USA Update

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégé Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

PISCES

FEB 19 – MAR 20

Read our horoscopes live blog for the latest readings

If your usual tactic is waiting and watching, get ready to opt for action instead – as Mars powers in.

You can show you are ready to negotiate, but also set a strict deadline, in everything from work to love. You can expect a surge in creative ideas, with the focus on music and art.

This is your week to start expressing yourself in unique ways.

The luck factor spells out words.

DESTINY DAYS: Be the first to say “sorry” or offer to start over, on Monday. Listen to. or read, a message again on Wednesday, as you may have missed one crucial part. Let pure passion decide your path on Friday.

LUCKY LINKS: Competitions, or connections, linked to recipes. A Taurus who makes you feel so safe. A meeting
beside, or close to, a clock tower.

JUPITER SQUARE SATURN: The third Jupiter-Saturn square within a year finds both power planets in new positions and
with new points to prove.

The focus for you is values – and sticking to what you know to be right, no matter what pressure may be applied, is the only way that works for your genuine self.

Talks and actions may feel tough, but the
outcome can be doubly rewarding down the line.

Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what’s in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions.

You can also use our series of guides to find out everything from which star sign to hook up with for the steamiest sex to what it’s like to live your life totally by your horoscope.

SUMMER signals the start of grilling season, but you don’t have to break the bank to whip up delicious meals on the grill.

A top chef has revealed four simple switches you can make this summer amid rising meat prices to slash your grilling costs without sacrificing flavor.

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Grilling season is in full swing as the weather heats up[/caption]

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Meat costs are on the rise, resulting in more expensive summer barbecues[/caption]

Instagram/tastefullygrace

Chef Grace Vallo spoke exclusively with The U.S. Sun about easy swaps you can make this summer to save money when you grill[/caption]

Summer is just days away, officially kicking off on the summer solstice, which falls on June 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere.

Grilling season is also upon us thanks to the warming temperatures, making it the perfect time to head outdoors with your family and friends for a delicious meal of barbecued veggies and meat.

Cooking up a feast on the grill, however, is becoming more and more pricey.

The price of a summer barbecue for 10 people is roughly $103 this season – around 4% more than in 2024 and 41% more than in 2018, per a recent report from RaboBank.

Supply and demand as well as inflation are mainly to blame for the price hike, plus other factors such as tariffs and rising labor costs.

And while no summer grilling season is complete without meat, it can run up your bill and make for a costly cookout.

The cost of both chicken and beef have spiked since last year, with the latter meat especially hit hard due to decreased cattle inventory and increased production costs, pushing an all-time high for retail beef prices.

To help shoppers combat inflation at the grocery store, The U.S. Sun spoke exclusively with chef Grace Vallo about easy switches for grilling season to cut costs “without sacrificing the flavor and fun.”

A full-time recipe developer, blogger, and foodie, Vallo is the face behind the popular cooking website Tastefully Grace, where she shares kitchen-tested recipes and step-by-step tutorials to help home cooks become pros in the kitchen.

Vallo dished out her top four tricks for saving money when grilling this summer so that you can pull off the grill cover and get in full cooking mode without emptying your pockets.

1. CHICKEN THIGHS > CHICKEN BREASTS

While many Americans reach for the chicken breasts at the grocery store, Vallo advised opting for chicken thighs instead.

They generally boast more flavor and versatility than the white meat in chicken breasts, according to Vallo.

The dark meat in chicken thighs has a higher fat content, and when the fat melts during the cooking process, it keeps the meat moist helping the thighs to “stay juicy on the grill.”

On the other hand, white meat contains less fat and can dry out more easily on the grill.

Not only do chicken thighs have a richer flavor than chicken breasts, but they are also generally cheaper per pound.

2. GROUND TURKEY OR PORK > GROUND BEEF

Another easy switch that chef Vallo suggested was ditching ground beef in favor of either ground turkey or pork.

The latter options are more affordable, especially for burgers or kebabs, said the cooking pro.

Beef has skyrocketed in price, with ground beef prices up 10% year-over-year – a much greater spike than chicken at nearly 3% and ham at over 4%.

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Ground beef prices are up 10% since last year[/caption]

The average cost of a pound of ground beef reached a record-high of $5.80 in April – a nearly 50% increase from five years ago.

The meat is so costly at the moment due to several factors, including drought, expensive grain to feed the cattle, general inflation, and high interest rates.

The US cattle herd is at its lowest level in decades, pushing high prices and making ground turkey and ground pork much more economically feasible options.

While many Americans prefer ground beef for its rich, savory flavor, Vallo suggested zhuzhing up the leaner options with some seasoning “to boost the flavor.”

3. MEAT + BEAN BURGERS > ALL-MEAT BURGERS

Another way to slash your grilling costs this summer is by mixing beans into your burger patties.

Chef Vallo suggested mixing black beans, lentils, or chickpeas into burger patties to not only reduce their cost, but also boost the fiber contents.

This tip makes for a more filling meal and adds bulk to the patties so you can make more servings from the same amount of beef.

Shoppers can get even more bang for their buck by swapping out the ground beef for ground turkey or pork.

4. SAUSAGES > STEAKS

Another easy yet cost-effective switch to stack up the savings during grilling season is to ditch expensive steaks in favor of sausages.

Steak tends to be some of the priciest cuts in the meat section, and prices are only climbing higher.

Meat prices have risen year-over-year with steak up 7%, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Not only are the historic cattle herd lows impacting beef prices, but also tariffs, as the US imports a significant amount of meat from Canada and Mexico.

Instead of giving in to the higher prices, chef Vallo advised swapping out steaks for grilled sausage, whether pork, chicken, or turkey.

“Grill links or slice the sausages into skewers,” said the pro cook. “They have great flavor at a fraction of the cost.”

As inflation hits hard at the grocery store, a retail expert has shared three easy tips to save at checkout.

Plus, as the summer heat raises energy bills, an HVAC tech has revealed a simple mistake you’re making that’s costing you $100s.

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Although meat prices – especially beef and chicken – are on the rise, simple grilling switches can help you slash your barbecue costs[/caption]

A DOUBLE murderer was executed by injection after a final meal of cherry pie and banana pudding.

One of Stephen Stanko’s two death sentences was for killing Henry Turner and emptying his bank account in 2005.

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Hours earlier he had strangled girlfriend Laura Ling in her home.

Stanko, 57, also raped and slit the throat of the woman’s teenage daughter, who survived.

In a three-minute statement in Columbia state prison, South Carolina, he apologised to his victims and asked not to be judged.

He said: “I have lived for approximately 20,973 days but I am judged solely for one.

“Once I am gone, I hope that Laura’s family and Henry’s family can all forgive me.

“The execution may help them. Forgiveness will heal them.”

His last meal was fried fish, shrimp, crab cakes, baked potato, carrots, okra, cherry pie, banana pudding and sweet tea.

He was pronounced dead at 6.34pm local time on Friday — 28 minutes after the first jab.

It was South Carolina’s sixth execution in nine months.

The state’s two previous death-row inmates chose firing squad.

A third option is electric chair.

This velvet rope seems like it is going to fall.

Additional celebrities including Anna Kendrick, Gina Rodriguez-LoCicero and Tessa Thompson were out on Saturday to protest against the Trump administration.

Users slammed the media outlet for touting protest merchandise on eve of nationwide demonstrations against the president.

The Democratic senator said in cases like this he wonders what 'the people in Scranton' might think.

Page Six broke the news in July 2024 that billionaire George Soros' son proposed to Hillary Clinton's former aide in Italy with a massive diamond ring.

President Trump and Melania, Vice President Vance and his family and Secretary of Defense Hegseth arrived for the military parade being held in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Army.

After speculation online that teachers at the Waterloo Region District were being taught the word "family" is racist, its school board was forced to explain themselves.