Popular convenience store chain expanding Footprint with 15 new locations

FILE — Fans waited for Arizona's first Buc-ee's location to open for business this week. (Arizona’s Family)

Buc-ee’s appears to be looking at expanding its national footprint with more than a dozen planned new locations.

The Texas-based convenience store chain, known for its massive travel centers and expansive selection of snacks and merchandise, has listed 15 new store locations expected to open over the next five years.

According to the company’s website under inquiries, Buc-ee’s plans to open new stores in San Marcos, Texas; Benton, Arkansas; and Murfreesboro, Tennessee, this year.

Those locations would join the latest Buc-ee’s to open as the travel center chain opened its first Arizona location this week in Goodyear.

Thousands of customers attended the opening ceremony on Monday, while hundreds of people were seen lining up even hours before the store officially opened its doors.

The Goodyear travel center is said to be nearly 75,000 square feet of space, featuring 120 fuel pumps, and, of course, with its lovable beaver mascot and hot food on display.

Future locations listed include Kansas City, Kansas, St Lucie, Florida, and Lafayette, Louisiana, with those to open within the next couple of years.

The chain currently operates more than 50 locations in about a dozen states. It has been awarded the best restrooms in the country for convenience stores and boasts the record for the largest gas station in the world at its Sevierville, Tennessee, location.

Boy, 13, gets out of Disneyland ride, goes down 50-foot drop in reported mishap

FILE -- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened in the newly renamed Bayou Country at Disneyland Park in 2024. (Disney)

Anaheim, Calif.

A 13-year-old boy reportedly had to be sent to the hospital after he got out of a log ride at Disneyland and went down a 50-foot drop on his own.

According to multiple outlets, the reported mishap occurred on Sunday evening on one of the park’s most popular rides, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

The teen was said to have exited the log ride before it was over, with witnesses saying the boy then slid down the last drop of the ride.

According to Disney, the water ride ends with a dramatic 50-foot drop.

The boy allegedly suffered cuts and scrapes, which were described as minor. He was taken for evaluation as a precaution at a local hospital, according to a shared statement from the park.

The ride was reportedly inspected by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health and was cleared to reopen.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened in November 2024, replacing the water ride’s Splash Mountain theme.

Jersey Mike’s now No. 1 in customer satisfaction, pushing Chick-fil-A out of top spot, study shows

FILE -- Jersey Mike's sandwiches. (Jersey Mike's)

There is a new top-ranking fast-food chain when it comes to customer satisfaction rankings.

According to a study from the American Customer Satisfaction Index, Jersey Mike’s has knocked Chick-fil-A out of the top spot for the first time in over a decade.

The sandwich chain scored an 84 out of 100, making it the top-rated fast-food restaurant in the country for customer satisfaction.

Customers recognized Jersey Mike’s for freshness, food variety and value.

The chain seems to have maintained its quality while reportedly adding nearly 250 stores just last year, helping sales reach over $4 billion.

Chick-fil-A came in No. 2 with an overall score of 83, the same number as the previous year, to remain the clear leader in the fast-food chicken category.

The fast-food chicken chain had held the top spot since 2015.

The burger category was affected last year by reported steep increases in beef prices. However, Culver’s and Burger King earned the same customer satisfaction score of 78 to top the list of fast-food burger chains.

Culver’s is said to have relied on a made-to-order model with an emphasis on service to keep its high-ranking score. While Burger King continues to make restaurant improvements along with new messaging for its food offerings.

When it comes to the biggest gain seen in customer satisfaction, Sonic surged 5% to 77 on the strength of its value offerings, according to the study.

Nasal spray sold on Amazon recalled for infection risk after adverse reactions reported

Beekeeper’s Naturals is voluntarily recalling one lot of its Saline Nasal Spray. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Beekeeper’s Naturals is voluntarily recalling one of its nasal sprays after reported testing found elevated levels of yeast and the possible presence of fungi or mold.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the recall applies to lot No. 5950. The product is a 1-ounce spray with an expiration date of February 2028 that was sold through Amazon between April 2 and 24 of this year.

According to the company, the affected product was produced by a third-party manufacturer and tested above acceptable microbiological limits.

“Due to a clerical error, this lot 5950 was mistakenly shipped to Amazon before testing results became available. Working with Amazon, we have already directly notified all purchasers of this lot 5950 of Beekeeper’s Naturals Saline Nasal Spray,” the recall notice noted.

The recall states that for people with weakened immune systems or lung diseases, there is a reasonable probability that use of the possibly contaminated product could cause serious and life-threatening infections.

Beekeeper’s Naturals reported that it has received four reports from customers regarding adverse reactions potentially related to the recalled product, including sinus congestion, irritation or infection.

About 585 units of the affected lot were reported to be distributed. The company said no other Beekeeper’s Naturals products are included in the recall.

Consumers who have the recalled product have been advised to stop using it and to contact the company at 888-759-6910 for a refund.

Beekeeper’s Naturals said it has taken immediate corrective action to identify and resolve the source of the concern.

Video shows deputies reviving woman after finding her without a pulse, face down in ocean

Video shows deputies reviving a woman after finding her face down in the ocean. (Volusia Sheriff's Office)

Volusia County, Fla.

Florida deputies are being praised for their actions in helping save the life of a woman who was found unresponsive in the ocean.

According to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, deputies were flagged down last Saturday morning for a swimmer in distress in the ocean at New Smyrna Beach.

Deputy Gourley located the 68-year-old woman floating face down in the ocean, and he, along with another female beachgoer, were able to drag her to the shore.

Gourley and Deputy Manhart then immediately began CPR on the unidentified woman as she was found without a pulse.

They were able to revive her before more first responders arrived at the scene, with beach safety patrol continuing life-saving efforts and helping take the woman to an area hospital.

Authorities credited the alert beachgoers for helping them save the woman’s life after spotting her in distress.

Life-saving awards are expected to be presented to the deputies involved in the rescue for their actions, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office noted.