May is just around the corner, and with the new month comes new products over at German discount grocer, Aldi. Here is the best of the new items you’ll find.
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
Month: May 2026
Parker McCollum returned to his hometown this weekend to deliver a very special surprise to the nurses at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands in Shenandoah, TX as part of part of the Healthcare Heroes Initiative.
The unexpected visit was organized through the Healthcare Heroes Initiative, a national effort founded by Create Amor with the goal of recognizing the hard work of nurses through appreciation events and community partnerships.
A routine staff meeting took an emotional turn when Parker unexpectedly entered the room, catching the nurses off guard. During his visit, the country superstar took the time to speak with local frontline healthcare workers, snap a few photos and thank them for all they do in the community.
“This community is home to me, and these nurses are a big part of what holds it together,” McCollum explained. “Being here to give back, even in a small way, means a lot.”
He continued, “What these nurses do every single day, it’s not easy, and it doesn’t always get recognized…I’m just grateful I had the chance to come by and thank them for what they do.”
The nurses didn’t just get to meet and interact with McCollum. The initiative also provided 500 nurses with a pair of Create Amor scrubs, extending the impact well beyond those in attendance for the hospital visit itself.
“This is about showing up for those who show up for all of us,” said Matthew Vuckovich, Founder and CEO of Create Amor. “Nurses give everything every single day, and they deserve to be seen, valued, and supported. This is just the beginning of what we’re building nationally.”
Nurses who were there said the incredible gift, along with McCollum’s kindness, was completely unexpected but really special as moments like that don’t come around often for them.
“We don’t expect moments like this,” the nurse said. “So when something like this happens, it truly means everything. We’re incredibly grateful Parker took the time to make the day so special for nurses here in Montgomery County.”
Support from Woodforest National Bank helped make the event possible.
“We’re honored to support an initiative that recognizes the incredible dedication of our healthcare professionals,” said Julie Mayrant of Woodforest National Bank. “These nurses serve our communities every day, and we’re proud to play a small role in giving back to them in a meaningful way.”
Members of hospital leadership highlighted how important it is to recognize healthcare workers in ways that feel genuine and meaningful because as John Voight, Chief Nursing Officer at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands noted, the nurses continue to show “extortionary compassion, strength and commitment every day.”
“Moments like this remind them how valued they truly are, not just within our organization, but in the broader community.”
The Healthcare Heroes Initiative has even more surprise events planned at hospitals across the country in an effort to continue showing appreciation for the critical role nurses play in patient care.
The post Parker McCollum Returns To Home Texas For Surprise Visit With Nurses as Part of Healthcare Heroes Initiative appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
David Allan Coe stopped communicating with at least two of his kids years ago. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
David Allan Coe stopped communicating with at least two of his kids years ago. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Toronto singer Chxrry has linked up with R&B star Mariah the Scientist for a new song, “Bottles & Lights.” The track continues the rollout for Chxrry’s debut album, U, Me, and My Ego, which is due later this spring and which she launched last month with the lead single “Hall of Fame.”
Chxrry and Mariah the Scientist have a history of working together, after the former opened for the latter on her European tour earlier this year. On “Bottles & Lights,” the pair trade verses over a slow-burn R&B groove produced by Believve, dressing down unfaithful partners and grappling with the trials of romantic devotion. The new song also arrives alongside a visualizer which follows the duo as they go for a long, luxurious ride in a stretch limo.
Click to load video
Toronto-born and Los Angeles-based, Chxrry is the first woman signed to the Weeknd’s label XO Records. In addition to her stint onstage alongside Mariah the Scientist, she has toured with The Weeknd and FLO and performed with Rema and Destin Conrad. She also appeared on The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow, contributing to “Reflections Laughing” alongside Travis Scott and Florence + The Machine, and featured in the “Cry For Me” visual. Her 2025 single “Main Character” accumulated millions of streams and became a viral hit, popping up in social media transmissions from Chlöe Bailey, Angel Reese, and others.
Mariah the Scientist is coming off a significant run of her own. Her most recent album HEARTS SOLD SEPARATELY debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 11 on the Billboard 200, and her single “Burning Blue” reached No. 1 on both the Rhythmic Airplay and Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop charts. She also received the Honda Rising Star Award at this year’s Billboard Women in Music Awards.
Listen to Chxrry’s “Bottles & Lights” here.
Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music
Matt Cooper, newly appointed to be the University of Alaska president, is seen in an undated photo. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska)
The University of Alaska Board of Regents announced Matt Cooper as the new university president on Friday, after a closed-door, confidential hiring search.
Cooper is a Fairbanks-based attorney, and formerly served as legal representation for the university starting in 2011 and later as general counsel to the university from 2021 to 2024.
He will replace Pat Pitney, who announced her retirement in November, after 30 years of public service and five years as university president. She is planning to step down later this month. The regents said Cooper will begin his term on August 3.
The board appointed Michelle Rizk, vice president of university relations and chief strategy, planning and budget officer, to serve as interim president during the transition period from May 22 to August.
Following an executive session Friday, the board voted unanimously to select Cooper. Board of Regents Chair Scott Jepsen said after the vote that Copper was selected from among 50 candidates.
“I think he brings a management style to university, which will help us be collaborative and work as a team to achieve the goals that we have set for the university,” Jepsen said. “We have a lot of challenges in front of us, and it’s going to take a skill set that has good interpersonal skills, understands the university, understands Alaska, and has that vision of where we want to go.”
UA President Pat Pitney told board members she was pleased with the selection.
“I’ve had the pleasure to work with Matt over the years, and he is a genuine leader. He looks for win-win solutions. He’s worked on numerous issues and opportunities for the university at all levels. So he knows he knows our institution, he knows the people he’s just going to bring a really strong energy and strong leadership to our university,” she said.
Cooper has been practicing law in Alaska since 2003. He is leaving a position with the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP where he focused on real estate and land use issues in Alaska, Washington state and other areas, according to the firm’s website.
He received a law degree from the University of Washington School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree at the University of Puget Sound.
Cooper will be charged with the chief executive role overseeing the state’s public university system across three university campuses, 13 community campuses and over 500 in-person and online degree programs, as well as a wide range of research initiatives. Currently, roughly 20,000 students are enrolled this year.
Cooper will continue to live in Fairbanks. He will earn a base salary of $420,000, with a total compensation package of $429,600 excluding benefits, according to the university.
That’s a slight increase from Pitney’s total compensation package of $427,565, which included a housing stipend and excluded benefits.
In a statement following the announcement, Cooper said he was grateful for the appointment.
“I’ve seen firsthand how UA empowers our communities and state, and I believe strongly that the future on our horizon is bright,” he said. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation President Pitney has established, and to working with the Board and university leadership and governance to support and advance the university’s long-term vision and goals.”
University changes hiring process
Cooper was one of three finalists for the top university position. Regents and university officials opted to conduct a closed-door, confidential hiring process that began last winter, instead of holding public forums and interviews of finalists.
The change in process was at the recommendation of a Texas-based hiring consultant, Wietkeffer, to protect candidates’ confidentiality and potentially draw from a larger applicant pool, said Jepsen in a Feb. 16 letter.
“In recent years, highly qualified candidates – especially sitting presidents and chancellors – have declined to participate in searches with a fully public evaluation process for finalists due to concerns about professional risk if they are not selected for the role,” he wrote. “Adopting a representative model helps ensure UA can attract and seriously consider the strongest possible candidates while still incorporating meaningful stakeholder input.”
The university’s hiring committee — made up of three regents, industry leaders, and university, city and education officials — narrowed the list down to six semifinalists, then three finalists.
Finalists made campus visits and met with select “constituent groups” this spring that included faculty, staff and student representatives from across the university system, according to a presidential search update. Each participant was required to sign a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA.
The groups submitted input to the Board of Regents, who made the final decision to select Cooper.
Correction: This story has been updated to clarify Michelle Rizk currently serves as the vice president of relations for the University of Alaska, and to reflect that the university’s candidate search narrowed down to three finalists from six semifinalists.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Kim Zolciak is at the center of a custody battle — and once again, the court seems to be siding with her ex.
According to a report from Page Six, a judge has awarded primary custody of the former couple’s children to Kroy Biermann.
And yes, this would be the second time Kim Zolciak has lost primary custody amid the pair’s ongoing and highly contentious divorce.
The decision comes after Biermann accused Zolciak of neglect, an allegation that was central to the court’s ruling.
Biermann claimed Zolciak’s behavior raised serious concerns about the children’s well-being, prompting legal action to change the custody arrangement.
In court filings obtained by Page Six, Biermann alleged that Zolciak had been “absent from the home for extended periods of time” and that her actions had negatively impacted their children.
He also claimed the situation had reached a point where intervention was necessary, stating that the kids were being placed in an “unsafe environment.”
Zolciak, for her part, has pushed back against these claims.
“The judge’s decision is temporary until our return court date on May 21st, when we will have the opportunity for a full hearing,” the Bravo star told TMZ.
“While I want this process to be over for my children more than anything, I am looking forward to our court date on May 21st, when we will finally be provided with an opportunity to present the truth,” she continued.
This latest development is just the newest chapter in what has become an increasingly volatile split between the former couple, whose divorce proceedings have included multiple legal filings, police visits, and public accusations.
This is not the first time custody has shifted in Biermann’s favor. And it’s not the first time that Zolciak has been accused of some very bad parenting.
For now, the court’s ruling places primary custody with Biermann as the case continues to unfold, with both sides still very much at odds over what is best for their children.
We’ll have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Kim Zolciak Loses Primary Custody of Her Children Amid Neglect Allegations was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Fans may see something rare at Taste of Country in Buffalo this summer. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Fans may see something rare at Taste of Country in Buffalo this summer. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Somewhere over the rainbow … your Costco shopping dreams come true in this state where customer satisfaction ratings are the best in the country.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews