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Some older customers are staying away from Olive Garden and Cracker Barrel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:08 GMT

By Danielle Wiener-Bronner | CNNNew York  — Even the unlimited breadsticks at Olive Garden and wooden rocking chairs at Cracker Barrel can’t seem to lure back the baby boomers.It’s been over three years since many restaurants closed their doors and customers opted to eat more meals at home because of the Covid pandemic. Now, some older customers are still staying away, exacerbating a foot traffic problem faced by restaurant chains.When it comes to customers over 65, “we just have not yet recovered the visits … to the extent we thought we would, really since the pandemic,” said Cracker Barrel CEO Sandra Cochran during a call with analysts earlier this month.Older consumers have been hit by a double whammy, she said. At first, they stayed away because of health concerns. And then, they stayed away due to inflation.“The over-65 group is particularly value-conscious,” she said. “And so we just haven’t seen the recovery of that group.”The dip is coming at a time when Cracker Barrel’s tra...

Want a part of the Warriors? 10% of the ownership stake — for about $700 million — reportedly is up for sale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:08 GMT

A portion of the NBA’s most valuable franchise is up for sale.A small group of Warriors minority investors are exploring the possibility of selling their roughly 10 percent stakes in the most successful NBA franchise over the last decade, Bloomberg reported Friday morning.The Warriors were assessed as being worth $7 billion last October and took the top spot on Forbers’ rankings of NBA teams by franchise valuation last October, and that’s the figure that’s reportedly been floated to possible interested parties. Some potential investors, though, have balked at that valuation, according to Bloomberg.That said, a sale at the $7 billion mark would make the Warriors one of the world’s most valuable sports teams. The Dallas Cowboys are valued at $9 billion and the New York Yankees at $7.1 billion, according to Forbes.Related ArticlesGolden State Warriors | Golden State Warriors: The pros and cons of Dwight Howard Golden State Warriors | ...

DC area braces for rain, wind from powerful weekend storm; Virginia declares state of emergency

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:08 GMT

The D.C. area is bracing for a powerful coastal storm that expected to drench the region starting Friday night and last through the weekend. Here’s what you need to know.The National Hurricane Center said that the tropical cyclone is approaching the East Coast toward North Carolina and it will affect the D.C. region.Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency in advance of the storm. The declaration allows the commonwealth to mobilize resources and equipment needed for response and recovery efforts.A news release from the governor’s office stated: “This is an unusual storm, which has been difficult to accurately forecast, approaching large population centers with many at-risk communities.”Listen to WTOP online and on the radio at 103.5 FM or 107.7 FM.Current traffic conditionsWeather forecastClosings and DelaysSign up for WTOP alerts7News First Alert Chief Meteorologist Veronica Johnson said the storm system is expected to bring widespread mino...

AP Week in Pictures: Global | September 15-21, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:08 GMT

SEPTEMBER 15- 21, 2023Auto workers strike against three U.S. car manufacturers, migrants watch a golfer in Texas, and President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington.This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by Associated Press photographers in North America.The selection was curated by AP photo editor Patrick Sison in New York.Follow AP visual journalism:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnewsAP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_ImagesAP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.comSource

Megan Rapinoe’s legacy with US team is bigger than soccer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:08 GMT

Whether she was advocating for equal pay and racial justice or just scoring a rare goal off a corner kick, Megan Rapinoe was always unabashedly authentic during her soccer career. As she prepares to step away, the 38-year old Rapinoe is showing a more vulnerable side, too.Rapinoe sobbed following the U.S. loss to Sweden at this summer’s Women’s World Cup, knowing it would be her final tournament with the national team. She was emotional again last weekend, playing her final rivalry match between her NWSL team, OL Reign, and the Portland Thorns.“I’ve just loved every moment of my career,” she said through tears at the World Cup last month in Australia. “I’ll just miss it to death, but it also feels like the right time. And that’s OK.”On Sunday, Rapinoe will play her final game in a U.S. jersey when the United States faces South Africa at Chicago’s Soldier Field at 5:30 p.m. EDT on TNT. She’ll have a few more regular-season games for the Reign, including a send...

Ten Hag questioned about Man United player unrest and transfer dealings with his agent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:08 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Erik ten Hag’s second season at Manchester United is not going to plan. Three defeats in the Premier League already have left his team a long way off the pace at the top of the standings, while United’s return to the Champions League ended in a 4-3 loss at Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Burnley, Ten Hag has had to deal with reports of unrest among some players and on Friday faced questions about the influence of agent Kees Vos in terms of the club’s transfer dealings. Vos is Ten Hag’s agent, and his Sports Entertainment Group also represents Rasmus Hojlund, who was an $82 million signing from Atalanta in the offseason, and negotiated Sofyan Amrabat’s deadline day loan move from Fiorentina. Reports this week claimed there were concerns from some United staff about Vos’ involvement in deals, but Ten Hag dismissed suggestions that there could be a conflict of interest. “For player decisions, t...

Panthers rule out QB Bryce Young for Week 3; veteran Andy Dalton to start vs Seahawks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:08 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Andy Dalton will start for the Carolina Panthers at quarterback on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks after rookie Bryce Young was ruled out with a sprained ankle.Jake Luton will serve as Carolina’s backup quarterback.Panthers head coach Frank Reich said Young is expected to miss 1-2 weeks, meaning his status for the team’s Week 4 game against the Minnesota Vikings is uncertain. Reich said he’s still “optimistic” Young might play against the Vikings after the progress he has made with his rehabilitation.“Bryce has done well this week,’’ Reich said. “I’m optimistic he’s on the right path. Whatever the soonest he can get back is, he will get back. And when he gets back he’ll be our guy.’’Young attended practice on Friday and walked out to the field without a boot on his ankle.Young will make the trip with the team to Seattle.Young, the No. 1 pick in the draft, ranks 31st in the NFL in passer rating through two games. He’s completed 59.2% of his passes for...

Liberty hosts Connecticut to begin semifinals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:08 GMT

Connecticut Sun (27-13, 14-6 Eastern Conference) at New York Liberty (32-8, 16-4 Eastern Conference)New York; Sunday, 1 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Liberty -6.5; over/under is 162.5WNBA PLAYOFFS SEMIFINALS: Liberty host first series matchupBOTTOM LINE: The New York Liberty host the Connecticut Sun to begin the WNBA playoffs semifinals. New York went 4-0 against Connecticut during the regular season. The Liberty won the last regular season matchup 89-58 on Sept. 2 led by 19 points from Betnijah Laney, while Tiffany Hayes scored 11 points for the Sun.The Liberty have gone 16-4 against Eastern Conference teams. New York is second in the WNBA with 37.9 rebounds led by Breanna Stewart averaging 9.3.The Sun are 14-6 against Eastern Conference opponents. Connecticut is the top team in the Eastern Conference scoring 12.0 fast break points per game.TOP PERFORMERS: Sabrina Ionescu is averaging 17 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Liberty. Stewart is averaging 23.3 points ...

Landry's Seafood sued for alleged discrimination at Colorado restaurant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:08 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Landry's Seafood House, a national chain with several locations, is being sued after an employee in Englewood claimed she was being harassed for her national origin and the company failed to intervene.According to a release from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the employee is Iranian and was mocked by other employees, including supervisors and managers. Photos: Mustang, aka Blucifer, gets a bath “Workers, regardless of their country of origin, should be treated equally and fairly in the workplace,” Amy Burkholder, director of the EEOC’s Denver Field Office, said in an emailed release.The EEOC says the discrimination included mocking her accent and physical appearance and that it negatively impacted her pay.The unnamed worker made complaints to the restaurant's GM and even the company's human resource department but they "failed to stop the harassment," according to the EEOC, and even let her go as an employee."An employer must take seriously any...

Biden agrees to send long-range missiles to Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:08 GMT

President Joe Biden promised his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that the United States will soon provide Kyiv with a small number of long-range missiles to help its war with Russia, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter.Biden made the pledge to Zelenskyy during the Ukrainian leader’s visit to the White House on Thursday, fulfilling a long-held wish by Kyiv, according to the officials who like others for this story were granted anonymity to speak about private conversations.The Army Tactical Missile Systems will likely be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks. The White House declined to comment on the matterThe news is a major win for Zelenskyy and officials in Kyiv, who have long sought the missiles. ATACMS have a range of 45 to 190 miles and Ukrainians have long argued that they are crucial to striking deep behind entrenched Russian positions along a 600-mile front line.NBC first reported the news that the missiles had been approved.Bid...