RTD Chief of Police Steve Martingano pointed Denver7 to a growing police force, stronger fare enforcement and the addition of an in-house detective bureau as key drivers for the change.
Denver7
Steve Martingano, chief of the RTD Police Department.
“One of our big wins [in 2025] was our formation of our detective unit,” Martingano said. “We had to rely a lot on our outside police agencies … having our own detective unit has been really beneficial.”
Martingano said increased fare checks not only help recover revenue, but also boost visibility and officer presence.
“By having individuals check fare, we’re having more visibility on our trains and our buses, on our platforms, so you’re seeing a lot more of our security and police personnel that are out there,” he said. “Our criminal incidents, and our drug incidents have gone down. And I think a lot of that, again, is, you know, if you have somebody in uniform, they’re there within the system, people are going to be less likely to … engage in that type of behavior.”
RTD
RTD Police Department’s monthly activity report for January 2025.
RTD reported year-over-year decreases in security-related calls for almost every month of 2025, with the most recent data available through November 2025. Drug-related incidents dropped an average of 58% over the past year.
In 2026, RTD plans to open two new police substations — one in Boulder and one in south Denver — aimed at cutting incident response times.
“We’re going to try these two substations, and I’m sure we’re going to see a huge success. So that will give us the opportunity to move to other areas,” Martingano said.
Frequent rider Frederic Moreno said past trips sometimes meant delays caused by disruptive passengers.
“You work a long day and you’re trying to go home, and then the train has to stop and let everybody out because somebody’s doing something they’re not supposed to be doing,” he said.
Denver7
RTD rider Frederic Moreno.
Moreno said more officers on trains have made a difference for him and others.
“It’s peace of mind,” he said. “Yeah. I can feel safer on the train … I think they’re getting the idea, you know, more security, more cops around Union Station.”
RTD is also encouraging riders to download and use its “Transit Watch” app to report crimes or safety concerns in real time. Officials say those tips help them respond faster and improve security across the system.
Related coverage:
Denver7
Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Colin Riley
Denver7’s Colin Riley is a multimedia journalist who tells stories impacting all of Colorado’s communities, but specializes in reporting on transportation and our state’s population of older adults. If you’d like to get in touch with Colin, fill out the form below to send him an email.
H-E-B announced in July it will build a second grocery store in Fort Worth.
H-E-B newsroom
Our Star-Telegram newsroom published nearly 8,000 stories this year, not to mention more than 2,000 photos and videos.
But these 25 stories were among those that resonated with our readers the most.
Take a look back at our top headlines of 2025 — and thank you for reading the Star-Telegram!
Kneeland’s death on Nov. 5 sent shockwaves through the league and reminded us of the struggles so many people face with mental health. Star-Telegram Cowboys reporter Nick Harris remembered conducting Kneeland’s first interview after he was a second-round draft pick.
“If today teaches us anything,” Harris wrote after Kneeland’s death, “it’s that this life we live is so very precious. Things like an underperforming defense or a sub-.500 record going into the bye week feel so trivial now. Somewhere amid all of that noise, there was a person struggling, and that person is no longer with us.”
A Dallas Cowboys warmup shirt honoring Marshawn Kneeland. Ian Maule Getty Images
Reporter Brayden Garcia has written hundreds of headlines about the popular Taylor Sheridan TV series — from one-on-one interviews with the actors to all the Fort Worth scenes and cameos that appear in episodes. His stories are among the Star-Telegram’s most-read this year.
“Say this much for Joe Biden’s farewell address to the nation Wednesday,” wrote Opinion editor Ryan J. Rusak on Jan. 17. “It neatly reflected the failure and incoherence of his miserable four-year presidency.”
President Joe Biden delivers his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on Jan. 15, 2025. Mandel NGAN
Texas lawmakers say squatting has become a growing problem, frustrating owners and leaving police with few options. Gov. Greg Abbott signed two new laws this summer that make it easier to clear squatters from private property and add tougher penalties for fraud and trespassing.
David Zalubowski McClatchy Media file photo
On Sept. 24, a sniper opened fire on ICE agents and detainees outside a facility near downtown Dallas. Two people were killed before the shooter turned his gun on himself.
FBI agents at the scene where a shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility occurred in Dallas on Sept. 24, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
A passenger who said she fainted because of a lack of oxygen on a flight that made two emergency landings filed a negligence lawsuit against Fort Worth-based American Airlines. “I now have massive anxiety towards flying,” she said.
American Airlines ground workers at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Max Faulkner Star-Telegram
President Trump made history as the first sitting commander-in-chief to attend a Super Bowl. His military salute to the flag during the national anthem got the attention of viewers who wondered whether presidents are supposed to do that. Service journalist Tiffani Jackson provided the answer.
President Donald Trump with New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson, left, and Ivanka Trump, right, during the national anthem at Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
A North Texas bakery went viral after selling cookies depicting Washington National Cathedral’s Bishop Mariann Budde, who pleaded with President Trump to have mercy in a Jan. 21 sermon. “What she did was legendary,” baker Haley Popp said. “People need to see that, so putting her face on a cookie, it served that purpose.”
Haley Popp, the owner of Flower Mound’s Hive Bakery, poses in her shop. Courtesy of Hive Bakery
As the WNBA expands and more money pours in, there will be a push for players to have the ability to leave college early, wrote sports columnist Mac Engel on March 21.
“Hailey Van Lith is your case study example of why a player should stay in school for as long as humanly possible. A.) It’s the best time of your life. B.) A player, like Van Lith, can make considerably more money as a college player than as a pro,” Engel wrote.
Hailey Van Lith with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the 11th overall pick by the Chicago Sky during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025. Elsa TNS
A new H-E-B always gets readers’ attention, as did this announcement in July of a second H-E-B in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth’s first H-E-B, in Alliance. Tom Johanningmeier tjohanningmeier@star-telegram.com
There’s no slowing down in Fort Worth’s booming film and TV industry, wrote Brayden Garcia, our service journalist and expert in all things Taylor Sheridan. In August, we learned that we’ll soon be home to the largest production studio in Texas.
A behind-the-scenes look of “Yellowstone” filming at Billy Bob’s Texas. Courtesy of Billy Bob’s Texas
Our stories explaining various Texas laws regarding roads, highways and driving always resonate with readers, including this one.
Traffic on Interstate 35 West near the Heritage Trace Parkway overpass on July 5, 2025. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
The saga of Gov. Greg Abbott’s push for school vouchers came to an end in May when he signed the bill he had long strong-armed lawmakers to adopt. The Star-Telegram’s Eleanor Dearman, who covers state politics from Austin, wrote about every twist and turn, including when these Tarrant County Republicans pleaded to kill the bill.
Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Fort Worth brothers granted clemency by Trump after 30 years
Decades after they were sentenced to life in prison on drug-related charges, two Fort Worth brothers were freed in May by President Trump.
Brothers Edward and Joe Sotelo with former congresswoman Kay Granger at their family’s restaurant, Tia’s On The Bluff. Tia’s On The Bluff via Facebook
He spent $20K fixing up his Fort Worth home. City hall told him to tear it up
This story about a hard-working handyman who learned the hard way about city regulations and permitting got a lot of attention.
Rodolfo Martinez extended the driveway and built a fence surrounding of his new Carver Heights home to provide more parking space for his work vehicles as well as a safe place for his 5-year-old old son to play. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
The Texas legislature passed a sweeping ban on consumable hemp products in May, but Gov. Greg Abbott took his time in deciding whether to sign the bill or veto it. He did the latter, and issued a more regulatory approach through an executive order.
Gummies have become a popular consumable hemp product since a 2019 Texas law legalized the cultivation of hemp. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Thousands of North Texans in June filled courthouse squares and parks, marched on downtown streets or held up signs along sweltering highways as part of the nationwide “No Kings” rallies in protest of Trump administration policies.
On a day of celebration in Washington for the Army’s 250th birthday, including the largest military parade in the nation’s capital since 1991, the No Kings demonstrations were billed as peaceful displays of dissent.
A crowd during the “No Kings Day” protest in downtown Fort Worth on June 14, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
‘New Texas town’: 5,000-acre development south of Fort Worth hits big milestone
Reporter Elizabeth Campbell gave us an update in August on a massive master planned community taking shape in far southern reaches of Grand Prairie, just southeast of Mansfield.
It is just one of several mega-developments in the pipeline on our side of the Metroplex, from the Azle area in southern Denton County to Walsh west of Fort Worth.
The “downtown” area of Goodland, a 5,000-acre master planned community on the southern edge of Grand Prairie Provident
Why a Texas Longhorns legend chose Fort Worth to set up his post-NFL life
For every college football coach in America, Colt McCoy should be studied on “How To Football,” wrote sports columnist Mac Engel in January.
Earned a scholarship at the University of Texas. Sat behind Vince Young. Excelled when given the chance. Made an NFL roster for 12 years. Retired with his health, and head, intact to have a life when his game ended. Saved his money. Add, “Using his name/fame that came from success in football to propel a new career.”
Former University of Texas Longhorn and long time NFL quarterback Colt McCoy has retired and resides in Fort Worth where he is starting his own real estate company. Photo provided by Slater Strategies
This Fort Worth soul food restaurant is now a national culinary landmark
Drew’s Place Restaurant has been a fixture in the Como neighborhood since 1991, serving up fried chicken, spicy catfish and smothered pork chips to its loyal customers. (Our readers voted it “Best fried chicken in Fort Worth” in 2022.)
In August, the Star-Telegram’s Kamal Morgan reported that Drew’s Place was named one of 50 U.S. historic small restaurants that will receive $50,000 from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Drew Thomas holds up a fried chicken plate at Drew’s Place on Horne Street in Fort Worth. Yffy Yossifor yyossifor@star-telegram.com
Reporter Matt Adams uncovered quite of a bit of drama in this story about City Market in Burleson, pitting shopper against shopper over who is to blame for the store’s demise.
Burleson’s independent grocery store City Market. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Mycayla Orona cleans a table in the dining room during the post lunch rush at Buffalo Bros restaurant near TCU in Fort Worth on Dec. 3, 2025. Christopher Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Remember when a carton of eggs was $6 or more in February — if the shelves weren’t empty? With out-of-control prices, we found that our local egg farmers were doing brisk business. (And their eggs taste much better!).
Michael Jimenez, owner of JMZ Farms, stands among his hundreds of hens and guard dog Apollo on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, near Bridgeport in Wise County. The farm offers a subscription-based service for pasture-raised eggs available to costumers throughout Dallas-Fort Worth. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
New owner to reopen ‘Christmas wonderland’ restaurant Campo Verde
Eats Beat columnist Bud Kennedy reported in February that Arlington chef “Moose” Benhamacht would remodel and reopen Campo Verde, the landmark restaurant attraction known for its thousands of Christmas lights.
It wouldn’t last. The restaurant closed Dec. 24. Benhamacht said he plans to reopen in 2026 as a completely different concept.
A arch of holiday lights greets customers returning to Campo Verde, now a general bar-and-grill in a location long known as a “Christmas wonderland” Mexican restaurant. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
Finding a snake in a garage, toilet or under the foundation of an old house is common because those are the places most rodents tend to be. Handout Big Country Snake Removal
This story was originally published December 31, 2025 at 3:08 PM.
Matt Leclercq is senior managing editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He previously was an editor at USA Today in Washington, national news editor at Gatehouse Media in Austin, and executive editor of The Fayetteville (NC) Observer. He’s a New Orleans native.
2026 is only hours away and before it arrives, a lot of people will look in the rearview mirror and ask the question, “What was my favorite part of 2025?”
2026 is only hours away and before it arrives, a lot of people will look in the rearview mirror and ask the question, “What was my favorite part of 2025?”
WTOP asked tourists and locals on the National Mall that question and even with the extremely cold weather, people smiled as they looked back over the last 12 months.
Not all of us would call the same thing a highlight, but few of us wouldn’t agree that Amrita, who was visiting from California, shouldn’t truly be proud of her 2025.
“Starting med school,” said Amrita.
She did confirm that her family was incredibly happy, just like the mother of Warrenton, Virginia’s Meredith Wayland.
The 22-year-old said her highlight of 2025 was her summer internship.
“It was with the Cape Cod Baseball League,” said Wayland.
“The best part of 2025 is the success of my children,” said Meredith’s mom. “Her finding the college that she is at now. Third time’s charm.”
Meredith’s sister started her freshman year at VCU.
Leon was visiting the World War II Memorial and told WTOP that he was visiting from northern Germany.
“My highlight was visiting New York City and Washington, D.C.,” said Leon. “I wanted to come with my mother, but she’s sick and she can’t fly, so I’m doing it for her and sending her all the greatest pics.”
Not far from Leon was 17-year-old Isabelle, who is visiting the nation’s capital from New Jersey.
Isabelle, along with her mother and 10-year-old brother, headed to the Lincoln Memorial and she stopped and said what she would remember about 2025.
“I did my last MMA tournament,” said Isabelle.
Yes, Isabelle did confirm she was talking about the ground and pound world of Mixed Martial Arts. She’s been practicing since she was three years old.
“I’ve been doing it for 14 years,” said Isabelle. “We just walked into the place on accident, and ever since I just kept going.”
Move over ballet, Isabelle would rather do MMA.
Thanks to being from New Jersey, Isabelle and her family seemed prepared for chilly windy temps, unlike Mason and Stephanie.
The two from Orlando, Florida, walked across the street from the Washington Monument side of the National Mall toward the Lincoln Memorial as they stopped to chat with WTOP.
“We got a dog named Lancelot,” said Mason. “He was a Craigslist puppy.”
“He’s so smart, and I know he would love to be here. We want to bring him next time we want to drive up,” said Stephanie.
Before you roll your eyes and doubt that a Florida dog could handle the cold temps we have been dealing with over the last couple of days, you should know that Lancelot is part Husky and part Rottweiler.
While Orlando does sound like it would be nice and toasty, it’s only going to reach 56 degrees today, which is not as warm as the place Northern Virginia’s Lakshmi listed as her favorite part of the year.
“I went to go to Costa Rica with my friends,” said Lakshmi. “It was really fun.”
Lakshmi was playing tour guide in D.C. with friends from California, including Aditi, who said her highlight was passing the PhD qualifying exam.
Along with the ladies was their friend Arti, whose highlight of 2025 is something a lot of us can relate to.
“Just getting through it,” laughed Arti.
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Hayley Williams has truly become a star in 2025. This year highlights her full potential: from launching her own label and music to standout collaborations, activism, and the ongoing success of Good Dye Young. Hayley is continuously reaching new heights.
We here at The Honey Pop love Hayley and want to share what she’s been up to in 2025. She’s been very busy, so enjoy!
Independent Label: Post Atlantic
We obviously have to start with her independent label, Post Atlantic. Post Atlantic comes, as its name suggests, after she left Atlantic Records in 2023. Her first project with her brand new label is our favorite album of the year, Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party. Now it’s not just Hayley and Post Atlantic; Secret Disruption has joined them on their journey to support the album’s physical and digital distribution and marketing. We’re so happy for Hayley and wish her and Post Atlantic all the best, because from what we’ve seen, the album rollout was truly iconic.
Third Solo Album: Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party
Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party is Hayley’s third solo album, and first from her independent label, Post Atlantic, and it really started with a bang. The very first track, fans had heard, ‘Mirtazapine,’ actually came as a surprise drop on a Nashville radio show, and that was just the beginning. After that, if you were a lucky fan who had purchased Hayley’s new drop with Good Dye Young (her hair product company), you received a digital code that let you listen to 17 new songs titled Ego. Now it didn’t stay up for long as it was quickly taken down with a Thank You message. But luckily for everyone, it was released officially on all streaming services, and we were very thankful because this album truly changed our lives.
It has 20 songs in total, and every single one stands out amongst the rest. We talked more deeply about the album in a separate article, but we’ll say time and time again: it was truly special, and Hayley dives deep into not only her own experiences but others’ as well, and she perfects it so well. You can check out Ego Death At A Bachelorette here.
Grammy Nominations
As we said, Ego Death At A Bachelorette was very special; it received four Grammy nominations! And do you remember how we said each track stands out? Well, each of the Grammy nominations came from three different tracks, so that really proves how good it is!
Best Alternative Music Album
Best Rock Song for ‘Glum’
Best Rock Performance for ‘Mirtazapine’
Best Alternative Music Performance for ‘Parachute’
Now, this isn’t the first Grammy nomination or Grammy win (we have our fingers crossed) under Hayley’s belt, so we have really high hopes for Ego Death At A Bachelorette to be a Grammy winner very, very soon.
Collabs
Hayley has had more than a couple of amazing collabs in the big year of 2025. One of our first faves is her collab of the year with Turnstile, on which she was featured on their track ‘Seein’ Stars.’ Blood Orange’s Devonté Hynes was also featured on the track, and with all of their vocals *whew* it blew us away. The following month, she teamed up with Moses Sumney for ‘I Like It I Like It,’ and we know this one also stood out for you for many reasons, including its iconic cover art. As we mentioned before, Hayley has been very busy; another amazing vocalist Hayley collabed with was Jay Som. ‘Past Lives’ has not left our playlist. Last, but not least, she and David Byrne collaborated once again, but this time on ‘Open The Door’ for the Netflix film The Twits. It’s honestly really cute, and we recommend checking out the movie.
Live Performances Galore!
Hayley did so many live performances this year, but our favorites have to be the stages she did with friends! Especially the ones she did with some of our other faves! Like Finneas, Remi Wolf, Florence Welch, Bleachers, and Jack Antonoff. We couldn’t even tell you which one stood out amongst the rest, but if we had to pick, both her and Florence complement each other’s vocals so beautifully. Don’t even get us started on the ‘Dog Days Are Over’ group performance.
Upcoming Tour
Speaking of live performances, following the release of her new album, Hayley has announced a new tour. You don’t even know how much we’ve been freaking out since the announcement. The announcement, like the album’s release, came via a surprise leak, but from our girl herself. For this tour, Hayley and her team are putting in work to make it easier for actual fans to get tickets and for scalpers to hit the road. Tickets have already gone on sale. You can get yours here. We wish you all the luck in seeing her live 🤞.
Photo Credit: Post Atlantic
This was just a couple of things Hayley Williams was up to in 2025, and all we’re thinking is, when does she even have the time?! No, but seriously, Hayley has made 2025 hers, and we couldn’t be prouder.
What was your favorite thing from Hayley Williams in 2025? Let us know in the comments down below or over on Twitter @thehoneypop, and don’t forget to talk to us on Facebook and Instagram!
This is far from a comprehensive list of New Year’s Eve parties around Orlando — it’s just the ones we were able to fit in our print edition! For more, use our online calendar listings to search by neighborhood or venue.
Arcade Time New Year’s Eve Ring in 2026 with all-night arcade access, a DJ, open bar, free valet and hors d’oeuvres till midnight. Wednesday 9 pm; Arcade Time Entertainment, 6464 International Drive; $50; 321-400-8500.
Aventura’s Rooftop New Year’s Eve Celebration Ring in the new year with the best views in Orlando. 8 pm; Universal’s Aventura Hotel, 6725 Adventure Way; $286; 407-503-6000.
Black and Gold New Year’s Eve Party An intimate, all-inclusive celebration. Every attendee is guaranteed a seat and a choice of two ticket options: one to enjoy an open bar, and one for those who just want to enjoy the good vibes. 5 pm; Zymarium Meadery, 1121 N. Mills Ave.; $45-$190; 407-801-9087.
Casino Royale: New Year’s Eve Party Ring in 2026 with casino-style gaming and prizes, dancing, a champagne toast, and ball drop at midnight. The rooftop party of the year. 9 pm; AC Sky Bar, 323 S. Garland Ave.; $103.22.
Countdown 2026: A Black Tie Affair 9 pm; Fixtion, 15 N. Orange Ave.; free-$343; 407-269-5833; fixtionorlando.com.
Eternal NYE Zed’s Dead, Liquid Stranger, Inzo, Eazybaked and more. 2 pm; Orlando Amphitheater, Central Florida Fairgrounds, 4603 W. Colonial Drive; $279-$1,500; 407-295-3247.
Go VIP for NYE Seven rooms, six dance floors, two levels, 30-plus VIP sections and more than 28 bartenders. 10 pm; The Social, 54 N. Orange Ave.; $220; 407-246-1419.
Kings New Year’s Eve Party This premium destination known for combining dining, gaming and nightlife is offering a fun-filled late-night end of year bash for grown-ups. 8 pm; Kings Dining and Entertainment, 8255 S. International Drive; $75; 407-363-0200.
Limewired NYE: The Ultimate Dance Party 8 pm; House of Blues, Disney Springs, Lake Buena Vista; $21-$63; 407-934-2583.
Mix Into ’26 DJ Icey, Kimball Collins, Atnarko, Lola B and braindusted. 8 pm; Iron Cow, 2438 E. Robinson St.; $36.70-$617.
New Year’s Eve Our musicians will perform today’s top hits, party classics and song requests from the audience nonstop. Meet us under the disco ball as the music vibes you into 2026. 7 pm; Howl at the Moon Orlando, 8815 International Drive; $75-$150; 407-354-5999.
New Year’s Eve 2025: Neon Nights Enzian is heading down to South Beach to ring in the new year! Join us as we throw it all the way back to the neon-lined streets of 1985, Miami Vice style. Pass the Aqua Net and stun the crowds with big hair and even bigger shoulder pads for a chance at winning our audience favorite costume contest. Sip on champagne or a one-of-a-kind cocktail at the open bar, enjoy delectable passed hors d’oeuvres, and dance your way into the new year under lights so bright, you’ll need to wear your sunglasses at night. 8 pm; Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland; $99-$695; 407-629-0054.
New Year’s Eve 2025 with Headliner Jesus Montanez Ring in 2026 with Japanese Midnight, a neon-filled New Year’s Eve celebration featuring global powerhouse DJ Jesús Montañez. Expect red lanterns, Tokyo-inspired energy, champagne, and a massive countdown moment. Orlando’s LGBTQ community finally gets the NYE event it deserves. Do not miss it. 8 pm; Anthem Orlando, 100 N. Orange Ave.; free-$40; 407-279-0609.
New Year’s Eve Block Party Hosted by your favorite local bars, the Thornton Park NYE Street Party features DJs spinning all night long, cocktails, food vendors, dancing and Orlando’s Orange Ball Drop at midnight. 7:30 pm; Thornton Park District, 10 N. Summerlin Ave.; $41.74.
New Year’s Eve: An Intimate VIP Experience Strict dress code: cocktail attire/creative black tie. 9:30 pm; The Abbey, 100 S. Eola Drive; $25; 407-704-6261.
New Year’s Eve at Tori Tori Ring in 2026 with an open bar featuring select cocktails, draft beers, house wines and champagne. Featuring DJ Ricky Rico, elevated hors d’oeuvres, live stream of Times Square countdown, toast at midnight, 360-degree photobooth and more. 8:30 pm; Tori Tori, 720 N. Mills Ave.; $130-$210.
New Year’s Eve Ball Celebrate the New Year in true German-American style. Enjoy your favorite tunes performed live by the popular dance band Europa. 7 pm; German American Society of Central Florida, 381 Orange Lane, Casselberry; $53.60-$90.35; 407-834-0574.
New Year’s Eve Bash with Tim Cappello, Super Passive, and DJ Smilin’ Dan Lost Boys-themed New Year’s Eve bash with Tim Cappello, Super Passive and DJ Smilin’ Dan at Will’s Pub. Come dressed like the movie, ring in the new year and enjoy a free champagne toast at midnight. 8 pm; Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave.; $20.
New Year’s Eve Bōnenkai Party Celebrate Bōnenkai, meaning “Forget the Previous Year” in Japanese, and welcome 2026 in style! Enjoy breathtaking rooftop views of the Orlando skyline and a dazzling 180-degree fireworks display. Dance the night away into the new year. This event is for guests ages 21 and older. 8 pm; JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa, 14900 Chelonia Parkway; $285; 407-919-6300.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks & Fizz Ring in the New Year in elegant style by joining an exclusive VIP party in The Lobby Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando. Dance the night away to the rock band from Brocato Entertainment and enjoy exclusive seating in the sundeck. Includes a Belvedere 10 martini upon arrival, a bottle of Dom Perignon Luminous and seafood tower. 7 pm; Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes Resort, 4012 Central Florida Parkway; $1,000; 407-206-2400.
NYE Live Live! at Pointe Orlando will welcome 2026 with a multi-venue bash complete with party favors, high-energy DJs, a champagne toast and a ball drop at midnight. Explore Palm Tree Club, Shark Bar, PBR Cowboy Bar and Still Lounge by Dre & Snoop, or upgrade your ticket to add all-inclusive drinks, gourmet food stations and more at Sports & Social. 8 pm; Pointe Orlando, 9101 International Drive; $40.65; 610-215-7939.
New Year’s Eve Masquerade Ball Ring in the New Year with an air of mystery and luxury at the exclusive Masquerade Ball in the Bösendorfer Lounge at the Grand Bohemian. 9 pm; Bösendorfer Lounge, Grand Bohemian Hotel, 325 S. Orange Ave.; $150-$450; 407-313-9000.
New Year’s Eve Party at the Palace Our adults-only New Year’s Eve celebration will be an unforgettable experience filled with elegance, entertainment and indulgence. Enjoy panoramic views of Universal Epic Universe from Bar Helios, the stylish rooftop lounge on the 10th floor of Universal Helios Grand Hotel. 7 pm; Universal Helios Grand Hotel, 8505 S. Kirkman Road; $303; 689-218-1000.
New Year’s Eve With Nat Zegree Rock & roll into New Year’s Eve with showman extraordinaire Nat Zegree. With his signature charm and one-of-a-kind talent, Nat takes audiences on a musical journey through rock history with the songs you love from legends like Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Elton John, Billy Joel, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. 7 & 9:30 pm; Judson’s Live, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave.; $104.60-$148.60; 407-358-6603.
New Year’s Eve Bash 2026 With the Silver Lining. 9 pm; Tuffy’s Music Box, 200 Myrtle Ave., Sanford; $25.
NYE Glow Night A full-venue glow party: DJ, pickleball, food and immersive experiences all night long. 8 pm; Crush Yard, 7840 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee; $85; 321-888-2913.
NYE Party with Madam Drink and dance local with open bar from 8 pm to midnight. 7 pm; Cafe DaVinci, 112 W. Georgia Ave., DeLand; $40-$50; 386-873-2943.
Pink Pony Club: New Year’s Eve Saddle up for the wildest New Year’s Eve in town as Tin Roof transforms into the Pink Pony Club — a glitter-soaked celebration where country meets club and midnight magic reigns supreme. Kick off 2026 with live performances by SideQuest and Actual Bank Robbers, or dance into the new year with a high-energy set from DJ El Cumacho in the Green Room. 5 pm; Tin Roof, 8371 International Drive; $29.50; 407-270-7926.
Ring in the Flavor: NYE Dinner Indulge in a festive prix fixe menu curated by award-winning Chef Eddie Nickell, paired with our elegant ambience and exceptional service. 5 pm; Bites and Bubbles, 1618 N. Mills Ave.; $68; 407-270-5085.
Ring in the New Year at Asian Lantern Festival Ring in 2026 during family-friendly countdowns at 7 and 8 p.m., enjoy a live DJ and enjoy dozens of larger-than-life, handcrafted lanterns. 5:30 pm; Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, 3755 W. Seminole Blvd., Sanford; $27; 407-323-4450.
Rocking New Year 2026 As the clock ticks closer to 12 am, partygoers gear up for a spectacular midnight fireworks display at this nonstop street party with live entertainment. Admission and parking are free. 8 pm; The Promenade at Sunset Walk, 3251 Margaritaville Blvd., Kissimmee; free; 407-338-4811.
SoulArtefacts NYE 2026 A night of sultry house vibes, disco, freestyle and beats. 8 pm; Grape and the Grain, 1110 Virginia Drive; free.
Tomorrowland New Year’s Eve Party Celebrate in pure sophistication. Step into an evening of luxury and excitement within our elegant lobby — an immersive destination filled with music, artistry and exceptional cuisine. Savor a lavish dinner buffet of chef-driven creations, enjoy captivating live entertainment, and toast to 2026 with Taittinger Champagne as the clock strikes midnight in a grand balloon-drop spectacle. 7 pm; JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa, 14900 Chelonia Parkway; $165-$275; 407-919-6300.
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“It’s a whole new generation, and I’m just excited to represent them.”
CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago officials are providing more details about this year’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” event downtown.
This year marks the first time Chicago will be featured on the iconic national broadcast, synonymous with New Year’s Eve since 1972.
Chance the Rapper, DJ Mike Dunn, DJ Mike P, J. Ivy and Shemekia Copeland are set to perform on the main stage on the corner of West Wacker Drive and North Franklin Street in the Loop, starting at 9 p.m.
“It’s the greatest city in the world. So anytime I have an opportunity to perform in my city for my city for New Year’s, it’s incredible. Plus it’s a first; so I love making history,” J. Ivy said.
Chane the Rapper spoke with Val Warner ahead of Chicago’s New Year’s Eve event.
There will also be a custom audio-visual presentation projected from ART on THE MART that begins at 7 p.m.
The event will take place along the Chicago Riverwalk at Wacker Drive from Wells Street to Lake Street.
Chance the Rapper, who will also co-host the event, will take the stage for his countdown performance shortly before midnight.
Event entrances at Wacker and Wells or Lake streets will open at 5 p.m.
The event is free, and no tickets are required.
All guests will be required to pass through security checkpoints and will be subject to bag checks, city officials said.
For security reasons, guests are permitted to bring only bags sized 12″x6″x12″ or smaller through the checkpoints.
To protect public safety, gates will close once the event reaches capacity.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and other officials spoke Monday at the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
Johnson said the festivities are getting the full force of government approach.
“Hosting Chicago’s New Year’s Eve celebration is a big moment for our city, and another opportunity to showcase the very best that Chicago offers to the entire world,” he said. “We’re confident that the measures that we’ve put in place have positioned us to have a successful event.”
In addition to a visible presence from Chicago police, the city is receiving help from federal law enforcement to make sure people can ring in 2026 safely.
That includes help from the Secret Service. It’s similar to coordination efforts during the marathon and the Democratic National Convention.
“Obviously, we can’t be every single place all the time, but we can put plans in place to bring down crime and make people feel a lot safer about using public transportation,” Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said
Johnson said it will be one of the most memorable events in Chicago history.
“We are anticipating thousands of people from across the globe to gather downtown to celebrate Chicago’s inaugural countdown, and we are prepared to welcome and safeguard these crowds,” he said. “Since taking office, I’ve longed for the city of Chicago to be a year-round destination, making New Year’s Eve a thing in Chicago.”
“We’re looking for this to be an economic driver for the city for the winter season. And so it’s elevating the artistry that’s here in Chicago, but also hoping that people will make an evening of it, that they will support our hospitality partners, from restaurants to hotels,” said Kenya Merritt, acting Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events commissioner. “This event is rooted in what makes Chicago one of the most culturally vibrant cities in the world.”
Mayor Johnson and Snelling took time in particular to address underage kids and their parents.
“If you don’t know where they are, and they find themselves in a place where they’re breaking the law, we’re going to take action. And you’re going to have to come and get them,” Snelling said.
And in the wake of violent incidents involving crowds of young people, including a shooting on State Street after the city’s tree lighting, police will be enforcing the city’s underage curfew, requiring those under 18 after 10 p.m. to be accompanied by an adult.
Some barricades were going up Monday.
“I think everyone is excited for the celebrations this year. It’s a fun time in the city,” Cambrie said.
Additional viewing opportunities of the evening’s performances and the midnight fireworks display will be available on big-screen displays along Wacker between Lake and Wells.
Fireworks will be launched from bridges between Orleans and Columbus streets along the Riverwalk with the best vantage point from Upper Wacker Drive.
Wacker from Lake to Wells and the Orleans bridge will be closed beginning at 10 a.m. Dec. 31, and the Chicago River will be closed to boat traffic from Franklin to Columbus Drive from 11:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. on Jan. 1.
Franklin from Lake to Wacker closed at 10 a.m. Dec. 29.
Additional street closures will go into effect on the following bridges at 11:30 p.m. Dec. 31: Dearborn Street Bridge, Clark Street Bridge, LaSalle Street Bridge, Wabash Street Bridge and Columbus Bridge.
Public transportation is recommended to reach the celebration.
CTA trains and buses will be free from 10 p.m. Dec. 31, until 4 a.m. Jan. 1.
Metra will offer free rides on all trains arriving at or departing from Metra’s downtown stations after 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Alcohol will be banned on all trains after 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.
But attendees can reserve discounted parking at Millennium Garages for the New Year’s Eve Celebrations.
Visit Millennium Garages to pre-purchase parking online and save up to 20% off daily and extended stay rates.
“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026” airs Dec. 31, on ABC beginning at 7 p.m. and the next day on Hulu.
Claims about deportations, the Department of Government Efficiency, and someone fainting in the White House were among the mistruths that kept PolitiFact busy in 2025 — and they featured in some of our most popular stories this year.
Here are our 10 most-read fact-checks, from a tenuous gang connection to fears over voter eligibility.
President Donald Trump said Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a man the U.S. government deported to El Salvador in March, had MS-13 tattooed on his knuckles — illustrating a purported affiliation with the MS-13 gang founded by El Salvadoran immigrants.
Trump made the claim during an April interview, referring to an image he posted on Truth Social of a left hand bearing four tattoos. Each finger in the picture displayed a different image — a marijuana leaf, a smiley face with an X for eyes, a cross and a skull — and an M, an S, a 1 and a 3 above these images.
But we found that the M, S, 1 and 3 don’t appear in other photos of Abrego Garcia’s hand, including one that Salvadoran government officials took when Abrego Garcia met with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., on April 17 in El Salvador. (Abrego Garcia is now back in the U.S awaiting a criminal trial.)
The tattoos also do not appear in an Abrego Garcia family photo immigration advocates shared. The photograph Trump shared appears to have been altered to include “MS-13” above the other symbols. And MS-13 experts told PolitiFact that none of those symbols are known signifiers of the gang.
Dave Ricks, chair and chief executive officer of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co., was speaking in the Oval Office on Nov. 6 when a man standing behind him fainted.
Multiple socialmediaposts claimed the man who became ill was “Novo Nordisk Executive Gordon Findlay.” They included a post from X’s artificial intelligence-powered chatbot Grok.
But Gordon Findlay, a Novo Nordisk manager based in Switzerland, wasn’t at the White House that day.
The man who fainted doesn’t work for Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly; he wasan Eli Lilly GLP-1 patient and attended a drug pricing announcement at the White House as the company’s guest.
As the Trump administration drew criticism over aggressive deportations, some social media users pointed to a law enacted under former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat. The posts said an immigration law Clinton signed showed immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally are not entitled to due process.
The 1996 law established a fast-track deportation process called expedited removal that allows people to be deported without first going to immigration court. Although immigrants going through that process have fewer protections, they are not exempt from due process. People are screened, notified of deportation and can contest the deportation if they have a well-founded fear of persecution. Legal experts say there are no exceptions to due process rights, regardless of immigrants’ legal status or how they entered the country.
A Feb. 23 Facebook post, for example, said Trump was going to sign an order giving some taxpayers a stimulus check for $5,000.
We found no White House announcements or news reports reflecting this.
James Fishback, CEO of the investment firm Azoria Partners, proposed giving American taxpayers a $5,000 “DOGE dividend” with money the Department of Government Efficiency aimed to save, and Trump mentioned the idea to reporters.
But DOGE didn’t cut the necessary $2 trillion from the federal government’s budget to make this proposed plan feasible.
A Spanish-language TikTok video appeared to show a journalist reporting that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he would have deported God if the higher power were in the U.S. illegally.
But the July video manipulated TelevisaUnivision journalist Enrique Acevedo’s voice to present the misleading news. PolitiFact en Español submitted the audio from the video to an AI detector, which said the audio was fake.
A Feb. 11 X post called out the significant wealth of prominent Democratic and Republican members of Congress. The account wrote about the supposed annual salaries and net worths of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
Members of Congress are required to file annual financial disclosure reports detailing their assets and liabilities. Lawmakers also publicly report their annual salaries. But the lawmakers’ net worths weren’t driven by their government salaries; instead, their wealth mostly came from investments, such as stocks and real estate.
PolitiFact analyzed these four congressional members’ 2023 financial disclosure reports — the most recent ones available at the time — and found that this post exaggerated their wealth.
After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his military had received only a portion of the U.S. aid earmarked for the country’s war against Russia, critics floated that the funding was misused through money laundering.
But Zelenskyy’s Feb. 1 statements aren’t proof of money laundering; they align with public data on the U.S. funding packages.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine had received about $75 billion in military assistance of the $175 billion the U.S. has dedicated to Ukraine aid. That was in line with what researchers monitoring funding to Ukraine observed at the time.
A large portion of the money stayed in the U.S. and a smaller portion went to other countries in the region.
Trump has repeatedly said he’s ended several wars, but there’s a lot of uncertainty around Trump’s role in these conflicts.
“I’ve stopped six wars — I’m averaging about a war a month,” Trump said July 28 in Scotland.
Experts said in August that although he deserves some credit for deals that eased various conflicts, some leaders dispute his role in such negotiations.
The U.S. was involved in a temporary peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda that experts said is significant albeit shaky, for example. But Trump also wrongly said he ended a conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia, and there’s little evidence he thwarted an escalation between Kosovo and Serbia.
Congressional Republicans want to pass a bill that would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. This worried voting rights advocates who say it would hinder registration among eligible citizens.
The SAVE Act, would require people registering to vote or updating their voter registrations to use certain identifying documents, including military IDs, enhanced IDs showing citizenship, birth certificates or passports to prove citizenship. The bill passed in the House in April and is awaiting debate in the Senate.
“If you are a woman that has changed your name from your birth certificate, let’s say through marriage and you took your husband’s name, you are no longer eligible to vote if this bill passes the Senate,” a Feb. 10 TikTok video said.
That’s not quite accurate. The bill would make voter registration more difficult for married people who change their last names, and anyone whose name does not match the name on a birth certificate. But it would not prohibit it outright.
This year we saw robots face planting, creepy wearable tech, interface changes nobody asked for, and advertising schemes straight out of a dystopian movie.
And so as 2025 comes to a close, Inc. took a look at this year’s most notable failures in business and innovation for readers looking for a quick laugh—and a lesson on what not to do.
Humanoid robots flopped (literally)
The race to build the most capable and functional humanoid robot is well underway. Tesla has built the Optimus robots to serve visitors of their diner popcorn, and a Chinese humanoid robot broke records by walking 66 miles in three days. But even as advances in robotics continue to progress, humanoid robots are far from catching up to their human counterparts.
In a viral video, Russia’s first humanoid robot walked a mere few feet on stage during its demo, only to quickly flop over and be dragged backstage by the event organizers.
An Inc.com Featured Presentation
Meanwhile in a half-marathon in Beijing, 21 humanoid robots participated alongside 12,000 human runners—only six made it to the finish line. While a robot running half a marathon is still a great feat, the robots were subject to overheating and falls, keeping many from finishing the race.
During the MetaConnect 2025 in September, the $1.5 trillion company revealed the Meta Ray-Ban AI glasses. Paired with an accompanying wristband that monitors hand movement, the wearable tech device promised to bring the world of Ready Player One to reality.
According toThe Verge, Meta’s Ray-Bans sold more than 2 million pairs since their debut, with long term plans including the production of 10 million pairs each year by 2026. Yet, like Zuckerberg’s Metaverse, the glasses don’t always work as expected.
During a live demo, the product failed to answer a phone call, leaving Zuckerberg to awkwardly try to fill the silence. In a separate live demo, the glasses failed to guide a chef through a recipe, with viewers laughing through the product’s glitch.
Samsung’s Advertising Overreach
Those looking to add a new Samsung fridge to their kitchen should prepare to have their food served with a side of ads.
Starting last month, Samsung Family Hub fridges, which are equipped with giant android tablets on their door panels, started displaying ads inside user’s homes. Not all Family Hub fridges are subject to the update, The Verge reported, but the feature will appear on other types of appliances.
The new feature, is heavily criticized by both media and consumers as the appliance’s high price tag exceeding $2,000 doesn’t resonate with users already fatigued with getting targeted by ads elsewhere. For users wanting to opt out, they can delete the screen widget which will then entirely turn off other functions like calendar, weather and news features.
The advertising snafu feels similar to “micro-transactions” which have also received negative reactions from users, like in the case of BMW’s 2022 decision to roll out $18 monthly subscriptions for users to warm up their seats. After much backlash from users who rejected the idea of having to pay fees on top of a luxury car price tag to access features. According to Forbes, the company dropped subscriptions only a year later.
Apple gave us what nobody asked for
Known for its recognizable logo, iconic founder, and distinguishable clean sleek design, Apple has been at the forefront of innovation for decades. While the company had several victories this year, like joining NVIDIA in the now growing $4 trillion club, it also presented some rather questionable offerings.
In September, Apple deployed its latest update to its design language: Liquid Glass. The change to the UI of iOS and MacOS sets out to dynamically reflect and refract its surroundings, but, in practice, diminishes usability and readability for users. Leaning into transparency and 3D effects, the new design renders control buttons to float above content, and buries options in hamburger menus, making it hard for users to navigate their phones.
The Cupertino-based company also released the iPhone Air, their thinnest smartphone yet. While many have called it the company’s most innovative phone since 2017—it caused a significant public buzz—the phone didn’t deliver on sales, the Wall Street Journal reported, with rumor suggesting Apple is scaling back the phone’s production. For users who did take the leap, they reported issues with battery, sound and camera quality.
Beyond technology, Apple released a rather controversial $229.95 iPhone sock (a sleeve to put a phone in). Despite it being a collaboration with beloved Japanese designer Issey Miyake, the product release received online mockery as the accessory’s utility fails to match its elevated price tag.
AI companions aren’t quite there yet
As America continues to grapple with a loneliness epidemic, it’s no surprise some are turning to non-humans for companionship. That’s where Friend AI wants to position itself.
The San Francisco-based company makes a tiny circular device meant to be worn around a user’s neck, and its purpose is to eavesdrop and offer occasional side commentary. Its advertisements compare the device to real-life friends, suggesting that it can replace those relationships. The company’s subway ads raised a good deal of ire amongst New Yorkers, who tagged Friend’s subway ads with phrases like “AI is not your friend” or “talk to a neighbor.”
“To its critics, the Friend encapsulates much of what’s wrong with the tech industry’s push to incorporate AI into our everyday lives,”CNN wrote.
For those looking for a furrier companion however, a $429 AI-powered “pet” guinea pig is now available thanks to Casio. Dubbed the Moflin, the pet doesn’t need to be cared for and occasionally growls at its owner. “There’s something unsettling about a creature with an on-off button and a spine that twists under your fingers,” a Rolling Stones review says.
While it has sold 10,000 units in Japan, it is still unclear how the “pet” will be received in the US. Still, questions have been raised on the AI Pet-human relationship. While the pet won’t die or bite, does it replace what we already know to be real?
“In the end, though, maybe we need that friction to really feel alive, the danger of losing love to actually love,” the Rolling Stones argues.
Elon Musk flew too close to the sun
Long considered a leader in innovation, Elon Musk spent 2025 pushing the envelope. But he may have finally flown too close to the sun.
During his now infamous 130-day stint as head of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk spearheaded dramatic cuts in the federal government leading to five dozen lawsuits.
While the government agency set out to save around $2 trillion, according to Politico, DOGE could only account for $160 billion in savings, and was disbanded eight months ahead of schedule.
Musk didn’t just underperform as a public officer—his companies suffered the consequences of his controversial public persona.
Across the world, Tesla showrooms became the site for protests against Musks’ political involvement, with both his Model Y and Cybertruck models becoming the target of violent vandalism, raising insurance premiums for drivers, and alienating Tesla’s traditionally liberal consumer base.
The backlash manifested in numbers as well. In Europe, Tesla sales have significantly dropped as Chinese competitor BYD gains popularity, while in the US, the EV company’s market share dropped to an eight-year low. According to a recent Yale University study, much of Tesla’s decline can be attributed to Musk’s political stint, resulting in 1 million fewer Tesla sales.
Go inside one interesting founder-led company each day to find out how its strategy works, and what risk factors it faces. Sign up for 1 Smart Business Story from Inc. on Beehiiv.
In April, when Goat & Vine closed in Montgomery Plaza, it was the 10th to fail in the same exact location.
A sign on the door April 9, 2025, said Goat & Vine Restaurant & Winery in Fort Worth, Texas, was padlocked shut. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
But other restaurants closed for happier reasons: so the owners could enjoy the rewards of their hard work or move to better jobs.
Here are some of the dearly departed restaurants in 2025 we’ll miss most:
—Cat City Grill, a 15-year Near Southside steakhouse and bar known for weekend brunch, closed after beef prices and customers’ changing habits squeezed midprice restaurants, owner Martin Thompson said. The space became Enchiladas ¡Olé!.
—Belzoni’s Catfish Cafe, a heralded Mississippi-style catfish restaurant on Loop 820 West that grew from a popular concession trailer, closed because owner Dwight Cooley needed to recover from surgery.
—Sabar BBQ, a Texas Monthly Top 50 restaurant for its Pakistani-seasoned brisket and sausage, drew long lines Dec. 20 when it closed after pitmaster Zain Shafi became a co-owner of Goldee’s BBQ. Brix Barbecue nearby, a Top 100 restaurant, also closed.
Zain Shafi, the owner of Sabar BBQ, writes the menu and unlocks the trailer parked at the corner of East Vickery Boulevard and South Main Street near downtown Fort Worth on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2024. Chris Torres Star-Telegram archives
—Bella Italia West, a Fort Worth tradition for 45 years and for 37 on Camp Bowie Boulevard, will close Dec. 31. Chef Carlo Croci lost his lease to plans for a new development.
—Bodacious Bar-B-Q, a popular East Texas restaurant, closed its 34-year Arlington location across from AT&T Stadium. The landmark 1958 building was originally a location of Texas’ iconic Underwood’s Bar-B-Q.
—Taco Heads, once a symbol of a small truck operator opening two thriving restaurants and margarita bars, closed after a proposed sale to a Dallas restaurateur was canceled.
—Mason & Dixie, a Southern-style lunch cafe in downtown Grapevine known for sandwiches and desserts, closed after a landlord dispute.
—Maiden Fine Plants & Spirits, a fine-dining vegetarian restaurant on the Near Southside, opened with a $150-per-person tasting menu, struggled and closed.
—Vice Burger, a worthy replica of a 1950s diner but serving plant-based burgers and hot dogs, closed on the Near Southside. Tres Amigos Tacos & Tequila, which replaced Yucatan Taco Stand, also closed on Magnolia Avenue.
—T & P Tavern, a grill and bar in the historic 1931 Texas & Pacific Railway train station popular with Trinity Railway Express riders, closed when Trinity Metro took it over. It will reopen as Station & Vine.
The T & P Tavern restaurant, seen August 6, 2023, is in the old 1931 Fort Worth railroad station coffee shop and dining counter. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
—Fire Oak Grill, a Southwestern steakhouse and one of the first restaurants in the downtown Weatherford boom around the courthouse square, closed after 18 years and was sold.
—Hutch’s Pie and Sandwich Shop, a bakery that opened in 1935 and grew into a fried pie company, closed when the Hutchens family retired.
—Second Bar + Kitchen, a casual grill by James Beard chef David Bull, closed in Mineral Wells when the Crazy Water Hotel management company changed. Bull had made Mineral Wells a must-stop. It was replaced by Oak & Third with chef Stefon Rishel.
—Campo Verde Mexican Bar & Grill in Dalworthington Gardens, once known for its elaborate Christmas decor, closed Dec. 24. It was never the same after 2022, when founder James “Smiley” Williams sold it before his death.
—Sam Won Garden, a 20-year favorite and Fort Worth’s first popular Korean restaurant, closed after Sylvia Chung retired.
Si Tapas, La Cabrona, Social House, and Terra Mediterranean sit on Crockett Street, formerly known as Crockett Row, now Artisan Circle, in West 7th Entertainment District. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
—Sí Tapas, a Spanish restaurant in Artisan Circle by the co-founder of Dallas’ Cafe Madrid, never reopened after the 2024 Christmas break. It will be replaced by Partenope Ristorante.
—Mash’D, a 10-year Artisan Circle restaurant based on moonshine, closed at the end of its lease. It will be replaced by Top of the Morning, a breakfast cafe. Bar Louie, Hurts Donut and La Familia also closed, as did several bar-restaurants in Artisan Circle and the nearby Foch Street Warehouses.
—Pearl Snap Kolaches, a 12-year kolache bakery and burger grill, closed on White Settlement Road in Fort Worth. The space will become Seared, a neighborhood steakhouse.
—Heirloom at Archie’s, a sandwich and lunch kiosk with a patio in the middle of the Archie’s garden store, was replaced by the owners’ Gardenland Cafe.
Umelia Neira uses a hot press to toast a Cuban sandwich at Cuco’s Sandwich Shop in North Richland Hills on Dec. 6, 2010. Ron T. Ennis Star-Telegram archives
—Cuco’s Sandwich Shop, a small family operation in North Richland Hills that became known for standout Cuban sandwiches, closed after 34 years. The Neira family retired due to health problems.
—F1 Smokehouse, a confusing barbecue-themed bar and grill in the Cultural District, never closed, but it simplified its name and changed the concept to the Little Tavern. It serves grill dishes and brunch items like those on the menu at the larger Tavern restaurant on South Hulen Street.
—Off the Bone BBQ in Forest Hill, ranked in 2010 by D Magazine as the No. 1 barbecue joint in North Texas, closed after an ownership change and the recent explosion of more elaborate craft barbecue restaurants.
—Paco’s Mexican Cuisine, a 21-year Tex-Mex restaurant in three locations, closed both in Sundance Square and on the Near Southside. The Southside location switched to Shōgun Taqueria.
Much of the interior at Paco’s Mexican Cuisine was unchanged from the previous tenant. Joyce Marshall Star-Telegram archives
—Pinstripes, an Illinois-based “bowling, bocce and bistro” center, closed in the Shops at Clearfork after a corporate restructuring. The restaurant was known for its sprawling Sunday and holiday brunch buffet.
—La Fiesta, a 50-year Cleburne landmark built originally as a Jose’s, was destroyed by fire.
That isn’t even counting the endless chain restaurants and franchises that failed or folded, many due to overexpansion in new suburbs or the passing of food fads.
Nor does it count restaurants that took a break and have now reopened: Chadra Mezza (in a new South Freeway location), Clown Burger, Enchiladas ¡Olé!, Los Vaqueros, the Malt Shop in Weatherford, Old Neighborhood Grill, Pizza Verde, Taste of Europe and Uncle Julio’s.
The flagship Tommy’s Hamburgers on Camp Bowie Boulevard is under repair after a fire and will reopen by mid-2026.
This story was originally published December 26, 2025 at 4:17 AM.
Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat. Support my work with a digital subscription
Gold medalist Aristo Sham, left, bronze medalist Evren Ozel, middle, and silver medalist Vitaly Starikov, right, watch the firework show celebration following the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Awards Ceremony at Sundance Square in Fort Worth on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
Chris Torres
ctorres@star-telegram.com
When a year comes to an end, we tend to reflect on what we’ll remember most – those events in our lives and around the nation that will come to define 2025.
We’ve been thinking about all the stories we’ve told this year – from breaking news, politics and education to entertainment and sports.
We’ve chronicled the impact in our communities of President Trump’s new term, and strived to hold our government leaders accountable for the decisions they make. We’ve covered memorable moments in sports, such as the surprising trade of Micah Parsons, which gave him the opportunity to sack his former teammate Dak Prescott. And we kept you in the loop about Fort Worth’s ever-changing restaurant scene.
Some of our stories and photographs have been heartbreaking. Others have provided inspiration, joy and hope. For us, it is a privilege to share stories about the community that we love so much.
Take a look back at 2025 with these photographs from our visual journalists. The Star-Telegram’s photographers captured so many powerful moments that tell the story of North Texas and the people who make it special.
JANUARY
Stripling Middle School students Ariana White, 14, Isabella Rodriguez, 14, and Cecilia Rico, 14, make snow angels in their neighborhood park in Southwest Fort Worth on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. The winter storm led to all Fort Worth ISD schools to close for the rest of the week. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
The Tarrant County Courthouse as light snow begins to fall in downtown Fort Worth on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Chase Pierre of Brookshire competes in the steer wrestling event of the Cowboys Color Rodeo on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
General manager Brandi Moan surveys the aisles at Justin Discount Boots in Justin on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. Moan has worked in Justin for 16 years and has seen the community grow with rapid pace. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Rayleigh Whitt, 9, of Kaufman County 4H gives her show sheep Cali a shower the day prior to competing in the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo in Fort Worth on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. Whitt was one of the younger competitors at the stock show. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
FEBRUARY
Students at Young Women’s Leadership Academy in downtown Fort Worth walk out of school on Feb. 3, 2025, to protest federal immigration policies they say are harming their families. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
City Market employee Matt Nitzinger unloads customer Regena Morris’ groceries into her vehicle on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. “We try to be the hometown store,” said owner Kurt Jaeger. “We take people’s groceries out.” Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
La Vernia resident Mattison Koepp, 16, is embraced by her father Matt after her steer won Grand Champion Steer of the Show at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Timber Creek High students gather with other Keller ISD students after walking out of school on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, to protest the proposed split of the school district. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Diamond Hill-Jarvis goalkeeper Reyes Medina defends the goal while teammates run drills during practice on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Fort Worth. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Fort Worth musician Abraham Alexander at Niles City Sound in Fort Worth on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Alexander, known for his soulful music, picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for “Like a Bird” for the film “Sing Sing.” Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Pallbearers carry the casket of Judge Clifford Davis from Saint Andrews United Methodist Church on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 in Fort Worth. Davis, the first Black judge to be elected in Tarrant County, left a long legacy behind including his work to desegregate North Texas schools. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
TCU guard Hailey Van Lith (10) celebrates after making a three-point shot in the first half of an NCAA game between TCU and Houston at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
MARCH
Windmills are silhouetted at sunset on Highway 81 in Bowie, Texas, on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Cody Bates, the Vice President of Operations for the American Hat Company, tosses beaded necklaces from the front of the pirate-ship themed parade float for the 15th Annual Mardi Gras Nocona Style on Clay Street in Nocona on Saturday, Mar. 1, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
The TCU women’s basketball team celebrate after defeating Baylor 51-48 to win the Big XII conference title at Foster Pavilion in Waco on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
The Blood moon lunar eclipse is visible in the Fort Worth sky on Friday, March, 14, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
President George W. Bush and his wife Laura arrive for the ribbon cutting ceremony for the National Medal of Honor Museum Grand Opening Celebration in the Arlington Entertainment District on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien (2) fails to tag out Red Sox short stop Trevor Story (10) on a steal attempt in the ninth inning of the MLB Opening Day game between the Rangers and Red Sox at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
APRIL
Piano tutor Robin Hufford tunes a piano on stage at Nicholas Martin Hall on the Texas Wesleyan University campus in Fort Worth on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Cody Collins of Capital Hatters shapes a hat for a customer at the Cattle Raisers Expo and Convention’s exhibit hall on Friday, April 11, 2025, in Fort Worth. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Opal Lee reacts to seeing guests at the April 17 grand opening of The Opal, a $55 million mixed-income apartment complex with 338 units named in honor of the grandmother of Juneteenth. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Thousands of protestors march down W 5th Street for the national ‘Hands Off’ protest movement in downtown Fort Worth on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Festival attendees pack the streets and party on their parade float during the Lao New Year parade on the third day of the Lao New Year festival at Wat Lao Thepnimith Temple in Saginaw on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
MAY
Maddison Ledesma, 4, meets Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker following the grand opening ceremony of the brand new Riverside Campus in the Morningside neighborhood of Fort Worth on Friday, May 2, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Paschal quarterback Annie Parsons slips past the Arlington Heights defense during the FWISD girls’ flag football championship on May 13 at Herman Clark Stadium. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Parents and students in support of keeping Briscoe Elementary open hold signs during a FWISD School Board Meeting at the District Administration Building in Fort Worth on Tuesday, May, 20, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
JUNE
Gold medalist Aristo Sham, left, bronze medalist Evren Ozel, middle, and silver medalist Vitaly Starikov, right, watch the firework show celebration following the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Awards Ceremony at Sundance Square in Fort Worth on Saturday, June 7, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
A protester speaks through a bullhorn on East Abram Street in Arlington for the “No Kings Day” protest on June 14, 2025. Jaime Moore-Carrillo
The Fort Worth Fire Department responds to a six-alarm fire at an apartment complex in the 1000 block of West Rosedale on Monday, June 23, 2025. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Preston Benjaman-Sewell, right, fist bumps his neurosurgeon Dr. Daniel Hansen following an appointment on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at Cook Children’s Dodson Specialty Clinics with his mother, Meghan Czarobski, center. Benjaman-Sewell is one of 125,000 children or expecting mothers in North Texas who could have their access to health care disrupted after the Texas Health and Human Services Commission denied Cook Children’s Health Plan a Medicaid contract. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) reacts after hitting a three-point shot at the halftime buzzer of a WNBA game between the Dallas Wings and Indiana Fever at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Friday, June 27, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Fort Worth resident Brian Fehler during Trinity Pride Fest on South Main Street in Fort Worth on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
JULY
Two gharial hatchlings are revealed at the Fort Worth Zoo on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. This is the zoo’s third year in a row to successfully hatch gharial newborns, a critically endangered species. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Drill team captain Lesa Ellinger takes the saddle off her horse Rayyaa after Circle L5 drill team practice at Papa Doddie Arena in east Fort Worth on Sunday, July 21, 2025. Founded more than 70 years ago, Circle L5 is a Black equestrian group that showcases cowboy culture through rodeos and various community events. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Gretchen Rea, a three-year Cooper resident, throws her mattress out of the balcony of her apartment during a protest outside the Cooper Apartments in Fort Worth on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. After growing restless waiting for more than a month for access, Rea evaded security, entered her apartment unit, and tossed multiple belongings out onto the sidewalk. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Sean Moore stands in the backyard of home that fronts Mary’s Creek in Benbrook on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Residents are concerned rezoning an 80-acre plot of land on the eastern edge of Mary’s Creek for development could alter the floodplain and potentially cause seious flooding issues. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
AUGUST
Keller residents Lisa Escaloni, left, and Judy Williams, right, protest with the group prior to the Keller City Council meeting at Keller Town Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. Protesters gathered to reject the 287(g) program that would allow the Keller police department to work with ICE to determine a person’s immigration status if they are booked in to the Keller city jail. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Southlake Carroll football coach Riley Dodge talks to his players during morning practice on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, in Southlake. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Mike Morath, the Texas Education Commissioner, tours through a classroom following a press conference regarding the updated A-F scores of Dallas and Fort Worth schools at Walnut Hill International Leadership Academy in Dallas on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons greets players after an NFL preseason game between the Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. Christopher Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
SEPTEMBER
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott celebrates a drive towards the end zone during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Dallas Cowboys won in overtime, 40-37. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Wanda Fields, 75, interacts with children at the Early Head Start program at J.A. Hargrave Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Fort Worth. Fields spends 20 hours a week volunteering through the Texas Health and Human Services’ Foster Grandparent program. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
TCU wide receiver Ed Small (18) catches a touchdown pass with one hand in the first half of an NCAA game between TCU and Abilene Christian at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. Christopher Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Members of the Euless-Trinity football team participate in their pregame ceremonial Sipi Tau prior to a high school game between Southlake Carroll and Euless-Trinity at Dragon Stadium in Southlake on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
A large crowd marches to the Tarrant County Courthouse during the rally to honor Charlie Kirk, Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025. John Rowland Special to the Star-Telegram
TCU wide receiver Jordan Dwyer (7) and safety Austin Jordan (1) celebrate with the Iron Skillet after defeating SMU 35-24 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Christopher Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
FBI agents investigate the scene where a shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility occurred in Dallas on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Green Bay Packers’ Micah Parsons returns to AT&T to face his former Dallas Cowboys teammates on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) chases down and tackles Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) in the second half of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Christopher Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Jeff Pointer sits at the steps of his childhood home where he grew up at Fite Street and Mosier Valley Road on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. Pointer is a member of the Mosier Valley Property Owners Association and is working on revitalizing the community and highlighting its historical significance. Christopher Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
OCTOBER
Former Dunbar High School principal Shirley Knox Benton reacts to seeing her street topper during a dedication ceremony outside the school in Fort Worth on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. The tribute highlights Benton’s lasting impact on Dunbar and its role in the broader Fort Worth community. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) greets fans following the second half of a preseason NBA game between the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Christopher Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Leon Bridges attends the ceremonial street naming in his honor on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at the corner of South Calhoun Street and East Daggett Avenue in Fort Worth. Bridges, a Grammy-winning artist and native of Fort Worth, recorded his debut album at Niles City Sound, located across the street from the sign topper. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
TCU linebacker Devean Deal (11) and defensive end Chad Woodfork (9) force a fumble on Baylor running back Bryson Washington (7) in the first half of a Big XII football game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Baylor Bears at Amon G Carter Stadium in Fort Worth on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Christopher Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams runs the ball during the third quarter against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
NOVEMBER
A parade participant from Ballet Folklorico de Fort Worth dances on their float on Ellis Avenue for the Dia De Los Muertos Parade in Northside Fort Worth on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
A statue of the Angel Moroni is seen as the Beaver Super Moon rises behind at the Dallas Texas Temple in Dallas on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Volunteers distribute food to those in need at the Community Food Bank of Fort Worth on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
TCU guard Jayden Pierre (1) is blocked at the rim by Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) in the first half of a NCAA basketball game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Michigan Wolverines at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth on Friday, Nov.14, 2025. Christopher Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Antonio Harris lost his daughter, Tonishea Harris, 36, to suspected domestic violence. Tonishea and her unborn child died from a gunshot wound on Oct. 10. “I will miss her voice and her laugh because she was always joyful,” said Harris. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson runs into the locker room with the turkey on his hand after winning an NFL game between the Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. Dallas won 31-28. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
The Southlake Carroll football team celebrates after winning the UIL Division II Regional playoff game 49-31 against Prosper at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. Christopher Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
DECEMBER
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) tackles linebacker Bryce Ramirez (3) to celebrate after winning the Big XII championship game against the BYU Cougars at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Guests descend the steps of the Fort Worth Convention Center’s new southeast entrance to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony marking the completion of the Phase 1 expansion on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in downtown Fort Worth. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott takes the field before the start of the NFL matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at AT&T Stadium. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston beats Dallas Cowboys cornerback Shavon Revel to complete a pass in the end zone for touchdown during the first quarter on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, at AT&T Stadium. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Amanda McCoy is a visual journalist that produces daily and documentary videos. Before moving to Fort Worth in 2018, she spent 11 years telling the stories of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including the recovery from Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill. She is a native of Michigan and graduate of Michigan State University.
STARTS RIGHT NOW. AND SPLASHDOWN. CREW NINE BACK ON EARTH. BACK ON EARTH. BREAKING AS WE COME ON THE AIR AT SEVEN. WE JUST HEARD IT. HAVE SPLASHDOWN. NEEDHAM NATICK. SONNY WILLIAMS AND FELLOW ASTRONAUT BUTCH WILMORE ARE FINALLY BACK ON EARTH. MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS AFTER. ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED. AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. THIS IS NEW VIDEO INTO US JUST FROM A FEW MINUTES AGO. THAT IS SONNY WILLIAMS BEING HELPED FROM THE CAPSULE ONTO HER FEET ON THE SALVAGE SHIP THAT EIGHT DAY MISSION FINALLY COMING TO AN END AFTER 286 DAYS. THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, EVERYONE. I’M ED HARDING AND I’M MARIA STEPHANOS. WE DO HAVE TEAM COVERAGE OF THIS LANDING. SONNY’S NEEDHAM NEIGHBORS WATCHING ALL OF IT. LET’S BEGIN WITH OUR DANAE BUCCI OUTSIDE OF THE SUNITA WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IN THE SENSE OF PRIDE NEEDHAM FEELS FOR SONNY WILLIAMS IS EVIDENT, AND EVERYONE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HER SAFE RETURN HOME. WE’RE BOTH VERY, VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HER BACK ON HER SAFELY. SONNY WILLIAMS HAS BEEN IN SPACE SO LONG, HER MOTHER, BONNIE PANDYA AND HER OLDER SISTER DEENA ARE ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR HER RETURN. I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE’RE A VERY ADAPTABLE AND WE WERE LIKE, GETTING USED TO SEEING HER EVERY WEEK ON THE SPACE STATION. IT’S BEEN AN UNEXPECTED NINE MONTH OUTER SPACE MISSION FOR THE NEEDHAM NATIVE. MY FAMILY MIGHT MAY BE A LITTLE UPSET, MAYBE A LITTLE CONCERNED, BUT USUALLY ASTRONAUT FAMILIES KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AND KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN. THINGS GO WRONG ON ALMOST EVERY MISSION. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT SONNY IS LIKELY GOING THROUGH. MORE THAN RETIRED ASTRONAUT CHARLES CAMARDA, AND YOU’RE JUST ANTICIPATING SEEING YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS AND TELLING ALL THOSE GREAT STORIES. HE WORKED ALONGSIDE SONNY AND HER PARTNER BUTCH WILMORE FOR YEARS. BUTCH AND SONNY ARE THE TWO MOST POSITIVE PEOPLE IN THE ASTRONAUT OFFICE. THEY’RE ALWAYS SMILING. THEY’RE SO EXPERIENCED, THEY’RE PROS. BUT BEING IN SPACE FOR NINE MONTHS CAN HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE BODY. THE HEART DOESN’T HAVE TO PUSH AGAINST GRAVITY, SO THE HEART GETS WEAKER. MUSCULOSKELETAL CHANGES, SO THE BONES BECOME WEAKER IN SPACE. DOCTOR LUCA PIZZA IS ON MASS GENERAL SPACE MEDICINE DIVISION. HE SAYS AS SOON AS SONNY AND HER PARTNER, BUTCH LAND OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA, THE TWO WILL BE MET WITH A TEAM OF DOCTORS. SO THE BODY’S GOTTEN USED TO NOT PUMPING THE BLOOD SO HARD IT’S GOTTEN USED TO NOT HOLDING THE BODY UP AGAINST GRAVITY. IT’S GOT TO RELEARN ALL THOSE THINGS. DOCTOR SAYS IT WILL TAKE MONTHS FOR BOTH BUTCH AND SONNY’S BODIES TO ACCLIMATE BACK TO EARTH. WE’RE LIVE IN NEEDHAM DANAE BUCCI WCVB, NEWSCENTER FIVE. AND A WATCH PARTY IS STILL GOING ON AT THIS HOUR. RIGHT AT SONNY’S HOMETOWN OF NEEDHAM. PEOPLE THERE CHEERED. WE COULD HEAR THEM FROM HERE. SO EXCITED TO HAVE THE WILLIAMS BACK HOME. OUR SONNY WILLIAMS BACK HOME. OUR JOHN ATWATER CONTINUES TONIGHT LIVE AT THE COMMON ROOM. JOHN AND MARIA. YEAH, SO MANY ROUNDS OF CHEERING TONIGHT. THE LATEST JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO WHEN WE SAW SONNY WILLIAMS EMERGE FROM THAT CAPSULE ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER SPLASHDOWN. SO IT’S BEEN A LOT OF EXCITEMENT HERE. YOU CAN SEE DOZENS OF PEOPLE HERE STILL AT THE COMMON ROOM TONIGHT. THEY ALL CAME HERE TO EXPERIENCE THIS TOGETHER BECAUSE, WOW, IT HAS BEEN JUST A NINE MONTH ODYSSEY FOR THESE ASTRONAUTS UP THERE IN SPACE, ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE UP THERE FOR EIGHT DAYS, BUT IT TOOK A LOT LONGER TO GET THEM HOME. WHILE THEY ARE HOME TONIGHT. AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE CHEERING HERE IN THE COMMON ROOM HERE IN NEEDHAM SONNY WILLIAMS HOMETOWN. WE SPOKE WITH A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER OVER AT SUNITA WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY. SHE AND HER STUDENTS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS JOURNEY, AND SHE IS SO RELIEVED. TONIGHT. I WENT TO HER FIRST TWO LAUNCH ATTEMPTS THAT DIDN’T MAKE IT, AND I DIDN’T GET TO GO TO THE LAST ONE WHERE SHE DID GO UP. BUT I’VE BEEN WATCHING AND FOLLOWING MY CLASS WATCHES AND FOLLOWS. THEY WERE SO EXCITED TODAY AND NOW I’M LIKE OVER THE TOP, OVER THE MOON AND SO EXCITED. I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE SHE’S BACK. CAN’T BELIEVE SHE’S BACK AFTER SO LONG. THERE WERE TEARS IN THAT TEACHER’S EYES BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS JOURNEY. THE SCHOOL REALLY ALL OF NEEDHAM SONNY WILLIAMS, OF COURSE IN CONTACT WITH THE STUDENTS HERE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THEY ARE JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DAY WHEN SONNY COMES BACK HERE TO NEEDHAM FOR A
The year in space: Here are the top space stories of 2025
From private space tourism to secret moons to new images of our very old observable universe, 2025 was an exciting year in space. The privatization of space travel continued apace, with companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin making strides this year. Despite privatization and looming funding cuts, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and its various projects and endeavors still managed to surprise us and expand our knowledge of our solar system. Check out the 10 best space stories from the past year:No. 1 — The space saga of Butch and SuniWithout a doubt, the space story that filled the most airtime this year was the tale of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. In June 2024, the pair signed on for a NASA mission to conduct a crew flight test of Boeing’s Starliner craft, which had previously only been used for uncrewed tests between Earth and the International Space Station. The mission was meant to last eight days — but ended up lasting more than nine months. The stranded astronauts became space celebrities and brought renewed attention to spaceflight during a time when space travel has morphed into a blend of public-private partnerships. The astronauts were eventually brought home on SpaceX’s Crew-9 vessel in March, marking a success for SpaceX but a blow to Boeing in the private space race.Watch video of Williams and Wilmore splashing down back to Earth in the video player above.No. 2 — Perseverance finds possible hints of ancient life on MarsNASA’s Perseverance rover has been roaming the Martian surface and collecting samples since 2021. But in the summer of 2024, the rover collected rock samples from a dried riverbed near the Jezero Crater with “leopard spots.” This year, scientists said those spots could suggest the existence of ancient microbial life on the red planet. “All we can say is one of the possible explanations is microbial life, but there could be other ways to make this set of features that we see,” a researcher told The Associated Press.However, this story is not over. More testing is needed to confirm what the samples contain, meaning they need to be retrieved from Mars and brought back to labs on Earth. A Mars Sample Return trip was hopefully scheduled for the early 2030s, but various factors, including President Donald Trump’s reorganized budget plan for NASA, mean that the return expedition is on hold indefinitely. For now, Perseverance and a potential secret to ancient life sit waiting in a rocky Martian desert.No. 3 — NASA probe takes closest-ever images of sunThe Parker Solar Probe, the fastest human-made object in the universe, is on a mission to “touch the Sun” — and it’s getting pretty close. In December 2024, the probe made its closest pass yet of the solar atmosphere, traveling at a speed of 430,000 mph. On Jan. 1, 2025, it sent back the closest images of the Sun ever captured, specifically of solar wind approximately 3.8 million miles from the surface.No. 4 — NASA’s Webb telescope discovers new moon orbiting UranusIt’s not every day you find a new moon. Using NASA’s Webb space telescope, a team from the Southwest Research Institute studying the rings and moons of Uranus made a stunning discovery — a small moon, only about 6 miles wide, had been “hiding” close to the seventh planet this whole time. The discovery joins the planet’s 28 existing moons, designated S/2025 U1. However, all of Uranus’ moons are named after characters from the works of either William Shakespeare or Alexander Pope, so it will have a colorful literary name in no time.No. 5 — Third-ever interstellar object tears through our solar systemThe astronomical talk of the town this year was definitely 3I/ATLAS. First spotted by the NASA-funded ATLAS telescope in Chile, the comet started as a rapidly moving dot appearing in the sky. After NASA and the European Space Agency retraced its steps, it was confirmed that the comet was actually from outside our solar system — only the third known such object. While it was only briefly close to Earth near the end of this year, astronomers stole a few glances while they could. 3I/ATLAS is currently tracing its long path out of and away from our solar system — so long and farewell.No. 6 — Space tourism, or Katy Perry in spaceSpace tourism also had quite a year in 2025. In April, pop star Katy Perry and TV personality Gayle King boarded Blue Origin’s New Shepherd rocket with an all-female crew, a first for space travel. The technicality here is that New Shepherd is a reusable rocket, capable of vertical takeoffs and landings, designed to deliver tourists past the Karman Line, which is defined as the edge of space. It is also where you begin to experience weightlessness in atmospheric travel. Perry was reportedly so moved by the experience of entering the thermosphere that she couldn’t help singing “What A Wonderful World.” In other news, Blue Origin also recently sent the first paraplegic person into space, and SpaceX’s Fram2 mission saw four space tourists make a three-day trip around Earth’s poles.No. 7 — A nuclear reactor on the moon? It’s less crazy than it soundsActing NASA Administrator Sean Duffy made headlines earlier this year with an ambitious announcement concerning NASA’s wishes to put a nuclear reactor on Earth’s moon in the near future. While it does sound like the setup for a supervillain’s lair, the plan is actually quite practical. The name of the game in space exploration in the 21st century has become about repetition and reliability — typified by the reusable rockets favored by private space companies. NASA’s upcoming moon mission, Artemis III, will require a lot of fuel and power, especially if NASA wants to eventually station astronauts there. Add in the fact that China and Russia have announced a joint space venture to place a nuclear reactor on the moon. Before long, the international powers will be in a new space race. The moon is also becoming a critical juncture in the effort to reach Mars — the rocky satellite’s low gravity would make space missions easier. In that way, stating a goal of putting a nuclear reactor on the moon is the first step to reaching Mars, another stated goal of NASA. And for a country — and a species — that put a man on the moon only 56 years ago, anything might be possible.No. 8 — India, Poland and Hungary: Welcome to the ISSIt was a celebration on the International Space Station this summer when three astronauts from countries never before represented on the space station arrived. The last time anyone from India, Poland or Hungary traveled to orbit was in the 1970s and ‘80s, with the Soviet Space Program. While each of these countries have their own space programs, these true newcomers to the ISS came via Axiom Space, a Houston-based company that charters flights to the station. Axiom is also positioning itself as a potential replacement for the ISS when it is retired and decommissioned in 2030, carving out a niche in the private space race.No. 9 — ‘Cosmic treasure chest’: Say hello to the Vera C. Rubin ObservatoryThe summer of 2025 saw the debut of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, the largest camera ever built, located on a mountaintop in Chile. According to the acting director of the National Science Foundation, the telescope “will capture more information about our universe than all optical telescopes throughout history combined.” That’s quite a claim, but Rubin already has the legwork to back it up — as part of its debut, it spotted 2,104 never-before-seen asteroids. The observatory also released a dramatic video showing the scale of its capability: the cosmic pan displays about 10 million galaxies in the camera’s wide view, which is only 0.05% of the 20 billion galaxies the observatory will map over 10 years.No. 10 — Space is now a battlefieldAside from international cooperation and discovery, space has also become a new frontier for something else: warfare. In the Russia/Ukraine war this past year, Ukraine accused Russian operators of hijacking a crucial satellite, replacing its broadcast with film of Russian military parades. More recently, there has been chatter of a Russian anti-satellite weapon, which one U.S. representative likened to “the Cuban Missile Crisis in space.”
From private space tourism to secret moons to new images of our very old observable universe, 2025 was an exciting year in space. The privatization of space travel continued apace, with companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin making strides this year. Despite privatization and looming funding cuts, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and its various projects and endeavors still managed to surprise us and expand our knowledge of our solar system. Check out the 10 best space stories from the past year:
No. 1 — The space saga of Butch and Suni
NASA/AP via CNN Newsource
Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams pose on the International Space Station.
Without a doubt, the space story that filled the most airtime this year was the tale of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. In June 2024, the pair signed on for a NASA mission to conduct a crew flight test of Boeing’s Starliner craft, which had previously only been used for uncrewed tests between Earth and the International Space Station. The mission was meant to last eight days — but ended up lasting more than nine months. The stranded astronauts became space celebrities and brought renewed attention to spaceflight during a time when space travel has morphed into a blend of public-private partnerships. The astronauts were eventually brought home on SpaceX’s Crew-9 vessel in March, marking a success for SpaceX but a blow to Boeing in the private space race.
Watch video of Williams and Wilmore splashing down back to Earth in the video player above.
No. 2 — Perseverance finds possible hints of ancient life on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover has been roaming the Martian surface and collecting samples since 2021. But in the summer of 2024, the rover collected rock samples from a dried riverbed near the Jezero Crater with “leopard spots.” This year, scientists said those spots could suggest the existence of ancient microbial life on the red planet. “All we can say is one of the possible explanations is microbial life, but there could be other ways to make this set of features that we see,” a researcher told The Associated Press.
However, this story is not over. More testing is needed to confirm what the samples contain, meaning they need to be retrieved from Mars and brought back to labs on Earth. A Mars Sample Return trip was hopefully scheduled for the early 2030s, but various factors, including President Donald Trump’s reorganized budget plan for NASA, mean that the return expedition is on hold indefinitely. For now, Perseverance and a potential secret to ancient life sit waiting in a rocky Martian desert.
No. 3 — NASA probe takes closest-ever images of sun
The Parker Solar Probe, the fastest human-made object in the universe, is on a mission to “touch the Sun” — and it’s getting pretty close. In December 2024, the probe made its closest pass yet of the solar atmosphere, traveling at a speed of 430,000 mph. On Jan. 1, 2025, it sent back the closest images of the Sun ever captured, specifically of solar wind approximately 3.8 million miles from the surface.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, M. El Moutamid (SwRI), M. Hedman (University of Idaho)
This Near Infrared Camera image shows the moon, designated S/2025 U1, as well as 13 of the 28 other known moons orbiting the planet.
It’s not every day you find a new moon. Using NASA’s Webb space telescope, a team from the Southwest Research Institute studying the rings and moons of Uranus made a stunning discovery — a small moon, only about 6 miles wide, had been “hiding” close to the seventh planet this whole time. The discovery joins the planet’s 28 existing moons, designated S/2025 U1. However, all of Uranus’ moons are named after characters from the works of either William Shakespeare or Alexander Pope, so it will have a colorful literary name in no time.
No. 5 — Third-ever interstellar object tears through our solar system
NASA/ESA/David Jewitt (UCLA) via CNN Newsource
Hubble captured this image of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on July 21.
The astronomical talk of the town this year was definitely 3I/ATLAS. First spotted by the NASA-funded ATLAS telescope in Chile, the comet started as a rapidly moving dot appearing in the sky. After NASA and the European Space Agency retraced its steps, it was confirmed that the comet was actually from outside our solar system — only the third known such object. While it was only briefly close to Earth near the end of this year, astronomers stole a few glances while they could. 3I/ATLAS is currently tracing its long path out of and away from our solar system — so long and farewell.
No. 6 — Space tourism, or Katy Perry in space
Blue Origin via CNN
The all-female crew of Blue Origin’s New Shepherd.
Space tourism also had quite a year in 2025. In April, pop star Katy Perry and TV personality Gayle King boarded Blue Origin’s New Shepherd rocket with an all-female crew, a first for space travel. The technicality here is that New Shepherd is a reusable rocket, capable of vertical takeoffs and landings, designed to deliver tourists past the Karman Line, which is defined as the edge of space. It is also where you begin to experience weightlessness in atmospheric travel. Perry was reportedly so moved by the experience of entering the thermosphere that she couldn’t help singing “What A Wonderful World.” In other news, Blue Origin also recently sent the first paraplegic person into space, and SpaceX’s Fram2 mission saw four space tourists make a three-day trip around Earth’s poles.
No. 7 — A nuclear reactor on the moon? It’s less crazy than it sounds
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy made headlines earlier this year with an ambitious announcement concerning NASA’s wishes to put a nuclear reactor on Earth’s moon in the near future. While it does sound like the setup for a supervillain’s lair, the plan is actually quite practical. The name of the game in space exploration in the 21st century has become about repetition and reliability — typified by the reusable rockets favored by private space companies. NASA’s upcoming moon mission, Artemis III, will require a lot of fuel and power, especially if NASA wants to eventually station astronauts there. Add in the fact that China and Russia have announced a joint space venture to place a nuclear reactor on the moon.
Before long, the international powers will be in a new space race. The moon is also becoming a critical juncture in the effort to reach Mars — the rocky satellite’s low gravity would make space missions easier. In that way, stating a goal of putting a nuclear reactor on the moon is the first step to reaching Mars, another stated goal of NASA. And for a country — and a species — that put a man on the moon only 56 years ago, anything might be possible.
No. 8 — India, Poland and Hungary: Welcome to the ISS
It was a celebration on the International Space Station this summer when three astronauts from countries never before represented on the space station arrived. The last time anyone from India, Poland or Hungary traveled to orbit was in the 1970s and ‘80s, with the Soviet Space Program. While each of these countries have their own space programs, these true newcomers to the ISS came via Axiom Space, a Houston-based company that charters flights to the station. Axiom is also positioning itself as a potential replacement for the ISS when it is retired and decommissioned in 2030, carving out a niche in the private space race.
No. 9 — ‘Cosmic treasure chest’: Say hello to the Vera C. Rubin Observatory
NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory via CNN Newsource
This composite image combines 678 separate images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory to show faint details like clouds of gas and dust in the Trifid nebula (top right) and the Lagoon nebula.
The summer of 2025 saw the debut of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, the largest camera ever built, located on a mountaintop in Chile. According to the acting director of the National Science Foundation, the telescope “will capture more information about our universe than all optical telescopes throughout history combined.” That’s quite a claim, but Rubin already has the legwork to back it up — as part of its debut, it spotted 2,104 never-before-seen asteroids. The observatory also released a dramatic video showing the scale of its capability: the cosmic pan displays about 10 million galaxies in the camera’s wide view, which is only 0.05% of the 20 billion galaxies the observatory will map over 10 years.
No. 10 — Space is now a battlefield
Aside from international cooperation and discovery, space has also become a new frontier for something else: warfare. In the Russia/Ukraine war this past year, Ukraine accused Russian operators of hijacking a crucial satellite, replacing its broadcast with film of Russian military parades. More recently, there has been chatter of a Russian anti-satellite weapon, which one U.S. representative likened to “the Cuban Missile Crisis in space.”
DENVER — Every weekend, Denver7 compiles a list of some fun events you might enjoy. Here are our picks for the 7 best things to do in the Denver metro area and beyond this weekend. Have a fun event you’d like to showcase? Send an email to thingstodo@denver7.com.
1. Klezfest at Tivoli Turnhalle on Denver’s Auraria Campus
Join the Mizel Museum and the Jewish Community Center in Denver for the 14th annual Klezfest. This year, they’re bringing the music to a new home: the Tivoli Turnhalle on the Auraria Campus, where the energy and rhythm of klezmer will light up the season. The event takes place Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m. More info. here.
2. Celebrate the magic of the season at Hudson Holidays in Littleton
Hudson Holidays at the Hudson Gardens in Littleton brigs glowing trees and festive vibes that’ll ignite the holiday spirit as attendees take a spectacular stroll through the gardens and explore the lighted maze while admiring the larger-than-life themed exhibits. Kids of all ages will be able to take a selfie with Santa while enjoying traditional hot drinks (and cocktails for the adults). Ticket prices vary.
3. Catch the Glow with a Sweets Stroll Festival in Estes Park
With family-friendly festivals, interactive experiences, dazzling performances, and spectacular light displays, Estes Park is bringing the magic of the holiday season. This year, a 36-foot Pixel Pine tree will be the centerpiece of the season, captivating visitors with its state-of-the-art light show choreographed to beloved holiday tunes, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that transforms Bond Park into a winter wonderland. More info. here.
4. Head to the Bridge of Lights at the Royal Gorge Bridge
Step into the magic of the Royal Gorge Bridge in Fremont County this holiday season with the return of Bridge of Lights — now as an immersive walk-through celebration. There will be photos with Santa, cookie and ornament decorating, a Christmas market, and more. More info. here.
5. The Alamosa Christmas Light Parade is this Saturday
This one-of-a-kind event in Alamosa is bringing holiday cheer to Main St., where organizers will once again send all new December babies home in a stocking cap, Christmas stocking and candy cane socks. More info. here.
6. Find something delightful at the Denver Christkindlmarket
The 25th annual Denver Christkindlmarket has a new home on the Tivoli Quad at Auraria Campus this holiday season. The market recreates the experience of strolling a European village square during the holidays, as it is the region’s only authentic German Holiday Market. Denver7’s Jayson Luber will host story time in the Festival Hall on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. More info. here.
7. Snow Days at the Children’s Museum of Denver
Spend your day with the kiddos gliding around the rink, sledding on REAL snow, warming up by a toasty fire and much, much more. It’s hall happening at the Children’s Museum Denver Marsico Campus this weekend. Tickets and more info. here.
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This year has brought us a lot of things. We’ve cried, we’ve laughed, and we ate… a lot! Sometimes the biggest scandals make us forget about some of the other things that have happened in a year. You try new restaurants, try new recipes to cook, and our favorite fast food spots are always adding new things to the menu. Whether it’s for a limited time or permanent additions, we’ve seen some great fast food items in 2025. But what’s been your favorite?
With the help of The TakeOut, we’re looking at some of the best items to come to fast food in 2025. That’s everything from new treats and new sauces to the return of some nostalgic favorites. If you missed any of these and they’re still available, then now is your time to try!
Taco Bell Mike’s Hot Honey Diablo Sauce
Starting off strong is the addition of Mike’s Hot Honey Diablo Sauce. This was released alongside their nuggets as a favorite dip option. It was a spicy twist on their signature Diablo sauce, just taking things up a few notches. You can use it pretty much on anything!
Pizza Hut Spicy Hawaiian Lover
Now, this one can be controversial. For those who love pineapple on their pizza, the spicy Hawaiian from Pizza Hut may have been a dream come true. Just think about it: pineapple, jalapeno, and red chili fakes all on a crust. YUM!
McDonald’s Snack Wrap
What a classic! After a decade away, McDonald’s brought back their famous snack wraps! Customers raged and begged for years for the snack wrap’s return, and 2025 is the year we got them back! Get it original or spicy for an extra little kick!
Kentucky Fried Chicken Potato Wedges
Now, this was a personal favorite. The return of the beloved KFC potato wedges. When these disappeared a few years ago, people were not happy. But KFC finally listened and brought back its classic potato wedges to the menu.
McDonald’s Grinch Meal
The holidays always call for cool menu items, and this year was no different. McDonald’s took a holiday classic and brought a “Grinch Meal” to life. The meal came with a pair of socks and Dill Pickle McShaker Fries as an extra Grinchy bite to your McDonald’s bite.
There were quite a few items to return to menus or to make an appearance for the first time. Did you try all of the ones listed above? Check out the full TakeOut article here to see what other fast food items made their debut in 2025.
A day after director Rob Reiner and wife Michele Reiner were found dead in their California home, a purported tweet from the Hollywood star resurfaced on social media.
“Until Trump goes to prison I will no longer be posting on Twitter,” read an image of what looks like a Jan. 20, 2023, post from Reiner on the platform that has since been renamed X. “I’ve had it with the insults and put downs.”
“Rob Reiner was a loser,” Loomer said in a Dec. 15 X post, after Reiner’s son had been arrested in connection with his parents’ death. “Naturally, his son was also a loser, and he got addicted to drugs and allegedly murdered his parents.”
Her comments followed President Donald Trump criticizing Reiner as “deranged” and linking the director’s death to his liberal political beliefs. Reiner’s son, Nick, has been charged with first-degree murder in the killings. Police have said nothing about a motive and they haven’t mentioned the director’s political ideology.
(Screenshot of Loomer’s X post.)
Rob Reiner was a vocal critic of Trump, but the tweet Loomer posted was fabricated.
Searching the Wayback Machine’s archives, we found no posts from Reiner’s verified X account that called for Trump to go to prison in 2023. We also discovered no credible news reports about Reiner pledging to boycott Twitter until Trump went to prison, though we foundmultiplefact-checks of the altered post.
Reiner did publish a post on Jan. 20, 2023, at the same time that appears in the fabricated image: 9:23 a.m.
“Until Trump is Indicted for leading a Deadly Insurrection to Overthrow the United States Government, our Democracy will not be restored,” that tweet said.
The fake tweet isn’t new. In 2023, Reuters fact-checked claims it was real, and concluded that the image was likely created by altering Reiner’s post about the “deadly insurrection.”
Reiner’s X account no longer exists but Reuters reported at the time that Reiner responded to the fake post, saying “this is not my account.”
We rate claims this is an authentic post from Reiner False.
AMSTERDAM—Mews released its 2026 Hospitality Industry Outlook. The report argues that the next 12 months are a narrow window for hotels to get systems, data, and teams AI-ready before conversational search, AI-powered booking, and autonomous agents move from experiments to everyday guest expectations.
Drawing on the perspectives of eighteen industry experts, the Outlook tests a series of future scenarios through in-depth surveys, asking leaders to rate each by likelihood, impact, and desirability. Across these scenarios, there is a strong consensus that AI will compress the guest journey from search to stay, shift a large share of operational work to agents, and sharply raise expectations of what “personalized service” means.
“Hospitality is at a tipping point,” said Wouter Geerts, director of Market Research at Mews. “Hotels that treat 2026 as a planning year will lose ground. The ones that use it to clean up data, content, and systems will be the ones AI can actually find, trust, and send business to.”
Five Shifts That Will Redefine the Hotel Business
According to the report, the hospitality industry is set to change in five key ways:
Discovery and booking go conversational: Generative AI is on track to turn fragmented search and booking into one continuous conversation. Hotel visibility will hinge less on ad spend and more on structured content, connectivity, and open APIs.
A chance to reclaim the guest relationship: AI assistants could either cement OTA dominance or spark a reset in favor of direct channels. Hotels with connected systems and rich, AI-ready content will be best placed to win both guest loyalty and algorithmic trust.
Agentic AI starts behind the scenes: The first big wins are expected in back-office operations, guest communications, and housekeeping, as agentic AI handles routine tasks, coordinates across systems, and surfaces insights for teams.
Staff roles evolve, not disappear: Transactional processes—check-in, payments, routine questions—are likely to be increasingly automated. Leading hotels will redesign roles around soft skills, empathy, and brand storytelling, not admin.
2026 as an inflection point: The next year is framed as a preparation phase: aligning tech stacks, cleaning up data, and piloting supervised AI use cases so hotels are not caught off-guard as guest expectations and AI platforms accelerate in the late 2020s.
The AI Readiness Checklist
Mews asserted that 2026 will be the year hotels either build the foundations for AI or watch better-prepared competitors pull ahead. To support this, the Outlook includes a four-step AI readiness checklist that shows how properties can move quickly without taking reckless risks.
Assess tech stack and data: Hotels map core systems such as PMS, CRM, messaging, housekeeping, POS, and payments, then identify silos, data gaps, and integration opportunities. The checklist stresses the need to understand which vendors are building towards AI-driven features and open APIs and which are not.
Get content AI-ready: Clean, structured, consistent content becomes the entry ticket to AI-driven search and booking. The report calls for a single source-of-truth factsheet and concise Q&A content for common guest questions, kept in sync across all channels so AI systems can represent the property accurately and confidently.
Run one small, supervised AI pilot: Rather than a broad, unfocused transformation, hotels are urged to start with a narrow, measurable use case – for example, handling routine pre-arrival questions or summarizing guest feedback within existing systems. Clear guardrails are set, impact is measured over a few weeks, and the workflow is refined before any expansion.
Build governance and team buy-in: Cross-functional working groups, defined ownership, and staff training on new workflows and handoffs are highlighted as non-negotiable. The aim is to keep service personal and accountable even as more work is automated behind the scenes.
Each step links back to deeper sections of the report that examine generative AI, agentic AI, and automation in more detail, turning high-level scenarios into concrete next actions anchored to 2026.
The report also summarizes emerging trends in AI-driven search, booking, and operations, and outlines what hotels should expect from their tech stack as generative and agentic AI mature.
Charlotte, NC (Tuesday, December 2, 2025) — Discovery Education and Dell Technologies today announced the launch of a new educational initiative, Tech Career Circuit. Tech Career Circuit is a one-stop huboffering complementary learning resources to prepare students in grades 6-12 for success in the IT industry.
Using Tech Career Circuit’s unique hands-on learning opportunities and digital literacy resources, students can develop the essential workforce skills required in the IT industry. The Tech Career Circuit resources are standards-aligned, making integration in any classroom environment simple. The Tech Career Circuit resources include wrap-around lesson plans, activities, and educator supports available in multiple formats such as web-based content, PDFs, learning management system integrated designs, and more. The resources are designed to fit into any 6-12 classroom and support career and technical education tracks.
“Technology is moving at an incredible speed. At Dell, we want to prepare students for the future workforce, and technology and career skills are critical to participation. With Tech Career Circuit, we are providing access to opportunities and learnings that help K-12 educators anywhere in the world prepare students for skills needed in a career tomorrow,” said Carly Tatum, head of Giving and Impact at Dell Technologies. “We’re proud to partner with Discovery Education to connect students everywhere to critical future ready skills.”
Tech Career Circuit builds upon Dell Technologies’ work to support education through Dell Student TechCrew, Girls Who Game and other programming aimed at strengthening K-12 educational institutions in our communities. Dell Student TechCrew, a student-led help desk, enables students to become Dell technicians, certified to repair and refurbish devices for their school. Girls Who Game builds STEM interest in young girls through gaming and experiential challenges.
“The latest research shows that 87% of high school students find school more engaging when they see real career connections. With Tech Career Circuit, students gain engaging classroom lessons that support the development of work-ready skills,” said Catherine Dunlop, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education. “We are thrilled to partner with Dell Technologies to prepare students for in-demand careers.”
About Dell Technologies Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) helps organizations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live and play. The company provides customers with the industry’s broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio for the AI era.
About Discovery Education Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, PreK-12, digital solutions help educators engage all students and support higher academic achievement. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools that are effective, engaging, and easy to use, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Learn more at www.discoveryeducation.com.
Need a last-minute Thanksgiving idea? EZ’s Liquor Lounge, 3301 White Oak, is hosting its annual Thanksgiving community potluck on Thanksgiving Day, with owner Matt Tanner serving up his signature Goose & Andouille Gumbo. All are invited to bring a favorite dish or simply come as they are to enjoy the good company
Now through Sunday, November 30, Burger Bodega and House of Pies are teaming up on a Bayou Goo Pie Shake ($10), available atBurger Bodega, 4520 Washington, Thursday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shake blends House of Pies’ beloved Bayou Goo – featuring layers of velvety sweet cream cheese, pecans, vanilla custard and chocolate shavings – into a classic Burger Bodega milkshake, finished with milk chocolate shavings.
In honor of 15 years since opening their first shop in Miami, PINCHO is celebrating in Miami and Houston, throwing it back with fan-favorites from its vault of craveable specials. From November 28–December 4, folks can dig into the Cartel Burger and Cartel Hot Dog – your choice of signature beef patty or all-beef dog topped with cheddar, bacon, papitas, pink sauce and mango sauce, all tucked into a butter-toasted brioche bun.
The Kid, 1815 North Durham, hosts a one-night Cocktails for a Cause event on Friday, December 5 from 4 to 9 p.m., raising funds for Kids’ Meals Houston. Guests can sip two specialty cocktails – the Comeback Kid made with bourbon donated by Redemption Bourbon and the Kids’ Table featuring cantaloupe syrup and lime – with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the nonprofit’s mission to fight childhood hunger. Children are welcome until 7 p.m. and Happy Hour food pricing runs until 7 p.m.
Whiskey Cake is throwing a Prohibition Party across all Houston locations on Friday, December 5, where the whiskey flows legally and the mischief is encouraged. Expect live music, hand-rolled cigars on the patio and bartenders slinging bootleg-inspired cocktails from Whiskey Cake’s scratch bar. Doors open at 7 p.m., the band starts at 8 and guests are encouraged to dress the part. Admission is free.
Brasserie 19, 1962 West Gray, is kicking off the holiday season with a high-energy holiday edition of its signature monthly brunch party, Santa Le Brunch de Funk, held on Saturday, December 6 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Expect melted raclette, holiday cocktails and a live DJ spinning seasonal favorites and chic brunch beats. Guests are encouraged to arrive in Christmas sweaters or cozy pajamas.
The Audrey, 9595 Six Pines, will host a Holiday Nutcracker Tea on Saturday and Sunday, December 6–7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering an enchanting morning filled with seasonal magic. Guests can enjoy elegant teas, festive bites, and visits from Nutcracker ballerinas — including Clara and her mischievous mice — dancing through the dining room for charming photo ops. Reserve via OpenTable for Saturday or Sunday.
Charlotte, NC (Monday, November 24, 2025) — DreamBox Math for Texas by Discovery Education is fully approved by the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) through the Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) process for supplemental math programs.
Created expressly for Texas educators and students, DreamBox Math for Texas is 100% aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Readiness Standards. This dynamic supplemental math program for grades K-5 complements full-subject instruction, such as Bluebonnet Learning. Through engaging, adaptive lessons that reinforce key math skills and build confidence, DreamBox Math for Texas helps educators prepare students for proficiency, including STAAR assessments.
DreamBox Math for Texas offers a balance between procedural fluency and conceptual understanding and is available in English and Spanish. Offering digital and downloadable materials, DreamBox Math for Texas delivers responsive adaptivity with real-time adjustments to lessons for effective personalization. Students receive targeted support in the form of just-in-time feedback, help, and hints to guide their problem solving. Educators receive targeted instruction support, including a suite of comprehensive resources featuring guides, dashboards, and professional learning to streamline implementation and lesson planning.
In addition, Dreambox Math for Texas provides ongoing progress data that helps inform instructional decisions so educators may build on learning experiences that encourage student growth and mastery. Daily progress monitoring reports provide actionable insights for administration while a family dashboard offers at-home timely insights.
“With DreamBox Math for Texas, K-5 classrooms gain a data-informed adaptive student learning solution built in TEKS alignment and designed for student success,” said Todd Wirt, Executive Vice President of Partner Engagement. “By offering personalization, rigor, and alignment, DreamBox Math for Texas empowers educators to deliver evidence-based math instruction that engages students and accelerates learning at scale.”
DreamBox Math for Texas is part of Discovery Education’s award-winning suite of K-12 learning solutions trusted by teachers and students worldwide. For more information about the research-backed DreamBox Math for Texas, visit https://www.discoveryeducation.com/texas/math.
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About Discovery Education Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, PreK-12, digital solutions help educators engage all students and support higher academic achievement. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools that are effective, engaging, and easy to use, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Learn more at www.discoveryeducation.com.
Emilia’s Havana, 1800 Post Oak, is bringing a little Cuban heat to the season with Havana Holiday, a ticketed pop-up experience at the speakeasy-style lounge inspired by 1950s Cuba. Running through December, the pop-up features live music, elegant holiday décor and a limited-edition cocktail menu created with Royal Wine, Rémy Cointreau and Bacardi, including festive sippers like the Santa Clausmopolitan, GingerBERG Nog and Dubai Chocolate Martini. Wednesday hours run 5–10 p.m. with the kitchen open until 9 and a $25 cover that includes the first cocktail. Thursday offers dinner seating from 6:30–9 p.m. and cocktails and light bites from 10 p.m.–close; Friday and Saturday carry a $50 cover (Thursday–Saturday) that also includes the first drink and no minimum spend.
This season, Berg Hospitality is giving Houstonians a reason to pause with its new “5 at 5” special — $5 mini martinis during the 5 o’clock hour across many of its concepts. For a limited time, guests can stop by on weekdays from 5 to 6 p.m. for a perfectly chilled mini martini made their way. The special is available at Annabelle Brasserie, B&B Butchers, B.B. Italia Bistro & Bar, Emilia’s Havana, Prime 131, Real Agave, The Annie Café & Bar, The Sylvie, Trattoria Sofia, Turner’s and Turner’s Cut.
Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge, 95 Tuam Street, is celebrating Thanksgiving Eve with festive specials all night long on Wednesday, November 26, including $10 Mojitos made with Mount Gay Rum and an extended $7 smashburger-and-fries combo available until 8 p.m. A DJ kicks things off at 8 p.m.
PKL Social, 1112 Shepherd, is getting the holiday weekend started with an all-day Friendsgiving Happy Hour on Wednesday, November 26, featuring $1 wings and drink specials. Bring a canned good to support the Houston Food Bank Drive and your first beer is free. On Friday, November 28, folks can hit PKL’s second annual Thanksgiving Classic Tournament, offering a fun excuse to get out of the house and enjoy some friendly post-holiday competition.
Medium Rare will debut its iconic Thanksgiving Day tradition, the Turkey Fry, in Houston this year, open to anyone who brings a fully thawed turkey (up to 10 pounds) to be safely fried — for free — by the experts. Bring your bird to Medium Rare Houston, 3201 Louisiana, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27. While Medium Rare co-owner Mark Bucher assures they will try to get to everyone, it is a first-come, first-served basis.
On Saturday, November 29, Bas’s Cheesesteaks will be popping up at Third Place, 420 East 20th, slinging its Philly style cheesesteaks from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or until sold out). The thinly-sliced halal ribeye comes loaded into seeded hoagie rolls with mayo and melty white cheese with (or without) grilled onions, with add-ons including sweet, bell, hot, or Italian long hot peppers, habanero aioli and ketchup. Meals can be rounded out with fries and/or a Pudgy’s deli cookie.
Traveler’s Cart, 1401 Montrose, recently transitioned from counter-service to full-service as owners Thy and Matthew Mitchell evolve the concept to put an even greater emphasis on service and hospitality. With the full-service transition comes several new offerings, including Thai Chili Queso, Baja Shrimp Tacos, Chicken Lo Mein, Salmon Donburi, Chicken Parmesan, Vietnamese Cha Ca and Steak Frites. New cocktails include a Mexican Espresso Martini and a Pandan Sticky Rice Old Fashioned.
