Business
Barnes & Noble clarifies viral ‘$1 book discount’
Those $1 off books you see at Barnes & Noble are fake. They’re fake.
Social media sites, like Instagram and TikTok have recently been flooded by posts about Barnes & Noble books being reduced to just $1. These posts link viewers to sign-up links to get a discount code for the Barnes & Noble deal. The offer, they say, will be valid through August 7.
It turns out that those posts were fakes and probably a scam.
Barnes & Noble told USA TODAY in a July 31 statement that “This fake promotion is most likely a phishing scheme.” We encourage our customers to visit our website for the latest legitimate promotions and sales.
Barnes & Noble regularly runs deals and promotions on its site and offers discounts on some books in its stores.
Fraud fueled by AI is on the rise
According to a recent analysis, sophisticated fraud schemes based on artificial intelligence are increasingly targeted at U.S. customers, including those who steal credit card and ID information and make fraudulent charges.
TransUnion’s Top Fraud Trends Report shows that 1/6 of U.S. consumers lost money in digital scams such as email, text, or online fraud.
The theft of credit card data through phishing emails, skimming websites, or account takeovers are among the top reasons for consumer fraud in America. The most common scam was phishing, which is a form of stealing data through QR codes, fraudulent emails or posts on social media. 39% of victims said they had been targeted.
Fraud is very big. “Fraud is everywhere, growing and not going anywhere,” Clint Lowry told USA TODAY.
The sophistication and scale of criminal activities has probably increased with the advent of Generative Artificial Intelligence.
He added, “With AI comes these fraud schemes which are very professional and can be carried out very easily even by people with limited resources.”
Betty Lin Fisher, USA Today
Saman Shafiq, a reporter at USA TODAY who covers trending stories. Contact her via sshafiq@gannett.com. Follow her on X or Instagram at @saman_shafiq7.
Business
New York files $36 billion lawsuit against Kalshi, alleging it’s running an “illegal gambling operation”
In courts across the nation, sports betting continues to be a hot topic. The nine Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court will surely decide the matter after thousands of attorneys have earned enough to purchase a third house.
It’s a never-ending battle over state rights. The Supreme Court opened the wager by determining that gambling is gambling. bet! bet! The 50 states will be handling the issue of floodgates for 2018. This is without federal interference. The federal government regulates prediction markets. These markets can offer gambling-like activities in every state.
New York’s attorney general Letitia J. James is suing Kalshi, accusing him of running an illegal gambling operation. She wants a financial penalty at least $36 billion based on how much money Kalshi made by offering sports betting, and $100,000 for every instance where he tried to provide unlicensed wagering.
No one would believe it if they told you that betting on sports is not gambling. It is a question of whether or not the federal approval of sports prediction markets violates state rights to determine whether they will permit their citizens to wager on sporting events.
Ironic to say the least. The Supreme Court decided that it was federal overreach to prohibit states from offering sports gambling. The federal government could be going too far by allowing sports betting.
New York’s case, and others similar to it, will go on until the Supreme Court decides whether or not sports-related betting markets are gambling. They certainly are. And whether the federal governments has the right to implement gambling-based predictions markets in all fifty states even if some (or many) don’t like them.
Business
Customer sparks massive debate about tipping kitchen staff
It’s enough.
It’s clear that the tipping culture has gone out of control in America. No matter whether it is a $7 cup of coffee at a fancy restaurant or an expensive bill, everyone extends their hands to ask for a tip.
Everyone seems to have an idea about this hot topic, even one customer that felt it was a little too much when asked to tip the kitchen staff in a deli.
@HistorianUSA1 shared the original video on X, where more than 60,000 people chimed into debate about this topic.
The stranger, in his vehicle, tells how he, on a trip, stopped at Schlotzsky’s for a pizza sandwich. He hasn’t visited the chain in 10 to 15 years.
“I thought I would go into there and order [on] that little credit card thing, [which] asked you if want to tip [the kitchen crew] before you get your orders. “So I was thinking, if I didn’t tip the crew will I get a booger-sandwich?” He asks honestly to the camera.
I don’t like that. The clip under 60 seconds ends. “Why do we tip when we are not served in fear of something being done to our food?”
The X user started the conversation by writing, above the video: “Tipping Culture is Completely Out of Control.” Guy goes to a deli and orders a sandwich that he’s not had for 15 years… but the machine tells him he must tip before getting his food.
“No server. Table service is not available. You can tip us, or you could get a booger-sandwich. Why do we tip people that aren’t serving us? It’s no longer hospitality, it’s just a rip-off. The customer should not be held responsible for the risks and the loss. “Absolute nonsense.”
The thread was quickly populated by almost 200 participants.
It should be against the law for pay machines to ask for tips. The question should only be visible, but it shouldn’t be mandatory to answer. Asking for donations to round up should also be prohibited. “Donation is voluntary, not an order,” wrote one.
I have cancelled orders exactly in this situation. Someone else commented, “Food quality is dependent on the tip I leave. This is an unfair shakedown.”
Another said: “Businesses who refuse to pay a wage that is livable don’t deserve your patronage.”
Another wrote: “My rule says that if I’m required to get up and follow an order, then I don’t tip.”
Business
Flight attendants at Canada’s WestJet go on strike in dispute over pay
NEW YORK – Flight attendants at WestJet Canada, the second largest airline in Canada, went on a strike over pay Sunday.
On its Facebook page, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 4,400 members of the airline’s cabin crew, has announced the strike. WestJet announced the strike on its Facebook page and cancelled more than 300 flights by early Sunday morning, disrupting travel plans across Canada during a 3-day holiday weekend.
The dispute centered around how the flight attendants were to be compensated for work performed on the ground. While the union claimed that some of this work was unpaid, the company insisted its employees were compensated. They cited a system where staff are paid on a credit hour basis rather than hourly.
Alexis von Hoensbroech is the CEO of WestJet Group. “We proposed a proposal which would have established a new standard in Canada for the cabin crew, making WestJet Canada’s only airline that offers an hourly wage covering time both before and after flight, as well as a two-digit increase in wages in the first year, amongst other priorities raised by the union,” said von Hoensbroech. It was not accepted.
Alia Hussain is the president of the union that represents cabin crew. She said that negotiators tried “until the last minute” to reach a fair agreement that recognized the importance of cabin crews’ work.
Hussain stated that the offer from WestJet was not enough.
Both parties said that they are willing to continue negotiations in order to come to an agreement.
WestJet said that it would contact people who reserved directly with them via email, while those who booked through a travel agent or third-party platform should reach out to them. WestJet will contact those who made reservations directly with the airline via email. Those who booked through travel agents or third-party platforms should also reach out.
Flights operated by WestJet Encore on Q400 aircraft, and code-share flights conducted by partners of the airline, are not affected.
Flight attendants from Air Canada, Canada’s biggest carrier, left more than 100,000 passengers stranded during the peak season of travel last summer due to a partial strike over groundwork. The strike lasted for three days until the two sides reached an agreement.
___
Jim Morris, a Vancouver-based writer for the Associated Press, contributed this report.
Business
6 Car Brands Bringing Back The Body-On Frame SUV
Three words, “sport utility vehicle”, might not be the best way to describe the term. It is important to note that the SUV umbrella covers a broad range of vehicles, from the subcompact Subaru Crosstrek, which is basically a Subaru Impreza Hatchback fitted with a lifting kit, up to the huge, truck-based Chevrolet Suburban.
The biggest difference in the SUV segment is between unibody SUVs that are based on cars and body-on frame SUVs, which look more like trucks. There is no correct or incorrect answer to the debate between unibody and body-on frame SUVs, since each has their own advantages and disadvantages. Unibody SUVs are generally more fuel-efficient, have a better driving experience, and cost less. Body-on-frame models excel at off-road capabilities and towing.
The popularity of unibody SUVs is soaring amongst mainstream buyers. Models like the Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V are dominating the sales charts in America. However, there’s also a lot of interest for more truck-like, traditional SUVs. Several automakers are bringing back body-on frame models that were popular in the past, or expanding their lineups to include new body-onframe SUVs. We’ve listed five big models to watch.
Toyota has an impressive body-on frame SUV line-up in North America, including the 4Runner Land Cruiser and Sequoia. The company has a loyal following for each model, and recently introduced a body-on frame SUV that is sure to appeal to American enthusiasts of 4×4. The Land Cruiser FJ is a new entry-level Land Cruiser with a retro design and streamlined body-on frame.
The Land Cruiser FJ has a very simple engine, a 2.7-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated unit. The Land Cruiser FJ is likely to seem weak compared with Toyota’s 4×4 models for the American market, all of which have hybrid and turbocharged engines. There are those, however, who will appreciate the FJ’s no-frills, simple drivetrain.
Toyota claims that its Land Cruiser FJ model is not suitable for the American market. However, the retro-styled FJ Cruiser was sold in America in the early 2000s and became an instant cult favorite. The Land Cruiser FJ may be forbidden to Americans but the new retro Toyota off-roader with body-on frame construction is worth celebrating.
Hyundai, unlike the other brands on this list has not been building SUVs with body-on frame for a very long time. Hyundai’s unibody Santa Cruz truck is probably the toughest vehicle it has ever made. Hyundai is working on a new body-on frame platform to try and change this.
Hyundai presented a concept SUV called Boulder at the New York International Auto Show in 2026, which previews its direction. Hyundai will build and engineer its first body-on frame platform in America. Hyundai claims that the first vehicle to be built on this platform is a midsized pickup, which will reach the market in 2030.
Hyundai claims that the Boulder Concept only represents a design exercise, but it suggests a new adventurous 4×4 model, with its eyes on 4x4s such as the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler. Hyundai has been making great strides over the past few years. A move into body-on frame SUVs and trucks, which are highly competitive in nature, will be its biggest step yet.
General Motors is yet to confirm the existence of a body-on frame SUV. The brands listed above have either hinted or officially announced new models, while General Motors still has not confirmed if it will be releasing a body-onframe vehicle. The idea of adding an rugged mid-sized SUV to the GMC lineup (and possibly the Chevrolet as well) makes sense. Industry reports indicate that General Motors has been working on a GMC Jimmy.
The lack of a tough SUV rival to Ford Broncos, Jeep Wranglers, or Toyota 4Runners in GM’s lineup has always seemed odd. The GMC Canyon pickup and Chevy Colorado SUV are already capable of being a mid-size body-on frame SUV. General Motors had plans to build a new GMC Jimmy, but they were scrapped to concentrate on EVs. The Jimmy project has been brought back to the table now that regulations have changed.
It is only natural to ask if the Chevrolet version will be available as well. In the past, the Chevrolet Blazer has always been the Bowtie version of the GMC Jimmy. Chevy is now using its storied Blazer brand on crossovers and EVs. It would need to either use a different nameplate or shift the branding for the purported Jimmy.
Nissan, one of the largest automakers, is a leader in the development of new body-on frame vehicles. The company plans five body-onframe models, built by American manufacturers, for the Nissan and Infiniti brand, each with V6 engines or hybrid V6 powertrains. One of these new models is a body-on frame version of Nissan Pathfinder. This will bring the SUV to its roots. It will probably be sold along with the unibody Pathfinder.
Nissan confirmed that a brand new Nissan Xterra is coming. This model will appeal to 4×4 fans and weekend adventures. Nissan discontinued the original Xterra in 2015. It was one of most iconic SUVs from the ’90s to the 00s.
Nissan will launch the new Xterra at the end of 2028. Infiniti has not confirmed details of its new body-on frame SUVs. However, it is expected that they will be more upmarket versions than the next-generation Pathfinder or Xterra. The new platform is expected to be used by the next-generation Nissan Frontier mid-sized pickup truck, as well as the two new SUVs.
Mitsubishi has been a disappointment in recent years, not least because its car lineup is so far behind its 1980s-90s peak. Mitsubishi, the brand once known for its 3000GT and Lancer Evolution models, now offers only generic crossover SUVs in America.
Mitsubishi recently raised eyebrows by announcing its plans to launch a brand-new Pajero in the fall of 2026. Pajero is one of Japan’s legendary SUVs. It was previously sold in North America as Mitsubishi Montero and has a history that includes twelve victories at the Dakar Rally. Mitsubishi claims that the Pajero is a tough flagship SUV, which will use the same body-on frame platform as the Triton truck.
Mitsubishi will return to the mid-sized truck segment in America with a model that is based on Nissan Frontier’s next generation. The new Pajero or Montero may also be sold in the United States, but it remains to see. The new Pajero may also have no relation to Nissan’s next-generation body-on frame models. Mitsubishi could benefit from a body-on frame SUV and a pickup truck.
Business
Raising Cane’s to open 7 new restaurants. See locations
Raising Cane’s celebrates 30 years in August. This year the company will be celebrating the anniversary with the opening of seven new stores and some re-openings.
Company plans to build seven new locations, two of which will be in Georgia and eastern North Carolina. According to USA Today, the company also intends to open four renovated locations.
Restaurant said that it was concentrating on its growth.
Pensacola News Journal, part of USA TODAY Network, and Augusta Chronicle reported that the chicken finger franchise opened in Pensacola on June 16, and in Albany on July 21, respectively. The company held a lucky 20 drawing at the Albany Georgia opening where 20 people won free food every year.
Raising Cane website states that the company’s first store opened on August 28th, 1996. The company is known for their chicken fingers, and Cane’s Sauce. It describes the sauce as being “thick and tangy”, and is made of multiple spices.
Raising Cane’s released a statement saying that August is an important month as it marks the 30th anniversary of its first restaurant, which opened in 1996. Every opening, whether it’s in a new market like Rocky Mount or Statesboro, to welcoming back customers to newly renovated Restaurants represents Raising Cane’s commitment to the future.
Raising Cane’s is reopening and opening new locations. Here’s the latest information.
Raising Cane’s to reopen in August
Raising Cane’s revealed to USA TODAY that this month, the company plans seven new openings as well as four reopenings at locations which have undergone renovations.
Included in this are:
Open Doors
Michigan – 26245 Novi Road (Aug. 3).
North Carolina – 1010 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount (Aug. 3)
California – 400 North Moorpark Road Thousand Oaks (Aug. 10)
California – 16940 Slover Ave., Fontana (Aug. 17)
New Jersey – 801 W. Edgar Road, Linden (Aug. 17)
Alabama – McFarland Boulevard, 1241 E., Tuscaloosa (Aug. 24)
Georgia – 24087 US-80, Statesboro (Aug. 24)
Re-openings
Texas – 1045 Texas Ave. College Station (12 Aug.)
Kentucky – 2555 Nicholasville Road, Lexington (Aug. 17)
Nevada – 7550 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas (Aug. 17)
Ohio – 1320 N. Hamilton Road, Gahanna (Aug. 24)
Contributors: Brittany Misencik of the Pensacola News Journal and Miguel Legoas of Augusta Chronicle
Saleen Martin works as a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Saleen Martin is a reporter for USA TODAY’s trending team. She hails from Norfolk, Virginia (the 757). Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
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