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Chris Spiker

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cspiker@dailyvoice.com

Chris Spiker's Contributions

Business
Cracker Barrel Makeover Blasted As 'Woke' By Conservatives, Petitions Call For Boycott Cracker Barrel Makeover Blasted As 'Woke' By Conservatives, Petitions Call For Boycott
Cracker Barrel Makeover Blasted As 'Woke' By Conservatives, Petitions Call For Boycott Cracker Barrel's push to modernize has sparked fierce criticism, as the restaurant chain is the latest brand to be labeled "woke" by conservatives The Tennessee-based company, known for its rustic country stores and Southern meals, unveiled its first new logo in nearly 50 years on Tuesday, Aug. 19. The logo drops the familiar man-and-barrel image for a simpler design as part of a broader remodel and menu refresh. Right-wing figures like Donald Trump Jr. have criticized the changes. "WTF is wrong with @CrackerBarrel??!" the President's son tweeted on Wednesday, Aug. 20. Florida R…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Northeast States Rank Among Nation's Worst Tippers, Study Finds: Here's Why Northeast States Rank Among Nation's Worst Tippers, Study Finds: Here's Why
Northeast States Rank Among Nation's Worst Tippers, Study Finds: Here's Why Residents across the Northeast are earning high incomes but leaving some of the nation's lowest tips, according to a new study. Payment processing company BLogic Systems released a list of the 10 worst states for tipping. The analysis looked at average tip percentages, waitstaff wages, and public attitudes toward gratuities, combining them into a "Generosity Index." Connecticut landed third-worst nationwide, with an average tip of 19.8% and a Generosity Index score of 25.1 out of 100. The Constitution State's average income is $78,820, yet 92.4% of residents reported "tipping fati…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Waymo To Test Self-Driving Cars In Major East Coast City: What To Know Waymo To Test Self-Driving Cars In Major East Coast City: What To Know
Waymo To Test Self-Driving Cars In Major East Coast City: What To Know Waymo will soon begin testing its self-driving cars in New York City. The autonomous vehicle company has received approval to begin test drives on the streets of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, the city announced on Friday, Aug. 22. This is the first time New York City has granted a permit for self-driving cars. The permit allows Waymo to deploy up to eight autonomous vehicles with a trained safety specialist behind the wheel at all times until late September. Testing is limited to certain areas, and all vehicles must meet strict cybersecurity and reporting requirements. Se…

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by Chris Spiker
Schools
Two PA High Schools Ranked In Nation's Top 100: See Niche's Full List Two PA High Schools Ranked In Nation's Top 100: See Niche's Full List
Two PA High Schools Ranked In Nation's Top 100: See Niche's Full List More than 30 high schools across the Northeast have earned spots among the top 100 in the country, according to a new ranking. Niche has released its Best Public High Schools in America rankings for 2025. The list evaluates schools using data from the Department of Education, along with millions of student and parent reviews. Rankings are based on academics, college readiness, graduation rates, teacher quality, and school culture. Unlike past years, SAT and ACT scores were not considered to reflect a growing de-emphasis on standardized testing in college admissions. Here are the …

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Apple TV+ Raises Rates As Streaming Rivals Launch New Apps, Hike Prices Apple TV+ Raises Rates As Streaming Rivals Launch New Apps, Hike Prices
Apple TV+ Raises Rates As Streaming Rivals Launch New Apps, Hike Prices The home of "Ted Lasso," "Severance," and "For All Mankind" is about to get a little more expensive. Apple TV+ is raising its monthly subscription price from $9.99 to $12.99, according to the streaming platform's website. This is the third time Apple TV+ has increased its price since launching in 2019, The Verge reported. The change will go into effect after a seven-day trial for new users on Thursday, Aug. 21. Current subscribers will see the higher rate 30 days after their next renewal date. Apple spokesperson Tom Neumayr confirmed the price hike in an email to The Verge. “Since it laun…

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by Chris Spiker
Weather
Spirit Plane From Philly Spotted Flying Over Hurricane Erin Sparks Online Buzz Spirit Plane From Philly Spotted Flying Over Hurricane Erin Sparks Online Buzz
Spirit Plane From Philly Spotted Flying Over Hurricane Erin Sparks Online Buzz A Spirit Airlines flight from Philadelphia has drawn attention after it appeared to fly over Hurricane Erin while it was a Category 4 storm. Spirit's flight NK2298 from Philly to San Juan, Puerto Rico, seemingly crossed Hurricane Erin's path on Monday, Aug. 18. Flightradar24's tracker showed the Airbus A320 going over the powerful storm north of the Dominican Republic. In a Facebook post, Flightradar24 jokingly asked if the Spirit flight was collecting crucial data for meteorologists. "Has Spirit Airlines taken on the Hurricane Hunter mission?" Flightradar24 posted. Has Spir…

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by Chris Spiker
Politics
Appellate Court Throws Out Trump's $500M+ Fine For Inflating Wealth, Property Values Appellate Court Throws Out Trump's $500M+ Fine For Inflating Wealth, Property Values
Appellate Court Throws Out Trump's $500M+ Fine For Inflating Wealth, Property Values A New York appellate court struck down the half-billion-dollar penalty imposed on President Donald Trump and his company for lying about his wealth and inflating property values. The state supreme court's Appellate Division, First Judicial Department, overturned the roughly $527 million fine known as "disgorgement" on Thursday, Aug. 21. The appellate court justices were split on whether New York Attorney General Letitia James proved The Trump Organization committed fraud, but the majority said the fine was "excessive" and unconstitutional. James can appeal the decision to New…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
New ESPN, Fox One Streaming Apps Officially Launch: What You Should Know New ESPN, Fox One Streaming Apps Officially Launch: What You Should Know
New ESPN, Fox One Streaming Apps Officially Launch: What You Should Know Sports fans now have a new way to watch their favorite teams without a cable subscription. ESPN and Fox One both launched direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming services on Thursday, Aug. 21. The new platforms mark a major shift in how live sports and news reach viewers. The debuts come ahead of the college football season, which begins on Saturday, Aug. 23. The apps are also launching before the NFL's opening kickoff in early September. For the first time, ESPN's full lineup of 12 networks is available directly through the new ESPN app, eliminating the need for a cable subscrip…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Hertz Begins Selling Used Cars On Amazon: How It Works Hertz Begins Selling Used Cars On Amazon: How It Works
Hertz Begins Selling Used Cars On Amazon: How It Works A major rental car company is now selling used vehicles on Amazon. Hertz Car Sales officially joined the Amazon Autos platform on Wednesday, Aug. 20. The partnership gives shoppers the ability to browse, finance, and buy thousands of used cars, just like many other items on Amazon. The sales will start in four cities: Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Shoppers within 75 miles of those cities can immediately start browsing on Amazon. Hertz eventually plans to expand the program to 45 locations nationwide. "Our goal is to reimagine the car-buying experience and meet custo…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
PlayStation 5 Price Jumps As Trump Tariffs Hit Imports: Here's How Much PlayStation 5 Price Jumps As Trump Tariffs Hit Imports: Here's How Much
PlayStation 5 Price Jumps As Trump Tariffs Hit Imports: Here's How Much PlayStation 5 consoles are about to get more expensive in the US as President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs fuel price hikes for many products. The recommended retail price for the PS5 will increase to $549.99, the Digital Edition will cost $499.99, and the PS5 Pro will go up to $749.99, Sony announced on Wednesday, Aug. 20. The higher prices will begin on Thursday, Aug. 21. While Sony didn't directly point to Trump's tariffs in its announcement, the duties have increased the costs of many imported goods, especially from countries that produce many electronics. "Similar to…

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by Chris Spiker
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