Chris Spiker

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Hartford, CT

On Your Side

National Bagel Day 2026: Where To Score Freebies, Tasty Deals Several national and regional chains are rolling out special offers to celebrate one of the Northeast's most popular foods. National Bagel Day 2026 falls on Thursday, Jan. 15. The holiday was previously celebrated on Feb. 9, but it moved in 2019 after Thomas' Bagels held a nationwide vote because Feb. 9 is National Pizza Day. Polish-Jewish immigrants brought the bagel to the US and began opening bakeries throughout the greater New York City area, according to National Day Calendar. Bagels were made by hand for decades before Daniel Thompson invented the bagel-making mach…

by Chris Spiker

01/15/2026

Manchester, CT

On Your Side

Dozens More Restaurants Set To Close At Popular Noodle Chain Noodles & Company is preparing to close dozens more restaurants after shuttering 42 locations in 2025. The fast-casual chain announced the closures in its quarterly earnings release on Monday, Jan. 12. Noodles & Company said it expects to shut down an additional 30 to 35 restaurants in 2026. CEO Joe Christina said the closings are part of a broader effort to narrow the chain's footprint and focus on higher-performing restaurants. "Decisions like this are made thoughtfully and with a long-term view of the business," he said. "Our fourth quarter results reinforce that when we co…

by Chris Spiker

01/14/2026

National Interest

$480K+ Raised For Factory Worker Who Called Trump 'Pedophile Protector' In Viral Video (Update) President Donald Trump flashed his middle finger and shouted an expletive at a Ford factory worker, reacting to shouts referencing the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Trump made the obscene gesture on Tuesday, Jan. 13, while touring Ford's River Rouge plant, which produces F-150 pickups. TMZ first shared the video of Trump reacting to the off-screen heckler in the suburban Detroit city of Dearborn, Michigan. In the video, a person is heard calling Trump a "pedophile protector," a reference to criticism over the Trump administration's lack of transpa…

by Chris Spiker

01/14/2026

National Interest

Trump Freezes Visa Processing For 75 Countries: What To Know The US is pausing visa processing for people from dozens of countries, the latest move in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown that has drawn growing backlash. The State Department announced the freeze for 75 countries in a social media post on Wednesday, Jan. 14. The list includes nations like Afghanistan, the Bahamas, Brazil, Colombia, Iran, Jamaica, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, and Thailand, Fox News reported. Immigrant visa processing will stop on Wednesday, Jan. 21, and continue indefinitely. "The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries w…

by Chris Spiker

01/14/2026

National Interest

Here's How Much Buying Greenland Would Reportedly Cost US Taxpayers President Donald Trump's renewed push to purchase Greenland could cost hundreds of billions of dollars as leaders from the Arctic island reject joining the US, according to a report. Greenland's massive price tag is estimated at up to $700 billion, NBC News reported on Wednesday, Jan. 14. The estimate, which would be more than half of the Department of Defense's annual budget, was compiled by scholars and former US officials. The Trump administration has claimed that annexing the island of about 57,000 residents is a necessary strategic buffer against Russia an…

by Chris Spiker

01/14/2026

National Interest

Trump Scraps Temporary Protections For Somalis As ICE Outrage Spreads The Trump administration is ending Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals as backlash grows to President Donald Trump's mass deportation efforts. US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the end of TPS for Somalia in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The decision comes as the Department of Homeland Security ramps up immigration raids in Minneapolis, home to the nation's largest Somali population. Somali nationals with TPS "are now required to leave" the country by Tuesday, March 17. "Temporary means TEMPORARY," USCIS posted. Homeland Security Secretary Krist…

by Chris Spiker

01/13/2026

National Interest

US Emissions Climbed In 2025 As Trump Backs Coal Power, Study Finds Greenhouse gas emissions rose in the US throughout 2025, reversing two years of decline as President Donald Trump pushes coal power in his fight against renewable energy. US emissions jumped by 2.4% in 2025, the Rhodium Group said in a report released on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The rise also outpaced the country's gross domestic product increase of 1.9%, ending a three-year trend of economic growth outpacing greenhouse gas pollution. Researchers said emissions growth was fueled largely by a surge in commercial energy demand, especially from data centers used to power artificial intellig…

by Chris Spiker

01/13/2026

Hartford, CT

On Your Side

These Careers Rank Among Best In 2026, New Study Finds: Here's Why Careers in health care and tech will be among the best jobs in 2026 as workers navigate a slumping labor market, according to a new study. U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 rankings of the nation's best jobs on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Nurse practitioners took the top overall spot for the third straight year. The annual rankings evaluate jobs across 17 categories, focusing on what matters most to workers navigating a competitive and uncertain job market. U.S. News weighed several key factors, including job growth potential, work-life balance, safety and stability, unemp…

by Chris Spiker

01/13/2026

National Interest

Sen. Kelly Suing Hegseth Over Demotion Threat: 'Unconstitutional Crusade' Sen. Mark Kelly is suing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the Pentagon moved to demote him after taking part in a video urging troops to reject unlawful orders from President Donald Trump. The Arizona senator filed the lawsuit on Monday, Jan. 12, and announced it in a Facebook post. Kelly's suit comes exactly one week after Hegseth threatened to cut the former Navy captain's retirement pay and reduce his rank. Kelly accused Hegseth of trying to silence him in his effort to hold the Trump administration accountable. "His unconstitutional crusade against me sends a chilling mes…

by Chris Spiker

01/12/2026

Hartford, CT

On Your Side

Aldi Eyes Major Expansion With 180 New US Stores In 2026: What To Know Aldi is ramping up its US expansion by announcing plans to open more than 180 new stores in 2026. The discount grocery chain's expansion will span 31 states, Aldi said in a news release on Monday, Jan. 12. The new stores will come as the German company marks its 50th year in the US. Aldi expects to operate nearly 2,800 stores nationwide by the end of 2026, moving closer to its long-term goal of reaching 3,200 locations by 2028. "One in three US households shopped at Aldi this past year, and in 2026, we're focused on making it even easier for customers to shop our aisles fir…

by Chris Spiker

01/12/2026

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