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Is restaurant tipping getting out of hand?

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:15 GMT

(The Hill) -- American diners may be reaching a tipping point. Not long ago, a restaurant tip was a 15 percent gratuity for the server, calculated on a napkin and scrawled on a credit card receipt at the end of a sit-down meal. The server didn’t know the sum until the diner had departed. In 2023, tipping, or choosing not to, has expanded into a near-universal ritual of food service. Customers at a humble takeout joint might face a choice among three double-digit gratuities on a touch screen, under the penetrating gaze of a cashier.  Two societal forces, the COVID-19 pandemic and touch-screen point-of-sale tablets, have conspired to transform the American tipping culture. The gratuity has colonized the food-service universe, from fast-food restaurants to food trucks to farmers markets. “My family went strawberry picking last weekend,” said Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate.com. “I made the reservation. They asked me for a tip. I asked my wife, ‘What are we ...

Austin ISD approves budget with $52 million deficit; highest since 2017-18

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin ISD Board of Trustees approved the 2023-24 budget early Friday morning. The $1.82 billion budget includes a $52.25 million deficit. According to Thursday night's district presentation by Chief Finance Officer Ed Ramos, that is the highest deficit since the 2017-18 budget deficit of $54 million. In May, the Board of Trustees approved using up to $53 million of the district’s reserve funds to give teachers and school employees a raise for the 2023-24 school year.Ramos said detailed recommendations on deficit reductions will be made to the board of Trustees in the fall of 2023. According to the AISD presentation, the district will budget the $1.82 billion for:$940.5 million on recapture$354.4 million on operational costs, Central Office Administration, UIL, front office campus staff, TRS on behalf, property insurance premiums, etc. $304.8 million on teachers, subs, tutoring, supplies, dual language program, etc. $156 million on Special Education$33.1 millio...

Readers and writers: Reading and exploring go hand in hand

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:15 GMT

Today we’ve got suggestions for books that combine reading and outdoor activities and a roundup of nature guides that help your family explore our natural environment and its inhabitants.“Busco: We are all just mutts after all”: by Robert J. Kowalski, illustrated by Larisa Ivankovic (Independently Published, $14)Busco is a mutt who escapes from an animal shelter and wanders far away to a place where he sees big and small dogs happily playing in a park. Sleeping in the forest every night, Busco wishes he could join the fun but he’s afraid he won’t be accepted because of his mixed-color coat. Then the dog angels help him meet a little girl who’s also lonely. Together they enter the park, and Busco frolics in the water with the other dogs, who don’t care what Busco or any other of their friends looks like. Kowalski, a St. Paul native, made his writing debut with “Jaycee: A Heroine’s Journey,” a novel about what the world would...

5 things to know this Friday, June 23

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:15 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It's finally Friday, folks. The "muggies" will be kicking in today, according to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, as a slow-moving low will produce high humidity and showers over the weekend and beyond. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The Albany Empire saga isn't completely resolved yet, as final game checks for players and coaches reportedly hit their bank accounts, and were pulled not long thereafter. Meanwhile, Albany Police are investigating a homicide on Third Street. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Friday morning. 1. Final game checks pulled from Empire players, coaches’ accountsThe drama surrounding the Albany Empire continues, even after the team’s termination from the National Arena League. Former Empire interim head coach Moe Leggett tells NEWS10 ABC Sports Director Griffin Haas that the entire Empire staff had their final game check pulled out of their bank ...

Drag story hours supported -- and opposed -- in the Capital Region

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:15 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Drag Queen Story Hours aren't new to the Capital Region. But as libraries around the area are announcing their first-ever Drag Story Hours, they are often met with backlash. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! In Lake Luzerne, the Drag Queen Story Hour at Rockwell Falls Public Library originally scheduled for April 15 was canceled after backlash from the community. At a public library meeting a few days before the event was supposed to go on, residents voiced their concerns about having a drag performer read to children.Drag Story Hours consist of a Drag Queen reading children's stories and singing songs with the kids in attendance. Some involve arts and crafts. The programs take place in schools, libraries, and other community spaces around the United States.The Bethlehem Public Library is scheduled to hold its first Drag Story Hour on July 13 at 11 a.m. with local drag performer Noelle Diamond. The pr...

Inside look at miSci's new AI exhibit

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:15 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - miSci in Schenectady unveiled a new summer exhibit that centers on the past, present and future of artificial intelligence. On display until Labor Day, “Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine” is designed to be an interactive and educational experience for visitors of all ages.The museum is located at 15 Museum Drive in Schenectady. The hours are as follows:Mondays: ClosedTuesday – Friday: Open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.Saturday – Sunday: Open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Glenmont pizza shop owner wins Pizza World Cup

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:15 GMT

GLENMONT, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Anthony Berghela, owner of Romo's Pizza in Glenmont, was recently named the winner of the Pizza World Cup in Naples, Italy. Berghela has competed in the competition before, however, this is his first win. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Berghela competed against dozens of other pizzaiolos, also known as pizza makers. The competition was held in the birthplace of pizza, Naples, Italy. Romo's announced in April they'll be expanding soon to Voorheesville, offering a floor used to host parties and other gatherings, as well as additional seating. There will also be an outdoor patio for dining.

Crews respond to smoke at historic East St. Louis bank building

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:15 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Crews are responding to early-morning smoke Friday at the historic Union Trust Bank Company Building in East St. Louis. The building opened in 1926 and is located in the 200 block of Collinsville Avenue. FOX 2 learned of reports of smoke coming from the building just before 6 a.m. Friday. St. Louis County’s longest road? It runs 31 miles through 16 communities The building sits nearby the Spivey Building, which is considered one of the tallest on the Illinois side of the riverfront. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Place in 2014. SkyFOX, powered by Bommarito Automotive Group, flew over the building Friday morning to assess the situation. No injuries have been reported as of 6 a.m. It's unclear what might have caused the fire. This is a developing story. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.

Temps climb to 90s for St. Louis metro's first summer weekend

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:15 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It's shaping up to be a hot and humid weekend around the St. Louis metro. Temperatures are expected to climb up to the 90s for each of the next three days. As we start our Friday morning, our temperatures are still a little bit more on the comfortable side. Be prepared for the heat this weekend though. Temperatures could jump as high as 96 degrees on Saturday and 93 degrees on Sunday. Woman charged with ramming, shooting thieves who stole sister’s car There is potential for some storm systems as we move from the work week to the weekend. Friday will be partly cloudy with the chance for some isolated storms. That's also the case for Saturday and Sunday. Right now, it doesn't appear any potential storms will be too severe. Showers and storms are most likely Sunday morning in the Metro East. Download the FOX 2 Weather app to stay up-to-date with the latest weather alerts.

Biden to sign executive order expanding birth control access

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:15 GMT

(The Hill) - President Biden will sign an executive order Friday aimed at increasing access to contraception and family planning.The order is part of the administration's efforts to promote reproductive health care and comes one day ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.It will also be the administration's only policy response to mark the anniversary. While the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization dealt with the constitutional right to an abortion, Justice Clarence Thomas in a concurring opinion said the high court should also reconsider whether there is a constitutional right to birth control. "Access to contraception has become even more important in the wake of Dobbs and the ensuing crisis in women’s access to health care," Jennifer Klein, director of the White House Gender Policy Council told reporters.The order directs the secretaries of the Treasury and Labor Departments, as well as Health and Hu...