Nation's Worst Tippers, Study Finds: Here's Why CT Ranks Among Nation's Worst Tippers, Study Finds: Here's Why
CT Ranks Among Nation's Worst Tippers, Study Finds: Here's Why Residents across the Northeast are earning high incomes but leaving some of the nation's lowest tips, according to a new study. Payment processing company BLogic Systems released a list of the 10 worst states for tipping. The analysis looked at average tip percentages, waitstaff wages, and public attitudes toward gratuities, combining them into a "Generosity Index." Connecticut landed third-worst nationwide, with an average tip of 19.8% and a Generosity Index score of 25.1 out of 100. The Constitution State's average income is $78,820, yet 92.4% of residents reported "tipping fati…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Cracker Barrel Unveils New Logo, Menu Changes Despite Large Fan Pushback Cracker Barrel Unveils New Logo, Menu Changes Despite Large Fan Pushback
Cracker Barrel Unveils New Logo, Menu Changes Despite Large Fan Pushback Cracker Barrel is rolling out sweeping updates, even though many loyal fans say they want things left the way they were. The Tennessee-based chain unveiled its first new logo in nearly 50 years on Tuesday, Aug. 19. The familiar image of a man sitting beside a barrel is gone, replaced with a simplified, text-only design. Cracker Barrel said the refreshed look is even closer to the company's early days, when it also had a text-only logo. "Anchored in Cracker Barrel's signature gold and brown tones, the updated visuals will appear across menus and marketing collateral, including the…

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by Chris Spiker
Weather
Erin’s Offshore Spin Will Unleash Flash Flood Risk Across Northeast Erin’s Offshore Spin Will Unleash Flash Flood Risk Across Northeast
Erin’s Offshore Spin Will Unleash Flash Flood Risk Across Northeast A surge of tropical moisture unleashed by Hurricane Erin is set to drench the Northeast with meteorologists warning that sudden, drenching downpours could trigger dangerous flash flooding from Virginia to New England on Wednesday, Aug. 20. Tropical air funneled northward by Hurricane Erin is colliding with a stalled weather front, setting the stage for intense rainfall and the risk of flash flooding across a wide swath of the Appalachians and Northeast from late Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday night, AccuWeather meteorologists report. While Erin itself is spinning offshore, the heav…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Ticket Broker Rigged System To Resell Taylor Swift Tickets For Huge Profits, FTC Says Ticket Broker Rigged System To Resell Taylor Swift Tickets For Huge Profits, FTC Says
Ticket Broker Rigged System To Resell Taylor Swift Tickets For Huge Profits, FTC Says The federal government is suing a Maryland ticket broker, accusing the company of scooping up hundreds of thousands of tickets for major events, including Taylor Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour. The Federal Trade Commission announced the lawsuit against Key Investment Group on Monday, Aug. 18. The Pikesville, MD-based broker has operated under names like Epic Seats, TotalTickets.com LLC, and Totally Tix LLC. Investigators said Key Investment Group resold the tickets at steep markups that generated about $64 million in sales. Three of the company's executives are named …

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by Chris Spiker
News
Trump Is Blocking Crime Victim Funds Over Immigration Laws: CT Fights Back Trump Is Blocking Crime Victim Funds Over Immigration Laws: CT Fights Back
Trump Is Blocking Crime Victim Funds Over Immigration Laws: CT Fights Back New Jersey is leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general from states including New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts in suing the Trump Administration over what officials call unlawful conditions placed on federal funding for crime victims, officials announced Monday, Aug. 18. The lawsuit challenges the Trump Administration’s move to withhold Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant money from states unless they comply with federal immigration enforcement priorities, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said.  VOCA funds are used for advocacy services, sexual assault forensic exams, funera…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
'We Miss Her Madly': Famed Mass Bodybuilder, Life Coach Dies Unexpectedly At 37 'We Miss Her Madly': Famed Mass Bodybuilder, Life Coach Dies Unexpectedly At 37
'We Miss Her Madly': Famed Mass Bodybuilder, Life Coach Dies Unexpectedly At 37 Hayley McNeff, a decorated bodybuilder and lifelong athlete whose journey from childhood sports to the national stage inspired many, has died at 37. Her family in her obituary said McNeff's passing was “unexpected but peaceful.” McNeff grew up in Concord, Massachusetts, and graduated from Concord-Carlisle High School before attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst. From a young age, she excelled in a wide range of sports — equestrian, board diving, and skiing — before turning her focus to bodybuilding, according to her obituary She went on to win multiple state titles in Maryland …

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by Josh Lanier
News
CT Trails Northeast Neighbors In Best States to Live In Rankings, Here's Why CT Trails Northeast Neighbors In Best States to Live In Rankings, Here's Why
CT Trails Northeast Neighbors In Best States to Live In Rankings, Here's Why From the best schools in the nation to some of the highest incomes, several Northeast states are among the best places to live, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 list of "Best States to Live In" on Monday, Aug. 11. The study ranked all 50 states using 51 measures of livability, from housing affordability and income growth to education, health, and safety. Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said it's important to look beyond just economic factors. "When deciding on a place to move, you should first consider financial factors like the cost of living, housing prices, and…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Multiple Wegmans Cheese Products Recalled Over Listeria Fears Multiple Wegmans Cheese Products Recalled Over Listeria Fears
Multiple Wegmans Cheese Products Recalled Over Listeria Fears A popular cheese sold at a supermarket with locations across the East Coast has been pulled from shelves following a supplier alert that triggered a multi-state recall. Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. announced it is recalling its Medium Camembert Soft Ripened Cheese and several products containing the cheese due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  The bacterium can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Healthy individuals may experience short-term symptoms including high fever, sev…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Cookies Sold At Target Stores In 20 States, Including CT, Pulled From Shelves Cookies Sold At Target Stores In 20 States, Including CT, Pulled From Shelves
Cookies Sold At Target Stores In 20 States, Including CT, Pulled From Shelves A sweet treat sold at one of the nation’s biggest retailers is now under a safety alert covering 20 states and Washington, DC. The recall involves Favorite Day Bakery Frosted Sugar Cookies, a 10-count product sold under Target’s private label brand.  According to the Food and Drug Administration, manufacturer Give and Go Prepared Foods Corp. of Canada pulled the cookies due to possible contamination with wood. A total of 803 cases are affected. The cookies were distributed through three Target distribution centers — in Connecticut, Maryland, and Ohio — and reached stores in: Connect…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Cracker Barrel's Remodel Plan Hits Nerves With Loyal Fans: 'Country Charm Is Gone' Cracker Barrel's Remodel Plan Hits Nerves With Loyal Fans: 'Country Charm Is Gone'
Cracker Barrel's Remodel Plan Hits Nerves With Loyal Fans: 'Country Charm Is Gone' Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is giving its restaurants a brighter, modern look, but the makeover is polarizing among the restaurant's biggest fans, with some saying the chain is losing its country charm. Cracker Barrel is in the process of remodeling dozens of its roughly 660 locations nationwide. The effort includes lighter paint, fewer antiques on the walls, updated menus, and streamlined cooking processes aimed at attracting a wider range of diners. Early remodels have already rolled out in multiple states, The Wall Street Journal reported in May. Cracker Barrel plans to update or re…

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by Chris Spiker
News
CT Ranked Among Best States To Have Babies, New Study Says: Here's Why CT Ranked Among Best States To Have Babies, New Study Says: Here's Why
CT Ranked Among Best States To Have Babies, New Study Says: Here's Why Families in some Northeast states may have a much easier time welcoming a new baby than others, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 list of Best & Worst States to Have a Baby on Monday, Aug. 4. The study compared all 50 states and Washington, DC, across 31 metrics, from average hospital bills to infant mortality rates and child-care availability. The leaders boast strong health care systems, parental support programs, and child care access. "The best states for having a baby minimize costs while providing top-notch care for both newborns and their …

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Bed Bath & Beyond Returns: First New Store Opens, Dozens Planned In Comeback Bed Bath & Beyond Returns: First New Store Opens, Dozens Planned In Comeback
Bed Bath & Beyond Returns: First New Store Opens, Dozens Planned In Comeback Bed Bath & Beyond is officially making its comeback, opening its first physical store since the last location shuttered more than two years ago. The new store, called Bed Bath & Beyond Home, opened in Brentwood, Tennessee, on Friday, Aug. 8. The Brand House Collective is planning to start with six locations in the greater Nashville area. The launch marks the first phase of a broader rollout that could see about 75 stores open by the end of 2026. Brand House was previously named Kirkland's until shareholders approved the company's name change in late July. T…

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by Chris Spiker