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Miami football will play for CFP national title after Fiesta Bowl win over Ole Miss

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GLENDALE, Ariz. — Didn’t you know? At the height of the craze in the ever-evolving animal world that is college football, the Miami Hurricanes have decided to reintroduce some old-fashioned nostalgia.

By winning the match nevertheless.

Everyone, take a deep breath and enjoy a momentary respite from your life as a nouveau riche. While Miami takes you on a nostalgia tour through the centuries, cash is king of the game.

A work that almost died before reaching a beautiful ending.

The Dagger was the game-clinching drive that ended with Carson Beck’s 3-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left. That’s not the only story of Miami’s 31-27 Fiesta Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal victory over Ole Miss.

The evolution was complete until Miami knocked down the final shot into the end zone from Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.

After more than two decades away from the national elite, Miami is finally back. Even if it almost blows the game in the middle.

This was as much about Miami’s dominance as it was about the Canes’ inability to finish and avoid disaster. But everything that coach Mario Cristobal has preached in his four seasons in Coral Gables, and what he’s played out in this season of redemption, was on display when it mattered most.

Despite the mistakes, penalties and missed scoring opportunities, Miami ended up where it said it would be in August: back in South Florida for the national championship game.

The Canes did it the old-fashioned way by lining up Ole Miss on both sides of the ball and punishing them physically. At this point, who cares if they nearly gave the game away and it took a 75-yard drive to get it done?

Cristobal’s plan from day one worked, putting Miami among the nation’s elite. Even if they beat almost everything in the most important games of the season.

Remember the good old days, right? When players weren’t paid (legally anyway), universities hoarded cash and players were free to move from starters to the bench.

And when Miami, with its best players and coaches, accomplished whatever it wanted in a 20-year run that rivaled anything this sport had ever seen. Until a man named Saban showed up.

But this Miami team has a lot of Nick Saban, a lot of the things that made Miami great and led them to five national titles from 1983-2001. Cristobal played under Jimmy Johnson at Miami, winning a national title, and coached under Saban at Alabama, where he also won a championship.

He is now on track to finally bring Miami back into the game’s elite and possibly end a 25-year national title drought. By adopting the formula used by Johnson and perfected by Saban and imposing its will on anything that gets in its way.

It is a very well-developed formula that can withstand human error. A missed field goal, an interception at the Ole Miss 15, a poor play call that tried to throw the ball away when it couldn’t stop the run game.

The Canes couldn’t put a stop to the game until a nail-biting drive late in the fourth quarter when a key throw by Beck and a well-timed scramble led to a touchdown. The devastating reaction finally ended Ole Miss’ magical run in the CFP.

And for old-school students, it’s a bonus. It happened on a day when former Ole Miss coach and current college football villain Lane Kiffin lost twice. Once when his former team faced a physically dominant Miami team, and once earlier in the night when Washington quarterback Damond Williams decided to remain in Seattle instead of playing for the highest bidder (see LSU and Kiffin).

Score one for the old school students.

Matt Hayes is a senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X @MattHayesCFB.

2026 Toyota Sequoia review proves it’s a family SUV built to last

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A true representation of the brand’s history of reliability, Sequoia may outlive us all.

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  • Automotive research website iSeeCars.com conducted a longevity study and named the Sequoia the longest-lasting SUV.
  • After spending some time with the 2026 Toyota Sequoia, it’s easy to see why some drivers are ready to make a long-term ownership commitment.

The Toyota Sequoia’s redesign for the 2023 model year gives the full-size three-row SUV a new standard powertrain that addresses one of the nameplate’s biggest concerns: fuel economy. With a new powertrain and an upgraded modern design, Sequoia’s third-generation model looks and drives like a family SUV built to outperform all its major competitors.

USA TODAY Cars tested whether the Sequoia’s pricing was justified. The starting price is high, but true competitors are hard to find when it comes to long-term value.

What makes the 2026 Toyota Sequoia stand out?

Sequoia stands out in this segment as a sophisticated mainstream model with user-friendly technology and an unparalleled value proposition considering its history. This is a nameplate known for its longevity, which is exactly what some drivers want in a family SUV.

According to a study by car research website iSeeCars.com, Toyota’s Sequoia is “the longest-lasting car with a 39% chance of reaching 250,000 miles.” The study analyzed data from nearly 400 million cars and estimated the probability that each car would reach a certain mileage milestone.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, Americans drive an average of 13,476 miles a year. Based on Sequoia’s at least 200,000 miles of driving performance and average annual range, Sequoia buyers can own their full-size SUV for more than 14 years. Once the Sequoia reaches 250,000 miles, drivers will be able to own the SUV for more than 18 years. In addition to its exciting powertrain and improved fuel economy, the Sequoia’s main appeal is its potential to remain a reliable family SUV for a long time.

How do you drive?

Performance, usability and efficiency

The 2026 Toyota Sequoia uses a 3.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine and electric motor, replacing the previous generation’s powerful V8. Incorporating an electric motor into this powertrain setup increases efficiency without sacrificing power in a full-size SUV. It produces an impressive 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque.

Toyota’s full-size SUV has excellent handling despite its large size, which can make parking difficult for first-time full-size SUV buyers. It is equipped with a camera and standard blind-spot monitor, making maneuvering the giant beast much easier.

In terms of efficiency, it’s far from the top of the segment, but it’s a huge improvement over the previous generation. The 2026 Sequoia achieves 22 miles per gallon combined, an increase of 8 miles from the second-generation model’s 14 combined miles per gallon. The 22.5-gallon tank size gives the full-size SUV a range of 495 miles, which is solid for the segment.

Will it fit your lifestyle?

Load capacity, space, practicality

The 2026 Sequoia is 208 inches long and 79 inches wide (without mirrors). Height is 77 inches. From an exterior design perspective, the first thing that stands out about the latest Sequoia is its massive size. It has 22.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

Toyota’s large SUV seats seven people, and some trims can add a second row of bench seats to make it an eight-seater. Rear seat legroom is plentiful (39.2 inches), but the third row has significantly less legroom than the first two rows, making it an ideal row for smaller passengers.

Is it worth it?

price, value, competition

Pricing for the 2026 Toyota Sequoia starts at $64,025 for the base model SR5. Six trims are available, including the Capstone final trim that USA TODAY Cars tested.

2026 Toyota Sequoia Trim

  • Sequoia SR5: $64,025
  • Sequoia Limited: $69,795
  • Sequoia Platinum: $80,035
  • Sequoia TRD Pro: $80,765
  • Sequoia 1794 Edition: $80,850
  • Sequoia Capstone: $84,435

The base model SR5 comes standard with power outside mirror heaters, a smart key system, and heated front seats. Also included is a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and panoramic view monitor with camera.

Toyota’s large SUVs offer a solid value proposition depending on the trim you choose. The base model is well-equipped to justify its price for drivers looking to own it long-term. Upper trims are more expensive, but offer more technology and creature comforts, potentially improving the ownership experience.

There are plenty of competitive full-size SUVs on the market, including the Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Expedition, and Nissan Armada. According to U.S. News & World Report, the Jeep Wagoneer is the best large SUV of 2025 and 2026. The Wagoneer makes more horsepower than the base Sequoia and probably has a more refined cabin and stronger value proposition than Toyota’s full-size SUV.

Who should buy the 2026 Toyota Sequoia?

The 2026 Sequoia is designed for buyers who regularly travel in large groups. If you’re looking for good fuel economy and the most cargo space in the segment, this might be a pass.

If you want to buy an SUV that will stand the test of time, the Sequoia is one of the best candidates in its segment. It has a robust powertrain and is designed for long-term ownership. As one of the longest-lasting modern vehicles on the market, it offers great value for money in the eyes of drivers willing to keep their car for 14 years or more.

Los Angeles joins faith leaders to rally for Renee Nicole Good

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Faith leaders addressed a crowd gathered in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday morning, January 8, as one of many demonstrations across the state and nation following the killing of Renee Nicole Good by a Minneapolis immigration officer.

The demonstration took place outside the federal building at 300 N. Los Angeles St., which serves the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office.

Good, 37, was shot and killed by ICE agents on Wednesday, January 7, in a residential area south of downtown Minneapolis.

Father Thomas Carey said: “We are all responsible for witnessing the kind of violence that we see everywhere on the part of the government.”

Carey said she is affiliated with Sacred Resistance in Los Angeles. He was one of the speakers at the L.A. demonstration, strumming a guitar and singing to a crowd of a few dozen people about ICE and people being attacked on the streets.

Carey said people in a democracy have a duty to make their voices heard and to protest, a right they must exercise or lose.

“When our government kills someone, it’s time for us to take to the streets,” Carey said.

Los Angeles protester claims Kristi Noem lied, calls for ‘thorough investigation’

President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the shooting as an act of self-defense. Nomu said Good tried to run the officer over with his car. Video of the shooting shared online shows law enforcement approaching Good’s SUV.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey denied claims of self-defense, saying he had seen the video. Washington state Rep. Pramila Jayapal said on X that the video proves Trump and Noem were lying about what happened. An analysis of the video footage by The New York Times concluded that “the vehicle appeared to be turning away when federal agents opened fire.”

Alison Brett, 62, of La Crescenta, spoke about the footage of Goode’s shooting and said it was clear the vehicle did not intend to hit anyone and that the immigration officer who shot her had left.

“Kristi Noem stood in front of the camera and lied to the American people like she always does,” Brett said.

Brett wants a “thorough investigation” into the shooting of Goode, “without further drag and interference from Republicans.” She wants justice for good.

“It’s really exhausting to feel like you’re being emotionally abused every day by your own government,” Brett said when asked how he felt about the difference between what the video footage captured and what he heard from officials.

“The gaslighting, lies, and insults to my intelligence and moral integrity infuriate me,” she said.

Protesters showed up with signs, one of which read “domestic terrorist” along with a photo of Donald Trump and Kristi Noem. Towards the end of the demonstration, people were invited to lay flowers on the ground in front of several people holding posters of Goode’s face.

Residents of Southern California have experienced federal immigration crackdowns under the Trump administration throughout the past year, particularly when immigration raids sparked protests in Los Angeles last June. This prompted President Trump to institute federalism, deploy the California National Guard to the city, and spark a month-long legal battle between California leaders and the president.

Pastor Francisco García, who heads the Holy Resistance movement, participated in the January 8 demonstration. Garcia said ICE and the Department of Homeland Security are not acting in the public’s interest and must be held accountable.

He described his participation on January 8 as part of a community of organizations that have been committed to standing in solidarity with and alongside our immigrant neighbors who are “at risk under the very aggressive tactics of this administration that we have seen here over the last six months.”

“What’s happening in Minneapolis is clearly something we’ve been through and our community continues to go through,” Garcia said. “And when you look at what happened yesterday, it’s just the most extreme example of how wrong this path is, right? How we’ve lost our way as a nation, in our policies, in our tactics.”

“And that is clearly visible in the tactics used by ICE and immigration that led to the murder of Renee Nicole Good,” the pastor said.

USA TODAY contributed to this article.

Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. please contact her pbarraza@usatodayco.com.

Olipop, Poppi indulges in nostalgia with Shirley Temple flavors

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Cherry red Shirley Temple is nostalgic, quick and easy to make, and appeals to the sober and curious crowd.

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2026 just might be the year of Shirley Temples.

The nearly 100-year-old mocktail, traditionally made with ginger ale, grenadine, and cherries, appears to be making a comeback. Just in time for Dry January, prebiotic soda brands Olipop and Poppi have launched Shirley Temple Drink, inspired by the classic cherry and citrus mocktail. And they join a line of Shirley Temple-inspired drinks from brands like 7-Up, Spindrift, Fitz, and Boylan, along with other prebiotic sodas like Slice and Bloom Pop.

There are also a number of brands exclusive to Shirley Temple, including Just Call Me Shirley, which offers non-alcoholic and alcoholic options, and Dirty Shirley, which offers varying levels of alcoholic beverages.

Shirley Temple is having a moment for several reasons. Vance Henderson, U.S. national brand ambassador for Hendrick’s Gin, told USA TODAY that these gins evoke nostalgia, appeal to a growing cool-minded and curious market, are quick to make, easy to customize, and can be dressed up or down for any occasion.

In the age of social media, the mocktail’s bright cherry red color also appeals to digital audiences.

“It’s fun. It reminds me of something rounded and sweet,” Henderson continued. “It’s colorful. Social media loves color. It stands out more than a gin and tonic or a martini.”

Why is Shirley Temple so popular now?

Shirley Temple is just nostalgic, Henderson said. This mocktail holds special memories for many, including Henderson himself, who was taken to a family wedding he attended when he was in elementary school.

“I was about 7 or 8 years old walking up to the bar and shaking my fist at Shirley Temple,” Henderson said with a laugh. “I remember like it was yesterday that moment when I was on the dance floor with my older aunts and uncles, holding drinks and asking for an extra cherry, as if asking for something naughty.”

Mr. Henderson described Shirley Temple, or Dirty Shirley, an alcoholic beverage, as a “plug-and-play” drink because its ingredients can be easily swapped out.

You can use homemade pomegranate juice instead of store-bought grenadine, or carbonated water as a base instead of ginger ale. And for Dirty Shirley, you can substitute a variety of spirits, including vodka, gin, tequila, and vermouth. This drink is versatile and does not require expensive equipment or hard-to-find ingredients.

Finally, and very simply, Shirley Temple fits smoothly into the ongoing trend of sober and curious, which is especially popular among young people.

What is the origin of the name Shirley Temple Drink?

This mocktail is named after the late actress, singer, and politician Shirley Temple Black, who gained widespread popularity as a child star in the 1930s. The mocktail’s exact origins remain unclear, but some believe it was created at Chasen’s, a Hollywood restaurant frequented by celebrities from the 1930s until it closed in the mid-’90s, according to a 1995 Newsweek article. While eating at a restaurant with her parents, Ms. Black begs for her delicious drink, and the bartender whips it up and names it after her.

But other establishments are also trying to make mocktail claims, including Los Angeles’ defunct Brown Derby Restaurant and Honolulu’s Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

The drink’s origins suggest it may have been created for her, but Black was not interested in a brand trademarking the name Shirley Temple. Throughout the 1980s, she filed several lawsuits against soft drink companies seeking to take away her name, alleging invasion of her privacy.

“I’m going to fight like a tigress,” Black said at the time, according to the New York Times. “All a celebrity has is a name.”

“Shirley Temple” was last trademarked by Shirley’s World LP, an organization dedicated to preserving Black heritage.

Where can I buy Shirley Temple soda and carbonated water?

Want to get your hands on a pre-made Shirley Temple?Here’s where you can find it.

  • Poppi Shirley Temple: Permanent on Poppi’s website and at Walmart, Kroger and Amazon, and coming soon to Target, Publix and other retailers
  • Olipop Shirley Temple: Olipop website, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Albertsons, and Amazon until the end of March
  • Bloom Pop Shirley Temple: Bloom Nutrition Website, Walmart, Target, Amazon, Kroger, Albertsons, HEB, Myers, Publix, Wegmans
  • Slice Shirley Temple’s Healthy Soda. Sliced ​​Soda Website and Target
  • Spindrift Soda Shirley Temple: Spindrift website, Amazon, and some retailers

Watch USA TODAY reporter Greta Cross try Shirley Temple’s soda in the video at the top of this article.

How to make Shirley Temple at home

To easily make classic Shirley Temple at home, Serious Eats recommends:

  • 1 cup lemon-lime soda, such as ginger ale or Sprite
  • 2 tablespoons grenadine
  • Maraschino cherries and lemon wedges for garnish (optional)

For those interested in adding alcohol, New York Times Cooking recommends the following recipe.

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce grenadine
  • 8 ounces lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite or 7Up)
  • 1 maraschino cherry for garnish
  • Serve over ice

Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Story ideas? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.

J.D. Vance promises ICE will go ‘door-to-door’ to track immigrants

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Federal officials say Americans can expect even more aggressive immigration enforcement in the coming months, including more than 10,000 new ICE agents taking to the streets armed with personal data collected by private contractors.

On a Jan. 7 Fox News broadcast, Vice President J.D. Vance said ICE would be going “door-to-door” in the coming months as officials carry out President Donald Trump’s plan for the largest mass deportation in history. Federal officials say they now have about 22,000 employees and agents, up from 10,000 a year ago.

White House officials said 2.5 million people in the U.S. illegally have already been deported or left under pressure, and many more have promised to leave the country in some form, without providing specific details. Vance’s comments were aired hours after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis shot and killed a woman inside her car during a chaotic confrontation.

White House officials accused Democrats of encouraging illegal immigration to change the country’s voting patterns.

Vance said more aggressive enforcement that began in 2025 will be stepped up this year. “For all the massive investments we’ve made in border security, we’ve actually just removed 2.5 million illegal aliens without doing any of the really major work that we’ve been doing,” Vance said.

“I think the number of deportations will increase as more people work for ICE online and go door-to-door to make sure that if they’re in the country illegally, they leave this country and if they want to come back, they apply through the proper channels,” he said.

The administration is planning more actions

A new, more aggressive movement is underway.

  • In November, federal authorities announced plans to hire thousands of civilian “skip tracers” to verify the home and work addresses of up to 1.5 million people in the United States, both online and in person. Contractors are given 50,000 names at a time and are expected to provide photos of their homes and workplaces, according to federal contracting data. They would also be required to collect utility bills, court records, and employment verification information without telling anyone why they were collected.
  • Immigration authorities are considering purchasing large warehouses and converting them into detention and processing “megacenters.” Buying the type of warehouses often used by Amazon and other online retailers could exempt federal authorities from many local zoning restrictions and oversight rules governing private and state-run prisons and jails. ICE detention teams have been hampered in Democratic-run cities and states where local jails are not helping to house immigrants, and the addition of new capacity could allow for even larger operations in those areas.
  • A Virginia-based company is building a 5,000-bed temporary migrant detention center at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, near the southern border under a $232 million contract, according to the Pentagon. Federal officials have said they hope to add at least 60,000 beds to the roughly 41,000 that were available at this time last year.
  • Last summer’s One Big Beautiful Bill, signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, provides $170 billion in immigration and border funding, all of which must be spent within about four years. This funding includes pay and benefits for 10,000 new ICE officers and 3,000 new Border Patrol officers. (It is unclear whether these jobs will be added to the 12,000 already added.)

Opinions are divided by party

When Trump won the popular vote and took office, the number of people living here illegally was estimated at between 10 million and 16.8 million.

Project 2025, the conservative blueprint that President Trump largely followed during his second term, specifically calls for placing ICE deportation officers “everywhere” in the country to enforce immigration laws, not just along the border.

“The patriotic men and women at (ICE) are doing God’s work to protect this country,” Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said on social media on January 5.

But many Americans believe the crackdown has already gone too far.

In an October Pew Research Center survey, 53% of Americans said the Trump administration is doing “too much” when it comes to deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, up from 44% in March. Opinions are sharply divided by party, with 86% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters saying the administration has gone too far, compared to just 20% of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other critics of President Trump’s enforcement efforts have likened ICE’s tactics to those used by Hitler’s Gestapo and said immigration agents routinely trample on the rights and norms Americans are accustomed to as they search terrorized communities.

Although President Trump has promised to go after the “worst of the worst” undocumented immigrants, nearly 75% of the roughly 60,000 people in immigration detention had no convictions as of November, according to an analysis of ICE statistics by the Transactions Records Access Clearinghouse.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the Republican-controlled House Homeland Security Committee, called on Noem to testify before Congress on both the Minneapolis shooting and overall immigration strategy in a statement on January 8.

“The Trump administration’s uncontrollable and unconstitutional invasion of our communities must be stopped before another American is injured or killed at the hands of our own government,” the Mississippi Democratic Party said in a statement. “Republicans who continue to sit idly by as the Trump administration violates our communities and harms Americans are as responsible as President Trump himself for harming our great country.”

Schedule, lineup and start time for today’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships

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Editor’s note: Follow live results, updates and standings from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships from St. Louis.

ST. LOUIS — The 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships will have another day of competition on Thursday.

The first day of the event started with pairs and women’s, followed by men’s and ice dance pairs. With the “God of the Quad” the favorite for gold at the Milan-Cortina Games, it’s another chance to watch genius Ilia Marin head to her first Olympics. Also, Jason Brown leads the rest of the team as they look to earn the final two Olympic spots for men. Madison Chock and Evan Bates are dominating the ice dance world, and the husband-and-wife pair are back in search of their fifth consecutive U.S. title.

The full schedule for the National Championships on Thursday, January 8th is as follows:

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Today’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships schedule

Always east.

  • Rhythm dance: 5pm
  • Men’s short program: 8:15pm

Today’s U.S. Figure Skating Championship lineup

Always east.

rhythm dance

  • 5:09pm: Isabella Flores and Linus Colmore Jepsen
  • 5:16pm: Vanessa Pham and Anton Spiridonov
  • 5:22pm: Rafaela Consius and Alexei Shchepetov
  • 5:29pm: Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani
  • 5:35pm: Amy Cui and Jonathan Rogers
  • 5:48pm: Eliana Peele and Ethan Peele
  • 5:55pm: eva pate and logan bye
  • 6:01pm: Emily Blatty and Ian Somerville
  • 6:08pm: Katarina Wolfkostin and Dimitri Tzarevsky
  • 6:14pm: Oona Brown and Gage Brown
  • 6:42pm: Leah Neset and Artem Markelov
  • 6:49pm: caroline green and michael parsons
  • 6:55pm: Emilia Zingas and Vadim Kolesnik
  • 7:02pm: Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko
  • 7:08pm: Madison Chock and Evan Bates

Men’s short program

  • 8:25pm: Emmanuel Sabally
  • 8:32pm: Ken Mikawa
  • 8:38pm: Will Annis
  • 8:45pm: Ki Ovar
  • 8:51pm: Samuel Mindra
  • 8:58pm: Lorenzo Elano
  • 9:12pm: Goku Endo
  • 9:18pm: Lucius Kazaneki
  • 9:25pm: Liam Kapeikis
  • 9:31pm: michael sea
  • 9:38pm: Maxim Naumov
  • 9:44pm: Daniel Martinov
  • 10:13pm: jimmy ma
  • 10:20pm: Tomoki Hiwatashi
  • 10:26pm: Andrew Tolgashev
  • 10:33pm: Jacob Sanchez
  • 10:39pm: Jason Brown
  • 10:46pm: Ilia Marin

Where can you watch the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships today?

  • date: January 8th
  • position: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri
  • tv set: united states network
  • Live stream: peacock

Day 2 of the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships will be streamed in its entirety on Peacock. The men’s short program will also be broadcast on USA Network.

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Found a Chick-fil-A Golden Cup? Here’s your chance to get free food all year long in 2026

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In a special sweepstakes, Chick-fil-A is playing Willy Wonka.

Fans who are lucky enough to find Chick-fil-A’s Golden Fan Cup, a $3.99 beverage container, will receive 52 free entrees from the fast food giant, one for each week of the year. The contest will run until July 1, according to Chick-fil-A.

The cup, which resembles a ‘Golden Ticket’, is part of the ‘Classic Cup’ series, which comes in four other designs. Each cup is sold wrapped, so customers won’t know which one they bought or if they won until they remove the packaging.

The Classic Cup and Golden Fun Cup promotions are in celebration of Chick-fil-A’s 80th anniversary. The College Park, Ga.-based fast food chicken chain is also commemorating the milestone with a new drink and a special stuffed cow.

Here’s how the sweepstakes works, including how to win the Gold Fun Cup.

How to get a free year of Chick-fil-A

To earn a year’s worth of free Chick-fil-A food, customers must purchase a Classic Cup. Chick-fil-A says each Classic Cup will be wrapped in a way that customers won’t see the design.

One of four retro-inspired cup designs will roll out every few weeks while supplies last. 3,000 Golden Fun Cups will be randomly distributed to cups across the country. Winners can scan the QR code on the cup to claim their prize.

What do you get if you win?

Winners will receive up to 52 entrees, one for each week of the year. Entrees available at participating restaurants include the Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Grilled Chicken Sandwich and Chick-fil-A Nuggets.

Mike Johnson speaks to British Parliament to mark America’s 250th birthday

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Prime Minister Johnson announced his visit, saying, “As America begins its semi-quincentenary celebrations, I am delighted to visit one of the great temples of democracy itself.”

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WASHINGTON — On January 20, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson will become the first sitting U.S. speaker to address the British Parliament in commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.

“As America begins its semi-quincentenary celebrations, I am delighted to visit one of the great temples of sophisticated democracy itself, where the principles that started America’s long struggle for freedom are debated,” Johnson said in a statement.

The United States declared independence from Great Britain in 1776 and officially gained independence from the British Empire at the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783.

Many of the Founding Fathers of the United States were born in North America, which was then ruled by European monarchies, and were heavily influenced by the writings of British Enlightenment thinker John Locke when creating their countries’ governments.

Mr Johnson will be the first sitting leader of the House of Commons to address parliament, and his speech follows the tradition of parliaments visiting institutions in London.

On the occasion of America’s Bicentennial in 1976, the British Parliament presented a gold-foil-stamped reprint of Magna Carta to a group of members of the House of Commons during a ceremony at Westminster Hall.

“For generations, the United States and the United Kingdom have stood together as pillars of peace and security,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement. “The true source of our strength comes from our common commitment to individual freedom, human dignity and the rule of law, which together form the exceptional collective heritage of the English-speaking world.”

Johnson (R-Louisiana) was invited by Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, one of the constituent bodies of the British Parliament.

Mr Hoyle said: “I am pleased to continue to mark this momentous occasion and recognize the enduring close relationship between Parliament and the people.” “Our British Parliament is just a few miles from where transatlantic relations began more than 400 years ago. The courage of our Founding Fathers, who set sail for the New World on the Mayflower, built bridges and connections across the Atlantic that continue to this day.”

Carissa Waddick, who covers America’s 50th anniversary for USA TODAY, can be reached at kwaddick@usatoday.com.

La Niña will continue for the time being, but El Niño is lurking in the future.

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La Niña, the climate culprit, is expected to continue impacting the weather here in the United States for the rest of the winter.

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La Niña, a climate change troublemaker, will continue to impact the weather here in the United States for the rest of the winter, government forecasters said in a new report released Jan. 8.

“The effects of La Niña will continue through the winter,” Michel Rollou, a climate scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, said in an email.

After that, after a transition to so-called “neutral” conditions in the spring and summer, “the likelihood of an El Niño outbreak is increasing” into the second half of this year, the monthly report said.

Read below to find out what this means for the weather here in the US.

What is La Niña?

La Niña is part of a natural climate cycle officially known as El Niño Southern Oscillation, which scientists refer to as ENSO.

This cycle moves back and forth between warm and cold ocean water in areas along the equator of the tropical Pacific Ocean. La Niña is characterized by lower than average seawater levels in the region. This is one of the main factors that determines the weather in the United States, especially in late fall, winter, and early spring.

La Niña is the opposite of the better-known El Niño, which occurs when waters in the Pacific Ocean are at least 0.9 degrees warmer than average for three months.

The intermediate stage is known as ENSO-Neutral, where neither La Niña nor El Niño exists.

Map showing how La Niña affects winter weather, snow, and cold in general

A typical La Niña winter in the United States brings cold and snow to the northwest and unusually dry conditions to most southern states, according to the Climate Prediction Center. The Southeast and mid-Atlantic also tend to experience warmer-than-average temperatures during La Niña winters.

What is the latest forecast?

According to a report on January 8th,

  • La Niña is expected to continue, with a 75% chance of ENSO becoming neutral from January to March.
  • ENSO neutrality is likely to persist until at least late spring.
  • According to the Climate Prediction Center, there is a 61% chance that an El Niño will occur by the end of summer.

Is La Niña likely to continue impacting the weather for the rest of this winter?

“Yes, the official (prediction center) outlook indicates that the effects of La Niña will continue through the winter,” Rollou told USA TODAY.

“The projected temperature and precipitation pattern for the United States is similar to a La Niña event from February to April 2025,” she said.

Will the weather we’re seeing this winter be consistent with La Niña?

“Winter is traditionally based on a December-February or January-March average, and we’re in the first week of January, so it’s hard to judge that at the moment, which means winter is not yet in full swing,” Rollou said.

But she said the average pattern over the past 90 days has La Niña tendencies, among others.

  • Drier-than-average conditions will be seen across the southern states stretching from Texas to the Southeast.
  • Additionally, areas from the Pacific Northwest to the Northern Plains will experience wetter than normal conditions.

Is next winter likely to be an El Niño winter?

“It’s still too early to say. That’s why we decided not to announce an El Niño watch,” she said. “We still need to overcome a period (spring) when model prediction skill is historically low, loosely referred to as the ‘spring predictability wall.'”

“However, we are keeping an eye on the possibility of an El Niño later this year,” she concluded.

An El Niño outbreak could impact the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. Historically, El Niño has been associated with a quiet season of hurricanes in the Atlantic basin, including storms originating in the Caribbean and Gulf Coasts.

Doyle Rice is a national correspondent for USA TODAY, specializing in weather and climate.

AI stocks may still have room to grow in 2026

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Management plans to invest heavily in artificial intelligence this year as well.

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Tech companies have invested heavily in developing artificial intelligence (AI) models and technologies in recent years, effectively turning the field into the latest arms race. The returns from these investments may not always be clear, but no company wants to be seen as falling behind its rivals. As such, spending on AI in general is intensifying as a way for companies to demonstrate to investors that they are committed to AI-related growth initiatives.

That’s the fear anyway. But a report says a slowdown in AI spending and investment won’t necessarily happen immediately. And that could mean some AI stocks may still have room to rise further this year.

68% of executives plan to spend more on AI this year

According to advisory firm Teneo’s annual survey, more than two-thirds (68%) of CEOs not only plan to continue investing in AI this year; more than the previous year. On the other hand, most current AI projects are not even profitable.

This reinforces the idea that management would rather continue investing in AI than stop investing in it and perhaps admit to shareholders that they don’t understand how to generate meaningful returns on AI. Doing so may appear to send a bad message to investors and negatively impact the company’s stock price.

Will AI stocks continue to rise in 2026?

This recent study may be music to Nvidia’s ears (NASDAQ:NVDA) Investors and other big tech companies benefiting from increased AI-related spending. Demand for Nvidia’s AI chips has soared as companies invest in developing AI models, making it the world’s most valuable company with a market capitalization of about $4.6 trillion.

There may be additional growth opportunities related to AI this year, but some or all of that growth may already be priced into the stock’s current valuation. For example, NVIDIA’s forward price/earnings (P/E) ratio is nearly 25 times (based on analyst expectations). This is higher than the S&P 500 average of 22. This may not be an extremely high multiple, but NVIDIA’s valuation does include a premium. And many highly valued AI stocks are expected to benefit from significant AI investment for years to come.

While this research may seem to be good news for AI stocks and suggest that the bubble won’t necessarily burst in 2026, it doesn’t mean AI stocks will skyrocket. As of Monday’s close, Nvidia’s stock price was down 11% from its 52-week high, with investors worried about rising valuations in the tech space.

Should you invest in AI stocks this year?

It may not be too late to invest in AI stocks, as long as they’re not grossly overvalued and have a clear path to further growth. Nvidia is a great example of a company that could continue to perform well in 2026, as chip demand continues and its valuation is reasonable given its growth opportunities.

But for other stocks that trade at much higher premiums and whose growth may be a little more questionable, you might want to avoid them. Investors seem to be increasingly concerned about rising tech company valuations these days, but at least factoring earnings multiples into the decision-making process allows them to base their investment decisions on best-case scenarios without taking on too much risk.

David Jagielski, CPA has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a position in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner providing financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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Minneapolis ICE shooting video shows when officers are fired

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Warning: This story contains gory images of violence

On January 7, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a 37-year-old woman at close range in Minneapolis, sparking outrage among the public and city and state officials who disputed the Trump administration’s assertion that the ICE agent acted in self-defense.

Investigators shot and killed a woman, identified as Renee Nicole Good, in her car during an immigration check in a residential area near downtown Minneapolis, witnesses and multiple reports said.

President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the operative fired in self-defense after the driver tried to run him over. Noem said the driver committed an act of “domestic terrorism.”

But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and other city officials said witness video showed the woman running away from federal agents, not towards them.

The graphic video has been cited to refute the government’s claim that the shooting was justified.

If you can’t see the graphic, click here to reload the page.

The video shocked the nation and sparked protests in Minnesota and other states. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called for calm as state officials dispute the Trump administration’s statements.

What does the video show about ICE shootings?

At least three videos were recorded by bystanders of the shooting, which occurred on Portland Avenue between East 33rd and East 34th Streets in Minneapolis, around 9:30 a.m. on January 7, 2019.

Below is a breakdown of one video, lasting 4 minutes and 25 seconds, first published by Minnesota Reformer.

As the video begins, a maroon Honda Pilot is parked sideways on Portland Avenue, a one-way, two-lane residential street with parking lanes and a bike lane. The driver, Renee Good, motioned for the approaching SUV to pull around him. The SUV passes and continues toward Undefined. The other ICE vehicles are in Portland.

The first ICE officer seen in the video, later identified as the person who shot Good within 15 seconds, and a bystander can be seen pulling out their phones and recording each other. He goes around the front passenger side of the Honda.

  • 0:04 A gray four-door Nissan Titan pickup truck approaches. It’s a good move to pass, but stops 8-10 feet away. Two masked ICE agents get out and walk toward me. Good’s left arm is on the window sill of the door.

  • 0:11 The two agents approach Honda, but Good reverses Honda. The backlight is on.
  • 0:12 The officer says, “Get out of the (expletive) car,” and tries to open the driver’s side door.
  • 0:13 The Honda backed up several feet while the agent fumbled with the door handle.

  • 0:14 The Honda’s wheels spin for a moment, then begin to move and turn to the right.
  • 0:15 The first agent was in the front driver’s side of the Honda and pulled out a gun.
  • 0:16 The first investigator fired three shots, one into the windshield and two into the open driver’s side window of the Honda as it passed. All shots appeared to be fired after he moved out of the path of the vehicle.

  • 0:20 The Honda accelerated and traveled a short distance, colliding with a car parked on the left side of the road. The impact pushes the car into another car in front of it. Both cars slide forward a few feet.
  • 0:50 Bystanders begin to approach the sunken ship.
  • 0:53 The first agent is seen walking back from the Honda and checking his cell phone.
  • 0:58 The first agent said to the other agent, “Hey, call 911.”
  • 1:20 A witness who was filming the video approaches the Honda.
  • 1:25 An unidentified person was seen inside the open driver’s door of the Honda, possibly responding to the driver.
  • 1:27 The bystander who was filming the video was ordered to leave by another ICE agent.
  • 1:49 More than a dozen ICE agents can be seen approaching the Honda.
  • 1:54 The first agent gets into a silver Chevrolet Tahoe driven by someone else and leaves.
  • 2:30 As ICE agents loosely surround the Honda to keep people away, residents on the street yell at them in anger and frustration.
  • 2:40 “This is a crime scene. Please stand back,” one of the investigators says.

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Watch the moment ICE agents shoot and kill a woman in Minnesota

A witness captured the moment an ICE agent fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis after President Trump ramped up immigration enforcement in the area.

A 13-second video taken from a different angle by ABC station KSTP and posted by President Trump on Truth Social shows the Honda swerving and the first operative grazing to the left at 00:04. However, in other videos, the agents do not appear to be in the Honda’s path.

Video analysis by The Washington Post shows Good’s car moving toward the agents while he was in front of them. As Good turned his car to the right, the agent moved to Good’s left and opened fire. Good’s car appeared to be turning away from the agent, according to a New York Times analysis.

ICE officers prevented residents from approaching the Honda, including a man who said he was a doctor and wanted to check on the people inside.

Vice President J.D. Vance and Homeland Security officials said the officer involved in the shooting was the same officer injured in a separate vehicle crash in June 2024, identified in court documents as Jonathan Ross of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, USA TODAY reported.

It is unknown what Good was doing in the area. The Department of Homeland Security announced it is conducting the “largest DHS operation in history,” deploying 2,000 officers to arrest “fraudsters, murderers, rapists, and gang members” in a massive immigration operation that began on January 5 in Minnesota.

Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar described Goode as a “legal watchdog.” Statutory observers are neutral, non-participating observers who frequently participate in police actions to witness, record, and monitor police actions.

The Minnesota City Council said Ms. Good was “caring for a neighbor this morning, and today her life was taken at the hands of the federal government.”

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Enforcement initially said it was working with the FBI on the investigation. But state officials announced Thursday that they had been notified by the FBI that they would no longer have access to “case materials, scene evidence, and interrogation.”

Good’s shooting occurred about a mile from the scene where George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police in 2020. Protests erupted across the United States following Floyd’s death.

Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, a 38-year-old Mexican immigrant, was shot and killed by federal agents in a Chicago suburb on September 12, 2025, four days after the start of Operation Midway Blitz, a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in the country’s third-largest city.

The circumstances of Villegas Gonzalez’s death remain unclear. Homeland Security officials said the suspect resisted arrest and dragged the officer with his car. Video evidence from the scene shows an agent describing his injuries as “nothing serious.”

The second shooting in the Chicago area occurred on October 4th. Marimar Martinez, a 31-year-old U.S. citizen, was shot and wounded by federal agents on the city’s South Side. Authorities initially said she had rammed the employee with her car, but the charges were later dropped.

Contributors: Jane Mo, Thao Nguyen, Janine Santucci, USA TODAY

Source: USA TODAY Network reporting and research. Reuters

This is a developing story and may be updated.

Walmart and Pepsi charged in 10-year price-fixing scheme

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Walmart and PepsiCo are accused in a lawsuit of participating in a decade-long “price-fixing scheme” that effectively raised the cost of Pepsi products nationwide at non-Walmart retailers and lowered prices at big-box stores.

The proposed class action lawsuit, filed Dec. 15 in the Southern District of New York, alleges that the companies had a long-term agreement that gave Walmart preferential pricing on PepsiCo products. According to the federal complaint, this created a price disparity that made Wal-Mart’s Pepsi soft drink products cheaper than the retail giant’s competitors.

The lawsuits allege that the companies violated antitrust laws (including the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, which prevents corporate monopolies and prohibits secret restrictions on competition) and state antitrust laws, according to filings reviewed by USA TODAY.

In a statement emailed to USA TODAY, Walmart said it is aware of the lawsuit and is committed to negotiating on behalf of its customers “to provide value and everyday low prices.”

In an emailed statement, PepsiCo said it could not comment on pending litigation but “remains committed to continuing to operate in compliance with applicable law and providing fair, competitive and non-discriminatory pricing, discounts and promotional value to all customers, regardless of size or channel.”

Here’s what you need to know about the pending lawsuits against Walmart and PepsiCo.

What do the lawsuits against Walmart and PepsiCo allege?

The complaint alleges that PepsiCo inflated the selling prices of its soft drink products “at all retail stores except Walmart, its largest customer,” and provided various financial and promotional benefits to those stores rather than to competing retailers.

Many of the allegations in the current lawsuit mirror a now-dropped federal lawsuit against PepsiCo. The Federal Trade Commission previously filed a lawsuit against PepsiCo for allegedly violating the Robinson-Patman Act, a 1936 law targeting discriminatory pricing practices, but closed the case in May 2025.

The claims made in the FTC lawsuit are also used in the current lawsuit against PepsiCo and Walmart, which alleges that Pepsi “offers promotional fees and benefits to its favorite big box store customers without making them equally available to those customers’ competitors.”

The complaint also alleges that Pepsi provided Walmart with data on competitors’ pricing and “reduced or eliminated Walmart’s promotional assistance or further increased wholesale prices when Walmart’s competitors threatened the retail prices consumers paid.” The proposed class alleges that these actions harmed consumers who purchase Pepsi products at retail stores other than Walmart.

The complaint states that the plaintiffs are seeking class action status against people across the United States who “purchased Pepsi soft drink products in retail stores from retailers other than Walmart” starting January 1, 2015.

Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kperez@usatodayco.com or on Twitter @katecperez_.

Khanna and Massey want third party to force Justice Department on Epstein file

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Lead proponents of a bill to force the release of Jeffrey Epstein files say the Justice Department should bring in a third party to ensure the job gets done.

Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) made the request in a Jan. 8 letter to Judge Paul Engelmayer, who oversaw the case that led to Ghislaine Maxwell’s conviction.

The law, known as the Epstein File Transparency Act, gave the Justice Department until December 19, 2025 to turn over investigative documents related to Epstein. Instead, the department released some of its records.

On January 5, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanchet told Engelmayer that their staff had reviewed about 13,000 documents, but there were still 2 million more to review.

“This work has and will continue to require significant resource savings,” they wrote. “The Department remains committed to protecting the privacy interests of victims and their relatives to the greatest extent possible.”

Khanna and Massey wrote that the court should appoint a special master or independent monitor to ensure it complies with the law. They said it starts with making electronically stored documents publicly available.

It also wants third parties to be able to regularly report to the court “on the true nature and extent of document production and whether any inappropriate editing or other improper conduct has occurred.”

“Not only is the Department of Justice’s actions a serious violation of its disclosure obligations under the Epstein File Transparency Act, but, as this court has recognized in previous decisions, the Department’s actions are deeply traumatizing to survivors,” the letter states.

“Simply put, the Department of Justice cannot be trusted to make mandatory disclosures under the Act,” the letter said.

USA TODAY has reached out to the Department of Justice for comment.

Barron Trump’s proposal to marry the Danish princess becomes a hot topic

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A proposal of sorts has been trending online.

Amid recent coverage of US efforts to acquire Greenland, accounts sharing “meta-political satire” against X had an idea they called a “simple diplomatic solution.”

The account, which calls itself “Miss White,” suggests that Barron Trump, the only child of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, will marry Princess Isabella of Denmark, who is second in line to the throne.

“A simple diplomatic solution is for Barron Trump to marry Princess Isabella of Denmark and Greenland to be given to the US as a dowry,” the post reads.

Since it was first shared on January 7, millions of people (about 7 million and counting) have viewed the post, and thousands have shared their thoughts in the comments.

Here’s what you need to know:

what people are saying

Some commenters were amused by the proposal, making jokes and sharing memes, while others supported the proposed alliance. “This is how Austria settled disputes in the good old days of the Habsburg monarchy,” said one user.

“This would actually be a pretty smart deal,” one user wrote. Another user said: “If life was as simple as Bridgerton, this would work.”

Some were frightened by the possible repercussions.

Another user wrote: “That’s not geopolitics, it’s medieval fan fiction.” “Greenland is not a bargaining chip, Princess Isabella of Denmark is not a pawn, Baron Trump is not a diplomatic tool. Nations are not exchanged through marriage. This is not the 1400s.”

And even then, some are hypothesizing about whether or not they’ll be a good match.

How does Greenland fit into all of this?

Greenland, the world’s largest island, has been part of NATO ally Denmark since the 18th century.

In recent months, Danish and Greenlandic leaders have emphasized to both the American people and President Trump that Greenland is not for sale.

Greenland has its own regional government (including a parliament that oversees some internal and civil affairs), but laws related to defense, national security, and the economy are controlled by policymakers in Copenhagen.

Trump first expressed interest in purchasing Greenland in 2019, during his first term as president. In a joint address to Congress on March 4, 2025, the president said he intended to obtain Greenland “one way or another.”

The White House said Trump was discussing options including the possible use of U.S. troops, a move that would shock the NATO alliance and deepen the rift between Trump and European leaders.

Who is Princess Isabella?

Second in line to the throne, Isabella is the eldest daughter of King Frederick X of Denmark and Queen Mary.

Isabella is the middle child, the younger sister of Crown Prince Christian and the older sister of 15-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine. Isabella is one year younger than Barron and turned 18 on April 21st.

According to Harper’s Bazaar, the royal family splits their time between Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen and the prime minister’s residence at Fredensborg Palace on the Danish island of Zealand.

Contributor: Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today

President Trump considers adding a second floor to the colonnade in the West Wing of the White House

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is considering building a second floor in the White House’s West Wing colonnade to balance the size and shape of the building with a future addition to the East Wing, where a new ballroom is planned.

Shalom Baranes, the ballroom’s lead architect, said on January 8 that the White House is considering a “modest one-story addition” to the west wing colonnade that would “help restore a sense of symmetry” with the east wing, which would include a revamp of the two-story colonnade leading to the ballroom.

Baranes, who discussed the concept with the 12-member National Capital Planning Commission, said the height of the expanded West Wing’s colonnade would match the height of the historic main White House building.

The White House will submit conceptual plans to the Central Planning Agency in Washington on January 8, and will submit more advanced designs at a subsequent meeting.

Baranes said the entire project will be 89,000 square feet, but the ballroom itself will be about 22,000 square feet and 30 to 40 feet tall. He said the banquet hall would be able to accommodate 1,000 guests.

White House chief of staff Will Scharf, who chairs the committee, called the committee’s first formal review of the ballroom plan “the beginning of a process.” Schaaf echoed President Trump’s assertion that the ballroom is needed to host the large official events that currently take place under a tent on the South Lawn of the White House.

This is a developing story.

X Contact Joey Garrison at @joeygarrison.

These retailers plan to open new stores in 2026. Check out the list.

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With the new year upon us, retailers like Barnes & Noble and Nordstrom Rack are planning for the future and opening new stores across the United States.

Last year, the popular retail giant closed multiple stores. Macy’s, for example, said it plans to close about 150 stores.

Other retailers, like well-known craft store Joanne Fabrics, have permanently closed all of their stores after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, USA TODAY previously reported.

A total of about 4,100 stores will close in 2025, Business Insider reports.

Even as retailers close thousands of stores in 2025, some companies are expanding their footprint in 2026.

Here’s what we know so far about the companies opening stores this year.

Barnes & Noble opens more than 60 stores

Barnes and Noble, one of the country’s largest book retailers, plans to open dozens of stores in 10 states, USA TODAY previously reported.

Retailer locations are in the following states:

  • ohio
  • texas
  • florida
  • illinois
  • colorado
  • washington state
  • California
  • virginia
  • georgia
  • Washington DC

nordstrom rack

Discount store Nordstrom Rack also plans to expand.

According to a report from USA TODAY, the company plans to open 14 stores in 10 states in 2026, as well as the following cities:

  • Sarasota, Florida
  • Encinitas, California
  • Elmwood, Louisiana
  • knoxville, tennessee
  • Plymouth, Massachusetts
  • Deptford, New Jersey
  • Orlando, Florida
  • Mansfield, Massachusetts
  • spokane, washington
  • pompano beach, florida
  • Williamsburg, Virginia
  • tampa, florida
  • canton ohio
  • Rockville, Maryland

Uniqlo opens nearly a dozen stores

Japanese clothing brand and store Uniqlo also plans to expand in the United States in the new year, according to Retail Dive.

The store will expand to the following states:

  • California
  • illinois
  • maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • new york
  • washington state
  • Washington DC

According to Retail Drive, Uniqlo plans to open 11 stores in seven cities, including multiple stores in New York City and Chicago.

BJ’s Wholesale Club

BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to open 12 new stores in 2025, followed by about eight more in the new year, USA TODAY previously reported.

The new wholesale store locations will be in the following cities:

  • Foley, Alabama
  • Delray Beach, Florida
  • Selma, North Carolina
  • Chattanooga, Tennessee
  • Forney, Texas
  • grand prairie, texas
  • Mesquite, Texas
  • Fort Worth, Southwest Texas

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Arizona’s first Buckeye’s aims to open in June 2026

Buc-ees, a Texas-based chain of gas stations, travel stores and clean restrooms, aims to open a new store in Goodyear by June 2026.

Fox – 10 Phoenix

bassies

There will be even more road trips featuring the famous beaver mascot, Buc-ee, as three new Texas flagship gas stations and convenience stores are set to open.

The shop, known for its clean restrooms and beaver nuggets, plans to open new rest areas in 2026 at the following locations:

  • Huber Heights, Ohio – Opening in April
  • Goodyear, Arizona – Opening in June
  • San Marcos, Texas – Opening in July

Ollie’s opens approximately 100 stores

Discount retailer Ollie’s plans to open 75 stores, said Robert Helm, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet., He said this at a financial results conference in December.

“Opening new stores remains our number one goal and the best use of our capital,” said Eric van der Valk, Olly’s president and CEO. “And the investments we made to accelerate growth have really paid off.”

Contributors: Saleen Martin, James Power, Mike Snider, Gabe Hauari

Julia is a trend reporter for USA TODAY, covering scientific research, natural disasters, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn ×Instagram, TikTok: @juliamaigz or email jgomez@hannett.com.

Video shows shocking bystander reaction to Minneapolis ICE shooting

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Tensions between Minnesota and federal authorities deepened on Jan. 8 over the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old mother of three by a U.S. immigration officer in Minneapolis, drawing condemnation from local authorities and sparking widespread protests in the state and beyond.

The woman, identified by the Minneapolis City Council as Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot to death on January 7 in a residential area south of downtown Minneapolis. After the shooting, hundreds of people marched through the streets to mourn Good’s death as lawmakers called for the arrest of the officers behind the shooting.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said officers fired “defensive fire” after the woman tried to ram the officer with her SUV. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey directly disputed those claims, saying the federal government was trying to “get away with” calling the shooting an act of self-defense.

“I saw the video myself and I want to say it directly to you: That’s bullshit,” Frey said on Jan. 7.

Video of the aftermath of the shooting shows bystanders screaming in anger as someone claiming to be a doctor approaches Good’s car to “check his pulse.”

One employee responds, “I don’t care,” while another responds, “Okay. EMS is here, so I understand.”

See the aftermath below.

Watch the video here

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Moments before and after Lenny Good ICE was shot in Minneapolis

Witnesses filmed the entire ICE operation in Minneapolis that ended in a shooting.

USA TODAY’s Christopher Cann and Michael Loria contributed to this report.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.

RFK Jr.’s new food pyramid demonizes ultra-processed foods. What’s next?

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New U.S. dietary guidelines call for eating less processed foods, but will Americans really stop reaching for them?

More than half of the calories consumed at home by U.S. adults and children come from ultra-processed foods (UPF), according to a 2025 analysis from the National Center for Health Statistics.

But Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is trying to change that by including, for the first time, guidelines with specific language on cutting back on highly processed foods, such as avoiding added sugars and refined grains.

“Today, our government declares war on added sugar,” President Kennedy said at the January 7 White House press conference where the guidelines were announced. “My message is clear: Eat real food.”

Ultra-processed foods are primarily factory-made preparations made with little or no refined ingredients, additives (including colorings and preservatives), and whole foods. These foods use artificial flavors and sweeteners and are designed to taste better and have a longer shelf life. They are usually high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, and lack nutrients and fiber.

Dr. Fang Fang Jiang, a cancer epidemiologist specializing in nutrition, told USA TODAY that the message to eat more whole foods and minimally processed foods is a good one, but “we have to wait and see” whether Americans will actually give up soda and packaged snacks.

“Unless you change the environment, it’s very difficult to get individuals to make healthy food choices,” Zhang says. “The impact will then depend on how policies are designed and implemented in this country.”

Because right now, access and affordability are important factors when Americans decide what to eat.

“We know fresh fruits and vegetables are ideal, but for many people they’re expensive. So how can we get them?” Dr. Daniel Dunham, medical director at Lenox Hill Hospital, told USA TODAY.

“Telling people from the pulpit how to eat without understanding the socio-economic challenges they face is insensitive at best and thoughtless at worst,” he said. “We need to be mindful of that and strive to provide healthy food options at affordable prices.”

But Zhang hopes the guidelines will have some impact, including setting standards for many federal programs such as school lunches and SNAP benefits.

Wait, what about processed meat?

In addition to sugary drinks and ready-to-eat foods, certain meats are also considered processed products. And experts are concerned that some of the guidelines’ messages, particularly the emphasis on protein, could cause confusion.

“The main criticism I have about this is that it lumps processed and unprocessed proteins together, and that’s probably too simplistic,” Dunham said.

Consumption of UPF, including processed meats such as hot dogs and bologna, has been linked to more than 30 health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, mental health disorders, and obesity. A diet high in UPF is also associated with an increased risk of arthritis and increased fat within the thigh muscles.

Excessive consumption of red meat is also associated with negative health effects, including an increased risk of colorectal cancer. But now meat sits at the top of a new, inverted food pyramid. Saturated fats found in red meat and dairy products also increase the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease, Dunham added.

“If you have no other sources of protein and you have dairy and red meat, it’s probably better than nothing. But if you have other types of protein, they’re probably better from a health standpoint,” Dunham said, noting that “many people don’t have access to the ‘ideal foods.'”

Will Americans really give up processed foods?

Public health campaigns can be effective, but guidelines need to be combined with policies that help people make healthy food choices, Zhang said.

“Should we tax ultra-processed foods? Should we subsidize fruits, vegetables and other healthy food options?” she said.

Another suggestion is to put specific labels on food packages to help consumers make wise choices, as some other countries have done.

“Some labels can be very misleading,” she said, adding that there is no standard label for whole grains, for example. Depending on the product, “you might think it’s whole grain, but it’s not.”

Dunham believes that in order for Americans to make good choices when it comes to food, we need to remove the barriers that get in the way.

“If it’s the right thing to do that’s easy, people will do it. If it’s the hard thing to do, people are less likely to do the right thing,” he said. “We can make it easier to do that by making it more affordable and more accessible.”

Did student loan borrowers lose wages?

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good morning! I’m Daniel de Visé from Daily Money.

If you fall behind on your federal student loan payments, the government may come to collect your paycheck. Here are the details:

President Trump blocks Wall Street families from buying homes

President Donald Trump has announced that he will ban Wall Street investors from purchasing single-family homes in an effort to ease the affordability crisis that is holding back the housing market.

But why did institutional investors buy houses in the first place?

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According to the lawsuit, McDonald’s McRib sandwiches are not actually made from ribs. Instead, the lawsuit alleges, the McRib is made from sewn together pork shoulder, heart, tripe, and what it calls “burnt stomach.”

Here’s how fast food chains are reacting.

Daniel de Visse covers personal finance for USA TODAY. Daily Money breaks down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.

House passes government shutdown avoidance bill

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The funding package is expected to be sent to the Senate next ahead of the Jan. 30 deadline.

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WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives passed a funding measure on Jan. 8 to prevent another government shutdown by the end of January, but that is looking increasingly unlikely as Democrats show little appetite for a second painful political brawl after last year’s record-setting fight.

The spending bill was approved on a broad bipartisan vote, with 397 members voting in favor and 28 voting against it.

The Senate then faces a deadline of Jan. 30, including a one-week recess, to avoid a funding logjam similar to the one in October that triggered a historic budget crisis.

But unlike during the longest government shutdown in history in the fall, much of the government has already been funded through the remainder of the fiscal year. Therefore, even if another disaster were to occur in the coming weeks, only a partial closure would occur.

But Democratic leaders have already said they don’t want that to happen, especially as lawmakers continue to negotiate over how to address rising health care costs, a central issue of last year’s government shutdown.

“The good news is that the Republican appropriators are working with us and we’re making good progress on that front,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on ABC’s “This Week” on January 4.

Zachary Schermele is a Congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can email us at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and on Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social..