A mystery is unfolding over a single Olive Garden breadstick. On Nov. 16, a TikTok user about an unfortunate extra they received with an order of breadsticks at the popular pasta chain. “Guys, why is there letters on my Olive Garden breadstick?” the user asked. The post consists of a single picture: a hand holding a half-eaten breadstick with the letters “O” and “K” as well as the number “6” in black printed text on its side. The image-based TikTok quickly went viral, amassing more than 4 million views and thousands of comments. “I’ve worked there and I’ve never seen this before 😭,” one user, and another , “How did it happen though?” “They’re from frozen bags so the label must’ve like gotten on that one,” one user . Other commenters who claimed to be or also thought the text was part of the coding on plastic bags that the sticks come in. “it’s like when you do the tongue tattoos with fruit rollups the print stuck onto the bread but just a thought,” one . Others chimed in with similar experiences they had while eating out at restaurants. “THIS HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY WHEN I WAS A KID!!!” one user . “they gave us a pizza w receipt ink on the cheeze we could literally read it all😭😭 we got free dessert.” “One time I had a price tag on the bottom of my egg bite from starbucks,” another , and when the original poster them if they ate it, the user , “I was hungry what can I say.” Neither the TikTok user nor representatives for Olive Garden immediately responded to TODAY.com’s request for comment. But the official Olive Garden account the following on the TikTok: “We are concerned to see this. Can you please send an email to social@olivegarden.com with your full name, and the location you went to?” Four days later, the TikToker and Olive Garden seemingly got in touch over email. Even though every Olive Garden entrée comes with a never-ending first course of soup or salad and breadsticks, the chain gifted the TikToker with a $100 gift card for the error. The user to their account on Nov. 20, four days after their breadstick blunder. “Thank you olive gardens,” the TikToker wrote over a screenshot of an email from Olive Garden. Commenters lauded the chain for its response. One , “Now that’s good service,” and another , “Olive Garden don’t play AROUND.” “How do I get numbers on my breadstick?” someone else . For now, this mystery surrounding the unlimited carb remains unsolved. Washington, D.C. native Joseph Lamour is a lover of food: its past, its present and the science behind it. With food, you can bring opposites together to form a truly marvelous combination, and he strives to take that sentiment to heart in all that he does.
Monport Cyber Monday Mega Sale: Final Chance to Save Big on Laser Machines This 2024For their last holiday season in the White House, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden decked the halls with a theme of "A Season of Peace and Light." When guests first enter the White House for holiday tours, they're greeted by a massive, rotating starlight above the East Wing. The first tree on the tour is dedicated to Gold Star Families. It's made of six oversized and stacked stars representing the branches of the military. Names of fallen service members are written on gold star ornaments on the four accompanying Christmas trees around the room, according to the White House website . Brass-colored bells suspended from archways down the East Colonnade surround guests with the "peaceful sounds of the holiday season." The White House Library is a forest of vintage ceramic Christmas trees. RELATED STORY | Capitol Christmas tree arrives in Washington after 4,000-mile journey from Alaska The ceiling of the East Room is wrapped in a canopy of reflective medallions that mimic the feeling of a peaceful snowfall. This is where guests will find the Nativity scene that has been displayed during every White House holiday season since 1967. In the Blue Room, guests will find the official White House Christmas Tree, a Fraser fir from North Carolina, on display in the center of a whimsical carousel. Every year the room's chandelier is removed to accommodate the tall Christmas trees. Military families from the USS Delaware and the USS Gabrielle Giffords, Navy vessels that First Lady Biden sponsors, made dazzling paper garlands that wrap around the State Dining Room. One of the most anticipated features every year is the Gingerbread White House. The sugary replica features a large starburst and a cheerful scene of ice skaters this year. The White House said the gingerbread masterpiece took 25 sheets of gingerbread dough, 10 sheets of sugar cookie dough, five pounds of pastillage, 45 pounds of chocolate, 50 pounds of royal icing and 10 pounds of gum paste to come to life. In total, there are 83 Christmas trees throughout the White House adorned with approximately 9,810 feet of ribbon and over 28,125 ornaments. Over 165,075 lights decorate the trees, garlands, wreaths and displays. RELATED STORY | Experts share tips on how to have a bugfree Christmas "It has been the honor of our lives to serve as your President and First Lady. Our hope is for the Nation to be blessed with the peace and light of the holiday season. We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays," the president and first lady wrote in the welcome letter for the commemorative White House Holiday Guide. It took over 300 dedicated volunteers from across the country a full week to decorate the inside and outside of the White House, who the first lady thanked during a special event to mark the holiday season. The first lady invited National Guard families to be the first to experience this year's magical decorations and had their children on stage at the special event.
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Esports Empowerment: Infinix partners with PUBG MOBILE for 2024 PMGC. Cutting-Edge Features: GT 20 Pro elevates mobile gaming. Inspiring Champions: Unity Titans’ journey to greatness. Infinix has taken a bold step in esports by becoming the Official Gaming Phone for the 2024 PUBG MOBILE Global Championship (PMGC) . This groundbreaking partnership aligns with the theme “Standing as One” and cements Infinix’s dedication to empowering gamers worldwide. The 2024 PMGC is more than just a tournament; it’s a platform for showcasing exceptional talent. With 48 teams competing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the top 15 advancing to the Grand Finals in London, this championship boasts a prize pool of $3 million. Tony Zhao , General Manager at Infinix, emphasized, “Our ongoing partnership with PUBG MOBILE exemplifies our unwavering commitment to fostering the esports community. We are excited to support a platform that empowers talent, fuels passion, and unites players across the globe.” At the heart of Infinix’s support for the 2024 PMGC is the Infinix GT 20 Pro, the official gaming phone for the event. Tailored for esports enthusiasts, this flagship device features: A 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals. The MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chipset for seamless multitasking and gaming. Esports Mode to eliminate distractions and a cooling fan accessory for extended sessions. The GT 20 Pro isn’t just a phone; it’s a tool designed to help gamers excel. Whether you’re grinding for rank or enjoying immersive battles, this device ensures optimal performance. One of the most inspiring stories tied to Infinix’s sponsorship is that of the Unity Titans, formerly known as the #WOOOWSquad. This Nigerian team began as a group of passionate students balancing academics and limited resources. Their breakthrough came during the 2024 PUBG MOBILE Campus Championship (PMCC) Nigeria, hosted by Infinix. Winning the tournament not only gave them national recognition but also transformed them into symbols of ambition and unity. Their journey from local competitions to representing their country in London is a testament to the power of perseverance and opportunity. The Unity Titans’ success has ignited hope among young gamers in Nigeria, proving that dreams can become reality with the right support. As the 2024 PMGC Grand Finals approach, Infinix is ensuring that fans worldwide can join the excitement. For those unable to travel to London, Infinix is organizing watch parties in regions like the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa. These events aim to unite the global PUBG MOBILE community, bringing the thrill of the competition closer to fans everywhere. To further celebrate esports talent, Infinix is introducing the MVP Awards and PMGC Awards. The Most Valuable Player will be chosen based on match performances, with the honor of attending the Grand Finals in London. This initiative highlights Infinix’s commitment to recognizing and rewarding excellence within the gaming community. Through its sponsorship and technological innovations, Infinix is shaping the future of esports. Beyond the competition, the brand is fostering a culture where passion, teamwork, and perseverance lead to greatness. The journey of the Unity Titans symbolizes this vision. From local tournaments to the global stage, their story inspires aspiring players to believe in their potential. Infinix’s partnership with PUBG MOBILE for the 2024 PMGC is a milestone in esports. By supporting players, hosting global events, and introducing cutting-edge devices like the GT 20 Pro, Infinix is proving that gaming is more than a hobby—it’s a gateway to opportunities. As the Grand Finals in London draw closer, the message is clear: Infinix is not just empowering gamers; it’s redefining the future of esports. Will you be part of this epic journey? Labels: 2024 PUBG MOBILE Global Championship ESports Gaming Events Infinix Infinix eSports Smartphones The Unity Titans You Might Also Like Newer Post Older PostWhether you prefer to visit ski resorts in the east or spend a day shredding mountains in the west, the season of winter sports is upon us, and no matter what your sport is, there are several gadgets you'll want to bring on your next ski trip . If you're a beginner snowboarder or spent the last season renting gear, a sick board, boots, and bindings are just a few of the items needed to get you dominating the slopes on those fresh pow days. However, there are other things that can come in handy. For example, if you have a smartwatch, there are a few must-have snowboarding and ski apps to help you track your progress and keep an eye on the weather. Based on positive reviews, as well as personal experience with some of the products, here are five radical gadgets any snowboarder shouldn't go without for an awesome day on the slopes. A more in-depth explanation can be found at the end of this article. Whether you're at a resort that allows nighttime riding or shredding the mountain during a massive snowstorm, having lights on your board can be both fun and a safety feature. For $139, the ActionGlow LED Snowboard Lighting System comes with two 1-meter LED light strips, two waterproof power supplies, two LED fastener clips, and adhesive to attach the lights to your snowboard. The cool feature of these lights is that it has a color change mode, so you can easily switch between seven colors using one button. It also has three different brightness levels. Additionally, they are low profile, so you don't have to worry too much about them interfering with your toe or heel side positions. It's also 100% waterproof at IP68 and comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty. These lights come with a 4.8 rating on ActionGlow's website. Many consumers love how vibrant the lights are, and the customer photos do the product justice. However, the biggest complaint from some reviewers is that the adhesive it comes with isn't strong enough to hold the lights onto the board, so you may want to consider investing in a stronger waterproof glue. However, one user on Amazon hasn't had a problem and even attached a video to their comment. They recommended cleaning the board thoroughly, making sure the board is room temperature for the adhesive, and taking your time putting the lights on. Another happy consumer recommended wrapping the box with electrical tape to help the battery stay warm. You don't want to be that person who has their snowboard fall over, scratch up the car, and draw attention. Instead, protect your car and expensive gear with the SnoStrip Protective Snowboard Vehicle Mount . It's an incredibly simple, innovative design that uses a strong magnet on the back to attach to any vehicle or metal surface. However, the magnet is covered in soft silicone to help protect the car. On the protruding side of the mount, there are multiple slots that can hold different types of skis. For snowboarders, there are two snowboard hooks for secure leaning. The SnoStrip gadget received a 4.4 out of five-star rating from over 300 users and is a personal recommendation. Many times, ski resort parking lots are icy, and I've watched my snowboard scratch up the side of the truck before hitting the ground more times than I care to admit. This gadget not only protects the car but also shows off my board while cooking breakfast before first chair. Furthermore, you could keep it attached to the car since the product has been tested at highway speeds — however, it's very slim and takes a second to remove from the car, so I would suggest keeping it safely placed in your vehicle when you're not using it. The biggest downside is that it is a bit pricey at $50, but with over 1,000 bought in the past month, it's obvious that people are desperate to keep their vehicles scratch-free. No matter what snowboarding experience level you're at, having a watch to track data, elevation, speed, and even your health stats is beneficial. Garmin has several watches to choose from, but if you're going to be outside all day, why not invest in one that is both durable and can charge itself? With a 4.5 score from over 2,400 users, the Garmin Instant 2: Solar and Tactical Edition technically has an unlimited battery because of its solar charging capabilities. It is also water-rated to 100 meters, so a bit of snow isn't going to affect it. The features of the Garmin Instinct 2 Series are vast. You can see your time and pace while zooming down the mountain along with elevation. There's also a built-in barometer to monitor the weather and a compass to ensure you're moving in the right direction. If you have service, you can connect your watch to your phone, as long as it's compatible, and receive live notifications as well as buy coffee or snacks down in the lodge with contactless payment. When paired, it can also keep track of your live location and has a built-in incident detector — just make sure you set it up before heading out. Most impressively for snowboarding, the watch can distinguish between ascending or defending a mountain, so you can hit start on your first run and leave it going all day. You can purchase this watch on Amazon for $450 — however, it's discounted to $335 at the time of writing. Every snowboarder knows that the sport is not a cheap one to get into — in fact, between gear and an annual pass, you'll end up spending well over $2,000 in the first year. This is why it's important to keep your gear safe. For snowboarders, whether it's thievery or you mistakingly letting the board get away from you down the mountain and into the trees, you'll want the tools to be able to find it again. With a 4.7 out of five-star rating from over 4,500 users and a personal recommendation, the Elevation Lab Surface AirTag Adhesive Mount is a cheap peace of mind, costing only $13. Be aware that the AirTag is not included, but costs only an additional $30 on Amazon. This mount uses 3M adhesive and is low profile, so you'll be able to place it on a flat surface on the snowboard without a problem. However, you'll want to put it somewhere you're less likely to overflex, so it doesn't pop off while you're shredding. Furthermore, even though AirTags aren't waterproof , this mount is, so your tech will stay safe and useable while the AirTag's battery lasts . Additionally, if you don't use an iPhone, that's not a problem. Android phones can still detect AirTags , or you can use another circular tracking device with the same dimensions. A massage gun is a wonderful luxury with any extreme sport, but most of the time, they're not the easiest to transport. However, the TheraGun Mini Handheld Massage Gun is small enough to fit into a backpack, so you can take it all the way up to the top of the mountain for emergency massages for muscle cramps. Compared to its larger counterpart, it is 20% smaller and 30% lighter. It has a comfortable ergonomic grip, which means it's designed to fit the natural grip of your hand, and three foam attachments for different types of massaging techniques. It also has three speeds and connects via Bluetooth to the Therabody app to show speed and force, creating a well-rounded massage session. This massage gun comes with a 4.7 out of five-star rating from over 6,600 users. Many love the portability, and there's nothing in the written reviews indicating that the size takes away from the massage power. However, there are mixed reviews on the battery life. Some state that it doesn't last long enough, especially if they had the speed all the way up. Though, others were impressed by it, saying they got multiple uses before needing to recharge it. In terms of pressure, reviews went both ways as well. Unfortunately, what makes a massage gun good is relative, considering everyone has different needs. You can find this mini massage gun on Amazon for the list price of $200 — though, it is on sale for the holidays for $160. These awesome snowboarding gadgets were selected based on positive reviews and high ratings, as well as some personal experience with some of the products. We made sure to read through the comments and determine if there were any negative reviews that our readers should be aware of. For example, the snowboard LED lights had a few bad reviews on Amazon, but the positive ones tended to answer the questions or affirm potential user error of those negative comments. Furthermore, we made sure the products we selected were relatively affordable for the item. Though the Garmin watch is expensive, with all the features it comes with, it can be considered a reasonable price, especially during a holiday sale. That said, everyone spends their days on the slopes differently, so we do recommend doing more research to ensure you are purchasing products that will benefit you.(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Sunday, Dec. 1 AUTO RACING 10:55 a.m. ESPN2 — Formula 1: The Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail International Circuit, Doha, Qatar COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) Noon BTN — Alcorn St. at Maryland 2 p.m. BTN — Buffalo at Penn St. 4 p.m. BTN — North Florida at Nebraska ESPN2 — MTSU at UAB 4:30 p.m. FS1 — South Carolina at Xavier COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S) Noon ACCN — Columbia at Duke 2 p.m. ESPN2 — Creighton at Tulsa COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S) 6 p.m. ESPN — NCAA Women’s Volleyball Selection Show GOLF 7 a.m. GOLF — Ladies European Tour: The Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España, Final Round, Real Club Guadalhorce Golf, Málaga, Spain HORSE RACING Noon FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races LACROSSE (MEN’S) 6 p.m. ESPN2 — NLL: Philadelphia at San Diego NBA BASKETBALL 6 p.m. NBATV — Boston at Cleveland NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL 1 p.m. NBATV — Sioux Falls at Motor City NFL FOOTBALL 1 p.m. CBS — Regional Coverage: L.A. Chargers at Atlanta, Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, Indianapolis at New England, Tennessee at Washington FOX — Regional Coverage: Arizona at Minnesota, Seattle at N.Y. Jets, Houston at Jacksonville 4:05 p.m. FOX — Regional Coverage: L.A. Rams at New Orleans, Tampa Bay at Carolina 4:25 p.m. CBS — Philadelphia at Baltimore 8:20 p.m. NBC — San Francisco at Buffalo PEACOCK — San Francisco at Buffalo SKIING 12:30 p.m. NBC — FIS: Alpine Ski World Cup, Killington, Vt. SOCCER (MEN’S) 8:30 a.m. USA — Premier League: Aston Villa at Chelsea 11 a.m. USA — Premier League: Manchester City at Liverpool Noon CBSSN — Serie A: Inter Milan at Fiorentina SPEEDSKATING 2 p.m. NBC — ISU: World Cup, Beijing (Taped) The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV .
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A melee broke out at midfield of Ohio Stadium after Michigan upset No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday. After the Wolverines' fourth straight win in the series, players converged at the block "O" to plant its flag. The Ohio State players were in the south end zone singing their alma mater in front of the student section. When the Buckeyes saw the Wolverines' flag, they rushed toward the 50-yard line. Social media posts showed Michigan offensive lineman Raheem Anderson carrying the flag on a long pole to midfield, where the Wolverines were met by dozens of Ohio State players and fights broke out. Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer was seen ripping the flag off the pole and taking the flag as he scuffled with several people trying to recover the flag. A statement from the Ohio State Police Department read: "Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for games and will continue to investigate." Michigan running back Kalel Mullings on FOX said: "For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game. It's bad for the sport, bad for college football. At the end of the day, some people got to learn how to lose, man. "You can't be fighting and stuff just because you lost the game. We had 60 minutes and four quarters to do all that fighting. Now people want to talk and fight. That's wrong. It's bad for the game. Classless, in my opinion. People got to be better." Once order was restored, officers cordoned the 50-yard line, using bicycles as barriers. Ohio State coach Ryan Day in his postgame press conference said he wasn't sure what happened. "I don't know all the details of it. But I know that these guys are looking to put a flag on our field and our guys weren't going to let that happen," he said. "I'll find out exactly what happened, but this is our field and certainly we're embarrassed at the fact we lost the game, but there's some prideful guys on our team that weren't just going to let that happen." The Big Ten has not yet released a statement on the incident. --Field Level MediaNoneCarter Wilkie had a big stat line against Robert Morris last season
Have thoughts about the possibility of a Buc-ee's near Monument and Palmer Lake? Developers have invited the community to attend a public forum this week to share information about the proposed super-sized travel center. The meeting will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Palmer Lake Elementary School at 115 Upper Glenway Road . If approved, the Buc-ee's will be just the second built in Colorado after a Johnston location opened north of Denver last year. The new location, north of downtown Monument along I-25, would be a similar size at about 74,000 square feet. Since the proposal's announcement, the plan has received mixed responses, with pushback from some who feel the travel center would be harmful to local residents. Known for its food, shopping and self-proclaimed "world's cleanest bathrooms," Buc-ee's originated in Texas. Stan Beard, the chain’s real estate and development director, previously told The Gazette that the new proposed location would provide high visibility for hundreds of thousands of travelers along I-25 south of Denver each year. The chain typically builds in small communities outside of major population centers, he said. The newest Buc-ee's plan will hinge on the approval of El Paso County, which is the current jurisdiction of the land site, and Palmer Lake, which would need to annex the land and provide services. According to plans submitted to the county in November, the travel center would be built on a piece of land at the southwest corner of I-25 and County Line Road and east of Beacon Lite Road. The land would be a "flagpole" annexation if accepted into Palmer Lake, since the property does not border town limits. The town would need to annex a thin sliver of land connecting the property to the rest of Palmer Lake — hence "flagpole." The town of Palmer Lake will be considering the annexation at a Dec. 12 meeting. Palmer Lake Mayor Glant Havenar said in a Facebook post on Nov. 3 that the meeting was not to accept the annexation, but to determine whether the request was eligible to move forward in the process. Havenar said that she and other town officials were staying neutral on the issue at this point and said she wanted to "learn as much as possible" about the project. "At this stage, we cannot comment on the project, whether we believe it meets eligibility, or share any thoughts or opinions on its viability and merits," she said. The travel center with a cult customer following has seen some criticism on social media since the announcement of the plan for a second Colorado location. One online petition to stop the annexation has surpassed 1,800 signatures. The petition, whose author could not be reached for comment, cites proximity to the nearby Woodmoor neighborhood as an objection to Buc-ee's, claiming it would bring traffic, crime and harm to local businesses. Other commenters have raised concerns that the location's elevation on Monument Hill would be prone to heavy snow and ice in the winter. Though a full project plan has not yet been submitted to Palmer Lake, preliminary documents outline a major upgrade in Palmer Lake's water capacity. The annexation impact report submitted to the county for the project in November estimates a "sizable" extension of Palmer Lake's water system of about 860,000 gallons per month, to be constructed and paid for by the developers. The impact report also anticipates upgrades to surrounding roadways. The property, already zoned for commercial use, is identified as a possible "retail node" in Palmer Lake Community Master Plan.If Utahns have a deep relationship with any particular food, going by the widely held perception, it’s sugar. The signs are all around us. A major chain of cookie bakeries launched here. So did the whole “dirty soda” trend , supercharged by Utah women on TikTok. Salt water taffy is a common gift Utahns give to out-of-state relatives. The symbol on the state flag is a beehive — a natural factory for sweetness. Sugar is embedded in Utah’s history. One of the early industries the Latter-day Saint settlers started was raising sugar beets and trying to process them into granulated sugar. The place where this happened was known as “Sugar House” — a name that has stuck to the Salt Lake City neighborhood where the factory was located. Sugar is “the drug of choice” for Utah, a dentist in Herriman declared in an essay on his practice’s website in 2021. A doctor in Spanish Fork, writing in The Salt Lake Tribune about the “dirty soda” craze in 2022, told Utahns to “stop the madness. Stop ingesting so many processed sugars.” Pastry chef Romina Rasmussen, who founded the Salt Lake City chocolate shop Chez Nibs and operated the French bakery Les Madeleines for two decades, said Utahns “really like sugar, and that’s always been one of my challenges, because my food is not sugar-forward.” Is the perception true? Do Utahns consume sugar more fervently than other parts of the country? And what does Utah’s relationship with sugar say about us and our culture? Sugar by the stats (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Bonbons by chocolatier Chris Blue, made exclusively for his shop in Berkeley and for Caputo’s in Salt Lake City, are pictured on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. Sugary treats make a lot of money for Utah. The National Confectioners Association reports that confectionery manufacturing in Utah produces $337.6 million in economic output. Utah’s ice cream industry produces $194.3 million in economic impact, according to the International Dairy Foods Association . But does Utah have as big of a sweet tooth as it appears? According to a 2023 study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), intake of added dietary sugar among adult Utahns in 2010 and 2015 was 17.1 teaspoons per day. That’s a shade over the national average of 17.0 teaspoons per day — though among the Western states, people in only two states, Hawaii and Arizona, had higher consumption levels than Utah. States in the South had the highest consumption levels, the NIH study found. People in Southern states averaged 17.8 teaspoons a day, with Kentuckians topping the chart with an average of 21.2 teaspoons a day. The NIH study noted that groups like the American Heart Association suggest that adult men consume no more than 9 teaspoons of added sugar in a day, and women no more than 6 teaspoons a day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that nationally, 63% of adults age 18 or older reported drinking sugar-sweetened beverages one or more times daily. In Utah, just over half of its adults (53.6%) reported drinking sugar-sweetened beverages one or more times daily. The South, the Northeast, Wyoming, South Dakota and New Mexico had the highest numbers. Utah’s rate of diabetes is lower than the national rate, too. According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services’ 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System , Utah’s age-adjusted rate of diabetes is 9.0% of adults, compared to the U.S. age-adjusted rate of 10.8%. When it comes to consuming sugar and feeling the effects of that sugar, Utah isn’t an outlier. Instead, it’s pretty average. Sugar ‘is how you communicate with people’ (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Romina Rasmussen, owner of Les Madeleines, the 19-year-old French pastry cafe in downtown Salt Lake City speaks with a customer on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. Anecdotal evidence, though, paints a different picture — and, like many aspects of life in Utah, it’s one often linked to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Rasmussen, famous for her French kouign amann pastries, grew up in Salt Lake City. But her mother is an immigrant from Chile, and “they don’t like things as sweet either,” she said. When her family did have “dessert” at home, it was often fruit. But her father grew up in Idaho, in a family that belonged to the Latter-day Saint faith, “and there was always cake or pie,” she said. “There was always dessert.” About 40 years after Latter-day Saint leaders failed to produce sugar, the church largely bankrolled the Utah Sugar Company, which contributed to the completion in 1891 of a $400,000 beet sugar factory in Lehi, writes historian Leonard J. Arrington in an article for Utah History Encyclopedia titled “The Sugar Industry in Utah.” After the Lehi sugar factory was determined to be a “technical and financial success” in 1897, Arrington wrote, several new factories were built in the West, including 17 in Utah. “When asked their motive in using the agency of the church to promote an enterprise of this nature,” Arrington wrote, “Mormon officials replied that this was one means of fulfilling their covenant to redeem the earth and build up the Kingdom of God.” Sugar production eventually ended in Utah in the 1980s, according to Arrington, but members of the Latter-day Saint faith have never seemed to shake their connection to sweetness and sugar. “When it comes to ice cream and cookies and soda, [Latter-day Saints] do not hold back. I can attest to that,” said Jared Gold , a chocolatier and candy maker who grew up in the Latter-day Saint faith and opened the sweets shop and ice cream parlor Sugarbeast across the street from BYU-Idaho. He splits his time between Rexburg and Salt Lake City. (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jared Gold in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. Gold has been making candy since he was about 5, when he’d pull vinegar taffy made from his grandma’s recipe. And a lot of the recipes for the old-fashioned candy sold at Sugarbeast — for the English toffee, buttercrunch peanut brittle and maple walnut divinity, for example — Gold has made at home with his family, he said. While Gold was growing up in Idaho Falls, he remembers that people in his neighborhood — most of them members of the Latter-day Saint faith — would give one another plates of homemade peanut brittle, fudge and divinity, and see who would have the prettiest plate and candy, he said. Giving someone sugar, like the way Gold’s mom would often give her home-baked cookies to people around town, “it’s a way you support each other,” Gold said. “So I definitely feel like I’ve supported quite a few people, and not only their habits but emotional state as well.” Gold said his mother taught him that “sugar is a tool, it’s a communication device. ... This is how you communicate with people that you have hurt, or people who are hurt, or people who are sick.” “The [Latter-day Saint] culture is already very close-knit,” he continued. “When you’re in an LDS ward, it’s very familial amongst everybody there. ... When you first walk into the Sugarbeast, there’s a huge banner that says, ‘Sugar is love,’ and that is so in my DNA.” Making memories over ice cream (Lyndsay Snelgrove) The Snelgrove ice cream shop in St. George. Sugar, Snelgrove Ice Cream CEO Lyndsay Snelgrove said, isn’t just something to reach for to have something sweet. It’s more of a “way to connect and make memories with family,” she said. Her great-grandfather founded the Snelgrove company in Salt Lake City in 1929. During the Great Depression, when ice cream cones cost a nickel, Snelgrove said her great-grandfather’s thought “was you can’t go on vacation necessarily anymore, but you can always go get an ice cream cone. You can always take your family. That’s a little break you can get.” The brand, and its shops’ signs in the shape of a giant double-scoop cone, became iconic in Utah. The giant sign outside the company’s old factory on 2100 South in Sugar House remains standing; the block is being developed into condos. A double-cone sign on 400 South in Salt Lake City is still there, though it was painted black when the shop was converted into a Jimmy John’s sandwich place. Snelgrove has been leading her family’s brand — which was bought by a national manufacturer in 1990 and discontinued in 2008 — through a comeback over the past few years. She opened a Snelgrove ice cream shop in St. George in 2021, and is in the process of opening more stores across Utah. Today, she said, the world is facing an “epidemic of loneliness.” “We’re surrounded by people, and we’re surrounded by technology that allows us to be in touch with people, but people are super lonely,” Snelgrove said. “And so my vision with the whole thing is to provide a place people can go and really connect with each other and make memories.” As the mother of four teenagers, Snelgrove said she is always looking for ways to get them out of the house to spend time with them and connect. She said when one of her children is having a bad day, it’s easy to say, “Hey, let’s go drive through Swig or let’s go grab a cone.” At the Snelgrove shop, as she’s scooping ice cream and talking to customers, she said she often hears people’s memories of Snelgrove ice cream. “I’ve had people come in just in tears because their mom passed away, and she used to bring them to Snelgrove’s, or a ton of first dates. They’re married now, but it was their first date. Just all sorts of stuff like that,” Snelgrove said. When opening the first Snelgrove shop in decades, “I didn’t realize how powerful it is to really provide people with an opportunity to feel loved and connected,” she said. Snelgrove said Utahns do have a reputation for loving sugar, and “I think it’s well deserved.” “But I think we just love life, and that’s our way to celebrate a little bit,” she said. Sugarbeast candy is available to order and ship at Sugarbeast.com . Orders placed after Dec. 20 will be shipped on Jan. 6. Pints of Snelgrove ice cream are available at The Store in Holladay, at Meiers Meats & Fine Foods in Highland, and at Bowman’s Market in Kaysville. Chez Nibs is currently taking orders for Christmas cookie platters and other holiday items at ChezNibs.com . Salt Lake Tribune deputy enterprise editor Sean P. Means contributed to this story. Editor’s note • This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism.
( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of PACS Group Inc. (NYSE: PACS) of (i) common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus (collectively, the“Registration Statement”) in connection with the Company's April 11, 2024 initial public offering ("IPO"); (ii) securities between April 11, 2024 and November 5, 2024, both dates inclusive (the“Class Period”); and/or (iii) common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus issued in connection with the Company's September 2024 secondary public offering (“SPO”), of the important January 13, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline . SO WHAT: If you purchased PACS common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the IPO and/or securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the PACS class action, go to or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email ... for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 13, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, in the Registration Statement and throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) PACS engaged in a“scheme” to submit false Medicare claims which“drove more than 100% of PACS' operating and net income from 2020 – 2023”; (2) PACS engaged in a“scheme” to“bill thousands of unnecessary respiratory and sensory integration therapies to Medicare”; (3) PACS engaged in a scheme to falsify documentation related to licensure and staffing; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about PACS' business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the PACS class action, go to or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email ... for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: , on Twitter: or on Facebook: . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 ... MENAFN30112024004107003653ID1108941570 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Five burning CFP questions: Biggest Week 13 games, dark-horse contenders and more