Beef Tenderloin, Cranberry and Pear Salad

Beef Tenderloin, Cranberry and Pear Salad

Beef Tenderloin, Cranberry and Pear Salad

Photo Courtesy of BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com

Beef Tenderloin, Cranberry and Pear Salad Recipe from Beef It’s What’s For Dinner

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Serving size: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 beef Tenderloin Steaks, cut 3/4 inch thick (4 ounces each)
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 package (5 ounces) mixed baby salad greens
  • 1 medium red or green ripe pear, cored, cut into 16 wedges
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans, toasted
  • 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese (optional)

Honey Mustard Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup prepared honey mustard
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons water
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Season beef Tenderloin Steaks with 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Place steaks in skillet; cook 7 to 10 minutes for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally.(To grill: place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill steaks, covered, 7 to 10 minutes (timings remain the same for gas grill) for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally. Do not overcook.)
  2. Meanwhile whisk Honey Mustard Dressing ingredients in small bowl until well blended. Set aside. Divide greens evenly among 4 plates. Top evenly with pear wedges and dried cranberries.
  3. Carve steaks into thin slices; season with salt, as desired. Divide steak slices evenly over salads. Top each salad evenly with dressing, pecans and goat cheese, if desired.

    Recipe adapted from The Healthy Beef Cookbook, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Three red wolf pups born at Durham Museum of Life and Science

Three red wolf pups born at Durham Museum of Life and Science

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — Officials at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham say three recently born red wolf pups are still in good health.

The litter, all male, was delivered on May 3 by Martha, a 7-year-old red wolf and part of a carefully managed breeding pair. The pups’ arrival is considered a milestone for the critically endangered species.

Sherry Samuels from the Museum of Life and Science says this is the second year the same pair has bred, and this time, the outcome was successful.

“This pair was put together, the male and female, last year as a breeding pair for the first time. They had pups but none survived, which is not uncommon but bringing them here to the museum we were very hopeful that they would have pups and that second time would be a charm and it sure was,” Samuels told the WPTF Afternoon News.

Red wolves are considered the most endangered wolf species in the world. Fewer than 20 are known to exist in the wild, and fewer than 300 remain in total, including those under human care.

“The only place they roam free in the wild is right here in the state of North Carolina, so it’s pretty darn special. There’s less than 20 in the wild and less than 300 under human care so around 300 in total on the planet,” said Samuels.

Wild red wolves can only be found in a small portion of eastern North Carolina, in and around the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Samuels says while sightings are rare, this is the only place on Earth where they still live in the wild.

“The only place you can see redwolves in the wild is in the eastern part of North Carolina in the five-county area right around Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and the counties out that way. It’s not easy to see them, but that’s the only place you could possibly see them,” said Samuels.

The Durham museum is an active participant in the American Red Wolf SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) program, part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Samuels says the program evaluates the population and recovery efforts annually.

“We’ll have a meeting in July and look at all the pups that were born around the country and the state of the population. Talk with Fish and Wildlife Service and see what’s needed for next year; what wolves can we release to the wild, what wolves can we try to breed next year, what have we learned about veterinary care and different science, research or education tools. We always do what’s asked of us,” said Samuels.

Museum visitors will be able to see the red wolf pups starting in mid-June. The birth is considered a significant contribution to conservation efforts for a species with only a few hundred remaining globally.

13th annual Racing for Rescues set for Sunday in Cary to support local animal adoptions

13th annual Racing for Rescues set for Sunday in Cary to support local animal adoptions

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — Animal lovers and runners alike are invited to WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary this Sunday for the 13th Annual Racing for Rescues event. The fundraiser supports Second Chance Pet Adoptions, the Triangle’s oldest no-kill animal rescue organization. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with a 5K run and one-mile fun walk available for participants.

Mia Xavier, Director of Development and Communications for Second Chance Pet Adoptions, says the event is a great opportunity to connect with both past and present rescue animals.

“We have a lot of people who have been coming to the race year over year. They love to bring the dogs that they’ve adopted which is always great to catch up with our furry animal friends. It’s also a great opportunity for us to showcase the dogs we have in our program that are available for adoption,” said Xavier.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their pets to the event, which is designed to be both fun and flexible for families. Xavier says there are different race options depending on comfort and pace.

“Dogs, cat’s don’t like to be out with that many dogs but they’re certainly welcome. We’ll have a 5k that is for people that are running without dogs, we have a 5k for people that want to run with their dog, we have a one-mile walk for people who want to take it a little bit easier and that is dog friendly. We’d love for people to come out and bring their kids and just make a really fun day of it,” said Xavier.

Second Chance also works closely with shelters in Wake and surrounding rural counties. Xavier says they step in when space becomes an issue and euthanasia is imminent.

“We work with surrounding shelters, most often in some of the rural counties. We pull animals from their shelters, animals that we get a call where an animal is going to be euthanized because the shelter is unfortunately out of space, we will bring them into our program,” said Xavier.

The organization places a strong focus on matching pets with the right families and ensuring long-term success for each adoption.

“We want to make sure that there is compatibility in the family with kids, with other animals and with the person’s lifestyle. We definitely want to make that a win-win for everyone,” said Xavier.

North Carolina currently has the second highest euthanasia rate in the country. Since 1987, Second Chance Pet Adoptions has helped over 20,000 animals find forever homes. Proceeds from the event will go directly toward supporting rescue efforts, adoption services, and community outreach programs. Alongside the race, attendees can enjoy food trucks, local vendors, and activities for kids throughout the day.

Cheerwine Festival returns to Salisbury with family fun and cherry-flavored favorites

Cheerwine Festival returns to Salisbury with family fun and cherry-flavored favorites

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — North Carolina’s beloved cherry-flavored soft drink will once again be at the center of celebration as the annual Cheerwine Festival returns to Downtown Salisbury this Saturday. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and offers a full day of food, music, and family activities in honor of the Southern soda brand.

Joy Harper, vice president of marketing for Cheerwine, says the company has maintained strong ties to its origins for over a century.

“Cheerwine is a soft drink, it has a one-of-a-kind cherry taste that started right here in North Carolina. It was first created in 1917 in Salisbury by my great great grandfather, L.D. Peeler. Members of the fourth and fifth generation are involved in the family business, and so we’re proud to still have our roots here,” Harper told the WPTF Morning News.

The Cheerwine Festival began in 2017 to commemorate the brand’s 100th anniversary. Since then, it has become an annual tradition in partnership with the city of Salisbury.

“We received great feedback and a lot of requests to make this an annual event so we decided to team up with the city of Salisbury and now we co-host this event to make it an annual event. Since the start the festival has grown a lot in size, we’ve expanded our footprint and added a lot of attractions and fun experiences for everyone,” said Harper.

The 2025 festival promises a wide variety of attractions for all ages. Harper says visitors can expect plenty of Cheerwine-themed offerings throughout the day.

“We’ll have live music throughout the day, we’ll have tons of food vendors many offering Cheerwine inspired food and drink items. We’ll have two beer gardens — many of the breweries offering Cheerwine inspired beers, ciders and seltzers. We’ll have craft vendors, we’ll have a family-friendly kid zone. There will be a Cheerwine history exhibit and of course plenty of ice cold Cheerwine,” said Harper.

For those planning to attend, all event details, including maps and transportation, are available online.

“If you go to cheerwinefest.com you’ll see the full schedule. We have links to maps, parking and shuttle information. We have three convenient shuttle stops so hop off of 85, park in our free shuttle parking and we’ll get you quickly to the festival,” said Harper.

In addition to food and festivities, visitors can browse exclusive Cheerwine merchandise, only available during the event. The festival is free to attend and draws thousands of fans each year to experience a taste of North Carolina’s soda legacy.

Morrisville Spring Fest returns with new chalk walk and flower power theme

Morrisville Spring Fest returns with new chalk walk and flower power theme

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — The Town of Morrisville will host its annual Spring Fest celebration this Saturday at Indian Creek Trailhead, featuring family-friendly activities, local vendors, and a new creative addition: the town’s first-ever Chalk Walk. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and embraces this year’s theme—flower power.

Arielle Chatha with the Town of Morrisville says the new Chalk Walk will provide a hands-on opportunity for artists of all ages to showcase their talents along the town’s greenway.

“They’re going to come out that day and take some chalk and they’re going to have a section on our green way for them to draw on. Once they do their drawing we’re going to post all those pictures to social media and let the public vote on which artist they think did the best job,” Chatha told the WPTF Afternoon News.

The entire event is designed around floral themes, with decor, activities, and music all inspired by nature. Chatha says guests are encouraged to dress the part as well.

“We’ve also got in a native plant fair. They can also purchase plants or flowers. We’re encouraging people to wear flower power themed items. The decor is going to be flower power themed, down even to the music,” said Chatha.

Visitors will also be able to explore a special craft fair in collaboration with the Western Wake Farmers Market. Chatha says the market will offer a variety of artisan goods and food.

“We’re going to have the farmer’s market come out and you’ll be able to shop some different artisan vendors. They have artisan crafts and they also have food at some of their stations. Anybody interested in shopping local, this is definitely the event you want to be at,” said Chatha.

Live entertainment is scheduled throughout the event, with performances by local bands. Guests will also have access to on-site food trucks.

“We’re going to have music from the bands Big Teeth and Night Shift and that’s going to be going on from the start of the event at 10 a.m. until the event ends at 2 p.m. We’ll also have food trucks there for people who want to grab a bite to eat while they’re walking around,” said Chatha.

In addition to music, food, and crafts, festivalgoers can participate in make-and-take plant activities and vote for their favorite Chalk Walk design. The event is free to attend and open to all ages.

Cassie testimony against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs ends after she spent days describing abuse

Cassie testimony against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs ends after she spent days describing abuse

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — R&B singer Cassie finished testifying in the Sean “Diddy” Combs sex trafficking trial Friday after four emotional days on the witness stand during which she was questioned about the deepest, most disturbing secrets of her sex life and described being beaten and raped by a man she once loved.

When Judge Arun Subramanian told her she could leave, saying, “You’ve been here a long time,” Cassie glanced once toward the jury but never looked in Combs’ direction as she walked out of the courtroom for the final time.

After departing, Cassie, who dated Combs for a decade, released a statement through her lawyer saying she hoped her testimony helps others “heal from the abuse and fear.”

“For me, the more I heal, the more I can remember,” she said. “And the more I can remember, the more I will never forget.”

Combs, 55, is on trial in New York on charges that he exploited his status as an entertainment executive to force women, including Cassie, into drug-fueled “freak-offs” with male sex workers and engaged in other abusive acts against people who relied on him for their careers.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges. His lawyers say that, although he could be violent, nothing he did amounted to a criminal enterprise. And Combs insists all the sex at the freak-offs was consensual.

Shortly after Cassie finished testifying, prosecutors called another witness who was once close to Combs: Dawn Richard, a singer who appeared on his reality show “Making the Band,” which launched her group act Danity Kane.

Richard testified that she witnessed Combs physically attack Cassie on multiple occasions. During a visit to Combs’ home recording studio in 2009, Richard said she and another woman saw Combs hit Cassie “on the head and beat her on the ground.”

Combs brought them back the next day, she said, giving Richard flowers and putting a spin on what happened.

“He said that what we saw was passion and what lovers in relationships do,” she testified.

But he also locked them in his recording studio and threatened them to stay silent or else, she said.

Richard sued Combs last year, accusing him of physical abuse, groping and psychological abuse during the years they worked together. Her testimony is to resume Monday.

Throughout Friday’s testimony, Combs kept lowering his head to write a steady stream of messages on small sheets of paper that he passed to his defense attorneys.

Cassie’s texts to Diddy are a key part of cross-examination

Over her hours of testimony during the week, Cassie said she was ashamed and loathed taking part in “hundreds” of the freak-offs, which could go on for days. But she said she felt compelled because Combs threatened her with violence, and was physically abusive “a lot” during the encounters. He also threatened to publicly release sex videos of her if she made him angry, she said.

Combs’ lawyers, however, have sought to portray her as an eager participant.

On Thursday and Friday, they had Cassie read texts and emails in which she expressed willingness to engage in the encounters.

In a 2012 exchange, Combs told Cassie he wanted to “FO one last time tonight,” using initials for freak-off. Cassie replied, “What?” Combs said, “You can’t read?” Then Cassie replied, “I don’t want to freak off for the last time. I want it to be the first time for the rest of our lives.”

Combs’ lawer, Anna Estevao, ended her questioning there, but prosecutor Emily Johnson had Cassie read more messages for context.

“I want to see you, but I’m emotional right now,” Cassie wrote. “I don’t want to do one last time. I’d rather not do it at all.”

Cassie testified she was initially open to the encounters because she wanted to make Combs happy and spend time with him, but grew weary as the years went on.

The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Cassie has.

Cassie filed a lawsuit in 2023 accusing Combs of physical and sexual abuse, but they settled within hours for $20 million — an amount she disclosed publicly for the first time during the trial. Dozens of other people have since made similar legal claims.

Cassie’s testimony ended with another disclosure: She said she recently reached an estimated $10 million settlement with the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles, where a security camera in 2016 recorded Combs hitting her, kicking her, and dragging her down in a hallway.

After that incident, Cassie texted Combs saying, “I’m not a rag doll. I’m somebody’s child.”

Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, also told Combs in a text that he was out of control from drugs and alcohol that day.

Yet, days later, according to texts read at the trial, she and Combs were expressing love for each other. “We need a different vibe from Friday,” she wrote.

After hotel security video of the assault was released last year, Combs apologized and said he was “disgusted” by his actions.

Scrutiny of rape claim against Combs

Estevao also questioned Cassie on Friday about her testimony that Combs raped her in 2018 after she ended their nearly 11-year relationship, noting that she gave differing descriptions of his demeanor and the timing of the alleged assault in interviews with investigators and in her trial testimony.

Cassie contends the rape happened at her Los Angeles home after she and Combs had dinner in Malibu, California, to discuss their breakup, either in August or September 2018.

While Cassie testified this week that Combs was “really nice” and “playful” at the dinner, Estevao pointed out that Cassie told investigators in 2023 that Combs had been “acting very strangely” that night. Cassie clarified, “Nice, but strangely.”

Cassie also testified this week that Combs, during the dinner, was trying to get her to go to the Burning Man festival in Nevada, but previously told investigators that the dinner and rape happened after Combs returned from Burning Man.

Cassie acknowledged she stayed in touch with Combs and had consensual sex with him a few weeks after she says he raped her. She also exchanged warm messages with Combs after they broke up, even after she married Alex Fine in 2019.

The trial is expected to last well into June.

___

Associated Press writer Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.

Spicy Mexican Beef Bake

Spicy Mexican Beef Bake

Spicy Mexican Beef Bake

Photo Courtesy of BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com

Spicy Mexican Beef Bake Recipe from Beef It’s What’s For Dinner

Prep time: 35 minutes

Cooking time: 45 minutes

Serving size: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 pounds Ground Beef (95% lean)
  • 3 cans (10 ounces each) mild enchilada sauce, about 3-3/4 cups, divided
  • 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed, drained
  • 3/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 1/3 cup diced celery
  • 1/3 cup diced onion
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 15 corn tortillas (6 to 7-inch diameter)
  • 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
  • Reduced-fat dairy sour cream

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 400°F. Combine enchilada sauce and brown sugar in large bowl, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
  2. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 1/2-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Pour off drippings, if necessary. (Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.)
  3. Stir in 2-1/2 cups sauce mixture, beans, bell pepper, celery, onion and cumin; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Spray 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray. Spread half of remaining sauce mixture over bottom of baking dish. Arrange 5 tortillas over sauce in dish, overlapping slightly; top with 1/2 of beef mixture and 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layers once, using all remaining beef mixture, 5 tortillas and 1/4 cup cheese. Top with remaining 5 tortillas and sauce mixture, spreading sauce evenly to moisten tortillas. Reserve remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
  5. Cover dish with foil. Bake in 400°F oven 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through and bubbly. Remove foil; sprinkle with reserved cheese. Bake, uncovered, 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand, uncovered, 10 minutes. Cut into 8 servings. Serve with sour cream, if desired.
Svechnikov breaks late tie as the Hurricanes beat the Capitals to reach Eastern Conference final

Svechnikov breaks late tie as the Hurricanes beat the Capitals to reach Eastern Conference final

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Andrei Svechnikov scored the go-ahead goal with just under two minutes left and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Washington Capitals 3-1 in Game 5 on Thursday night, winning the second-round series and advancing to the Eastern Conference final for a second time in three years.

Captain Jordan Staal got his first goal of the playoffs, and Frederik Andersen stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced, including several on Alex Ovechkin.

After a give and go with defenseman Sean Walker, Svechnikov’s shot got through Logan Thompson from a bad angle with 1:59 remaining, and that was the difference in a game that was back and forth.

Seth Jarvis sealed it with an empty-net goal with 26.1 seconds remaining.

The Hurricanes improved to 10-5 in potential close-out games in seven trips to the postseason with coach Rod Brind’Amour. They will face either Florida in a rematch of the 2023 East final or Toronto in a reminder of 2002, and the Panthers are up 3-2 with the chance to eliminate the Maple Leafs as soon as Friday night.

Carolina is 35-7-2 through 82 games and then two rounds when scoring first.

Despite an unassisted goal by Anthony Beauvillier and some important saves among the 18 from Thompson, the Capitals saw their season end after finishing atop the conference and the Metropolitan Division and beating Montreal in the first round to win a playoff series for the first time since their Stanley Cup run in 2018. Washington started strong, got a few quality scoring chances but could not get through tight-checking defense to prolong the series.

After giving up the back-breaker to Svechnikov, Thompson was pulled for an extra attacker and the Capitals were unable to equalize and let Jarvis get to the loose puck for the empty-netter.

Up next, Carolina would have home-ice advantage against Florida and open on the road if it’s Toronto.

PGA has strong field and big surprise: Jhonattan Vegas leads at 64 as stars fail to shine

PGA has strong field and big surprise: Jhonattan Vegas leads at 64 as stars fail to shine

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The strongest field of the majors gave way to a few surprises Thursday in the PGA Championship, starting with Jhonattan Vegas charging into the lead with a 7-under 64 and the top 10 players in the world nowhere to be found among the top 10 at Quail Hollow.

A long day filled sunshine and mud balls ended with Vegas in the penultimate group playing the best golf hardly anyone saw.

A briefly energized crowd had mostly left when Vegas blazed his way to the finish with five birdies on his last six holes, ending with an 18-footer on No. 8 and a 25-footer on the rugged ninth.

It was Vegas’ best score in 45 rounds playing the majors. The Venezuelan has never finished in the top 20 in a major and hadn’t qualified for this one in three years.

He had a two-shot lead over Ryan Gerard, the PGA Tour rookie who grew up in North Carolina and was the only other player to reach 7 under until bogeys on his last two holes. He was joined at 66 by Cam Davis of Australia.

The biggest crowds belonged to the top three in the world, and it wasn’t nearly as inspiring as four of the last five majors they have combined to win.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy didn’t make birdie over his last 12 holes and had nothing to say about that after a 3-over 74 sent him straight to the range.

Scottie Scheffler and defending PGA champion Xander Schauffele had plenty to say about mud balls on tee shots, particularly on the 16th hole that sent both to double bogey. Scheffler at least holed two shots from off the green — one for birdie, one for eagle — and he finished with a 6-iron from 215 yards to 3 feet on No. 9 that sent him to a 69.

“I did a good job battling and keeping a level head out there during a day which there was definitely some challenging aspects to the course,” Scheffler said. “Did a good job posting a number on a day where I didn’t have my best stuff.”

For the first time in at least 30 years, the top 10 scores after the opening round of a major did not include anyone from the top 10 in the world ranking.

In their places were Vegas, who only got his game back in order last year when he won in Minnesota, and a host of other surprises.

Alex Smalley, the first alternate who found out about 15 hours before he teed off that he had a spot in the field, rolled in a 70-foot eagle putt on his way to a 67. Ryan Fox of New Zealand, who qualified by winning the Myrtle Beach Classic, also was at 67.

They were joined by a large group that included Luke Donald, the 47-year-old Ryder Cup captain for Europe who was the only player without a bogey on his card. The U.S. captain, Keegan Bradley, was another shot behind.

“It’s always fun, bogey-free in a major championship on a course that you wouldn’t have thought would be ideal for me,” said Donald, who is only in the field because of a PGA of America tradition to invite active Ryder Cup captains.

Considering the champions the majors have produced in recent years, this leaderboard more closely resembled the Myrtle Beach Classic. None of the top eight players have won a major, nor have they ever seriously contended.

Gerard looked comfortable playing before a home crowd. He made a tough par on the rugged ninth hole, then ran off four straight birdies on the back nine, and was 7 under for the round after holing a 60-footer for eagle on the par-5 15th.

Davis had seven birdies and narrowly missed a 10-foot par putt on his last hole for the lead. Not bad for someone who recently ended a stretch of five straight missed cuts and hasn’t had a top 10 since early February.

“It’s just constantly trying to go back to things that have worked, trying to keep the head in a place where you’re not feeling like you’re banging your head against the wall all the time,” Davis said. “It’s letting it organically come — good processes, good routines, all those little one percenters add up to good golf eventually.”

The others at 67 were Stephan Jaeger and Aaron Rai, who both became first-time PGA Tour winners last year.

Scheffler at 69 had the best score of anyone from the top 10 in the world.

McIlroy, a four-time winner at Quail Hollow, came into this PGA Championship believing that thrill-a-hole Masters title last month that gave him the career Grand Slam would be the highlight of his career no matter what he does from here.

A sloppy round, particularly off the tee, wasn’t going to change that. It was no less surprising to see him struggle at Quail Hollow, posting his highest round since a 76 in the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship in 2018.

Schauffele wound up with a 72 in his bid to go back-to-back in the PGA Championship.

Jordan Spieth likely will have to wait until next year at Aronimink to try for the career Grand Slam. The three-time major champion, lacking only the Wanamaker Trophy for his major collection, ran off three straight bogeys early on the back nine and shot 76.

More than 1,000 Starbucks baristas go on strike to protest new dress code

More than 1,000 Starbucks baristas go on strike to protest new dress code

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer

More than 1,000 Starbucks baristas at 75 U.S. stores have gone on strike since Sunday to protest a new company dress code, a union representing the coffee giant’s workers said Wednesday.

Starbucks put new limits starting Monday on what its baristas can wear under their green aprons. The dress code requires employees at company-operated and licensed stores in the U.S. and Canada to wear a solid black shirt and khaki, black or blue denim bottoms.

Under the previous dress code, baristas could wear a broader range of dark colors and patterned shirts. Starbucks said the new rules would make its green aprons stand out and create a sense of familiarity for customers as it tries to establish a warmer, more welcoming feeling in its stores.

But Starbucks Workers United, the union that represents workers at 570 of Starbucks’ 10,000 company-owned U.S. stores, said the dress code should be subject to collective bargaining.

“Starbucks has lost its way. Instead of listening to baristas who make the Starbucks experience what it is, they are focused on all the wrong things, like implementing a restrictive new dress code,” said Paige Summers, a Starbucks shift supervisor from Hanover, Maryland. “Customers don’t care what color our clothes are when they’re waiting 30 minutes for a latte.”

Summers and others also criticized the company for selling styles of Starbucks-branded clothing that employees no longer are allowed to wear to work on an internal website. Starbucks said it would give two free black T-shirts to each employee when it announced the new dress code.

Starbucks said Wednesday that the strike was having a limited impact on its 10,000 company-operated U.S. stores. By the union’s own count, less than 1% of Starbucks workers are participating in the strikes, and in some cases the strikes closed stores for less than an hour, the company said.

“It would be more productive if the union would put the same effort into coming back to the table that they’re putting into protesting wearing black shirts to work,” Starbucks said in a statement. “More than 99% of our stores are open today serving customers — and have been all week.”

Starbucks Workers United has been unionizing U.S. stores since 2021. Starbucks and the union have yet to reach a contract agreement, despite agreeing to return to the bargaining table in February 2024.

The union said this week that it filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging Starbucks’ failure to bargain over the new dress code.

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