Chris Spiker

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Chris Spiker's Contributions

Hartford, CT
On Your Side
Here's How Much Halloween Candy Costs Have Soared As Inflation Haunts Families: New Study Here's How Much Halloween Candy Costs Have Soared As Inflation Haunts Families: New Study Here's How Much Halloween Candy Costs Have Soared As Inflation Haunts Families: New Study
Here's How Much Halloween Candy Costs Have Soared As Inflation Haunts Families: New Study Halloween candy prices have skyrocketed over the last several years as stubborn inflation continues driving up costs for American families, according to a study. The average price of a 100-piece bag of Halloween candy has climbed 71% since 2021, according to a new FinanceBuzz study. That's more than triple the national inflation rate of 22% during the same period. The personal finance website found that a 100-piece bag of assorted Halloween candy costs an average of $16.96 in 2026, compared with $9.91 in 2021. FinanceBuzz analyzed prices at Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Albert…

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by Chris Spiker
Springfield, MA
On Your Side
Crumbl Closes 60 Stores As Cookie Empire Struggles With Plummeting Sales: Reports Crumbl Closes 60 Stores As Cookie Empire Struggles With Plummeting Sales: Reports Crumbl Closes 60 Stores As Cookie Empire Struggles With Plummeting Sales: Reports
Crumbl Closes 60 Stores As Cookie Empire Struggles With Plummeting Sales: Reports A popular cookie chain has closed dozens of stores nationwide in 2026, including several in the Northeast, amid plunging sales and growing financial problems, according to reports. At least 60 Crumbl locations have permanently closed in 2026 as of Wednesday, Oct. 14, according to the fan-run website Crumbl Cookie Flavors. The closures come as the chain faces declining customer traffic and concerns that more stores could shutter. Crumbl was founded in Utah in 2017 and became the nation's largest cookie chain in 2023. The company has grown to more than 1,000 locations nationwid…

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by Chris Spiker
Arlington, VA
On Your Side
Urgent Fire Risk Warning Issued For 94K+ Hyundai Cars: What To Know Urgent Fire Risk Warning Issued For 94K+ Hyundai Cars: What To Know Urgent Fire Risk Warning Issued For 94K+ Hyundai Cars: What To Know
Urgent Fire Risk Warning Issued For 94K+ Hyundai Cars: What To Know Nearly 95,000 Hyundai and Genesis cars are being recalled because their power seat motors can overheat and catch fire, even when the vehicles are parked. Hyundai Motor America is recalling 94,622 Hyundai Genesis and Genesis G80 sedans, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report filed on Friday, Oct. 9. Owners are being urged to park their vehicles outdoors and away from buildings or other cars until repairs are completed. The problem involves switches that control the front power seats. The switches can become damaged or dislodged if struck hard enough, causing them…

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by Chris Spiker
Worcester, MA
On Your Side
HomeGoods Expanding Across Northeast With New MA Stores: See Where HomeGoods Expanding Across Northeast With New MA Stores: See Where HomeGoods Expanding Across Northeast With New MA Stores: See Where
HomeGoods Expanding Across Northeast With New MA Stores: See Where HomeGoods is growing across the Northeast as the home decor retailer continues opening new stores nationwide. The chain has announced fall opening dates for 10 new stores on its website. Four of the new locations will be in Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. The new stores are part of an ongoing expansion by parent company TJX Companies, which also operates T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Sierra. TJX announced plans in 2024 to add about 141 net new stores nationwide and internationally that year, including 40 HomeGoods locations in the US, according to Retail Dive. The first Northea…

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by Chris Spiker
Arlington, VA
On Your Side
Sudden Power Loss Risk From Software Glitch Prompts Toyota Recall Sudden Power Loss Risk From Software Glitch Prompts Toyota Recall Sudden Power Loss Risk From Software Glitch Prompts Toyota Recall
Sudden Power Loss Risk From Software Glitch Prompts Toyota Recall More than 30,000 Toyota vehicles are being recalled because a software problem could cause them to suddenly lose power while driving on highways. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 30,978 RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid SUVs from the 2026 model year, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report filed on Wednesday, Oct. 7. The RAV4s were built between Tuesday, July 22, 2025, and Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. The problem involves software that controls the SUVs' electric motors. The system may not start properly, causing the vehicles to have trouble maintai…

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by Chris Spiker
Hartford, CT
On Your Side
McDonald's Reveals Halloween Surprise Featuring Iconic Disney Characters McDonald's Reveals Halloween Surprise Featuring Iconic Disney Characters McDonald's Reveals Halloween Surprise Featuring Iconic Disney Characters
McDonald's Reveals Halloween Surprise Featuring Iconic Disney Characters McDonald's is bringing back its popular Halloween Boo Buckets with new designs showcasing some of Disney's most famous villains. The fast-food chain is teaming up with Disney to release the limited-edition Boo Buckets starting on Tuesday, Oct. 20, according to the McDonald's USA Menu Spotter. The collectible pails will be available with Happy Meals at participating McDonald's restaurants while supplies last. The new collection features Disney villains instead of the traditional Halloween characters offered in recent years. The 2025 lineup included returning favorites Ghost, Pumpkin, and Gob…

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by Chris Spiker
Bethesda, MD
On Your Side
Serious Burns From Hot Food, Liquids Spark Urgent Pressure Cooker Warning Serious Burns From Hot Food, Liquids Spark Urgent Pressure Cooker Warning Serious Burns From Hot Food, Liquids Spark Urgent Pressure Cooker Warning
Serious Burns From Hot Food, Liquids Spark Urgent Pressure Cooker Warning Federal regulators are issuing an urgent warning about nearly 400,000 pressure cookers after dozens of incidents involving hot food and liquids being sprayed unexpectedly. The Consumer Product Safety Commission warned consumers to stop using about 393,000 Power Quick Pot pressure cookers on Thursday, Oct. 15. The appliances' lids can open while they're still pressurized, causing hot contents to shoot out and potentially injure people nearby. The warning involves 6-quart Power Quick Pot electric pressure cookers with model number Y6D-36. The stainless-steel appliances have black lids, button…

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by Chris Spiker
Bethesda, MD
On Your Side
Several Fires Spark Huge Recall Of Popular Laminating Machines Several Fires Spark Huge Recall Of Popular Laminating Machines Several Fires Spark Huge Recall Of Popular Laminating Machines
Several Fires Spark Huge Recall Of Popular Laminating Machines More than 53,000 laminating machines are being recalled after several caught fire. 3M Company recalled about 53,634 Scotch Thermal Laminators, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Thursday, Oct. 15. The machines can overheat, posing a fire hazard and a risk of serious injury or death. The recall involves Scotch Thermal Laminators with model number TL1302Z. The machines are light gray or white with gray accents, have "Scotch" printed on the front, and feature a 13-inch-wide laminating slot and a carrying handle on the right side. The company has received 63 reports of the lam…

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by Chris Spiker
Hartford, CT
On Your Side
Major Grocery Chain Offers $39 Thanksgiving Dinners For 10 As Inflation Keeps Rising Major Grocery Chain Offers $39 Thanksgiving Dinners For 10 As Inflation Keeps Rising Major Grocery Chain Offers $39 Thanksgiving Dinners For 10 As Inflation Keeps Rising
Major Grocery Chain Offers $39 Thanksgiving Dinners For 10 As Inflation Keeps Rising Aldi is promoting a Thanksgiving dinner deal for less than $4 per person as stubborn inflation continues driving up costs for Americans. The discount supermarket chain is offering a full Thanksgiving meal that can feed 10 people for under $39, Aldi said in a news release on Wednesday, Oct. 14. The promotion was announced on the same day new federal data showed inflation rising to 3.7%. The holiday meal includes a turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and many other Thanksgiving dinner staples. "Thanksgiving shouldn't require a calculator or a coupon strategy," Aldi CEO Atty McGrath said.&…

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by Chris Spiker
National Interest
Robot Gropes Teen Girl Outside Restaurant In Livestreamed Incident: Police Robot Gropes Teen Girl Outside Restaurant In Livestreamed Incident: Police Robot Gropes Teen Girl Outside Restaurant In Livestreamed Incident: Police
Robot Gropes Teen Girl Outside Restaurant In Livestreamed Incident: Police A humanoid robot wearing a fake mustache and gold chain groped a teen girl while two suspects livestreamed the incident, authorities said. The red-and-gold robot was seized early on Sunday, Oct. 11, police in Cologne, Germany, said in a news release. The incident happened outside a fast-food restaurant near the city center shortly before midnight on Saturday, Oct. 10. The 16-year-old girl was standing with two friends, who were 17 and 18. Investigators said the roughly four-foot-tall robot approached her from behind, grabbed her buttocks, and made thrusting movements against her. …

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by Chris Spiker
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