From Data to Dialogue: 6 Ways AI is Changing Customer Engagement

For centuries, WHSmith has been a fixture on the U.K.’s high streets and in busy travel hubs. But now, the venerable retailer—whose roots date back to 1792—is undergoing a seismic shift. WHSmith recently announced it will sell off about 480 of its stores to private-equity firm Modella Capital for £76 million, effectively parting ways with a significant portion of its iconic high street footprint.

This article was originally published on DadisFIRE. AI was used for light editing, formatting, and readability. But a human (me!) wrote and edited this. Some people are broke because they don't earn enough. Others stay broke because they keep spending like they’re trying to prove something. One choice at a time, they dig the hole deeper, and call it normal.

From 1977 to 1984, ABC-TV aired the sitcom, Three's Company, featuring John Ritter, Suzanne Sommers, and Joyce DeWitt as roommates sharing an apartment in Santa Monica, California. Sadly, both Ritter and Sommers have since passed away. But DeWitt is still with us, and a healthy 76 years old today.

[Note: This article is an edited excerpt from The Bionic Book: The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman Reconstructed. Unless otherwise indicated, all commentary and quotes are from interviews conducted by the author with those mentioned.]

CALIFORNIA – Jack in the Box announced April 23, that it will close 150 – 200 underperforming restaurants nationwide. The Southern California-based company introduced its 'JACK on Track' plan, which includes selling select real estate holdings, discontinuing dividend payouts, reducing debt, and closing stores.

An analysis by the National Alliance to End Homelessness shows that as many as 9 million people could become homeless if the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ends rental assistance.

According to WRIC 8 News, the Richmond FBI has a warning for parents. It is against groups that are part of a violent network targeting children and manipulating them into recording themselves committing illegal and violent acts.

NEW JERSEY - A former New Jersey business owner has pleaded guilty to federal charges for fraudulently obtaining over $3.2 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans intended to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

The historic and amazing Biltmore Estate is in Asheville, North Carolina (Buncombe County). On May 23, 1963, it was designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL). The Biltmore Estate was the vision of George Washington Vanderbilt.

Under an emerging Republican plan to require some Medicaid recipients to work, between 4.6 million and 5.2 million adults ages 19 to 55 could lose their health care coverage, according to a new analysis.

Jeanette Avellan admitted to embezzling company funds over six years and failing to pay taxes; state recommends four-year prison term and over $4.5 million in restitution. Monmouth County, NJ - A Howell, New Jersey, woman has pleaded guilty to stealing approximately $4 million from her longtime employer and committing tax fraud over multiple years, according to an announcement from Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice.

Beloved actor/director Peter Bonerz, now 86, is best known for his role as dentist Dr. Jerry Robinson on TV's classic sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show (CBS, 1972-1979). However, before he found mainstream fame on camera, which eventually was followed by a behind-the-scenes career switch, Bonerz faced early life and career struggles.

Sandy Paws Rescue Inc., a dedicated foster-based dog rescue in Massachusetts, recently introduced a small, energetic young dog named Belladonna, affectionately known as "Belle." This young, approximately 1 to 2-year-old dog weighing around 13 pounds has quickly captured hearts with her endearing personality. "Belladonna, known as 'Belle' to her foster mom and new friends, is a petite cuddle bug with the softest poodle/doodle fur & big Disney-princess eyes that just might convince you to do anything she asks," shares the nonprofit rescue.

Feeling thirsty on your cruise? If so, we’d suggest not trying to skirt the rules when it comes to bringing alcohol onto the ship if you are sailing Carnival. Doing so could mean you can’t sail with the line anymore.

According to the Scituate Animal Shelter of Massachusetts, there's a charming new resident who's capturing hearts with his unique physique and personality while waiting for his forever family to find him. Chunk, as he's appropriately named, weighs quite a bit despite his short stature. "If it isn't obvious, Chunk got his name from his amazing physic. This low rider has tiny legs but weighs in at 60 lbs, an absolute tank of a dog," explains the nonprofit shelter. "Chunk is some sort of bully breed mix. English? Maybe. Whatever he is, man is he cute! His smoothy face and constant snorting adds to his charm."

NEWARK, N.J. — A New York man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for laundering the proceeds of fraudulent schemes that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced on March 26, 2025.

A recent study finds that people under the age of 50 who smoke heavily have a higher risk of experiencing an unexplained stroke. The study, published in Neurology , found that this was particularly true in men and people in the 45-49-year-old age group.

Is this some kind of St. Patrick’s Day joke gone horribly wrong?. That’s the first thing that many customers reportedly thought when they went into their local McDonald’s restaurant this month and discovered that the drink caps and other items were suddenly green.

Raul Orlando Torres Cubides, known as “Jose Jota,” conspired to import hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. from Colombia and other countries between 2016 and 2020.

Other than those indigenous to this vast and blessed land, we are all immigrants here in the United States of America, with rights enshrined in the constitution, no matter our status. The frantic mass deportations pushed by the current administration have affected visa holders, asylum seekers, tourists, and legal citizens. Sweeping reforms have eliminated due process in a web of reinterpreting archaic laws like the Alien Enemies Act and have revoked Temporary Protection Statuses (TPS) , affecting hundreds of thousands of innocent people.

WASHINGTON — Millions of immigrants in the country without legal authorization are required as of Friday to register with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after a federal judge rejected advocacy groups’ request to pause the requirement.

NEWARK — Joseph Schwartz, 65, of Suffern, New York, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for his role in a $38 million employment tax fraud scheme involving nursing homes he operated across the country, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Some graduate students at the University of Kentucky have had their visas revoked, President Eli Capilouto said in a campus-wide message Friday afternoon. In his message, Capilouto wrote that the Department of Homeland Security notified UK that the department was revoking some F-1 student visas. The president didn’t specify the number of students affected but said it was a “small number.”

To the delight of Wyoming’s top elected officials, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders Tuesday to “reinvigorate” U.S. coal, but whether deregulation can change the tide of market forces remains to be seen. During Trump’s first term in office, the coal industry continued to lose most of its electric utility market share to natural gas and spiraled into a series of bankruptcies .

The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James has returned to Florida from a patrol that saw them seize more than 44,550 pounds of Mexican Cartel cocaine and 3,880 pounds of Mexican Cartel marijuana worth about $510 million. US Attorney General Pam Biondi says the seizures represent more than a half-billion-dollars of lost profits by the Gulf Cartel (CDG), the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS), and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

In a heartwarming tale of rescue, Sandy Paws Rescue Inc. of Massachusetts is helping write a new chapter in the life of a friendly young dog named Roxanne. The unique pup, distinguished by her striking mismatched eyes - one brown and one light blue - exemplifies both the harsh realities faced by abandoned animals and the transformative power of compassion.

It would have cost $9.6 billion to permanently house those staying in U.S. homeless shelters in 2022, according to a recently released study by the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Sandy Paws Rescue Inc., a foster-based dog rescue in Massachusetts, has recently shared that they’re working on finding the perfect home for Rocky, a three-year-old Pomsky with untapped potential. Rocky's story highlights the importance of proper dog training and structure. His previous owners, while well-intentioned, failed to provide the necessary training and boundaries essential for his development. "They saw a cute, fluffy dog and assumed love alone would be enough—it wasn’t," explains the nonprofit rescue. This oversight led to behavioral issues, including resource guarding with high-value items and documented bite incidents. Through professional training and dedicated support, Rocky is transforming from a misunderstood companion to a promising partner for the right owner.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday blocked Trump administration directives that threatened to cut federal funding for public schools with diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Ask anyone to name a cruise line and the first two names they will almost always mention are Carnival and Royal Caribbean. The two rivals are the biggest lines in the United States, and they also compete for largely the same customer base. So when one line makes moves, then the other needs to catch up or face getting left behind.