A federal judge in Oregon blocked Kroger’s proposed $25 billion tie-up with Albertsons, ruling that the largest merger in US supermarket history would limit competition and harm consumers. The ruling is a major setback for the chains and puts the merger’s likelihood in jeopardy. Neither company immediately commented following the ruling. The merger, announced in 2022, sought to combine the fifth and tenth largest retailers in the country. The companies own dozens of grocery chains, including Safeway, Vons, Harris Teeter and Fred Meyer. Supermarkets have been losing ground in recent decades to competition, and Kroger and Albertsons wanted to merge to better fight off Walmart and Amazon. Kroger and Albertsons employ mostly unionized workforces and said they wanted to merge to be more competitive against non-union giants such as Walmart, Amazon and Costco. The grocers also face increased pressure from Aldi, the fast-growing German discount supermarket chain. The merger would accelerate “our position as a more compelling alternative to larger and non-union competitors,” Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said when the deal was announced in 2022 . Kroger committed to lowering grocery prices by $1 billion following the merger. But Judge Adrienne Nelson rejected that argument. In her ruling, she said that supermarkets are “distinct from other grocery retailers” and are not direct competitors to Walmart, Amazon and other companies that sell a wider range of goods. The merger would eliminate head-to-head competition between Albertsons and Kroger, potentially raising prices for consumers, she said in the ruling. High grocery prices helped scuttle the deal Inflation at the grocery store loomed over the proposed merger. The proposal came as food prices skyrocketed and met stiff opposition. Unions, small grocers and a coalition of Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill, including Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, also strongly opposed the merger from the start. The Federal Trade Commission in February sued to block the deal . The FTC said the merger will “result in higher grocery prices for millions of Americans and lower wages and benefits for hundreds of thousands of grocery workers.” To allay competition concerns, Kroger and Albertsons agreed to divest 579 stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers. But the FTC said C&S was “ill-equipped” to run the divested stores and it could turn into a “non-functioning disaster.” Judge Nelson agreed with the FTC: “There is ample evidence that the divestiture is not sufficient in scale to adequately compete” with Kroger and Albertsons together and “will significantly disadvantage C&S as a competitor,” she said in the ruling. The case was watched closely because of its implications for future antitrust enforcement and corporate dealmaking. The FTC under outgoing chair Lina Khan has also launched landmark antitrust suits against Google , Amazon and other tech giants. Small grocery stores struggling Independent grocery stores strongly opposed the merger. They argued that the merger would increase the companies’ leverage with merchandise suppliers and leave independent stores unable to stock their own shelves. Yet consolidation in the grocery sector is growing, and small grocery stores are struggling. In 2019, the 20 largest retailers controlled 64% of total food sales, more than double the share from 1990, according to the Agriculture Department. Traditional grocery stores have also lost ground to Walmart, Costco, dollar stores and online retailers during that span. The share of grocery spending at traditional supermarkets dropped from 80% in 1990 to 62% in 2012, according to the Agriculture Department. Advocates of stricter antitrust rules cheered Judge Nelson’s decision. “Persistently high food prices are hitting Americans hard, and a Kroger-Albertsons mega-merger would have only made it worse,” Food & Water Watch senior food policy analyst Rebecca Wolf said in a statement TuesdayHARRISBURG, PA — Governor Josh Shapiro has signed into law Act 146 of 2024 , a bipartisan measure that amends the state’s Protection from Abuse Act to safeguard pets threatened in domestic violence situations. Championed by State Representative Christina Sappey , D-Chester, and State Representative Natalie Mihalek, R-Allegheny/Washington, the legislation provides judges with explicit authority to order defendants in protection from abuse (PFA) cases to refrain from harming, abusing, or possessing the petitioner’s companion animals. The newly enacted law addresses a critical gap in Pennsylvania’s domestic violence response, where previously, protective measures for victims did not extend to their pets. “We have known for some time the horrific link between domestic violence and animal abuse,” said Rep. Sappey. “Abusers will use harming pets to further torment the victim or keep them from leaving, exacerbating an already traumatic situation.” House Bill 1210, now Act 146, reflects years of work to bolster support for survivors of domestic violence. By including pets under the umbrella of protections available through the state’s PFA orders, the law acknowledges how abusers often exploit the emotional bond between victims and their animals. Data provided by the Humane Society of the United States underscores this alarming connection. According to a national survey, 71% of domestic violence survivors reported that their abuser also targeted their pets. Researchers have established a direct link between coercive control and animal abuse, noting that pets are frequently used as leverage to manipulate, intimidate, or force victims into submission. Threats to harm or kill beloved animals can be pivotal in preventing survivors from leaving abusive relationships. This legislation places Pennsylvania alongside 37 other states — as well as Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico — in recognizing the need for legal protections for pets in such cases. The success of Act 146 highlights the importance of bipartisan collaboration. Introduced by Sappey and Mihalek, the bill received overwhelming support from advocacy groups and law enforcement agencies, securing endorsements from more than 70 domestic violence, animal welfare, and public safety organizations across Pennsylvania. While the legislative process spanned nearly four years, its passage reflects broad recognition of the stakes involved. “This is an issue that transcends political lines because we all understand the importance of protecting the vulnerable — whether human or pet,” Rep. Sappey emphasized. “I am so grateful to my House and Senate colleagues for understanding the consequences of this issue and acting to get this legislation through.” Act 146 represents a broader commitment to combating the intertwined issues of domestic violence and animal cruelty. By providing this additional legal tool, advocates and law enforcement will be better equipped to protect both survivors and their companion animals, addressing a key dynamic of abuse while giving victims greater confidence to seek help. For advocates and service providers, Act 146 heralds a new era in addressing the complex needs of domestic violence survivors. Animal cruelty has long been identified as an indicator of broader abusive behaviors, with perpetrators often escalating their violence from pets to human victims. This law helps dismantle that cycle and further nurtures a survivor-centric approach to intervention. The law’s passage is also a testament to the collaboration between legislators, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens. It aligns Pennsylvania with best practices derived from other states, underscoring a growing national consensus on the importance of extending protections to animals in abusive households. By signing Act 146 into law, Pennsylvania not only sharpens its legal framework for addressing domestic violence but also reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the safety and dignity of the state’s most vulnerable residents — both human and animal alike. For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN .
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NASSAU, Bahamas — Justin Thomas was long off the tee and made a few long putts on the back nine to overtake Scottie Scheffler with a 6-under 66 and build a one-shot lead Saturday over golf's best player going into the final round of the Hero World Challenge. Thomas is trying out a 46-inch driver — a little more than an inch longer than normal — that he previously used for practice at home to gain speed and length. He blasted a 361-yard drive to 8 feet on the par-4 seventh hole and led the field in driving distance. But it was a few long putts that put him ahead of Scheffler, who had a 69. Thomas was on the verge of falling two shots behind when he made an 18-foot par putt on the par-3 12th hole. On the reachable par-4 14th, he was in a nasty spot in a sandy area and could only splash it out to nearly 50 feet. He made that one for a most unlikely birdie, while behind him Scheffler muffed a chip on the 13th hole and made his lone bogey of a windy day. Scheffler never caught up to him, missing birdie chances on the reachable 14th and the par-5 15th. Thomas hit his approach to 3 feet for birdie on the 16th after a 343-yard drive. Scheffler made an 18-foot birdie putt on the 16th to close within one. Scheffler missed birdie chances on the last two holes from the 10-foot and 15-foot range, while Thomas missed an 8-foot birdie attempt at the last. "I had a stretch at 13, 14, 15 where I felt like I lost a shot or two there, but outside of that I did a lot of really good things today," Scheffler said. Thomas hasn't won since the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, and a victory at Albany Golf Club wouldn't count as an official win. But the two-time major champion has made steady progress toward getting his game back in order. "I'm driving it great. I've had a lot of confidence with it," Thomas said of his longer driver. "I feel like I've been able to put myself in some pretty good spots going into the green. I'm still not taking advantage of some of them as much as I would like, but that's golf and we're always going to say that." Thomas was at 17-under 199 and will be in the final group Sunday with Scheffler, who is trying to end his spectacular season with a ninth title. Tom Kim put himself in the mix, which he might not have imagined Thursday when he was 3 over through six holes of the holiday tournament. Kim got back in the game with a 65 on Friday, and then followed with 12 birdies for a 62. He had a shot at the course record — Rickie Fowler shot 61 in the final round when he won at Albany in 2017 — until Kim found a bunker and took two shots to reach the green in making a double bogey on the par-3 17th. Even so, he was only two shots behind. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley (68) was four back. "Feel like I've been seeing signs of improvement, which is what you want and that's all I can do," Thomas said. "I can't control everybody else or what's going on, I've just got to keep playing as good as I possibly can and hope that it's enough come Sunday." Get local news delivered to your inbox!Missouri stuns top-ranked Kansas in 76-67 upset