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Party City Going Out Of Business, Closing All 800 Stores, Including 19 In MD
The party is over for a popular chain store that's been in business for decades.
Party City is “winding down” operations immediately at its approximately 800 locations, CEO Barry Litwin told corporate employees in a video call on Friday, Dec. 20, CNN reports.
Workers were told they will not receive severance pay, and that their benefits would end as the company goes out of business, CNN says.
The company, headquartered in in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, is running low on cash and unable to pay rent in some locations, according to an earlier Bloomberg report.
Party City was foun…
Teamsters Union Launches Strike Against Amazon
As the holiday season peaks, the Teamsters Union has initiated a significant strike against Amazon, targeting facilities in four states. This action is described as the largest labor movement in the company’s history.
On Thursday morning, December 19, union members began protests at a fulfillment center in Queens, New York, with additional strikes occurring in Atlanta, Southern California, and Skokie, Illinois.
The union aims to highlight unacceptable working conditions and Amazon’s refusal to engage in collective bargaining.
Their demands include better wages, hours, and benefits fo…
Shake Shack Offers Free Burgers With Purchase During Holiday Promotion
Shake Shack is launching a limited-time promotion offering free burgers with a qualifying purchase during the holiday season.
The “Holiday Burger Blitz” will run from Monday, Dec. 16, to Tuesday, Dec. 24, providing customers with a free burger each day when they spend a minimum of $10 and use the code BURGERBLITZ at checkout.
The promotion features a different burger each day, including popular items like the ShackBurger, SmokeShack, and Avocado Bacon Burger. The schedule for the free offerings is as follows:
Monday, Dec. 16: ShackBurger
Tuesday, Dec. 17: SmokeShack
Wednesday, Dec. …
Shoplifting Costs Retailers Billions: These Are Most Frequently Stolen Items
Shoplifting in the US is a costly epidemic, with retailers losing over $120 billion last year.
The trend focuses on easily concealed, high-demand products at major retailers like Walmart and Target, posing a nationwide challenge for store owners and law enforcement.
Electronics, health and beauty products, and food items are among the most commonly stolen goods, Capital One Shopping reports.
Small gadgets such as headphones and phone chargers, alongside over-the-counter medications and cosmetics, are frequent targets.
Alcohol, baby formula, and packaged meats are also popular …
Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads
Apple has unveiled new updates that bring advanced AI and emoji tools to its iPhone and iPad devices.
Released on Wednesday, Dec. 11, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 expand Apple Intelligence with features like ChatGPT integration, custom emoji creation, and visual design tools.
Key Updates
ChatGPT Integration: Siri and Writing Tools now support ChatGPT for generating content, solving problems, and enhancing productivity. Privacy settings ensure user control over data.
Image Playground: This tool allows users to design custom visuals by inputting text descriptions, wit…
Hubcaps, Laughter, and Love: Nacho Mama’s Closing After Decades of Memories In Baltimore
Nacho Mama’s, a Baltimore staple famous for its hubcap margaritas, Natty Bohs, and Maryland-Mex fare, will soon close the doors of its Canton and Towson locations after more than 30 years of serving the community.
The McCusker family, a cherished part of the region for decades, announced this week that both restaurants will serve their final meals on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025.
“Although this decision has not been easy for us, our family is grateful to our community that we have been blessed to serve for over three decades,” they wrote in a letter to the community.
Jackie McCusker, wife of the …
Meta Outages: Thousands Experiencing Issues With Facebook, Instagram, Other Platforms
Tens of thousands of Meta users are experiencing outages across its platforms.
Just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, there were numerous reports of outages on Downdetector.com, including 69,000 on Instagram, over 1,000 on Facebook, and 10,000 on WhatsApp.
Meta issued a statement on the outages on X at around 1:45 p.m.
"We’re aware that a technical issue is impacting some users’ ability to access our apps," the statement said. "We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience."
We’re aware that a technical issue is impacting some use…
Wawa Outranks Sheetz On Forbes' Top Private Companies List
Pennsylvania's favorite convenience store rivalry has tipped in Wawa's favor, according to Forbes' latest rankings of the top private companies.
Wawa snagged a higher spot than Sheetz on Forbes' 2024 list of America’s largest private companies, underscoring its dominance in the convenience store industry. The list, released earlier this week, evaluates companies based on revenue, employee numbers, and other metrics.
Wawa operates over 1,000 stores and employs about 47,000 people across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Florida. Known for its iconi…
Moderation Mess: Meta Admits Harmless Content Often Gets Taken Down
Meta is admitting that harmless content gets taken down amid criticism for its handling of moderation.
“Too often, harmless content gets taken down, or restricted, and too many people get penalized unfairly,” the company's president of global affairs, Nick Glegg, told reporters on Monday, Dec. 2, according to a report in The Verge.
Meta's platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.
Despite advancements in AI moderation, Clegg acknowledged there is still “work to do” in ensuring fair and accurate enforcement, the report said.
Meta has promised to refine its…
Maryland Hits Powerball Hat Trick With Trio Of $50K Winning Tickets Sold At Area Stores
Talk about spreading the wealth!
Maryland saw three lucky winners each score $50,000 prizes in the latest Powerball drawing on Monday, Dec. 2, making for some very happy holidays.
The third-tier winning tickets were sold in Takoma Park, Pasadena, and Landover at:
7-Eleven, 900 Merrimac Drive, Takoma Park (Montgomery County);
John’s Liquor & General Store, 812 Duvall Highway, Pasadena (Anne Arundel County);
Landover Hills Exxon, 6579 Annapolis Road, Landover (Prince George’s County).
Although no one took home the jackpot, Maryland had 9,459 winners who snagged prizes ranging fr…
Hearst Lays Off Around 200 Employees From Magazine Division
Hearst Magazines has just fired around 200 employees, most of whom were assigned to the company's midtown Manhattan headquarters, according to multiple reports.
Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Men's Health, Popular Mechanics, Town & Country, and Harper's Bazaar are among the titles the division of Hearts Communications publishes.
Affected employees were notified in a private meeting days before Thanksgiving, according to New York Magazine.
Some of the Hearst publications :were already run by a skeleton crew" after years of downsizing, the report in New York said.
End Of An Era: Annapolis Bridal & Tuxedo To Close After 39 Years Leacy Of Love And Memories
After 39 years of helping couples say “I do” in style, Annapolis Bridal & Tuxedo is closing its doors for good.
The shop, the first bridal boutique in the community, will wrap up operations on Monday, Dec. 23, owners Flavia and Dora Vasquez announced.
“It’s bittersweet,” they shared, noting that the closure allows Dora to embrace retirement while Flavia spends more time with family.
Since 1986, Annapolis Bridal & Tuxedo has been the go-to destination for brides and grooms, known for expert advice and impeccable service.
With their closing date set, the shop is ho…
Amazon Workers Go On Strike, Protest In 20 Nations, Including US
Amid the busiest shopping weekend of the holiday season, workers for Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, have gone on strike.
Protesting under the banner of “Make Amazon Pay.” employees have walked off the job across six continents in 20 countries, including the United States.
The strike is scheduled to last from Black Friday on Nov. 29 through Cyber Monday, Dec. 2, the UNI Global Union announced, saying protests will be held in majors cities in the US, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, India, Brazil and elsewhere.
The strike could cause customers' holiday deliveries …
