A Seattle Safeway decided to close one of its entrances to curb shoplifting, but the city wasn't thrilled and issued a violation notice. The store's been battling theft for ages, and shoppers like Gretchen and Mary Marasco think the move makes sense to protect customers and keep prices down. Meanwhile, the city insists both doors should stay open during business hours, and Safeway might face fines if they don't comply. Safeway seeks a review, arguing the door is technically still open for emergencies.
Mike 'Boogie' Malin, the Big Brother alum, got himself into hot water once more, this time for allegedly shoplifting from multiple CVS stores in LA's San Fernando Valley. After a thrilling chase involving two CVS locations, Malin was nabbed by the cops and identified as the thief of some booze and energy drinks. This isn't his first rodeo with the law; he was previously convicted of stalking his former Big Brother buddy, Will Kirby.
President Trump’s mission to trim the federal workforce has led to a surge in job cuts, with February seeing the highest layoffs in nearly five years. A whopping 172,017 layoffs were announced, a 245% jump from January, largely driven by Elon Musk’s federal headcount reduction efforts. Retail and tech sectors also saw significant cuts, but there’s a silver lining: companies plan to hire 34,580 new workers. The labor market is a mixed bag right now, with some signs of economic strength amid growing concerns.
Seven people were charged in a $20 million money laundering scheme that used fraudulently obtained Home Depot and Lowe’s gift cards to buy and resell merchandise across New York, including on Long Island. The indictment followed a 15-month investigation that uncovered a complex computer-based scam that targeted thousands of victims across 45 states, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced Thursday, March 6. Scammers used fake pop-ups and scam text messages to convince victims that their computers or personal information had been compromised, prosecutors said. Victims were then tricked into buying Home Depot and Lowe’s gift cards, believing they were paying off fraudulent charges or helping a law enforcement investigation.
A multi-location search warrant operation led to the arrest of 7 suspects and the recovery of $4 million worth of stolen property.
The operation targeted booster crews and fencing operations, affecting 17 retailers including Target, ULTA Beauty, and CVS.
The ORCTF, formed in September 2023, works with local law enforcement and federal partners to combat organized retail theft.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - A major retail theft bust conducted in Los Angeles and South Gate in February resulted in the arrests of seven suspects and recovery of $4 million worth of stolen goods, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Collaborating with various retailers, the task force successfully dismantled operations responsible for stealing and fencing over-the-counter medications, cosmetics, and other high-value items.
Walmart makes a bold move to dodge impact of tariffs
It appears that Walmart is taking drastic measures to prevent higher costs from tariffs. The retail giant has asked some of its suppliers in China, which includes those who produce clothing and kitchenware, to decrease their prices by up to 10% per round of tariff, according to a new report from Bloomberg. This essentially shifts the burden of tariffs onto those suppliers. Walmart is allegedly negotiating with each individual manufacturer, and the price cuts vary per firm.
The move from Walmart comes after the retail giant has decreased its reliance on Chinese imports over the past few years. In 2023, 60% of Walmart’s merchandise was imported from China, down from 80% in 2018.
Okay. Don’t take offense to this – or do. Have your moment.
Here’s the thing: I often wonder why people use super old or super obscure phrases that no one knows the meaning of. Although some are new and equally annoying, they can still gain traction if tied to a TikTok dance craze of a celeb Insta post.
I figured I’d share a few of the phrases I feel are most annoying and you guys can share others to either: a) stamp these phrases out of existence altogether or, b) grow their popularity so everyone knows what they mean and can use them correctly. Yes, I am using ChatGPT for a common definition of these phrases and added my own commentary.
Here’s the breakdown of these phrases, millennial-style:
"Chef’s kiss" 👨🍳💋 – A way to say something is perfect or top-tier, like a beautifully plated meal. Usually accompanied by an imaginary hand gesture where you kiss your fingers and flick them outward, like an over-the-top Italian chef approving his own dish. [My take:I’m not sure what makes this more annoying – the fact that it’s used when there is no food referenced or the hand gesture to the mouth and the fake kissing sound.]
"Waxing nostalgic" 📼✨ – Getting all sentimental and reminiscing about the good old days. If you’re “waxing nostalgic,” you’re deep in your feels about something from the past—like old cartoons or the sound of a VHS tape rewinding. [My take: I’ve definitely heard people use other “waxing [blank]” phrases and I promise the majority of the population doesn’t know what you’re talking about. Should we leave this one in the past?]
"Too cute by half" 🙃 – This one’s a little more old-school and means something (or someone) is trying way too hard to be clever, charming, or precious, to the point where it’s actually annoying. Think of a super forced, cutesy social media caption—yeah, that’s too cute by half. [My take: Ok, it’s true – I’ve hardly heard this one around, but I DID hear it on a recent news show and thought – WTF?]
"All the feels" 😭💖 – A phrase to describe being overwhelmed with emotions, usually in a positive or sentimental way. That Pixar movie that made you cry? That unexpected wholesome TikTok? That’s all the feels. [My take: I may be a little too hardened by my “back in the day I was told just to shut up and pay my dues” mindset to truly get into all my feels (ings) about this phrase – but it’s just used too much. Who’s with me?]
"My person" 🫂 – A term of deep affection for a best friend, soulmate, or ride-or-die. Popularized by Grey’s Anatomy (thanks, Meredith and Cristina), it means someone who just gets you and is your go-to for everything in life. [My take: Granted, I have my “person” which is super awesome – but why cheapen what you actually mean (enter soulmate) by using a blah, non-descript, boring word like ‘person?’]
"Have your moment" 🌟 – This means someone is getting the attention, recognition, or success they deserve—whether it’s fleeting or long overdue. It’s like their time to shine, their big break, or their 15 minutes of fame. [My take: I’m not super ornery on this one, but it’s just simply overused. To be honest, I love the word but its constant use has driven my mind into a serious backlash over why so many people ‘need a moment.’ Can we simply go back to ‘moments’ being a segment of time and not the defining of a person’s whole attitude, accomplishments, or segment of life?]
"Irregardless" ❌📖 – Technically not a real word (but still used in casual convo). It’s a redundant way of saying “regardless.” People argue over it, but at this point, it’s made its way into informal speech so much that even dictionaries now acknowledge that it exists—whether we like it or not. [My take: Thank the Lord that what I’ve always known was validated by AI forms smarter than me. YES – this is technically NOT a word. It’s just simply “regardless” – what’s with the “IRRE?” What do you say? Should we stamp this one back out to the void of non-sensical words from whence it came?]
Ok, the title, “Phrases that Suck” might have been a little click bait as I don’t really feel strongly that they “suck” – but I do feel much better unleashing my pent-up anger over words/phrases that are overused and words that simply don’t exist. This is me flashing my writer/journalist background and taking a big, deep exhale.
Thank you. I just needed a moment to process all the feels, now back to my person.
Nike Wins Partial Judgment Against StockX in Counterfeit Sneaker Lawsuit
Nike has secured a partial legal victory in its ongoing lawsuit against StockX, with a New York district court ruling that the resale platform sold counterfeit sneakers, according to court documents filed Tuesday.
The court sided with Nike’s claims that StockX sold at least 37 counterfeit pairs of sneakers, including four purchased by Nike investigators and 33 by a third-party buyer, Roy Kim, who previously revealed he unknowingly bought fake Air Jordan 1s from the platform.
While the judge ruled in Nike’s favor regarding the sale of counterfeit shoes, other claims—including trademark infringement, false advertising, and injury to business reputation—were dismissed. StockX’s motion against Nike was also denied, meaning the remaining legal issues will go to trial between June 15, 2025, and Nov. 15, 2025.
Two arrested in connection with shooting at Wadesboro Dollar General
WADESBORO — Wadesboro Police Department has arrested two people in connection to a shooting at a Dollar General in January.
Channel 9 reported when the shooting happened on Jan. 30. One person was shot, and another was hit by flying glass at the store on E. Caswell Street, police said.
Daqurius Price is facing several charges, including felony conspiracy, carrying a concealed gun, felony aiding and abetting, and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
Police say Price was arrested last weekend and was given a $100,000 secure bond.
A 17-year-old has also been charged with three counts of attempted murder, felonious discharging a weapon into an occupied property, felony conspiracy, and felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill in connection with this case.
Group of suspects wanted in burglary spree targeting pharmacies across New York City
Police in New York City are searching for whoever is responsible for a brazen rash of robberies targeting pharmacies across the city.
A determined burglar can be seen on video, trying to clip and rip his way into a pharmacy, while an accomplice waits in a car outside.
"They knew what they were doing. He was talking with someone over the phone. Getting tips, asking questions over the phone to someone telling him how to get in," said the owner of LVRX Pharmacy.
This time, though, he didn't get in. The pharmacy owner says the ruckus woke up tenants in the apartment upstairs.
"They opened the window, and they started yelling, 'who is this, what are you doing?' And he ran away," the owner said. "He was wearing a mask."
Latin America, Caribbean, United Front Against Organized Crime
Eighteen countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have joined forces in a regional alliance to combat organized crime, a growing threat that puts the stability and security of the region at risk.
With the support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), this initiative, launched on December 12, 2024, seeks to jointly address this problem, the IDB said in a statement.
The Alliance for Security, Justice, and Development strategy is based on three key pillars: protecting vulnerable populations, strengthening security and justice institutions, and reducing illegal markets and financial flows.
This approach prioritizes the implementation of policies based on evidence and concrete actions, seeking a coordinated and effective response among member countries, the IDB said.
7 medical emergencies every workplace should be prepared for
Under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, employers are responsible for maintaining a safe working environment and are legally required to implement protocols that ensure a quick and effective response during emergencies.
The latest data from the Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) reported 6,157 accidents in South Africa’s construction industry alone in 2022, 48 of which were fatal and 581 that led to permanent disabilities.
While these figures highlight the risks of workplace accidents, many businesses underestimate the medical emergencies that can arise from non-occupational incidents, such as sudden cardiac arrests or strokes, which can be equally life-threatening.
How AI is Transforming Logistics: Applications & Challenges
Imagine a world where deliveries are never delayed, logistics operations predict disruptions in advance, and supply chains run seamlessly with minimal human intervention.
That’s not a futuristic fantasy, it’s happening now, thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI).
AI is reshaping the logistics industry, turning inefficiencies into opportunities, and helping companies stay ahead in the current competitive market. In fact, the AI-driven logistics market is projected to reach a staggering $58.55 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 40.4% from 2024.
National Safety Council Releases MSD Surveillance Guide
The National Safety Council (NSC) has released a guide to the surveillance of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), the group announced February 24.
The report, “The Importance of Musculoskeletal Disorder and Related Injury Surveillance: An Organizational Approach,” was published through the MSD Solutions Lab, the NSC’s initiative established in 2021 with funding from Amazon to address work-related MSDs. The NSC’s new resource draws on 50 academic sources to provide practical guidance for preventing MSDs through effective injury surveillance systems.
CVS lays off 183 workers from Massachusetts office
CVS Health is laying off 183 workers from its Wellesley, Mass., office, according to a state filing. The positions include three employees who work in Massachusetts and 180 remote workers who report to managers in the state, a company spokesperson told Supermarket News.
The healthcare conglomerate, which operates retail drugstores as well as an insurance company and a pharmacy benefits management (PBM) concern, last fall said it planned to lay off 2,900 workers as part of an effort to slash $2 billion in costs. Most of those employees, who represent less than 1% of its total workforce of 300,000-plus, are corporate workers, CVS said at the time.
The Head of Product Security will lead efforts to safeguard both Fanatics’ products through their lifecycle from design and development to post-production. This will be accomplished by not only collaborating with product, manufacturing, and go-to-market teams but also by working with other security teams in a matrixed environment that maintains a holistic security strategy for the company. This role is critical in ensuring the protection of designs, prototypes, samples, materials, and finished goods from theft, premature release, and unauthorized access. This role is also central to protecting 3rd party assets and planned go-to-market strategies.
How new PCI Standards will change online security for retailers?
In order to comply with future-dated PCI-DSS compliance requirements, merchants must implement a series of new security measures. The new requirements come into effect now, March 2025, and will help to protect consumers and retailers against online fraud. As e-commerce has grown, so too has the number of bad actors looking to exploit security weaknesses to steal credit card data, also known as e-skimming.
Future-dated requirements that come into effect in March 2025 will help to protect consumers and retailers alike, but online merchants must implement a series of new security measures to ensure compliance.
Man sentenced for shoplifting and stabbing at northeast Albuquerque Ross
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Ernest Nakatewa was sentenced in court Wednesday for a shoplifting that escalated into a stabbing at a Ross store in northeast Albuquerque.
According to the criminal complaint, in early 2024 Nakatewa stabbed a security guard at the Ross on Paseo and Wyoming before leaving with more than $300 worth of goods.
Nakatewa pleaded guilty to the charges and faced up to four years behind bars. Judge Britt Baca sentenced Nakatewa to six months on top of the time already served.
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