Ohio Renaissance Festival Crowned America's #1 Renaissance Festival, Kicks Off 2026 Season September 5 The Ohio Renaissance Festival (ORF) will officially open its 2026 season on September 5, welcoming visitors to its 30-acre re-created 16th-century English village for nine weekends of entertainment, artisan shopping, and family-friendly activities. The festival, located in Waynesville, Ohio, will run from September 5 through November 1, with daily events held on Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day. Gates will open at 10:30 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. each day. This year’s season marks a significant milestone for the festival, as it was recently named the #1 Renaissance Festival in the United States by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice poll. The honor, titled “Best Renaissance Festival in the Nation,” highlights the festival’s popularity and its ability to immerse visitors in a vibrant, historically inspired environment. The event is set in the fictional Elizabethan village of Willy Nilly-on-the-Wash, where Queen Elizabeth and over 150 costumed characters will bring the 16th-century setting to life. The festival’s entertainment offerings are diverse, featuring dozens of live performances across more than 20 stages. Highlights include the adrenaline-fueled Full-Armored Tournament Joust, comedy acts, sword-fighting duels, acrobatics, and musical performances. The village also hosts a variety of costumed characters, such as knights, pirates, nobles, and jesters, who engage with guests throughout the event. The Medieval Marketplace is another key attraction, showcasing hundreds of independent artisans who sell handcrafted goods such as clothing, jewelry, pottery, weaponry, leather goods, and home décor.#usa_today #ohio_renaissance_festival #waynesville_ohio #willy_nilly_on_the_wash #dave_ashcraft
Oreo Launches Three Limited-Time Flavors, Fans Vote on Favorite Oreo has announced the release of three new limited-edition cookie flavors, giving fans the opportunity to vote on which one will be reintroduced in 2027. The brand revealed the details exclusively to USA TODAY on Thursday, August 13, stating that the flavors—Banana Pudding, Deep Fried, and Chicken & Waffles—will be available for purchase starting August 17. Customers can pre-order the packs through Oreo.com/UnwrapTheCollab and shop on TikTok Shop, with limited quantities available on SnackWorks’ TikTok storefront. The cookies will be distributed to grocery and retail stores nationwide beginning August 24, with availability limited to the duration of the promotion. Matt Foley, vice president of Oreo, emphasized the significance of the campaign in a press release, stating, “By dropping three incredibly distinct flavors at once, we are giving our community true agency to help decide the future of our product lineup. We know our fans are incredibly passionate about their favorite flavors, and we can’t wait to see which of these cookies they choose to bring back in 2027.” The decision to launch three flavors simultaneously was designed to engage the brand’s dedicated fanbase, allowing them to influence the product lineup directly. The voting process for the flavors is open from August 17 to October 12. Customers can cast their votes by scanning the QR code on any of the limited-edition packs or visiting Oreo.com/twist-lick-vote. Those who pre-order the packs or shop on TikTok Shop will receive exclusive early access to taste each flavor. Additionally, every valid vote entered into the system automatically qualifies participants for a sweepstakes, offering a chance to win a year’s supply of original Oreo cookies.#usa_today #oreo #matt_foley #tiktok_shop #snackworks
Chick-fil-A Cyberattack May Have Exposed Customer Data Chick-fil-A disclosed on Wednesday that a recent security incident may have compromised personal information linked to a limited number of customer loyalty accounts. The Atlanta-based fast-food chain informed FOX Business that it acted swiftly to secure affected accounts and notify potentially impacted customers. A company spokesperson stated, “We recently identified a security incident that may have affected a limited number of Chick-fil-A One Loyalty accounts. Upon discovering the issue, we took steps to immediately address, secure and restore accounts, and we are communicating directly with all customers who may have been impacted.” The spokesperson also expressed regret for any inconvenience or concern caused, reaffirming the company’s commitment to maintaining customer trust. The breach reportedly involved unauthorized parties targeting Chick-fil-A’s website and mobile app between June 17 and June 19. According to USA TODAY, the attackers used account credentials obtained from a third-party source to access the system. The incident affected customers in Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. Chick-fil-A notified potentially impacted customers on Monday after detecting suspicious login activity involving certain Chick-fil-A One accounts. The data potentially compromised included customers’ names, email addresses, Chick-fil-A One membership details, mobile payment numbers, the last four digits of payment cards, and the amount of Chick-fil-A credit stored in their accounts. In response, the company reset passwords for affected accounts, restored any impacted loyalty balances, and added rewards to customers’ accounts.#iowa #usa_today #chickfila #fox_business #chickfila_one_loyalty
Delta Air Lines Faces Pilot Scheduling Crisis After Weekend Flight Cancellations Delta Air Lines canceled hundreds of flights over the weekend due to persistent crew scheduling challenges, prompting the airline to apologize to passengers and outline plans to address the operational issues. Between May 2 and May 3, 2026, the airline canceled nearly 350 flights and delayed hundreds more, according to flight tracking data from FlightAware. The cancellations were attributed to staffing and scheduling problems, with Delta acknowledging the disruptions in a statement to USA TODAY. The airline emphasized that the situation was not reflective of its usual operational standards and pledged to improve reliability. An internal memo obtained by USA TODAY revealed that outdated technology and processes for pilot scheduling were central to the crisis. The memo, dated April 24, was sent by Ryan Gumm, Delta’s senior vice president of flight operations, and highlighted a significant rise in flight operations-related cancellations since 2024. The primary issue, according to Gumm, stemmed from pilot scheduling inefficiencies. The airline has increasingly relied on alternative processes to staff trips, but pilot acceptance of uncovered trips has declined in recent years. This has led to longer reassignment times when scheduled pilots are unavailable, forcing the airline to make complex scheduling decisions closer to departure times. Delta’s operational complexity has grown over the past 15 years, but the airline’s scheduling technology and processes have not kept pace. Pilots’ union representatives confirmed that scheduling has become a critical issue, with members working significant overtime to maintain flight operations.#delta_air_lines #usa_today #air_line_pilots_association #ryan_gumm #flightaware
Tommy Lloyd Ranked 10th in Pay Among 2025-26 College Basketball Coaches Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd ranked 10th among 75 public university basketball coaches in total earnings during the 2025-26 season, according to a survey by USA Today. His total compensation of $5,500,000 placed him behind top earners like Bill Self of Kansas, who topped the list with $8,853,800 in earnings. Lloyd’s salary of $5,100,000 placed him 12th, while his other pay of $400,000 ranked fifth, and his maximum bonuses of $1,260,000 placed him 10th. The survey excluded private universities, which are not required to disclose coach salaries. Lloyd’s total earnings were second in the Big XII conference, trailing only Kelvin Sampson of Houston, who earned $5,500,000. Scott Drew of Baylor followed with $5,474,290, and Lloyd secured fourth place. In the category of other pay, Lloyd ranked second in the Big XII behind Alex Jensen of Utah, who received $800,000. Meanwhile, Dan Hurley of Connecticut stood out as the only coach in the top 25 not affiliated with a Power Four football school, earning $8,025,000 in total pay. Chris Beard of Mississippi led all coaches nationally in other pay with $4,850,000, while Rick Barnes of Tennessee topped the maximum bonuses category with $3,000,000. Bobby Hurley of Arizona State ranked third nationally in maximum bonuses with $2,090,000, finishing second in the Big XII behind Tad Boyle of Colorado, who earned $1,427,500. Lloyd’s contract extension earlier this month included a $23,900,000 buyout clause, which would deter other programs from pursuing him, similar to how North Carolina avoided pursuing Hubert Davis. Lloyd’s financial incentives are tied to his performance, with another deep NCAA Tournament run expected to boost his bonuses.#kansas #bill_self #kelvin_sampson #usa_today #tommy_lloyd
Bestselling author Freida McFadden unveils her true identity in exclusive interview The acclaimed author behind the domestic thriller The Housemaid and other popular novels has finally revealed her real name to the public, ending a long-standing secret that has shaped her career. Known to readers as Freida McFadden, the writer has maintained a dual life for years, balancing her medical profession with her literary success under a pseudonym. In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY, she shared the story behind her anonymity and the decision to finally step into the spotlight. McFadden, who has built a reputation for crafting gripping tales of suspense and betrayal, has used a carefully crafted persona to protect her privacy. Her public image includes a wig, glasses, and a deliberate effort to avoid recognition. For years, she lived a life that many might describe as a "Hannah Montana"-style double existence, juggling her roles as a doctor and a bestselling author. She first began writing under the pseudonym McFadden when her medical career was still active, a choice she made to ensure her writing career did not interfere with her professional obligations. "I'm at a point in my career when I'm tired of this being a secret," McFadden said. "I'm tired of people debating if I'm a real person or if I'm three men. I am a real person and I have a real identity and I don't have anything to hide." Her revelation marks the end of a carefully maintained secret that she had kept for years, a decision she described as both liberating and necessary. Outside of the literary world, McFadden is Sara Cohen, a doctor specializing in brain disorders. Her medical career has been a cornerstone of her life, and she has always maintained a strict separation between her professional identity and her writing persona.#hospital #usa_today #freida_mcFadden #sara_cohen #the_housemaid
Internet users mocked McDonald’s CEO for his brief taste test of the Big Arch burger Social media users mocked McDonald’s CEO for his short-lived review of the Big Arch burger, questioning whether he actually took a full bite. Comments on the post included jokes about the size of his first bite, with one user quipping, “That was the smallest first bite I’ve ever seen.” Others speculated about the CEO’s ability to fully experience the burger’s flavor. Singer and actress Christina Millian offered a more positive take, calling the burger a “guilty pleasure” in a separate comment. Meanwhile, USA TODAY attempted the Big Arch burger and shared its own evaluation, with the CEO stating, “You want to be hungry when you order one of these,” during his taste test. The full review was linked at the top of the story. The Big Arch burger, a new addition to McDonald’s menu, is set to debut in U.S. restaurants this week. The product, which features a unique arch-shaped design, has generated significant online buzz. While some critics remain skeptical about its taste and value, others have embraced it as a novelty item. The burger’s release marks a bold move for the fast-food giant, aiming to attract attention with its unconventional appearance. McDonald’s has not yet released official details about the burger’s ingredients or pricing, but the company has emphasized its focus on innovation. The Big Arch’s debut comes amid increasing competition in the burger market, with rivals introducing similarly themed products. Despite the mixed reactions, the burger’s visual appeal has sparked widespread discussion, highlighting the growing role of social media in shaping consumer perceptions of new food items.#fast_food #mcdonalds #big_arch_burger #christina_millian #usa_today
