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Sterling K. Brown recently shared a scenario involving one of his sons, who elegantly handled a racist encounter. As People reported, the actor has two sons, Amaré (9) and Andrew (14), with his wife and fellow thespian Ryan Michelle Bathe.

During a roundtable discussion for one of Hulu’s Paradise, he revealed that his teenage son has a better grip on handling racism than he does.

Sterling K. Brown’s son was allegedly called the N-word, but handled it like a pro

Brown admitted that his boys haven’t seen the “intense” side of his personality, which takes no mess. Luckily for them, they haven’t had to go through situations that draw out the fighter within them.

“I look at my children now — my children have never been in a fight. The 14-year-old or the 9-year-old,” the St. Louis native shared, reported the publication.

He went on to describe what happened during a sporting event in which Andrew was playing.

“My 14-year-old was in a soccer game where a young boy spat on him, and he saw the spit and he walks up to the ref and he goes, ‘Ref, this dude just spat on me,’” he added. “And the ref was like, ‘I didn’t see it, so I can’t do anything about it.’”

Following the first incident on the field, the same teen who allegedly spit on him confronted him again when the game was over to call him a racial slur.

“Then, afterwards, the young man came up to him and called him the N-word and just kind of kept it going,” Brown explained. “And my son didn’t tell me until after the game, and I was like, ‘Yo, man, how come we didn’t beat his a**?’ And he was like, ‘Because that wouldn’t have solved anything. He already did what he was going to do. The ref didn’t respond to it or whatnot. So I didn’t want to make you any more upset, which is why I didn’t tell you until after the game.’”

Brown celebrated how he composed himself during the matter, saying, “So he’s a more evolved person than me. I would’ve beat his a**!”

Sterling K. Brown loves being a father before anything else

Taking pride in his family, the 49-year-old later expressed his affection for Amaré and Andrew, stating they motivate his art form and are “the most important people in my life.” 

“And to anybody who’s been a parent or […] has young children — to see how much they change, especially when they’re young, as they accrue new skills and learn new words and stuff; it is the most magical thing to be in the presence of,” Brown said.

He also clarified that despite loving his work, being a dad will always come first.

“And so I can tell you — truly, truly, between doing season one [of Paradise] and then the hiatus where I went, I did Voltron in Australia. I went and did a movie in France and I did a movie in Louisiana and they were all wonderful experiences, but I had to FaceTime [my kids], and I didn’t get a chance to tuck [them] in and finish reading book seven of Harry Potter to my youngest or whatever it was,” he said.

He continued, “Being a father is the most important job that I have in my life right now. And so for the next nine years, if I can keep working in L.A. and be like the one dude who figured it out, I would be very, very excited about that, [because] I don’t want to miss too much of their growing up.”

Cracker Barrel, a country-themed restaurant chain and retail brand for more than 55 years, has unveiled some new changes as part of a broader makeover.

On Wednesday, the company announced its “All the more” creative campaign with a new logo and a refreshed fall menu with new and returning items, along with a special offer for customers. To promote it further, Crack Barrel has teamed up with country music star Jordan Davis to feature in its latest commercial, according to a news release.

For the first time in 48 years, the new logo will have text-only in the signature gold and brown tones, appearing across menus and marketing collateral, the company said. Cracker Barrel was first launched in 1969 and had a text-only logo. In 1977, the company updated the logo to feature a man resting on a barrel. The brand believes the new logo still maintains the nostalgic appearance of the original design.

“We believe in the goodness of country hospitality, a spirit that has always defined us. Our story hasn’t changed. Our values haven’t changed. With ‘All the More,’ we’re honoring our legacy while bringing fresh energy, thoughtful craftsmanship and heartfelt hospitality to our guests this fall,” Sarah Moore, Chief Marketing Officer of Cracker Barrel, said in a news release statement.

Some customers aren’t happy about the new changes

Some Cracker Barrel locations nationwide have already been remodeled with the new changes, and social media users shared their thoughts on it, and they were not happy about it.

“At a remodeled Cracker Barrel. I hate it,” one user said in a shared video on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Nobody asked for a Cracker Barrel remodel,” another user said.

Jordan Davis speaks out following Cracker Barrel partnership

Cracker Barrel has provided heartfelt service, homestyle food, and an unmatched dining experience to all of its customers. With 660 locations nationwide, the restaurant chain remains a community favorite. Davis also spoke highly of the brand, sharing similarities between the company and his musical approach.

“Cracker Barrel has always felt like home to me. It’s where the food hits just right, the people treat you like family, and the pace lets you slow down and take a breath,” Davis said. “That’s something I try to bring into my music too; real moments that feel good and bring people together. I’m proud to be part of this next chapter and to celebrate what makes Cracker Barrel so special to so many.”

Cracker Barrel’s new fall menu debuted on Wednesday, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert options.

BREAKFAST

Uncle Herschel’s Favorite®– Back by popular demand, this beloved, fan-favorite includes two eggs cooked to order with your choice of Sugar Cured Ham, Country Ham, Grilled or Fried Catfish Fillet, Crispy Tender Dippers or – for the first time ever – a premium New York Strip Steak available for an upgrade, served with Hashbrown Casserole or Fried Apples, Buttermilk Biscuits, Sawmill Gravy and Grits.

Sausage & Egg Hashbrown Casserole – A double portion of our signature Hashbrown Casserole is layered with Colby cheese, served over Sawmill Gravy with scrambled eggs and a flavorful blend of crumbled smoked sausage, onions, red peppers, and green chiles, topped with crispy fried onions, diced tomatoes, and green onions, with a side of Buttermilk Biscuits.

Bacon & Egg Hashbrown Casserole – Scratch-made Hashbrown Casserole hot off the grill is layered with pieces of crispy bacon, farm-fresh scrambled eggs, melted Colby cheese, fried onions, diced tomatoes, and green onions, with Buttermilk Biscuits on the side.

Butter Pecan French Toast Bake – Thick-cut country bread is soaked in vanilla custard, topped with cheesecake filling, baked ‘til golden, with your choice of bacon or sausage. Praline pecan streusel and butter pecan syrup available as an upgrade.

LUNCH & DINNER

Herb Roasted Chicken – A half chicken, seasoned and slow-roasted in the oven until golden, crispy perfection and topped with a lemon herb butter sauce. Served with mashed potatoes, choice of classic side, and Buttermilk Biscuits or Corn Muffins.

Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd’s Pie – Slow-braised pot roast and gravy with carrots, peas, onions, celery, and mashed potatoes, topped with a crispy griddled Hashbrown Casserole crust, sour cream, diced tomatoes, and green onions, and hand-rolled Buttermilk Biscuits on the side.

Slow-Braised Pot Roast – A family classic featuring slow-roasted rib roast, carrots, onions, and celery in a savory, homestyle gravy with mashed potatoes, choice of classic side, and Buttermilk Biscuits or Corn Muffins.

SIPS & SWEETS

Butter Pecan Sticky Buns – Warm, tender sweet dough in our butter pecan sauce and baked with a gooey praline pecan topping.

Cinnamon Roll Skillet – Freshly baked mini cinnamon rolls with a gooey cinnamon filling and topped with cream cheese icing.

Brown Sugar Latte – A seasonal take on the classic latte with sweet brown sugar sauce, espresso, and steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with butter pecan syrup (served hot or cold).

Wild Berry Tea – A blend of freshly brewed iced tea bursting with flavors of juicy wild berries.

Walmart has recalled frozen, raw shrimp sold in 13 states due to potential radioactive contamination, and consumers have been warned not to eat the affected seafood products to prevent health issues.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Walmart pulled three lots of its Great Value brand frozen shrimp from select stores after federal officials detected Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in shipping containers at four U.S. ports: Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami.

What are the affected shrimp products?

The information below is the recalled seafood products and other important information for consumers to know:

BrandProduct NameProduct TypeBest ByItem CodeLot CodeDistributorGreat ValueFrozen Raw White Vannamei ShrimpFrozen Raw EZ Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag3/15/202773831088005540-1WalmartGreat ValueFrozen Raw White Vannamei ShrimpFrozen Raw EZ Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag3/15/202773831088005538-1WalmartGreat ValueFrozen Raw White Vannamei ShrimpFrozen Raw EZ Peel Tail-On Farm-Raised White Vannamei Shrimp, 2lb bag3/15/20277383108IncompleteWalmart

According to the FDA, Walmart received raw frozen shrimp imported after Cs-137 was first detected, though those shipments did not test positive. The agency recommended a recall as a precautionary measure.

Are the levels of Cesium-137 harmful for consumers?

One sample of frozen breaded shrimp also tested positive for the substance, but it did not enter U.S. commerce. All affected products were imported from PT Bahari Makmur Sejati, or BMS Foods, in Indonesia.

“FDA determined that [products] from PT Bahari Makmur Sejati violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in that it appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern,” the agency said.

After U.S. Customs and Border Protection detected contamination in shipping containers, the FDA tested five shrimp products from the Indonesian supplier. One frozen breaded shrimp sample contained detectable levels of Cs-137, while the others did not, though contamination could not be ruled out.

What is Cesium-137?

Cs-137 is a man-made radioactive isotope found in trace amounts in the environment, including soil, food, and air, due to global nuclear activity. The FDA monitors food for unusual levels of these contaminants.

The FDA did not find Cs-137 levels above the safety threshold of 1,200 Bq/kg. However, it concluded that the level detected in the breaded shrimp could pose a health risk if consumed regularly over time, especially when combined with other radiation sources. Avoiding products with similar levels helps reduce long-term exposure to low-level radiation.

“If you have recently purchased raw frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, throw it away. Do not eat or serve this product,” the FDA said.

The recalled shrimp was sold in Walmart stores across 13 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.

“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” a Walmart spokesperson told the BBC. “We have issued a sales restriction and removed this product from our impacted stores. We are working with the supplier to investigate.”

Millions of Americans who rely on Social Security benefits will receive their monthly payments this week.

The Social Security Administration issues checks to over 70 million people, including retirees, spouses of deceased workers, older adults, and disabled individuals, according to the federal agency. While these groups are eligible for benefits, several factors determine when they will receive them.

According to Newsweek, individuals receiving retirement, spousal or survivor benefits and whose birthdays fall between the 11th and 20th of any month will get their monthly checks on Wednesday.

How much do Social Security beneficiaries receive each month?

Blavity reported that the Social Security Administration distributed an average of $2,002.39 to retirees in May, marking the first time that payments had reached beyond the $2,000 mark.

“The average Social Security benefit amount changes monthly,” a spokesperson for the federal agency told Newsweek. “Social Security benefits are based on a worker’s highest 35 years of earnings. As wages tend to rise over time, each new group of retirees raises the average benefit amount, since their benefit calculations typically reflect higher earnings.”

Benefit amounts vary based on lifetime earnings and the age you begin collecting. If a person claims at 62, they can receive up to $2,831 per month, while if they wait until full retirement age at 67, it increases to the maximum of $4,018. The highest monthly benefit, $5,108, is available only if they wait until age 70 to claim.

When can beneficiaries expect August payments?

Each month, payees receive their checks based on several factors, including their birthdays. In August, the second Wednesday fell on Aug. 13, which was the first round of mid-month payments in the third week rather than the second, according to Blavity.

The SSA did not issue regular payments during the week of Aug. 4–10. Because of this, recipients with birthdays between the 11th and 20th will receive their checks on Aug. 20, and those born after the 20th will be paid on Aug. 27.

Those who do not receive their expected payment are encouraged to wait three business days before contacting the SSA.

Will benefits increase due to COLA in 2026?

Social Security benefits are adjusted annually through a cost-of-living adjustment tied to inflation. In 2026, the Senior Citizen League predicted that beneficiaries can expect a 2.7% increase, which is up from earlier reports due to rising consumer prices, Newsweek reported. The organization will release the official COLA increase sometime in October.

Democratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier from Fort Worth made headlines on Monday after staging an overnight protest on the Texas House floor, responding to a GOP demand that she be placed under watch by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows targeted Collier and several other Texas House Democrats after they returned to the Capitol in Austin on Monday. The lawmakers fled the state earlier this month to break quorum and block a vote on a GOP-led redistricting plan that could help Republicans maintain control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections, CNN and Blavity reported.

More than 50 Democrats fled to blue states like Illinois, New York and Massachusetts. They faced civil arrest warrants backed by the GOP to ensure they would return to meet quorum and attend a special session to approve the redrawn congressional maps for state districts, per CNN.

Burrows gave Democrats limited options: They could only leave the Texas House floor with written permission or be escorted by state troopers and monitored around the clock until the chamber reconvened Wednesday morning.

What did Collier say about a DPS escort?

Republican Rep. Charlie Geren, who also represents Fort Worth and chairs the House Administration Committee, met with Collier after her return. When she refused to sign the required form, it prompted the DPS escort. Geren said she could stay on the House floor or in her office but was not permitted to leave the Capitol grounds without law enforcement, according to KERA News.

On Monday night, Collier was the only lawmaker who remained behind after the day’s business concluded. She criticized the DPS for focusing on political enforcement rather than addressing critical public safety issues.

“I don’t know how long I will be here,” she wrote in a statement to the Fort Worth Report. “Instead of DPS officers looking for pedophiles, they have been assigned to follow Democratic state representatives around only to ensure their return to the Capitol on Wednesday (when the House reconvenes). I sure hope the public feels safe without those officers on beat.”

Republicans called out Texas House Democrats

Several Democrats had checked on Collier throughout the night, took photographs of her, and sent them to local news outlets who were not permitted to enter the chamber. Fellow Tarrant Democratic Rep. Ramon Romero of Fort Worth spoke on the Democrats’ attempt to “slow” the process, but it would be something they could not halt.

“We knew that this was something we were not going to be able to stop,” Romero said. “We could slow it down, though, and that’s exactly what we did.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton went as far as calling for the Democrats to be ousted from office after going against their constitutional duties.

“The rogue Democrat legislators who fled the state have abandoned their duties, leaving their seats vacant,” Paxton said in an Aug. 8 statement. “These cowards deliberately sabotaged the constitutional process and violated the oath they swore to uphold.”

Blavity reported that the GOP’s proposed congressional map would eliminate Democratic constituencies in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio and shift incumbent Democrats into Republican-leaning districts.