Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants have been around since 1969, nestled strategically off interstates to attract drivers with their convenience, southern hospitality, range of food options and affordable menu prices. But Cracker Barrel may be losing its charm amid a physical makeover, according to some. Rachel Love, a 38-year-old Tennessee resident and self-proclaimed Cracker Barrel fan, recently caught the restaurant chain's attention with her social media video. "When Cracker Barrel took away the last piece of nostalgia you had left," Love captioned in a TikTok video last month as she showed the inside of an updated location. (See the video at the top of this article.) The post has amassed thousands of comments from other Cracker Barrel lovers, many of whom disapprove of the new look and prefer the original concept. Love told Fox News Digital she was in "shock" when she first saw the white walls and giant mural on the side of the restaurant near her parents' house. "I thought they were priming it to paint it brown again," she said. The interior décor had also been altered. "There's no antiques on the wall," Love said. "The only antiques they have were on the fireplace mantle." 'Very transparent' Cracker Barrel chief marketing officer Sarah Moore said all the things that people love about the Tennessee restaurant chain aren't going away. "Over the past year, we have been very transparent about our transformation platform," Moore told Fox News Digital. "One of our strategies is really centered on that physical guest experience." Cracker Barrel has been testing "various levels of remodels," Moore told Fox News Digital. "It's all about evolution with intentionality," she said. "We've been very transparent about our goal of making our stores feel brighter and even more welcoming than they already are, while maintaining that country hospitality and charm that we're known for." That includes the brand's signature rocking chairs and peg games. "None of that is going away," Moore said. "We're just looking at ways to freshen up the experience so that we can open our door a bit wider for more guests." Love said she's been contacted by Cracker Barrel employees wishing to remain anonymous who said the souvenir store – a popular way for customers to pass the time while waiting for a table – is part of the revamp. Moore said there's no reason to worry. "The retail store is such a differentiator for us. It is such an important part of our overall experience. Things of that nature, the things that make us truly who we are — that's not changing." "Thank you for loving Cracker Barrel as much as we do!" Still, Love's video created such buzz that Cracker Barrel reached out with a peace offering that included a gift basket full of knickknacks. "Hi Rachel! Just a little something to say thank you for loving Cracker Barrel as much as we do! Your Friends, Cracker Barrel," a note on the card read. Moore said Cracker Barrel listens to its customers. "What the guests asked for are things like spaces that feel brighter, that feel less cluttered, more booth seating, more seating options, so our guests are more comfortable while they're dining with us," she said. 'Menu evolution' Love said she believes the quality of the food has declined in recent years. "I think they're trying to save on the food costs," she said. Cracker Barrel added alcohol a few years ago – something Love said wasn't necessary. "If I'm out at a nice dinner, I'll drink," she said. "I'm not going to Cracker Barrel to drink." Guests can also expect more menu changes. "Similar to our remodel strategy, menu evolution has also been a clear pillar within our transformation framework," Moore told Fox News Digital. Cracker Barrel is "doubling down on our breakfast, which is a strength for us, but also expanding our dinner offerings." The "campfire" meals, absent since 2018, recently returned to the menu, along with the all-new Campfire Shrimp Skillet, "an incredible value," Moore said. "I don't think we get enough credit for the value that we offer," Moore said. "We offer so many ways to find value in your own way when you come to Cracker Barrel. If you think about it, our average check is $14 compared to $27 for the casual dining industry. Delicious food in abundance has always been part of our value equation." Love hopes the responses to her video will lead Cracker Barrel to tamp down on the cosmetic changes and focus more on the food. "Prepare it with love like it used to be. That's where it all starts," she said. "The food has to get better. Just adding new options is not going to change how people feel about it." Cracker Barrel, however, suggested it has an eye on the future while recognizing its past. "Everything we're doing is deeply rooted in who we are," Moore said. "It's just, how do we carry forward those things that have made us so beloved for the last 55 years? How do we set up for the next 55 years?"

A Texas man is suing Whataburger after he requested no onions with his meal but got them anyway, according to a court filing. The lawsuit was filed last month by Demery Wilson in Texas' 269th Judicial District Court of Harris County. The documents claim that Wilson visited a Whataburger location on July 24, 2024, and ordered a "fast-food meal" without onions, according to a copy of the filings seen by Fox News. However, Wilson claims that the order did contain onions — which apparently then triggered an "allergic reaction" for which "he had to seek the care of medical professionals." Whataburger denied Wilson's allegations in a separate court document filed on May 16, demanding "strict proof" of his assertions. A representative for the San Antonio, Texas-based fast-food chain told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that the company does not comment on pending litigation. Fox News Digital reached out to Wilson's attorney seeking comment. Although the court filing doesn't specify what Wilson claims to have ordered from the fast-food chain, the classic Whataburger features a beef patty with mustard, tomato, lettuce, pickles and diced onions on a bun, according to its website. The Whataburger website also has a page that lists possible allergens, including wheat, soy, gluten, eggs and milk – but not onions. "There was a manufacturing defect in the food at the time it left [Whataburger's] possession," according to the lawsuit. "The food was defective because it was unsafe to eat." He's seeking monetary relief of over $250,000 but less than $1 million. The lawsuit claims that Whataburger is "strictly liable for manufacturing defective and unreasonably dangerous food" that it served to the public. Wilson is seeking monetary relief of over $250,000 but less than $1 million, according to the suit. In its response, Whataburger "denies it knew or should have known that any product purchased by [Wilson] at the restaurant in question was in a defective or unreasonably dangerous condition at the time [the items] were allegedly purchased." This isn't the first time Wilson has sued a fast-food restaurant chain because of a problem he said he had with his meal. A lawsuit filed against Sonic on Wilson's behalf in 2024 alleges that onions were included in his burger, making him sick, as Fox 26 in Houston reported.

A woman has made a name for herself on social media after she used a whole rotisserie chicken as her carry-on luggage to eat as a mid-flight snack. Chloe Gray caught the attention of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners when she casually carried a cooked bird through airport security and onto her flight from Newark, New Jersey, to California earlier this month. The social media influencer said carrying the meal as a "designer bag" was simply a clever way for her to stay nourished during her trip. "Mine just happened to be a bag of rotisserie chicken," Gray told What's the Jam. Gray shared her experience of traveling with the edible carry-on item in a series of TikTok videos that have been viewed some 500,000 times since May 2. "I just got pulled aside by TSA for having something crazy in my bag," Gray told her followers in one of the videos. "But I told [the security screener], ‘This is how you give yourself a first-class experience without paying for first class.’" Gray, who lives in New York City, said she hates buying airport food and usually tries to pack a salad when she's flying. For this trip, she didn't have time — so instead she decided to grab an entire rotisserie chicken from Whole Foods. "I did not feel any differently about bringing a rotisserie on my flight compared to any other meal or snack because it's just literally the same thing – a meal," she told What's the Jam. "It just so happened to be incredibly convenient that I could slip into Whole Foods and quickly grab one off the shelf on my way to the airport." But it didn't take long for her poultry-packed carry-on item to ruffle feathers with the TSA. "The only thing that scared me about going through security with my rotisserie is that they were going to throw it away, which would have been devastating because I would have been incredibly hungry and tight on time," Gray told What's the Jam. "I don't think I would have been able to grab another healthy and satisfying meal." Gray said the TSA agent who questioned her about it "was very polite and understanding." "She even gently handed it back to me and affectionately said, 'Here you go, baby.'" In another video, Gray is seen casually eating a bite of the chicken with a plastic fork while seated on the plane. After sharing her journey on TikTok, Gray received plenty of responses online. "Someone sitting next to me on a plane pulling out a rotisserie chicken would be my last straw." "Someone sitting next to me on a plane pulling out a rotisserie chicken would be my last straw," one commenter wrote. Another person wrote, "As a passenger I would NEVER!!!" "Nooo, the strong smell on the flight is diabolical," yet another commenter said. But Gray didn't seem to be bothered. "Obviously, the internet is a crazy place and everyone seems to have an opinion, even if it's about something so classic and simple like a rotisserie chicken," she said.

A Virginia archaeologist who is allergic to mint said her reaction is so severe that she's been hospitalized because of a stranger's "toothpaste breath" from three feet away. Kyleigh Digiovanni, 25, of York, Virginia, has found it painful to brush her teeth ever since she was a child, but her family initially thought she was just being "fussy," she shared with news agency SWNS. (See the video at the top of this article.) When Digiovanni started to tell family members that her toothpaste "burned" — and when she got red rashes on the inside of her mouth at age 10 — she went to see a doctor. Testing revealed Digiovanni's mint allergy. She also has reactions to lavender, rosemary and thyme. Digiovanni said she spent two years unable to brush her teeth while her family searched for a non-menthol toothpaste. These days, she's brushing her teeth with a blue raspberry-flavored fluoride-based toothpaste for children. Over time, it seems that her allergy worsened — to the point that she can't be anywhere near people chewing gum or using mint cough drops. She said she's been hospitalized 12 times in the last year, including an episode in November when a co-worker who used mint toothpaste accidentally breathed on her. Digiovanni said she carries an oral medication to stop her from going into anaphylactic shock. "They can treat me quickly," she said, referring to hospital healthcare professionals. "I was in for a couple of hours. They pump me with antihistamine and adrenaline." "There are reasons I walk everywhere. If I go on the train, I wear a mask." That makes public transportation "like playing Russian roulette with five bullets in a chamber," she told SWNS. "There are reasons I walk everywhere," Digiovanni said. "If I go on the train, I wear a mask." What to know about mint allergies Dr. Neeta Ogden, an allergist and immunologist in Edison, New Jersey, told Fox News Digital that while these kinds of allergies are rare, they do exist. "Allergy is strange like that," said Ogden, who is not involved in Digiovanni's care. "You can definitely find stories where you're like, 'Huh, I never heard of that.' And it's hard to believe, but there are cases of it happening." Allergic reactions to mint can range from "mild to severe and life-threatening," according to Healthline. "It's hard to believe, but there are cases of it happening." The more common symptoms may include mouth tingling or itching; swollen lips and tongue; swollen, itchy throat; nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; and abdominal pain. Some people may also experience skin irritation as a result of contact dermatitis, which may cause redness, itching, swelling, tenderness, blisters and/or hives, the above source stated. Digiovanni said she's never met anyone with her particular allergy, but she's found an online support group with 20 others who struggle with similar allergic reactions. "I think that we're fortunate to live in a time [when] there are these online support groups," Ogden said. "Before then, it was such an isolated thing, where somebody thought they were the rare one or two people in the country [who] might have a rare condition, and in this way, they can share solutions." Digiovanni said she can manage her allergy, but never knows when she might go into shock.

Some McDonald's customers on TikTok claim that a certain food and drink combination from the fast-food restaurant can get rid of their migraines — though doctors are quick to share other headache remedies. A migraine is a headache that can cause "severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head," according to the Mayo Clinic. Common effects include nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. The attacks can last for hours or even days, interfering with daily activities, the same source noted. Taking a trip through the McDonald's drive-thru might help, some customers claim. One viral video – which has over three million views and counting – shows a woman sitting in her car in a McDonald's drive-thru, sipping a soda and eating fries. The text said she's doing this "because I've had a headache for 48 hours and TikTok said it would help." Other videos suggest a large Coca-Cola drink and an order of large fries – "lovingly called the McMigraine," Dr. Brintha Vasagar told Fox News Digital – can make the pain go away. "There is some science [as] to why it works," noted the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based family medical physician. While this viral food hack may help alleviate the symptoms, it isn't a cure, a doctor cautioned. The caffeine and the carbonation in Coca-Cola are two of the reasons, according to Vasagar. "If you think about most over-the-counter migraine treatments, the medications themselves can contain a dose of caffeine," she said. The caffeine constricts or narrows the blood vessels, which can provide migraine relief for some people, the doctor added. The carbonation can help settle the stomach for those who experience nausea with their headaches. When it comes to the salty fries, the sodium can help correct electrolyte balance and dehydration — "which can be triggers," Vasagar said. The carbohydrates in the fries can also help settle the stomach, she added. Another element, Vasagar said, is the "psychological benefit of comfort food." "For many of us, fast food, McDonald's, it's that nostalgia. It's that feeling of, 'This is going to be comforting and make me feel better.'" One person on TikTok wrote, "I work in neurology and our headache specialist literally recommends this to patients." Another person wrote that only Coca-Cola is effective, not Diet Coke. Others agreed with that. "There is no scientific reason that one Coke over another should be beneficial for migraine treatment," Vasagar clarified. "I really think that piece plays into the psychological part of it — what feels comforting to people when [they're] feeling ill." ‘Not a prevention method’ This viral food hack isn't a cure, the doctor pointed out. "This isn't a prevention measure," Vasagar said. "It's not like you can do the ‘McMigraine’ every day and never get a migraine again. That's just not the way it works." Also, drinking a large Coke and eating a bunch of fries could make matters worse for some. "Triggers for migraines vary from person to person," Vasagar warned. "So, this combination for some people will make their migraines worse." Dr. Tania Elliott, a New York-based physician who specializes in allergies and internal medicine, told Fox News Digital that a better quick-fix solution is to stay hydrated. "Consider having a little bit of caffeine, maybe in the form of matcha or green tea," and keep your electrolytes up, she suggested. "You're getting the benefits of addressing the potential underlying issues of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, but you're not having the increased risks and unhealthy contributors from eating French fries and a Diet Coke," Elliott added.

Walnuts may lower your risk of colon cancer and reduce overall inflammation in the body, according to a study recently published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research. "The study shows that a simple and inexpensive dietary addition can provide health benefits to the colon without any downside risks," study author Daniel Rosenberg told Fox News Digital. Roseberg is the director of the colon cancer prevention program at the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center in Connecticut. Researchers from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine said walnuts contain phytochemicals called ellagitannins, which are metabolized by the gut bacteria and converted into potent anti-inflammatory compounds known as urolithins. High levels of urolithin A, formed by gut bacteria after walnut consumption, may positively affect immune cells in colon polyps and be linked with an overall reduction of inflammatory markers in urine, blood and fecal samples, according to the study. "The effects are seen both in the colon, as well as in the blood," Rosenberg said. "The latter indicates the effects are systemic and not only limited to providing gut health." The study involved 39 participants between the ages of 40 and 60, considered to be at high risk for colon cancer. The participants avoided ellagitannin-containing foods and beverages for a week to get their bodies' urolithin levels close to zero. They were then closely monitored while following a diet that involved consuming walnuts, which are rich in ellagitannins, according to a UConn news release. After the three-week study, the participants underwent a high-definition colonoscopy. Researchers then looked at tissue from polyps removed during the procedure. They found a direct association between patients with high levels of urolithin A formation — from gut biodome after consuming walnuts — with reduced levels of common proteins found in polyps. This included the protein vimentin, which is associated with more advanced forms of colon cancer, according to the report. Rosenberg told Fox News Digital that walnut ingestion "affects some of the inflammatory proteins that are surrounding a patient's polyps, potentially adding additional health benefit." Reduced inflammatory markers were found in the urine and fecal samples of the participants who followed the walnut-consuming diet. The study also found urolithin A-levels in participants' urine correlated with a boost in serum levels of a protein associated with colorectal cancer inhibition known as peptide YY, according to the report. Rosenberg said his team found walnut supplementation reduced the levels of several markers of inflammation in the participants' blood, especially in individuals who had an elevated BMI in excess of 30. "The study shows that a simple and inexpensive dietary addition can provide health benefits to the colon without any downside risks." "We believe that many of the effects we have observed with respect to inflammation are directly related to a patient's ability to form urolithins," Rosenberg told Fox News Digital. "However, this ability is widely variable in human subjects. Some people can do this very well, whereas others lack this capacity." Rosenberg told Fox News Digital that his team's long-term goal is to "figure out what microbes are responsible for this metabolic activity so that we can create probiotics that people can consume that will afford them the capacity to generate urolithins in their gut." To reap the health benefits, Rosenberg suggested eating about five to 10 walnuts per day. Laura Feldman, a registered dietitian and assistant professor of nutrition at Long Island University in New York, was not affiliated with the study but told Fox News Digital that walnuts "are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids." These acids "are anti-inflammatory and, generally, Americans are not getting enough of them," she said. Feldman also noted that walnuts are rich in fiber, which is "another nutrient Americans are lacking." "Adequate fiber intake is associated with decreased risk of colorectal cancers." Although walnuts are a healthy snack, Feldman said they are considered a high-calorie food — so consumers should be mindful of portion sizes, "typically sticking to about a handful at a time throughout the day."

Weight-loss medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, which have gained popularity for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, have been shown to have the surprising secondary benefit of reducing alcohol intake. A team of international researchers from Ireland and Saudi Arabia followed 262 adult patients with obesity who started taking two GLP-1 medications: liraglutide or semaglutide. Among the regular drinkers, weekly alcohol intake decreased by 68%, from approximately 23 units of alcohol to around 8 units. The findings were recently published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and were also presented last week at the European Congress on Obesity in Spain. GLP-1 agonists mimic a hormone called GLP-1, which is released from the gastrointestinal system after eating, according to study co-author Carel Le Roux, a professor at University College Dublin. These medications activate GLP-1 receptors in the brain, decreasing the sense of "reward" people feel after eating or drinking, eventually leading to reduced cravings for both food and alcohol, he told Fox News Digital. "It is this commonality of function that suggests the GLP-1 receptors in the brain may be a therapeutic target for not just the disease of obesity, but also for alcohol use disorder," the professor said. Study findings Before the participants started the weight-loss drugs, they self-reported their weekly alcohol intake, then were categorized as non-drinkers, rare drinkers or regular drinkers. Approximately 72% had at least two follow-up visits and 68% reported regular alcohol consumption. After starting the weight-loss medications, the participants’ weekly average alcohol intake decreased by almost two-thirds overall — from approximately 11 units of alcohol to four units after four months of treatment with the GLP-1 agonists. The reduction in alcohol use was comparable to the decrease that can be achieved by nalmefene, a drug that decreases the "buzz" feeling in people with alcohol use disorder in Europe, according to the researchers. For the 188 patients who were followed over an average of four months, none had increased their alcohol intake after starting the weight-loss medications. Patients reported that after an evening meal, they were too full to have their usual drink — and when they did drink, they reported becoming full extremely quickly and drinking at a slower pace, Le Roux noted. "The findings in this study suggest that we may have just found a therapeutic target for alcohol use disorder." This suggests that the experience was less enjoyable, partly due to the reduced rate of alcohol absorption. Some patients also reported that they didn’t enjoy the flavor of the alcoholic beverages as much, and also that hangovers were much worse. All of these experiences showed that the weight-loss medications create "guard rails" that prevent most patients from drinking excessively, giving them a degree of control over their alcohol intake, according to Le Roux. "The findings in this study suggest that we may have just found a therapeutic target for alcohol use disorder — the GLP-1 receptor," the professor told Fox News Digital. "This finding potentially opens the possibility of an entirely new pharmacological treatment paradigm, which could be used in conjunction with conventional methods, such as behavior therapy and group support." Potential limitations The study was limited by its relatively small number of patients, the researchers acknowledged. Also, the researchers were not able to verify the participants’ self-reported alcohol intake, and roughly one-third of them were not available for follow-up. There was also no control group, which means the researchers couldn’t prove that taking weight-loss medication reduces alcohol intake. "Randomized, controlled trials with diverse patient populations — including patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder — are needed to provide the quality and quantity of data that could be used to support an application for licensing the medication for the treatment of alcohol use disorder," Le Roux said. (One such trial is currently underway in Denmark.) Study implications With the current medications available to treat alcohol use disorder, the "major problem" is compliance, Le Roux said — "because the cravings for alcohol tend to come in waves." "This means a patient might be fully committed to treatment at one point in the week, but then stop taking the medication later in the week when a craving comes," the professor added. There are currently three FDA-approved medications to treat alcohol use disorder: naltrexone (which helps decrease cravings by reducing the "buzz" feeling that comes with drinking alcohol); disulfiram (which helps some people avoid alcohol by making them feel sick when they drink), and acamprosate (which restores the balance of hormones in the brain to reduce cravings), according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. But less than 10% of people with alcohol use disorder get the proper treatment, with many resuming use within the first year of treatment, past research shows. The main advantage of the GLP-1 agonists is that they only need to be taken once a week and continue to work for the entire week. Outside experts say the study’s findings highlight the potential of weight-loss medications to help treat alcohol use disorder. "This research suggests a promising ancillary benefit of GLP-1 analogs, potentially influencing cravings for alcohol and offering a new avenue for managing alcohol use disorder," Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, who was not part of the study, told Fox News Digital. "While the exact mechanisms are still being explored, the findings contribute to our understanding of the broader benefits of GLP-1 analogs beyond obesity treatment," Stanford added.

If you can't beat them, eat them. That's become a slogan of sorts for the New England seafood industry and some of the fishermen who supply them, as they try to eradicate – or at least control – the population of one of the world's most invasive species: the green crab. These pesky creatures offer little meat but have a voracious appetite of their own, wreaking havoc on the shellfish industry and the ecosystem. "They're omnivores, so they eat everything, including a lot of our really important species and commercial species, like soft-shell clam," Adrienne Pappal, habitat and water quality program manager for the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, told Fox News Digital. Green crabs have been in New England since the mid-to-late 1800s, making their way from Europe and West Africa via cargo ships. The crabs have broad environmental tolerances, Pappal said, so they can live anywhere from intertidal to subtidal areas, from 30 to 100 feet. "They have a lot of ways to survive, and that's why they've been really successful," said Pappal. "They are so widespread in the environment and can have a lot of different impacts." Green crabs are hard on the shellfish industry in Massachusetts, according to Story Reed, deputy director of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF). "On the North Shore, there are five towns that have done eradication programs that have been mostly funded through the state to pay fishermen to go out and try to eradicate these things," Reed told Fox News Digital. "We've recently heard from towns in the Cape Cod area who are also interested in eradication programs because they're seeing impacts to their shellfish as well." Fisherman Jamie Bassett, of Chatham, Massachusetts, said he's seen that firsthand. "We have an issue with green crab," he told Fox News Digital. "A gravid female – gravid meaning egg-bearing – can, I believe, disperse up to 180,000 eggs into the water." "We have an issue with green crab." Bassett said he frequently encounters hundreds of gravid females. "The issue of green crab as an invasive species is not going to go away," he said. "One, because they reproduce so much. And two, because it's just not a sought-after species." Finding a market for green crabs is a challenge, he said. "How many pounds of green crabs is a restaurant going to order from one of the seafood wholesalers in Boston?" he said. "They're not too edible. It's not like you can pick through them like a lobster. You'll die of old age before you pick through a green crab for a thimble of it." But Sharon St. Ours, whose family has been in the seafood business for 45 years, is hoping to change that. "As it turns out, they're 'really delicious.'" "When I learned how they were devastating the oyster population because of their numbers, I turned to my dad and said, 'We can do something about this problem,'" St. Ours told Fox News Digital. "We got some crabs and cooked them." As it turns out, they're "really delicious," she said. "Their broth is a lot sweeter than any other crabs that I've used to make shellfish broth. It's a lot sweeter than lobster broth." St. Ours & Company officially debuted its crab broth powder, after three years in the making, at the Seafood Expo North America trade show in March. It was named a finalist in the food service category. "It's not profitable yet and I have more to sell," she said. "But I do have a lot of interest in it." The broth was partially funded by the DMF's seafood marketing program. "It was really neat to see it get that recognition at an international show and get to taste it," Reed said. "I think it's the creativity, the willingness to try new species, both from [the] consumer's perspective and from chefs in the culinary world. It's great that people are trying these different things."

Some Chick-fil-A employees are graduating from college free of debt due to a unique program. Thanks to a partnership among three entities — independent Chick-fil-A operators, Point University and Ficus Education — 177 Chick-fil-A employees were able to graduate this year while working at locations across the country, restaurant industry website QSR reported. Over 70 of the Chick-fil-A employees participated in a recent graduation ceremony at Point University, a private Christian institution in Georgia. In attendance were more than a dozen Chick-fil-A operators. "This all began in 2023 with one operator's and one university's vision: to give his team the opportunity to earn a college degree without student debt," Doug Danowski, president of Ficus Education in Georgia, told Fox News Digital. "That single decision sparked a movement." The Ficus Education employer-sponsored partnership allows employees at independently operated Chick-fil-A restaurants to complete their degrees online through Point University without having to pay out-of-pocket tuition or take out student loans. "What started as one operator's desire to invest in his team has grown into a national movement: hundreds of degrees earned, over an estimated $11 million in student debt avoided and real business impact," Danowski said. Select Chick-fil-A franchise operators pay their employees' tuition as an incentive to recruit and retain workers. "It's a partnership built around one question: How can we help operators recruit, develop and retain their people, and strengthen their restaurants?" Danowski said. More than 500 independent Chick-fil-A operators have participated in the program since its inception, Danowski said. Ficus Education hosted a hospitality suite for independent operators, their graduates and special guests immediately before the commencement ceremony. "Through Point [University] and through the partnership with Ficus [Education], we've been able to create this day when Chick-fil-A team members are going to walk across the stage and get their four-year degree or their master's degree, which is going to bring them forward in their careers," André Kennebrew, chair of the board of trustees at Point University and a former Chick-fil-A development program leader, told attendees in remarks shared with Fox News Digital. The federal education debt now exceeds $1.6 trillion, according to the U.S. Department of Education. As the Office of Federal Student Aid recently announced it has resumed collections of defaulted student loans, the 177 Chick-fil-A graduates collectively avoided more than $6 million in debt, according to QSR. The program makes it possible for employees to progress in their careers at Chick-fil-A, some with dreams of opening their own franchise, "or go somewhere else and be a doctor or a lawyer or whatever," Kennebrew said. "This is worth continuing," Kennebrew said of the program. "This is worth growing."

A Reddit drama is lighting up social media as a mom of a newborn says she's "going crazy" over her husband's choices and their current family challenges, with a clinical psychologist contacted for insight on the dilemma. "Gave birth six weeks ago and it’s been rough," wrote the mom in a Reddit post. "Recovering from emergency C-section, plus they think I may have a liver pancreas issue as I keep being unwell — plus my mental health took a dive, let alone newborn care!" She continued, "My newborn is screaming anything from 2-4 hours every night. Trying everything to soothe and remedy her, as [it's] most likely colic. So far, no meds or methods have changed her behavior," the mom added. "We also have a 6-year-old who has very different needs. While the 6-week-old screams, the 6-year-old needs a bath, a bedtime story, etc." The mother said the couple have been "tag teaming this." They've been having one parent tend to one child "to make sure both are OK," she wrote. "But it’s still been unbelievably hard on all of us." Now comes an invitation and a husband's choices that sparked debate. "Please don’t go. I need help at that time." "His guy friends invited him to a BBQ tonight and it would literally be him leaving just as [our] 6-week-old kicks off," the mom wrote. "So I said, ‘Please don’t go. I need help at that time.’ Keeping in mind his friends meet regularly and it’s not like if he doesn’t do it today, that’s it for a year," she added. The husband replied, "Babies cry, just cope, I'm going," the young mother wrote. She said she "tried to point out that I know they cry, but it’s not about coping, and I felt it was really selfish that he was choosing to pick his friends over his family. I even said if it was any other time I wouldn’t have a problem with it." Her husband, she said, has "gone back to work, and I’m coping with that — it's just literally that time of night that’s tricky." But "he kept saying that I was being ‘controlling’ by not letting him see his friends. It turned into a really bad moment for us where I was devastated to be called ‘controlling.’ I really don’t think that’s what I’m trying to do and that he just couldn’t see it from my point of view." The mom said that the next day, her husband apologized. He said "he was completely wrong and [he] could see how bad things would be if he went and said he wouldn’t go." However, she added, "fast forward to today — where he tells me he’s going and if I can’t cope, he’ll take the baby and drop her at his [mom's] to look after." The problem, the young mother wrote, is that his mother "isn’t close by, doesn’t know all the things we are trying colic-wise, like the meds, etc., and would have to deal with a screaming baby. Also, my baby doesn’t know her and is only 6 weeks, so all round, not a good solution." She said that her husband "also knows things are a bit tricky between me and his mom, so I feel like this was a bit manipulative on his part. . . . He knows I’d never pick his mom as an option but can now say he’s found a solution where he can go." The at-her-wit's-end young mother wrote, "I feel like I’m going crazy here. I just want some support from my partner at the time of the day it’s most difficult with our baby!" "This is so infuriating to read." Fox News Digital reached out a California-based clinical psychologist for insight as other users on Reddit shared their own reactions and comments. One person in a top-rated comment wrote, "'You are welcome to attend your BBQ tonight. Tomorrow night, you will stay home with baby and child while I go out and have my break.' - I can guarantee he won't agree to that," the user added. "The comment ‘babies cry, just cope’ would have him sleeping in his mother’s house if he was my husband," said another person. Said yet another user on the platform, "Sorry, but your husband is being completely unreasonable. We have 2 kids … We have an agreement that if either of us goes out, it's after 7 p.m. once both are in bed. Which means we both still get a social life without leaving the other in chaos." The same person added, "It's not much to ask him to make a few sacrifices … Especially as he can still go out a bit later." Another commenter was far more worked up about the situation. "This is so infuriating to read. I’m so sorry he is treating you like this after everything you’ve been through." "He can't expect you to go through that alone." "If I had a partner who carried my child for 9 months, had major abdominal surgery and suffered ongoing health issues to ensure the safe delivery of my child — I’d be worshipping the ground they walked on for the rest of my life." The same person added, "He’s being incredibly selfish, invalidating your feelings and there’s just no excuse for this other than pure selfishness." Still another person shared a more nuanced reaction. "I can see it's hard on dads, too, and I don't blame him for wanting a break. But that's exactly the reason why he needs to stay. He can't expect you to go through that alone! He can look for other moments to recharge and meet his mates, but not during rush hour."