PETA is proposing a "weather reveal" cake in place of groundhog Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day this year. 

The organization, known for its animal advocacy, believes that Phil is being exploited on the annual winter holiday. In response, they sent a letter to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, asking them to let Phil retire ahead of this year's celebration on February 2. 

Instead of Phil, PETA has offered to send a vegan "weather reveal" cake, similar to a gender reveal cake, each Groundhog Day. The proposed cake when cut would show one of two colors: blue, signifying six more weeks of winter, or pink, indicating an early spring.

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PETA President Ingrid Newkirk explained her offer in the letter: "Retire Phil to a reputable sanctuary with his family, and every year we’ll provide a giant vegan ‘Weather Reveal’ cake (it would be the first in the world this year) to share with revelers at Gobbler’s Knob."

"If the inside of the cake is blue, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it’s pink, there will be an early spring," she added. "This would allow you to still make tourism dough while showing Phil a slice of decency. It would be as least as accurate as asking a groundhog what to expect in a way that doesn’t even reflect his nature."

She reiterated that they "batter believe" that Groundhog Day is no piece of cake for Phil. 

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"Groundhogs are shy prey animals who, when allowed, actively avoid humans," she said. "Yet, year after year, Phil is transported to Gobbler’s Knob, whisked on stage, and subjected to a noisy announcer, screaming crowds, and flashing lights against all his natural instincts."

"If approached in his natural habitat, he would run away in fear, not volunteer to live year-round in captivity, unable to do anything that’s natural and important to him like hibernate or burrow—just to be a town’s once-a-year fake meteorologist," she added. 

This isn't the first time PETA has tried to remove Phil from the festivities. In 2023, the group offered to replace him with an enormous, golden, weather-predicting coin.

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"We’d be happy to send you a large thermometer for Gobbler’s Knob instead that reads, ‘If it’s still cold, it’s still winter,’ which would aptly represent the absurdity of the current form of this tired old spectacle. We look forward to hearing from you, as always," Newkirk concluded in this year's letter. 

Experts at a New York-based art data science firm believe a long-lost piece by Vincent van Gogh was sold at a garage sale in Minnesota and recently published a report about its investigation.

In a Jan. 28 news release, LMI Group International announced the publication of a 450-page report on a painting called "Elimar," which it believes is a van Gogh original. 

The painting was bought at a Minnesota garage sale for $50 in 2016, and, according to The Wall Street Journal, it could be worth as much as $15 million.

Experts believe the painting was done while the artist was a patient of the Saint-Paul sanitarium in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence between May 1889 and May 1890. It was found with "E L I M A R" on the front of the canvas.

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The report describes the piece, which measures 45.7 by 41.9 centimeters, as an "emotionally rich, profoundly personal work created during the final and tumultuous chapter of van Gogh's life." 

"In this portrait, van Gogh reimagines himself as an older, wiser man depicted against the serene palette-knife-sculpted sky and smooth expanse of the water, evoking van Gogh’s lifelong personal interest with life at sea," the release stated.

The portrait shows a somber-looking man with a pipe in his mouth and a fur hat standing by the ocean. The painting has "the same three-quarter view of all four van Gogh self-portraits painted in 1889," according to the report.

"'Elimar' features stylistically distinct elements that appear throughout van Gogh’s oeuvre, including distinctive marks under the eyes, marks at the corner of the mouth, eyelashes, ‘whites of the eyes’ often in blue or green, a pronounced nasal-labial line, cursory shorthand describing the tragus and helix, and the color of cuff set off from the sleeve," the statement said.

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Analysts also found that a strand of red hair was partially embedded in the corner of the painting, and scientists confirmed it belonged to a male. The painting also had a finish made of egg white, which van Gogh was known to have used.

Despite the stylistic similarities, the Van Gogh Museum has denied the painting's connection to the famed Dutch artist. In February 2019, LMI Group received this statement from the museum: "We have carefully examined the material you supplied to us and are of the opinion, based on stylistic features, that your work … cannot be attributed to Vincent van Gogh."

In a statement, LMI Group President Lawrence M. Shindell said his organization took a "data-based approach" to verifying the origin of the painting, and that it "represents a new standard of confidence for bringing to light unknown or forgotten works by important artists."

"By integrating science and technology with traditional tools of connoisseurship, historical context, formal analysis, and provenance research, we aim both to expand and tailor the resources available for art authentication based on the unique properties of the works under our care," Shindell said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Van Gogh Museum for comment.

Some planes may have more than the usual amount of legroom — giving passengers an entire seat space of room due to placement near the exit door.

One flight passenger recently posted an interesting dilemma on the "r/delta" Reddit forum. The person shared that he or she was sitting in a window seat with no seat in front of them — allowing a two-row distance of extra space.

"Seat 29F on a 757 has no seat in front of it. It’s just 28D and 28E because of the exit door," the person wrote. "The seat is great for extra legroom on flights where I’m not getting upgraded."

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The user went on, "The person in 28E used the under-seat storage on 27F and this person even used the entertainment system to display the flight tracker while she watched a movie on the seat directly in front of her."

Fox News Digital reached out to both the Reddit user and Delta Air Lines for comment.

"I had planned on throwing my bag underneath the seat in front of me and using my wireless adapter to connect the entertainment center to my headphones," the person added. 

A photo shared with the post showed the fellow passenger looking at both monitors with her bag underneath the seat in front of the poster.

Not being able to use the monitor in front, the user then asked, "Who gets the space and the entertainment center for this seat?"

FLIGHT PASSENGER ASKS IF 'SEAT SQUATTERS' ARE BECOMING THE NEW NORM, TRIGGERING REACTIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Reddit users took to the comments section to share thoughts and tips as well. 

"You get the space and TV on the seat directly in front of you," declared one.

Another agreed, adding, "It’s your space."

"That looks like your monitor, honestly. They have one already," commented a user.

One said, "That space is supposed to be yours. End of story."

"That is your space. Ask them to move it. I am the most nonconfrontational person I know, and I have asked many people to do this," suggested one user.

Another shared, "If you don't want to ask them to move their bag, one thing you can do is place your bag in your foot space during the preflight checks."

"When the FA [flight attendant] asks you to stow it, you can point to the bag that's under the seat in front of you," added the user. 

California-based etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall told Fox News Digital, "It would seem logical to use the screen and space underneath the seat in front of you."

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She shared that the Reddit user could call the flight attendant to settle the issue or "forget about it and store your belongings in the [overhead] bin."

"In a non-accusatory manner, [the person could] say something like, 'It's a bit confusing, but that is my designated space.' Or, 'Are these yours? Sorry, but it looks like I'm going to need my space,'" Randall added. 

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"You've got to have great eye vision to view the screen from a two-row distance. If it's an older plane where the volume and channel buttons are on the armrest, then they couldn't be using your screen," said Randall.

She also said that once the plane was in the air, the user could simply reach the screen and select the preferred movie. 

"Safety and civility should always be our approach and main concern," said Randall.

Randall added, "In today's easily sparked society, giving up a small space underneath a seat may be the better decision." 

An Indonesian woman can breathe clearly again after firefighters rescued her from the captivity of an office chair.

The young woman was at work in Bandung City, Indonesia, when she managed to get her nose piercing stuck in the mesh back of an office chair, according to video obtained by ViralPress.

Her coworkers attempted to help remove the septum ring from the chair by yanking it, but were unsuccessful and ultimately called the fire department.

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"The incident wasn't the strangest call we've ever had," firefighter Mochamad Alam Priabadi said.

Firefighters also attempted to free the woman at the office, but ended up wheeling her to the fire station where they had more tools to complete the job.

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In an attempt to lighten the mood, the firefighters joked with the woman about cutting off her nose or needing to use a chainsaw to release her from the chair's grip.

After goofing off with heavy-duty tools, a pair of pliers accomplished the mission in about five minutes – and the woman was not injured during the removal.

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"We've had cases involving freeing a finger stuck in a window latch, removing a stubborn ring from a private area and helping a child whose finger was stuck in a table," Priabadi said. "It's all part of the job, but the nose piercing incident was definitely one of the most entertaining."

A man decided to take his relationship to the next level and to brand-new heights by proposing to his girlfriend mid-flight.

Sam Riber, a 34-year-old CEO from Pennsylvania, took inspiration from the Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore movie, "The Wedding Singer," to propose to his now-fiancé, Lissy Alden, 37.

The Philadelphia resident first met Alden, owner of mental and organizational fitness provider MYNDY, at a Shabbat dinner early last year. The two immediately felt a connection, as news agency SWNS reported.

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"I almost didn't go to that Shabbat dinner in February because I was tired, but my mom told me I needed to eat … I'm so glad I went," Alden told SWNS.

"We have both dated a lot before, so when we both felt it was really right, we didn't want to have to wait," he said. 

Nearly eight months passed by and Riber had already started coming up with a plan to propose to his girlfriend.

While on a flight to Mexico for Alden's birthday, Riber took that moment as an opportunity to get down on one knee while thousands of feet in the air, SWNS reported.

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Riber and Alden are both film lovers — so the CEO decided that he wanted to recreate a scene from the 1998 comedy film.

Without Alden noticing, Riber was able to smuggle a prop guitar onto the plane and work in secret codewords with the flight attendants to pull off the surprise proposal, SWNS said. 

Alden and her then-boyfriend were halfway through their flight from North Carolina to Mexico City on Dec. 24, Christmas Eve. 

That's when Riber pulled out his prop guitar and serenaded her with the same song Sandler's character sang when he proposed to Barrymore's character in the movie "The Wedding Singer" — "Grow Old With You."

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The fitness founder responded to the life-changing moment with a resounding, "Yes!"

"It was such a special moment," Riber told the news organization.

"I almost couldn't believe it all worked out."

While Riber has been a fan of the movie for years, his now-fiancé was not as familiar with the movie.

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"Lissy had never seen it, so I had to find a way to introduce it to her without giving anything away," the Pennsylvania CEO said. 

"I managed to casually suggest a movie night. She went for it and luckily she absolutely loved the film, same as me," he said. "We've since sung versions of that song to each other because we often quote or act out movies to entertain each other, but she had no clue about my wider plan."

Riber was able to pull off the entire proposal without a hitch, thanks to the support of the flight attendants.

"I was lucky enough to have the support of the flight attendants, especially Teri Ramirez, who you see helping me with the PA system," Riber said.

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"The team went above and beyond to help, even introducing our code word 'juice' so I would know when to go up and grab the guitar they'd been hiding for me."

Alden initially thought the excitement on the flight had to do with her birthday, since Riber had already started to celebrate by bumping them up to first class, SWNS added.

"Although I had no idea he was going to propose then and there, we had talked about a future, so it wasn't completely out of the blue," the MYNDY owner shared.

"But, when he got down on one knee, I realized what was happening and just felt so happy."

Reflecting back on the magical moment in the sky, Alden called the experience "a peak life moment."

Made a New Year's resolution to get fit and healthy again?

One gym owner says good luck with that — because there's no place for new joiners in the month of January at his venue.

Gym owner Clayton Leah, 31, has been turning away potential new members at his gym, Ascendancy Fitness, even though this is the busiest time of year, he told Fox News Digital in a phone interview on Saturday, Jan. 4. "We stopped sign-ups on New Year's Eve," he said.

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He has a specific reason for his unusual stance, he said.

The purpose is to protect existing gym members and long-time fitness practitioners from an influx of new joiners, he told Fox News Digital.

Often, he said, the eager January newcomers wind up dropping away as their intentions to maintain a New Year's resolution wear off. 

Leah said in part that he did not want "to annoy all of our existing members who have been with us for so long."

He added of his gym's news, "I would hate to focus more on the negative than the positive. The response has been overwhelmingly positive," he told Fox News Digital on Saturday.

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"The majority of people appreciate the fact that we've done this and see why we've done it," he also said. "We've always prioritized our membership experience — it's so important to us."

For those who are criticizing his gym for a "not smart" business move, it's actually "been the opposite," he said. 

"The first priority is our members, and they are highly appreciative of what we're doing," he said. 

"Naturally, we have some inquiries about joining. And I've said this before, but as soon as you take something away from people, then people want it more. But that's not why we've done this." 

"We wanted to try and break the mold," he also told news agency SWNS.

He said he's trying to "take an unconventional approach and protect our existing members – that is the most important thing for us."

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The gym is located in Warrington, Cheshire, in England, roughly halfway between Liverpool and Manchester.

His gym has about 650 current members. It also gives one-time day passes for those who want to work out there. 

Leah said he hopes his gym's decision would encourage people to join the gym throughout the year — rather than just in January, when people are drawn to the venue because of ambitious New Year's resolutions. 

He said the fitness industry "is an amazing industry" and "we're trying to help people with whatever fitness and health goals they have."

The gym owner said the only negative reaction to the blocked memberships had been from those hoping to join. 

He said, "The only negative response people have is a case of ‘I was going to join, but now I can’t.'"

He added, "For those people, I say, ‘Well, you should have joined sooner,'" he told SWNS.

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This is not the first case of gyms or fitness clubs banning new members in January.

Equinox, a luxury fitness club, banned new members on Jan. 1, 2023, as Fox News Digital previously reported. 

It was part of a "We Don't Speak January" campaign to discourage short-term New Year's resolutions and encourage long-term commitment. 

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Certified personal trainer and strength coach Melissa Kendter of Pennsylvania said every trainer’s "main passion" should be guiding others toward leading a healthier lifestyle and building long-term success with sustainable habits, as Fox News Digital also previously reported.

Leah of Ascendancy Fitness said his gym is likely to reopen to new memberships in February, although the gym doesn't have a specific date confirmed as yet.

"Obviously our plan was to avoid the January influx," he told Fox News Digital. 

Angelica Stabile of Fox News Digital contributed reporting. 

A viral post on social media has sparked a heated debate over airplane etiquette and personal boundaries after a passenger admitted to refusing to give up an aisle seat when another traveler requested it.

Posted in the "r/ AITAH" forum on Reddit, the note was titled, "Not giving up my aisle seat on a 15hr flight for an older lady with mobility issues."

The user said he or she was "seated in the aisle seat of the bulkhead row in the middle section. Next to me was an older lady, probably in her 60s" — and the woman got up from the seat.

'GATE LICE' AND 'SEAT SQUATTERS' AMONG 2024'S MOST VIRAL TRAVEL TRENDS

"A couple of minutes later, she returned with a flight attendant and asked if I could swap seats with her because she had ‘mobility issues.’"

The Reddit user said that in the seat right next to the woman’s original seat was a heavy passenger who was spilling into the space. 

Assuming the older woman would have had a pre-assigned seat if she did have mobility issues, the user refused to swap seats, as it seemed the woman wanted to switch merely so that she wouldn't need to sit next to a larger passenger.

Fox News Digital reached out to the original Reddit poster for comments.

The "seat switch" refusal had people divided online, with some defending the passenger’s decision and others showing concern for the older woman.

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"She knew she [had] mobility issues and CHOSE not to book a seat that was comfortable for her and thought she would just force someone else out of their assigned seating," commented one user.

Another added, "She just didn’t want to sit beside her seatmate in a middle [seat]. Especially if she was offered another aisle and declined."

"I have to book two seats or fly first class because I have a large frame … Old lady can do the same, she was just being cheap and trying to take your seat," commented a user.

One person suggested, "Just look the flight attendant in the eye. Smile politely. And say, ‘I'll swap seats if my alternative is business class or higher.’" 

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"Former cabin crew here: People with reduced mobility are usually supposed to be seated [at] a window seat for safety reasons," claimed one user.

The same user added, "In case of an emergency, they are the last to get out of the plane to make sure the vast majority of the passengers get evacuated safely."

Another person wrote, "Making her climb around you to get out … It may have looked like [there was] plenty of room, but as we get older our balance and reflexes diminish."

"Airlines need to have a policy where they don't ask people to switch seats for others," stated a user.

The flight passenger updated the post, sharing that the woman in question was given an alternative by the flight attendant. 

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"The flight attendant offered her an aisle seat after I declined to move, but she wanted the extra leg room in the bulkhead row and refused the alternative aisle seat offer," said the poster.

California-based etiquette expert Rosalinda Randall told Fox News Digital that "no one has the obligation to switch their seat."

"The person making the request has no right to expect [this], or make a scene when they don’t get their way," said Randall.

Randall said making a polite request to switch seats is OK, though it may frustrate other passengers. 

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She suggested some nicer ways to pose the request.

"Consider this: You may have more luck if a flight attendant makes the announcement or can offer to buy them a beverage or two, pay for airline extras, pay them cash/transfer funds," suggested Randall.

Randall said there may be some circumstances in which it would be a minor inconvenience to switch. 

"It’s a short flight, you can find a similar seat in another row, or anyone would be an improvement from the passenger [you're currently] sitting next to," said Randall.

A teenager in Texas is facing a felony charge after allegedly killing a rival competitor's show goat a couple of months ago.

An arrest affidavit showed 17-year-old Aubrey Vanlandingham, who competes in livestock shows with her own goat, allegedly admitted to poisoning Willy, a younger competitor's goat, CBS Austin reported.

Vanlandingham is accused of using a drench gun to force-feed Willy a toxic pesticide inside the Vista Ridge High School's barn facility on Oct. 23, ultimately killing the 6-month-old goat, according to the outlet. Security footage allegedly showed the goat trying to escape the encounter.

The teenager was allegedly seen leaving Willy and returning to check on him two separate times during a two-hour period before calling the rival competitor's mother to tell her the goat wasn't doing well.

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Willy died in his owner's arms within 24 hours after experiencing convulsions and respiratory distress, CBS Austin said.

Vanlandingham allegedly admitted to killing her rival's goat because she thought the 15-year-old was "a cheater," the outlet reported from the arrest affidavit. She had tried to kill Willy before, but was unsuccessful.

Willy's cause of death was determined to be organophosphate intoxication from phosmet, a pesticide used for external parasite control in livestock.

The mother of the 15-year-old girl told the DailyMail that Vanlandingham doesn't appear to be remorseful. 

"It’s all bizarre. We want justice served, we don’t want a slap on the wrist. We want to make sure that she is punished. At this point, we don’t feel like she thinks she’s going to be punished and she needs to be. She needs to take ownership for what she’s done," she told the outlet, adding that they want her to go to jail and get mental help.

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A police investigation into Vanlandingham's phone revealed that she allegedly searched for information on lethal doses of bleach for animals and poisoning methods, according to CBS Austin. She also allegedly searched "how to clear search history."

The 15-year-old's mother determined Vanlandingham's alleged crime was fueled by jealousy, not cheating.

"You can’t even cheat when it comes to showing goats," she told the DailyMail. "It makes no sense, so that’s where the jealousy really kind of falls into place."

Vanlandingham was charged with cruelty to livestock animals, which is a felony in Texas punishable by up to two years in prison. She was arrested on Nov. 22 and released on a $5,000 bond the same day, jail records show.

Her court date is set for Jan. 15.

Twenty people were injured on Monday after a chemical spill at a New Mexico cheese factory released toxic gas, according to officials.

The Curry County Sheriff's Office confirmed the incident to Fox News Digital. Authorities were alerted to the incident, which took place at the Southwest Cheese factory in Clovis, at around 9:15 a.m. on Monday.

When emergency responders arrived, they discovered that a chemical spill had released toxic gas in one part of the factory.

"It was learned that 8.67 gallons of acid spilled and was mixed with .61 gallons of chlorine due to an equipment malfunction," the Curry County Sheriff's Office explained in a press release. "The chemical mixture produced toxic gas that spread in one area of the facility."

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Sheriff Michael Brockett told Fox News Digital that two of the injured workers were in critical condition. In total, 14 employees were taken to two local hospitals. 

Authorities did not release additional details about the severity of the injuries, but some of the ailing workers were moved in private vehicles.

"The Clovis Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team was activated and responded to the scene," the press release noted. "New Mexico State Police is coordinating with Southwest Cheese in cleaning the hazardous chemicals."

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Southwest Cheese said that a mechanical failure caused a "chemical overflow," and employees reported "a strong smell" emanating from one of the factory's rooms.

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"The health and safety of our employees is our top priority," the company said. "Our onsite team reacted quickly, following our incident response action plan, closing off the affected area."

"Our key focus is supporting our impacted employees at this time."

According to Southwest Cheese's website, the company specializes in manufacturing hard cheeses and whey products. Its whey products include whey concentrates, which are used in dairy products like ice cream, and whey isolates, which are used in protein bars.

"Using only the freshest milk supplied by our local dairy farmers, Southwest Cheese produces premium cheeses and high quality whey protein powders for our global customers," its website reads. "Each delivery of milk is thoroughly tested for antibiotics and other contaminants. We reject all milk that does not meet our high-quality standards."

Authorities are investigating the incident. No additional details are known at this time.

Some people may want to consider being a bit more … diplomatic.

That's the overall assessment of commenters on a viral Reddit thread after a man described the experience of going for a nature hike with his brother while on vacation in Arizona — then shared his blunt response to a question his brother asked him after their hike was done.

"I am a guy who, when I don't enjoy something, I'll tell you I don't," Reddit user "Ness_Lucas" wrote at the start of his post on the social media site a few days ago. 

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As of Sunday, the post had accumulated over 6,000 reactions.

He added, "But if I commit to something, I'll see it through to the end without complaining."

He said the issue "came to a head" when he was "on vacation with my older brother in Arizona, who wanted to do a lot of nature hikes."

Wrote the man on Reddit, "Nature hikes are fine. I don't mind them, but I do dislike walking up large hills."

He added, "Walking downhill is the easiest thing ever. It's like being nature's passenger princess. You just put your foot forward and let gravity do all the work."

‘GATE LICE’ AND ‘SEAT SQUATTERS’ AMONG 2024'S MOST VIRAL TRAVEL TRENDS

He went on, "Walking uphill, conversely, is very draining and leaves me sweaty."

He continued, "I don't make a point to complain about something when I do it, so when I was walking uphill, despite not liking it much, I held [a] basic conversation with my brother."

However, once the pair began to head back down, the man said his brother "asked me if I was having fun — and I said no."

He added, "Not because of any fault of my brother. I just didn't find the activity fun. Not even bad, just satisfactory."

Later, when the brother was driving the Reddit poster to the airport for his flight home, the man said his brother told him, "If I ask you if you're having fun, don't say 'no.'"

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Wrote the Redditor, "I understand that it can be demoralizing to hear someone's not having fun."

However, "I don't like it when people ask for my opinion and get upset when I give my honest answer," he said. 

"If I'm not having fun, I'll just say I'm not having fun."

Responders on the Reddit page known as "Am I the a--hole" had a field day with the post — rendering their general assessment that the man was indeed the "a--hole" for the way he replied to his family member. 

Wrote one commenter in the top-rated response, garnering some 21,000 reactions, "'It's been a fun day hanging with you, but, man, this hike is steep' [or] 'I'm looking forward to the downhill bit!' That's the sort of polite answer people are looking for."

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The same person added, "You acknowledge you're enjoying your brother's company, which was what he was looking for, but you can also acknowledge the hike is hard/difficult etc. It doesn't matter how much the activity sucks — people want to hear that you're enjoying their company."

Another individual put it this way, responding to the first commenter, "Exactly! It's a small social nicety that expresses that 'I'm happy to spend time with you, even if I don't enjoy the activity.'"

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Yet another person said pointedly, "You are perched on your self-anointed pedestal and expecting everyone to treat you like a little princess. Your brother probably regrets ever going on a hike with you. Sometimes in life you have to walk uphill to get to where you're going."

A different commenter let the Reddit poster off the hook but shared this suggestion: "Not everyone is into hiking. That's a personal choice. But a better option would be to talk with your brother and compromise on doing something you will BOTH enjoy."

Fox News Digital reached out to a psychologist for thoughts. 

Many Americans traveled far and wide across the U.S. throughout 2024.

Travelers may have participated in, or noticed, a few different travel trends that emerged in 2024.

As 2024 wraps up and the New Year of 2025 soon begins, here is a round-up of some of the biggest travel trends of the past year.

"Gate lice" refers to passengers who cut lines in the hope of boarding a flight early.

American Airlines announced it is expanding its new technology to counter "gate lice" at over 100 airports. 

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The system audibly flags when a passenger attempts to board the plane before his or her designated assignment is called — and will automatically reject the person's ticket.

Dubbed "mattress runs," the fad has people booking hotel rooms in order to earn free nights or accumulate status points.

These travelers, however, are apparently not completing their stays, yet they still reserve rooms in the hope of racking up rewards. 

'MATTRESS RUNS' ARE LATEST TRAVEL TREND THAT COULD BACKFIRE WHEN BOOKING HOTEL ROOMS. EXPERT WEIGHS IN

Alston Causey, vice president of Travelmation, a U.S.-based travel agency, told Fox News Digital, "A ‘mattress run’ is more for people who are on the cusp and tend to find themselves there every year."

"Flying naked" is a trend in which passengers fly without checked or carry-on luggage, bringing only essentials like a phone, charger, and wallet. 

Advocates appreciate the convenience of avoiding baggage fees and the hassle of overhead bin space — while critics find the concept too limiting. 

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TikTok users posted videos showing their participation in the trend, with one creator sharing a series of travel videos titled "Traveling with No Bags, Just Vibes."

'FLYING NAKED' IS THE LATEST TRAVEL TREND DIVIDING THE INTERNET, AND IT DOESN'T MEAN WHAT YOU THINK

In 2023, airlines made over $33 billion in baggage fees, FOX Business reported.

The term "seat squatters" refers to airline passengers who occupy seats not assigned to them, hoping to secure a more desirable spot without paying extra fees. 

'SEAT SQUATTERS' ON PLANES ARE LATEST TRAVEL TREND TAKING OVER SOCIAL MEDIA

This trend has gained attention on social media, with travelers sharing experiences of confronting such individuals.

Travel industry expert Gary Leff, based in Texas, emphasized that passengers are entitled to the seat indicated on their boarding pass.

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He suggested that those seeking a different seat should politely request a swap, offering a reasonable trade in return.

The concept of "sleep divorce," in which couples choose to sleep separately to enhance their sleep quality, has been gaining in popularity, especially during vacations. 

Hilton's 2025 Trends report indicates that 63% of travelers sleep better alone, and 37% prefer separate beds from their partners while traveling. 

'SLEEP DIVORCE' ON VACATION: TRAVEL TREND HAS COUPLES 'BREAKING UP' AT BEDTIME 

Sleep expert Dr. Wendy Troxel, a RAND Corporation senior behavioral specialist and a licensed clinical psychologist in Utah, told Fox News Digital that some couples are opting to sleep separately while on vacation with the "goal of improving sleep quality."

"This trend reflects a growing awareness that sleep is crucial not only for personal health and well-being but also for relationship health," said Troxel.

A prankster was recently arrested and charged after allegedly spraying bug killer on food in an Arizona Walmart, police say.

Charles Smith, 27, was charged with felony-level poisoning and misdemeanor-level criminal damage, in addition to misdemeanor charges of endangerment and theft. The Mesa Police Department confirmed the arrest in a statement to Fox News Digital.

The incident began on Dec. 19 at around 8:30 p.m., police said, when the suspect entered a Mesa Walmart "intending to film pranks for social media." He then grabbed a can of bug killer "without paying for it," according to the police's statement.

According to the authorities, Smith aimed the spray at both produce and prepared food items, such as rotisserie chickens.

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"He then sprayed the pesticide on various produce items, including vegetables, fruit, and rotisserie chickens that were available for purchase," the Mesa Police Department's statement said. "Smith filmed his face, the pesticide can, and the act of spraying. He later posted the video online."

Smith later voluntarily turned himself in and admitted to the crimes.

"Through investigative means, and with assistance from the Tempe Police Department, detectives were able to identify Smith as the suspect," the statement added. "Mesa Police contacted Smith and he turned himself in voluntarily. During the interview, Smith admitted to the theft and spraying of the pesticide."

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"Thanks to the tireless work of our officers and detectives, an arrest occurred less than 24 hours after police were notified of the incident," the police department continued. "We also extend our gratitude to the Tempe Police Department for their valuable contributions and collaboration in quickly solving this case."

Authorities added that the incident exemplifies "the potential dangers of reckless actions disguised as social media pranks."

On Sunday, Walmart told Fox News Digital that customer safety "is always a top priority," and confirmed that all tainted products were removed from shelves.

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"We have removed all directly impacted product and have cleaned and sanitized the affected area of the store," the company continued. "We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our customers as we work to resolve this issue. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement during their investigation."

A woman in Florida has discovered an unusual way to brighten her life and save quite a lot of money at the same time.

It just means deciding to frequent some places that many others won't. 

Melanie Diaz of Tampa, Florida, finds some of the magic of Christmas after others have tried to trash perfectly good — and brand new — holiday decor items. (See the video at the top of this article.)

VISITORS FLOCK TO WINTER WONDERLAND LIGHT DISPLAY IN HONOR OF FAMILY'S LATE SON

The 20-something goes dumpster diving in the outdoor receptacles located behind retail outlets to find her treasures.

She's saved as much as $20,000 by retrieving gifts and decor from trash cans, including wreaths from Michaels and toys from TJ Maxx, news agency SWNS reported.

The 22-year-old does her trash-to-treasure work in December and January and plucks out discarded holiday items that would otherwise go to waste.

"It is my favorite time going dumpster diving on Christmas because they start throwing out a lot of Christmas stuff," she told the outlet. 

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"I love saving everything so I can put it in my house and decorate it for the next year."

She finds the dumpsters that are placed behind such popular retailers as TJ Maxx, Burlington, Michaels, Jo-Ann Stores, Pop Shelf and Home Goods — and said she's found a jackpot of holiday items.

Some of her biggest discoveries occur after Christmas, she said, when stores begin clearing out their leftover holiday inventory.

"My biggest finds are in January," Diaz told SWNS. 

"I went dumpster diving to the TJ Maxx store, and I found a lot — the dumpster was full to the top."

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From 10 wreaths salvaged from Michael's — worth about $400 — to $500 Christmas trees, Diaz has curated a festive collection.

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She has also retrieved puzzles and dog toys from TJ Maxx, saving around $200 each, and countless other holiday staples, including ornaments and stockings, SWNS reported.

Sometimes there's so much to grab, Diaz said, that she has to enlist help. 

She's had to "bring my family to help me because it was too much," she said. 

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After one trip, "we took everything into cars, and the next day we did a garage sale. We also kept most of the stuff. It was incredible."

Her discoveries have included ornaments, festive shirts and kitchenware.

Diaz said that while she saves a great deal for herself, she also enjoys sharing her finds with those who would like them.

"I give some stuff to my friends and family," she told SWNS.