Month: September 2025

Labor Day is a chance for millions of Americans to recharge before the unofficial end of summer. Children are about to return to school around the nation, and many adults are getting ready for the busiest part of the year in the fall and winter.

The final major holiday before Thanksgiving provides a chance to rest, but the need for daily essentials and more stops for no holiday. Groceries, toiletries and more are all on offer at stores around the country if needed, and Americans can visit a number of them as the fall season gets underway.

Some retailers are adhering to their normal schedules, while others are adopting special hours for the Labor Day holiday. Here’s where Americans will be able to shop on September 1.

Which Stores Are Open For The Holiday?

Major retailers like Target, Staples and Petco are mostly operating under their normal business hours on September 1, but individual stores may vary. Shoppers are urged to check their local stores to see if special hours are in place for the holiday, but most of these stores will be operating as usual.

Stores like Barnes & Noble, Best Buy and PetSmart all have special, shorter schedules for the holiday. Best Buy locations are mostly set to close at 8 PM on Labor Day, while PetSmart stores are closing at 6 PM.

Shoppers seeking to get grocery shopping done during the holiday are largely in luck, as many major retailers and chains are operating under normal business hours. Walmart, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Food Lion and Wegmans are among stores that are not altering their schedule for Monday’s shoppers.

How Are Pharmacies Handling Labor Day?

Alternatively, some chains may have reduced or altered hours in certain locations due to their ownership structure. Stores like Shop Rite and Safeway may have different hours on Monday, as each location is often independently owned. Retailers with this structure have advised shoppers to check in with their local store to verify the hours of operation on Labor Day.

Top pharmacies are open on Labor Day, but their hours may vary by location. CVS stores are largely operating under normal business hours, while Walgreens’ pharmacies are not expected to be open – with the exception of 24-hour locations.

The largest retailer to completely close its doors on Labor Day is Costco. The big box store will reopen under normal hours on Tuesday, but shoppers looking to take advantage of wholesale deals can still visit both Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club to meet their needs.

A Florida State freshman football player is currently hospitalized after being shot Sunday night, one day after the program’s massive season-opening win over Alabama.

Ethan Pritchard, a first-year linebacker from Sanford, Florida, has been identified as the victim of a shooting which took place around 10 p.m. Sunday near the Havana Heights Apartments in Havana, Florida.

On Monday morning, the Florida State football program released a statement confirming Pritchard had been shot and saying the young man was in critical, but stable condition.

“Ethan Pritchard, a freshman linebacker on Florida State’s football team, is in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit at a local hospital after suffering a gunshot wound last night while visiting family in Havana, Florida,” the statement reads.

“The Pritchard family is thankful for the support from so many people, as well as the care from first responders and medical professionals, and asks that their privacy be respected at this time. Further updates will be provided as they are available.”

The shooting is under investigation

According to reports, officers were called to the scene near the Havana Heights Apartments at the corner of 16th Street and South Main Street in Havana Sunday night.

One man, now identified as Pritchard, was shot. He was found by first responders inside a vehicle.

“Officers did arrive [and] were able to get him out of the vehicle, and EMS arrived where they transported him to a local hospital,” said Captain Anglie Holmes of the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office.

Information on what happened is scarce at the moment, but the shooting is under investigation.

Pritchard a promising young player

A star at Seminole High School in Sanford, Pritchard committed to Florida State in October 2023. In his final two high school seasons, the 6-foot-2, 224-pounder combined for 114 tackles, including 18 for loss and one fumble recovery.

Pritchard did not appear in FSU’s 31-17 upset win over No. 8 Alabama in Tallahassee on Saturday afternoon.

There’s no denying that the events of September 11, 2001, changed airline travel when it comes to beefing up security measures. Southwest Airlines announced that they have begun rolling out a new safety feature on Friday, with its first jet having a secondary barrier to the flight deck.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight was the first to feature the new changes on a route from Phoenix to Denver. It’s just the beginning of initiating the gradual adoption of the safety feature across new U.S. commercial aircraft.

The added safety barrier would limit the possibility of forceful intrusion and deter any unauthorized entry into the cockpit, putting the flight pilots in a more secure position against potential threats.

Starting Monday, Boeing and Airbus began sending out modified airplanes with the new upgrade under the Federal Aviation Administration regulations that were announced in 2023. But a majority of airlines have delayed using the aircraft with the barriers, while the FAA gave a deadline of July 2026.

Southwest Airlines is the first to put the new safety feature into action, with plans to add 25 more flights by the end of the year.

“We felt like we could get it done and put it in production as soon as the aircraft was ready,” said Justin Jones, Southwest’s executive vice president for operations.

Under the FAA rule, only new aircraft will currently have the secondary barrier on commercial passenger flights traveling in the United States. For now, existing planes are not required to be modified with the barrier. Airplane manufacturers that haven’t received FAA certification for barriers are not currently subject to compliance.

After the events of 9/11, the FAA put into place security measures of reinforced cockpit doors and procedures to limit cockpit access during flights. As well as TSA overhauling security with mandatory baggage checks, stricter passenger screenings, and in-flight security measures like an on-board Federal Air Marshal.

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Why We Love This Deal

Bass Pro Shops Labor Day sale runs through Sept. 3, and it’s filled with all kinds of great outdoor gear from vertical smokers to soft coolers and plenty of hunting and fishing gear. Our latest attention-worthy find in the sale is a pair of Cabela’s work boots, marked all the way down to $65.

Right now, Cabela’s Kiltie 2.0 Waterproof Work Boots are over 40% off. It’s a pretty sweet deal among the selection of workwear Bass Pro Shops has cut prices on for the holiday, and one that’s almost assuredly ending with the close of the sale on Wednesday. 

Cabela’s Kiltie 2.0 Waterproof Work Boots, $65 (was $110) at Bass Pro Shops

What Shoppers Should Know

• Sizes Available: 7 through 14, wide sizes available
• Materials: Full-grain leather uppers, removable polyurethane insoles, and a Goodyear welt construction.
• Resistances: The Kiltie 2.0 is waterproof plus oil, slip, and acid resistant.
• Notable Feature: Kiltie tongue

Cabela’s Kiltie 2.0 was made for guys who need protection, performance, and persistence. In addition to being waterproof, they’re oil, slip, and acid resistant. The uppers are made of a distinguished full-grain leather, and they even feature a Goodyear welt construction that cobblers consider the pinnacle of shoemaking for its long lifespan and ability to be resoled.

This is also a kiltie. Kilties are somewhat of a dying breed among boots, but they’re immediately identifiable by their extra leather feature seen just below the bottom lace, a sort of tongue extension over the rest of the upper. The kiltie serves to keep small particles like sand and leaf litter from wiggling into the footbed of the shoe, keeping the interior clean.

Related: Merrell’s ‘Extremely Durable’ $145 Work Boots Are Just $60 Right Now

What Shoppers Are Saying

Tons of customers commented on how quickly the shoes adapt to your feet. One said “they’re super comfy and mold quickly to your feet,” while another called the Kiltie 2.0 a “good fitting boot” and said they wore them right away without needing to break them in.

One prospective shopper asked if the boots were good for walking on concrete for long, overtime shifts. They were met with a response from somebody who’s been wearing them for a while and said they’ve been “solid and supportive,” but likely too hard for all-day, hard concrete work. Instead, they said, “I love them for general all-purpose work, though, as well as general outdoor off-trail walking.”

The Cabela’s Kiltie 2.0 Waterproof Work Boots are an incredibly affordable $65 while this deal lasts, which is likely now through Sept. 3.

Shop More Bass Pro Shops Labor Day Deals

• Cabela’s Roughneck Wedge Work Boots, $65 (was $110) at Bass Pro Shops
• Cabela’s Instinct Credence Gore-Tex Insulated Hunting Boots, $110 (was $200) at Bass Pro Shops
• RedHead Timber Buck Waterproof Hunting Boots, $55 (was $90) at Bass Pro Shops

An up-and-coming country singer had to be removed from the stage during a concert in New York over the weekend, later admitting to struggling with alcoholism.

Bryan Martin, whose song “We Ride” reached as high as No. 56 on the Billboard Top 100 in 2024, was performing at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds in Rensselaer County Friday night when he “displayed signs of intoxication and erratic behavior,” according to the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office.

At first, officers reportedly attempted to help Martin leave the stage, but the singer “became resistant and had to be forcibly escorted out.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bryan Martin (@bryanmartinmusic)

Martin, 37, is currently in the middle of his “Years In The Making Tour,” which is scheduled to run through November 8.

‘Sorry I let y’all down’

Hours after the incident took place, Martin shared a heartfelt and apologetic message on Instagram, taking responsibility for his actions and admitting his recent struggles with alcoholism and depression.

“Sorry I let yall down tonight… truth is I’m not ok,” Martin wrote. “Been hitting it hard for a while and haven’t took time to be honest with myself about my mental health and it’s nothing new to struggle with my anxiety and depression but I’ve had a weight on my heart lately that’s Been heavy and accumulating with time and I let myself and my fans down by not addressing them and getting help and pretending it was all gonna just go away. Feelings and this life ain’t ever gonna be something that gets easier.”

The Logansport, Louisiana native, who released his fourth studio album “Years in the Making” earlier this year, also shared that he misses his children and family when on the road.

“Lately I’ve learned I let my fragile mind override my heart at times and tonight it got the best of me,” he added. “I apologize for the bad days… but I’m grateful for the countless good nights we’ve shared this year.. it’s been the most consistent streak I’ve seen in years.. day one of another one starts today.”

On Sunday, Martin also shared another post apologizing to fans and thanking the sheriff’s department.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bryan Martin (@bryanmartinmusic)

Rensselaer County Sheriff’s ask for ‘compassion’

In their statement regarding the incident, the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office expressed their concern for Martin and recognized a shift in their perspective “from one of conflict to one of compassion.”

“As Sheriff, I want to be clear: our deputies handled the situation professionally and without injury to anyone involved,” said Sheriff Kyle Bourgault. “But the larger issue is not the resistance we encountered—it is the battle Mr. Martin himself is facing. Addiction is a disease, and it requires both accountability and empathy. My hope is that Mr. Martin receives the resources and support he needs to overcome this struggle and continue to share his gift of music with fans in a healthier way.”

Less than three weeks before he died, Ozzy Osbourne performed his final show with Black Sabbath at the Back to the Beginning farewell concert. His roots with Sabbath were solid, despite the fact that the bulk of his career was devoted to his solo work with albums such as Blizzard of Ozz, Diary of a Madman, Bark at the Moon, and No More Tears.

Osbourne’s early success as a solo artist was boosted by the addition of guitar player Randy Rhoads to his band. But Rhoads, who died tragically in a plane crash while touring with Osbourne in 1982, didn’t like playing Osbourne’s old songs and wanted to pursue other interests just before his death, according to fellow Osbourne musician Bob Daisley.

In an August 2025 interview on the Artists on Record podcast, Daisley revealed that Rhoads wanted to go back to school after recording two albums (Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman) with Osbourne’s classic solo lineup.

“It was getting to the point where Randy didn’t want to be in a rock band, because he wanted to pursue his studies and get his master’s degree,” Daisley recalled. “So, he wanted to leave anyway, whether we would have gotten another album, or maybe two, out of that lineup before Randy left.”

“Randy… He didn’t like playing the Black Sabbath songs. He was not a Black Sabbath fan,” Daisley added. “We used to do a medley of Sabbath songs at the end of the set when we did the UK tour, ‘Paranoid’, ‘Iron Man’, and I think ‘Children of the Grave.’ He didn’t like doing those. But yeah, Randy was becoming more and more serious about his classical playing, so it may have lasted a third and a fourth album. I really don’t know.”

The original Ozzy Osbourne lineup consisted of Rhoads on guitar, Daisley on bass, and Lee Kerslake on drums.

Randy Rhoads Respected Black Sabbath But Wasn’t a Fan

In the 2022 documentaryRandy Rhoads: Reflections of a Guitar Icon, Rhoads talked about Black Sabbath in a vintage interview. “I wasn’t a big Sabbath fan, to be honest,” the late guitarist said in the interview. “I mean, they were great, what they did, obviously – did it and made it huge. Gotta respect them.”

His brother Kelle Rhoads added that the guitarist also didn’t get Osbourne’s “Ozzy” knuckle tattoos. “He used to go, ‘I don’t like Black Sabbath very much,” Kelle recalled. “‘Who the f— would write his name on his hand?’ He goes, ‘I don’t understand that.”

Ozzy Osbourne Said He Owed His Career to Randy Rhoads

Rhoads became an instant guitar icon thanks to his appearance on Osbourne’s debut 1980 solo album, which included songs such as “Crazy Train” and “Mr.  Crowley.” The album came one year after Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath, ultimately saving the singer’s career.

But Rhoads was killed in a freak plane accident in Leesburg, FL, on March 19th, 1982, at age 25. At the time, the band was touring in support of the newly released Diary of a Madman.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Osbourne described Rhoads as “a gift from God.”

“He was a great player. …He’s probably the truest musician I’ve ever played with,” Osbourne said in 2021. “The way he died was a terrible thing. I owe my career to him.”

Osbourne also revealed that his last conversation with Rhoads was about the guitarist’s desire to move on. “On the last journey we had together, going from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Orlando, Florida, I was on the bus, and he said to me, ‘I want to quit rock & roll,'” Osbourne recalled. “I said, ‘You want what?’ …I said, ‘Are you joking?’ He said,  ‘No. I want to get a degree at UCLA.’”

“That was the last conversation I had with him,” Osbourne said. “And 12 hours later, he was dead. …I knew him for a very short amount of time. But what he gave me in that short amount of time was immeasurable in f—ing greatness.“

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is stunning fans with a major transformation. A viral TikTok and X video shows “The Rock” with what appears to be major muscle and weight loss.

The video shows the noticeably leaner Johnson at the Venice Film Festival. Photos published on Getty Images from the festival confirm that “The Rock” has debuted a different look. Johnson, 53, was still showing a more muscular look last June, photos on Getty images also show.

“The Rock has become The Pebble,” joked one fan. However, another wrote, “He looks good.”

“For a movie role, I believe. But also necessary for his health in the long run,” another fan wrote on X.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Spoke About Transforming for His New Movie, ‘The Smashing Machine’

A YouTube video published by the site Diario As on Sept. 1 shows Johnson arriving with co-star Emily Blunt to promote their movie The Smashing Machine.

The film was “showcased” in Venice, according to the site. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson indicated he transformed for the role.

“This transformation was something I was really hungry to do,” Johnson told THR.

The Rock “Dwayne Johnson” after losing so much muscle mass. pic.twitter.com/wN2Q2lX7NT

— Nandi 🤍🤍 (@pallnandi) September 1, 2025

“I had been very fortunate to have the career that I’ve had over the years and to make the films that I’ve made, but there was just a voice inside of me, a little voice that said, ‘Well, what if I could do more — I want to do more and what does that look like?’” he said to the site.

In the drama, Johnson plays UFC and MMA legend Mark Kerr, who battled prescription drug addiction, according to THR, which noted that Blunt plays Johnson’s wife in the film.

Johnson discussed feeling pigeon-holed in Hollywood during a press event in Venice, according to Variety. His new physique fits a more dramatic acting, and less action hero, role.

“…When you’re in Hollywood — as we all know, it had become about box office. And you chase the box office, and the box office can be very loud and it can become very resounding and it can push you into a category and into a corner,” he said, according to Variety. “This is your lane and this is what you do and this is what Hollywood wants you to do.”

In contrast, “The Rock” sported his typical muscular look in June.

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