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No more birthday freebies: Why some companies are reining in their customer rewards programs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:41 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Reward programs, including birthday freebies and discounts, have long been a way for brands to build loyalty and incentivize spending. But now some companies are becoming a bit more stingy — and customers are taking notice.Last fall, for example, many balked at Dunkin’s decision to stop offering a free drink on their birthday and instead give them triple loyalty points on their purchase. On June 1, Sephora started requiring a $25 minimum purchase for online customers looking to claim a free gift and 250 loyalty points during their birthday month. And Red Robin added a dine-in only and $4.99 minimum purchase requirement for customers to get their free birthday burger.Changes to birthday rewards or redemption requirements aren't new. Starbucks, which gives its rewards members a free drink or food item for their birthdays, progressively limited the timeframe for redeeming that gift over the years — from 30 days, to one week, to four days and, finally, to jus...

Carousel Lounge celebrates 60 years in Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Carousel Lounge celebrated 60 years in Austin Friday.While the city has grown, the owner said the vibe inside the lounge is still the same. It is known as a bar and wine hangout with live music.Carousel is family owned. Nicki Mebane said her parents opened the lounge in 1963.“I never thought I would be running a bar. My expertise was in banking, but you love the people and the customers,” Mebane said. “It’s a labor of love. It was something I never envisioned myself doing, but you come to love the people and the musicians, and basically, they are the ones that keep it doing.”Carousel Lounge celebrates 60th anniversary (KXAN Photo/Jake Sykes) Carousel Lounge celebrates 60th anniversary (KXAN Photo/Jake Sykes) Carousel Lounge celebrates 60th anniversary (KXAN Photo/Jake Sykes) Carousel Lounge celebrates 60th anniversary (KXAN Photo/Jake Sykes) Carousel Lounge celebrates 60th anniversary (KXAN Photo/Jake Sykes) Carousel Lounge celebrates 60th anniversary (KXAN Photo...

RB Javonte Williams expects to be cleared for training camp, wants to play in Week 1: “It’s up to the Broncos”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:41 GMT

Javonte Williams is ready to play.During the Broncos running back’s youth football camp, which he co-hosted with cornerback Pat Surtain II on Sunday morning at Bear Creek High School, Williams said he expects to be cleared for training camp, avoiding the physically-unable-to-perform list after suffering a season-ending torn ACL in October.When asked if he would suit up in Denver’s Week 1 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 10, Williams said it’s up to the Broncos.“You know I want to play,” he said.Williams provided optimism in his recovery process when he participated in OTAs and minicamp less than eight months after injuring his right knee in the third quarter of a Week 4 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Although he wasn’t involved in team scrimmages during the media viewing period, Williams moved around well during drills.“It felt good (being on the field),” Williams said. “I’m just doing everything (the Broncos) have asked me to do. Hopefully, everything continues ...

One killed in early morning Denver shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:41 GMT

One person was killed in an early morning shooting in west Denver Sunday, according to Denver police.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | One killed in Denver traffic crash Crime and Public Safety | Denver police investigating Saturday morning homicide Crime and Public Safety | Twitter limits that snarled NWS July Fourth storm-tracking raise public safety concerns Crime and Public Safety | Motorcyclist dies after being shot, crashing on I-70 Crime and Public Safety | 3 years after Colorado’s landmark police accountability bill, what’s changed? And has push for further reform slowed? The shooting happened at 1:36 a.m. in the 1200 block of North Yates Street, Sgt. David Abeyta said. The gender and age of the victim have not been released.Abeyta could not provide additional information about the attack on Sunday.ALERT:#DPD is investigating a shooting in the 1200 block of N. Yates St. One vi...

Second pedestrian killed by hit-and-run in San Jose this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:41 GMT

A woman was hit and killed by a car in South San Jose Saturday night, according to police. It’s the second pedestrian death in the city in just three days.The accident reportedly occurred around 9:45 p.m. near the intersection of East Capitol Expressway and Monterey Highway.The woman was brought to a nearby hospital, where she later died. Police say the collision is being investigated as a hit-and-run.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | San Jose: Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run collision Crashes and Disasters | Two-car rollover crash in Antioch kills 20-year-old woman Crashes and Disasters | Girl running on Highway 101 was fatally struck; her father is charged with murder Crashes and Disasters | Warrant issued for suspect in fatal Richmond hit-and-run Crashes and Disasters | Driver killed in Highway 242 crash is identified The westbound section of East Capitol Expressway between Snell Ave and Seven ...

VIDEO: Over 100 people arrested after Dolores Park riot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:41 GMT

(KRON) -- A portion of Dolores Street was closed near Dolores Park on Saturday evening, and police say it was in reaction to a non-sanctioned skateboarding event which turned into a riot. 12 people rescued by water in separate incidents due to high winds near San Francisco A total of 32 adults and 81 minors were arrested in connection to a riot that broke out near the park. SFPD worked with other city agencies to handle the "unpermitted and non-sanctioned" event. Additional officers were assigned to the area to address public safety, and barricades were put in place in preparation for the event, police said. Around 6:15 p.m. a large group of people with skateboards gathered in and around Dolores Park. Police say crowd members began lighting fireworks in the area of Cumberland and Dolores streets. Some residents in the area were escorted to their homes because they were "afraid for their safety" police said.Just after 7 p.m., a man approached a police sergeant before allegedly sp...

Braves ace Max Fried makes rehab start at Triple-A Gwinnett, first appearance since May 5

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:41 GMT

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried threw 35 pitches over 1 1/3 scoreless innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday — his first appearance in more than two months.Fried, runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award in 2022, has been on the 60-day injured list recuperating from a strained left forearm. His expected return after the All-Star break would further bolster a team that already has baseball’s best record. Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder have helped to fill the void in the rotation, both earning their first selections to the All-Star Game.Fried was 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA in five starts before he experienced pain in his forearm during a May 5 appearance against Baltimore. The Braves have been overly cautious in his rehab, focusing on getting Fried fully healthy for the second half of the season.He started for Atlanta’s suburban affiliate against the Omaha Storm Chasers, throwing 18 of 35 pitches for strikes. The lefty allowed one hit, walked two and struck ou...

Woods secures big win at top of famed Tour de France mountain as Pogacar closes gap on Vingegaard

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:41 GMT

PUY DE DOME, France (AP) — On the same mountain where five-time Tour de France champion Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor wrote themselves into race history 59 years earlier, all eyes Sunday were on Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar’s continued rivalry at cycling’s biggest race. Neither Vingegaard nor Pogacar finished first at the summit of the Puy de Dome after Canadian Michael Woods delivered an impressive solo effort to claim the biggest success of his career.But the fierce rivals, riding well behind the day’s breakaway they had allowed to form, were again in the spotlight.The two have been in a fierce duel since the start in Bilbao, Spain, of this year’s pulsating Tour and will certainly enjoy Monday’s first rest day. Vingegaard, the defending champion from Denmark after he dethroned Pogacar last year, had the upper hand in the first round of their battle in altitude. His Slovenian rival responded in style to regain time in the next two mountain stag...

Max Verstappen takes 6th straight F1 win at British GP after epic fight for 2nd

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:41 GMT

SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — On a day when Brad Pitt joined the Formula One grid to shoot his new movie, defending champion Max Verstappen was reduced to a cameo role in his own win with F1 fans gripped by the fight for second place.Apart from losing the lead to Lando Norris at the start — and then taking it back — Verstappen’s cruise on Sunday to yet another win — his sixth in a row — lacked the Hollywood-style drama of Norris’ battle with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton for second.That fits a pattern this season of dominant wins for the Red Bull driver and increasingly hard-fought battles behind him as Mercedes, Ferrari, Aston Martin and now McLaren jostle to be the second-fastest team.“It’s very confusing, to be honest, because every single race it’s someone else,” Verstappen said.Filming for Pitt’s upcoming F1-themed movie had been taking place all weekend around the F1 sessions, using black-and-gold cars from the fictional APX team. Pitt hi...

Stormy weather alters Seattle’s travel plans for 1-hour flight to Washington

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:41 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — With thunderstorms blanketing the Northeast again, the Seattle Storm had to alter their travel plans to get from New York to Washington for their game against the Mystics on Tuesday.Seattle was originally planning to fly to Washington on Sunday, but when their operations staff got to the airport ahead of the rest of the team they heard their flight was canceled because of incoming storms in the area. The next direct flight out they could get that would be able to accommodate their 24-person travel party was Wednesday — a day after the game. There were also limited seats available on Amtrak trains to Washington with it being the end of a holiday week.After checking with the bus company that the driver would be allowed to take the team to Washington, the Storm picked up their staff at LaGuardia Airport and headed south for the potentially 5-hour drive to D.C. A flight to Washington usually takes about an hour.It already had been a busy travel week for the Storm. They f...