Considering the strength and longevity of the McDonald’s brand, I’m surprised something like this hasn’t happened sooner. But happened it has, and it proves once again that the Golden Arches muckety-mucks know how to create excitement.

Unless you count the McDiner (and you can even if some don’t), this would be McDonald’s first spin-off restaurant. (I searched and couldn’t find another one.) And it will be fruitless to walk into a CosMc’s looking for the same fare you’d find in the parent establishment…with a few exceptions.

Aimed at a younger audience, the CosMc’s menu features an array of breakfast and beverage items ranging from specialty coffees, slushes, and frappes to sandwiches like the spicy queso–an omelet with sausage, spicy queso sauce, white cheddar cheese, and crispy jalapeno chips–and the creamy avocado tomatillo–an omelet with applewood bacon, creamy avocado tomatillo sauce, and white cheddar cheese. Both are served on a brioche bun. The sides on the CosMc’s menu also look a little different, but three old favorites are also be available.

The first CosMc’s location opened last December in the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook IL. Four other locations in Texas have also opened. We certainly hope expansion continues.

And in case you’re wondering where the name “CosMc’s” came from, you need only look back to the late 1980s and early 1990s when McDonald’s introduced a character named CosMc:

I’m enamored of the CosMc’s menu, so my fingers are crossed that it keeps expanding and eventually lands in my neighborhood…or even 100 miles away. I’m ready to go.

[SOURCE: today.com]

LOOK: 15 Discontinued McDonald’s Menu Items

This has been a year of strange earthquake locations in Illinois and Missouri already. Saturday night was no exception as a not insignificant quake was confirmed by the USGS to shake the southeastern part of Illinois.

Since I check the USGS earthquake page several times every day, I get used to where earthquakes are common and where they are not. I can count on one hand the number of occasions when this part of Illinois has had a measurable quake. The USGS seismologists have confirmed there was a 2.4 magnitude quake centered near Enfield, Illinois at approximately 10:03pm Saturday, August 10.

This was likely not a New Madrid Seismic Zone event, but the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone instead. As Wikipedia mentions, there is geological evidence that there has been a quake as large as a 7.0 magnitude shaker or perhaps even a 7.5 in this region. I’ve seen some speculation that the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone might be capable of an even larger quake than the New Madrid Fault.

The good news is a 2.4 is not capable of any level of damage and virtually no one has reported feeling it as of this writing. Still, it’s an interesting geological event in what’s already been a compelling seismic year in Illinois and Missouri.

Football
8/10/2024 3:41:00 PM

Mike Williams

NORMAL, Ill. – It was a near perfect August morning at Hancock Stadium on Saturday, as the Illinois State football team held its first intrasquad scrimmage of Fall Camp ’24. The Redbirds worked for over two hours and ran just short of 140 snaps on the turf at Hancock Stadium, and the scrimmage featured several key sessions including coming off the goal line, driving the field, red zone, two-minute work and special teams periods.

Scoring Summary:
•    The first score of the day came via a two-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Matt Lawson, which capped off a 6-play, 66-yard scoring drive that was highlighted by a 43-yard run by Lawson.
•    A 46-yard by Ian Wagner put three points on the scoreboard on the ensuing drive for the second score of the day.
•    The second rushing score of the day came on a 1-yard run by Trazhon Tims that wrapped up a 6-play, 42-yard scoring drive. 
•    The first passing touchdown of the day came on a 17-yard strike from freshman quarterback Beckham Pellant to fellow freshman wide receiver Quinten Johnson to put six more points on the scoreboard and complete a 7-play scoring drive.
•    On the next drive, Lawson added his second rushing touchdown of the day this one from five yards out.
•    Wagner then added his second field goal make of the afternoon, connecting from 41 yards out for three more points.
•    As the action moved to the red zone, the offense needed just three plays to score again and for the third time it was Lawson who found the endzone this time for a 4-yard touchdown run.
•    Wagner added his third field goal of the day on the next drive, capping off a 6-play drive with a 20-yard field goal make.
•    Pellant and Johnson connected once again, this time on a 53-yard touchdown pass to continue the strong day for the freshman duo.
•    The offense then put together an 11-play, 63-yard drive (longest of the scrimmage) that resulted in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Rittenhouse to Wenkers Wright who made a one-handed grab out of the backfield for the score.
•    Jake Rubley and Andrew Rockford connected for the final touchdown of the scrimmage, as a 6-yard pass from Rubley to Rockford capped off a 9-play scoring drive.

Passing Leaders:
•    Tommy Rittenhouse:  15-for-20, 124 yards, 1 TD
•    Jake Rubley: 11-for-16, 94 yards, 1 TD
•    Beckham Pellant: 10-for-15, 151 yards, 2 TD

Rushing Leaders:
•    Cal Martine: 14 att., 71 yards
•    Matt Lawson: 13 att., 77 yards, 3 TD
•    Trazhon Tims: 12 att., 99 yards, 1 TD

Receiving Leaders:
•    Eddie Kasper: 7 rec., 48 yards
•    Dylan Lord: 4 rec., 84 yards
•    Quinten Johnson: 3 rec., 68 yards, 2 TD
•    Scotty Presson Jr.: 3 rec., 24 yards
•    Luke Mailander: 3 rec., 36 yards
•    Andrew Rockford: 3 rec., 28 yards, 1 TD
•    Bo Benassi: 3 rec., 26 yards 

Defensive Leaders:
•    Tye Niekamp: 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Sack
•    Chris Taylor: 8 tackles, 1 PBU
•    Paul Omodia: 8 tackles, 1 PBU
•    Amir Abdullah: 7 tackles, 3 TFL, safety
•    Anthony Corona: 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU
•    Jalan Gaines: 6 tackles, 1 TFL 
•    Emmet Wolf: 6 tackles
•    Dillon Gearhart: 4 tackles, 1 TFL
•    Josh Gettemy: 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack 
•    Doreon Dubose: 4 tackles, 1 PBU,
•    Mark Haering: 3 tackles, 1 INT

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