In-N-Out Burger managers now earn more than $200,000 a year, spokesperson says

FILE -- In-N-Out sign shown in this image. (Maynard Binaday via MGN)

Irvine, Calif.

In-N-Out has been known for treating its employees well when it comes to pay and it appears those perks are only going up, especially for managerial positions.

A spokesperson for the classic California fast-food chain recently revealed to Inc. that store managers now earn more than $200,000 a year on average.

“Our founders, Harry and Esther Snyder, believed not only in taking great care of our customers, but also in taking really great care of our associates,” the publication quoted the spokesperson. “Their philosophy was to treat associates like family and strive to be an outstanding employer and paying higher-than-normal wages was one important part of that philosophy.”

The average In-N-Out manager was making about $163,000, as reported by Forbes in 2018.

According to In-N-Out, its managers usually start as hourly employees and work their way up through its training program.

Managers are said to typically stay with the company for about 15 years, a number that is higher than normal in the industry, with a study reporting higher turnover rates for quick-service positions.

The spokesperson said In-N-Out continues to see lower turnover numbers for both management and staff positions, something that strengthens its ability to serve customers at a high level consistently.

“We’re deeply grateful for our exceptional family of associates and the excellent job they do taking care of our customers every day,” the spokesperson told the publication.

In-N-Out has been known for paying above minimum wage for many of its positions. The fast-food chain has credited this strategy with helping it attract and retain workers at every level of the business.

The burger chain also often touts its “commitment to quality” when it comes to the product, using fresh, high-quality ingredients in its meals, something that has been attracting its fans for decades.

In-N-Out has previously announced expansion plans, with more locations currently slated for grand openings in Arizona, Utah and Tennessee.

NFL officially eliminates Pro Bowl game

FILE -- The NFL logo is shown on the field prior to a preseason football game. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)

The NFL’s Pro Bowl game has been canceled.

The league announced Wednesday the elimination of the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl game, which featured the league’s top players in an exhibition matchup that dated back decades.

Instead, the NFL said it would place greater emphasis on the players being selected, limiting the Pro Bowl honors to 88 players, without any replacement selections.

“The Pro Bowl has always been about recognizing the players who distinguish themselves as the very best in the NFL,” NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said. “We want that distinction to carry even greater meaning for the players, their families, their clubs and our fans.”

By limiting the Pro Bowl honors to those originally selected, the league said it would return focus to recognizing the league’s most outstanding performers and reinforcing the significance of the achievement.

The Pro Bowl has waned in popularity in recent years, with the league ending its Pro Game tackle edition in 2022.

That version of the long-running Pro Game was replaced with the Pro Bowl Games in 2023, featuring skills competitions and AFC-NFC flag football games.

According to the league, while no AFC-NFC game will now be held, the players selected as Pro Bowlers will still be invited to attend an in-person celebration for a traditional Pro Bowl weekend.

“This direction came directly from our continued conversations with players and what they value most about the Pro Bowl,” NFL executive Troy Vincent said. “Being selected by your peers, coaches and fans as one of the very best at your position carries tremendous meaning.”

The Pro Bowl roster for this year is expected to be revealed in late December, with the league’s first regular-season game set to kick off on Sept. 9, featuring last year’s Super Bowl matchup of the New England Patriots vs. the Seattle Seahawks.

How much are Social Security benefits expected to increase in 2027?

FILE -- A traditional paper Social Security benefit payment comes in the form of a light-green U.S. Treasury check. (Tony / MGN)

The Social Security Administration is expected to announce next year’s cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, in October.

Retirees can expect to know the official number on Oct. 14 at 8:30 a.m., when the September Consumer Price Index data is also scheduled to be released.

Those receiving financial support from the government program are forecast to see an increase in 2027 ranging from 3.2% to 3.6% in their monthly paychecks.

AARP estimates that retirees’ cost-of-living adjustment could be at the higher end of that range, at about 3.6%.

The organization that advocates for people 50 and older said the bump would increase the average retired worker’s monthly benefit by approximately $75, noting its estimate is based on projections from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Reserve.

The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan group advocating for seniors, is also projecting a COLA increase close to 3.6% for 2027, which would raise average monthly benefits by $69.75 if the increase took effect immediately.

In 2026, the Social Security Administration announced that its COLA was 2.8%, benefiting approximately 75 million Americans.

The annual COLA is intended to help recipients keep pace with inflation and assist with daily expenses, including groceries, utilities and housing.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the latest reported 12-month inflation rate was 3.4% for the period ending in July.

Eminem reveals heartfelt note Dolly Parton wrote him for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction

FILE -- Eminem honors Dolly Parton on social media. (AP)

Eminem revealed a letter Dolly Parton wrote him after he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame following the legendary singer’s death on Tuesday.

The Grammy Award-winning rapper said the megastar’s note congratulated him on the honor as they were both inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same year, 2022.

“I’m sorry we never got a chance to meet, but getting this note from Dolly really had an impact on me,” Eminem wrote in a social media post with the note. “She definitely didn’t have to take the time to do it.”

The musician-actor himself joined the many others in praising the country music icon and actress after word of her death at 80.

“A superstar in every sense. Rest easy, Dolly. And thank you for the kind words,” Eminem’s post concluded.

Love and support have come in from across the world to remember Parton and her legacy.

Parton’s publicist shared that the iconic singer-songwriter died peacefully in Nashville, Tennessee.

Elon Musk calls for Derek Chauvin’s release; former officer files petition to overturn murder conviction

FILE -- Elon Musk [left] and Derek Chauvin.(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber | Court TV via AP, Pool)

Minneapolis

Billionaire Elon Musk is calling for the release of Derek Chauvin.

Musk took to X on Wednesday, stating that “Chauvin was unjustly convicted of murder” and therefore “He should be freed.”

The chief executive officer of Tesla also retweeted others who spoke out against Chauvin’s conviction.

“The facts show that he was not the cause of death, nor did he at any time intend for a death to occur. Whatever else he may be, he is not a murderer,” he continued.

Musk’s comments come a day after Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer, once again requested a dismissal of state murder charges in the 2020 killing of George Floyd.

This is Chauvin’s third time asking to have the charges dismissed, with the previous petitions being denied.

According to court documents filed Tuesday in the Minnesota Court of Appeals, Chauvin’s legal team is requesting a dismissal of the conviction over violations of his due process rights.

The alleged violations listed included the “illegitimate” assignment of the case to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and the Hennepin County District Court’s failure to convene a grand jury before charges were decided.

Chauvin has been in federal prison since 2021 and is currently serving a 22 1/2-year state sentence for second-degree murder and a concurrent 21-year federal sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights.

Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin used his knee to pin his neck to the ground for a reported 9 1/2 minutes.

Chauvin’s attorneys have previously appealed his conviction to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, citing a long list of reasons, including procedural errors and pretrial publicity that deprived him of a fair trial. Minnesota’s top court rejected those petitions.

Prosecutors have not filed an immediate response to Chauvin’s defense team’s latest petition.