Podcast appearances and mentions of jeff lenard

The U.S. Treasury will officially stop making pennies and phase out the one-cent coin from circulation. Here are four things retailers need to know, recapped from a February 2025 podcast. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard

Let's look at the big takeaways and data from the recently concluded NACS State of the Industry Summit. We cover big-picture industry metrics, consumer trends and insights how you can best navigate today's economic uncertainty. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard

President Trump and Elon Musk have both advocated for the elimination of the penny. We share insights from customers on whether they agree and how it would affect transactions in convenience stores. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, NACS Media & Strategic Communications

Beer accounts for about 7% of all dollars spent inside convenience stores. What are some of the trends that could affect sales in 2025? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Benj Steinman, President, Beer Marketer's INSIGHTS Benj is the president of Beer Marketer's INSIGHTS Inc., the leading trade publisher for the United States brewing industry since 1970. He is publisher and editor of the flagship newsletter as well as several other online and print media publications.

Tobacco theft is the new face of organized crime. Flavor bans, higher taxes, and raising the legal purchase age to 21 have all contributed to a thriving black market for tobacco and vape products. Hear how you can protect your staff and business against tobacco and vape theft. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Rich Marianos, Assistant Director (Retired), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Professor, Georgetown University Rich is a senior law enforcement consultant, having served more than 27 years at the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives fighting violent crime. He most recently served as Assistant Director in the Office of Public and Governmental Affairs, and as Special Agent in Charge ATF's Washington Field Division. He began his career with ATF in September 1987 in the Chicago Field Division where he worked on complex-gang investigations. and was recognized as a national expert using the continuing criminal enterprise and RICO statues to dismantle some of the most dangerous street gangs and organized crimes groups in America.

A recent poll suggests that public confidence regarding food safety is eroding. To better connect with their customers, companies can do more to communicate their policies and procedures. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Benjamin Chapman, Professor, Food Safety Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University Through reality-based research, Ben investigates behaviors and creates interventions aimed at amateur and professional food handlers, managers and organizational decision-makers. He co-hosts the podcasts “Food Safety Talk” and “Risky or Not” and further engages folks online through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest.

During his 2024 NACS Show presentation, Juan energized the audience with ideas to ignite their confidence. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Juan Bendaña, motivational speaker Juan is an internationally recognized speaker who helps leaders navigate uncertainty and exponential change by developing the unwavering confidence to thrive in any environment.

The NACS Show is vast - how can you properly take advantage of it? Look no further than this episode for answers, as Jeff Lenard breaks down how to make the most of the NACS Show. Who to visit, what to look out for, and how to benefit from the personnel are all covered in Episode 135!  About Our Guest:  Jeff Lenard is the VP of Strategic Industry Initiatives for the National Association of Convenience Stores. He also hosts the Convenience Matters Podcast. Jeff is passionate about retail and all things convenience.

Foodservice in c-stores accounts for nearly 40% of in-store profits. We're breaking down how you can ensure that food safety remains top of mind. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: David McIntyre, Senior Health & Safety Specialist, EG America David has more than 30 years of experience in culinary, retail and noncommercial/contract foodservice management environments. His team was instrumental in developing and rolling out a risk-based internal assessment of food and workplace safety standards at EG America. He currently works with the Fastrac and Cumberland Farms banners in New York and oversees a field team in the Midwest and Western regions.

We're flipping the script and answering questions from our Convenience Matters producer on how to maximize your NACS Show experience. Hosted by: Blake Althen, Human Factor Guests: Chrissy Blasinsky, NACS and Jeff Lenard, NACS

The 2024 NACS State of the Industry Summit delivered insights on c-store industry performance metrics. Hear how this year is shaping up and the tools you need to make data-driven decisions. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Chris Rapanick, Managing Director, NACS Research Chris oversees the day-to-day operations of NACS Research, manages and directs departmental financial and operational performance, and drives strategic development of NACS long-term research capabilities and offerings for the convenience industry.

With 85% of the population saying they have low self confidence, odds are that at times, you may be one of them. Find out how you can break the cycle. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Juan Bendaña, keynote speaker Juan is an internationally recognized speaker who helps leaders navigate uncertainty and exponential change by developing the unwavering confidence to thrive in any environment. Drawing from his science-based framework, the Confidence Cycle, he has inspired over 250,000 leaders, at companies including Disney, Sotheby's International, and Sony Pictures.

Culture is the cumulative effect of what people see, hear, experience and believe. In this episode we're breaking down how industry leaders can build a high-performance culture. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Mark Miller, Author and Co-Founder, Lead Every Day Mark is a seasoned business leader, a Wall Street Journal and international best-selling author, and a dynamic communicator. He worked for one of the world's great organizations for almost 45 years. Mark began a nearly 45-year career at Chick-fil-A as an hourly team member (and 16th corporate employee) and recently retired as the Vice President of High Performance Leadership. 

If there is one thing Americans can unite on, it's complaining about gasoline prices. NACS resources can help educate consumers about the industry and correct misperceptions. Hosted by: Chrissy Blasinsky and Jeff Lenard

With increased costs and prices over the past few years, it's important for convenience retailers to communicate their offer and deliver value. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Leroy Kelsey, NACS Director, Research As director of NACS Research, Leroy is responsible for disseminating key industry metrics that empower convenience retailer and supplier members with the ability to understand performance opportunities in the areas of financials, store operations, merchandising, shopper insights, foodservice, fuels and more.

The early forecasts of the convenience retailing industry's 2023 performance are positive. Which trends stood out and what do preliminary numbers tell us about where the industry is heading in 2024? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Chris Rapanick, Managing Director, NACS Research Chris oversees the day-to-day operations of NACS Research, manages and directs departmental financial and operational performance, and drives strategic development of NACS long-term research capabilities and offerings for the convenience industry.

Over the past year, we visited more than 100 convenience stores. We'll share what we saw at c-stores and what it might mean to your business in 2024. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky

Our top-downloaded episode of 2023: Store managers have a significant impact on hiring and retaining great people. Hear how one retailer is coaching her team so they can be at their best. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Annie Gauthier, CFO & Co-CEO, St. Romain Oil Company (dba Y-Not Stop) Annie is CFO/Co-CEO of St. Romain Oil Company (dba Y-Not Stop), based in Mansura, Louisiana. A third-generation co-owner, she works with her two brothers and 300-plus team members to refuel and refresh the Louisiana communities where they operate.

Wages and benefits are the largest expense to your business, but can also have the greatest ROI. Competitive hiring practices can help you get and keep great people who advance your business from the front line. Find out if your offer is competitive and learn about the data and resources NACS has to help. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Jayme Gough, Market Research Manager, NACS Jayme has been at NACS since 2017 and loves “geeking out” on industry data collected and analyzed by NACS. In her current role, she oversees the NACS suite of HR-focused research projects, most notably the annual NACS Compensation Survey.

Convenience stores are in the relationships business. Over the past two decades, Michael Davis has played a central role in connecting retailers. Listen as he shares ideas on how to connect with industry peers. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Michael Davis, NACS Vice President of Member Services Michael has spent the past 18 years at NACS and even longer in the industry, always taking that extra step to connect retailers to solutions and each other. His background includes owning and operating a small c-store and coffee bar, website design, online publishing and trendspotting.

The rise of electric vehicles in Norway could force convenience retailers around the world to reconceive the traditional fill up and rethink their business models. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Magnar Møkkelgård, NACS Relationship Partner Nordics Magnar Møkkelgård is currently the relationship partner for NACS in the Nordics. He enjoys receiving visitors from other countries with special interest in the EV development in Norway. He worked for Reitan Convenience for 30 years.

William Shatner sat down to talk about what's on his mind—and it's a lot—following his NACS Show appearance in 2018. It's one of our most popular episodes and definitely our longest. And worth another listen. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard, VP of Strategic Industry Initiatives, NACS and Henry Armour, President and CEO, NACS About our Guest: William Shatner Captain Kirk, T.J. Hooker, Denny Crane, so many TV shows and movies and record albums, the oldest person to fly in space...need we go on?

How does a local convenience retailer with a few stores get millions of views on YouTube? We'll take you through the process and talk about how you can adapt his ideas. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Babir Sultan, CEO, FavTrip Babir is the CEO of FavTrip, with has locations around Kansas City. He also has built a highly successful online presence with two video series and recently published the book, “Fuel for Success.”  

NACS veterans share an insider's look at what attendees can look forward to at the NACS Show, how they can prepare and how they can make the most of what they saw, learned and heard at the global c-store industry's premier event. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Jeff McQuilkin, Director, Exhibit Sales and Services, NACS A trade show expert and veteran, Jeff has been with NACS since 2017. He has extensive tradeshow industry experience with both for-profit and non-profit organizations. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, photography and classic cocktails. His favorite band of all time is The Beatles and is a master Slurpee pourer.  

NACS was founded in August 1961, but its roots go back decades earlier. We share stories about how and why the industry--and NACS--was created, and where it's going. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard

Food safety expert and attorney Shawn Stevens shares how his team works with companies to develop food handling protocols, interventions, and supplier partnerships to ensure convenience retailers and restaurants serve high quality and safe food for their consumers. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Shawn Stevens, Founder and Food Industry Lawyer, Food Industry Counsel LLC Shawn is the founding member of Food Industry Counsel LLC, the only law firm in the United States that represents the food industry exclusively. As a food industry consultant and lawyer, he works with food industry clients (growers, processors, restaurant chains, distributors, grocers) helping them protect their brand by complying with FDA and USDA regulations, reducing risk, managing recalls and defending high-profile foodborne illness claims. He also speaks regularly to national and international audiences on a wide variety of emerging scientific, regulatory and food safety legal trends.

NACS Chairman Don Rhoads visited more than 60 stores to meet with frontline employees and thank them for being the face of our industry. He also has great stories to share from several road trips with NACS staff. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Don Rhoads, 2022-23 NACS Chairman, President/CEO, The Convenience Group LLC As NACS chairman, Don also leads the NACS Executive Committee, which provides strategic direction and financial oversight to the association. He began his convenience career in 1989 as president of the Quick Shop Minit Mart, a retail store chain in Vancouver, Washington. He started The Convenience Group in 2000 and has led the company in strategic growth, planning and establishment of long-term goals and policies and building the company's asset portfolio.

  This episode is in loving memory of James "Jim" Briscoe. August 15, 1959 - April 28, 2023   Our running family is very important to us. The OMR team gathered together after Earth Day Trail Races to recap the event. It meant a lot to us to be able to have Jim Briscoe on our show. We recorded the Wednesday after Earth Day. Jim eloquently talks about his love for the running community and shares wise words from his heart. We were all heartbroken when Jim left us here on Earth a couple days after the show.   His wife Vivian is grateful we have his recorded words. She has listened to the show and wants it to be released. The show includes Michele Hartwig, Jeff Lenard, Jeff Goodmanson, Jim Briscoe, Nicki Wright, Sid Wegener, and Natalie Brunson sharing race stories. On the Ornery Mule Racing YouTube version of this show we play photos of Jim with all his friends and family. Our prayers go out to his spouse Vivian and all of Jim's family. Our 2024 Earth Day Trail Race will be dedicated to Jim. We are going to include one of his favorite sayings on the race shirt, and design the shirt in some of his favorite colors. We are doing this with the help of his wife Vivian who will be running the race.

Foodservice and inside sales helped propel convenience stores to record sales in 2022. We're giving you exclusive insights on what drove the industry's strong performance and the headwinds going forward. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Chris Rapanick, Managing Director, NACS Research Chris oversees the day-to-day operations of NACS Research, manages and directs departmental financial and operational performance, and drives strategic development of NACS long-term research capabilities.

From locally sourced products to EV charging, 36 Lyn Refuel Station in Minneapolis makes a positive difference in its community. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Lonnie McQuirter, Director of Operations, 36 Lyn Refuel Station Lonnie operates 36 Lyn Refuel Station, an independently owned, community-focused refueling station in Minneapolis. He is a member of the NACS Board of Directors.

South Louisiana is one of the best areas in the United States to find amazing food and people at the gas station. We'll talk about what we saw and ate during a recent road trip. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Stafford Shurden, creator and host of “Tailgate Gas Station Review" A “serial entrepreneur,” Stafford currently is a farmer (president of Stafford Shurden Farms), restauranteur (proprietor of Stafford's on Main) and oversees a media company (founder of Shurden Media). He is the creator and host of the video series “Tailgate Gas Station Review.”

Fuel releases from underground storage tanks (UST) don't rank among the most common causes of UST compliance violations. Oftentimes, it's improper paperwork that can lead to fines and negative publicity. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and John Eichberger About our Guest: Clay Moore, Senior Director of Product, Leighton O'Brien Clay has more than 30 years of experience in software development, including 13 years in the downstream petroleum industry.

Martial arts legend Renzo Gracie famously said, “My ego is my enemy, and my opponent is my teacher.” We're exploring how his words and martial arts translate to running a successful business. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Lisa Dell'Alba, President and CEO of Square One Markets Inc. Lisa is president and CEO of Square One Markets Inc., a family owned, seven-store convenience and fuel retail chain based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The company also operates a fuel distribution company, Keystone Fuels. She entered the convenience in 2004, joining her father's company as the human resources coordinator. Lisa serves on the NACS Board of Directors and is a member of the NACS Executive Committee.

Today's workforce is feeling less inspired than ever before. With only 21% of employees actually engaged with their work, we're exploring why people have checked out mentally on the job. Related Links: ADDO Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guests: Kevin Paul Scott, Co-Founder, ADDO Worldwide Kevin co-founded the leadership consultancy ADDO, which is Latin for "Inspire." For multiple years, ADDO was the #1 Small Business on the Best Places to Work list in Atlanta. He and his team at ADDO have helped organizations like Chick-fil-A and Coca-Cola fuel success by leveraging the three indispensable ingredients of inspiration.

Whether customers come to Wakepoint LBJ by car or boat, this convenience store is a destination for enjoying live music, festivals or Sunday gospel services. Related Links: Ideas 2 Go: Wakepoint LBJ Hosted by: Jeff Lenard  About our Guests: Scott Westlund, Owner, Wakepoint LBJ Scott is the owner of Wakepoint LBJ, a sprawling business operation on Lake LBJ that includes two convenience stores, foodservice and fueling—among other offers. He also is a managing partner and accredited personal injury attorney at Ketterman Rowland & Westlund, known as KRW Lawyers throughout Texas. Jody Bowers, CFO, Wakepoint LBJ In addition to serving as chief financial officer of Wakepoint LBJ, Jody also is president of Axiom Business Advisors LLC, which helps clients develop and manage their business or real estate project.

Each year the annual State of the Union address sets the stage for the next Congress. From electric vehicles to "junk" taxes, President Biden laid out his agenda. How will it affect convenience stores? Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Doug Kantor, General Counsel, NACS Doug joined NACS in May 2021 after serving as a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he worked with the NACS government relations team to define effective policy-based solutions on issues ranging from fuels to financial services. He has established and administered coalitions of companies and trade associations that share common legislative and regulatory objectives, including the Merchants Payments Coalition and its work to reform credit and debit card swipe fees.

Store managers have a significant impact on hiring and retaining great people. Hear how one retailer is coaching her team so they can be at their best. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Annie Gauthier, CFO/Co-CEO of St. Romain Oil Company Annie is CFO/Co-CEO of St. Romain Oil Company (dba Y-Not Stop), based in Mansura, Louisiana. A third-generation co-owner, she works with her two brothers and 300-plus team members to refuel and refresh the Louisiana communities where they operate.

Industry icon Rick Brindle shares what he's learned and what he's looking forward to as a new chapter begins on his 46-year retail industry career. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Rick Brindle, Vice President of Industry Development, Mondelēz International Rick Brindle has a long track record of breakthrough success in the in the food and beverage consumer product goods and retailing sectors, including serving at Safeway Stores, Proctor & Gamble, Nabisco, Kraft and, most recently, Mondelēz International. He has been active at NACS serving as 2020-21 NACS Supplier Board chairman and has received numerous honors, including induction in the Candy Hall of Fame.

Jeff Lenard, vice president of strategic industry initiatives, National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), sat down with Baking & Snack Editor and Since Sliced Bread host Charlotte Atchley to discuss what the c-store landscape is now and how bakers and snack manufacturers could best support this channel.

The Credit Card Competition Act would bring long-overdue competition to the credit card marketplace, significantly reducing swipe fees. Here's what you need to know—and do—to help move this effort forward. Related Link: Fix Swipe Fees Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Doug Kantor, NACS General Counsel Doug joined NACS in May 2021 after serving as a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he worked with the NACS government relations team to define effective policy-based solutions on issues ranging from fuels to financial services. He has established and administered coalitions of companies and trade associations that share common legislative and regulatory objectives, including the Merchants Payments Coalition and its work to reform credit and debit card swipe fees.

Most consumers (97%) rely on digital searches to find a business or a service. The convenience retail industry has a massive opportunity to redefine its digital identity and drive both customer traffic and sales. Related Links: THRIVR Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Lori Stillman, NACS Vice President, Research and Education Lori joined NACS in 2019 and leads the association's industry-leading research portfolio and education department. She has a deep background in data analytics, decision support, business development and consulting. Prior to NACS she worked at Advantage Solutions, Information Resources Inc., WEBCO General Partnership and Nielsen. Lori earned a B.A. in business communications from Maryville University.

We're talking with a convenience retail industry icon how the end of the NACS Show is the start of a bigger strategic planning process. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Jeff Miller, CEO and President, Millers Energy Jeff is CEO and president of Millers Energy, based in Norfolk, Va. The company was founded in 1977 and is in the residential heating and air-conditioning, heating oil and property management businesses in southeastern Virginia. He entered the family business in 1981 after working for five years in the restaurant business in Washington D.C. In 2010, he was elected Chairman of the NACS and testified before Congress on behalf of the industry and represented the industry at events all over the world. In 2022, Millers exited the convenience store and wholesale fuel distribution businesses.

We're talking about pressing issues that convenience retailing industry executives are facing, and how NACS is addressing them. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Henry Armour, NACS President and CEO Henry is third president and CEO to lead NACS in its 61-year history. His tenure began in July 2005, following a long history with the association. He served two one-year terms as NACS chairman (2001-2003), as treasurer/chairman-elect and vice chairman of research and development. Henry grew up working in his family's retail automotive and wholesale transportation businesses, Armour Oil Company, from an early age pumping gas, selling tires and polishing trucks. He managed the company's retail service stations and transportation facilities, negotiated labor contracts, oversaw the company's petroleum supply system, and handled government affairs, rising to the position of vice president and chief operating officer of the company in 1977. In 1980, Henry joined The Standard Oil Company of Ohio, where he served as manager of development strategies. Three years later, he founded West Star Corporation, which grew to include 59 NOW! convenience stores, truck stops and quick service restaurants in the Pacific Northwest until he sold the company in 2004.

From just 8 veteran volunteers to 150,000-plus today, Team Rubicon is rebuilding global communities before, during and after disasters and crises. Related Link: Team Rubicon Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Jake Wood, Founder and Executive Chairman, Team Rubicon Since 2010, Team Rubicon, the fastest growing and most innovative disaster response organization in the world, has responded to nearly 1,000 crises around the world and the United States. Under Wood's leadership, Team Rubicon developed a reputation for its corporate culture and has been named one of the top nonprofits to work for in America. Prior to Team Rubicon, Wood served as a Marine Corps scout-sniper with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and was a varsity football player for the Wisconsin Badgers. He is the author of "Once A Warrior," a memoir detailing his time in war and disaster zones around the world that journalist Tom Brokaw called “The book America needs right now.”

Small operators like The Hub's Jared Scheeler are always on the lookout for big ideas that will transform their convenience stores. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chris Blasinsky About our Guest: Jared Scheeler, CEO, The Hub Convenience Stores Jared is the 2021-22 NACS Chairman. He began his career in the convenience industry in 1998 while attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where he worked at Minneapolis-based Bobby & Steve's Auto World. His engagement with NACS began in 2001 when he attended his first NACS Show in Las Vegas. “That's when I fell in love with the industry,” he said in the January 2022 issue of NACS Magazine. In 2015, Scheeler co-founded The Hub in his hometown of Dickinson, North Dakota.

It took Jeff Lenard 9 years for his ticket to be pulled to get into the Western States 100. Our show included his pacer James Solomon and his wife Jean Lenard. They talk about managing the course. What it was like to crew and pace this race. Great information for Midwest runners preparing for Western States 100! Plus Jeff and crew are just so darn likeable!

Hear how the global convenience retailer quickly moved to support its teams and operations in Eastern and Central Europe related to the war in Ukraine. Related Link: Circle K Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Mark Wohltmann About our Guest: Niall Anderton, Senior Vice President Operations, Central Eastern Europe and Ireland (SVP CEE & Ireland), Circle K Niall's overall responsibility is for the Circle K business in Ireland and Central and Eastern Europe, which includes Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Russia.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, June 27th, 2022. Pastor Toby is on vacation this week, spending time with his family… Again, I want to start this newsbrief off talking about our conference, because early bird pricing is coming to an end! Lies, Propaganda, Story Telling, and the Serrated Edge: This year our national conference is in Knoxville, TN October 6th-8th. The theme of this year’s conference is Lies, Propaganda, Storytelling and the Serrated Edge. Satan is the father of lies, and the mother of those lies is a government who has rejected God. We have especially been lied to these last two years, and the COVIDpanic has been one of the central mechanisms that our government has used to lie to us and to grab more power. Because Christians have not been reading their bibles, we are susceptible to lies and weak in our ability to fight these lies. God has given us His word to fight Satan and his lies, and we need to recover all of God’s word, its serrated edge and all. Mark your calendars for October 6th-8th, as we fight, laugh and feast with fellowship, beer and Psalms, our amazing lineup of speakers, hanging with our awesome vendors, meeting new friends, and more. Early bird tickets are available now, but will be gone before you know it! Sign up now at flfnetwork.com https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-new-york-supreme-court-strikes-down-law-that-allowed-non-citizens-to-vote?utm_campaign=64487 New York Supreme Court strikes down law that allowed non-citizens to vote New York City's City Council approved a measure in January to give non-citizens the right to vote in local elections. But after a suit was brought by the GOP lawmakers, the New York Supreme Court ruled that no, non-citizens do not have the right to vote. The plan would have added some 800,000 New Yorkers to the voting rolls, and would have allowed them to vote for mayor, public advocate, city council, borough presidents, and school boards. Justice Ralph Porzio said that the law was in direct violation of the New York State Constitution. "The New York State Constitution expressly states that citizens meeting the age and residency requirements are entitled to register and vote in elections," he said. "Though voting is a right so many citizens take for granted, the City of New York cannot 'obviate' the restrictions imposed by the Constitution," Porzio continued, going on to say that "the weight of the citizens’ vote will be diluted by municipal voters and candidates and political parties alike will need to reconfigure their campaigns." The bill allowed non-citizens to register in political parties and vote in local elections if they hold green cards or have working visas. The only additional requirement for non-citizens is that they have been residents of New York City for a mere 30 days. In striking down the law, Porzio said that "Though Plaintiffs have not suffered harm today, the harm they will suffer is imminent." The bill was slated to go into effect for the 2023 election year. Outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio was not in favor of the measure, but agreed to sign the law anyway. Current Mayor Eric Adams was on board with the bill, saying that while the bill might not be legal, green card holders should get the vote. The idea was that because they were impacted by local leaders, and were being taxed, they should also vote, despite that being a right only for US citizens. The bill was touted by immigrant activists as necessary, because those immigrant non-citizens pay taxes and should therefore be permitted to vote. Staten Island City Councilman Joe Borelli said of the ruling that: "Today's decision validates those of us who can read the plain English words of our state constitution and state statutes: Noncitizen voting in New York is illegal, and shame on those who thought they could skirt the law for political gain. Opposition to this measure was bipartisan and cut across countless neighborhood and ethnic lines, yet progressives chose to ignore both our constitution and public sentiment in order to suit their aims. I commend the court in recognizing reality and reminding New York's professional protestor class that the rule of law matters." https://www.dailywire.com/news/disney-offering-johnny-depp-301-million-to-return-to-movie-franchise-report?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dwbrand Disney Offering Johnny Depp $301 Million To Return To Movie Franchise: Report Hollywood actor Johnny Depp is reportedly set to return to Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise after the entertainment giant offered Depp a whopping $301 million to return the role. Depp was let go from the franchise in 2018 after starring in five movies, making the film’s box office successes and some of the most profitable movies of all time. A jury recently found that Amber Heard defamed Depp in an op-ed about domestic violence, published by The Washington Post in 2018. It was alleged that Depp was let go from “Pirates of the Caribbean” in part because of the claims made in that op-ed. An insider told the Australian outlet Poptopic that Disney is “very interested in patching up their relationship with Johnny Depp. They reached out to the actor prior to his defamation trial against Amber Heard and asked whether he would be interested in returning for another ‘Pirates’ film or two.” “I know corporate sent him a gift basket with a very heartfelt letter, but I’m unsure how it was received,” the source alleged. “But what I can tell you is that the studio has already penned up a draft for a film about Jack Sparrow — so they are very hopeful that Johnny will forgive them and return as his iconic character.” According to Poptopic’s insider, the company is “prepping a deal for USD$301 million deal that will include a sizable donation to a charity of Depp’s choice. The deal is reportedly for Johnny Depp to return as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 and a spin-off Disney Plus series about the early life of the Captain of The Black Pearl.” Following his legal victory, Depp said in a statement, “Six years later, the jury gave me my life back … I am truly humbled.” Personally, as much as I love Johnny’s portrayal of Captain Jack, I think it’s time for he and the franchise to end… the movies just weren’t as good, but as we all know Disney, I’m sure they’ll want to keep their cash cow afloat. Accountable 2U ​​https://Accountable2You.com/FLF Using a smartphone or computer opens the door to a host of digital temptations. In a world saturated with pornography and other harmful content, what's a Christian to do? We need to take a proactive approach, welcoming transparency in our digital media choices—and Accountable2You makes that easy. Their accountability software shares detailed activity reports from all your devices, and your kids' devices, in real time to the accountability partners that you choose. With accountability in place, your family can effectively guard against temptations online and live with purity and integrity. Learn more and try it free at Accountable2You.com/FLF https://neonnettle.com/news/19445-thieves-steal-gas-from-pumps-as-prices-hit-record-highs-across-america- Thieves Steal Gas from Pumps as Prices Hit Record Highs across America Thieves across the United States are stealing gas as fuel prices hit record highs, according to reports.The criminals are physically taking gas from pumps and other vehicles or by hacking gas retailers' networks.Although the thieves think they are doing drivers a favor by reselling stolen gas, experts argue they are doing more harm than good."There is no Robin Hood in this," Jeff Lenard, vice president of strategic industry initiatives at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), told Fox News Digital. "The gas station owner is the least responsible for high prices. The cost of theft gets passed on in higher prices, and when people are driving around with unsecured stolen fuel, it is a concern to anybody."Air Force veteran co-founder of NGT Academy, a network engineering and cybersecurity training academy, Terry Kim said: "It's really sad because who's really losing out in these types of situations is the gas station owner.""You can literally put them completely out of business [into] bankruptcy by doing this kind of stuff. Even though stealing oil might be helping people or getting free gas, this is really a bad thing for these gas station owners," he said.In Virginia Beach, Virginia earlier this month, police observed "numerous vehicles" using devices to pump gas from a Citgo station that was closed at the time. "Individuals were then selling the gasoline at a discounted rate through a phone application and had advertised the operation on social media. It was determined that thousands of dollars worth of gasoline was stolen from the business over several days," the Virginia Beach Police Department said in a June 14 press release. As Fox News reproted: To protect themselves from cyberattacks, fuel retailers should make sure their networks are up-to-date and properly secured so that their technology infrastructure has no vulnerabilities, or weaknesses allowing hackers to infiltrate their networks and steal or change information. Stores and franchises should also train their employees, Kim and NGT Academy co-founder Jacob Hess said.More thieves are stealing gas in the United States, with 25% of fuel retailers reporting an increase in gas thefts.Physical gas thefts not involving cyberattacks are another issue. Now it’s time for the topic that I love… sports! https://nypost.com/2022/06/26/novak-djokovic-wont-get-covid-vaccine-to-play-us-open/ Novak Djokovic won’t change mind on COVID vaccine to play US Open Novak Djokovic knows that, as things stand now, Wimbledon will be his last Grand Slam tournament of 2022, because he will not be able to play in the U.S. Open — he has not received any COVID-19 shots and can’t enter the United States as an unvaccinated foreigner. “That,” the 35-year-old from Serbia said Saturday at the All England Club, “is an extra motivation to do well here.” Djokovic began this season tied with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at 20 major championships, then the record for a man. But Djokovic’s decision not to get vaccinated led to his deportation from Australia before the Australian Open in January — and Nadal wound up winning that tournament to get his 21st. Nadal then beat Djokovic in the quarterfinals at the French Open en route to earning his 22nd Slam title this month. When Wimbledon starts on Monday, Djokovic will have the honor of opening play at Centre Court as the defending champion. He is seeded No. 1 and will be bidding for a fourth consecutive title at the All England Club and seventh overall. “Hopefully I can have a very good tournament, as I have done in the last three editions. Then I’ll just have to wait and see. I would love to go to States. But as of today, that’s not possible,” said Djokovic, who has come down with COVID-19 twice. “There is not much I can do anymore. I mean, it’s really up to the U.S. government to make a decision whether or not they allow unvaccinated people to go into the country.” A reporter noted that Djokovic does still have time to get vaccinated before play begins at Flushing Meadows on Aug. 29, and then asked him whether “you’ve completely closed your mind to that as an option.” Djokovic replied with one word: “Yes.” This has been your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief… If you liked the show, go ahead and hit that share button. Or hey, you could sign up for a club membership, a magazine subscription, or for our conference! All of that can be found at flfnetwork.com… and as always if you want to talk about corporate partnerships… let’s talk. Email me at garrison@fightlaughfeast.com. For CrossPolitic News, I’m Garrison Hardie. Have a great day, and Lord bless.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuesday, June 27th, 2022. Pastor Toby is on vacation this week, spending time with his family… Again, I want to start this newsbrief off talking about our conference, because early bird pricing is coming to an end! Lies, Propaganda, Story Telling, and the Serrated Edge: This year our national conference is in Knoxville, TN October 6th-8th. The theme of this year’s conference is Lies, Propaganda, Storytelling and the Serrated Edge. Satan is the father of lies, and the mother of those lies is a government who has rejected God. We have especially been lied to these last two years, and the COVIDpanic has been one of the central mechanisms that our government has used to lie to us and to grab more power. Because Christians have not been reading their bibles, we are susceptible to lies and weak in our ability to fight these lies. God has given us His word to fight Satan and his lies, and we need to recover all of God’s word, its serrated edge and all. Mark your calendars for October 6th-8th, as we fight, laugh and feast with fellowship, beer and Psalms, our amazing lineup of speakers, hanging with our awesome vendors, meeting new friends, and more. Early bird tickets are available now, but will be gone before you know it! Sign up now at flfnetwork.com https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-new-york-supreme-court-strikes-down-law-that-allowed-non-citizens-to-vote?utm_campaign=64487 New York Supreme Court strikes down law that allowed non-citizens to vote New York City's City Council approved a measure in January to give non-citizens the right to vote in local elections. But after a suit was brought by the GOP lawmakers, the New York Supreme Court ruled that no, non-citizens do not have the right to vote. The plan would have added some 800,000 New Yorkers to the voting rolls, and would have allowed them to vote for mayor, public advocate, city council, borough presidents, and school boards. Justice Ralph Porzio said that the law was in direct violation of the New York State Constitution. "The New York State Constitution expressly states that citizens meeting the age and residency requirements are entitled to register and vote in elections," he said. "Though voting is a right so many citizens take for granted, the City of New York cannot 'obviate' the restrictions imposed by the Constitution," Porzio continued, going on to say that "the weight of the citizens’ vote will be diluted by municipal voters and candidates and political parties alike will need to reconfigure their campaigns." The bill allowed non-citizens to register in political parties and vote in local elections if they hold green cards or have working visas. The only additional requirement for non-citizens is that they have been residents of New York City for a mere 30 days. In striking down the law, Porzio said that "Though Plaintiffs have not suffered harm today, the harm they will suffer is imminent." The bill was slated to go into effect for the 2023 election year. Outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio was not in favor of the measure, but agreed to sign the law anyway. Current Mayor Eric Adams was on board with the bill, saying that while the bill might not be legal, green card holders should get the vote. The idea was that because they were impacted by local leaders, and were being taxed, they should also vote, despite that being a right only for US citizens. The bill was touted by immigrant activists as necessary, because those immigrant non-citizens pay taxes and should therefore be permitted to vote. Staten Island City Councilman Joe Borelli said of the ruling that: "Today's decision validates those of us who can read the plain English words of our state constitution and state statutes: Noncitizen voting in New York is illegal, and shame on those who thought they could skirt the law for political gain. Opposition to this measure was bipartisan and cut across countless neighborhood and ethnic lines, yet progressives chose to ignore both our constitution and public sentiment in order to suit their aims. I commend the court in recognizing reality and reminding New York's professional protestor class that the rule of law matters." https://www.dailywire.com/news/disney-offering-johnny-depp-301-million-to-return-to-movie-franchise-report?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dwbrand Disney Offering Johnny Depp $301 Million To Return To Movie Franchise: Report Hollywood actor Johnny Depp is reportedly set to return to Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise after the entertainment giant offered Depp a whopping $301 million to return the role. Depp was let go from the franchise in 2018 after starring in five movies, making the film’s box office successes and some of the most profitable movies of all time. A jury recently found that Amber Heard defamed Depp in an op-ed about domestic violence, published by The Washington Post in 2018. It was alleged that Depp was let go from “Pirates of the Caribbean” in part because of the claims made in that op-ed. An insider told the Australian outlet Poptopic that Disney is “very interested in patching up their relationship with Johnny Depp. They reached out to the actor prior to his defamation trial against Amber Heard and asked whether he would be interested in returning for another ‘Pirates’ film or two.” “I know corporate sent him a gift basket with a very heartfelt letter, but I’m unsure how it was received,” the source alleged. “But what I can tell you is that the studio has already penned up a draft for a film about Jack Sparrow — so they are very hopeful that Johnny will forgive them and return as his iconic character.” According to Poptopic’s insider, the company is “prepping a deal for USD$301 million deal that will include a sizable donation to a charity of Depp’s choice. The deal is reportedly for Johnny Depp to return as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 and a spin-off Disney Plus series about the early life of the Captain of The Black Pearl.” Following his legal victory, Depp said in a statement, “Six years later, the jury gave me my life back … I am truly humbled.” Personally, as much as I love Johnny’s portrayal of Captain Jack, I think it’s time for he and the franchise to end… the movies just weren’t as good, but as we all know Disney, I’m sure they’ll want to keep their cash cow afloat. Accountable 2U ​​https://Accountable2You.com/FLF Using a smartphone or computer opens the door to a host of digital temptations. In a world saturated with pornography and other harmful content, what's a Christian to do? We need to take a proactive approach, welcoming transparency in our digital media choices—and Accountable2You makes that easy. Their accountability software shares detailed activity reports from all your devices, and your kids' devices, in real time to the accountability partners that you choose. With accountability in place, your family can effectively guard against temptations online and live with purity and integrity. Learn more and try it free at Accountable2You.com/FLF https://neonnettle.com/news/19445-thieves-steal-gas-from-pumps-as-prices-hit-record-highs-across-america- Thieves Steal Gas from Pumps as Prices Hit Record Highs across America Thieves across the United States are stealing gas as fuel prices hit record highs, according to reports.The criminals are physically taking gas from pumps and other vehicles or by hacking gas retailers' networks.Although the thieves think they are doing drivers a favor by reselling stolen gas, experts argue they are doing more harm than good."There is no Robin Hood in this," Jeff Lenard, vice president of strategic industry initiatives at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), told Fox News Digital. "The gas station owner is the least responsible for high prices. The cost of theft gets passed on in higher prices, and when people are driving around with unsecured stolen fuel, it is a concern to anybody."Air Force veteran co-founder of NGT Academy, a network engineering and cybersecurity training academy, Terry Kim said: "It's really sad because who's really losing out in these types of situations is the gas station owner.""You can literally put them completely out of business [into] bankruptcy by doing this kind of stuff. Even though stealing oil might be helping people or getting free gas, this is really a bad thing for these gas station owners," he said.In Virginia Beach, Virginia earlier this month, police observed "numerous vehicles" using devices to pump gas from a Citgo station that was closed at the time. "Individuals were then selling the gasoline at a discounted rate through a phone application and had advertised the operation on social media. It was determined that thousands of dollars worth of gasoline was stolen from the business over several days," the Virginia Beach Police Department said in a June 14 press release. As Fox News reproted: To protect themselves from cyberattacks, fuel retailers should make sure their networks are up-to-date and properly secured so that their technology infrastructure has no vulnerabilities, or weaknesses allowing hackers to infiltrate their networks and steal or change information. Stores and franchises should also train their employees, Kim and NGT Academy co-founder Jacob Hess said.More thieves are stealing gas in the United States, with 25% of fuel retailers reporting an increase in gas thefts.Physical gas thefts not involving cyberattacks are another issue. Now it’s time for the topic that I love… sports! https://nypost.com/2022/06/26/novak-djokovic-wont-get-covid-vaccine-to-play-us-open/ Novak Djokovic won’t change mind on COVID vaccine to play US Open Novak Djokovic knows that, as things stand now, Wimbledon will be his last Grand Slam tournament of 2022, because he will not be able to play in the U.S. Open — he has not received any COVID-19 shots and can’t enter the United States as an unvaccinated foreigner. “That,” the 35-year-old from Serbia said Saturday at the All England Club, “is an extra motivation to do well here.” Djokovic began this season tied with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at 20 major championships, then the record for a man. But Djokovic’s decision not to get vaccinated led to his deportation from Australia before the Australian Open in January — and Nadal wound up winning that tournament to get his 21st. Nadal then beat Djokovic in the quarterfinals at the French Open en route to earning his 22nd Slam title this month. When Wimbledon starts on Monday, Djokovic will have the honor of opening play at Centre Court as the defending champion. He is seeded No. 1 and will be bidding for a fourth consecutive title at the All England Club and seventh overall. “Hopefully I can have a very good tournament, as I have done in the last three editions. Then I’ll just have to wait and see. I would love to go to States. But as of today, that’s not possible,” said Djokovic, who has come down with COVID-19 twice. “There is not much I can do anymore. I mean, it’s really up to the U.S. government to make a decision whether or not they allow unvaccinated people to go into the country.” A reporter noted that Djokovic does still have time to get vaccinated before play begins at Flushing Meadows on Aug. 29, and then asked him whether “you’ve completely closed your mind to that as an option.” Djokovic replied with one word: “Yes.” This has been your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief… If you liked the show, go ahead and hit that share button. Or hey, you could sign up for a club membership, a magazine subscription, or for our conference! All of that can be found at flfnetwork.com… and as always if you want to talk about corporate partnerships… let’s talk. Email me at garrison@fightlaughfeast.com. For CrossPolitic News, I’m Garrison Hardie. Have a great day, and Lord bless.

In this episode of The Future of…, Jeff is joined by Scott Erickson, CTO at Harbor Foods Group. They discuss the challenges facing gas stations today, the impact technology is having on them, and future profitability strategies. Plus insights from Tammy Klein, Founder & CEO, Transport Energy Strategies, and Jeff Lenard, VP, Strategic Industry Initiatives, National Association of Convenience Stores.