Author: CNN

KTVT

By Adam Harrington, Tim Jacobi

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     Chicago (KTVT) — A lawsuit filed late last month took Chicago-based McDonald’s to task over the McRib sandwich, calling its name a form of false advertising.

The lawsuit was filed Dec. 23 in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Plaintiffs Peter Le of Baldwin Park, California; Charles Lynch of Poughkeepsie, New York; Dorien Baker of Chicago; and Darrick Wilson of Washington, D.C., sought class-action status in the lawsuit.

McDonald’s offers the McRib during limited windows with ad campaigns to announce their return each time, most recently starting this past November.

The lawsuit said McDonald’s has “cultivated a sense of anticipation around the McRib, leveraging its scarcity to drive sales across its many locations.”

As CBS News has reported before, the notorious 520-calorie sandwich contains just five simple ingredients: seasoned boneless pork dipped in BBQ sauce, sliced onions, and dill pickles in a toasted homestyle bun.

“When everything combines, you have BBQ pork sandwich perfection,” McDonald’s has said.

But the lawsuit alleged that fans of the sandwich assume they’re biting into pork rib meat, but the McRib does not really contain any.

Despite its name and distinctive shape — its meat patty has been deliberately crafted to resemble a rack of pork ribs—the McRib does not contain any actual pork rib meat at all,” the lawsuit said. “Instead, its meat patty is reconstructed using ground-up portions of lower-grade pork products such as, inter alia, pork shoulder, heart, tripe, and scalded stomach.”

The lawsuit said actual pork rib meat cuts — spareribs and baby back ribs — are premium cuts of pork that are more valuable than lower-quality cuts. Despite not containing any rib meat, the McRib is among the most expensive single-item options offered on the menu at McDonald’s, the lawsuit said.

“The name ‘McRib’ is a deliberate sleight of hand. By including the word “Rib” in the name of the sandwich, McDonald’s knowingly markets the sandwich in a way that deceives reasonable consumers, who reasonably (but mistakenly) believe that a product named the ‘McRib’ will include at least some meaningful quantity of actual pork rib meat, which commands a premium price on the market,” the lawsuit said. “McDonald’s does this despite knowing that the sandwich in fact does not contain any meaningful quantity of actual pork rib meat — indeed, none at all.”

The lawsuit said consumers are led to believe they’re eating rib meat when they’re eating a McRib, but are actually eating “a lower-quality restructured meat product that did not contain any actual pork rib meat.”

“Put simply: consumers have been materially misled en masse as a result of McDonald’s deceptive labeling and marketing into purchasing sandwiches that they would not otherwise have purchased, or would only have paid less for, had they known the truth,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit further alleged McDonald’s knows or should know that customers are being misled, given the name “McRib” and the way the sandwich’s patty is shaped to look like a pork rib.

The lawsuit accused McDonald’s of fraudulent omission or concealment, fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, and other counts. It demanded an order “enjoining McDonald’s to desist from further deceptive naming, marketing and advertising practices with respect to the McRib and such other injunctive relief that the Court deems just and proper,” and an award of damages to the plaintiffs.

McDonald’s USA issued the following statement on the lawsuit:

“This lawsuit distorts the facts and many of the claims are inaccurate. Food quality and safety are at the heart of everything we do – that’s why we’re committed to using real, quality ingredients across our entire menu. Our fan-favorite McRib sandwich is made with 100% pork sourced from farmers and suppliers across the U.S. We’ve always been transparent about our ingredients so guests can make the right choice for them.”

McDonald’s added that it does not use pork hearts, tripe, or scalded stomach in the McRib patty, and such items are not allowed in any of its pork products. The company said the McRib has a base of 100% seasoned boneless pork.

McDonald’s first added the McRib to menus in Kansas City in 1981, according to CBS News Austin.

The chain pulled it from its menu four years later, but the sandwich has become a cult favorite among McDonald’s loyalists in recent years. It was previously sold regionally before expanding to all of its U.S. restaurants in 2020, CBS News Austin reported.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

WBBM

By Adam Harrington, Lauren Victory, Sara Machi, Benson Cook

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    Chicago (WBBM) — The State/Lake Loop ‘L’ stop has now closed, and won’t reopen for three years, as the historic station is completely demolished and rebuilt.

The Chicago Transit Authority elevated station, which serves the Brown, Green, Purple, Orange, and Pink lines, is 130 years old. The city announced it will be completely demolished and rebuilt as a “new, fully accessible rail hub” in early December.

Preparations have been under way for some time for the project. On Sunday, anyone getting off at the Lake Street CTA Red Line subway stop on Sunday might have noticed some new signage near the station’s stairways to street level.

The updated signs direct passengers looking to transfer to the elevated lines to head for the Washington/Wabash stop, a short walk to the southeast, instead of the elevated State/Lake platform overhead.

This, again, is because there will be no elevated State/Lake platform for the next three years. Construction crews rolled into the station before dawn Monday.

The State/Lake elevated station is one of the oldest in the city’s system and has the fifth-highest ridership. Officials said the new station will have wider platforms, four new elevators with full ADA accessibility, two escalators, a glass canopy, and improved lighting and visibility.

The project will cost $444 million. Construction will take at least three years, with the new station set to open in 2029. That price doesn’t sit well with some passengers.

“I feel like it’s kind of dumb in my opinion because like we don’t really need this, and I feel like we should use his money for something else in my opinion,” said Brighton Park resident Michelle Cortes.

Until then, commuters who are used to an easy transfer from the subway will have to make some adjustments.

Little Village resident Jacqueline Sanchez was taking some photos on the platform on the station’s last day in operation.

“I went to high school downtown, and I used to work downtown, so I would use this station almost every day,” she said. “I don’t take it anymore, so I was like, you know what, this is a great way to say bye.”

Other riders were unaware it would be their last time on the decades-old platform.

“And no, I didn’t know that, and that’s actually crazy because I like this train,” said rider Kennedi Brown.

Transportation expert Joseph Schwieterman of DePaul University said three years is a long time, but hopes it’s a worst-case senario.

“There is going to be some hardship, probably walking through construction sites at certain times and even having to rethink your trip,” Schwieterman said.

Transfers between lines will be complicated in particular.

“You know, the biggest impact is people making connections between the Loop elevator and the Red Line are going to get off at a different station that involves a couple blocks of walking, and even those on buses might have impacts with State Street being a construction site so it’s a lot of things at once, and we’re going to feel the effects,” he said.

State Street has already been partially closed for months for construction, and crossing the Chicago River at State Street has not been an option. This has affected bus traffic already for months upon months — the No. 36 Broadway bus, which runs on State Street from Division Street south to Van Buren Street, has been rerouted by way of Kinzie Street, Clark Street, and Wacker Drive.

Beginning Monday, even more of State Street downtown will be disrupted. The southbound lanes will be closed from Wacker Drive to Washington Street. Northbound State will see all lanes reopened.

There could also be some changes to bus services with the street closures that accompany construction, but as of Sunday, the CTA has not shared those changes.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

KTVT

By J.D. Miles, Nathalie Marie Palacios

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    Texas (KTVT) — A confrontation, racist statements and an assault rifle were captured on video in East Texas last week.

Kenneth McGaha said he pulled up to the drive-through window at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Henderson, where he was told the order he and his girlfriend placed wasn’t ready.

“The guy told us, ‘It’s going to be a minute on your shakes; can you pull up and we will bring them right out?'”

McGaha said he started looking for a place to drive and wait when the car behind him in line was trying to leave.

“So, in order for them to leave, I had to pull up and get out of the way. So, I just pulled up and pulled into a parking spot, not knowing it was a handicap parking spot,” he said.

McGaha said he had just gotten his order when a stranger walked up to his vehicle and reached inside his vehicle. The stranger also made racist statements, which McGaha said were because he was parked in a handicapped space.

“Like he was calling me ‘boy’, I shouldn’t be here. Get your A-word over there,” McGaha described. “The next thing I know, I felt an arm like a brush coming across my head.”

McGaha was able to record some of the disturbing, racially charged comments before the unidentified man went back to his truck and grabbed an assault rifle out of the vehicle.

“I really thought me and my girlfriend were dead, because it was just up close range,” McGaha said. And that was the end of the confrontation.

He went to the Henderson Police Department to file a report.

The father of three insists that he didn’t do anything to deserve threatening words and actions by the man he wants to see criminally charged.

Henderson Police told CBS News Texas they are investigating the report made by McGaha.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

WBZ

By Matt Schooley

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    BOSTON (WBZ) — Massachusetts State Police arrested a Worcester resident after troopers say they were driving the wrong way on Interstate 95 and several communities on Christmas Day while under the influence of drugs.

Paulius Balciunas, 36, was arraigned in Newburyport District Court Friday on charges of operating under the influence of drugs, negligent operation, failure to stop for police, resisting arrest, and speeding.

It happened Thursday when Balciunas was allegedly driving south on I-95 North in Newbury.

Witnesses said the wrong-way driver used Exit 83 to get onto Scotland Road in a black Subaru Legacy. Balciunas was allegedly driving erratically, switching lanes, and driving in the breakdown lane on the wrong side of the road.

Troopers followed the Subaru on local roads. Officers from Newburyport, West Newbury and Groveland attempted to stop Balciunas, who police say refused to pull over.

The Worcester resident eventually passed the Newburyport rotary on Route 1, then stopped on High Street.

State police said Balciunas sat in the driver’s seat and waved an unknown item. He allegedly ignored police commands to get out of the car, show his hands and turn off the car.

Several minutes later, troopers approached the Subaru and pulled Balciunas from the car.

Balciunas asked for medical attention. The driver was taken to an area hospital by ambulance and treated before being brought to police barracks for booking.

Massachusetts State Police said they later determined Balciunas was allegedly under the influence of drugs.

No injuries were reported during the police chase.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

KCNC

By Austen Erblat

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — A recent thaw-freeze cycle, coupled with the high chance of a snowstorm, is making the avalanche danger jump from a level 1 to a level 3 this weekend, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

CAIC says avalanche danger has been low for much of the month.

Officials say that’s unusual and largely due to warm weather and a lack of snow.

They anticipate the danger level will rise from Level 1, where it is now, to Level 3 by Sunday.

“Most of the avalanches are going to be breaking on the old snow surface,” CAIC director Ethan Greene said. “So not huge avalanches, but big enough to injure or kill you. If you’re headed into the mountains, you should check the avalanche forecast. Make sure you know what the danger is, where you’re going, and if you’re going into avalanche terrain, make sure you carry rescue equipment.”

That equipment should include a transceiver, probe pole, and shovel.

As of Saturday morning, CAIC’s avalanche forecast showed “considerable” avalanche danger north of Steamboat Springs, moderate danger throughout the high country, as far west as Grand Mesa and as far south as the area just north and east of Pagosa Springs.

The rest of the state showed low or no danger, but the weather was set to change later in the weekend, highlighting the importance of checking that forecast.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.