Chris Spiker

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Chris Spiker's Contributions

Hartford, CT

On Your Side

Score Free Chipotle With Holiday Deals Throughout December: Here's How You can win free Chipotle throughout December as the chain launches a string of holiday deals. Chipotle announced its series of "Unwrap Extra" promotions at North American restaurants on Monday, Dec. 1. The "buy one, get one free" deals will give customers special deals and perks on the first three Saturdays of December. The fast-casual chain will offer a free taco entrée for anyone who purchases a three-taco order on Saturday, Dec. 6. The same BOGO deal will be available for burrito entrées on Saturday, Dec. 13. Chipotle will also celebrate "Extra Sweater Day" on Saturday, Dec. 20, w…

by Chris Spiker

12/01/2025

Allentown, PA

On Your Side

Utility Costs Surging, New Study Says: Why They May Get Worse Utility costs are rising nationwide as households face higher bills for crucial services, according to new data. doxoINSIGHTS found that Americans now spend $532 billion a year on essential utilities. The payment processing company said the median household pays $347 a month, or $4,168 a year, for their utilities. The study found that utilities now account for about 5% of annual household income. "American families are navigating a perfect storm of rising utility costs," said doxo CEO and co-founder Steve Shivers. "Sweeping infrastructure transformation and increasing e…

by Chris Spiker

11/30/2025

National Interest

Most Distracting Christmas Songs For Drivers Revealed In New Study If you don't want this to be your "Last Christmas," a new study suggests that you might want to be careful when listening to some holiday hits while driving. Bader Law released a list of the most distracting Christmas songs for drivers. The injury attorneys reviewed Spotify's top holiday tracks and found that several high-tempo hits aren't ideal for driving. According to Spotify's research, songs between 50 and 80 beats per minute (BPM) help people stay focused. Music at that slower tempo can create an "alpha state" of mind, which boosts productivity and concentration. …

by Chris Spiker

11/30/2025

National Interest

First Kiss: Scientists Trace Smooching's Origins In New Study In the words of Dua Lipa, one kiss is all it took about 21 million years ago. That's roughly when scientists estimate that kissing first emerged in the common ancestor of humans and other great apes. British researchers published their findings in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour on Wednesday, Nov. 19. The study examined mouth-to-mouth kisses broadly across primates and other animals. Kissing was defined as nonaggressive interactions with "directed, intraspecific, oral-oral contact with some movement of the lips/mouthparts and no food transfer." Dr. Matilda Brindle, the lead …

by Chris Spiker

11/30/2025

National Interest

16 People Burned By Exploding Camping Stoves, Sparking Massive Recall A popular camping stove is being recalled after more than a dozen people were hurt in fires and explosions. Walmart issued the recall for about 201,000 Ozark Trail Tabletop 1-Burner Butane Camping Stoves, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Wednesday, Nov. 26. The stoves can explode or catch fire, posing a serious burn and fire hazard. China Window Industry Co., the manufacturer based in Taiwan, has reported 26 incidents, including 16 injuries such as second-degree burns, according to the CPSC. The recalled product is the BG2247A1 model, a dark-green tabletop stove with an …

by Chris Spiker

11/30/2025

National Interest

'America-First' Fees To Charge Foreign Visitors Triple At National Parks The Trump administration is raising fees for international visitors at national parks, even as more foreign tourists avoid the US in 2025. The Department of the Interior announced the "America-first pricing" in a news release on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Starting on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, non-US residents will need to pay $250 for an annual pass, more than triple the $80 that US residents will keep paying. Foreign visitors without annual passes will have a $100-per-person fee at 11 of the most popular national parks, in addition to standard entrance fees. "These policies ensure that US taxpa…

by Chris Spiker

11/30/2025

Hartford, CT

On Your Side

Many Black Friday Deals Won't Save You Money, New Study Shows: What To Know As Americans with tighter holiday budgets search for big savings on Black Friday, new data shows that many deals might not offer real discounts. According to analysis from WalletHub, about 36% of deals won't offer any true savings compared to pre-Black Friday prices. The personal finance website also found that 85% of Americans say they plan to spend the same or less over the holidays than they did in 2024. Black Friday sales have average discounts of about 24%, with the best deals reaching 87% off. Another WalletHub study said that JCPenney is offering the biggest …

by Chris Spiker

11/28/2025

Hartford, CT

On Your Side

These Stores Offer Best Black Friday Deals, New Study Finds If you plan on waking up extra early on Black Friday, some stores will offer better deals than others. WalletHub released its 2025 study of the Best Places to Shop on Black Friday. The personal finance website reviewed more than 3,100 deals from 13 major retailers for the biggest Black Friday savings. Across all retailers, the average discount this year is 37.2%, according to the data collected through Saturday, Nov. 15. "The best Black Friday deals can save you up to 86% this year, but when you're bombarded by ads and there are so many places to shop, it can be hard to decide wh…

by Chris Spiker

11/27/2025

Elmont, NY

On Your Side

Trump Mobile's Golden Smartphones Delayed For Months After Launch, Reports Say The Trump Mobile smartphone has yet to be released nearly six months after The Trump Organization first promised a golden device made entirely in the United States. Investigations by NBC News and The Verge found that the "T1 Phone" has not been delivered after it was originally promoted with an August launch. Trump Mobile was unveiled on Monday, June 16, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of when President Donald Trump launched his first campaign. The Android phone with a US flag on the back was listed at $499. "The 47 Plan" was touted as an unlimited talk, text, and data …

by Chris Spiker

11/27/2025

National Interest

Sellers Taking Homes Off Market At Highest Rate In Years: Here's Why Homeowners are pulling their properties off the market at the fastest pace in almost a decade, according to new data. Nearly 85,000 sellers delisted their homes in September, according to data from real estate website Redfin released on Tuesday, Nov. 25. That's a 28% jump from September 2024 and the highest level for that month in eight years. Redfin said delistings have been trending upward for the last 18 months, with the sharpest rise in June 2025, when year-over-year gains reached 39%. The trend looks similar to 2022, when mortgage rates climbed and demand dropped. The increa…

by Chris Spiker

11/27/2025

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