2 days ago
Buc-ee's is continuing its rapid expansion across the country, with its 58th location recently opening in Benton, Arkansas, continuing a trend leadership says is part of the popular travel center and convenience store chain's strategic growth plan.
Arch Aplin III, Buc-ee's co-founder, president and CEO, was joined by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Sen. Tom Cotton at the grand opening ceremony on Aug. 17, where he touted his company's expansion opportunities and expressed a preference for opening locations in "conservative, business-friendly states."
"We have a lot of opportunities. We're growing. We're building in a lot of places, but when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference," Aplin said in a video shared by Huckabee Sanders on social media. "And I'm starting to realize life's too short to try to build in places that people don't appreciate what you're bringing versus a place like this, where people do appreciate what you're building."
"So that leadership, that concept, that idea of conservative, business-friendly, family-oriented concept works so much better if it trickles down from the very leadership," Aplin said. "From the very top at the governor's office, at the congressman, at the senator, at the mayor (and) the representatives."
Buc-ee's opened its first locations in Ohio and Arizona this year. In 2025, it opened its first location in Virginia, and a year earlier, it debuted in Colorado. The company anticipates adding inaugural locations in Louisiana, Kansas and Wisconsin by the end of 2027.
#aplin #conservative
Arch Aplin III, Buc-ee's co-founder, president and CEO, was joined by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Sen. Tom Cotton at the grand opening ceremony on Aug. 17, where he touted his company's expansion opportunities and expressed a preference for opening locations in "conservative, business-friendly states."
"We have a lot of opportunities. We're growing. We're building in a lot of places, but when you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference," Aplin said in a video shared by Huckabee Sanders on social media. "And I'm starting to realize life's too short to try to build in places that people don't appreciate what you're bringing versus a place like this, where people do appreciate what you're building."
"So that leadership, that concept, that idea of conservative, business-friendly, family-oriented concept works so much better if it trickles down from the very leadership," Aplin said. "From the very top at the governor's office, at the congressman, at the senator, at the mayor (and) the representatives."
Buc-ee's opened its first locations in Ohio and Arizona this year. In 2025, it opened its first location in Virginia, and a year earlier, it debuted in Colorado. The company anticipates adding inaugural locations in Louisiana, Kansas and Wisconsin by the end of 2027.
#aplin #conservative
2 months ago
After spring, some position groups are already set in stone heading into the season.
The offensive line is not one of those.
Head coach Mike Norvell and offensive line coach Herb Hand are replacing all five starters from an up-and-down offensive line a season ago, and almost none of the positions, outside of left tackle, appear nailed down. In fact, some of the highest-profile position battles before week zero on the whole team should be at the guard-center-guard spots. Will Florida State’s blue-chip OL recruits finally pay dividends, or will transfers dominate like usual in the trenches?
2025 lookback: Like most of the position lookbacks so far, the stats and the eye test tell two different stories. Florida State ran the ball effectively last year, ranking 11th in the country in rushing yards per game, and finished middle of the pack in sacks allowed, even with a mobile quarterback, yet they all felt like empty calories. The Seminoles lacked enough firepower up front to truly take over games with their OL, and when they needed a big play or something to shift momentum, they rarely delivered.
Redshirt senior Xavier Chaplin: Even though Chaplin plays left tackle, he reminds me a lot of Micah Pettus, FSU’s right tackle from a year ago. Chaplin is a true mountain of a man, listed at 6’8” and over 350 pounds. He also spent time in the SEC and started 12 games for Auburn a season ago. Like Pettus, Chaplin has yet to put it all together, but he will be the anchor to the OL in 2026 and will have every chance to put himself on NFL Draft boards this year.
The offensive line is not one of those.
Head coach Mike Norvell and offensive line coach Herb Hand are replacing all five starters from an up-and-down offensive line a season ago, and almost none of the positions, outside of left tackle, appear nailed down. In fact, some of the highest-profile position battles before week zero on the whole team should be at the guard-center-guard spots. Will Florida State’s blue-chip OL recruits finally pay dividends, or will transfers dominate like usual in the trenches?
2025 lookback: Like most of the position lookbacks so far, the stats and the eye test tell two different stories. Florida State ran the ball effectively last year, ranking 11th in the country in rushing yards per game, and finished middle of the pack in sacks allowed, even with a mobile quarterback, yet they all felt like empty calories. The Seminoles lacked enough firepower up front to truly take over games with their OL, and when they needed a big play or something to shift momentum, they rarely delivered.
Redshirt senior Xavier Chaplin: Even though Chaplin plays left tackle, he reminds me a lot of Micah Pettus, FSU’s right tackle from a year ago. Chaplin is a true mountain of a man, listed at 6’8” and over 350 pounds. He also spent time in the SEC and started 12 games for Auburn a season ago. Like Pettus, Chaplin has yet to put it all together, but he will be the anchor to the OL in 2026 and will have every chance to put himself on NFL Draft boards this year.
8 months ago
Peak District tree saplings killed by drought
This year's extreme weather has caused two in every five newly-planted tree saplings at sites in the Peak District to "fail", the National Trust has said.
The East Midlands experienced almost five months of drought after England's driest start to the year since 1976 and the hottest summer on record.
The conservation charity said it was aiming to plant more than a million trees in the Peak District over the next decade and usually factors in losing about 10-15% per year.
Craig Best, general Manager for the National Trust in the Peak District,
This year's extreme weather has caused two in every five newly-planted tree saplings at sites in the Peak District to "fail", the National Trust has said.
The East Midlands experienced almost five months of drought after England's driest start to the year since 1976 and the hottest summer on record.
The conservation charity said it was aiming to plant more than a million trees in the Peak District over the next decade and usually factors in losing about 10-15% per year.
Craig Best, general Manager for the National Trust in the Peak District,
