Latest news with #WillyWonkaExperience
Metro
05-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Major drugstore chain files bankruptcy again after closing 800 stores
The American drugstore chain Rite-Aid has filed for bankruptcy for the second time in two years and is set to cut more jobs. Rite-Aid on Monday stated that it is trying to sell all of its assets and that stores will stay open during the Chapter 11 proceedings. The pharmacy chain filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, when it had more than 2,300 locations in 17 US states. It then shuttered over 800 stores, but managed to get out of bankruptcy as a private company in September 2024. Upon emerging, Rite-Aid stated that it had 'a rightsized store footprint, more efficient operating model, significantly less debt and additional financial resources'. Rite-Aid was the third-biggest drugstore chain in the US before its bankruptcy two years ago. More Trending It has 1,245 stores remaining in 15 states, according to its website. Rite-Aid's CEO, Matt Schroeder, said that there is 'meaningful interest from potential buyers. 'For more than 60 years, Rite Aid has been a proud provider of pharmacy services and products to our loyal customers,' stated Schroeder. 'As we move forward, our key priorities are ensuring uninterrupted pharmacy services for our customers and preserving jobs for as many associates as possible.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Boy, 7, drives his little sister on a mission to McDonald's in his mom's SUV MORE: Trump is offering $1,000 to illegal immigrants to deport themselves using app MORE: Organiser says sorry for fantasy book ball dubbed 'new Willy Wonka Experience'
Metro
05-05-2025
- Metro
Boy, 7, drives his little sister on a mission to McDonald's in his mom's SUV
A seven-year-old boy drove his mother's SUV with his five-year-old sister inside on a mission to eat at McDonald's. Cops started a pursuit of the boy after responding to a call for a reckless driver, but backed off after learning how young he was and fearing putting the public at risk, according to the Ogden Police Department. The boy eventually hit a parking strip in Ogden, Utah, and cops rushed to the scene and found him and his sister uninjured. His mom, Whitney Bush, said she received a knock on the door and found out that her vehicle was missing – along with two of her four children. 'I absolutely had my heart in my stomach… I had no idea what was going on, I was being told different stories of what was happening,' Bush told ABC4. The terrified mother said she went to the crash scene and was told by cops to go somewhere else. 'They had already had – I guess – EMS come out and check on my kids and transferred them over to the police station,' she said. Bush said that her son was planning to go to McDonald's and that he had cash prepared and passed a few of the fast food chain's locations while driving nine miles from their home in Clearfield. She admitted that she was impressed her son got that far and was wearing a seatbelt. 'I'm not proud of him by any means,' she clarified. 'He's in a world of trouble, he's probably grounded for the rest of his life.' Bush added that her son has displayed some behavioral problems but had never acted to that extreme before. 'I don't think anybody wakes up in the morning or goes through their day thinking their 7-year-old is going to play Grand Theft Auto with their vehicle,' she said. She said she had asked the Department of Children and Family Services, law enforcement and hospitals for help, but that it did not go anywhere. The boy, whose identity was not released, will not face charges due to his age. Bush said she will have him do community service for neighbors. More Trending He crashed near 40th Street on April 27. Police said that 'given the totality of circumstances, including the suspected age of the driver and the heightened risk to public safety, officers deactivated their emergency equipment and chose not to pursue', according to ABC4. Ogden is about 35 miles north of Salt Lake City. It happened a year after a nine-year-old California boy took his mother's car and drove toward his school, before crashing into a police vehicle. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Trump is offering $1,000 to illegal immigrants to deport themselves using app MORE: Organiser says sorry for fantasy book ball dubbed 'new Willy Wonka Experience' MORE: Passenger killed in 'fight' on cruise ship once used for murder mystery drama
Metro
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Trump is offering $1,000 to illegal immigrants to deport themselves using app
The Trump administration is offering $1,000 stipends to illegal immigrants willing to self-deport using an app. On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the 'historic opportunity for illegal aliens' to receive travel and financial assistance to return to their home countries via the CBP Home App. 'Self-deportation is a dignified way to leave the U.S. and will allow illegal aliens to avoid being encountered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),' stated the DHS. The $1,000 will be paid after the immigrant's return home is confirmed through the app. 'If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,' stated Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. 'This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70% savings for US taxpayers.' It costs about $17,121 to arrest, detain and deport someone, according to the DHS. The agency noted that 'an illegal alien that the Biden Administration allowed into our country' recently got a flight from Chicago to Honduras using the program and that more tickets have been booked for this week and the next. Those who submit their intention to voluntarily self-deport will be deprioritized for detention and removal if they show efforts toward completing the process, according to the DHS. Participating in the program 'may help preserve the option for an illegal alien to re-enter the United States legally in the future', stated the agency. More Trending President Donald Trump did not immediately remark directly on the program on social media. In the late morning, he shared his post from nine years ago with him eating a taco bowl, saying the best ones are made in Trump Tower Grill, and writing, 'I love Hispanics!' On Monday afternoon, Trump shared a more than two-minute-long video that included him saying, 'My administration has launched the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history.' He captioned the post: 'PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Organiser says sorry for fantasy book ball dubbed 'new Willy Wonka Experience' MORE: The most famous inmates of Alcatraz as Trump orders notorious prison to re-open MORE: Donald Trump orders infamous Alcatraz prison to re-open to house 'dregs of society'
Metro
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Organiser says sorry for fantasy book ball dubbed 'new Willy Wonka Experience'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Organisers behind a Maryland event dubbed the 'Frye Fest of BookTok' by attendees have apologised. A Million Lives Book Festival, held at the Baltimore Convention Centre over the weekend, was described as 'the perfect event to make more bookish friends'. Tickets started from $50 to as high as $250, which granted access to the 'Lavender Romance Ball'. 'This event will include a vendor hall, panels, a content creation room, fandom cosplay meet-ups, a cosplay competition and a ball,' the festival website says. Not quite, according to some attendees. Footage showed a near-empty grey room, as authors and readers alike donned fancy garments for the ball and walked around empty stands. Some compared it to the infamous Willy Wonka Experience, a recreation of the classic that left said children in tears and parents phoning the police. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video But 'even the Willy Wonka Experience had decor,' half-joked TikTok influencer and New York City journalist Chloe. Others said it was akin to the Frye Festival, which was billed as a luxury music weekend in the Bahamas in 2017. When the ultra-elite ticket-holders arrived, however, they were greeted with no electricity, dirt fields, soggy tents and plastic chairs. 'The Million Lives festival was such a crapshow, the only good thing was trauma-bonding with my author friends,' described Jennifer Laubach, an adult fantasy author, on TikTok. Captioning the video as 'AML survivor', she said that while many authors attended the festival, only a few readers did. Laubach, who said she only had 18 books that day and was one of 120 authors, added that many things went wrong during the event. From author tables not being labelled to last-minute schedule changes, she claimed. 'I lost nearly three grand on this trip,' she said, which included travel, hotel costs and book costs. Another author said he lost 'about two grand'. The festival was organised by Archer Management, which is run by the author Grace Willows. 'Please never host another event, this was a complete disaster and you scammed so many people out of money,' one attendee commented on the festival's Facebook event page. 'I can't believe the police weren't called.' Hope Davis, a fantasy author, said she felt 'deceived' by the event. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'I did meet some amazing authors though, so while I took a huge loss at the event, I am going to try my best to stay positive,' she posted on Threads. In a follow-up thread, Davis described how authors were told up to 600 tickets had been sold. 'Only about 50 people showed up,' she said. 'Attendees and sponsors were promised 'swag bags' and none were delivered.' 'There were no decorations for the ball or signing. There wasn't food as promised, nor did I see a cash bar at the ball as promised,' she added. Fantasy romance author Kris K Haines posted on TikTok today, saying that authors and vendors received an apologetic email from the organiser. The organiser promised refunds by the 'end of May', Haines said, adding that the email said 603 tickets were sold and 140 people showed up. On a Facebook group for attendees, which has 515 members, some said they had a 'great time'. 'Thank you for a wonderful time, this weekend was amazing and I had a lovely time at the ball,' said Kate Springer. 'Can't wait for next time!' Another posted: 'Thanks for the wonderful time!' In a video, Willows issued a 'formal apology' for the festival 'not being up to standard'. More Trending 'There were a lot of issues getting set up, and it was not set up well,' she said. 'I want to apologise. ;If you would like your refund, please contact me and I will issue you a refund immediately.' Archer Management has been approached for comment. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: The most famous inmates of Alcatraz as Trump orders notorious prison to re-open MORE: Donald Trump orders infamous Alcatraz prison to re-open to house 'dregs of society' MORE: Police officer 'run over and killed by dad of teen who died in police shooting'
