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USPS And Amtrak Could Be Privatized If Elon Musk Gets His Way: Here’s What That Means

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has slashed government spending and dismantled entire federal agencies and programs, with billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency leading the charge. Musk has now turned his attention to the United States Postal Service (USPS) and Amtrak, indicating that he wants both services in private hands.

March 8, 2025

News
Big Lots Stores Reopening: Here’s The List Of Locations Expected To Return And When

Big Lots will soon determine its next step after recently filing for bankruptcy protection.

According to Fast Company, retail company Variety Wholesalers is set to take over many of Big Lots’ locations. A spokesperson told Fast Company that the North Carolina-based company will assume control of several locations in the South and Midwest. According to the spokesperson, Variety Wholesalers has implemented a tentative plan for the “soft openings.”

Before filing for bankruptcy, Big Lots had more than 800 locations. Earlier this month, a bankruptcy filing revealed that Variety expects to take over 200 locations. However, the court has not yet assigned all the stores. Big Lots has been holding going-out-of-business sales in recent months while preparing to close its stores.

When will some Big Lots stores reopen?

Jeff King, Variety’s vice president of sales and marketing, said the company expects to start its soft openings in four separate waves beginning in April and will go through June. King noted that the timeline could change. Currently, the states with the most Big Lots locations are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Many of these stores will now be transferred to Variety.

Variety also owns Roses, Maxway, Super 10, and several other retail chains. In 2024, the company revealed its plan to acquire at least 200 Big Lots locations. According to Variety, the deal is part of its partnership with liquidation firm Gordon Brothers, which is managing store closures after purchasing Big Lots.

According to El Adelantado,, Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to financial struggles. The company experienced a $114.5 million drop in sales from 2023 to 2024, El Adelantado reported. Adding to its challenges, Big Lots is facing $3.1 billion in debt.

“Most of our stores remain profitable, but we’re shifting toward a more streamlined operation to stay efficient and better serve our customers,” CEO Bruce Thorn said, according to El Adelantado.

List of 200 stores Big Lots could reopen:

Alabama

1619 Town Sq SW, Cullman, Ala.5363 Hwy 90 W, Ste C, Mobile, Ala.603 US Hwy 72 W, Athens, Ala.1820 6th Ave SE, Decatur, Ala.1100 Hwy 78 W, Jasper, Ala.5510 McFarland Blvd, Northport, Ala.

Florida

3401 13th St, Ste 100, Saint Cloud, Fla.146 SE US Highway 19, Crystal River, Fla.4901 Palm Beach Blvd, Ste 230, Fort Myers, Fla.13970 N Cleveland Ave, North Fort Myers, Fla.843 W Bloomingdale Ave, Brandon, Fla.122 S Nova Rd, Ormond Beach, Fla.9119 Merrill Rd, Ste 50, Jacksonville, Fla.3048 E College Ave, Ruskin, Fla.6247 Highway 90, Milton, Fla.2384 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, Fla.4700 Highway 90, Marianna, Fla.225 S Tyndall Pkwy, Callaway, Fla.

Georgia

127 Commerce Ave, LaGrange, Ga.110 E Northside Dr, Valdosta, Ga.2305 E 1st St, Vidalia, Ga.3791 S Cobb Dr SE, Ste G, Smyrna, Ga.3111 Highway 278 NW, Covington, Ga.1803 Knight Ave, Ste A2, Waycross, Ga.260 Merchants Square, Dallas, Ga.13 Lester Rd, Ste C, Statesboro, Ga.323 Habersham Village Cir, Cornelia, Ga.4420 Altama Ave, Ste C2, Brunswick, Ga.2932 Canton Rd, Ste 210, Marietta, Ga.4125 Highway 20, Ste A-2, Buford, Ga.558 Battlefield Pkwy, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.

Ohio

2837 Winchester Pike, Columbus, Ohio498 Cadiz Rd, Wintersville, Ohio9025 Ohio River Rd, Wheelersburg, Ohio1965 W State St, Alliance, Ohio3961 Hoover Rd, Grove City, Ohio3946 W Alexis Rd, Toledo, Ohio408 Bluebell Dr NW, New Philadelphia, Ohio12588 Rockside Rd, Cleveland, Ohio7100 South Ave, Youngstown, Ohio400 Silver Bridge Plaza, Gallipolis, Ohio1336 Whipple Ave NW, Canton, Ohio4331 Mahoning Ave NW, Warren, Ohio8489 Market St, Mentor, Ohio1890 W Market St, Suite #500, Akron, Ohio405 Howe Ave, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio426 East Waterloo Rd, Akron, Ohio6300 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, Ohio1800 E State St, Fremont, Ohio3640 Werk Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio56104 National Rd, Bridgeport, Ohio367 County Rd 406, Ste B, South Point, Ohio825 Cleveland St, Elyria, Ohio10560 Harrison Ave, Harrison, Ohio110 S 7th St, Marietta, Ohio2050 E Dorothy Ln, Kettering, Ohio1700 E Main St, Lancaster, Ohio241 W Wooster Rd, Barberton, Ohio

Michigan

659 24th St, Port Huron, Mich.5112 Miller Rd, Flint, Mich.7651 23 Mile Rd, Shelby Township, Mich.14333 Eureka Rd, Southgate, Mich.4157 E Court St, Burton, Mich.

Mississippi

5778 Hwy 80 E, Pearl, Miss.2605 W Main St, Tupelo, Miss.

Indiana

195 S US Hwy 231, Jasper, Ind.

Kentucky

200 Sycamore St, Ste 151, Elizabethtown, Ky.472 Eastern Bypass, Richmond, Ky.86 Appalachian Plaza, South Williamson, Ky.294 Village Ln, Hazard, Ky.1714 Perryville Rd, Ste 400, Danville, Ky.1342 Indian Mound Dr, Mount Sterling, Ky.845 S Main St, London, Ky.400 Campbellsville Bypass, Campbellsville, Ky.102 N 12th St, Middlesboro, Ky.

Louisiana

755 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, La.

Pennsylvania

2611 Ellwood Rd, New Castle, Pa.11628 Penn Hills Dr, Pittsburgh, Pa.697 Allegheny Blvd, Franklin, Pa.1425 Scalp Ave, Ste 130, Johnstown, Pa.750 Ohio River Blvd, Rochester, Pa.3437 Simpson Ferry Rd, Camp Hill, Pa.2444 Philadelphia St, Indiana, Pa.467 W Penn Ave, Cleona, Pa.820 Water St, Meadville, Pa.2140 White St, York, Pa.2431 Columbia Blvd, Bloomsburg, Pa.1010 O’Neill Hwy, Dunmore, Pa.1241 Blakeslee Boulevard Dr E, Lehighton, Pa.6041 State Route 30, Ste 20, Greensburg, Pa.7405 Westbranch Hwy, Lewisburg, Pa.1150 Carlisle St, Hanover, Pa.156 Eagles Glen Plaza, Ste 190, East Stroudsburg, Pa.5522 Shaffer Rd, Unit 7, DuBois, Pa.500 Lincoln Hwy, Ste 4, Fairless Hills, Pa.4717 McKnight Rd, Pittsburgh, Pa.866 Scranton Carbondale Hwy, Eynon, Pa.389 N Reading Rd, Ephrata, Pa.

North Carolina

1504 N Bridge St, Elkin, N.C.1811 S Church St, Burlington, N.C.1328 Carter St, Mount Airy, N.C.4600 Main St, Ste 1, Shallotte, N.C.526C US Highway 70 SW, Hickory, N.C.100 Westwood Village Dr, Clemmons, N.C.838 Winston Rd, Lexington, N.C.1403 S Pollock St, Selma, N.C.

South Carolina

207 Oconee Square Dr, Seneca, S.C.1000 N Pine St, Spartanburg, S.C.1023A S Pendleton St, Easley, S.C.1370 S Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, S.C.339 Bypass 72 NW, Greenwood, S.C.

Tennessee

3110 E Oakland Ave, Johnson City, Tenn.420 Park Blvd, Rogersville, Tenn.1301 S James Campbell Blvd, Columbia, Tenn.

Virginia

1090 Millwood Pike, Winchester, Va.1090 Bypass Rd, Vinton, Va.4300 Portsmouth Blvd, Chesapeake, Va.

West Virginia

1350 Stafford Dr, Princeton, W.Va.104 Thompson Dr, Bridgeport, W.Va.110 Eagle School Rd, Martinsburg, W.Va.

March 8, 2025

News
Jobs Report: What’s The Unemployment Rate For Trump’s First Full Month? (It’s Not What Economists Expected)

In the first full month of Donald Trump‘s presidency, government data shows that the U.S. added fewer jobs than expected while the unemployment rate has now increased to 4.1%. According to the data released on Friday, 151,000 workers were hired last month. Economists, however, were expecting to see 170,000 jobs added, per ABC News.

March 8, 2025

News
D’Wayne Wiggins Dies:, Founding Member Of Tony! Toni! Toné! Was 64

D’Wayne Wiggins, founding member of beloved R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, has died at age 64. Wiggins, who was surrounded by family members when he died on Friday, was living with bladder cancer for the past year, according to Variety.

March 8, 2025

News
Idaho Murders Update: Surviving Roommates’ Panic Evident In Texts And 911 Call

The brutal murders occurred on Nov. 13, 2022, when four students —Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin —were fatally stabbed in an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho. The attack sparked national attention and a months-long investigation. Authorities […]

March 7, 2025

News
Hannah Berner Issues Apology After Cringy Oscar Party Red Carpet Interview With Megan Thee Stallion

Watching Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo from the Bravo series Summer House interview Megan Thee Stallion on the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party red carpet was painful.

As Berner, who was formerly on the show, and DeSorbo, who is currently on the Bravo series, spoke over each other, DeSorbo revealed to Meg how much she loves her music.

“I start my day with you and only you,” she said, with Berner adding, “No, your music has literally — when I want to fight someone, I listen to your music.”

The Houston Hottie replied, “Because you want to throw that fighting s**t out the window, and you want to get cute and be a bad b***h.”

@vanityfair Reminder: #MeganTheeStallion is that girl. #VFOscarParty ♬ original sound – Vanity Fair

Many quickly commented on the racial undertone and microaggression.

“These micro aggressions are MACRO. Who is this little girl?” a TikTok user responded to Vanity Fair’s video of the exchange.

Another shared, “Meg was like ‘fight people? Girl, I make Bad Bih music. Do you see these nails? We don’t fight.’”

“When she wants to fight……….🤔” someone else wrote.

A fourth TikToker commented, “Meg handled this so well. The micro aggressions were crazy.”

People magazine reported that Berner posted an apology statement to her Instagram Stories regarding the cringy moment on Thursday.

“Interviewing Megan Thee Stallion was a dream of mine. I love her music, and it’s my go-to whenever I need to boost my confidence before a show. Looking back at the interview, I wish I used any other word except ‘fight’ to describe how her songs impact me,” Berner wrote.

“It was a careless choice of words, and though there was no ill intent, I recognize and acknowledge that what I said has a deeper meaning, and I am so sorry to Megan. I appreciate everyone who brought this to my attention,” she added.

Megan Thee Stallion has yet to comment on the situation.

March 7, 2025

News  ·  Politics
Black Lives Matter Plaza Is Being Repainted, Here’s What We Know 

The current political climate has been fraught with complicated emotions and shocking changes in law. Unsurprisingly to some, the stakes are seemingly climbing higher by the month with the new administration in place. One of the more recent issues plaguing the minds of the public is an announcement from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, confirming that the famous Black Lives Matter Plaza will be removed. The long-time politician is already a controversial figure, so this move has many speculating about who and what is contributing to this huge decision. 

Bowser is the current Mayor of Washington, D.C., serving since 2015. She is known for her strong advocacy on issues of racial justice and equality. In connection to the Black Lives Matter movement, Bowser made a significant statement in June 2020 when, following widespread protests against police brutality, she ordered the mural of “Black Lives Matter” to be painted on the streets near the White House, officially renaming the section of 16th Street NW to “Black Lives Matter Plaza.” This bold act of solidarity aimed to demonstrate the city’s commitment to racial justice and to amplify the voices of protesters. Although Black Lives Matter Plaza has made locals and Americans proud in recent years, it seemingly is the end of an era. Here is what we know about Bowser’s Black Lives Matter Plaza removal and all that motivates it. 

Why Is Black Lives Matter Plaza Being Changed? 

(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

​​The Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C. (established in June 2020), is facing potential changes due to a combination of federal legislative pressure and local governmental considerations. In March 2025, Republican Representative Andrew Clyde introduced a bill proposing to withhold certain federal funds from the District unless the plaza is renamed and the “Black Lives Matter” mural is removed. Obviously, this request (or as some might call it, a politically charged threat since it puts incredibly important federal funding at risk) comes with a hefty ultimatum. The city will lose millions of dollars of funding if the legislation is not abided by, so the move is happening forcibly. It is clear to residents and concerned citizens nationwide that this anti-Black Lives Matter campaign is no sudden thing. Over the years there has been pushback to the movement, seemingly culminating in Bowser’s recent announcement.

This legislative action has prompted the Mayor to announce plans for the plaza’s redesign. She will integrate it into the city’s America 250 mural project, which aims to involve students and artists in creating public art across all eight wards. Mayor Bowser emphasized the mural’s historical significance but expressed a desire to move beyond congressional distractions and focus on the city’s priorities, particularly addressing the impacts of federal job cuts. 

How Will the Mural Be Removed? 

The plaza, which stretches across two blocks north of the White House, will need to be renamed. The lettering on the street will also be removed. Technically, it will not physically be removed, but it will be hidden from view as the plaza is repainted during the aforementioned mural project. There is no telling what will go in its place, but due to the legislation motivating the removal, it will clearly not be anything like it is now. In addition to this, there will be changes to the use of the phrase, “Black Lives Matter.” Any mention will be removed from both the city’s websites and its official documents. This change is reflective of the current war on DEI, which has been spearheaded by Trump’s administration.

When Will Changes to Black Lives Matter Plaza Begin?

(Julia Mouketo/Unsplash)

Although the decision for this change has happened quite quickly, there is not a specific timeline for it. The most information the public has received has come from what Bowser, who has noted that Black Lives Matter Plaza will be repainted as part of the nation’s 250th birthday next year. But other than that, not much is written in stone. Given the circumstances, it would not be unrealistic to guess the mural will be removed sooner than later.

In fact, as NBC Washington reports, Clyde’s office has much to say about the matter. Most notably, in a written statement, the congressman shared, “I’m very pleased that within one day of introducing my bill to rename BLM Plaza, Mayor Bowser announced plans to do just that. My focus remains on ensuring this woke, divisive slogan is removed and no longer stains the streets of America’s capital city, and I will continue pursuing my effort until BLM Plaza is officially gone for good.” As of now, no specific date has been provided for the plaza’s transformation. But the backlash that this decision has caused may or may not delay its removal.

March 7, 2025

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