Coffee chain faces backlash after staff walkout tied to ICE discount debate
By KTVT via CNN Newsource
DALLAS (KTVT) – A Dallas-based coffee chain is facing backlash after an employee walkout over a first responder discount they believed included U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
White Rhino Coffee has been steadily growing with 200 employees, promoting its 11 Dallas-Fort Worth locations as a welcoming environment for everyone, but Sara Escamilla, the company’s CEO, says the coffee chain is now facing severe online backlash and threats of boycotts.
A handful of now-former employees walked off the job in a debate over whether ICE agents were entitled to first responder discounts.
“Our first responder discount for a long time has been something very broad, and our shop managers have had autonomy to determine who receives it or not,” Escamilla said.
Margot Stacy, the manager at White Rhino’s downtown Dallas location, quit last week during the furor over the discount. She posted a message about the decision on Facebook:
“I was told that these murderous mercenaries are not only welcome at our table but encouraged to patron[ize] our shops by offering them a first responder discount. This put me in a position to either compromise everything I believe in or abandon my team. Considering this call from leadership, I gladly exit my position as shop manager.”
However, White Rhino’s leadership insists that ICE agents were never formally included in the first responder discount, and they have now clarified the policy to not include any federal officers.
Escamilla says the discount is intended to “reward local heroes, local police officers, firefighters, EMTs.”
White Rhino believes the controversy and online backlash will negatively affect its business on top of the winter storm, which forced its cafes to close for nearly a week.
“It’s been really difficult. To see so much hate spewed at us has been painful,” Escamilla said. “We want to be a place where everyone gets a seat at the table.”
The company, which also owns Emporium Pies, can only hope the outrage will thaw over time.
Copyright 2026 KTVT via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
Drunk Woman in Restaurant Fight Arrested, Fired… After Falling on Her Face
If falling flat on her face wasn’t enough to teach her a lesson … the irate woman who was tripped by a San Francisco restaurant staff member over the weekend after she caused a scene was arrested shortly after the incident.
We told you about the wild altercation — the woman, named Shireen Afkari — made a mess of herself at a popular food spot as she strenuously argued with employees and got physical with patrons filming her. Now, the San Francisco Police Department has confirmed to TMZ she was taken into custody Saturday night.
While she appeared to make a painful escape in the viral video, Afkari was located by officers and detained for public intoxication … and subsequently transported to the county jail after officers responded to the business on Hayes Street just before 10 PM.
To make matters worse, she was consequently fired from her job at Strava, the fitness app.
The company confirmed the news in an Instagram comment, writing … “We don’t condone violence of any kind and this does not reflect the standards we expect of our team. This past Monday, we made the decision to end the individual’s employment.”
TMZ reached out to Afkari for comment … so far, no word back.
Woman ‘disgusted’ after being kicked out of bottomless brunch in Birmingham
Robson McCallister
2 min read
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A woman has slammed a bar in Birmingham after she was kicked out of a bottomless brunch because her group were ‘too drunk’.
But the manager has disputed claims that staff were rude to her.
The incident happened at Pitcher & Piano Birmingham, located in Brindleyplace.
The manager of the popular bar said the review left on Tripadvisor was inaccurate.
Read More: Birmingham pub staff clap back at ‘unfair’ review from couple who didn’t order any food or drinks
Pitcher & Piano Birmingham has a 4.3 score out of five stars on Tripadvisor, based on over 1,800 reviews.
One reviewer identified as Abigail said: “Our waitress was absolutely lovely and the food was very tasty.
“Had a great evening and I would come back for the charming service.”
Zoe added: “All of the staff were so welcoming and helpful, and all had a friendly and happy attitude.
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“We sat downstairs outside next to the canal and the area was super clean, and it was nice that the ashtrays were cleaned and didn’t smell like some places.
“Our drinks came out almost instantly and the food came out shortly after.
“Everything we ordered tasted amazing and was well presented.
“I’d recommended to family and friends before we even left our table, we will 1000% be returning.”
And Karen posted: “Went on a birthday bottomless brunch with my cousins for my 50th and my cousins birthday, we had an amazing time.
“Food was good, choice of drinks was great, our server was amazing, very professional and very friendly.”
However, one recent reviewer did not have a positive experience and claimed staff were ‘extremely rude and refused service’.
The woman said: “Booked a bottomless here with a group of ten for my boyfriend’s birthday.
“We arrived and within 15 minutes were told one in the group was “too drunk to be there” because he accidentally tripped up the stairs.
“We hadn’t even been out before coming here, so that was untrue.
“Manager/bouncer was extremely rude and refused service to us all, so uncooperative.
“Definitely won’t be returning here. I’m disgusted at the way we were treated and spoken to.”
The manager at Pitcher & Piano responded to say: “Thank you taking the time to provide us with your feedback on your recent visit with us.
“Unfortunately as described above is not accurate or what occurred.
“We are sorry you feel as though you have been let down, however we do operate a strict licencing policy and we reserve the right to refuse service to any guests breaching this.”
Up next
The Bull Case For Tripadvisor (TRIP) Could Change Following New AI Sports Travel Platform Launch – Learn Why
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- In late January 2026, Best Western Hotels & Resorts and Tripadvisor launched “Go for the Goal,” an AI-powered platform helping soccer fans plan complex multi-city trips across the US, Canada and Mexico for the 2026 international tournament, integrating hotel options near stadiums with routes and local experiences.
- The platform highlights how Tripadvisor can apply its data and AI tools to high-demand sports tourism, tailoring trip planning to the specific logistical challenges of large-scale events.
- Next, we’ll examine how this AI-driven sports travel offering could influence Tripadvisor’s investment narrative, particularly around data-powered product innovation.
Explore 22 top quantum computing companies leading the revolution in next-gen technology and shaping the future with breakthroughs in quantum algorithms, superconducting qubits, and cutting-edge research.
What Is Tripadvisor’s Investment Narrative?
For Tripadvisor, the shareholder “belief” still comes down to whether its improving profitability can be sustained while revenue growth remains relatively modest and the share price trails the wider market. Earnings have moved from thin margins to clearly positive territory, but the stock’s multi‑year underperformance and insider selling keep execution risk front and center. The new “Go for the Goal” partnership with Best Western is interesting less as a one‑off tournament play and more as a live case study of Tripadvisor’s data and AI capabilities in a complex, high-intent travel use case. On its own, this launch does not materially change near-term catalysts, which still hinge on Q4 2025 results, margin quality and any update to growth guidance, but it slightly strengthens the argument that Tripadvisor can create differentiated, data-powered products beyond generic hotel search.
However, one key operational risk here is easy to overlook until it matters. Tripadvisor’s shares have been on the rise but are still potentially undervalued. Find out how large the opportunity might be.
Exploring Other Perspectives
Six Simply Wall St Community fair value estimates cluster between US$12 and about US$30, underlining how differently retail investors see Tripadvisor’s upside. Set this against the recent share price weakness and reliance on continued earnings growth, and it becomes clear why understanding both the AI product story and the execution risks around margins and slower revenue growth really matters.
Explore 6 other fair value estimates on Tripadvisor – why the stock might be worth 10% less than the current price!
Build Your Own Tripadvisor Narrative
Disagree with this assessment? Create your own narrative in under 3 minutes – extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd.
- A great starting point for your Tripadvisor research is our analysis highlighting 3 key rewards and 2 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.
- Our free Tripadvisor research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual – the Snowflake – making it easy to evaluate Tripadvisor’s overall financial health at a glance.
No Opportunity In Tripadvisor?
Opportunities like this don’t last. These are today’s most promising picks. Check them out now:
- The best AI stocks today may lie beyond giants like Nvidia and Microsoft. Find the next big opportunity with these 24 smaller AI-focused companies with strong growth potential through early-stage innovation in machine learning, automation, and data intelligence that could fund your retirement.
- Trump has pledged to “unleash” American oil and gas and these 22 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit.
- The latest GPUs need a type of rare earth metal called Terbium and there are only 31 companies in the world exploring or producing it. Find the list for free.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Companies discussed in this article include TRIP.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Fully halal food hall to open in Birmingham with ‘unmistakeable vibes’ and Iftar launch
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A Birmingham arts hub set in a restored 1930s Digbeth building is set to open a fully halal food hall that promises to be culturally rich and ‘high-energy’.
ArtQuarter on Allison Street in the city’s creative neighbourhood is opening the food hall to serve ‘diverse global flavours’ while supporting local traders, artists and creatives.
As well as vendors serving food and non-alcoholic cocktails to customers in the communal seating space, the hall will have immersive artworks and installations throughout.
Read more: Giant Birmingham food hall vendors announced – and they all have one thing in common
It intends to be a ‘fully sensory experience’ for visitors, with a dedicated arcade area for ‘connecting and unwinding’.
The plan is to launch with three community Iftars on March 3, 4 and 5 before a public opening in time for Eid on March 18, 19 and 20.
In a statement shared by ArtQuarter, it said: “Designed as more than just a place to eat, it blends food, culture and creativity to form a vibrant social hub – where great food meets unmistakable vibes.”
The food hall says that its commitment to halal dining is ‘at the heart’ of its plans, adding that it’s the ‘first fully halal food hall of its kind’, but that it will be a welcoming and inclusive destination for all communities that love food, creativity and culture.
Founder Jordan Patel said: “Halal simply means clean. I want the space we’re creating to reflect that.
“This space isn’t just for eating good food – it’s about bringing people and communities together.”
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Digbeth will see another new food hall opening this year, at the Custard Factory.
Alfred Works has already begun sharing more about its food plans, while the ArtQuarter vendors are yet to be revealed.
Jordan added: “This is where we go to the next level and really see the ArtQuarter in all its glory.”
“The food hall will be our platform for change.”
Maria Shriver ‘Translates’ Trump’s Announcement About ‘Rebuilding’ Kennedy Center: ‘No One Wants to Perform There Any Longer’
Shriver has been outspoken about Trump’s efforts to seize control of the performing arts center, which was established as a memorial for her uncle John F. Kennedy
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NEED TO KNOW
- Maria Shriver shared her “translation” of what she believes President Donald Trump meant when he announced he’s closing the Kennedy Center for two years to redesign the facility
- Shriver surmised Trump believes the closure will “get everybody to stop talking about the fact” that entertainers no longer want to perform there
- Shriver’s response comes after months of artists cancelling their appearances at the Kennedy Center in protest of Trump
Maria Shriver is sharing her two cents on President Donald Trump‘s decision to temporarily close the Kennedy Center.
Shriver, the niece of President John F. Kennedy, offered her “translation” of the president’s Feb. 1 announcement that the Kennedy Center — which was established as a memorial for JFK but now also bears Trump’s name on the building — is closing for two years to undergo renovations.
Shriver surmised the closure is a response to entertainers “canceling left and right.”
Trump, 79, wrote in a post on Truth Social over the weekend that closing the center for “Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding” was necessary to create “the finest Performing Arts Facility in the world.”
“I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time,” Trump wrote.
Shriver, 70, reacted to the shocking news by speculating that the president’s decision to close the facility was due to the scores of artists and performers who have pulled out of scheduled appearances there — an ongoing pattern since Trump added his name to the building.
In a post on X, Shriver shared her interpretation of Trump’s announcement in candid terms.
“Translation: It has been brought to my attention that due to the name change (but nobody’s telling me it’s due to the name change), but it’s been brought to my attention that entertainers are canceling left and right, and I have determined that since the name change no one wants to perform there any longer,” Shriver wrote, sharing what she believes Trump is thinking.
“I’ve determined that due to this change in schedule, it’s best for me to close this center down and rebuild a new center that will bear my name, which will surely get everybody to stop talking about the fact that everybody’s canceling… right?” her post concluded.
Trump first stirred up controversy at the Kennedy Center in February 2025, when he removed many of the center’s board members and installed MAGA loyalists in their place. His newly appointed Kennedy Center board then named Trump chairman of the performing arts institution.
In the months that followed, Trump repeatedly expressed his desire to add his name to the building, which stirred outrage among numerous relatives of JFK, including niece Shriver, niece Kerry Kennedy, grand-nephew Joe Kennedy III and grandson Jack Schlossberg.
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On Dec. 18, the Kennedy Center board bypassed Congress and voted to rename the institution after Trump. Just one day later, the signage on the building read, “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
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As backlash surrounding Trump’s influence in the Kennedy Center intensified, multiple artists and entertainers who were scheduled to give performances there withdrew — including Béla Fleck, Issa Rae and Chuck Redd, who canceled the traditional Christmas Eve concert at the center, expressly in protest of Trump’s decision to change the center’s name.
Shriver’s reaction to the Kennedy Center’s upcoming closure suggested that the mass cancellations were a contributing factor to Trump’s decision to shut the facility down.
Read the original article on People
