Matty Matheson can cook up a storm and has the restaurants to show for it. However, he also wants folks to enjoy a classic snack food they could make at home.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
Month: March 2026
By: James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
A federal judge in Alaska has rejected a lawsuit that sought to reinstate a management plan that would allow heavier logging in the world’s largest temperate old-growth rainforest.
The result leaves an Obama-era management plan in place, but it could be short-lived: The administration of President Donald Trump is already at work on a new plan that could allow more logging in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest.
In an order published Friday, Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the lawsuit filed by Viking Lumber, Alcan Timber and the Alaska Forest Association.
The three groups sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture — the parent organization of the U.S. Forest Service — last year, alleging in part that the federal Tongass Timber Reform Act of 1990 required the Forest Service to offer enough timber sales to meet market demand.
Gleason ruled otherwise, finding that TTRA does not impose “a mandatory duty” on the Forest Service to ensure that market demand is met by Tongass timber sales.
“Whether the harvest levels are designed to actually meet market demand is a discretionary agency action, not a mandatory requirement imposed by the TTRA on the Forest Service,” she wrote.
Gleason also declined to take up plaintiffs’ argument about whether the Forest Service violated the Administrative Procedures Act, and she ruled that a 2021 announcement about Tongass strategy did not amount to formal rulemaking under law. She did not analyze whether it would have met legal standards if it had been a formal rulemaking process.
Plaintiffs were represented by Pacific Legal Foundation, which on Friday said that the Forest Service’s approach has been devastating to plaintiffs.
Kyle Griesinger, a spokesperson for the foundation, said that even with a new management plan in the works, the case isn’t moot because the old plan remains in effect until superceded.
“And, moreover, the Forest Service has not lived up to the 2016 plan so any new plan they may not live up to is no guarantee for our clients,” he said.
Marlee Goska, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, agreed that last week’s ruling still has merit.
Goska was one of several attorneys who represented tribal, tourism, fishing and environmental groups that intervened on the side of the Department of Agriculture.
“I don’t think we have enough information yet to say the Forest Service is going to implement what the plaintiffs want. And certainly we’ll fight tooth and nail to stop that from happening,” she said of the upcoming plan change.
Goska added that last week’s ruling is important because it shows that the Forest Service does not have to meet market demand under existing law, and it shows that federal law doesn’t draw a distinction between old-growth harvests and new-growth ones.
“To the extent this administration and the Forest Service might be thinking about saying the TTRA mandates large old-growth timber sales to meet market demand, the court has already said that is incorrect,” she said.
Gleason published a final judgment on Friday. Plaintiffs have 30 days to file an appeal.
NOTN- The Assembly debated the future of 155 Heritage Way, the city’s current City Hall, and voted last night to send the ordinance to the full Assembly for public hearing and back to committee for further refinement.
City staff recommended selling the building by sealed bid with a $2.5 million minimum.
“The intent of bringing the disposal of City Hall to you well in advance of moving into the (new) municipal building or the Burns building, is we acknowledge that this conversation could take some time and even a sealed bid process, which is relatively straightforward, will take about nine months.” Said City Manager Katie Koester.
Members were split over whether to require an appraisal before sale, with some arguing an appraisal would provide necessary valuation confidence.
“To me, we have a duty. This project to move City Hall has been very expensive, more expensive than we would have ever wanted, and the public is not happy about it.” Said Christine Woll, “I do feel like we have a responsibility to get at least fair market value for this property. That being said, I don’t think we need to get the highest amount that we could get out of this, because I think that will come at an expense to our other goals. This is our downtown core and our waterfront, and we hear all the time from people who want to make sure this space stays year round in nature. So I think if we don’t design a process that allows us some control, not all the control in the world, but a bit more control to make sure that it goes somewhere that supports other community goals and is more year round in orientation.”
Others said it would add cost and delay.
“I would disagree with getting an appraiser, I think that’s spending money we don’t have to. If Huna Totem dock goes in, this is going to be a really valuable piece of property, and I think 2.5 will be nothing to what we can get for it.” Said Mayor Beth Weldon, “I probably have a couple minor little conditions to put on it, but not major ones. And my minor would be, just to give people food for thought, no jewelry stores, and a portion of the building would have to be year round. But everybody has to keep in mind that we can sell it like this, and then that person who bought it could turn around and sell it and have no conditions on it. So we just want to be careful. And I, like Ms. Woll, would like to get as much money as we can from the building.”
Several members urged sale conditions to protect downtown character, which is most commonly a requirement for year‑round occupancy of some portion of the site.
“Thank you, Mr. Chair. I also would resonate that I’m not particularly interested in doing the assessment, but it’s for a different reason.” said Nano Brooks, “Just a few years ago, we spent a lot of taxpayer money doing a campaign on why we need the new building, and plenty of data and figures came out from that campaign that this building was worth around $3 to $5 million and needed 14 million in deferred maintenance, therefore rendering it worthless. We all know that the land is extremely valuable, extremely desirable, but to say we’re selling a building I think, isn’t the most transparent and upfront, and we already did spend a lot of money figuring that information out that we put out there to the public. We need to find money where it can be found. But doing what’s right by the public takes the precedence too. So as far as the stipulations or requirements, I think, like the others were saying, having a preference for someone interested in year round operations, and then, if possible, having preference for a local purchase or two.”
Staff told the committee the $2.5 million minimum was set after consulting the assessor, and estimated a commercial appraisal would cost roughly $15,000–$20,000 if the Assembly opted for one.
Officials said the city will return with options on sale method, minimums and possible conditions at the next assembly meeting where the issue of City Hall will be brought to the public.
See what really happened during Bunnie’s seven-hour facelift surgery. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
See what really happened during Bunnie’s seven-hour facelift surgery. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
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Even in 2026, maybe good things can happen.
As we know, Kelly Clarkson is ending her talk show.
Amidst the hunt for a permanent replacement host, execs are weighing their options.
One strong contender is a duo: Olympics commentators Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir!
This could be perfect
RadarOnline reports that Lipinski and Weir are “in contention” to be NBC’s new daytime hosting duo after Kelly Clarkson’s exit.
“There are actual development conversations happening,” an alleged network insider told the outlet.
“They’re looking at formats,” the source dished. “They’re running numbers.”
Translated, this means that this is more than just a VP going “gee those two are neat” as an offhand comment.
Running numbers means that they’re figuring out what sort of financial offer they could make, possibly event surveying focus groups.
A second inside source spoke to the tabloid, this time about Weir and Lipinski’s qualifications.
“They’re live-TV pros,” this second insider reasoned.
The source described them as “Quick on their feet, visually dynamic, and audiences genuinely like them.”
This second insider summarized: “That’s gold.”
Being charismatic and likable on camera is not automatic. It is a rare gift.
‘NBC isn’t experimenting; they’re positioning’
Someone who RadarOnline refers to as a senior insider sang the praises of both Weir and Lipinski.
“They check every box,” the source raved.
“Polished, experienced,” the insider listed, “and they understand spectacle.”
The source emphasized: “NBC isn’t experimenting.”
Rather, the inside source clarified: “They’re positioning.”
Even so, there haven’t been any contracts signed.
And it’s not clear if any contracts have been negotiated or drawn up, either.
“But make no mistake,” the insider asserted: “This is serious.”
Obviously, we here at THG cannot confirm RadarOnline‘s reporting on this topic.
But we can all agree that Weir and Lipinski are proven entertainers with fantastic chemistry on camera.
Please, let this happen
Weir and Lipinski are NBC mainstays, and this goes back many years.
From comedy skits on Seth Meyers to appearing on The Traitors to, of course, their Olympics commentary, they have a long and healthy relationship with NBCUniversal.
On top of that, these two would basically be fulfilling the fantasy of two best friends having a talk show.
(That’s basically the incentive that drives everyone to create their own podcast, by the way.)
It’s possible that this story has simply been leaked on purpose as a trial balloon or to build up enthusiasm for the idea. But we really hope that it’s true.
Johnny Weir & Tara Lipinski: Taking Over for Kelly Clarkson??? was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Luke Combs is opening up about one of the main things that continues to set him apart in the industry, his commitment to keeping ticket prices affordable for fans. At a time when concert costs are constantly rising and putting live music out of reach for many, Combs is staying true to an approach that puts fans first.
During an appearance on the Zach Sang Show, the country music superstar gets honest about the fact that he lives a relatively normal life and doesn’t feel the need to have fans paying prices that could break the bank just to see him live.
To put things into perspective, Luke Combs is set to embark on his My Kinda Saturday Night Tour this spring, with stops at sold-out stadiums across the U.S., U.K., and Europe. While he’ll be performing in massive venues, pit tickets for his shows typically range between $200 and $300, a stark contrast to other artists on the same level, whose tickets can climb to $500 or even exceed $1,000 for pit tickets in the same venue.
The reasoning behind his approach is simple, he feels it’s important to cater to the people who made his career possible because without them, he wouldn’t be living out his dreams. He notes that this has not caused him to gain any enemies that he is aware of at least.
“If I have, I don’t know, to be honest. No one’s come up to me and been like, ‘Hey, man, I don’t like that you provide affordable tickets to your fans.’ That would sound insane saying that. I’m certain there maybe are people that are like, ‘Hey man, I’m kind of lining my pockets here. I don’t know that that’s happening. I would imagine it probably is,” Combs shared.
At the end of the day, the North Carolina native believes the decision comes from the right place, and that he’s the one most affected by it. Still, he acknowledges he’s fortunate to live comfortably and provide for his family.
“People would ask me, it’s like, ‘Well, how much money’s enough to … ‘I’m like, ‘Once you get past X amount, it’s like, what’s even the difference, dude?’ I live a very simple life. I really do, within the scope of what I do, of course. The most normal life I can live doing what I do. And so I don’t need, back to the cars, I don’t need a Ferrari. I don’t want one. That provides me no happiness,” he admitted. “Ultimately, my kids, my friends, my family, my job, those are the things that I derive my self worth and my happiness from, not from having money.”
@zachsangshow @Luke Combs on keeping his concert tickets affordable for fans #lukecombs #concert #tickets #zachsangshow #fyp ♬ original sound – Zach Sang Show
Combs went on to clarify that it’s not that he views money as a bad thing. In fact, he called it “a great thing” and acknowledged that it can improve someone’s life in big ways. However, he makes a conscious effort not to let finances define his self-worth.
The “Giving Her Away” singer says he feels most indebted to his family, friends, and his team, who “works tirelessly to get me to be able to do these things,” and, most importantly, his fans.
“They are the reason that I’m here,” Combs said of his loyal listeners. “They’re the reason that I get to do my job. There is no show without them. There are no records without them. There’s no nothing without them. My kids don’t eat without them. I don’t have a car without them. My life is … They are my boss, ultimately.”
He went on to note what a “privilege” it is that his job is to perform for people who spend their hard-earned money to see him sing his songs.
“I would let the crowd know it’s like, ‘Hey, when you’re at a show, you’re not here to see me. I’m here to play for you. That’s my job. I’m doing my job tonight. You don’t get to see me. I get to play for you.’ That’s the privilege. The privilege isn’t seeing me. The privilege is me getting to play for you,” he explained. “And that’s the attitude that I think people lose sight of sometimes, they get so wrapped up in their own, ‘Well, gosh, people love me and look how great I am’ and again, I mean, it’s like different strokes for different folks. It’s not my thing. I’m not all consumed by my status or celebrity or fame or whatever.”
That kind of humble perspective continues to shape every part of Luke Combs’ touring approach. As ticket prices climb across the industry, he’s standing firm and choosing to keep his shows within reach, proving that even at the stadium level, putting fans first is still possible.
The post Luke Combs Explains His Commitment to Making Concert Tickets Affordable appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Lainey Wilson was borrowing money from family as they listened to her on the radio. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Lainey Wilson was borrowing money from family as they listened to her on the radio. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
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A strange new scandal is unfolding in Texas this week following the death of a 39-year-old man named Diamon-Mazairre Robinson.
Robinson was killed by SWAT officers in Dallas on Wednesday, and the deadly standoff proved to have unexpected political significance.
Robinson worked as a security guard for Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), who recently lost a US Senate primary to challenger James Tallarico.
According to a police report, Robinson barricaded himself inside a vehicle in the garage of a children’s hospital after Dallas police officers pursued him while investigating an active warrant.
Police say they used tear gas to coerce Robinson out of the vehicle.
The suspect reportedly had a gun, but did not fire it. No one else was injured in the incident.
Police say Robinson had been driving a replica undercover car with stolen U.S. government plates and going by the alias “Mike King.”
“The agencies that he reported to work for do not exist. So dignitaries, basically special dignitary police, that agency does not exist within the federal government,” said Dallas Deputy Police Chief William Griffith in a statement issued on Monday (via Fox News).
“So that’s who he portrayed to be. There was no actual federal agency that he worked for that existed. He was very good at hiding his true identity … He had been living like this for many years.”
In a statement of her own, Crockett expressed her condolences to Robinson’s loved ones.
“As a former public defender, I’ve always believed people are more than the worst thing they’ve ever done. I believe in redemption. The man we knew showed up with respect, care, and commitment to protecting others,” she wrote, adding:
“We’re still learning the full story, but today we mourn a life lost. This is a tragic ending that we wish had been avoided for all.”
Crockett also addressed the fact that Robinson was able to make it through the vetting process despite his extensive criminal history.
“We are saddened and shocked by some of the concerning revelations. Our team followed all protocols outlined by the House to contract additional security,” she wrote.
“We were approved to use this vendor who also provided security services for additional entities in the local community and worked closely with law enforcement agencies including Capitol Police.
“The fact that an individual was able to somehow circumvent the vetting processes for something as sensitive as security for members of Congress highlights the loopholes and shortcomings in many of our systems,” she continued, adding:
“This is incredibly alarming, especially for those members who receive high volumes of credible and sophisticated death threats. This situation reiterates the need for Capitol Police to provide security for members of Congress, especially under this administration’s new normal of inciting attacks on those who dare to speak out.”
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Jasmine Crockett Confirms Her Security Guard Was Killed By Police After Allegedly … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip