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CVS hit with backlash over ‘manipulative’ mass text sent to customers as official vows ‘we will not stand for it’

CVS was hit with major backlash over a mass text sent to customers warning about price hikes and closures.

The company released a massive campaign to customers in Louisiana, urging them to reach out to lawmakers about a proposed bill.

CVS Pharmacy sign against a blue sky.
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CVS has been slammed by Louisiana lawmakers for a mass text condemning a House bill[/caption]
Close-up of a woman's hands holding and using a light teal smartphone.
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The text urges customers to call their lawmakers to denounce the bill, claiming it would lead to closures and price hikes[/caption]

House Bill 358, which surfaced on Wednesday, would ban pharmacy benefit managers from owning pharmacies.

The goal is to stop big companies from using their buying power to price out local, independent pharmacies, which would give customers fewer choices, according to supporters.

However, CVS claims the bill would force them to close 119 pharmacies in the state, affecting a million patients, 22,000 of whom receive high-cost specialty drugs that smaller pharmacies may find difficult to handle.

The company also said the closures would put 2,700 employees out of work.

“Last minute legislation in Louisiana threatens to close your CVS Pharmacy — your medication cost may go up and your pharmacist may lose their job,” read one of the texts CVS sent to customers as part of its lobbying campaign.

However, lawmakers claimed CVS was using “fear tactics” to scare its customers.

The lawmakers believe the bill will help stand up to massive companies that are squeezing out local pharmacies.

“It is about time something in this building we have done tells a national industry we’re not going to stand for it anymore,” said Baton Rouge Representative Dixon McMakin, told The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate.

He said some of the messages CVS had sent out claimed that lawmakers were threatening to close pharmacies.

“No we’re not, you liars. Quit being liars. Quit using scare tactics.”

However, CVS believes the impacts of the bill would be far-reaching with chief pharmacy officer Lucille Accetta claiming it would “cripple” health care access and affordability in the state.

“It is shutting us completely down as a trusted health care pharmacy,” she said.

Accetta added that the legislation would bring about a “health care crisis,” saying that neither legislators nor Governor Jeff Landry understand the impact of the policy change.

However, Landry responded on X, sharing an official statement.

“CVS Pharmacy’s mass text message yesterday is the exact reason we need HB 358 to pass,” he wrote.

“Abusing patient’s [sic] sensitive information to push a political message is completely unethical and manipulative and we will not stand for it.”

The House passed the bill on an 88-4 vote, but the Senate will need to agree on Thursday before it can go to Gov. Landry’s desk for a signature.

“Drug prices soaring? Thank PBMs, the Profiteering Big Money, for gaming the system,” Landry tweeted.

“They hurt patients and small businesses. No more, not here — let’s rein in PBMs now!”

PHARMACY CRACKDOWN

This isn’t the first bill that has gone after major pharmaceutical companies, as House Bill 264, which would ban pharmacy benefit managers from steering customers to their own pharmacies, was introduced.

Again, CVS argued that such changes could affect thousands of people.

“A backroom deal isn’t the best way to proceed,” said Acceetta.

However, Opelousas Rep. Dustin Miller said the issue has been debated for years and that HB358 would give CVS time to make the changes it needs to keep pharmacies open.

“We have set the effective date of this bill January 2027,” said Miller.

“We will be here and have a whole other session if there is anything that we have to address.”

Arkansas has passed a similar bill, but CVS has filed a lawsuit to try to stop it.

“We will do anything and everything that we can to keep our pharmacy operations up and running in Louisiana,” said CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to CVS for comment.

Governor Jeff Landry waiting for an interview.
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Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry supports the bill, calling the mass text ‘manipulative’[/caption]
Exterior view of a CVS pharmacy.
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CVS said thousands of employees would be affected by potential closures[/caption]

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Costco shopper sparks questions after spotting secret code on labels – and it’s not the ‘death star’

COSTCO members have been left baffled by a code spotted on price labels at stores.

Some are concerned as to what it could mean for the future of their favorite merchandise at the warehouse retailer.

Shoppers entering a Costco Wholesale store at dusk.
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Costco shoppers have spotted a unique marking on labels this month (stock image)[/caption]
Costco price tag and product shot of the Ninja Creami Deluxe ice cream maker ($189.99).
OnlyThinkingOutLoud/Reddit
The notation appeared in the lower left-hand corner[/caption]

“Saw this code on a price label and have never noticed one like this,” a confused shopper wrote in a Reddit thread this month.

“What does the code (F 6/15) in the lower left side mean? Today is 6/10.”

“Hoping it is future sale date…” they added.

In the snapshot included in the post, the marking could clearly be seen as the consumer described.

It was on a $189.99 price label for the Ninja Creami Deluxe at-home ice cream maker.

KEEPING THE FOCUS

While some Costco members were also unclear about the meaning, several employees explained that the F stood for “Focus.”

It’s supposedly a signifier to staff on the floor that the item needs to be near the end of an aisle or out in the open until the allotted date marked of “6/15,” which is, of course, June 15, 2025.

“Needs to be somewhere on an endcap or somewhere prominent until 6/15 in this case,” a staffer replied.

“You’ll see M sometimes as well meaning Mandatory. Same similar concept.”

Another Costco worker echoed that the “item must be placed on the aisle right next to the door until the specified date.”

A third even broke down the meanings behind some of the other letters shoppers might spot on labels.

“M – ‘Mandatory’ means it should be on an end cap,” they wrote.

“H – ‘High Focus Area’ means it should be somewhere with a lot of traffic, specifically what we call an impulse.”

“S – ‘Split Focus’ is similar to High Focus except it should be away from its home location, so like batteries near the fence,” the staffer added.

Costco Membership Deal

*If you click on a link in this boxout we may earn affiliate revenue.

Get a Costco 1-year Gold Star membership for $65 which comes with a FREE $20 Digital Costco Shop Card.

How to redeem this offer: After purchasing this offer on StackSocial, your $20 digital Costco Shop Card will be sent directly from Costco to your email address within two weeks of successfully redeeming.

*Valid for new members only. Check full terms and conditions here.

The US Sun has contacted Costco for more information.

DEATH STAR FEAR

Another marking on Costco items that makes members nervous is known as the “death star.”

It’s effectively an asterisk, and it typically indicates that once the remainder of the product with the marking runs out, it will not be restocked.

Costco hasn’t verified this connotation.

Still, employees have before, noting it effectively signifies the merchandise is “pending deletion,” per Yahoo.

It’s almost a unanimous understanding among members at the warehouse retailer’s over 600 stores nationwide that it’s best to grab up the item with the death star quick before it’s gone.

Two specific products with the death star caused some Costco shoppers to cry out recently.

In February, a fan-favorite dessert was on the “chopping block” along with several others.

Last summer, a popular drink also vanished with the death star, and Costco members were left fuming over “horrendous” alternative options.

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I sued my job for being given an $18k pay raise – I believe the bump is ‘illegal’ but others don’t agree

A FUMING senator is suing over a “secret” $18,000 pay hike which will cost taxpayers a whopping $4.3 million.

Republican Wes Climer has accused greedy lawmakers in South Carolina of illegally cashing in on an extra $50 each per day.

Two men in suits speak at a press conference.
AP
South Carolina attorney and ex-senator Dick Harpootlian, left, and Sen. Wes Climer, R-Rock Hill, tell reporters about their lawsuit against a legislative pay raise in Columbia, S.C.[/caption]

Climer, a dad-of-five and devout Christian, revealed on Monday that he and state retiree Carol Herring – his co-petitioner – are suing lawmakers for “giving themselves a pay rise.”

They want the Supreme Court, the highest court in South Carolina, to effectively block a $2,500-monthly hike that legislators voted to pay themselves.

He and Herring maintain that the raise was illegal as – per the constitution – sitting politicians are barred from increasing their own compensation.

They warned it was like a judge deciding the outcome of their own trial, or a cop investigating their own misconduct.

“Every member of the Legislature got an $18,000 [annual] expenses bump,” Climer ranted on his website.

That brings up their total pay to “$40,400 per year, which is forbidden before the next general election,” alleged the lawsuit, lodged last Friday.

CBS-affiliated WCSC explained that when politicians discussed the next state budget, the General Assembly included a special measure, called a proviso.

This proviso, which is a one-year order on how to spend money, resulted in raising the amount of in-district compensation lawmakers receive, starting from July 1.

The monthly stipend is meant to compensate legislative work.

However, it’s become controversial as the lawmakers have approved more than doubling it from the original $1,000 a month to $2,500.

Lawmakers’ pay will rocket from $12,000 to $30,000 a year for legislative expenses.

This is in addition to their current annual salary of $10,400, bumping the total to $40,400. Plus they receive extra money for meals, milage to drive to Columbia and hotel rooms while in session.

What does the lawsuit say about the $18k pay raise?

The South Carolina Senate has voted for an $18,000-a-year pay hike

Republican Sen. Wes Climer and Republican activist Carol Herring are fighting political colleagues by trying to block the $18,000 pay raise.

The duo alleged in their lawsuit that the hike was illegal, as “the South Carolina Constitution prohibits a General Assembly from increasing the compensation of its own members.

“Any increase must take effect after the next General Assembly is seated in January 2027 following the next general election.

“It is unconstitutional.

“There is an extraordinary public interest in preserving our constitutional prohibition on a legislature giving itself taxpayer money.

“For a General Assembly to vote to give its own members public money is akin to a judge presiding over his own trial, or to a police officer investigating his own alleged conduct.

“[Its] machinations to avoid public scrutiny of its self-dealing with taxpayer money are extraordinary.”

UNCONSTITUTIONAL

The lawsuit petitions for an injunction to block Curtis Loftis, State Treasurer of South Carolina, from paying the extra money.

The document added that the General Assembly had bumped up payments with “an increase of approximately $50 per day, starting in July 2025.”

Climer has vowed to fight to “stop the pay raise colleagues put into the 2026 state budget.”

SECRET

The raise was proposed by Republican Sen. Shane Martin late in the budget process.

Martin explained the plan for just 30 seconds before it was approved 24-15.

But Climer said he and other opponents of the “80% pay raise” believe it should have passed as a stand-alone bill with hearings and a full debate.

For a General Assembly to vote to give its own members public money is akin to a judge presiding over his own trial, or to a police officer investigating his own alleged conduct

Lawsuit

FITSNews – which described the contentious deal as a “secret pay raise” – said he was one of just a handful of lawmakers to vote against it.

The go-ahead means the in-district compensation is set to balloon to $2,500 a month for each of the 46 senators and 124 House members starting July 1.

FITS warned of the South Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature, “All told, the raises would cost taxpayers $4.3 million between now and the end of the 2025-2026 legislative session.”

VIOLATION

“Regardless of how you feel about a legislative pay raise, this is the wrong way to do it,” Climer told journalists on Monday in Columbia.

He added, “It violates the Madisonian principle that the legislature cannot take the people’s money and appropriate it to themselves in real time.”

But Sen. Deon Tedder, D – Charleston, told WCSC, “Only certain people can afford to run for office and serve.

“With how little the pay is, it really prohibits the average South Carolinian from being able to serve in our General Assembly.”

Gov. Henry McMaster said he believed “the case can be made that the expenses have gone up dramatically… the remedy would be to provide some more money to be used for those district expenses, not a favor.”

Climer and Herring are being represented by former S.C. senator Dick Harpootlian.

The state Supreme Court has ordered both sides to submit briefs before the end of the month.

BLOCKED

The lawsuit said a similar move to increase the pay was successfully blocked 11 years ago.

Lawmakers passed a $1,000-a-month increase in the budget in 2014.

But Republican Gov. Nikki Haley vetoed it and senators did not have the votes to override her decision.

Read More »

JetBlue plane ‘skids off runway’ at Boston Logan Airport with all flights halted as rescue crews swarm aircraft

A PLANE has skidded off a runway at Boston Logan Airport in an emergency that has halted all flights at the major transit hub.

The mishap immediately triggered a ground stop at Boston Logan Airport as rescuers rushed over to help passengers.

JetBlue airplane taxiing on airport runway with emergency vehicles nearby.
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A plane has skidded off a runway at Boston Logan International Airport[/caption]
Airplane being towed by a tug.
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Police and EMS swarmed the aircraft after it ended up in the grass[/caption]
Airport tarmac with two fire trucks and an airplane.
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It’s not yet clear what led up to the emergency[/caption]

Terrified witnesses posted photos of the mishap on X.

“We’re on the taxiway stopped at Logan Airport and looks like a commercial flight (maybe JetBlue?) landed on the grass,” one person wrote.

“Emergency vehicles raced to go meet the plane—hope everyone is OK!!”

It was later confirmed that the plane was landing at the airport when it barreled off the runway just before noon on Thursday.

“Upon landing, JetBlue flight 312 rolled into the grass area off runway 33-L,” the airport told The U.S. Sun.

“There are no injuries. The runway is closed at this time as the aircraft is assessed and passengers are bussed to the terminal.”

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Airbus A220 was turning off the runway when it went into the grass.

The plane left Chicago at 9 am local time and was scheduled to land in Boston at 12:04 pm.

Dramatic images showed it surrounded by cops and fire rescue as passengers fled the aircraft.

The mishap led to a ground stop that was expected to last through at least 2 pm.

A total of 1,191 delays have been reported so far.

JetBlue didn’t immediately respond to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.

JetBlue plane skidding off runway at Boston Logan Airport.
JetBlue has yet to comment on the cause of the mishap
ABC7
JetBlue flight skidding off runway at Boston Logan Airport.
Rescuers quickly rushed in and buses were brought over to transport passengers who fled the plane
ABC7

More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.

Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun

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NBA superstar on $55million contract unrecognizable with new look while entering Chinese monastery

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA looks totally different – after choosing  a retreat almost as surprising as the medical condition that ended his season.

The NBA hero is battling back from a rare diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder four months ago.

A person jogging in a park.
The 7ft 3ins hot prospect stood out as he went jogging at the retreat
Victor Wembanyama at a news conference.
AP
Victor Wembanyama met the press earlier this month, having been ruled out for the rest of the season with a rare diagnosis[/caption]

And the Frenchman, who is on a $55million deal with San Antonio Spurs, has opted for a 10-day stay at a Chinese monastery.

Wembanyama, 21, is content to remain isolated for large spells as he focuses on his recuperation and all-round well-being.

The 7ft 3ins center has scarcely been seen in public since his fitness scare.

And when he was spotted at a famous Buddhist monastery in central China this week, he managed to both stand out and look unrecognisable.

Wembanyama’s head was shaved and he wore grey robes, while he also took part in prayers at the Shaolin Temple in Henan province.

But he was in more familiar training gear when he jogged in a forest.

Quite a change from footage that emerged two months ago – of Wembanyama playing SOCCER in Costa Rica, when he soared way above everyone else to win spectacular headers.

It all shows he’s well on the way to full health – after suffering an issue that can be deadly serious.

Luckily, Spurs believe his thrombosis was an “isolated” case.

And they expect to have him back for the 2025-26 NBA season, starting in October.

Victor Wembanyama playing soccer.
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Wembanyama was a big presence playing soccer in Costa Rica[/caption]

A vein thrombosis is caused when blood begins to clot in deeper veins. 

It can cause major problems if the clogs loosen and moves through the bloodstream into the lungs.

If it gets to the heart and pulmonary arteries, blood flow can be blocked.

And without proper treatment, that situation could even become life-threatening.

Sufferers are usually given blood-thinning medication and banned from contact sport until they recover.

And aside from the joy of seeing Wembanyama recovery, his comeback will also be eagerly awaited because of his astonishing potential.

His thrombosis emerged shortly after his first All-Star Game game.

And he finished 2023-24 as NBA Rookie of the year.

Wembanyama led the league stats for blocked shots and made the All-Defensive First Team selection.

Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates a victory.
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He is one of the NBA’s hottest prospects[/caption]

Read More »

25 last minute Amazon Father’s Day gift ideas starting at just $9.99, order now & they’ll arrive in time for the big day

FATHER’S Day is just days away, but it’s not too late to order the father figure in your life a gift that he is sure to love.

Amazon is selling a range of gifts perfect for the holiday – from new kicks to self-care products – and if you order now, they’ll arrive on your doorstep in time for the big day on Sunday.

Young woman giving her father a gift.
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Father’s Day is days away, falling this Sunday, June 15[/caption]
Person delivering Amazon Prime package to a front door.
Shoppers can still treat their dads on Father’s Day with a selection of last-minute picks from Amazon
Getty Images - Getty

Father’s Day, celebrated on the third Sunday in June, is a day to honor all of the fathers out there, along with fatherhood and paternal bonds.

The holiday is right around the corner, falling this Sunday, June 15.

While greeting cards are a popular choice, why not add an extra surprise for your dad?

Amazon has you covered if you’re struggling to choose the perfect present, offering 25 Father’s Day gifts starting at just $9.99.

Thanks to Amazon Prime’s free two-day shipping and free same-day delivery on qualifying orders, you can impress dad this Sunday with just the click of a button.

COZY SLIPPERS

Give your dad the gift of comfort this Sunday with the MIXIN Mens Memory Foam Slippers, discounted from $39.99 to $22.98.

The anti-slip moccasin slippers are the perfect gift to help your father relax his tired feet at the end of the day, made with thick memory foam for maximum comfort.

The shoes are ideal for indoor or outdoor wear and come in eight color options and sizes ranging from eight to 14.

ROLLING GRILL BASKETS

Summer grilling season is upon us, and Amazon is selling the perfect Father’s Day gift for all the grill masters out there.

Shoppers can score the Two-Piece Hexagon Rolling Grill Baskets for $24.99, made with stainless steel and reinforced wire mesh.

The Amazon’s Choice, boasting 4.4 stars, has been praised for being an ideal alternative to skewers, helping to cook foods on the grill fast and evenly.

Person grilling vegetables in a metal grill basket.
Amazon
Amazon is selling rolling grill baskets, perfect for all the grill masters out there[/caption]

CLEVER MUG

Help your father sip in style with a handy yet heartwarming 14 oz Father’s Day Mug on Amazon for $24.95.

The clever mug, reading “That’s What I Do – I Fix Stuff And I Know Things,” is sure to bring a smile to your dad’s face.

It is equipped with double-wall insulation to help keep beverages hot or cold for hours on end, ideal for enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning or something a little stronger in the evening.

POLARIZED SUNGLASSES

Another top pick for Father’s Day is the FEIDUSUN Polarized Sunglasses for just $9.99, offering UV protection for all your dad’s favorite activities, from fishing and driving to hiking and hitting the beach.

An Amazon’s Choice product, the sunglasses are designed with retro square elements and come in over 35 color options so you can pick the perfect pair for your dad.

The sunglasses are not only lightweight and durable, but also conveniently feature UV protection TAC lenses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays.

HANDS FREE SLIP-IN SNEAKERS

Give your father the gift of stylish new kicks this Sunday with the Men’s Glide-Step Altus Hands Free Slip-in Sneakers from Skechers, available on Amazon for $81.32.

The highly-rated shoes, available in a range of sizes and colors, will offer your dad a range of benefits, including pressure relief, instant comfort, and breathability.

The comfortable shoes are ideal for everyday wear or can be dressed up, and are equipped with gel-infused, high-rebound memory foam for on-the-go comfort.

Skechers Glide-Step Altus sneaker.
Amazon
Shoppers can give dad a footwear upgrade with the Glide-Step Altus Hands Free Slip-in Sneakers from Skechers[/caption]

FACIAL FUEL MOISTURIZER

Treat your dad to a little self-care this Father’s Day with a Men’s Face Cream from Kiehl’s, marked down on Amazon from $33 to $24.75.

The moisturizer is infused with vitamin C and caffeine to help energize your father’s skincare routine and reduce dullness, leaving his face feeling refreshed and hydrated.

The non-greasy formula encourages a brighter and healthier complexion, and is a top pick with 4.7 stars.

More Gift Ideas

Treat your dad this Father's Day with these other gift ideas from Amazon:

  • Whiskey Smoker Kit, $59.99 $47.99 – buy here
  • Open-Ear Bluetooth Sport Headphones, $179.95 $124.95 – buy here
  • Dash Cam, $249.99 $169.99 – buy here
  • Amazon Echo, $99.99 $54.99 – buy here
  • Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus, $249.99 $189.99 – buy here
  • Whiskey Rock Glass, $21.95 – buy here
  • Audible membership, $14.95 per month, $0.99 for first 3 months – buy here
  • Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, $49.99 $29.99 – buy here
  • Beats Studio Buds + Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds, $97.95 – buy here
  • Massage Gun Deep Tissue, $39.99 $24.99 – buy here
  • Eye Massager with Heat, $99.99 $52.48 – buy here

OUTDOOR APPAREL

If your dad is in need of a closet refresh, Amazon is selling a variety of picks from Kühl that are not only trendy, but also built to keep up with an outdoorsy dad.

Amazon shoppers can score a Kühl Vintage Evergreen Sunset Eighties Retro T-Shirt for $19.99, available in several color options and sizes.

Customers can also help up their dad’s style game with the Khaki Men’s Burr Vest Outerwear or Men’s Renegade Shorts from Kühl – while these may arrive after Father’s Day, they’d still make a great belated gift or stylish summer surprise.

Man wearing a brown vest.
Amazon
Amazon is selling a handful of Kühl products, perfect for outdoorsy dads[/caption]

100% COTTON FUNNY APRON

For all the dads out there who appreciate a good joke, Amazon is selling a high-quality, 100% cotton Father’s Day Grilling Apron Gift for $19.99.

An Amazon’s Choice product, the apron reads “Best Flippin’ Dad Out There” and has a 4.6 star rating.

The apron, both practical and clever, comes in a variety of other funny options:

  • “Dad – The Man, The Myth, The Grill Master”
  • “I Only Smoke The Good Stuff”
  • “If You’re Reading This Please Bring Me A Cold Beer”
  • “Mr. Good Lookin’ Is Cookin'”
  • “This Dad Is Flippin’ Awesome”
  • “Your Opinion Wasn’t In The Recipe”

SHIATSU FOOT OR BACK MASSAGER

Help the father figure in your life wind down this Sunday with the Mountrax Back Massager with Heat or Mountrax DIY Foot Massager with Heat, priced at $59.99 and $89.99, respectively.

The Shiatsu back massager will offer your dad a 3D kneading, deep tissue massage, while the deep kneading foot massager features three massage modes and a heating function to warm your father’s tired feet.

The foot massager is also customizable, coming with a drawing pen so you can draw or write directly on the product for a special and personalized gift.

Illustration of a foot massager with a "Happy Father's Day" design on it.
Mountrax
Amazon shoppers can score relaxing massaging products from Mountrax, including a customizable shiatsu foot massager with heat[/caption]

MAYO GONE WILD

If your father loves to grill, or even just enjoys a good meal, the variety pack of three Mayo Gone Wild sauces from Ayoh Foods is a great option for Father’s Day.

Shoppers can score three unique flavors – Dill Pickle, Tangy Dijonayo, and Hot Giardianayo – for $24.97 on Amazon.

Crafted with real ingredients, the sauces are packed with flavor, texture, and zest, making the perfect pairing for burgers, hot dogs, fries, chicken nuggets, and more.

PLASTIC-FREE COOKWARE

Shoppers can lend their fathers a helping hand at dinnertime with Anyday’s lineup of multi-use, non-toxic, and plastic-free cookware.

Amazon is selling a variety of Anyday products, including the 4-Cup Glass Food Storage Round Deep Dish with Glass Lid for $29.99.

Designed for microwave cooking, the convenient cookware makes whipping up dinner a breeze, and is also practical for storing, serving, reheating, baking, and broiling.

Microwave-safe glass bowl with lid and broccoli.
Amazon
Shoppers can lend their dads a helping hand in the kitchen with microwave-save, plastic-free cookware from Anyday[/caption]

Check out these other great Father’s Day gift ideas.

Walmart is selling a 20-piece Father’s Day essential for just $54.88 – shoppers praise it’s “really useful” for the home.

Plus, Target unveiled a Father’s Day gift range with over 200 items that are $15 or less – some shoppers can get an extra discount.

Read More »

Home Depot shoppers warned ‘change your locks’ as popular store item ‘lets strangers walk right into your house’

Collage of Lowe's exterior, interior, shopping cart, and key.

A TIKTOK video has sparked fears that strangers could be walking through your front door, using their own key.

A home inspector claimed certain locks sold at major retailers might be putting thousands of homeowners at risk.

A red Lowe's shopping cart in the parking lot of a Lowe's store.
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A TikToker claimed that door locks from Home Depot and Lowe’s may share key patterns (stock image)[/caption]
AUSTIN, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 20: A customer walks through The Home Depot store on February 20, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Home Depot has reported positive earnings and revenue, beating analysts expectations. The growth comes even as quarterly sales have dropped nearly 3 percent year over year. The company is expecting sales to increase by 1 percent in fiscal 2024. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Major lock brands say that the information is false (stock image)
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Close-up of a hand holding a house key.
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The video sparked fears that neighbors could unlock each other’s homes (stock image)[/caption]

The viral warning came from Scott Lubik, a self-described safety sleuth based in the US.

“If you bought your locks from Home Depot or Lowe’s, your keys to your place will open your neighbor’s door,” Lubik alleged in his trending clip.

The video has racked up more than 73,000 views on TikTok since it was posted and now has over 2,400 likes and more than 260 comments.

“There are only five different locking configurations,” he claimed.

“Meaning that every fifth set that they sell has the same exact key.”

Lubik called it a “well-kept secret,” saying he knew about it through his work flipping homes and from working in real estate.

“My key set would probably get me into your house, or anybody’s house that went to Lowe’s or Home Depot,” Lubik added.

The post left many viewers bewildered and concerned.

“Welp, thanks for telling everyone. I feel much safer now,” one commenter wrote.

“Five keys per brand is absolutely crazy,” another said.

“This is why I use a locksmith. I learned the hard way,” a user said.

“I clean houses, was shocked to realize a few weeks ago that I put in the key for the wrong person’s house and the door still opened!” another wrote.

“First thing I ever do when moving in is change all the locks,” another user added.

“Homeowners, this is good to know & not common knowledge to everyone. Thanks for sharing.”

How to Protect Your Home

Upgrade Your Locks
Choose high-security deadbolts like the Schlage B60N – affordable, tough, and hard to tamper with.

Use Restricted Keys
Ask for locks with restricted or patented keyways. These can’t be copied without proof and special authorization.

Re-key After Moving In
If your home came with locks already installed, have them re-keyed or replaced. You never know who else has a copy.

Keep a Key Log
Limit who gets a copy, and keep track. Don’t leave spares under doormats or flowerpots.

Add a Layer
Reinforce your entry with doorbell cameras, sensors, or alarms. Even the best key can’t stop a break-in alone.

“This is true, I worked in a lock warehouse, and the way we distributed them is the same,” one user warned.

But experts say the claim doesn’t hold up.

In reality, lock brands like Kwikset and Schlage have thousands of key combinations.

Kwikset’s KW1 keyway offers more than 10,000 unique options, while Schlage’s SC1 has 72,000, according to Marketplace.

“If you really want to unlock a random home, you’re better off learning how to use a pick set,” Erik Glassen of Kwikset told the New York Post.

Burglars aren’t usually walking in with a key anyway – they’re smashing windows or forcing doors open.

“Locks only keep an honest man out,” one user commented.

Still, those unsettled by the video can upgrade their protection.

Wirecutter recommends the Schlage B60N deadbolt, which costs around $30 and is designed to stand up to both silent break-ins and brute-force entry.

Even apartment dwellers in luxury buildings can find themselves at risk.

For New York City influencer Kate Bartlett, a stranger broke into her apartment while she was still at home.

She lived in a high-rise with 24-hour doormen and keycard access, but she had left the deadbolt unlocked.

“I was kind of halfway asleep,” Bartlett recalled in a TikTok video.

“Eventually, I’m just like, ‘Hello, hello?’… and I hear a man’s voice say, ‘No, this is housekeeping.’”

She said the intruder ran when she grabbed a tripod.

The building didn’t believe her at first, until another woman had a similar experience.

“I moved out,” Bartlett said. “Lock your doors, even in a luxury building.”

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