Costco Recall Update Nationwide: Customers Warned of 'Severe' Responses
Costco Recall Update Nationwide: Customers Warned of ‘Severe’ Responses
Costco recalled caramel mini beignets after discovering that some packages contained chocolate-hazelnut-filled pastries that were not disclosed on the label, posing a serious risk to people with tree nut allergies, according to the company and several local outlets citing a corporate recall notice.
The recall affects 22 states, including California, New York, and Florida.
Why It Matters
Undeclared allergens are one of the biggest causes of food recalls in the United States, and hazelnut consumption can induce life-threatening reactions in those with tree nut allergies, according to Costco’s notification, as reported by local outlets.
The recall emphasizes the need for correct food labeling and timely consumer notifications when cross-contamination or mispackaging may expose sensitive consumers to allergens.
What to Know
Costco stated that tiny caramel beignets were accidentally packaged with chocolate hazelnut-filled beignets, and the hazelnut allergen was not disclosed on the clamshell packaging, according to publications summarizing the retailer’s recall notice.
Costco Recall Update Nationwide: Customers Warned of ‘Severe’ Responses
The recalled product is specified by item number #1181272, and the affected units were sold between January 16 and January 30, 2026.
According to reports, the recall affected 22 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington. ABC7 also listed Texas as being affected.
Customers were advised not to eat the mislabeled beignets and to return them to any Costco warehouse for a full refund, with any queries directed to the company’s customer care portal.
According to court reports, the recall came in response to news coverage of a class-action complaint filed in federal court alleging that Costco deceptively represented its Kirkland Signature rotisserie chickens as preservative-free, noting the presence of sodium phosphate and carrageenan.
While watching Bad Bunny‘s Super Bowl halftime act on Sunday, you may have witnessed him climbing electrical poles alongside other performers while singing “El Apagón.”
The song is from the artist’s fifth studio album, Un Verano Sin Ti, which was the most-streamed album on Spotify globally in 2022.
The album, which translates to A Summer Without You, is an investigation of a metaphorical absence in Bad Bunny’s life and the resultant emotions that arise from his Puerto Rican upbringing.
His song “El Apagón” literally means “the blackout” and refers to the terrible and persistent power outages in Puerto Rico.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, Puerto Ricans lost around 27 hours of power per year between 2021 and 2024, excluding electrical outages caused by hurricanes or other catastrophic disasters.
Over the last ten years, four storms have caused more than $1 billion in damage in Puerto Rico. People in the United States mainland, by contrast, lose power for about two hours each year.
The nearly one-year blackout in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017 was the longest in American history.
Here’s the thing about Bad Bunny’s light poles
As a result of the devastation, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, the territory’s publicly owned utility, filed for bankruptcy.
PREPA has a decades-long history of corruption. According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, PREPA purchased low-quality oil from vendors at high-quality prices to feed its power plants.
The arrangements allowed money to flow through executives and politicians while citizens continued to receive service from a deteriorating grid.
Puerto Rico then began privatizing power. Luma Energy, a privately held Canadian-American firm, will take over electric power transmission in 2021.
According to Luis Raúl Torres Cruz, a former member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, power interruptions have increased by 30-35 percent on average since Luma took office.
Last December, Puerto Rico’s government sued Luma Energy for allegedly making fraudulent promises to repair the electricity grid while increasing rates.
“According to Gizmodo’s breakdown of the tune, the lyric roughly translates as “Damn it, another blackout.
However, the situation is not limited to Puerto Rico. The Trump administration has withdrawn federal funds intended to improve the territory’s electrical grid.
Latitude Media reports that the Department of Energy dropped $450 million in grid resilience programs in January.
Last April, Bad Bunny summed it up as “¿Cuando vamos a hacer algo?”
Nonetheless, his song “El Apagón” features the lyrics “Puerto Rico está bien cabrón,” or, according to Genius’ translation, “Puerto Rico is fucking great.”
Despite the ongoing power outages, which lead to growing economic hardship, there is palpable pride and joy in being a member of the island’s community. That was evident to everyone on Sunday.
Musk abandons his plans for a Mars settlement in favor of a lunar base
Musk abandons his plans for a Mars settlement in favor of a lunar base
Elon Musk’s ambition to colonize Mars appears to have taken a back seat to a far closer and more feasible goal: transporting humans to live on the Moon.
It is unclear what Musk meant by a “self-growing city” or whether his ambitions are consistent with NASA’s lunar proposal.
Musk stated that the business is still committed to developing a Mars metropolis and plans to start in the next five to seven years.
Musk stated in May that SpaceX was preparing to land its first uncrewed Starship on Mars by late 2026.
Musk’s revision of his prior space travel estimates came after SpaceX acquired XAI last week, combining two of his most ambitious companies into the world’s most valuable private firm.
Musk has made it a point for more than a decade to publicize SpaceX’s singular focus on building a civilization on Mars, claiming that it has been the company’s driving mission since its founding in 2002.
In speeches delivered at aerospace conferences and events for SpaceX employees, he has detailed ambitious—if questionably feasible—plans for establishing a permanent human presence on the Red Planet, claiming that such a step is required to ensure a human colony can survive a potential apocalypse.
Musk abandons his plans for a Mars settlement in favor of a lunar base
NASA, on the other hand, has prioritized its lunar ambitions, notably since President Donald Trump’s first term, when then-Vice President Mike Pence stated that the United States would return astronauts to the moon by 2024.
The audacious plan did not come to fruition, and NASA is now working to return people to the lunar surface by 2028, which was the timeline set by the Obama administration.
The return will be the first time humans have set foot on the moon since the Apollo program concluded in 1972.
Musk has previously attacked the efforts, referring to NASA’s moon program, Artemis, as a “distraction” on X early last year.
Musk’s apparent shift to a focus on the moon comes as the tech tycoon, whose companies earn large government contracts, has become significantly more active about politics than in previous years.
He spent $290 million on the US presidential election, supporting Trump and landing a White House job, only to have a dramatic falling out with the president. He regained his good graces this past fall.
Lunar dispute.
While NASA has developed the rocket and spacecraft that will take astronauts off Earth and to the moon, SpaceX has been awarded a roughly $3 billion contract to build the lunar lander, or vehicle that will transport the crew from their spacecraft to the moon’s surface.
SpaceX intends to deploy their Starship system for the mission, which is the largest spacecraft and rocket system ever built and, according to Musk, was designed specifically for transporting people to Mars.
However, Starship is still in its early phases of development and has frequently detonated during testing.
It has never been to orbit or flown operationally, but SpaceX plans to launch a new line of Starship prototypes as early as March.
KnuckleMania 6 results: Andrei Arlovski slashes Ben Rothwell for gold
KnuckleMania 6 results: Andrei Arlovski slashes Ben Rothwell for gold
Andrei Arlovski still has Ben Rothwell’s number and has added another championship to his impressive record.
In the main event of BKFC: KnuckleMania 6, former UFC champion Arlovski faced the new BKFC heavyweight champion for the third time in combat sports and the first in bare-knuckle boxing.
Arlovski won the first two MMA battles before winning the third in a different sport. The official outcome was a TKO stoppage due to cuts at 1:14 in Round 3.
Rothwell was more timid than usual in the BKFC ring, and Arlovski took full advantage.
Arlovski pushed Rothwell into the tight ropes and clipped him with a few clean punches in Round 1.
Arlovski was also quicker to the punch in Round 2, resulting in a serious cut. In the final seconds, Arlovski unleashed a vicious combination that sent Rothwell flying into the ropes.
Arlovski’s accurate right hands did not cause him to fall, but they certainly caused him pain.
KnuckleMania 6 results: Andrei Arlovski slashes Ben Rothwell for gold
The referee asked the doctor to check on Rothwell before the third round began, but the fight went on. Rothwell struggled to keep up with Arlovski’s pace and precision.
With less than a minute left in the round, the action was delayed so the doctor could examine the gashes on Rothwell’s face once again—and that was the end of it.
The two first met in MMA at Affliction 1 in July 2008. Arlovski won that fight via TKO in the third round. More than a decade later, the rematch was held at UFC on ESPN 4. Once again, Arlovski’s hand was raised, this time unanimously.
Arlovski, 47, hasn’t lost a fight since leaving the UFC in 2024.
Since then, he’s won four fights via stoppage: two in BKFC, one in the Dirty Boxing Championship, and an exhibition boxing match under the Misfits Boxing banner.
Rothwell, 44, dominated the competition at BKFC following his UFC leave. He won the heavyweight title in his fourth bout, stopping Mick Terrill in just 36 seconds last January.
However, his incredible journey came to an end at the hands of a familiar rival.
BKFC: KnuckleMania 6 Official Results
Andrei Arlovski defeated Ben Rothwell via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) in Round 3, 1:14, for the heavyweight title.
while Lorenzo Hunt was defeated. David Mundell by knockout—Round 4, 0:29
John Garbarino defeated Kaine Tomlinson Jr. via TKO (referee stoppage) in Round 5, at 0:49. Ben Bonner prevails.
Tony Soto received a unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 49-46). Patrick Brady defeats…
Bear Hill received a unanimous decision (50-42, 50-41, 49-43). Jade Masson-Wong was defeated.
Crystal Pittman received a unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45).
Mike Richman prevailed. Joe Elmore received a majority decision (47-47, 48-46, 49-46).
Bitcoin has lost more than 20% of its value in the last week alone due to market uncertainty.
Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao generated a storm of reactions on Monday after tweeting “Poor again” following Bitcoin’s drop to $60,000 in early Asian trading hours on Friday.
The statement comes amid debate regarding Binance’s role in last weekend’s market volatility, which included a violent sell-off that briefly drove Bitcoin below $75,000.
Investors reacted strongly to CZ’s remark, highlighting retail frustration.
His answer matched the displeasure of regular investors who had incurred losses, while rumors arose that Binance may have impacted the market’s collapse.
Earlier this week, CZ responded to various allegations he branded as “pretty imaginative FUD,” denying that Binance sold $1 billion in Bitcoin to cause the sell-off and countering assertions that he single-handedly “canceled the crypto supercycle.”
He clarified that Binance’s wallet balances reflect customer deposits and withdrawals, not proprietary trading, and that the transfer of the exchange’s SAFU fund from stablecoins to Bitcoin would take place gradually over 30 days.
CZ also quipped that if he had control over the supercycle, he’d be “snapping his fingers all day long.” Regardless of these considerations, Nebraskangooner’s response highlights the continuous friction between small investors and major exchanges.
Several cryptocurrency community members also blamed Binance for last year’s October 10 crash, which resulted in the loss of billions of dollars in leveraged positions.
Following the event, industry colleagues like OKX founder Star Xu cast fingers at Binance.
Dismantling fake accounts.
The former Binance CEO finally shut down a long-running misinformation campaign against him and the exchange. The effort focused on a phony account called “Wei 威 BNB,” which acted as a dedicated supporter but shared critical content about Binance.
The account, which had 863,000 followers and featured photographs from a BNB Chain event, initially appeared real.
CZ, on the other hand, disclosed that images of himself and Binance CEO Yi He had been manipulated, with one image showing him wearing a shirt color he does not possess.
The account’s history also indicated that it had been hacked or sold, as it had previously only posted female photographs until abruptly moving to crypto content in 2015.
CZ described the campaign as “lazy” and speculated that it was likely launched by a competitor who was more concerned with harming Binance than with running their own business.
Trump establishes the TrumpRx prescription medicine website
Trump establishes the TrumpRx prescription medicine website
The rates would reflect concessions agreed upon by the White House with more than a dozen pharma companies as part of the “most favored nation” program.
On Thursday night, President Donald Trump launched TrumpRx, a government website targeted at lowering the cost of drugs for Americans.
“This is a very big deal,” Trump stated on February 5 at a White House event.
Standing at a podium with TrumpRx.gov in the background, the president went over a list of prescriptions that he claimed would be cheaper, including fertility, insulin, and weight reduction pills. The website began with almost 40 drugs.
Trump was joined by Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; and Joe Gebbia, Director of the National Design Studio. Gebbia, Airbnb’s co-founder, demonstrated the new website to Oz, a former television program host, during the infomercial-style event.
Trump establishes the TrumpRx prescription medicine website
Gebbia presented the site’s functionality on a display screen, displaying a fertility medicine with an 83% discount and asking, “Now, how do I get this discount?” Oz suggested that consumers can print coupons from the website or add them to their digital wallet.
” Mr. President, one in three families is having trouble having a baby: we’re going to have a lot of Trump babies with these costs,” he warned Trump.
Trump positioned the website as an important new resource for customers as he faced pressure to address cost-of-living concerns.
The prices would reflect discounts negotiated by the White House with over a dozen drug companies, including Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Genentech, Gilead, GSK, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and Sanofi, as part of the “most favored nation” drug pricing agreements.
Who will utilize TrumpRx?
Most working-age Americans receive health insurance and prescription medication coverage through their workplace.
Consumers who purchase Affordable Care Act insurance, as well as older persons and low-income families enrolled in government health insurance programs like Medicare and Medicaid, generally receive prescription discounts through their insurance policies.
However, uninsured Americans sometimes have to pay for prescription prescriptions out of pocket.
Consumer websites such as GoodRx and entrepreneur Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs provide discounted prescription drugs to customers.
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly offer popular weight-loss drugs through their own pharmacies, chain stores, and bargain websites.
To purchase the medications, consumers must first obtain a prescription from a healthcare physician.
The IRS advises tax filers: Set up an online account now—and Trump's greater SALT break may impact refunds
The IRS advises tax filers: Set up an online account now—and Trump’s greater SALT break may impact refunds
The IRS encourages taxpayers to create individual online accounts to gain access to their records and lessen the risk of identity theft.
Most federal tax returns for 2025 must be submitted by April 15. According to the IRS, using the account can help you get your return, payments, and notices faster.
A greater SALT deduction cap could benefit certain itemizers, although it is reduced for taxpayers with higher incomes.
The United States Internal Revenue Service is encouraging taxpayers to create individual online accounts, emphasizing the portal’s importance in preventing identity theft and fraud. It also provides secure, easy access to key tax records online. Irs
The drive comes as the 2026 filing season enters its initial busy phase. Most taxpayers have an April 15 deadline for returns and payments.
The IRS is again asking filers to avoid phone calls and instead use its self-service options.
This season’s tax returns show new twists in the tax system, such as an increased cap on the state and local tax deduction.
This adjustment could alter the distinction between who itemizes and who takes the standard deduction.
The IRS stated that taxpayers can access their online account to check crucial return elements such as adjusted gross income and track the processing of refunds and amended returns.
The IRS advises tax filers: Set up an online account now—and Trump’s greater SALT break may impact refunds
The organization also stated that customers can view employment and income records and create or alter payment arrangements.
The portal allows users to get an Identity Protection PIN—a code that prevents anyone else from submitting a return in your name—as well as read over 200 digital notices delivered by the IRS.
The agency also stated that the account allows users to make or cancel payments throughout the year.
The account creation process takes some time. Users must authenticate their identification using ID.me, a third-party service, and may face a video call.
Tom O’Saben, a tax expert, described the process as “relatively cumbersome,” but emphasized that it requires a small amount of pain in exchange for long-term benefits. Newsweek
ConsumerAffairs noticed the same IRS communication this week, touting the online accounts as a way to reduce fraud and expedite access to refunds and payment information during tax season.
The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, is complicating the filing season for consumers. It changes many credits and deductions, affecting 2025 tax returns. Irs
According to a Thomson Reuters tax bulletin, the state and local tax deduction threshold, known as SALT, will increase to $40,000 for the 2025 tax year.
SALT covers property taxes as well as state/local income or sales taxes. This is an increase from the $10,000 limit set by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
CPA Hilari Pickett stated that the SALT cap will be reduced to $10,000 in 2030. Thomson Reuters
High-income taxpayers will not get the full advantage.
Pickett stated that in 2025, the $40,000 maximum is reduced for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of more than $500,000, decreasing to as low as $10,000 when MAGI reaches $600,000.
CNBC said that lifting the SALT cap might “drive higher refunds,” particularly for people who itemize and pay significant property or state income taxes.
However, filers who choose the standard deduction—the flat amount most households claim rather than specifying costs on Schedule A—will miss out on this benefit.
According to CNBC, many people still use private tax preparation websites and storefronts to send W-2s and 1099s.
The IRS takes a more direct approach: access all information and notices in one location to reduce errors that could delay refunds.
However, the digital transition encounters a snag. Those who fail identification checks get stranded, and scammers frequently spoof IRS messages during filing season.
SALT regulations may encourage taxpayers to itemize unnecessarily, and the higher ceiling is due to expire later this decade.
The IRS recommended taxpayers set up their accounts well ahead of the deadline, rather than at the last minute.
Once established, users can check accounts, make payments, and track refunds without having to wait on hold.
GTA 6 marketing will begin this summer, as Take-Two confidently confirms a November release date
GTA 6 marketing will begin this summer, as Take-Two confidently confirms a November release date
Grand Theft Auto VI’s November 19, 2026, release date is approaching.
While the game has already been delayed many times, Take-Two Interactive is sounding more sure than we’ve ever heard them before that this time it’s for real.
Rockstar is so sure that it has declared that it would ramp up marketing efforts this summer.
This is based on Take-Two’s recently disclosed Q3 2026 earnings data. In those profits, Take-Two confirms that GTA 6 is still scheduled for November 19, 2026.
That would be wonderful news after two distinct delays, but what makes it even better is a statement at the bottom of the press release emailed to IGN. “By the November 19th release of Grand Theft Auto VI, with Rockstar’s launch marketing set to begin this summer.”
That sounds fairly confident to me! I asked Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick earlier today how he felt about the release date at this moment, and he said, “I feel okay about it. Very excellent about it.”
GTA 6 marketing will begin this summer, as Take-Two confidently confirms a November release date
We’ve asked Zelnick about such matters before, and he stated he felt “really good” with the originally announced fall 2025 release date, which was delayed twice.
I questioned if this time was different. He said, “Of course.” “Because any time you’re getting closer to marketing beats, you’re obviously in a place where your confidence level is as high as it can be.”
GTA 6 is one of the most anticipated games of all time, with many predicting it as a potential Game of the Year contender despite the fact that we have yet to see any gameplay footage.
Leaks and AI fakes went viral all over social media late last year, and its delays could have industry-shaking consequences. So far, we’ve seen two cinematic trailers for the game, including the dual characters Duval and Lucia Caminos, as well as the backdrop of Leonida, Florida, which includes the iconic Vice City.
Even without GTA 6, the franchise had a successful quarter. It “vastly outpaced” Take-Two’s expectations, with GTA+ membership levels practically increasing year after year.
We asked Zelnick for insight into the source of GTA 5’s strong quarter, and he referred to the Safehouse in the Hills update for GTA Online, which performed particularly well. GTA 5 has now sold more than 225 million units.
Take-Two’s net bookings were $1.76 billion for the quarter. The company is upgrading its estimates following a better-than-anticipated quarter on numerous fronts, with total annual net bookings likely to range between $6.65 billion and $6.7 billion, reflecting an 18% year-over-year increase. Take-Two anticipates nearly half of its full-year earnings, which will be reported next quarter, to come from its mobile division, Zynga.
'The Kelly Clarkson Show' Will End After 7 Seasons: 'This Was Not an Easy Decision'
‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ Will End After 7 Seasons: ‘This Was Not an Easy Decision’
Kelly Clarkson announced that she was leaving the morning talk program to focus on raising her two children, River Rose, 11, and Remy, 9, whom she had with her late ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.
Kelly Clarkson has revealed that the current season of her daytime chat program will be the last.
On February 2, the singer and presenter announced on Instagram that “The Kelly Clarkson Show” would terminate after seven seasons.
I am eternally grateful and delighted to have worked with the best band and crew you could ask for, all of the talented and amazing people who have spent their time and life with us, all of the fans who have supported our show, and NBC for always being such a supportive and incredible partner.”
She went on to remark that the staff she has worked with makes it difficult for her to leave the show.
‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ Will End After 7 Seasons: ‘This Was Not an Easy Decision’
Clarkson and her late ex-husband Brandon Blackstock have two children: 11-year-old daughter River Rose and 9-year-old son Remy.
In August 2025, Blackson’s family announced that he died at the age of 48 after a three-year fight with cancer.
Although “The Kelly Clarkson Show” is coming to an end, Clarkson made it clear to her followers that she is not saying goodbye.
At the end of her address, she said, “But for now, I want to thank y’all so much for allowing our show to be a part of your lives.”
Season 7 will continue to run new episodes until the fall of 2026, according to a press release.
The talk show’s staff and crew were informed of its cancellation on the same day Clarkson announced it to her viewers.
“The Kelly Clarkson Show” premiered in 2019 and allowed the Grammy winner to showcase both her interviewing skills and her outstanding voice, with her interviews and “Kellyoke” performances becoming viral. Throughout its tenure, the show won 24 Daytime Emmy Awards.
Punxsutawney Phil is about to announce his Groundhog Day weather verdict from Gobbler's Knob. B
Punxsutawney Phil is about to announce his Groundhog Day weather verdict from Gobbler’s Knob. B
The framework has been made for a sunrise ceremony on Monday, when international woodchuck celebrity Punxsutawney Phil will give his yearly long-term weather forecast, which might be six more weeks of winter or early spring.
Tens of thousands of people will gather at Gobbler’s Knob in rural Pennsylvania to watch this year’s prognostication, which will be given after groundhog Phil is brought to the stage from his hatch on a tree stump.
Last year’s statement was six more weeks of winter, which was Phil’s most popular estimate and came as no surprise during the first week of February.
His top-hatted handlers at the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club insist Phil’s “groundhogese” of winks, purrs, chatters, and nods are being translated when they give the meteorological marmot’s thoughts on the days ahead.
Punxsutawney Phil is about to announce his Groundhog Day weather verdict from Gobbler’s Knob. B
Groundhogs are mostly solitary creatures that emerge in midwinter to seek a mate. Phil’s failure to perceive his shadow is considered ushering in an early spring. When he sees it, there will be another six weeks of winter.
This is the first Groundhog Day for Phil’s new “zoo” at Gobbler’s Knob, where he spends time when he’s not inside his longstanding home beside the town library.
The national popularity of Groundhog Day was supercharged by the 1993 Bill Murray film of the same name. “We just like to remind people that there’s a lot of serious things in this world and this life, and Groundhog Day is not one of them,” said home appraiser Dan McGinley, a member of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle for about a decade.
Groundhog Day has also become a massive marketing success. Phil was called out for an online news conference last week, where he and a couple of tuxedo-wearing club members answered questions about the event, its history, and the planning that goes into it.
Michael Venos, a 46-year-old database administrator from Roxbury, New Jersey, has been collecting stories about Groundhog Day happenings and weather predictions for nearly a decade.
A groundhog that lived behind his childhood home became an unofficial family pet, and Venos was further motivated after witnessing the popular film.
“And then there’s the holiday’s underdog status. It’s not quite like your A-level vacation. So it appeals to me as well,” said Venos, who has counted over 300 Groundhog Day prognosticators since 1880.
Does he have his own Groundhog Day routine? Venos’ family regularly creates groundhog cupcakes, and he and his daughters hold a backyard prediction ceremony using groundhog sock puppets.
According to Venos, over 100 weather predictions were made last year alone. In addition to the many groundhogs, an armadillo, ostriches, and Nigerian dwarf goats were credited with making winter forecasts.
His website contains noteworthy names such as Cluxatawney Henrietta (New York), Lucy the Lobster (Nova Scotia), Scramble the Duck (Connecticut), and Snerd (North Carolina).
