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The fast-casual veteran faces a crowded market and “pizza fatigue,” just as sales at sister brand Taco Bell are soaring.

Millie Giles

In recent years, 67-year-old chain Pizza Hut has fallen behind rival Domino’s in the ’za-making stakes. But now, it looks like the Hut might no longer even have a place in its parent company’s portfolio.

As Yum! BrandsYUM $147.85 (-1.03%) reported strong third-quarter earnings on Tuesday, with revenue and net income beating expectations, the company also announced that it will be exploring a “range of strategic options” for Pizza Hut to help the brand “realize its full value.” In corporate breakup speak, that could well mean a potential sale.

Even after unveiling a new logo just weeks ago (which was certainly better received than some other rebrands of late), Pizza Hut has continued to cool off, with system sales stagnating in the most recent quarter — brought down, crucially, by a 7% decline in the US — and operating profit falling 8%.

Boasting almost 20,000 stores globally, Pizza Hut’s per-unit sales worked out at ~$160,000 in Q3. However, when it comes to supersized margins, one brand in the Yum! family reigns supreme.

Despite having roughly half as many stores as Pizza Hut worldwide, and about a quarter of KFC’s restaurant tally, Taco Bell pulled in over 3x the amount of operating profit as the Hut in Q3, and a little more than two-thirds of what KFC hauled, too — a clear reflection of how reliable an engine the Mexican-inspired chain has become for Yum! Brands.

While KFC remains the group’s largest brand — with the finger lickin’ chicken chain reporting growing sales as its “comeback era” sees it contend with rivals in the competitive poultry space — Taco Bell is winning over inflation-squeezed consumers with cheap offerings and drive-thru prowess.

Even so, Pizza Hut’s problems might not be easily solved with a new logo and value options. Indeed, America may be feeling “pizza fatigue” more broadly, as pandemic-era demand drops off and delivery apps like DoorDash broaden options. Meanwhile, private equity firm Apollo Global withdrew its take-private offer for competitor Papa John’s on Tuesday, ahead of earnings later this week.

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🎻 Iowa-based Americana duo Weary Ramblers took home top honors at the 2025 Josie Music Awards, winning Song of the Year in the Americana-Duo/Group/Collab category. The award for their track “Pretty Lights of Denver” was presented Nov. 2 at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. The duo consists of singer-songwriter Chad Elliott of Jefferson and fiddler Kathryn Fox of Creston. The pair was also nominated for Duo of the Year–Americana and Music Video of the Year. The Josie Music Awards are among the largest independent music award shows in the world and recognize talent across multiple genres, including rock, country, gospel, jazz, and others. This latest award adds to a growing list of honors for the Weary Ramblers, who also claimed titles at the 2025 Iowa Blues Challenge in the solo/duo category and the 21st International Acoustic Music Awards for Best Group/Duo. Their sophomore album, Driftwood, released Oct. 31, follows their 2024 debut, “Weary Ramblers,” which topped the Contemporary Folk Album chart for seven weeks.

🏗 Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced Iowa’s submission of a “Healthy Hometowns” proposal in an effort to revamp the state’s rural health care through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. The program is administered through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and could bring up to $200 million per year to the state over five years. Rural Iowans have a 30-minute drive, on average, to their nearest hospital and a 24-minute drive to their primary care provider. The Healthy Hometowns proposal looks to address these related challenges through a hub-and-spoke model of care.  The plan includes expanding telehealth, boosting rural medical recruitment, increasing cancer screening and treatment, improving health information sharing, and deploying mobile EMS units. Reynolds says, “Since taking office, my administration has emphasized the importance of supporting and revitalizing rural Iowa through targeted investments and policy initiatives. Rural communities are the backbone of our state—home to nearly half of all Iowans and the foundation of our economy, culture, and identity. Healthy Hometowns is a pivotal opportunity to build a high-quality, sustainable system of care that vastly improves health, well-being, and quality of life for rural Iowans.” If implemented, the state anticipates reductions in emergency department visits, more local care options for Iowans, improved provider-to-population ratios, and increased telehealth access. Notices of state awards are expected Dec. 31. Links with more information about Healthy Hometowns are included here.

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At the start of each week the Carroll Broadcasting Sports Network Crew catches up with area high school coaches to recap their previous weeks events and preview the match ups that are happening for the week ahead. Listen here and subscribe.

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People sit in front of windows looking out on the tarmac at Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on April 3, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps/Utah News Dispatch)

The 40 airports set to see a 10% reduction in flights during the government shutdown nearly matched the list of the nation’s busiest airports, according to a preliminary list seen by States Newsroom, potentially leading to thousands of flight cancellations across the country.

A 10% reduction at the listed airports would mean 3,300 canceled flights per day, according to Airports Council International-North America, the trade group for airports.

The Federal Aviation Administration had not released an official list of airports by early Thursday afternoon, but three sources familiar with the matter provided tables listing the proposed airports.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday that the FAA would cut air traffic at 40 major airports starting Friday to help alleviate stress for air traffic controllers who have been working without pay since the federal government shut down on Oct 1.

The airports on the preliminary list are:  see list

More News:

✅LEFTOVERS: Here’s what to do with the abundance of candy your kids bring home after trick or treating.
✅BACK ON TRACK: Our clocks fell back last weekend… here’s what to do if you were unprepared.
✅READ: When to start Christmas shopping for the best deals.
✅REUSE: Here are some ways you can reuse your pumpkins from Halloween!
✅RAISE THE ROOF: Brincks Exteriors is here to lend a hand to someone in need.
✅SATURDAY: Support the Carroll American Legion’s Annual Fundraiser!
✅SUNDAY: Templeton Sacred Heart Church is having their Annual Staley’s Chicken Dinner!
✅TO DO: Send Thanks To Iowa National Guard-168th Infantry Regiment In Operation Gratitude: Iraq Edition

Crossword: For those of you that wake up each morning wanting a challenge - how fast can you complete this crossword puzzle. Ready, set, go.

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