Debbie Laskey's Blog

Welcome to Debbie Laskey's insights and commentary about BRANDING, MARKETING, LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, and CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES. Debbie has worked in high-tech, the Consumer Marketing Department at Disneyland Paris in France, nonprofits, and insurance. Expertise includes strategic planning, brand development, marketing plans and audits, competitive positioning, websites, communications, public relations, employee engagement, customer experiences, and social media marketing.

Showing posts with label brand identity. Show all posts

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Marketing News of the Month: Inspiring Barbie Dolls, Blue Hot Dogs, Canada, and More

During the month of October, there were news stories that reflected brand experiences, brand identity, brand storytelling, brand strategy, celebration marketing, personal branding, product launches, product marketing, product pricing, rebranding, social media marketing, special event marketing, sports marketing, and more. Marketing news from the early part of the month was detailed in my mid-month post on October 11th.

MATTEL HONORS CELINE DION AND SERENA WILLIAMS

Mattel's "Barbie Signature Series" celebrates world-famous designers, musicians, brands, and other extraordinary pioneers.

During October, People reported, "Mattel's new "Barbie Signature Celine Dion Doll" recreates the superstar's look from the 1998 Oscars, where she performed "My Heart Will Go On" from the film "Titanic." The collectible wears a floor-length blue gown inspired by her Michael Kors dress, complete with long sleeves, a high neckline, and a replica of the film's famous Heart of the Ocean necklace. Celine Dion called the doll a true honor that celebrates one of her career's most meaningful moments, and she hopes the doll encourages everyone to express themselves confidently, pursue their dreams, and believe in the power of their own voice."

Also during October, The Hollywood Reporter shared, "Twenty-three-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams is the latest athlete to be honored with a doll from Mattel, with the "Barbie Signature Serena Williams Doll." The new Barbie doll is inspired by Williams' championship victory at the 2005 Australian Open, where she claimed her seventh Grand Slam singles title after returning from knee surgery. The doll pays homage to Williams' look on the court with a green and white cutout top with mesh detailing, white skirt, and white headband. The doll also sports high socks and white tennis sneakers, along with dangling silver earrings. Her outfit is complete with a tennis ball and a tennis racket from Wilson, Williams' long-time equipment partner."

Williams said, "Growing up, I didn't see many girls who looked like me [who were] told there was no limit to who they could become. I want every girl who plays with this doll to see possibility in herself. She can dream big, work hard, change direction, break barriers, and become anything she chooses."

According to Nathan Baynard, Vice President and Head of Barbie at Mattel, "Barbie has always inspired girls to believe they can be anything, from the sports stadium to the fashion runway to the boardroom. Serena Williams embodies that message through her extraordinary achievements as an athlete, entrepreneur, and advocate for equality. By honoring her with a Barbie Signature doll, we're celebrating a barrier-breaking icon whose legacy empowers fans everywhere to dream big and embrace their own potential."

ALBERTA, CANADA REJECTS INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM

According to the AP, "Voters in Canada's oil-rich Alberta province overwhelmingly backed remaining in the country, referendum results showed on October 20th, delivering a boost to Prime Minister Mark Carney's push for national unity as U.S. President Trump's trade war and annexation threats rally Canadians around their country. With more than 1.9 million votes counted and results reported from 90 percent of voting areas and locations, 75 percent of voters supported remaining in Canada, while 25 percent backed beginning a process toward separation. The referendum was not a direct vote on independence. Approval would have set Alberta on a path toward a future vote on separation from Canada...Alberta, home to the world's fourth-largest proven oil reserves, is cowboy country and a conservative stronghold whose political culture has long had more in common with the American West than much of Canada. Despite the overwhelming rejection, separatist leaders vowed to continue pressing for independence."

ZOO ATLANTA PREPARES FOR PANDA INTRODUCTIONS

Zoo Atlanta provided this update, "Zoo Atlanta is thrilled to announce the name of the new giant panda habitat – Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove – and its opening day, set for Friday, November 6th. Zoo Atlanta announced the arrival of a new pair of giant pandas, male Ping Ping and female Fu Shuang, on September 27th. The pandas are in Atlanta through a new International Cooperative Research Agreement on Giant Panda Conservation, initiated between Zoo Atlanta and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Zoo Atlanta is now one of three zoos in the U.S. to house giant pandas and is the only zoological organization in the Southeast the species calls home.

Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove is named in honor of Arthur Blank's longtime support of Zoo Atlanta's giant panda program, dating back to 1999 with the arrival of original panda pair Lun Lun and Yang Yang. In tribute to that support, the Zoo's first giant panda habitat, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Giant Panda Conservation Center, also bore his name in recognition of that investment. The $6 million renovation to bring the vision for Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove to fruition was funded by a grant from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, another longstanding partner of Zoo Atlanta and supporter of the giant panda program.

The giant panda habitat has been completely updated to include many new features designed with giant panda well-being in mind, as well as new experiences for members and guests. The giant panda dayrooms have been expanded and upgraded to include new climbing structures and a pool in each. The outdoor habitats also feature new climbing structures. The appearance of the complex has been entirely redesigned, with tranquil surroundings promoting a contemplative experience. New additions include water features with aquatic flora and a dramatic sculpture celebrating a hopeful future for wildlife and the role of the giant panda as a global animal ambassador for peace and harmony."

Arthur M. Blank said, "The return of giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta is an exciting moment for our city as we once again become home to one of the world's most beloved animals. As a lifelong animal lover, I've always believed in the importance of caring for and protecting the animals that share our world, and this is what makes our Foundation's support of this effort especially meaningful to me. The Grove will give generations of Atlantans and guests from around the world the chance to experience these remarkable animals up close, while advancing conservation research, education, and global efforts to protect giant pandas for generations to come."

CO-BRANDING: PINK'S AND BLUE MAN GROUP

Pink's, a "Hollywood legend since 1939," also known as one of the world's most famous hot dog stands, hosted an event featuring the Blue Man Group on October 20th. The special appearance promoted "a 9-inch stretch hot dog with chopped tomatoes, bacon bits, and blue sour cream, served with blue popcorn." There was also a meet-and-greet with three blue members of the group.

MONET ART AUCTION

Painted near the end of French Impressionist Claude Monet's life, "Iris" was auctioned at Sotheby's Paris on October 22nd. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, "A never-before-seen painting by Claude Monet, the French Impressionist, is headed for the auction block in France. According to a statement from the auction house Sotheby's Paris, "Iris" is estimated to sell for at least $25 million — more than any other painting ever auctioned in the country. Painted in 1924 or 1925 and measuring about five by six feet, "Iris" is among the largest artworks Monet produced in the final decade of his career and was long held in a private collection and known to outsiders only through black-and-white photographs."

Update from Sotheby's Paris on October 22nd: "Iris" sold for 50 million Euros or approximately $56 million.

END OF AN ERA IN NEW YORK CITY

ABC7 New York reported, "The New York City Council voted on October 22nd, to ban horse-drawn carriages across all five boroughs, a move that will end an industry that has operated in the city since 1858. The vote for Romanch's Law was 40 to 7 with two exemptions. Last June, 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, who was visiting from India with his family to celebrate his high school graduation, was thrown from a carriage and killed. The proposed legislation would bear his name. The bill now heads to the mayor's desk, although it has passed with a veto-proof majority. The law will phase out the industry by June 1st, 2028. Supporters of the legislation argue horse-drawn carriages no longer belong in heavily traveled areas of the city. The city will have to develop a transition plan for drivers, including helping them find jobs over the next two years."

BLUESKY USERS COULD GET THEIR OWN WEB DOMAINS

According to Android Headlines, "Social media platform Bluesky's CEO has announced that the company has applied to make ".bsky" an internet domain (similar to .com or .org). This could give users shorter, cleaner web identities. The application has yet to receive approval, and the process could take 18-24 months. Bluesky clarified that there's no plan for how domains would be requested or distributed, and it doesn't plan to sell or monetize them. If this goes through, users should be able to turn their long social handles into shorter domain names, like "alice.bsky."

META FINED $25B OVER PRIVACY PRACTICES AND CONTENT POLICIES

MediaDailyNews reported on October 22nd, "A New Mexico judge ordered Meta Platforms to pay $25 billion for violating the state's consumer-protection law by misleading consumers about Facebook's privacy practices and content policies. In addition to statements about privacy, Meta was also found to have made false or deceptive representations about its content policies, including that it doesn't allow "hate speech" on the platform. Jurors specifically determined that Meta committed more than 43 million violations of New Mexico's consumer protection law. That statute provides for damages of up to $5,000 per violation."

Judge Francis Mathew in Santa Fe said in a written ruling, "Facebook's wrongdoing over the course of years and systematically broadcast to the public goes to the heart of Facebook's core business practices. It relates to the way in which Facebook induces people onto the platform and ultimately keeps them there. It also relates to the core asset that users bring to Facebook - users' data - which in tum is what has allowed Facebook to become as profitable as it is...Facebook was aware that its users did not understand its privacy settings and took advantage of that to a grossly unfair degree."

FUN WAGERS SURROUNDING THE 2026 WORLD SERIES

Following the tradition of the Super Bowl and previous World Series games, prior to the first pitch of the annual World Series, mayors and others in the two cities make friendly wagers. This year, with the World Series featuring the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, here were the friendly wagers:

(1) MAYORS:

If the Milwaukee Brewers win: St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch will ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle through St. Petersburg and Tampa while wearing a Brewers jersey. If the Tampa Bay Rays win: Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson will wear a Rays jersey, tour downtown Milwaukee, and light the Hoan Bridge in team colors. Also, as part of the friendly wager, both mayors have pledged to exchange a selection of goods that showcase their respective city. Both mayors are also challenging their local communities to get in on the wager by benefitting their neighborhoods with donations to the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County and the St. Pete Free Clinic.

(2) ART MUSEUMS:

The Milwaukee Art Museum and Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, are putting works by Claude Monet on the line, with the losing city's museum agreeing to temporarily loan one of its paintings to the winning team's hometown. Loan and exhibition dates will be announced after the completion of the World Series. If the Brewers win the World Series, Milwaukee will receive St. Petersburg's "Houses of Parliament: Effect of Fog, London," painted in 1904. If the Rays win, the Milwaukee Art Museum will loan its "Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect" to the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg.

According to Klaudio Rodriguez, executive director and CEO of the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, "We think Milwaukee's Monet would enjoy a little Florida vacation."

(3) CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS:

Children's Wisconsin President and CEO Gil Peri has challenged Alicia Schulhof, president and CEO of Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, to a friendly wager. Fans will vote on social media to determine what the losing CEO will have to do. The Children's Wisconsin hospital in Milwaukee is also being lit in Brewers blue and gold throughout the World Series.

(4) RELIGIOUS LEADERS:

Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob and St. Petersburg Bishop Gregory Parkes have placed a wager of their own, with donations to Catholic Charities and local specialties at stake. If the Brewers win, Parkes will make a donation to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and send a box of hand-rolled cigars from the Tampa Bay area. If the Rays win, Grob will send brats from Bunzel's Meat Market to Florida along with a donation to Catholic Charities of St. Petersburg.

Parkes said, "It's not uncommon for bishops and archbishops to make friendly wagers when their cities' teams face off in a Super Bowl, World Series, or NHL final. We wanted to make the wager not only fun, but meaningful, by including a donation to Catholic Charities."

DENNY'S CELEBRATES THE 2026 WORLD SERIES

Nation's Restaurant News reported, "Denny's is betting on either the Tampa Bay Rays or the Milwaukee Brewers to make baseball history during the 2026 World Series. The breakfast chain is giving away free Triple Play combo meals to all rewards members if a triple play is turned during the fall baseball classic, starting October 23rd and ending October 31st (if the World Series goes until Game 7). The Triple Play combo meal was launched this year as a value meal platform starting at $9.99, and includes a choice of soft drink or coffee, starter (maple-stuffed donut holes or chips and salsa), and one of eight entrée options (including both burgers and breakfast options like the new breakfast sandwich, the All-American Slamwich).

If the Denny’s Triple Play giveaway is activated, it will be the first time in over 100 years that a triple play has been turned during the World Series. The last time was during Game 5 of the 1920 World Series between the Cleveland Indians and the Brooklyn Robins. Comparatively, there have been 25 grand slams in World Series history, or roughly 20 percent of all World Series.

This is Denny’s updated version of last year's World Series Grand Slam Giveaway, which was triggered on October 24th, 2025, by Addison Barger of the Toronto Blue Jays, giving loyalty members one free Original Grand Slam breakfast.

If the triple play is made, the free Triple Play meal offer will be automatically loaded into eligible Denny's Rewards accounts on November 3rd. Denny's is using the enticement of a long-shot sports bet to encourage customers to join the company's rewards program. Only Denny's rewards members are eligible for this giveaway, and customers must be enrolled by November 1st to cash in their free Triple Play combo meal. The breakfast chain relaunched its digital rewards program last August and is said to have around 5 million members."

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PROPOSES SHORTER SEASON

ESPN reported, "Major League Baseball has proposed shortening its regular season to 154 games starting in 2029 and expanding the division series to a best-of-seven format. The proposals came as part of negotiations with the MLB Players Association over a new collective bargaining agreement. MLB also wants to allow higher-seeded teams to choose their opponents both in the wild-card and division series rounds of the playoffs. The 154-game schedule would be a return to MLB's calendar prior to 1960, when it was expanded to the current 162-game regular season. Under the proposal, Monday would be a standard off day for most teams, with the exception of potentially televising one or two national broadcasts. Holidays and other special events would negate the full league off day. Teams that play Monday would be off Thursday.

In what would be a first-of-its-kind in professional sports, the No. 3 seed in each league would be able to select whether to play the No. 5 or 6 seed in the wild-card round, with the selection coming immediately after the conclusion of the regular season. The wild-card round would remain a best-of-three series. In the proposed best-of-seven division series, the No. 1 seed would be able to pick which wild-card winner to play, with the selection coming immediately following the conclusion of the wild-card round. Those proposals are pertinent as they relate to this postseason, especially in the American League, where the three teams with the best records (the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox) were on the same side of the bracket.

MLB is proposing to implement the new format beginning in 2029 to coincide with the beginning of the sport's next national media deals. They're also part of a larger proposal which includes a salary cap, a sticking point with the union so far. The sides have not agreed on the larger economic issues, so anything involving the schedule and other major issues impacting the game are on hold until they do."

GEORGE CLOONEY WILL OPEN RESTAURANT IN FRANCE IN 2027

Grazia reported, "George Clooney is adding restaurateur to his increasingly long list of jobs. The actor is reportedly preparing to open an upscale Italian restaurant in Cotignac, a small village in Provence, France, not far from the home he shares with Amal Clooney and their twins. Work is already underway on the property, with local reports suggesting the restaurant could welcome its first guests in spring 2027. The Provençal village, home to around 2,000 people, is surrounded by vineyards and recognizable for the dramatic limestone cliffs rising behind its old town. Cours Gambetta runs through its center, lined with plane trees, restaurants, and café terraces. For now, anyone walking past number 11 will find a construction site rather than Clooney sipping an espresso outside.

Clooney's connection to Italian food hardly comes out of nowhere. He has owned Villa Oleandra on Lake Como for more than two decades and has spoken often about his love of Italian cooking. But France has become an increasingly important part of the Clooneys' lives, too. In 2021, George and Amal purchased Domaine du Canadel, an estate near Brignoles, around 20 kilometers from Cotignac. [But more importantly,] the couple obtained French citizenship in late 2025, further cementing their ties to the country."

COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF CELEBRATES 63RD ANNIVERSARY

Marketing Daily reported, "A popular Los Angeles-native coffee and tea chain is celebrating its 63rd anniversary with a campaign that invites customers to "make every cup their own." Founded in Los Angeles in 1963, the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is now operated by the Philippines-based Jollibee Group, which also has a North American regional office located in Southern California. The chain has more than 1,200 locations across 20 countries.

The brand's new creative effort entitled, "Make It Yours," is a multi-faceted "social storytelling campaign" running across its social media accounts and website and extends to in-store activations. The centerpiece is a series of short films from customers, baristas, and creative collaborators on the brand's website. Each shows the subject discussing their own unique relationship with the brand. A copywriter talks of how warm and comfortable his second home is at his local store, a barista tells how she started at the chain more than 10 years ago, and a lawyer describes how the baristas and managers really make his daily coffee experience what it is. The brand also invites its customers to share their personal stories and memories of the brand on their socials with the tag #MakeItYours."

KFC'S BEVERAGE BRANDS

According to AllRecipes.com, "KFC has decided to end its 40-year partnership with PepsiCo in 2027 and switch to Coca-Cola products. The partnership between PepsiCo and Yum! Brands, which includes KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, began in the '90s, when the chain restaurants were actually owned by PepsiCo. Today, Yum! Brands is a publicly traded corporation, but all of its brands still serve PepsiCo products—including some exclusives, like Mountain Dew Sweet Lightning at KFC, Mountain Dew x Trolli Mango Pineapple Punch at Pizza Hut, and Mountain Dew Baja Blast at Taco Bell."

CO-BRANDING: TACO BELL AND MILK BAR INTRODUCE A BIRTHDAY CAKE EMPANADA

Nation's Restaurant News reported, "Taco Bell and Milk Bar are reuniting once again but this time with a new offering. The Birthday Cake Empanada features Milk Bar's signature Birthday Cake flavor rolled into a Taco Bell empanada and topped with pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles. The item, which is available for $3.49, was teased at Taco Bell's annual Live Más Live event in March and will make its nationwide debut October 15th for a limited time. The two brands first teamed up in 2022 with the Strawberry Bell Truffles, featuring Milk Bar's Cake Truffles with pieces of Taco Bell's Crunchy Taco Shell. In 2025, they reunited for Birthday Cake Churros."

PIZZA HUT CELEBRATES HALLOWEEN

According to AllRecipes.com, "Pizza Hut is celebrating the month of happy haunts by bringing back its My Haunt Box — a personal meal that comes with an entrée and a side — with brand-new boxes and a new drink choice: Mountain Dew x Trolli Mango Pineapple Punch. The meal, which is like a Halloween-themed version of the chain's My Hut Box, comes in a colorful box decorated with spooky art, such as bats and a mummified Pizza Hut logo. The entrée options are a two-topping Personal Pan Pizza or a six-piece of Boneless Wings in any of the chain's sauces. This Halloween-themed meal will only be around until November 2nd, so swing by before the spooky season ends."

AMAZON PRIME VIDEO IS NEW HOME OF EMMY AWARDS

Amazon reported, "In a historic first, the Television Academy and Prime Video announced on October 6th a landmark six-year deal establishing Prime Video as the exclusive global home of the Emmy Awards. The deal replaces the Television Academy's traditional rotation among broadcast networks ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. Since their inception in 1949, the Emmy Awards have captured the global imagination, celebrating the stories, creators, and performances that define the cultural zeitgeist. Beginning with the 2027 ceremony, the star-studded event will continue to anchor the television season by airing live in September. In a major win for entertainment fans, the ceremony will not be behind a paywall; instead, the Emmy Awards will be free to view for audiences worldwide in more than 240 countries and territories."

DISRUPTIVE MARKETING, FASHION-TAINMENT, AND MUSIC

CNBC reported, "E.l.f. Beauty, Gap, and Wendy's announced ventures into music in recent weeks, part of a wave of retailers finding new ways to engage customers. The creative marketing strategies play particularly to Gen Z consumers, who favor culturally relevant brands when shopping.

Watch out Sony, a new music producer is in town. And this time it’s the same brand that makes your favorite lip gloss. E.l.f. Beauty announced the release of "Mirror Mix," an original album featuring music from seven rising artists. The album comes as the makeup company ramps up its marketing spend, fueled in part by tariff refunds. E.l.f.'s pursuit of music is part of a growing wave of retailers blending shopping with entertainment. The E.l.f.-released music is part of the company's strategy in "disruptive marketing," or marketing that aims to create moments consumers will pay attention to...At E.l.f., the company uses the concept of unaided awareness, or a consumer's ability to name a brand without being prompted, as a metric to measure its marketing's success. Unaided awareness of E.l.f. Beauty has tripled in the last five years."

E.l.f. Beauty CEO Tarang Amin said, "We're an entertainment company that happens to sell beauty products."

CNBC also reported, "Gap announced a multi-year partnership with boy band Just Your Type, or JYT. The clothing retailer will be responsible for developing a multi-episode docuseries, national mall tour, and a clothing collection with the rising pop stars. The venture is the company's first collaboration under its newly created "fashion-tainment" platform. The initiative comes as the company has undergone a multiyear revival after the retailer closed about 2,000 stores and annual sales fell by $3.5 billion between 2001 and 2021."

Gap CEO Richard Dickson said, "Fashion is entertainment, and today's customers aren't just buying apparel, they're buying into brands that tell compelling stories and drive cultural conversations."

And CNBC reported, "In recent weeks, Wendy's also debuted an emo album titled, "Songs to Listen to in a Wendy's Parking Lot." Unlike the earnest attempts of E.l.f. and Gap to create music that would resonate with fans, the fast-food chain created humorous renditions of songs, including "She Said She Didn't Want Fries" and "The Best Combo Meal on the Worst Night of My Life." The lead song has generated more than 450,000 streams on Spotify, and the announcement gained hundreds of thousands of likes on Instagram."

Wendy's CEO Bob Wright named marketing as one of the company’s key areas of focus and explained, "We have one of the most recognizable brands in the industry, and we need to make our messaging, media, and creative drive a meaningful connection with our customers and drive traffic to our restaurants."

JAGUAR LAUNCHED FIRST ELECTRIC VEHICLE

CNBC reported, "Luxury carmaker Jaguar has launched its new all-electric vehicle, two years after the famed British company's controversial rebrand prompted a social media backlash. The automotive manufacturer, which is owned by India's Tata Motors, unveiled the Type 01 model on October 6th at an event in New York City, describing it as the "most technically advanced" and "most powerful and aerodynamic" Jaguar ever. It marks a radical new direction for the company, which was criticized in November 2024 when it revealed a series of changes ahead of becoming a fully electric brand.

Italy's Ferrari and Britain's Bentley have also launched their first EV models this year, seeking to test wealthy buyers' appetite for going electric as luxury carmakers seek to compete with cheaper Chinese car brands. Jaguar's Type 01 has a starting price of roughly $130,500 in the U.S., according to multiple media reports, which is significantly higher than previous comparable models. The four-door "Grand Tourer" has an ultra-long bonnet, low roofline, frameless doors, and a camera instead of a rear window. It has a range of up to 450 miles and can accelerate from 0-62 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds."

JLR CEO PB Balaji described the unveiling of Type 01 as the start of an exciting new era for Jaguar, "Combining British heritage, bold creativity, advanced technology, and groundbreaking engineering, it reflects our ambition to create objects of desire that will help us invite a new generation of clients into Jaguar's loyal and passionate customer base."

REBRANDING OF CHILDREN'S CLOTHING BRAND CARTER'S

According to CNBC, "Children's clothing brand Carter's is undergoing a revamp to better align with the new generation of parents as its namesake company tries to recover from sluggish performance in recent years. The rebrand includes a new logo and marketing campaign that Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Crockett explained aims to keep the 161-year-old company relevant with its core customer. Carter's largest brands include its namesake banner and OshKosh B'gosh, which are sold in standalone stores around the U.S. and in retailers including Walmart. The rebrand comes as the overall company has shrunk its store footprint and laid off some employees over the past year to try to reposition itself for growth, especially as the market for baby and kids clothing has grown more competitive...The rebrand will roll out across Carter's social channels in 2026, with additional retail and packaging elements in 2027."

REBRANDING OF ATLANTIC OCEAN?

USAToday reported, "President Trump says Google Maps discouraged him from renaming the Atlantic Ocean to Trump Ocean. Boasting a list of the all the locations he has renamed and iterating he does not intend to rename either the Hudson River in New York or the Mississippi River, during a rally in Clemson, South Carolina on October 22nd, Trump said he was keen on renaming an ocean until Google CEO Sundar Pichai told him not to...A president can direct how U.S. government agencies refer to geographic features through executive action. But any name change would generally apply only to federal government usage and would not be binding internationally. That's especially true for the Atlantic and Pacific, which border multiple countries and have long-established names recognized around the world. There is no international authority that could require other countries to adopt a new U.S.-designated name."

SUPER BOWL WILL STREAM ON DISNEY+ ON FEBRUARY 14, 2027

CNBC reported, "On October 7th, Disney announced that its streaming service Disney+ will air the upcoming Super Bowl in February. The 2027 championship game, as well as two Monday Night Football games leading up to the Super Bowl, will be available to all Disney+ subscribers in the U.S. Disney had previously announced that its ESPN sports division would produce the Super Bowl in 2027 for the first time ever. The game will air on ESPN and Disney's broadcast network, ABC. Interest in the upcoming Super Bowl is already high. Disney said on its most recent earnings call that ad spots for the game are already sold out, the earliest sellout in Super Bowl history. The announcement is the latest move in Disney's efforts to expand its live sports streaming offerings. The media company last year launched a standalone ESPN streaming service, bringing the content outside the cable bundle."

NATIONAL WOMEN'S SMALL BUSINESS MONTH

According to Bacon Magazine, "Every October, the country pauses to celebrate the women who start, own, and grow businesses of their own. It's a month for the bakery owner who opens before sunrise, the consultant building her client list one referral at a time, the designer shipping orders from her dining room table, and the CEO negotiating her next big partnership. It is for every woman who brings home the bacon through something she built herself.

Women now own 15.7 million businesses across the United States, representing 40.6 percent of all U.S. businesses, according to the 2026 Impact of Women-Owned Businesses report from Wells Fargo. Those businesses employ 12.6 million people and generate $2.8 trillion in revenue, and between 2022 and 2025, their numbers grew by 12.1 percent, nearly twice the growth rate of businesses owned by men. Behind every one of those figures is a woman who took a chance on herself, and that is exactly what this month is here to honor.

The roots of this month run back to 1988, when Congress passed the Women's Business Ownership Act, expanding federal support for women business owners because most women could not get a loan without a male co-signer. That same year, the U.S. Small Business Administration launched its Women's Business Center program to help women overcome barriers to success, and the agency has long used October to recognize the women entrepreneurs those programs serve."

Friday, October 16, 2026

Happy National Dictionary Day!

Do you consider yourself a lexicophile? Derived from the Greek language, a lexicophile is a fan of words and dictionaries. If that description fits you, then today is a special day.

Celebrated annually on October 16th, National Dictionary Day celebrates the birth of Noah Webster, an American writer who was born in 1758. Webster is best-known for publishing the first dictionary in 1806, which he continued to expand over the next 27 years. Though this bestselling dictionary defined 37,000 words, he was unsatisfied and spent the next 22 years of his life dedicated to adding new words. In 1828, at the age of 70, he published his new dictionary with over 65,000 words.

While many of us are familiar with the spelling differences between British and American English words (such as colour and flavour spelled in American English as color and flavor), those changes can be attributed to Webster. In his first edition of the American English dictionary in 1806, he changed the spellings to American English.

After Webster died in 1843 as an American hero who pioneered the dictionary and supported both the abolition of slavery and universal education, G & C Merriam, Co. purchased the rights to his "An American Dictionary of the English Language." Brothers George and Charles Merriam continued to refine Webster's dictionary, eventually creating the Merriam-Webster dictionary that's revered today. And you can also find its resources online at www.Merriam-Webster.com.

On a personal note, in June 1977, I received my first dictionary, the Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (the big red volume), as a graduation present from elementary school from my grandparents. I was thrilled and knew it would be a lifelong friend! It still sits prominently on my bookcase. In the book's preface, the editor wrote, "Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary is a completely new volume in the Merriam-Webster series of dictionaries. It is a general dictionary edited for use in school or college, in the office, and in the home - in short, wherever information about English words is likely to be sought."

While Merriam-Webster is a well-known dictionary brand, there are others. Let's pivot from history to marketing and check out some other well-known dictionary brands.

OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) began in 1857 when members of the Philological Society in London decided that existing English dictionaries were incomplete and inaccurate. The first edition of the OED was finally completed seventy years later in 1928. It is widely accepted as the principal historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press, a University of Oxford publishing house. The first electronic versions appeared on CD-ROMs, leading to the launch of the OED Online database in 2000; and a complete rewrite for a digital-first Third Edition is currently underway.

OED is top-ranked because:

(1) It traces the complete history, etymology (origin), and evolution of over half a million words from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present day.

(2) It contains millions of quotation citations showing how words have been used over centuries.

(3) It functions as a comprehensive research record rather than just a quick guide for everyday spelling.

CAMBRIDGE DICTIONARY

Cambridge University Press has been publishing dictionaries for learners of the English language since 1995. Cambridge Dictionaries Online began offering these dictionaries completely free of charge in 1999 — and today, Cambridge Dictionary is still growing. The Cambridge Dictionary is owned by Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a non-teaching department of the University of Cambridge in England.

COLLINS DICTIONARY

In 1819 in Glasgow, Scotland, William Collins began his business printing sermons and hymn books but soon moved into dictionaries and atlases as well as printing the bible. While the company is currently part of the multi-national Harper Collins group, the dictionary is still compiled in Scotland - in an office in the Glasgow suburb of Bishopbriggs. In 2011, the dictionary launched CollinsDictionary.com. And according to Elaine Higgleton, Publishing Director, Collins English Dictionaries, "There are certain people such as crossword puzzlers and scrabble players who like to have a physical copy of the dictionary as well as new markets emerging in places such as India where Internet coverage is not keeping up with demand to learn English."

MACQUARIE DICTIONARY

While initially proposed during the 1960s, the Macquarie Dictionary was published in September 1981 as the first comprehensive record of Australian English. The dictionary moved online in 2003 and has continued updating through subsequent editions, including the ninth edition in 2023.

Here's a fun fact: Did you know that, at the end of each year, many dictionaries share their favorite words or terms from the entire year? I've included links at the end of this post featuring recaps of words and terms that told the stories of 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 from the perspective of dictionary brands.

Gregory Barlow, President of Merriam-Webster, has said, "The one constant of a vibrant living language is change. We continuously encounter new ways of describing the world around us, and the dictionary is a record of those changes." And also during 2025, Merriam-Webster added over 5,000 words to its Collegiate Dictionary, the first major print revision in 22 years, showing a commitment to keeping the dictionary current with language changes.

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Let's Celebrate M&M'S Day!

Due to its yummy chocolate taste and timeless tagline since 1954, "It melts in your mouth, not in your hands," everyone's favorite candy might just be M&M'S.

Do you have a favorite flavor of M&M'S? Milk chocolate, caramel, peanut butter, dark chocolate, almond, or pretzel? Do you have a favorite color? Have you ever been to a M&M'S World store? They're located in New York City (Times Square), Mall of America (Minnesota), Disney Springs (Florida), Las Vegas (Nevada), Berlin (Germany), London (United Kingdom), and two in China (Shanghai and Disneytown Shanghai). And do you have any M&M'S memorabilia, such as apparel, mugs, or figurines?

Let's take a walk back through M&M'S colorful history:

1941: Forrest E. Mars, Sr., established M&M'S Limited in Newark, New Jersey, and M&M'S Plain Chocolate Candies were introduced. During World War II, M&M'S were exclusively sold to the U.S. military.

1950: M&M'S had become so popular that an ingenious solution for consumers to distinguish the real M&M'S from inferior imitators was to stamp each candy with the now famous "m."

1954: M&M'S Peanut Chocolate Candies were introduced, and the color used to print the "m" on M&M'S Plain and Peanut Chocolate Candies was changed from black to white.

1981: Mars became the first candy in space when M&M'S Chocolate Candies were chosen by the first space shuttle astronauts to be included in their food supply.

1984: M&M'S Plain and Peanut Chocolate Candies became the "Official Snack Foods of the Olympic Games" in Los Angeles.

During the 1980's: M&M'S Candies went global, expanding into Asia Pacific, Australia, Europe, and Russia.

2000: M&M'S Chocolate Candies became "The Official Candy of the New Millennium" because MM was the Roman numeral for 2000.

2004: M&M'S Chocolate launched "My M&M'S," the new online service for consumers to design their own customized message on M&M'S Chocolate Candies.

2008: M&M'S Chocolate launched "Faces" so customers could upload personal images to their personalized candies.

2022: M&M'S launched SPOKESCANDIES and announced a new global brand platform celebrating the power of fun.

2022: The M&M'S crew got even more colorful with the launch of the first new character in over a decade, Purple. "With keen self-awareness, authenticity, and confidence, Purple reminds us to celebrate what makes us unique and to embrace our authentic selves."

Do you know all the colors? Here's a list of the colors with quotes from their website:

RED: "I instinctively know I have great instincts."

YELLOW: "My favorite thing about today is everything."

ORANGE: "I find your lack of concern extremely concerning."

PURPLE: "Flawless? How about flaw more!"

GREEN: "I'm too busy shining to throw shade."

BROWN: "Not bossy. Just the boss."

BLUE: "I woke up like this."

SHARE: Even though a plural is never formed with an apostrophe in English, in this case, the makers of M&M'S decided to trademark the name with an 'S. #FunFact #MMSday #Spokescandies #MMSsuperfan #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Sunday, October 11, 2026

Recent Marketing News: Animals, Books, Cybersecurity, and More

During the last couple of weeks, there were news stories that reflected brand experiences, brand identity, brand naming, brand storytelling, brand strategy, celebration marketing, corporate culture, customer experience marketing, logo design, marketing leadership, personal branding, product marketing, rebranding, signage, special event marketing, and more.

PANDAS ARRIVE AT ZOO ATLANTA

Giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang landed in Atlanta on September 27th via a special FedEx Panda Express Boeing 777 aircraft. According to Raymond B. King, President and CEO, "This is a thrilling day for Zoo Atlanta and a historic moment for the City of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and beyond. We are elated to welcome Ping Ping and Fu Shuang and could not be more excited about sharing that joy with our Members, guests, city, and community in the coming weeks. Zoo Atlanta is honored to partner with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to see important work continue toward the conservation of giant pandas, which is the most important benefit of guarding this species.”

The pandas are currently housed in a biosecure area of Zoo Atlanta's new giant panda complex for a routine quarantine period of around a month. The date when members and guests can expect to see the pandas will be announced soon.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Each October, people unite to raise awareness and support for the millions affected by breast cancer, which affects 1 in 8 women in the United States over their lifetime - that's one person every 2 minutes in the U.S. (according to Susan G. Komen). The two most common risk factors of breast cancer are being born female and getting older. Doctors recommend annual mammograms starting at age 40 for average-risk women with a baseline mammogram for high-risk women starting at age 35. The pink ribbon is a symbol for solidarity and hope.

CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH

Launched in 2004, the National Cybersecurity Alliance and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) lead the campaign every October to assist organizations to talk to their employees and customers about staying safe online. According to StaySafeOnline.org, "Staying safe online isn't about making one perfect decision. It's about building habits and repeating them consistently in the small moments that happen every day. In doing this, we can all make life difficult for cybercriminals. Small actions make a big difference. We recommend starting with four easy steps anyone can take to boost their online safety: (1) Use strong passwords and a password manager; (2) Turn on multifactor authentication; (3) Recognize and report scams; and (4) Update your software."

NATIONAL DESSERT MONTH

October is also National Dessert Month. According to NAAtlanta.com, "Beloved for its chewy texture and rich flavor, the chocolate chip cookie was invented in 1938 by Ruth Wakefield, a chef, dietitian, educator and author from Walpole, Massachusetts, who also owned a tourist lodge with her husband Kenneth that they named the Tollhouse Inn. Brownies originated in Chicago in 1893 at the Palmer House Hotel, where Bertha Palmer asked her chefs to create a portable dessert that could be served at the World's Columbian Exposition. Apple pie is synonymous with American culture. With its flaky crust and sweet, spiced filling, it evokes a sense of nostalgia and comfort, and is often accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream."

CUSTOMER SERVICE WEEK

In 1992, the U.S. Congress proclaimed Customer Service Week a nationally recognized event to be celebrated annually during the first full week in October. During 2026, it was celebrated from October 5th to 9th. It's an international celebration of the importance of customer service and of the people who serve and support customers on a daily basis. Thousands of companies around the world celebrate and represent financial, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, retailing, hospitality, communications, nonprofit, and educational organizations, as well as government agencies, and others. Gratitude Walls, Service Awards, and thank-you cakes are just some of the ways that organizations can thank their teams.

BANNED BOOKS WEEK

Banned Books Week takes place during early October each year, and this year, it took place from October 4th through 10th. Co-sponsored by the American Library Association and Banned Books Week Coalition, 2026's theme was "Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read."

According to American Library Association President Sam Helmick. "Banned Books Week is a celebration of the freedom to read and the joy that comes from discovering stories that expand our understanding of ourselves and one another. Every person has the right to seek information and choose books without censorship. When we say "Let Books Be," we're showing up for readers everywhere and reaffirming that libraries are for everyone...As we look toward the next 250 years, the choice is ours. We can let our libraries fade, viewed as charming relics of a bygone era. Or, we can choose to invest in them as a bedrock of our future. Let us decide, right now, that they are not optional. They are the very breath of a free society and they are worth fighting for."

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE AND FICTION FOR FEMALE FANS CAMPAIGN

Sports Business Journal reported, "The mainstream success of on-screen adaptations of hockey-themed romance novels "Heated Rivalry" and "Off Campus" over the past year has introduced an entirely new -- and largely female -- audience to the sport. After a few NHL teams leaned into the trend last season through merchandise and content plays, the league has launched a marketing effort for 2026-2027 called "Hot for Hockey" that specifically targets the same demographic.

Led by new CMO Sean Eggert, who joined from Under Armour in May, the NHL is rolling out a series of short stories on audiobook platforms throughout the season that present real-life NHL storylines in the style of romance novels. The league has contracted popular hockey romance authors to write and narrate the 60-to-90-second pieces, which will direct listeners to tune in to upcoming games to see how the stories play out on the ice. It will also tap influential "BookTok" creators to spread the word. Eggert explained, "The popularity of hockey romance in not only this country, but North America at large, even parts of Europe, it's unmistakable. You can't hide from it. And so it's a great opportunity for us to extend and reflect that culture back in our storytelling."

"According to Eggert, hockey is the most popular sport by a wide margin within the broader sports romance category, which he said generates around 16 million downloads annually. Market research firm Circana reported that 51 million romance books were sold in print during the 12 months preceding June 2025 and identified sports romance as one of the category's fastest-growing subjects."

WORLD ANIMAL DAY

The objective for World Animal Day, held this year on October 4th, was to raise global awareness for animal welfare, improving living standards for farm and captive animals, and highlighting habitat and ecosystem preservation.

According to MarineConnection.org, "World Animal Day brings together the animal welfare movement, uniting people around the globe in a shared commitment to making the world a kinder, better place for all animals, and this year's official theme is: "See the World Through Their Eyes." When we truly begin to see the world through the eyes of captive dolphins and whales, we begin to imagine a very different life. A life without the freedom to choose where to go or without the constant discovery of new places and surroundings. To understand their world is to consider what life means to them – remarkably repetitive days, the same enclosure, the same boundaries, the same routines, day after day. Imagine waking each morning to the same walls, swimming the same circles, seeing the same view, knowing that tomorrow will be much the same. When we try to see the world through their eyes, our choices begin to change, because compassion begins when we take the time to imagine what life feels like for someone else."

According to Irene Gould of Everything French on Facebook, "On Sunday, October 4, the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France, shut down to cars for two hours and filled up with hundreds of dachshunds trotting from the Arc de Triomphe toward Place de la Concorde. It's called the Paris Sausage Walk and has been a Paris tradition since 2018, inspired by a similar event in London. This year, for the first time, organizers moved the whole thing to the Champs-Élysées, taking over roughly 1.2 miles, or 1.9 kilometers, of the avenue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The walk was free, open to everyone, and you didn't need a dachshund to show up and watch. It also happens to land on World Animal Day. Every year, it doubles as a fundraiser for Teckels Sans Doux Foyer, a charity that rescues and rehomes abandoned dachshunds, with merchandise sales on-site going straight to the cause."

According to Earth.com, "World Animal Day is older than a lot of people expect. Heinrich Zimmermann, a writer and editor working in Berlin, organized the first one on March 24, 1925, at the city's Sports Palace, and more than 5,000 people attended. He had wanted the event on the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, who's known as the patron saint of animals. Logistical problems pushed the first celebration to March, and it didn't land on that feast day, October 4, until 1929. In May of 1931, animal protection groups meeting at an international congress in Florence, Italy, approved his proposal to make October 4 the official date. Zimmermann also ran a magazine in which he wrote against cruelty to animals. Last year marked the day's 100th anniversary with the theme "Save Animals, Save the Planet." This year's theme shifts the focus from saving animals to understanding how they experience the world."

JAMES BOND DAY

According to Men's Journal, "October 5 has become an international celebration known as "James Bond Day." Although Ian Fleming's first Bond novel, "Casino Royale," was released on April 13th,1953, "James Bond Day" celebrates the U.K.'s theatrical release of "Dr. No," on October 5th, 1962, which was the first Sean Connery-led 007 film." Fans still await the announcement of the next actor to portray the famous character in the franchise's next film.

WORLD TEACHERS DAY

World Teachers Day was celebrated on October 5th. In the words of Sesame Street, "To teach is to change a life forever! To teachers, thank you for everything you do to help us grow smarter, stronger, and kinder." And from the United Nations, "Thank you to all educators around the world for their unwavering dedication to future generations."

SHARE THIS: Thank you to all educators around the world for their unwavering dedication to future generations. ~United Nations #WorldTeachersDay #CelebrationMarketing #DebbieLaskeysBlog

WORLD ARCHITECTURE DAY

World Architecture Day was celebrated on October 5th. Created in 1985 by the International Union of Architects (UIA), World Architecture Day is a day to show appreciation for the work that architects do and to celebrate the inspiring and memorable works of architecture around the world. Famous works of architecture have become part of the natural landscape. Consider what the city of Paris would be without the Eiffel Tower, or what New York City would be without the Statue of Liberty, or what San Francisco would be without the Golden Gate Bridge. Without these amazing architectural structures, these cities would lack their artistic souls and brand identities.

SHARE THIS: Architecture is not just about designing buildings; it's about creating spaces that inspire and uplift. ~Unknown #WorldArchitectureDay #CelebrationMarketing #DebbieLaskeysBlog

DECLINING CMO TENURE

Digiday reported, "A survey of 13,000 U.S. marketing professionals has found the median time in office enjoyed by CMOs is down 35 percent since 2010. The study, which surveyed companies with over 100 employees, was conducted by recruitment firm Findem and networking platform CMO Huddles. Per the report, 33 percent of CMOs had been in their role for more than five years, with those at public companies generally charting longer tenures. Software firms were among those with the shortest-lived CMOs, with an average of 27 months in their position.

Compared to, say, English Premier League soccer coaches (15 months), CMOs are here for the long haul. Chief executives actually hang around for longer, with their average tenure reaching 7.4 years. The tenure of chief information officers and supply chain chiefs (5.2 years each) also remained steady.

That difference can be explained when one considers U.S. companies’ top priorities in 2026: AI, cybersecurity and a tough economic outlook dominated by tariff-related pressures. All topics that make work for idle CIOs and CSOs. The relative power of the average chief marketers, however, has fallen or stalled in recent years. According to Gartner's recent CMO surveys, marketing spend as a share of sales flatlined at 7.8 percent this year, down from 11.2 percent in 2018.

Shrinking tenure may be a symptom of a greater sickness — the fall in influence of CMOs. For one, fewer companies are going with a CMO. According to Forrester, just 36 percent of Fortune 500 firms use the CMO term, a 49 percent decrease on the previous year. In 2024, that figure was 55 percent. Another Forrester study pointed to a reduction in influence among CMOs, with 46 percent reporting to someone other than their CEO, suggesting they're often at least one degree removed from the corporate top table."

Forrester analyst Jay Pattisall said, "Clearly there's a misalignment...the shrinking CMO tenure isn't so much the story as is the misalignment of where the CMO reports and of expectations. Some CEOs see marketing as a communications or campaign function."

Drew Neisser, CEO of CMO Huddles, said, "Companies want marketing leaders to fix growth, reposition the business, build demand, sharpen the brand, align sales, and prove impact fast. But the data is screaming that too many CMOs are being handed transformation-sized mandates on trial-period timelines. That is not just hard on CMOs. It is expensive and self-defeating for companies."

BRISBANE OLYMPICS LOGO REVEAL

The Guardian reported, "The Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics emblems have been accidentally leaked by the Games' official YouTube channel, three days before its own big reveal. The emblems depicting a pink cockatoo for the Olympics and a sulphur-crested cockatoo for the Paralympics, were shown in the top-right corner of a video."

According to NBC Sports, "The logos bring together the places, people and spirit that will take us to 2032. And yes...that little character is a cockatoo! Distinctive. Unmistakably Queensland. And just a little bit cheeky."

In 2021, the Australian Museum called the pink cockatoo "an outback Australian icon. Pink cockatoos are found in low densities across the arid and semi-arid inland of Australia, surviving in some of Australia's harshest habitats...Few birds more enliven the monotonous hues of the Australian forest than this beautiful species [with] pink-colored wings and a distinctive bright red, yellow, and white flowing crest."

CAMPARI PINK SPRITZ

CNN reported, "As the alcohol industry deals with a dreary environment in the U.S., Aperol's parent company hopes a brightly colored aperitif imported from Italy will entice drinkers. Campari Group is making its biggest investment ever for the U.S. launch of Sarti Rosa, a tropical pink-colored aperitivo liqueur made for spritzes. The Sarti Spritz has built a devoted following from Americans visiting Europe over the past few years. The Italian company has seen its U.S. business grow consecutively for the past five years by heavily promoting Aperol and Campari, popularizing the spritz to Americans cutting back on drinking as a lighter alternative to booze-heavy cocktails. With Sarti Rosa, however, the aim is to attract younger drinkers who prefer a sweeter aperitivo that doesn't taste bitter. For those unfamiliar, a Sarti Spritz has tasting notes of mango, passion fruit, and blood orange that is mixed with Prosecco and club soda. The pink-hued cocktail is photogenic, which has made it a social media sensation."

NOVO NORDISK REBRAND

CNBC reported, "Novo Nordisk, the Danish drugmaker, is rebranding its name to "Novo" and updating its corporate culture as the company works to win back market share in the obesity drug space. The company called the changes the beginning of a new chapter, as it has been grappling with stiff competition from chief rival Eli Lilly and investor pressure to deliver new blockbuster products and chart a path toward long-term growth. CEO Mike Doustdar said the rebrand and culture shift are "part of the same package" for the company to evolve its strategy...and added that Novo needs to improve several aspects – from research and development and manufacturing to sales and marketing – to be able to compete in the obesity drug market.

The drugmaker said its corporate culture will be based on a new set of four principles that will help it gain advantages in an increasingly competitive market where more of its products have gone direct-to-consumer. Those tenets are: (1) innovating with patients as the primary focus; (2) raising the company's performance to create greater value for all stakeholders; (3) setting clearer priorities and simpler workflows; and (4) never compromising on patient safety and ethics."

DEATH OF DEE BROCK

The New York Times reported, "Dee Brock, a high school English teacher and model who started the original Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, who would become known worldwide for their sexy sideline dancing in blue tops, star-spangled vests and shorts, and white boots, died on September 23rd in Tyler, Texas, at the age of 96. In 1961, Tex Schramm, the Cowboys' president, hired Brock and told her he wanted to stock the squad with models. It was the second year of the team's existence, following its winless debut as an NFL expansion team in 1960. She suggested recruiting local high school cheerleaders - girls at first, then boys, for a few years starting in 1964 - to add gymnastic stunts in the traditional cheers. For a time, they were known as the Cowbelles and Beaux, which Brock hated. They wore mostly white outfits that didn't show much skin."

But the group evolved under Brock's leadership - and wow, did the entire world of professional football team cheerleaders change! She integrated the cheerleaders in 1965, hired a choreographer, sketched designs for "abbreviated" costumes, and recruited women over age 18. Brock led the cheerleaders in a part-time role while also continuing as a teacher in Dallas. She earned a doctorate and also became a public television executive. The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders performed at Super Bowls and on dozens of USO tours. In 2022, past and current cheerleaders traveled on a Cowboys team bus to Brock's home in Tyler, Texas, to present her with a lifetime achievement award in the form of a glittering rhinestone football.

Eunice Taylor Cicero, one of the first two black cheerleaders, said, "Dee will never know the strength she gave me as a young kid to believe in myself, to believe what I could do."

ONE WAY GERMANY DEALS WITH ITS HISTORY

CNN reported, "There has been outrage after a small town in eastern Germany banned the installation of new Holocaust memorial plaques that mark the last known residence or workplace of Jews and other victims of Nazi persecution. "Stolpersteine," meaning "stumbling blocks," are found across Germany, as well as in other European countries, and are intended as a daily reminder of Nazi atrocities. The motion was proposed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), who argued that passersby are "walking over or even stepping onto the names of the victims." On September 24th, the city council of Heidenau, a town near Dresden, backed the motion. Opponents argue that part of the purpose of the memorials is their subtle intrusion into everyday life...The International Auschwitz Committee slammed the CDU’s support of the motion as scandalous, according to Deutsche Welle.

The small 10cm brass cubes, often installed in sidewalks outside residential homes, are the work of German artist Gunter Demnig who initiated the project in the 1990s. They all carry similar information, such as the individual's name, date of deportation, and place of death. To date, 116,000 plaques have been installed across 31 countries, the vast majority are in Germany. Demnig himself has rejected the recent motion in Heidenau. Speaking to German media, he said that the blocks must be visible in the specific locations where people used to live or work, and that they help bring history to life for young people."

SPACEXAI NAME NEWS

Reuters reported on October 4th, "SpaceX CEO Elon Musk posted on social media that he would rename the company's AI unit (SpaceXAI) to SpaceXSI, ‌following Trump's push to use the term "super intelligence" instead of "artificial intelligence." Musk did not provide any additional information regarding the name change, nor did he give a timeline for when the change would occur."

EXCITING MILESTONE ON #DEBBIELASKEYSBLOG

Don't forget baseball's World Series marketing highlights later this month.

What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? Since there's always something happening that impacts marketing, read #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!

Image Credits: NHL (via Sports Business Journal), Yes Yes Paris (via Facebook), and FedEx.

Read My #1,000th Post:

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2026/10/celebrating-special-milestone-on.html

Read about the Australian cockatoo:

https://australian.museum/blog/amri-news/new-insights-into-the-pink-cockatoo-an-outback-australian-icon/

Monday, October 5, 2026

Let's Celebrate Emily Warren Roebling on World Architecture Day!

Have you ever heard the name Emily Warren Roebling? If not, you definitely know the bridge that she's associated with - whether by walking across it in person or by seeing it in movies or Law & Order television shows. After her husband was incapacitated in an accident, Emily Warren Roebling took over supervising the construction of the bridge over New York's East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan that became known as the Brooklyn Bridge. So today, on World Architecture Day, let's celebrate this often overlooked member of the architecture history books.

According to History.com, "The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge began with a freak accident. In late June 1869, John Augustus Roebling, the designer and builder of wire rope suspension bridges, was surveying his new project site in Lower Manhattan when an approaching ferry crushed his foot against some wooden pilings. Roebling died of tetanus three weeks later, and the job of chief engineer went to his eldest son, Washington Roebling, who had been his father's right-hand man for construction of the great bridge spanning the Ohio River in Cincinnati, as well as on the design of the new bridge.

Three years later, with construction well underway on what would be the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time, and the first to use steel wires, Washington himself was incapacitated by "caisson disease" (now known as decompression sickness or "the bends"). With the chief engineer confined to his bed in his Brooklyn Heights home, his wife, Emily Warren Roebling, stepped up and steered the completion of one of the 19th century's most impressive architectural achievements."

According to Sacyr.com, "With her husband unable to work, Emily Warren Roebling assumed a crucial role: she managed her husband's communications, studied his plans, copied his specifications, and relayed instructions to assistant engineers. Washington described her as his "wisest counsellor" and "a woman of infinite tact." She visited the construction site daily, attended board meetings, and oversaw the project, all the while carefully concealing the extent of her involvement in order to protect her husband's reputation. Along the way, she learned about material strength, stress analysis, cable construction, and the mathematics of the catenary curve."

History.com further explained, "The day before its grand opening on May 24, 1883, Emily Warren Roebling earned the honor of driving the first carriage across the completed Brooklyn Bridge carrying a rooster as a symbol of victory. And her unconventional achievements were not limited to her role in the Brooklyn Bridge's construction. In 1899, at the age of 55, she graduated with high honors from the Woman's Law Class of New York University, making her among the first female lawyers in New York state, and wrote a prize-winning article in the Albany Law Journal arguing for greater equality for women in marriage."

In addition, according to Sacyr.com, "After the bridge's completion, she travelled alone to Europe, where she met Queen Victoria in London and attended the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II in Moscow. Upon her return, she gave lectures about her experiences in Russia for the Federation of Women's Clubs, becoming increasingly active in the fight for gender equality. She toured the country, speaking in defense of women's suffrage and social services for the poor, and urged women to study law."

From a personal branding perspective, despite advice in her early years that women needed no higher education, Emily Warren Roebling studied mathematics and science. Above all, she placed the importance of the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge plus her husband's personal brand above hers - truly admirable.

According to Natiba Guy-Clement, director of special collections at the Brooklyn Public Library's Center for Brooklyn History, "Being one of 12 kids, being the daughter of a politician, I think that she just had to have that level of empowerment within herself."

And CBS News reported, "Underneath the Brooklyn tower of the bridge is Emily Warren Roebling Plaza. Unveiled in 2021, the public green space is now used to see the engineering marvel up close."

Lastly, to quote the United Nations, “Women of the world want and deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes, and violence, a future that’s sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights, and opportunities for all. To get there, the world needs women at every table where decisions are being made.”

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Marketing News of the Month: A Famous Voice Returns, Power of Words, and More

During the month of September, there were news stories that reflected advertising, brand experiences, brand identity, brand storytelling, brand strategy, celebration marketing, co-branding, competitive positioning, crisis marketing, customer experience marketing, language, personal branding, philanthropy, product launches, product pricing, reading, rebranding, special event marketing, target marketing, tourism marketing, and more. Marketing news from the early part of the month was detailed in my mid-month post on September 10th.

DEATH OF BOB MACKIE

Fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie died at the age of 87 on September 14th. During his six-decade career, he won nine Emmy Awards, one Tony Award, and three Oscar nominations. Do you remember the dress Cher wore to the Academy Awards in 1988 when she won the Oscar for her role in the 1987 romantic comedy "Moonstruck?" It was designed by Bob Mackie. He created unique and memorable dresses for Cher, Carol Burnett, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Tina Turner, Lucille Ball, and even Marilyn Monroe and Sir Elton John - and was known as the "Sultan of Sequins."

SHARE THIS: The way you dress is your way of telegraphing to the person that's looking at you, who you are and where you're coming from. ~Bob Mackie #PersonalBranding #Fashion #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A woman who wears my clothes is not afraid to be noticed. ~Bob Mackie #PersonalBranding #Fashion #DebbieLaskeysBlog

MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY ADDS 1,400 WORDS

The BBC reported, "Merriam-Webster, America's oldest dictionary publisher, has added 1,400 new words, including glow-up, looksmaxxing, meme coin, and trash panda - the affectionate nickname for raccoons. Other newly-added words are culinary-inspired, including superfood (foods rich in nutrients), bao (a stuffed bread bun popular in Asia), and cake pop (cake and icing on a lollipop stick). Merriam-Webster is also expected to name its word of the year in the next few months."

And if you missed the news back in June, "The editors of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) added 314 new words and phrases to the world-renowned reference book. Among the new terms added to the 142-year-old dictionary are life hack, blingy, fiending, long game, and crushing it. Many of the new additions have come from across the globe, with the Australian term yeah nah (yes, but...) and the French au contraire also making it in."

SINGAPORE'S READING INCENTIVE

According to The Guardian, "Singapore is paying its citizens to pick up a book for at least 15 minutes a day in an effort to fight the rise of doomscrolling (spending excessive time online scrolling through negative news and social media content). The affluent city-state hopes its strategy, which launched during September, will improve concentration, critical thinking, and the imagination of Singaporeans. Under the scheme, readers accrue points that can be redeemed for a few cents. People will have to log 50 daily reading sessions on a government website to earn S$1 (80c). A session of 15 minutes or more is rewarded with 20 virtual coins, with 1,000 coins needed for a dollar payment. One reading session is allowed daily. It is not uncommon for the Singapore government to use financial incentives to try to influence the behaviour of its citizens. Previous health-focused initiatives have included supermarket vouchers for walking and prizes for hitting daily step targets."

According to Melissa Tam, the national library board chief, "We live in a world of extraordinary abundance, of content, information, and stimulation. At any moment, we can scroll through hundreds of headlines, watch a video, or get a summary of almost anything. [Since] we know that habits are built through small, consistent actions, we're starting with a simple goal: read for 15 minutes a day. On the bus, before bed, or over lunch."

KING CHARLES, QUEEN CAMILLA, AND THE POWER OF WORDS

The Guardian reported, "Queen Camilla has spoken of her love for books after a series of allegations were made about King Charles in extracts from Earl Charles Spencer's memoir about the life of his sister, Diana, Princess of Wales. Camilla was welcomed to Chatsworth House in Derbyshire for the first day of the festival for the Queen's Reading Room, a charity she founded after the success of her Instagram book club during the pandemic. She told guests, "I created my Reading Room simply because, like all of us here, I love books and their life-enhancing power and want to share that love with others. In those early days, I had no idea if anybody would be interested, but six years on, we are a global community of millions from over 180 countries, swapping recommendations, undertaking research, and donating thousands of books to women's refuges and homeless shelters."

However, also according to The Guardian, "Earl Spencer has doubled down on his bombshell claim that King Charles said of Diana, Princess of Wales, "rest assured, we'll forget her soon enough" days after her death, saying he is telling the truth. The alleged comments, revealed in Charles Spencer's memoir, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," which is being serialised in the Daily Mail, prompted Buckingham Palace to issue an extraordinary statement suggesting Diana's brother had misremembered events, saying: 'While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment, and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.'"

BENTLEY UNVEILS ITS FIRST ELECTRIC CAR

Car & Driver reported, "Bentley has been building cars for over a century, but it took the British brand 107 years to build its first EV. It's called the Torcal, and like some other Bentleys, such as the Bentayga SUV, the debut electric model is named after another stunning natural landmark, the picturesque El Torcal de Antequera rock formation in Spain." While official pricing has not been released, it's expected to be less than $230,000 - and go on sale in the U.S. in 2028.

NBC CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY

Beginning with the new fall TV season, an updated logo appeared on the lower left corner of television screens when watching the NBC network. The colorful peacock logo now has the number "100" beside it. The network announced that it will celebrate its 100th anniversary throughout 2026 with yearlong retrospectives across its shows and social channels.

According to the company, "NBC aired its first radio broadcast on November 15, 1926. The network helped lay the foundation for modern media – transforming how audiences connect with entertainment, news, and live events. Over the past century, NBC helped shape television history with milestones such as the first televised presidential appearance, the first televised World Series, the first televised presidential debate, the debut of Saturday Night Live, and influential series like Seinfeld, Friends, and Will & Grace. For 100 years, NBCUniversal has pushed the boundaries of storytelling, technology, and cultural connection. And in 2026, the NBCU News Group will play a central role in U.S. midterm election coverage, delivering trusted journalism, real-time analysis, and multi-platform reporting across broadcast, streaming, and digital. Additionally, across NBC News, Telemundo, and NBCU Local, the organization remains the most-watched news portfolio in America, reaching more viewers across platforms than any competitor."

APPLE UNVEILS FOLDABLE IPHONE

The BBC reported, "On September 9th, Apple launched its most expensive iPhone ever: a foldable handheld that marks the first major iPhone design change in almost 20 years. When unfolded, it looks like a small iPad and a wider iPhone when folded. The iPhone Duo is a gamble by new boss John Ternus, who took over from long-time chief executive Tim Cook. Apple is entering the foldable phone market comparatively late, following the likes of South Korea's Samsung and China's Huawei. In the US, prices start at $1,999 - but can go up to $3,200. It has taken eight years to develop, something Ternus was directly involved in after spending many years as a top executive inside Apple's hardware division...And the product is facing established competitors. Even with Apple's version likely driving interest and demand, sales are only expected to reach 4 percent of the total market in the next decade, according to data and analytics firm FDM CCM Insight."

According to Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Creative Strategies, "Foldables are interesting devices. A lot of people are intrigued, but the software and the learning curve that you have from moving from a traditional phone to a foldable is real."

KRISPY KREME'S FALL-FLAVORED DOUGHNUTS

Krispy Kreme announced, "Fall flavors are here and football is back – and Krispy Kreme is making both even sweeter. Beginning September 10th, fans can enjoy the NEW Apple Cider Original Glazed Doughnut and a Fall & Football Dozen made for all the delicious moments of the season."

According to Alison Holder, Chief Product and Brand Officer at Krispy Kreme, "Fall is full of rituals people look forward to – apple cider, game day, watch parties, and sharing moments with friends. With Apple Cider Original Glazed and our Fall & Football Dozen, we're giving fans a delicious new way to celebrate the season, whether they're heading to a tailgate or settling in for kickoff."

THE RISE OF UNCRUSTABLES

CNN reported, "One of America's oldest sandwiches is the newest battleground in the freezer aisle. The humble peanut butter and jelly has been a staple in kitchens for decades, beloved by parents looking to fix a quick meal for their kids. Then the crustless, pre-packaged Uncrustables rolled out in grocery stores in 2000. The product has been an unstoppable force ever since, recently becoming a billion dollar brand for its parent company J.M. Smucker. But Uncrustables isn't just a hit with school-age kids. Adults, including pop stars and professional athletes, love the snack. Long-distance runners use them for fuel. Football players are some of the biggest fans, with NFL teams consuming at least 80,000 sandwiches a year."

According to Nate Rosen, consumer package goods analyst, said, "Nostalgia especially has brought back a ton of products and flavors that people know and love from childhood. That age group is getting jobs, disposable income and, most importantly, starting to have kids — this is a product they already know and love."

CO-BRANDING: LA DODGERS PITCHER AND HABIT BURGER & GRILL

Nation's Restaurant News reported, "Habit Burger & Grill's latest chef in residency is Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia. His eight-week menu is inspired by one of baseball's most iconic moments: the double play. Available for a limited time, the lineup includes: Double Play Char; Double Play Salad; and Double Chocolate Shake. Habit created a new proprietary Strikeout Sauce for the menu, which features a tangy flavor and a kick from roasted jalapeño, garlic, and chili peppers. Vesia's menu marks the second installment of the chain's Habit & Co. platform, launched in July to allow residency chefs to bring their own creations and culinary points of view to the chain. The rotating residency series will continue with another featured resident to be announced in the coming months." Play ball!

CO-BRANDING: STARBUCKS AND PEANUTS

USA Today reported, "Limited-edition merchandise (available September 15th) inspired by the classic "Peanuts" holiday special "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" is on the way. The star item in the collection is the Snoopy Glass Cold Cup, the latest version of the chain's popular Bearista Cups, which went viral last year. The Snoopy Glass Cold Cup is shaped and painted to look like the popular "Peanuts" character and beagle Snoopy. He's wearing a scarf, and the lid is shaped to look like a beanie. Also, through the Starbucks app, customers in the U.S. can enjoy two secret drink menu items: the Charlie Brown Mocha Frappuccino and the Snoopy Cookie Frappuccino. Coffehouses in Latin America and the Carribbean also have drinks as a part of their official launch which includes four drinks (Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and Lucy Frappuccinos)."

The Starbucks collection features 10 collectible items including drinkware, accessories, and a plush - and will be available across the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific markets.

According to Dana Pellicano, senior vice president, global product experience at Starbucks, "The return of Pumpkin Spice Latte and "It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" are both enduring signs that fall has arrived. This collaboration brings those traditions together in a collection designed to celebrate the joy of the season, and we're excited to share it with our customers."

CO-BRANDING: LA PUBLIC LIBRARY AND SANRIO'S HELLO KITTY

According to the Los Angeles Public Library's press release, "LA County Library and Sanrio are celebrating Library Card Sign-up Month with Sanrio's first-ever collaboration with a library. Beginning September 18th, the exclusive Hello Kitty and Friends at LA County Library collaboration will feature a limited-edition library card, themed programs, and co-branded bookmarks and stickers, inviting Sanrio fans of all ages to visit their nearest LA County Library location to discover all that the Library has to offer. The month-long celebration highlights the joy of storytelling, friendship, creativity, and imagination while encouraging residents to sign up for a library card and discover the books, resources, programs, and experiences available at LA County Library.

"An LA County Library card is more than a card — it's a key to a lifetime of learning, inspiration, creativity, and connection - and one every resident in Los Angeles County deserves,” said Hilda L. Solis, Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor.

And according to Jill Koch, Chief Brand Officer, Sanrio, Inc., "Storytelling, creativity, and bringing people together have always been at the heart of Sanrio, which makes this collaboration with LA County Library such a natural fit. We're excited for Hello Kitty and Friends to inspire fans of all ages to visit their local library, discover something new, and experience the joy of reading and learning together."

CO-BRANDING: BISSELL AND NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

Trendhunter reported, "Pet-centered fashion activations are turning runway events into platforms for animal welfare awareness and consumer engagement. BISSELL joined designers Rachel Antonoff and Susan Alexandra for their third annual Best in Show during New York Fashion Week during September, where 15 adoptable dogs from Animal Haven walked alongside celebrity handlers. The event also featured a CONE-TURE installation and a fashion-forward "Cone of Honor," reimagining the traditional post-procedure pet cone to promote BISSELL Pet Foundation's Fix the Future spay and neuter initiative. The activation allows BISSELL to connect its pet-focused brand identity with fashion, entertainment, and social impact rather than relying on conventional product advertising. Partnering with designers and brand ambassador Aly Raisman (Olympic gymnast and passionate advocate for pet adoption) can broaden the campaign's reach while reinforcing its Every Purchase Saves Pets commitment. The experiential format also gives BISSELL a memorable way to build emotional connections with pet owners while increasing awareness of its foundation's programs."

And according to BISSELL's event press release, "Since its founding in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, BISSELL Pet Foundation has partnered with more than 6,025 organizations across the U.S. and Canada and impacted more than 1.3 million pets. Since November 2023, Fix the Future relief veterinarians have helped spay and neuter more than 452,000 pets, providing nearly 13,000 total days of surgery in support of 196 organizations across 28 states."

CO-BRANDING: SIMPSONS AND JACK IN THE BOX

All Recipes reported, "To celebrate this spooky time of year and the premiere of The Simpsons' 38th season, and inspired by the Simpsons' go-to burger spot, Krusty Burger, the new Munchie Meal of Horror includes a choice of a Double Krusty Burger of Terror or a Double Chicken Sandwich of Terror, plus two tacos, seasoned curly fries, and a drink. Each sandwich is lathered with the new Spooky Simpsons Sauce, a smoky BBQ ketchup. Each Munchie Meal of Horror comes in a "Treehouse of Horror" box featuring iconic moments from the show's annual Halloween episodes...Jack is also putting its own spin on one of Springfield's most recognizable treats with the new Forbidden D'oh!nut Holes. Inspired by Homer famously selling his soul to the devil for a donut, these dangerously tempting bites are a treat worth risking it all for. Warm donut holes are dusted with cinnamon sugar, topped with pink frosting and finished with rainbow sprinkles for a Jack take on the iconic pink donut. Even the packaging gets in on the horror, featuring Homer's unforgettable transformation into a donut...The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror menu is available for a limited time beginning September 10th at participating Jack in the Box restaurants nationwide, while supplies last."

THE SUSSEX WORD CHOICE SAGA CONTINUES: PRIVATE CITIZENS VERSUS WORKING ROYALS

People reported, "On September 7th, a letter was issued on behalf of King Charles stating that Harry and Meghan remain nonworking royals. The guidance, which reiterates the terms agreed when the couple stepped back from their roles as working members of the royal family in 2020, was provided after a number of requests for clarity about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex following their return to the UK.

The letter also reiterated that Prince Harry and Meghan should not use their His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) styles and said that questions from official and state organizations about courtesies extended to them — particularly where public funds may be involved — should be directed to Buckingham Palace. Palace insiders have pointed out that the letter does not represent a new policy, instead reiterating the terms agreed upon at the "Sandringham Summit" of January 2020.

While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no longer working members of the royal family and do not represent the monarch, those close to them point to the reality that they remain highly recognizable public figures — a distinction that also carries implications for their privacy and security, particularly following their return to Britain."

According to BuzzyTimes, "Harry and Meghan are not obscure residents of Oxfordshire waiting quietly for the recycling schedule. They are globally recognized celebrities whose movements trigger camera crews. But the palace was using private as a constitutional category, not a Nielsen rating. The disagreement is therefore partly two institutions using the same word for different purposes and then acting shocked that the other side heard it differently. The palace wants to say the Sussexes are private whenever officials need to know whether an appearance is official. Harry and Meghan want to say they are public whenever the description private sounds like a downgrade or undermines the significance of their charitable work. Both positions can be technically defensible. Together they create a status so carefully engineered that a normal person needs a flowchart and possibly a constitutional lawyer to know whether attending a charity gala requires bowing.

Harry and Meghan can call themselves public figures because they obviously are. Charles can describe them as private citizens for constitutional purposes because they no longer work for the crown. The problem is that the public is being asked to hold both ideas at once while every new appearance, security decision, and charity event tests where the line sits. If the arrangement truly has been settled since 2020, why does everyone still need a new memo to explain it?"

RETURN OF CELINE DION LIVE ON STAGE

Broadway World reported, "A sold-out crowd of 35,000 fans packed Plenitude Arena in Paris on Saturday night (September 12th) as Celine Dion made her highly-anticipated return to the stage for the first time in six years (after she was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called stiff person syndrome, which forced her to cancel tours), opening her "Celine Dion PARIS 2026-2027" limited engagement. Celine commanded the stage with the singular voice that has made her one of the most celebrated artists in music history."

TRIBUTE TO DOLLY PARTON

ABC7 reported, "California Governor Gavin Newsom officially signed "Dolly Parton Day" into law on Sunday, September 20th, in honor of the late country star. "Dolly Parton Day" will be on September 25th in honor of Parton's beloved song, "9 to 5." Parton was 80 when she died on August 25th after a brief battle with cancer. Parton, dubbed the "Queen of Country," was one of the most successful country music performers in history, selling more than 100 million records worldwide. She was also beloved for her philanthropy. Through her nonprofit Dollywood Foundation, "Saint Dolly," as her fans dubbed her, supported education by providing scholarships and financial assistance to people in need. A celebration took place on "Dolly Day" in San Francisco, where "Rhinestones and Ruffles Encouraged" was the dress code."

According to The Hill, here were some organizations donating proceeds from Dolly Parton Day to the Imagination Library:

AMERICAN EAGLE: All proceeds from two items, the Dolly Jean and the Dolly Parton Graphic Tee, will be donated to the Imagination Library.

REGAL CINEMA: The movie theater will be screening "Steel Magnolias" and "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" in Parton's memory on Friday, September 25th, with tickets priced at $9.25.

HATTI B'S HOT CHICKEN: The restaurant will donate all orders placed at one of its Tennessee locations to the Imagination Library.

JENNI'S ICE CREAM: The ice cream brand will donate 25 percent of sales from two Dolly-inspired flavors to the Imagination Library. The two flavors are called "Dough-lene" and "Scoop of Ambition."

THE PROTEIN BAR: The Protein Bar will be offering a limited-edition shake, The Dolly, and donating 25 percent of sales from locations in Chicago and downtown Indianapolis to the Imagination Library.

MLB MARKED 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11TH

Major League Baseball explained on its website, "To mark Patriot Day and commemorate the 25th anniversary of September 11th, 2001, honoring the victims, families and first responders through community service, special programming, and on-field tributes across all Clubs: All players, managers, coaches, and umpires will wear special New Era caps with a "We Shall Never Forget" side patch, while the Blue Jays will wear caps with both the Canadian and American flags. Meanwhile, the Yankees and Mets will wear first responder caps with team logos during their Subway Series game at Yankee Stadium. Each ballpark will also have customized base jewels and official lineup cards, with home teams hosting a league-wide moment of silence, an MLB Network-produced scoreboard dedication, and a rendition of "God Bless America" during each ballpark's seventh-inning stretch."

On MLB's Instagram post on September 11th, the message was, "Baseball brought comfort, and it was a vehicle to get back to life as we knew it. Baseball played a remarkable role in helping America begin to heal after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001."

MLB MARKED ROBERTO CLEMENTE DAY ON SEPTEMBER 15TH

Major League Baseball explained on its website, "In celebration of Roberto Clemente Day on September 15th, every player will wear a Number 21 patch on the chest of his jersey in honor of the Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star who tragically died in a plane crash while he was on his way to deliver relief supplies for earthquake victims in Nicaragua on New Year's Eve 1972. Roberto Clemente Day was established in 2002 to honor Clemente's legacy. And the Roberto Clemente Award is presented annually to one player who best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions, both on and off the field." (Note: Fans could vote for one player - deadline was September 27th - and upon voting, fans would be entered into the Roberto Clemente Award Voting Sweepstakes for a chance to win two tickets to a World Series game presented by Capital One).

Highlights of the day's celebrations were as follows:

(1) "Every player, manager, and coach across the league wore a commemorative No. 21 chest patch.

(2) The entire Pittsburgh Pirates roster wore No. 21 during their home game against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park, and catcher Rafael Flores Jr. wore special catching gear.

(3) All 30 club nominees for the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award (presented by Capital One) wore No. 21 jerseys or had special recognition on their patches."

PELOTON UNVEILS LOWER PRICED TREADMILL

CNN reported, "Peloton is launching its cheapest treadmill yet, in the hope that running's surging popularity will spur sales. The fitness equipment maker announced on September 22nd that it will soon release a $2,195 treadmill called the Tread Flex - about $1,000 cheaper than its current lineup, and also the company's first-ever foldable device that contracts to roughly half its size. Peloton hopes the space-saving design will entice new customers, like those with apartments or smaller homes, to buy the company's pricey equipment. Focusing on walking and running is a major initiative for CEO Peter Stern, who has the massive task of transforming the beleaguered company. Once a pandemic-era success story, sales have slumped in recent years and its stock has fallen 42 percent since it last unveiled new products in October 2025. That equipment ultimately failed to lure back shoppers and the company conducted another round of layoffs at the beginning of the year."

Peloton is best known for its stationary bikes, but doubling down on treadmills, explained Stern, "will allow us to connect with a much wider audience and help win the multibillion-dollar at-home treadmill market."

BLACK HALLOWEEN CAT ARRIVES AT STARBUCKS

AllRecipes reported on September 14th, "Starbucks is launching the PURRFECT Halloween drink: the Black Cat Frappuccino. Meant to taste like a sip of rich chocolate cake, the specialty drink comes with a whipped cream topping and, to match its name, chocolate cat ears... Along with the new drink, Starbucks is releasing a new chocolaty treat to accompany the Black Cat Frappuccino. The Venti Black Night Cookie features black cocoa powder for a rich, earthy flavor, caramel fudge pieces, and caramelized white chocolate chips to cut the darker chocolate. Starbucks' new limited-edition drink and cookie will hit menus at select coffee houses in the United States on October 22nd. But if you're already itching for some black cats in your life, Starbucks is also dropping a line of black cat-themed merch. You can pick from a steel tumbler covered in black cats, a pumpkin-shaped mug with a black cat dangling off the rim, and a Starbucks Bearista bag charm wearing a black cat costume." Meow.

REBRANDING OF TROPICAL SMOOTHIE

CEO Max Wetzel explained, "We're thinking about what our next 3,000 cafes look like, and so it's a perfect time for us to roll this out."

CNBC reported on September 16th, "Tropical Smoothie Cafe unveiled a new look as the restaurant chain prepares to continue its streak of rapid growth under Blackstone's ownership. The brand re-design comes as Tropical Smoothie prepares to introduce itself to more consumers, both in the U.S. and internationally. The chain, which also sells bowls and wraps, surpassed $1.6 billion in sales over the 12 months ended in June. By the end of the year, it's projecting it will exceed 1,800 locations nationwide, up 50 percent since the end of 2022. Tropical Smoothie has plans to expand outside of the U.S., too.

Tropical Smoothie last tinkered with its logo a decade ago. The new design, which will be found everywhere from packaging for its wraps to its mobile app interface, uses brighter colors and a uniform font, in part to try to set it apart from quick-service competitors. It also introduces the "Palm T," a frond-shaped icon that will represent the brand in "shorthand," particularly on digital platforms. Tropical Smoothie has been working on the new branding for more than a year.

Tropical Smoothie's $80 million marketing budget is now deployed much more effectively, according to Wetzel, and as a result, its national brand awareness has increased from 34 percent of consumers a year ago to 42 percent. Outside of the cafes, Tropical Smoothie has also invested in what Wetzel called "the digital front door" of the brand. By the end of the year, the company will roll out an improved version of its mobile app and website, all with the new unified look. Those improvements tie into its efforts to win over repeat customers. Its loyalty program has grown to 13 million members, up 25 percent from the year-ago period. About 1 in 3 orders comes from a loyalty program member."

RESIGNATION OF SECRETARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN

The Smithsonian Institution announced on September 8th, "Lonnie G. Bunch III, the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, announced today he will retire from his position, concluding nearly 38 years of service at the Smithsonian and a career that has shaped the museum field in the United States and beyond. Bunch was named Secretary in June 2019, making him the first African American and first historian to serve in the role in the Smithsonian's history. As Secretary, he led the world's largest museum, education and research complex, which includes 21 museums, 20 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and multiple education units and centers.

Bunch first joined the Smithsonian in 1978...and throughout his career, has been a leading voice for museums and public engagement. As Secretary, he oversaw a period of growth and transformation across the Smithsonian while advancing plans for two future museums authorized by Congress: the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino...His contributions have been recognized with numerous national and international honors, including the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal, the Dan David Prize, France's Legion of Honor, the Freedom Medal from the Roosevelt Institute, lifetime achievement awards from the American Alliance of Museums and the African American Association of Museums and induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has also received over 25 honorary doctorate degrees from various universities."

"EMILY IN PARIS" WAVES AU REVOIR (GOOD-BYE)

DisneyFanatic reported, "Six seasons, seven years, and countless Parisian misadventures later, Emily in Paris has wrapped production for good. Lily Collins broke the news herself, sharing an emotional farewell on Instagram as filming closed on Season 6, the final chapter in Emily Cooper's story. For a show that turned into one of Netflix's biggest global exports, this is the kind of ending fans have been dreading and anticipating in equal measure.

According to People Magazine, "Netflix announced in May that Emily in Paris' sixth season would be its last when production kicked off. It was filmed in both Greece and Monaco. Collins teased it would "bring you everything you love about the show and serve as the final chapter in Emily's adventure of a lifetime." Emily in Paris first debuted on Netflix in October 2020...Per the official logline, "Emily faces defining choices that test her ultimate loyalties. But as unexpected career conflicts and shifting relationships force her to reevaluate where her true future lies, she must make one final choice between her career, her heart, and the life she's built in Paris." The final season of Emily in Paris premieres on Netflix on December 24th."

And if you find yourself in Paris, it's easy to find walking tours of the places featuring Emily and her friends.

BASEBALL JERSEY SALES LEADER

ESPN reported, "Shohei Ohtani has become the first player to lead Major League Baseball jersey sales at the end of four straight seasons since the sport started tracking figures in 2010 - extending the Los Angeles star's run as the sport's most commercially popular player. During that four-year stretch, fans have purchased his jersey more than any other MLB player's in the United States, Japan, and worldwide. Rankings were released on September 24th by MLB, and the list covers Nike jersey sales through the Fanatics network of sites including MLBShop.com - since Opening Day. And the Dodgers' reach extended beyond Ohtani: Freddie Freeman ranked sixth, Mookie Betts finished eighth, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto placed ninth, giving Los Angeles four of the top ten best-selling player jerseys in baseball and more representatives in the top 20 than any other club."

JEEP UNVEILS NEW ADVERTISING

MarketingDive reported, "Jeep launched "This Is Jeep Country," a campaign that celebrates the Stellantis SUV brand's all-American heritage and builds on a year's worth of efforts that have been tied to the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding. That connection to the country is key to Jeep — which has consistently been ranked America's most patriotic brand in Brand Keys' research...The campaign includes extensions aimed at Hispanic and African-American consumers that speak to that conversation. A pair of 30-second ads tweaks the patriotic focus in the scripts: A voice-over in the African-American-targeted spot says "freedom was never a finished road — it's one we're still paving;" while the Hispanic-targeted spot notes in Spanish that "America is who we are, and you are America." The campaign comes as parent Stellantis works to execute a five-year strategic plan announced in May that will see the company invest about $70 billion in a turnaround plan."

CONVERSE APOLOGIZES

Reuters reported, "Converse has pulled an advertisement that sparked a public backlash as critics said it evoked imagery ‌of lynchings by the Ku Klux Klan. The ad is no longer visible on any of Converse's social media accounts."

The brand released a statement, "We’re sorry. We understand why this image is deeply upsetting and recognize that we got this wrong. We removed it from our channels and are working to remove it everywhere it appeared. This should not have happened, and we will do better."

However, Lee Merritt, a nationally-recognized civil rights attorney based in Texas, posted on Instagram that Converse's apology "doesn't undo what got past legal, marketing, and leadership at every step. We keep having this conversation because corporations keep failing the same test. Do better means catching this before it airs — not after we're offended.”

MCDONALD'S LAUNCHES NEW STRATEGY CALLED "NEXT"

CNN reported, "McDonald's is spending billions of dollars to boost its franchises, an effort to cement its title as the leader in fast food amid growing competition. The chain announced on September 23rd that it will invest $8.5 billion by 2036 on a series of initiatives, including remodeling restaurants, retraining its 2 million employees, and adding new menu items to target high-protein eaters. It's all part of a multi-year strategy to win back diners and capture more market share. Last month, McDonald’s reported its slowest quarterly growth since 2025. The chain had blamed the decline on launching too many promotions, plus inadequate customer service, and its massive World Cup promotion failing to attract eaters. McDonald's troubles are part of broader economic issues affecting all dining chains, with rising food prices causing customers to dine out less. The chain’s stock has fallen about 20 percent for the year."

According to CEO Chris Kempczinski, "The new strategy, called "NEXT," aims to make the chain the first choice for more customers, more often — while making our restaurants stronger and easier to run."

FEWER STARBUCKS LOCATIONS

CNN reported, "Starbucks is closing approximately 250 locations in the coming days as the coffee chain continues to prune its store count during its turnaround efforts. The affected locations didn't "deliver the experience we want for customers and partners" or aren't financial viable, the company said in a statement. In total, the closures amount to 1 percent of Starbucks North American footprint of roughly 18,000 locations. A list of locations was not immediately released. Customers will start seeing signs on affected cafés this weekend, and the closures will be reflected in the app."

"TED LASSO" TOURISM

CNN reported, "London suburb Richmond-upon-Thames, on the western outskirts of the UK capital, has long been famous for its deer-filled park and historic royal buildings, including Tudor residence Richmond Palace. But an influx of tourists have been taking to its cobblestone lanes in recent years thanks to a fictional soccer team headed up by a hugely optimistic American. The leafy area, located around 20 minutes from central London by train, is the primary filming location for Apple TV's hit show, "Ted Lasso," now in its fourth series.

"Ted Lasso" follows titular football coach, played by Hollywood star Jason Sudeikis, as he attempts to transform a struggling English soccer team, armed with mere belief and zingers. Coach Lasso never comes round to English tea, but millions have fallen in love with the show. The launch of its fourth season shattered viewing records last month, as Apple TV's biggest premiere of all time.

And as the show's popularity continues to explode, so too does tourism in Richmond. Local hotels have reported double the number of US tourists since the show's release, according to the New York Times. Among them is Coach Lasso's apartment on Richmond's Paved Court, a narrow lane bordered by window shopfronts, such as a deli and millinery. The official "Ted Lasso" store, where fans can purchase the red and blue AFC Richmond kits and shortbread "biscuits for the boss," is situated a few doors down. The main attraction, however, lies outside a pub, where fans can snap a photo on Coach Lasso's signature thinking bench.

So what is it about the show that has fans prepared to travel from far and wide to catch a glimpse of its enchanting setting? "Ted Lasso" captures the magic of family, friendship, and community. Character Roy Kent's hypermasculinity is undercut by his enjoyment of watching a dating show with the women from his yoga class, while courageous Sam Obisanya protests a club sponsor due to its environmental impact in his home country. There's honest exploration of mental health and plenty of empowering female role models."

APOLOGY FROM ENGLISH SOCCER TEAM

CNN reported, "English soccer club Oxford United has apologized for releasing U.S.-style apparel with "United 93" on the back around the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, saying the clothing range was launched "without understanding of the historical context and associations."*** The team, which plays in England's third tier, said it has removed the collection with immediate effect and was reviewing its approval processes. Oxford United was founded in 1893, initially as Headington FC before a name change in 1960. In a club statement, Oxford United said it wanted to "sincerely apologize" for the launch of its Campus Collection, which, according to local media, featured an American football jersey and a baseball jersey. The page announcing the launch of the Campus Collection has been deleted.

***United Airlines Flight 93 was one of the four planes hijacked on September 11th, 2001.

GIRL SCOUTS LAUNCH NEW COOKIE - FOR DOGS

The Smithsonian reported, "For the first time in its 109-year history of cookie sales, the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) will offer a custom-made sweet treat for four-legged friends. Set to debut in January 2027, the cookie called Patch Pals will be blueberry muffin-flavored. Each cookie will bear one of four designs that represent classic Girl Scout patches: a compass, a trefoil, a heart, or a ball. Created in collaboration with Bark, a New York-based dog toy and treat company, the cookie was inspired by Girl Scouts' deep love for their dogs and intends to celebrate the bond between people and their pups. Inclusion is a major focus of next year's offerings. Patch Pals will be joined by Sparkables, the scouts' first allergy-friendly cookie, as new additions to a lineup of beloved, time-honored classics. Despite the occasional naming controversy, some 200 million Girl Scout cookies are sold annually."

P.F. CHANG'S CHARITY PROGRAM

MediaPost reported, "P.F. Chang's new annual giving initiative taps into the Chinese zodiac with a plushie giveaway for children during hospital stays. The 300-unit chain has launched "Spirit of the Zodiac," its new annual charity program that will focus on a different nonprofit each year, while also highlighting the year's zodiac symbol. The brand kicks off the 2026 program with "Year of the Fire Horse: Spirit of Strength," a campaign to benefit the Starlight Children's Foundation, which provides toy deliveries, hospital gowns, gaming stations, and other comfort items to over 800 children's hospitals nationwide.

This year's promotion centers around Bao, the brand's new limited-edition horse plushie, which is available for purchase for $10 at P.F. Chang's locations through September 30th. For each plushie sold, the brand will also donate an identical Bao plushie to the Starlight Children's Foundation, which will then be distributed to children through its hospital network. The company will donate up to 20,000 plushies through the campaign. Guests can also support the effort by rounding up their restaurant checks or making an in-restaurant donation of $10 or more to Starlight. The campaign has a goal of raising $500,000 to support Starlight's work with children and families. And customers who purchase Bao or donate $10 or more to Starlight will also receive an offer for a complimentary appetizer with the purchase of an entrée on a future dine-in visit."

Bao's story continues outside the restaurant with a new original children's book written by author Jenny Liao and illustrated by Adriane Tsai. Expected to be published in October, the digital story follows Bao with themes of courage, kindness, comfort, and hope.

WIMBLEDON HELPS WILDLIFE

Country Living UK reported, "According to its own estimates, the tournament uses roughly 55,000 tennis balls each year, but what happens to them once they've served their purpose? (Notice the pun?) While many are sold on-site to raise funds for the Wimbledon Foundation, the All England Lawn Tennis Club has another second act for the fuzzy yellow orbs – one that supports British wildlife and the environment.

After the tournament wraps up, used balls are donated to the Wildlife Trusts, a grassroots movement of 46 independent charities working to support wildlife. The organization transforms the balls into homes for one of the UK's smallest – and most vulnerable – animals: the harvest mouse. These tiny rodents, measuring just 5 to 7 centimeters and weighing a mere 4 to 6 grams, typically make their nests in long grasslands, hedgerows, and farmland in the north of England. Modern agricultural practices, however, have dramatically reduced their natural habitats. However, thanks to their shape and size, tennis balls (albeit, attached to poles and with a hole cut into them), offer the perfect ready-made shelter for the mammals, especially for nesting females, helping protect them and their young from predators. The initiative has been running for 16 years and is just one part of Wimbledon's environmental efforts."

RETURN OF PANDA DIPLOMACY

PBS reported, "Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday, September 24th, that two giant pandas from China will arrive at Zoo Atlanta in the coming days, bolstering a loan program that at one time had lapsed as part of tensions between Beijing and Washington. China and the zoo had said in April that Ping Ping, a male, and Fu Shuang, a female, would go to the United States. But Xi's announcement at the White House marked the first public confirmation of the timing. Beijing had reclaimed four pandas from Atlanta in 2024, the last of the animals on loan from China to the U.S. at the time. The pandas are part of a conservation agreement between the zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Both pandas were born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China."

According to CNBC, "China has used pandas as a diplomatic barometer since Mao Zedong sent a pair to Washington's National Zoo following Richard Nixon's 1972 visit, a gift so anticipated that more than a million people came to see the animals in their first year. Beijing shifted from gifting pandas outright to leasing them in 1984, and the loans have since tracked the temperature of the relationship — thinning as trade and Taiwan tensions rose, then resuming as San Diego and the Washington DC National Zoo took in new pairs in 2024. Pandas on loan to the U.S. have bred 17 cubs, including six in San Diego, four in Washington, and seven in Atlanta, according to Chinese state media."

Han Shen Lin, associate professor at NYU Shanghai, explained, "For Beijing, the message is friendship without requiring major policy concessions. For Washington, it's a reminder that even amid intense competition, there is room for visible, people-to-people engagement."

UPDATE: Two pandas arrived in Atlanta on Sunday, September 27th, via a dedicated "FedEx Panda Express" airplane, which was donated by FedEx. Since the pandas will be in an expected month-long quarantine, more news will be provided next month about the name of their new home, design details of the panda habitat, and when guests can expect to see them.

NEWS OUTLETS SUE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

CNN reported, "The three national news outlets President Trump banned from the White House — CNN, MS NOW, and Politico — filed a critical First Amendment lawsuit to restore their access. The emergency request is set to go before a federal judge in the DC District Court and could result in hearings and legal arguments from the administration as soon as this week. The lawsuit will allege Trump's ban violates the First Amendment and the Constitution's due process protections."

In the lawsuit, the outlets said, "This ban could not be a more direct assault on the First Amendment nor a more blatant violation of our most fundamental constitutional principles." The outlets are asking the court to act immediately to revive their journalists' access to the White House.

NBC Los Angeles reported, "CNN, MS NOW and Politico were back at the White House on Thursday, September 24th, after a judge handed them a reprieve from Trump's ban, but the extraordinary showdown between him and outlets whose coverage he dislikes continued."

POPE WELCOMES ALL MEDIA

NBC Los Angeles reported, "Pope Leo XIV told reporters they were welcome to cover him, as he responded to the Trump administration's attempt to ban U.S. media from the White House and affirmed the importance of journalists covering public figures. Leo spoke to reporters on September 25th on his way to France for a four-day visit. Asked by a CNN reporter about the Trump administration's attempt to ban CNN and other reporters, Leo said the media was welcome on his plane."

NEW MEXICO VERSUS NEW AMERICA

No, the date is not April 1st, but here's a story you might think should appear on that date. According to KJZZ Phoenix, "Over Labor Day Weekend, President Trump went to social media to float a new idea: Renaming New Mexico to New America. He's taken aim at the Gulf of Mexico, which currently says Gulf of America on online maps across the country. More recently, as his trade war with Canada has heated up, Trump officially renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America."

According to CNN, "While Trump has the power to rename what geographic landmarks, such as bodies of water, are called in the Geographic Names Information System, he does not have the constitutional ability to legally rename states — that process would need to happen within the state. And in this case, the state's name predates the founding of the United States back to the 16th century, according to a fact sheet on the origin of state names from the Bureau of Indian Affairs."

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, accused Trump of trying to distract Americans, insisting that, "New Mexico's name isn't up for debate. While the President tries to distract Americans from his war in Iran, gas prices keep soaring. While the White House wastes time coloring on maps, Nuevo México is busy doing the work."

CONSTRUCTION OF WASHINGTON, D.C. ARCH?

According to news and culture critic Lorraine Ali in the Los Angeles Times, "The Great Triumphal Arch is estimated to cost at least $100 million, with some estimates reaching up to $250 million. A mix of taxpayer funds and private donations is expected to pay for the project, according to administration officials. The aim is to complete construction before the end of Trump's presidential term, making it more difficult for incoming President Gavin Newsom or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to justify knocking it down...A group of Vietnam veterans have sued to stop construction...It's also been reported that an FAA review of The Arch's potential impact on flights has not been completed." Politico has reported, "The arch would take two to three years to construct on the proposed schedule."

According to Dezeen, "The arch, which was approved by the US Commission of Fine Arts in May, was designed by Atlanta-based studio Harrison Design. It will be neoclassical in style and topped by three gilded angels. Within the structure will be three floors of accessible space to allow the structure to be a visitor attraction. On the ground floor will be a space for ticketing and security, with spiral staircases and lifts giving access to the upper floors. Four galleries for exhibitions will be located within the main attic space, with the open-air observation deck above."

According to The Hill on September 25th, "Lawmakers and analysts alike are perplexed by President Trump's surprise declaration that his proposed triumphal arch will house "a top grade military complex" in addition to tourist attractions. Trump claimed the structure, to be built between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial, will "house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas, as well as store large quantities" of ammunition. Critics are dubious the administration can successfully argue in favor of such military measures for the arch, given its proximity to the Pentagon and several nearby bases and barracks. The changes needed to make the proposed 250-foot structure into a military site would also require new analysis from federal departments for ultimate approval, even as the Trump administration has sought to bulldoze ahead on construction."

On October 1st, a protest will take place outside Memorial Circle, organized by nonprofit Public Citizen, during which military veterans and others will demand the administration withdraw its plans to build the arch "and instead focus on real issues that affect our active military members, veterans, and all Americans."

NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY

Did you check to make sure that your voter registration was current on September 15th? That day was special because it was "National Voter Registration Day." It is critically important that, in today's era, the voice of every eligible voter is heard.