In a significant diplomatic development, Russia and Ukraine conducted a major prisoner exchange on Wednesday, marking the most substantial release of captives since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Ukrainian authorities reported that 230 Ukrainian prisoners of war were repatriated in the first exchange in nearly five months. Correspondingly, Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the release of 248 Russian servicemen under the auspices of a deal facilitated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The UAE’s Foreign Ministry credited the success of the swap to the “strong friendly relations” between the UAE and both the Russian Federation and the Republic of Ukraine. The ministry highlighted the sustained efforts and communication at the highest levels that contributed to the accomplishment of the exchange.
Despite Western sanctions and international pressure on Russia following its invasion in 2022, the UAE has maintained close economic ties with Moscow. The role of the UAE in sponsoring and facilitating this prisoner exchange underscores its commitment to diplomatic efforts and underscores the significance of sustained diplomatic relations in fostering such resolutions.
The release of hundreds of prisoners of war in this exchange represents a notable step toward easing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, providing a glimmer of hope for potential diplomatic progress in the ongoing conflict.
In a significant legal development, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday that federal regulations do not compel emergency rooms to conduct life-saving abortions if such procedures would conflict with state laws. The decision follows the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, prompting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue guidance to hospitals, reminding them of their responsibility to provide stabilizing care, including medically necessary abortions, under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).
The HHS guidance specified that when a state law restricts or prohibits abortion without including an exception for the life of the pregnant person, or if the exception is narrower than EMTALA’s definition of an emergency medical condition, the state law is preempted. Texas contested this, arguing that it amounted to a “nationwide mandate” for hospitals and emergency-room physicians to perform abortions, a stance supported by several anti-abortion medical associations.
Since the summer of 2022, nearly all abortions have been prohibited in Texas, except in cases where it is necessary to save the life of the pregnant patient. However, challenges have arisen in implementing the medical exception, with doctors and patients facing dilemmas amid the risk of severe legal consequences, including imprisonment and license revocation.
In November, a lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice highlighted the need for ensuring care is offered as required by statute, particularly for individuals presenting emergency medical conditions in hospital emergency rooms. The HHS guidance aimed to address concerns about hospitals fulfilling their obligations under EMTALA, especially considering the limitations imposed by state laws.
In August 2022, a federal district judge in Lubbock sided with Texas, characterizing the guidance as a new interpretation of EMTALA. The judge granted a temporary injunction, later extended, prompting the 5th Circuit to hear arguments in November. During the hearing, judges expressed reservations about the expansive nature of the HHS guidance.
Tuesday’s ruling, authored by Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt, declined to broaden the scope of EMTALA. Englehardt emphasized that EMTALA does not provide an unqualified right for pregnant individuals to undergo abortions and does not mandate medical treatments, including abortion care. The court asserted that EMTALA does not preempt Texas law. This decision marks a significant legal development in the ongoing legal challenges following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
In a medical milestone, Owen Monroe, at just 18 days old, became the first person worldwide to undergo a partial heart transplant in 2022. His groundbreaking surgery has not only captured the attention of Hollywood, with his story featured in a recent episode of “Grey’s Anatomy,” but now, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) highlights another significant achievement in the procedure.
Owen’s doctors have documented the unprecedented growth of the tissue used to repair his heart, marking a crucial advancement in this type of pediatric cardiac surgery. Published on Tuesday, the study reveals that, for the first time, the tissue has adapted and grown along with Owen’s development, presenting a potential solution for pediatric patients with similar congenital heart defects.
At the time of the initial surgery, Owen’s heart was the size of a strawberry. Now, at 20 months old, it has expanded to about the size of an apricot. Remarkably, the new valves and blood vessels have seamlessly kept pace with his growth, offering the hope that he may not require additional risky heart surgeries throughout his life, a common concern for children born with such defects.
Researchers have long sought to achieve the growth of heart valves through tissue engineering, using lab-grown cells. While successful in animals, this approach had not yet proven effective in humans until Owen’s case.
Dr. Kathleen Fenton, Chief of the Advanced Technologies and Surgery Branch of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, hails this development as a “huge advance” but stresses the need for ongoing research to assess the long-term outcomes. Fenton, who was not involved in the research, emphasizes the potential for this groundbreaking procedure to offer a lifeline to children with limited treatment options.
Since Owen’s pioneering surgery, 12 additional partial heart transplants have been performed in children, with nine at Duke Health, the hospital responsible for developing the operation. The technique has not only provided hope for individual cases but has also facilitated “domino transplants” and split-root transplants, allowing a single donor heart to save the lives of two critically ill infants.
In a domino transplant, the first child receives a whole donated heart, while the second baby benefits from the healthy blood vessels and valves from the first infant. The split-root transplant involves the donation of functioning heart parts to two infants, showcasing the potential to utilize donor parts that were previously deemed unusable.
Dr. Joseph Turek, Chief of Pediatric Heart Surgery at Duke Health and the surgeon behind the partial heart transplant, envisions this procedure helping hundreds of children annually in the United States. Turek, the lead author of the study, anticipates that the approach could benefit over a thousand kids each year, ultimately dependent on the availability of donors.
Owen Monroe’s case is a testament to the potential of medical innovation, offering hope for a new era in pediatric cardiac care. His parents, Nick and Tayler Monroe, express gratitude for being part of this groundbreaking journey, hoping their son’s experience can contribute to advancements in treating congenital heart diseases in other children.
Mayor John Whitmire, freshly sworn in, has announced the commencement of negotiations on Wednesday regarding the contentious issue of Houston firefighters’ pay. The long-standing dispute, marked by legal battles and controversy over Prop B, is set to enter a new phase under Whitmire’s administration.
During his inauguration party at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Tuesday night, Whitmire addressed the crowd, emphasizing his commitment to resolving the pay dispute that has plagued the city for years. He announced the start of negotiations with the firefighters’ union at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, marking a significant development in a conflict that has lingered for seven years without a contract.
The mayor acknowledged the financial strain on taxpayers due to the legal back-and-forth between the city and the firefighters’ union. Whitmire expressed his determination to find a solution without resorting to further lawsuits, signaling a shift from the protracted legal battles that characterized the previous years.
“We are going to negotiate. We’re going to get out of the courthouse. You know we shouldn’t resolve our differences in court. It should be done in the mayor’s office. It ought to be fair to Houstonians, and it ought to be fair to the firefighters,” stated Whitmire, highlighting his commitment to a fair resolution.
Houston Professional Firefighters Union President Patrick “Marty” Lancton echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need to address the issue without prolonged legal wrangling. Lancton stated, “You can’t solve a problem if you don’t admit, acknowledge you have a problem. That’s step one. Step two is you can’t keep suing Houston firefighters. We’ve lost 500 in the past seven years. Unprecedented loss for public safety.”
In 2021, the city approved an 18% increase in firefighter pay over three years using federal COVID-19 relief funds. However, the union deemed it insufficient, labeling it a temporary bonus rather than a permanent raise. Former Mayor Sylvester Turner defended the decision, stating it was what the city could afford at the time.
Mayor Whitmire reiterated his disagreement with litigating against first responders and expressed his eagerness to resolve the dispute, emphasizing the importance of recruiting new firefighters for the city’s safety and well-being. The negotiations mark a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle over Houston firefighters’ contracts.
Mayor John Whitmire wasted no time in emphasizing his commitment to combat crime as he embarked on his first night in office, riding alongside Houston Police Chief Troy Finner shortly after being sworn in as the 63rd mayor of Houston. Whitmire, who had pledged to enhance public safety during his campaign, responded to crime scenes around the city shortly after midnight on New Year’s Eve.
“I want constituents to know I take public safety very seriously,” Whitmire asserted to reporters. “We don’t have time to waste.” In a show of dedication, he and Chief Finner ventured out to crime scenes to witness firsthand the challenges faced by law enforcement in the nation’s fourth-largest city.
“I’ll go ahead and announce tonight that the chief has already done an outstanding job of following one of my commitments to a collaborative effort,” Whitmire revealed, expressing his intent to meet with local police chiefs on Thursday to explore ways to work together in making Houston safer.
The Houston Police Department acknowledged Mayor Whitmire’s proactive approach, thanking him for spending his first night in office with Chief Finner and officers. The department expressed anticipation in working collaboratively to enhance public safety.
Whitmire’s push to tackle crime coincides with a positive trend in Houston’s overall violent crime rate. A recent report indicates a projected 20-percent decrease in homicides for 2023 compared to the previous year, showcasing a decline from 427 homicides in the same period in 2022 to 339 in 2023.
The 74-year-old mayor, in his public inauguration at the Wortham Center, emphasized the urgency of his agenda, stating, “There is much to do. I have no patience, no time to waste.” Mayor Whitmire, alongside City Controller Chris Hollins, took their oaths of office, followed by the swearing-in of 16 city council members.
Whitmire’s busy schedule continued with meetings at City Hall and an evening event to honor first responders. Additionally, he attended his first City Council meeting at 11 a.m., marking the commencement of his eight-year tenure dedicated to public service on behalf of the City of Houston.
Registration for the highly anticipated Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s 2024 Rodeo Run is officially open, and participants can sign up at rodeohouston.com/rodeorun. The event, a staple in downtown Houston, will take place on Saturday, Feb. 24, and features a diverse range of activities, including a wheelchair race, 10K, 5K, and a unique sleep-in option for those who prefer a more leisurely participation.
Rodeo Run Schedule:
9:00 a.m.: Wheelchair Race
9:10 a.m.: 5K and 10K Corral A, 10K Timed
9:35 a.m.: 5K Timed/Untimed
10:00 a.m.: Downtown Rodeo Parade
Post-Race Celebration:
Following the race, participants and supporters are encouraged to head to Eleanor Tinsley Park for a vibrant post-race celebration. The festivities will include a variety of food options, entertainment, and a Family Fun Zone, creating a joyful atmosphere for everyone involved.
Registration Fees:
Early Bird Registration (through Jan. 15): $35 per person
Wheelchair race, 5K, and 10K in person: $40 per person
Sleep-In option (includes official event T-shirt and shipping): $42
Race Route:
The race will kick off at the corner of Walker and Bagby, winding through the city and concluding on Allen Parkway, near Eleanor Tinsley Park. A detailed course map for both the 10K and 5K routes is available for viewing.
When to Register:
Participants can register online starting today, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, through Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, or until spots are filled. Additionally, registration can be completed in person at any of the Packet Pickup dates. On the race day, untimed event registration and packet pickup will be available on-site from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m.
For online registration and additional details about the 2024 Rodeo Run, interested individuals can visit rodeohouston.com/rodeorun. Alternatively, more information is available on the official Rodeo Run Facebook page. Don’t miss the chance to be a part of this exciting Houston tradition!
Some on social media are speculating that the public disclosure of more than 150 names associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been delayed.
Judge Loretta A. Preska signed an order on December 18 for the public release of the identities of more than 150 people mentioned in court documents from a now-settled 2015 civil lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre that centered on allegations that Epstein’s associate and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell facilitated her sexual abuse.
Several prominent figures, including former President Bill Clinton and Britain’s Prince Andrew are expected to be named. The list will also include sex abuse victims and Epstein’s employees.
The deadline for objections to the unsealing of the names passed at midnight on January 1.
With the names yet to be released by Wednesday some have taken to social media to claim that the release has been delayed until later in January after an objection by “Doe 107.”
While the woman identified only as “Doe 107” has requested that her identity be kept secret, she was not listed among those that will be named in Preska’s order.
The woman’s attorney, Richard Levitt, wrote to Preska on December 20 asking for clarification on what records related to his client could be released at a later date.
Doe 107 “lives outside the United States in a culturally conservative country and lives in fear of her name being released,” Levitt wrote in the letter.
Preska in late October had ordered Doe 107 to submit an affidavit “supporting her assertion that she faces a risk of physical harm in her country of residence and providing detail concerning the hate mail she received” as well as “additional factual support for Doe 107’s contention that unsealing the relevant records would put her at risk of physical harm” by November 22.
It came after Doe 107, the lawsuit parties and the Miami Herald (which sued for the unsealing of the court records) consented to redacting Doe 107’s name and any personally identifying information in docket entries that the court previously ordered unsealed.
“Giuffre’s and the Miami Herald‘s consent to such redactions is based on circumstances specific to Doe 107 and does not extend to other purported victims living in countries without the same risks of physical harm,” attorneys for the parties wrote in a letter to Preska on October 26.
In his December 20 letter, Levitt requested an additional 30 days to provide the records requested, saying he was not Doe 107’s attorney of record in the district court at the time and did not receive notice of the court’s request.
Preska granted the request on December 21, giving Levitt until January 22 to submit an affidavit and evidence on his client’s behalf. There have been no additions to the court docket since.
Newsweek has contacted Levitt for comment via email.
La crisis en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México continúa, con una oleada de migrantes que abruma a las autoridades, los pueblos fronterizos y otras ciudades estadounidenses. Aquí te contamos algunos de los últimos desarrollos.
Los cruces fronterizos en diciembre alcanzan récord, según cifras preliminares
Las autoridades fronterizas registraron más de 225.000 migrantes a lo largo de la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México en diciembre, lo que representa el total mensual más alto registrado desde el año 2000, según estadísticas preliminares de Seguridad Nacional compartidas con CNN.
Este mes, los funcionarios del Gobierno de Biden lidiaron con una nueva oleada de migrantes que superó los recursos ya escasos y provocó conversaciones urgentes con funcionarios mexicanos para tratar de detener el flujo de migrantes.
Biden aumenta la presión sobre López Obrador mientras el alza de migrantes en la frontera aviva un viejo problema político
Entre el 1 de diciembre y el 28 de diciembre, la Patrulla Fronteriza de Estados Unidos detuvo a más de 225.000 migrantes que cruzaron ilegalmente la frontera entre EE.UU. y México, según muestran datos preliminares. A lo largo del mes, las autoridades lidiaron con más de 10.000 migrantes que cruzaban diariamente hasta hace poco, cuando esas cifras comenzaron a disminuir.
Los funcionarios estadounidenses y mexicanos se reunirán nuevamente en Washington el próximo mes mientras intentan reducir los cruces fronterizos en el corto y largo plazo.
Uno de los desafíos clave de los últimos meses es que múltiples sectores, especialmente aquellos en áreas remotas, están sintiendo la presión del aumento de los cruces fronterizos, lo que afecta el procesamiento habitual.
La crisis migratoria podría “aplastar las economías locales”
Incluso las ciudades estadounidenses alejadas de la frontera con México están llegando a un punto de quiebre al tratar de gestionar la afluencia de inmigrantes, dijeron varios alcaldes a CNN el viernes.
Desde el año pasado, el gobernador republicano de Texas, Greg Abbott, ha transportado en autobús a más de 80.000 inmigrantes a ciudades de todo el país, según su oficina. Esas ciudades incluyen Los Ángeles, Denver, Chicago, Filadelfia, Nueva York y Washington, todas ellas dirigidas por alcaldes demócratas.
Llegan migrantes desde Texas a Chicago, enviados por el gobernador Greg Abbott
“La crisis internacional que estamos experimentando en este momento está siendo subsidiada por las economías locales”, dijo el viernes el alcalde de Chicago, Brandon Johnson, a “CNN This Morning”.
“Eso no es sostenible, y es por eso que necesitamos que el Congreso realmente tenga asignaciones para asegurar que lo que reciban los refugiados de Ucrania, tenemos que preguntarnos… ¿por qué no se brindan esos mismos servicios de apoyo a las personas que vienen del continente de Ucrania? ¿África y América Central y del Sur?”
El sistema de albergues para inmigrantes en Chicago ha alcanzado su capacidad, dijo el alcalde. Y sin una solución coordinada, la crisis migratoria “aplastará las economías locales”, afirmó Johnson.
Se espera que Denver gaste alrededor del 10% de todo el presupuesto de su ciudad en alojamiento y ayuda para inmigrantes el próximo año, de acuerdo con el alcalde Mike Johnston.
La ciudad de Nueva York ha recibido más de 161.000 inmigrantes desde 2022, y la afluencia probablemente costará unos US$ 12.000 millones en tres años, dijo el alcalde Eric Adams.
“Esta crisis nacional está impactando –y tiene el potencial de desestabilizar– las obligaciones financieras que tenemos en nuestras ciudades”, dijo Adams.
Aseguró que la ciudad de Nueva York podría llegar a un “punto de quiebre”, que podría incluir recortes forzosos en los programas escolares, el Departamento de Policía, la recolección de basura y los recursos para las personas mayores.
“Todas las agencias y la prestación de servicios en mi ciudad se verán drásticamente afectadas por las acciones de pagar la cuenta de US$ 5.000 millones este año fiscal, US$ 12.000 millones en tres años”, dijo Adams.
La oficina de Abbott ha defendido la práctica de Texas de transportar inmigrantes en autobuses a otros estados, diciendo que “la misión de transporte en autobús está brindando un alivio muy necesario a nuestras abrumadas comunidades fronterizas”.
En cuanto al Gobierno federal, la administración Biden ha reconocido las solicitudes de algunos alcaldes para ayudar a aliviar la crisis de alojamiento y agilizar la autorización de trabajo para los no ciudadanos elegibles.
El Departamento de Justicia dice que demandará a Texas por su nueva ley
El Departamento de Justicia amenazó con demandar a Texas por su nueva ley de inmigración en una carta este jueves, según una copia de la carta obtenida por CNN. La amenaza marca la última escalada entre el presidente Joe Biden y el gobernador republicano Greg Abbott sobre el manejo de la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México.
A principios de este mes, Abbott promulgó el Proyecto de Ley 4 del Senado, que otorga a las autoridades locales el poder de arrestar a migrantes y faculta a los jueces para expulsar a inmigrantes de Estados Unidos. Se espera que la medida entre en vigor en marzo.
La Casa Blanca criticó la nueva ley, calificándola de “increíblemente extrema”.
Migrantes en México se movilizan hacia la frontera norte para llegar a EE.UU.
En una carta a Abbott, el Departamento de Justicia argumentó que la medida “se adelanta y viola la Constitución de Estados Unidos” y corre el riesgo de interferir con la capacidad del gobierno federal para hacer cumplir la ley de inmigración.
“En consecuencia, Estados Unidos tiene la intención de presentar una demanda para prohibir la aplicación de la SB 4 a menos que Texas acepte abstenerse de hacer cumplir la ley”, afirma la carta, firmada por el fiscal general adjunto principal Brian Boynton. “Estados Unidos está comprometido a asegurar la frontera y garantizar el procesamiento de los no ciudadanos de conformidad con la Ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA). La SB 4 es contraria a estos objetivos”.
Abbott criticó la carta del Departamento de Justicia más tarde el jueves y acusó al presidente Joe Biden de “destruir Estados Unidos”.
“La administración Biden no solo se niega a hacer cumplir las leyes de inmigración estadounidenses actuales, sino que ahora quiere impedir que Texas haga cumplir las leyes contra la inmigración ilegal”, dijo Abbott en una publicación en X. “Nunca había visto tanta hostilidad hacia el Estado de derecho en Estados Unidos”.
La nueva ley de inmigración de Texas “viola la Constitución de EE.UU.”, advierte Gobierno de Biden
La amenaza legal del jueves se produce después de que el Departamento de Justicia demandara a Texas por el uso de barreras flotantes en el Río Grande. Esa demanda todavía está transitando por los tribunales.
7,000 detenciones en un día marcan un descenso
Las autoridades fronterizas detuvieron este miércoles a más de 7,000 migrantes a lo largo de la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México, según un funcionario de Seguridad Nacional.
Los arrestos del miércoles siguen siendo inferiores a los de principios de este mes (cuando las detenciones diarias superaron las 10.000) y reflejan cierto alivio para las autoridades fronterizas. Ha habido una “reducción bastante significativa de los cruces fronterizos” en los últimos días, dijo el miércoles un alto funcionario de la administración.
A principios de diciembre, el promedio de encuentros diarios de siete días rondaba los 9.600, un salto desde finales de noviembre, cuando ese promedio era de 6.800.
Funcionarios estadounidenses y mexicanos describieron las conversaciones de alto nivel del miércoles como “productivas”, a medida que México intenta redoblar esfuerzos en materia de control de inmigración y combatir a los traficantes de personas.
Alrededor de 2.000 arrestos fronterizos tuvieron lugar el miércoles en el sector de Del Río, según una fuente policial.
La misma fuente dijo que el total de detenciones del lunes fue de aproximadamente 2.000, una caída con respecto al promedio diario de 3.000 detenciones de migrantes de la semana pasada.
El sector de Del Río incluye Eagle Pass, Texas, que tenía miles de migrantes esperando afuera para ser transportados para el procesamiento de inmigración la semana pasada.
Funcionarios mexicanos visitarán Washington
Funcionarios mexicanos y estadounidenses se reunirán en Washington el próximo mes para discutir cómo frenar la afluencia de inmigrantes a Estados Unidos, según el Consejo de Seguridad Nacional de EE.UU.
La visita se producirá después de la visita de la delegación estadounidense de alto nivel de esta semana a la Ciudad de México, que incluyó al secretario de Estado, Antony Blinken, y al secretario de Seguridad Nacional, Alejandro Mayorkas.
Un portavoz del Consejo de Seguridad Nacional calificó el viaje de “productivo” y dijo que el presidente mexicano Andrés Manuel López Obrador “ha tomado nuevas e importantes medidas de aplicación de la ley” en lo que respecta a la migración.
La secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores de México, Alicia Bárcena, dijo a los periodistas que las conversaciones también cubrieron la importancia de la relación económica entre Estados Unidos y México, así como las causas fundamentales de la migración, como la pobreza, la desigualdad, la violencia y la reunificación familiar, según una grabación proporcionada a CNN por la cancillería de México.
Los funcionarios estadounidenses dijeron que México compartía planes para combatir a los traficantes de migrantes, lo que está contribuyendo al reciente aumento en la frontera.
México también ha asumido un papel de liderazgo en “llevar a cabo una gestión fronteriza humana, incluidas las repatriaciones”, dijo un alto funcionario de la administración estadounidense, y que este año se llevaron a cabo más repatriaciones que nunca.
Históricamente, Estados Unidos se ha apoyado en México para que actúe como amortiguador y detenga el flujo de migrantes que viajan hacia la frontera sur de Estados Unidos. Pero México, al igual que Estados Unidos, enfrenta dificultades similares a medida que el número de migrantes que cruzan hacia su país supera sus limitados recursos.
Muchos migrantes que vienen del lado mexicano de la frontera son de América Central y del Sur, así como del Caribe, Cuba y Haití.
La inmigración ha sido una vulnerabilidad política para Biden, quien ha enfrentado feroces críticas de los republicanos e, incluso, de algunos miembros de su propio partido por la situación en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México.
Los funcionarios estadounidenses reconocen que ambos países deben trabajar más.
“Continuamos abordando las causas fundamentales y construyendo vías legales que incentiven la migración ordenada y la aplicación de nuestras leyes”, dijo un funcionario del Consejo de Seguridad Nacional.
Las reuniones de enero “evaluarán el progreso y decidirán qué más se puede hacer”, dijo el funcionario del Consejo de Seguridad Nacional.
October usually brings a cavalcade of Halloween-themed candies evoking bats, pumpkins or ghosts for trick-or-treaters and sugar fiends. But a new lawsuit argues that for snack company Hershey, there’s a fine line between a delightfully decorated Halloween treat and an unsightly blob of chocolate and peanut butter.
Under scrutiny are several of Hershey’s themed Reese’s Peanut Butter products, which are advertised in their packaging to contain decorative designs carved into shaped chocolates: a smiling jack-o-lantern face, the eyes and mouth of a ghost or the laces of a football.
Cynthia Kelly thought that was what she would be getting when she purchased a Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkin after noticing its packaging, with a “cute looking” carving of a jack-o-lantern, near the checkout registers in a supermarket, the lawsuit alleges.
But the chocolates don’t contain those decorations, the lawsuit says, which adds that the packaging misled shoppers like Kelly who were expecting the designs on their Halloween-themed treats.
Todd Scott, a spokesperson for Hershey, told The Washington Post that the company does not comment on pending litigation.
The class-action lawsuit, filed Thursday in Florida district court, accuses Hershey of using packaging that falsely advertise decorations on its Reese’s products. It cites Kelly’s experience and numerous YouTube videos from consumers and food reviewers expressing disappointment at the undecorated Reese’s chocolates.
“This is a trick, this is not a treat,” one reviewer says, holding up a Reese’s white chocolate in its wrapper, which shows a white ghost with carved eyes and a mouth.
Hershey joins a long list of food companies that have faced lawsuits in recent years over the advertising of their products – with mixed results. In 2022, a class-action suit accused Burger King of deceptively presenting its Whopper burgers in advertisements to be larger than they were in real life. Kellogg faced multiple lawsuits claiming that it falsely advertised the strawberry content of its strawberry Pop-Tarts. Customers have also sued over the marketing of Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza, Starbucks’s Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade, TGI Friday’s mozzarella sticks and Red Bull’s energy drinks.
The cases against Taco Bell and Kellogg were dismissed, while the Starbucks and Burger King lawsuits are ongoing. The Red Bull and TGI Friday’s cases reached settlements. Kelly’s attorney, Anthony John Russo Jr., represented plaintiffs in the suits against Taco Bell and Burger King.
“Little situations – what some would consider to be a little situation like this – could lead to unfettered behavior from big corporations,” Russo previously told The Post of the Burger King case.
The lawsuit against Hershey accuses the company of deceiving customers and alleges that the misleading packaging is an attempt to boost sales. Previous versions of packaging for the same shaped Reese’s candies displayed them accurately with plain, undecorated surfaces and no carved designs, according to the lawsuit, and the packaging only changed between two and three years ago.
Kelly would not have purchased her Reese’s chocolate pumpkin if not for the eye-catching designs, the lawsuit states. It also links to a dozen YouTube videos of other consumers sharing Kelly’s disappointment. One video notes that small text on the Reese’s packaging appears to describe the carved decorations on the chocolates as a “decorating suggestion.” Another video calls the undecorated Reese’s chocolate pumpkin “deformed” and “faceless.”
“I’m flabbergasted,” says another reviewer, before taking a bite of the chocolate. “And the most annoying thing about this is, it’s quite nice.”
Exciting news for Roughnecks fans—the Houston Roughnecks are gearing up for a fresh start in the upcoming season of the newly formed United Football League (UFL).
The UFL is the result of a merger between the XFL and the USFL, both of which had a significant presence in Houston. As part of this merger, the Houston Roughnecks will undergo a rebranding, aligning with the legacy of the former USFL team, the Houston Gamblers.
In a strategic coaching shift, Wade Phillips, the former head coach of the XFL Roughnecks, will now take the helm for the San Antonio team. On the other side, Curtis Johnson, the former head coach of the USFL Gamblers, will assume leadership of the revamped Houston Roughnecks.
Mark your calendars for the inaugural UFL season, set to kick off on March 30, 2024. The league will be divided into two conferences: the USFL Conference and the XFL Conference.
USFL Conference Teams:
Birmingham Stallions
Houston Roughnecks
Memphis Showboats
Michigan Panthers
XFL Conference Teams:
Arlington Renegades
D.C. Defenders
San Antonio Brahmas
St. Louis Battlehawks
Fans eager to witness the action can secure their seats by purchasing tickets available now at theufl.com. The anticipation is building as the Houston Roughnecks prepare for a new era in the United Football League, promising an exciting season ahead.
