Author: John Spears

In the latest quarterly updates from Yum! Brands, Starbucks, and McDonald’s, all three companies reported a decrease in same-store sales, pointing to consumer pressures and a more cautious consumer behavior as contributing factors. Yum! Brands, which owns popular fast-food chains such as Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell, saw an overall 3% decrease in same-store sales in the first quarter. While Taco Bell was able to buck the trend with a 1% increase, Pizza Hut and KFC experienced declines. Starbucks reported a 4% decrease in global comparable store sales for its second quarter, while McDonald’s saw a 1.9% increase in…

Stargazers in McCreary County are in for a treat as the Eta Aquarid meteor shower lights up the night sky. This annual event, caused by Earth passing through debris left by Halley’s Comet, will continue until May 28. The peak of the meteor shower is expected on May 4 to 5, Saturday night into Sunday morning. Known for their fast fireballs, the Eta Aquarids are most visible from the southern tropics. However, a lower rate of meteors can also be seen in the Northern Hemisphere close to sunrise. This year, viewers may have a strong showing thanks to the moon…

The trial of former President Donald Trump has entered its second week of testimony, revealing shocking details about hush money payments made to hide embarrassing stories. Witness testimony has exposed the underbelly of tabloid journalism practices, with payments made to a porn actor and a former Playboy model in an alleged effort to interfere in the election. Prosecutors claim that the payments were intentionally fraudulent, and former publisher of the National Enquirer, David Pecker, testified last week. Pecker admitted to offering to be the “eyes and ears” of the Trump campaign, describing his role in purchasing a false tale to…

The McCreary County Record is closely following the escalating tensions between the United States and Russia as accusations of chemical warfare in Ukraine continue to mount. The US has accused Russia of violating the global ban on chemical weapons by using chloropicrin against Ukrainian soldiers. Chloropicrin, a banned chemical under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, causes severe irritation to the eyes, skin, and lungs. Russian forces have also used grenades loaded with CS and CN gases, resulting in hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers being treated for exposure to toxic substances. Russia has denied the US accusations, stating that it remains committed…

New York City – Celebrated author Paul Auster was honored with the insignia of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in a prestigious awards ceremony held at the French Cultural Services building in New York. The event, which took place as part of the World Voices Festival, featured a keynote speech by renowned author Salman Rushdie before Auster was presented with the prestigious honor. The ceremony, which was attended by literary luminaries and cultural figures, recognized Auster’s significant contributions to the promotion and dissemination of French culture through his works. Auster, known for his thought-provoking novels and essays,…

Exciting news for iPhone users as the first AAA console games are set to arrive on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max thanks to the new A17 Pro chip. The latest addition announced to arrive this summer is Assassin’s Creed Mirage, developed by Ubisoft. Ubisoft has already launched a pre-order page for the iPhone and iPad versions of the game on the App Store. While the official launch date is set for June 6th, the App Store currently lists it as slated for a June 10 release. Players can set the game to auto-download for free to their iPhone…

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy voiced his frustration over delays in promised military supplies for Ukraine, calling for stronger political support from Western allies. This comes after the US approved a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, raising questions about its effectiveness in light of ongoing Russian aggression. As Ukraine’s troops continue to face worsening conditions on the frontlines, with Russia intensifying attacks in various regions, Zelenskyy has called for a signal from Western allies that Ukraine belongs in the EU and NATO. Russian forces have targeted areas previously recaptured by Ukrainian troops, creating a challenging situation for the Ukrainian military. Despite…

In a groundbreaking mission, a Japanese spacecraft successfully rendezvoused with a three-ton piece of rocket debris, highlighting the growing concern of space junk orbiting Earth. The Astroscale satellite tracked down the 15-year-old rocket segment and even managed to capture a picture of the floating space debris. With the increasing amount of space debris posing a threat to communications and space missions, the purpose of this mission is to explore possibilities of removing the harmful junk floating in Earth’s orbit. NASA estimates that there are tens of thousands of pieces of space junk larger than 10 centimeters already orbiting our planet,…

At the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, President Joe Biden delivered a series of sharp-edged jokes aimed at former President Donald Trump, referring to him as a “six-year-old” and mocking various actions and statements made during his presidency. Biden urged the media to focus on the seriousness of the upcoming election, calling for a spotlight on important issues facing the country. Comedian Colin Jost also took jabs at Trump’s absence and jokes about the election, adding humor to the event. However, outside the event, protesters were less amused by the lighthearted banter. Demonstrators criticized Biden’s handling of the war…

Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris Turn Heads in Coordinated Black and Gold Outfits at the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner Hollywood actress Sophia Bush and her partner, soccer star Ashlyn Harris, stole the show at the recent 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner with their stunning coordinated black and gold outfits. The power couple made their red carpet debut at the prestigious event held at The Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. Sophia Bush turned heads in a chic strapless black dress designed by Harbison Studio, featuring a corset bodice and flower-shaped buttons. She completed her elegant look with metallic sandals and…