Author: rpnadmin

Every July 10, bartenders across the country raise a glass to a cocktail that spent decades being dismissed as a blender accident. National Piña Colada Day has always had the energy of a novelty holiday, the kind celebrated with paper umbrellas and mix from a can. But the way serious drinkers and bartenders talk about this drink has changed, and the reason has everything to do with what’s happening to rum right now. North America is the fastest-growing rum market in the world, fueled by innovation in premium and aged expressions, surging U.S. consumer demand and rapid e-commerce expansion. The…

Dairy Queen franchisees have shuttered at least 46 locations nationwide since early 2025, with the newest round of closures wiping out all but one of the chain’s Alaska restaurants. Three Dairy Queens in Anchorage, Wasilla and Palmer closed on June 30, leaving the state with a single location in Soldotna. A Dairy Queen official told local reporters the franchise owner of those three stores had recently shut them down, without disclosing the owner’s name or a reason for the decision. Pete Ischi, who co-owns the Soldotna store with his ex-wife, called the shutdown “shocking” and said the family turned down…

The Pentagon has lifted the suspension of eight South Carolina Army National Guard pilots who were grounded after flying Apache helicopters along state coastal beaches during a July 4 “Salute from the Shore” celebration. “We’ll fix this. Carry on, Patriots,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on X. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell followed up with a statement Friday on X confirming that “effective immediately,” the suspension of the pilots was canceled. State military officials insisted their initial decision was a temporary, nonpunitive measure pending a review of the flight profile. U.S. Army AH-64E Apache helicopters are pictured at Joint Base Andrews,…

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Eight men were indicted on murder and terrorism conspiracy charges Thursday for their alleged roles in a thwarted drone and sniper attack on the UFC cage-fighting show staged at the White House in June. The indictment, returned in Ohio, charges all eight in two separate conspiracies: one to provide material support to terrorists and a second to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official. It remains unclear from the court records how close the would-be attackers could have come to being able to carry out the plan had it not been…

A Jeffrey Epstein look-alike running for mayor in Palm Beach, Florida, has received a phony letter from the state elections office advising him to withdraw from the race, The Washington Times has learned. Peter Simel, a social media personality known as Palm Beach Pete, said he would take a DNA test to prove he isn’t the late sex trafficker in May, two weeks before he launched his campaign. Late last month, Mr. Simel posted a letter supposedly from the Florida Division of Elections, titled “Concerns Regarding Candidate Eligibility and Recommendation to Withdraw from the Palm Beach Mayor Race.” “This morning…

The Air Force canceled promotions for dozens of service members after discovering that an outdated answer key was used on the test for technical sergeant. Officials this week said 135 airmen in the Air Force security forces career field were awarded incorrect scores on the Specialty Knowledge Test, known as the SKT, and told they had earned a promotion. On the flip side, 135 who were initially told they failed the exam will now advance to the next rank. “We owe it to those affected to address it immediately,” Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David R. Wolfe said…

Rep. Jasmine Crockett said this week that her failed bid for the Democratic Senate nomination in Texas was marred by racism, and made clear she does not intend to campaign alongside the man who beat her, state Rep. James Talarico. Ms. Crockett made the remarks during a conversation with hosts of the “Native Land” podcast at the Essence Festival in New Orleans, a comment first reported by Fox News. “It was racist. It was a racist race,” Ms. Crockett said. “But we live in America as y’all are celebrating 250. We know what this country is.” Ms. Crockett said she…

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York’s attorney general sued several large chemical and agricultural companies on Thursday, alleging they knowingly sold harmful so-called forever chemicals used in cosmetics, non-stick cookware and other products. The lawsuit against 3M, DuPont de Nemours, The Chemours Company and Corteva and other manufacturers is the latest legal action over PFAS, which have been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers and developmental delays in children. “Big companies like 3M and DuPont knowingly sold toxic products that threatened New Yorkers’ health and polluted our environment for decades. It’s time for them to pay for the damage…

HOUSTON — An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo as the Mexican national drove his construction crew to a job site in Houston. ICE said it targeted Salgado Araujo on Tuesday because he entered the country without legal permission and failed to stop his van as officers tried to pull him over, instead ramming their vehicle. The agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, has not released video or photos to back its version of events. Salgado Araujo’s family said he had nearly finished the long process of obtaining legal status in…

MEXICO CITY — Mexico will request criminal charges over 17 Mexicans who died in ICE custody or during immigration enforcement operations by the Trump administration, officials said Thursday. Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco’s announcement Thursday morning further escalated tensions with the United States, as Mexico’s government has sharply criticized the treatment of its citizens under U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to increase deportations. The request, which carries no legal weight, will be submitted to state prosecutors’ offices and the U.S. Department of Justice, asking them to consider criminal charges against those responsible for the deaths. It will be accompanied by…