Month: July 2025

What do you do when a brown bear has dental problems? In the case of Duluth, Minnesota’s Lake Superior Zoo, you create a record-breaking dental crown. 

The beloved zoo shared on social media that Dr. Grace Brown, a board-certified veterinary dentist who performed a root canal on the same tooth two years ago, performed the hours-long procedure.

Tundra, a 6-year-old Alaskan brown bear weighing 800 pounds who can reach upwards of 8 feet tall when standing up on two legs, was sedated for the procedure that gave him the largest dental crown ever created. The Associated Press reports that while Tundra was under sedation, a member of the zoo’s trained armed response team was present in the room and on guard in the event Tundra woke up in the middle of the procedure. Thankfully, the procedure concluded before Tundra woke up.

Tundra is now back in his habitat. In a sign of great news, the bear is behaving and eating normally. The AP reports that Tundra and his sibling, Banks, have been at the zoo since they were 3 months old, after their mother was killed. 

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Related: Fisherman Stabbed Through Skull by Rare Trophy Fish

“Tundra the Brown Bear just made dental history!We’re thrilled to share that Tundra has officially received the first-ever full metal crown placed on a bear—and it’s also the largest veterinary crown ever created in the world! 👑😲,” the zoo’s Instagram caption read. “Tundra first fractured his tooth back in 2023. After a successful root canal, he reinjured the area—so this massive, custom-made crown was created to keep that tooth protected for the rest of his life.”

“He’s got a little glint in his smile now,” Caroline Routley, the zoo’s marketing manager said, via The AP.

Fans of E. Lockhart’s young-adult novel “We Were Liars” are in for a treat this summer. Prime Video has released a TV series based on the Goodreads Choice Award winner.

The TV adaption of “We Were Liars” premiered on Prime Video on June 18. The series stars Emily Alyn Lind as Cadence “Cady” Sinclair Eastman, Caitlin FitzGerald as Penny Sinclair, Mamie Gummer as Carrie Sinclair, and Candice King as Bess Sinclair.

There’s always going to be some hesitation when a popular novel like “We Were Liars” gets adapted into a TV series. That being said, only 63% of the critics’ reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are positive.

Some critics believe this show is worth binging, while others claim there are better options in the thriller department. 

“Unlike the best eat-the-rich mysteries, this is painfully lacking in the laughs department and probably takes itself a bit too seriously. But you won’t regret sticking around for the final reveal…: it’s so bonkers it’s beyond the guessing game,” Rebecca Cook of Metro wrote.

“The novel’s teenage readers will no doubt eat up this adaptation, but with so much more substantial TV drama out there to choose from, the rest of us might prefer to put away childish things,” Pat Stacey of the Irish Independent said.

Variety’s Aramide Tinubu, meanwhile, called this series a “twisted and compelling series about family, entitlement and consequences.”

For what it’s worth, 65% of the reviews from the fans are positive. 

All eight episodes of “We Were Liars” are available to stream on Prime Video.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise from rebuild cornerstone to NBA royalty is complete. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard has agreed to a four-year, $285 million supermax extension, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. 

It’s the richest annual salary in league history.

The deal cements Gilgeous-Alexander’s future in Oklahoma City through the 2030-31 season and marks his second extension with the franchise since being acquired in the Paul George trade back in 2019.

Now 26, Gilgeous-Alexander just completed one of the most dominant individual seasons the NBA has ever seen. He led the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game during the regular season, then averaged 30.3 points in the Finals. He became only the fourth player in NBA history to win the scoring title, MVP, and Finals MVP in the same season, joining Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal.

He also became the first player since O’Neal in 2000 to win both the scoring title and a championship in the same year.

More than just accolades, Gilgeous-Alexander’s journey reflects unmatched loyalty. After being traded to a Thunder team that soon gutted its roster, he stayed patient through back-to-back losing seasons while the front office rebuilt around him. The gamble paid off.

This past season, the Thunder surged to 68 wins, and Gilgeous-Alexander powered the run with 72 straight games of 20 or more points—the fourth-longest such streak in league history. His +918 plus-minus ranked as the best since Stephen Curry’s 2016-17 season.

He scored 3,172 points across the regular season and playoffs, which is the most since Jordan’s 1992-93 title run.

In signing the new extension, Gilgeous-Alexander is not just securing a record-breaking payday. He’s doubling down on a franchise he helped transform. 

From rebuilding years to championship parades, SGA’s loyalty, patience, and dominance have now reshaped the Thunder and the modern blueprint for NBA greatness.

Related: From Underdog to Champion: Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander Calls Out Haters in Viral Post

A beloved craft brewery and tap room in Virginia is set to close its doors later this month after its landlord allegedly doubled the rent due.

Brew Republic Bierworks announced it will be closing after nearly a decade in business on July 27. Before its final day, though, the popular brewery announced a final closing three-day party.

“Mark your calendars: We plan to have a big weekend-long-almost-nine-years-closing party July 25-27 to honor you and the journey we’ve all been on together. Our last day open to the public will be Sunday, July 27,” a statement from the brewery read. “Between now and then, we plan to operate normally and will have all kinds of specials and fun in store before our last weekend – although there may be some hiccups here and there; we ask for your forgiveness and understanding in advance. We’ll have food, fun, alcohol, and A LOT of beer we need to get rid of – so stop by, eat, drink and be merry while celebrating 9 years of the Republic.”

On its FAQ page, the brewery revealed the nature of its closing:

“Yes, after nearly 9 years, the dream of a new nation of beer – for the people, by the people – is coming to an end. Our landlord is forcing us out, and given the high costs of relocating and the distressed nature of the brewery and restaurant industries, we’ve decided to shut down and close,” the answer read.

The brewery went into more detail, revealing the shopping center where the brewery resides was sold to a new owner in August 2023. 

“We had hopes that we’d have a strong and productive relationship with the new center owner, but this new landlord quickly proved to be far more difficult to work with, and far less welcoming of our business – and declined to support us, even on activities that generated revenue for them and other tenants (like our annual beer fest – which they haven’t allowed us to do since they became the center’s owner),” Brew Republic said in a statement. 

“They made it clear almost from the moment they purchased our shopping center that they wanted us gone. It took a bit of time, but they have now triggered a provision in our lease that allows them to terminate our lease – and earlier this month, they did just that….we haven’t performed at a high enough level as to be able justify paying double the rent our landlord is demanding to let us stay, or to afford the million-dollars-plus for a relocation. Things have been good enough to keep the engine running, but not to move, take apart that engine and put it back together again.”

The final batch of beer brewed at Brew Republic came in mid-June, but there is “plenty left” for the final party.

Related: McDonald’s Removing 1 Breakfast Menu Item for Good on July 2

Wildfires have been raging along the West Coast and in Canada for most of the spring and summer. For some U.S. residents, waking up to poor air quality alerts and haze-filled skies has become the norm.

Allergy sufferers across the country can attest to the itchy eyes, stuffed noses, and sore throats caused by exposure to wildfire smoke. However, a new study claims that wildfires might be doing more damage than previously thought.

They might be altering the very ways in which our immune systems function, leading to people becoming more ill.

Researchers reported in the journal Natural Medicine that inhaling smoke can affect humans at a cellular level.

To gather information for the study, researchers collected blood samples from 31 firefighters and people who had been exposed to wildfire and compared them to those from 29 people living in unexposed areas, U.S News reported.

In a news release from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, it was announced that, “The study found several cellular-level changes in the smoke-exposed individuals compared to the non-smoke-exposed individuals.” 

Smoke-exposed individuals “showed an increase in memory CD8+ T cells (a type of immune cell critical to long-term immunity against pathogens) and elevated activation and chemokine receptor biomarkers (indicators of inflammation and immune activity) within multiple cell types,” it said. 

“Additionally, those who had been exposed to smoke showed changes in 133 genes related to allergies and asthma, and more of their immune cells were bound with toxic metals, including mercury and cadmium.”

Principal research scientist in the Department of Environmental Health and the study’s lead author, Mary Johnson, stated, “Our findings demonstrate that the immune system is extremely sensitive to environmental exposures like fire smoke, even in healthy individuals. Knowing exactly how may help us detect immune dysfunction from smoke exposure earlier and could pave the way for new therapeutics to mitigate, or prevent altogether, the health effects of smoke exposure and environmental contaminants.”

Related: Wildfire Smoke Spreads Dangerous Bacteria and Fungi, Study Finds

Walmart employees are sounding the alarm as sudden staffing cuts sweep through stores nationwide, reportedly driven by changes to immigration work authorizations and legal uncertainty.

Multiple staffers have taken to social media to share that coworkers have disappeared from schedules overnight—sometimes in double-digit numbers, the Daily Mail reported. 

One Reddit user claimed their location lost 10 employees with work visas. Another reported 40 departures at a 400-person store, forcing older workers and managers to stretch themselves thin just to keep shelves stocked.

“Most of our older floor associates are constantly asking for help,” one employee wrote. “It’s not really ideal.”

The staffing drop comes as Walmart, the largest private employer in the U.S., moves to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that abruptly ended a temporary work program. The program had shielded over half a million migrants from deportation and granted legal work authorization until the court reversed course in late May.

Retail law experts say the ruling left companies like Walmart in a bind. While the government hasn’t provided clear lists of impacted workers, federal filings have stated that companies are responsible for removing unauthorized employees, even if their status was revoked suddenly.

“Employers like Walmart have no choice but to stop employing workers who lack US work authorization,” immigration attorney Loren Locke told Daily Mail. “But it is tricky to comply when they have a large number of current employees whose work permits are getting cancelled prematurely.”

Walmart has reportedly told managers in Florida and Texas to review HR files and reverify work eligibility for employees tied to the now-defunct program. 

Related: Walmart Just Opened Stores You Can’t Shop In and They Might Change Everything

But identifying those workers isn’t simple. The program falls under the same visa classification as others still in effect, making it difficult to isolate affected staff.

The company has not publicly commented, but lawyers warn that this situation exposes the need for smarter employee tracking and support systems. “We’re not talking about people trying to bend the rules. These are employees who’ve done everything right,” said Los Angeles trial attorney Jamie E. Wright. 

No, these employees who followed every rule are finding themselves out of a job.

As customers walk into understaffed stores and employees work overtime to cover the gaps, many are wondering what Walmart’s next move will be and whether it will come fast enough.

Related: Millions of Shoppers Feel the Pain as Grocery Strike Disrupts 5 States

McDonald’s has 13,637 locations across the United States, so it is a popular fast food chain from the West Coast to the East Coast. 

With the current economic situation getting more difficult, fast food restaurants have been unveiling cost-friendly items. 

McDonald’s has been active in that front lately, and they just announced another new menu item: The Daily Double burger. 

This item was released in 2012 but disappeared, and now it is coming back, per the McDonald’s official website. 

“Already a hit in local markets like Chicago, Miami, and Seattle, this fan-favorite burger is officially joining our national menu ‘roster’- available at participating McDonald’s restaurants across the U.S. through the end of 2025. It’s made with two 100% beef patties, seasoned to perfection, and topped with melty American cheese, shredded lettuce, slivered onions, mayo and two juicy slices of tomato.”

As it turns out, this appears to be a response to Wendy’s, which recently brought out the Wendy’s classic Dave’s Double, which includes two patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, ketchup, mayo, and onion on a toasted bun. 

Wendy’s burger doesn’t have a pickle, while the McDonald’s item does. 

However, McDonald’s is going one step further with the new burger. As of July 22, it will be part of the McValue Meal Deal bundle, which includes a four-piece chicken McNuggets, small fries and a small drink for either $6 or $7. 

So, the fast food rivalry continues with McDonald’s aiming to save customers some cash while also filling their stomachs. 

Related: Beloved Food Court Staple is Closing After 40 Years

McDonald’s regularly introduces new menu items, with some being sold nationwide and others on a more limited basis.

Recently, the Golden Arches announced they would be serving Twister Fries in the United States for the first time. The golden-brown side item are McDonald’s version of curly fries.

There is a catch, though. The Twister Fries are only available at one American location: McDonald’s international restaurant in Chicago. 

Popular snack social media account Snackolator has the details.

“McDonald’s has brought Twister Fries to the US… but only at one store!” Snackolator wrote on Instagram. “You can now get Twister Fries currently sold in other countries at McDonald’s international restaurant in Chicago (1035 W. Randolph). At this location they rotate a menu every 6 weeks or so and feature items that they’re currently selling outside of the USA.”

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Twister Fries have been served at McDonald’s locations in various foreign countries throughout Europe and Asia. 

The comments section on the Snackolator post is filled with Mickey D’s fans, some of whom have already sampled the fast food delicacy abroad.

“Heading to Chicago next week and that McDonald’s is on my list! Going to have to try the fries!” one person wrote.

“I visited it last year and I ate the Bacon BBQ Stack from England and it was damn good!” another person added about the McDonald’s international location in the Windy City.

“I had them in Ireland a few years ago, along with cheese curds,” a third person said.

“Had these in Germany,” added a fourth.

“McDonald’s needs to start changing the menus in all of the McDonalds in this country,” someone else suggested.

McDonald’s international menu can be found at the franchise’s location at 1035 W Randolph St in Chicago.