McDonald’s French fry supplier closes factory, blaming $5 meal deals

FILE — The food producer is said to get about 14% of its sales from McDonald’s. (AP photo/Gene J. Puskar)

McDonald’s customers are reportedly not including as many French fries on their orders as they have in the past.

The reported dip in fry orders has led to the closure of a factory by one of the fast-food giant’s major providers of fries.

USA Today reports that Lamb Weston, an Idaho-based company, closed a plant in Washington and cut about 4% of its global workforce along with eliminating positions amid the drop in sales.

The food producer is said to get about 14% of its sales from McDonald’s, but with a drop in restaurant traffic and frozen potatoes, the company has moved into a cost-cutting restructuring plan.

“Restaurant traffic and frozen potato demand, relative to supply, continue to be soft, and we believe it will remain soft through the remainder of fiscal 2025,” Tom Werner, Lamb Weston CEO, said.

According to industry reports, the company has blamed in part McDonald’s $5 meal deals regarding the recent changes. The affordable meals were introduced earlier this year at McDonald’s locations throughout the country.

The fast-food chain reported a dent in sales earlier this year as inflation-weary customers were spending less.

Woman falls overboard on Taylor Swift-themed cruise; Coast Guard helping with search

FILE — The cruise is a fan-sponsored event and not affiliated with Swift herself. (AP Photos/Chris Pizzello/Gene J. Puskar)

Miami

The U.S. Coast Guard says a search is underway for a woman who fell overboard on a Taylor Swift-themed cruise.

According to the Coast Guard, the 66-year-old woman was traveling on the Royal Caribbean ship Allure of the Season when she went overboard Tuesday night as the boat was about 17 miles from the Bahamas.

The Royal Bahamas Defense Force is the lead agency in the search with the Coast Guard assisting.

The four-night, five-day cruise set sail just a day earlier from Miami and was en route to the Bahamas.

The cruise is a fan-sponsored event and not affiliated with Swift herself, but was said to feature “all things Taylor” including karaoke, a dance party and friendship bracelet trading.

ABC News reports that about 400 people were registered for the cruise.

The Coast Guard said an airplane and helicopter crew from Air Station Miami were also being used in the search for the woman.

According to the ship’s itinerary, it is scheduled to return to Miami on Friday.

Marine veteran kicked off flight by attendant for wearing ‘threatening’ shirt, reports say

FILE — A woman was reportedly told to deplane from a Delta flight over her shirt. (Thinkstock Images via Canva)

San Francisco

A U.S. veteran was reportedly kicked off a flight at San Francisco International Airport over a T-shirt she was wearing.

NBC Bay Area reports that Catherine Banks was set to fly out of SFO on Wednesday before a flight attendant told her the shirt she was wearing was threatening.

The shirt read, “Do not give in to the war within. End veteran suicide,” Banks shared.

Banks, a Marine Corps veteran, said the words on her shirt were for the work she does for others and was not meant to be threatening.

“A male flight attendant was saying, ‘Ma’am, ma’am.’ I looked around, like, ‘Who was he talking to?’ And it was me. He said, ‘You need to get off the plane,’ and I was like, ‘What did I do?’” Banks said.

After getting off the plane, Banks shared that the flight attendant told her that her shirt was deemed “threatening.”

“I said, are you kidding me? I’m a Marine Corps vet. I’m going to see my Marine sister,” she told NBC News. “I’ve been in the Marine Corps for 22 years and worked for the Air Force for 15 years. I’m going to visit her.”

According to Banks, the attendant told her that he didn’t care about her service and that the only way she was going to get back on the plane was to take the shirt off.

Banks reportedly changed into a sweatshirt to stay on the flight.

People reports that according to Delta’s contract of carriage for U.S. flights, the airline has sole discretion to determine whether or not passengers should be removed from a flight.

A Delta spokesperson said the matter in question had been resolved and thanked the passenger for your patience and her service, People reported.

Man wins $9.2 million lottery thanks to machine getting stuck trying to buy different ticket

An Illinois Lottery player can’t believe his luck after winning $9,2 million because he was actually trying to buy a ticket for a different game. (Illinois Lottery)

Chicago

An Illinois man got the lottery prize of a lifetime thanks to a Lotto machine malfunctioning.

The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, said he still can’t believe it after winning a $9.2 million jackpot because he was actually trying to buy a ticket for a different game.

“It was a normal day, just like any other. I was picking up groceries at Jewel and on my way out the door, I decided to buy a lottery ticket,” he explained.

According to the Illinois Lottery, the winner earned the nickname ‘Lucky Lotto Winner’ over what happened.

He said he was trying to buy a ticket for a different game that day when the machine got stuck on the Lotto game.

“I was a bit frustrated. I even asked ‘What is going on? The machine won’t give me the right game!’ So, I decided I may as well buy the Lotto ticket.”

The jackpot-winning ticket was purchased at a Jewel-Osco store in Addison for the Aug. 24 Lotto drawing.

The lucky winner held onto the ticket for about a month before claiming his prize.

The man’s winning ticket matched all six numbers of 2-15-21-29-42-44 to score the $9.2 million jackpot prize.

“The morning after the drawing, I scanned the ticket at a machine to check if it was a winner. When the machine showed the $9.2 million prize amount, I couldn’t believe it!” he said. “I looked at my wife and she was completely speechless. We are laughing now over how angry I was at the broken machine and so grateful for how it all turned out.”

The Jewel store will receive a $92,000 check for selling the winning ticket.

The $9.2 million prize is the second-largest Lotto jackpot hit this year in Illinois. The largest was in February when an Illinois Lottery player won $10.4 million on a ticket bought in Park Ridge.

Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show features first transgender models in iconic show

New York

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York City on Tuesday featured the first transgender women to walk the stage in the iconic show.

Models Valentina Sampaio and Alex Consani made history while hitting the runway with their fellow Victoria’s Secret models.

Sampaio shared a video of herself from that evening wearing black lingerie that has received thousands of loving reactions from her fans.

“The Victoria’s Secret family has shown the world that being trans is just as exceptional and beautiful as anyone else on that runway,” the Brazilian model shared. “Inclusivity is crucial to the world we’re building, and I’m honored to walk with pride, love, and the hope of inspiring the next generation.”

People reports that in 2019 Sampaio also became the first trans model to be featured in an ad campaign with Victoria’s Secret. The following year, she made history by becoming the first out trans person to model for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

Consani is originally from California and has gained a massive social media following, including more than 3.4 million TikTok followers.

She has walked in shows for several designers including Chloe and Burberry.

Consani took to social media to share her wearing a satin outfit featuring gray underwear and angular wings from Tuesday’s event.

“Little me is screaming, I can’t even say anything other than thank you,” she wrote in her post.

NBC News reports that this year’s show also featured some of the best-known models from previous Victoria’s Secret fashion shows like Adriana Lima and Tyra Banks as well as a performance by Cher.