A supermarket program offering free prescriptions is undergoing some changes.

Giant Eagle has stopped offering free antibiotic and diabetes medications.

The chain says those medications are now on the list of over 300 generic prescription drugs offered at a discount.

Giant Eagle says rising drug costs are behind the pricing change, and says the formerly free medications are part of the $4 and $10 generic prescription program.

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(Giant Eagle statement by spokesman Dan Donovan)

On January 17, 2013 Giant Eagle made the difficult but necessary decision to transition its free antibiotic and diabetes medications to our list of more than 300 $4 and $10 generic prescription drugs.  While these medications are no longer free of charge, customers with qualifying prescriptions continue to save more than 50 percent when compared to many chain drug retailer prices.

While rising drug costs have forced Giant Eagle to transition away from offering select antibiotics and diabetes medications free of charge, the inclusion of these drugs in our $4 and $10 generic prescription program ensures that customers continue to receive these needed medications at a great value.

Since 2009, the discounted generic prescription medication program has helped 3.2 million customers save on costs associated with maintaining their families’ health and well-being. The Giant Eagle Pharmacy continues to offer the most competitively priced pharmacy program in the market, highlighted by our free prenatal medications and the ability to earn fuelperks! on qualifying prescriptions. One of the most recent fuelperks! promotions awards 25 cents in fuelperks! for every five qualifying prescriptions, providing the potential to earn up to $7.50 in free fuel.

The FBI is searching for a man who is suspected of robbing five area banks since July 2nd.

Stephen D. Anthony, special agent with the FBI's Cleveland Division, says all of the bank robberies occurred inside grocery stores and most of the robberies happened on a Friday between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The suspect targeted four Giant Eagle grocery stores and a Fishers food store. The robberies happened in Canton, North Canton, Cuyahoga Falls and Youngstown.

Below is a list of the dates and locations of the robberies:

July 2, 2012: U.S. Bank, located inside the Fishers Food store at 4403 Cleveland Avenue NW in Canton, Ohio.

July 20, 2012: U.S. Bank, located inside the Giant Eagle on Graham Road in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

July 27, 2012: Huntington Bank, located inside the Giant Eagle at 4700 Belmont Avenue in Youngstown, Ohio

August 3, 2012: Huntington Bank, located inside the Giant Eagle at Washington Square in North Canton, Ohio

August 10, 2012: Huntington Bank, located inside the Giant Eagle at 608 Raff Road SW in Canton, Ohio.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the nearest FBI office. A reward is being offered for anyone who comes forward with information leading to the arrest of the suspect.

You can contact the FBI at their Canton office at (330) 456-6200; Akron office at (330) 535-6156; Youngstown office at (330) 965-2940 and the Cleveland office at (216) 522-1400.

Giant Eagle is pulling Farmer's Market bagged lettuce of its shelves after a recall was issued due to listeria concerns.

River Ranch Fresh Foods, a California-based company, expanded a voluntary recall of their bagged salads because of possible contamination with listeria monocytogenes.

The Farmer's Market brand is listed under the recall among other brands distributed nationwide.

The products have either “Best By” code dates between 12MAY2012 –29MAY2012 or Julian dates of 118 and 125.

Customers can return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

There have been no reported illnesses from the contaminated bagged lettuce.

Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail and elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Consumers with questions can contact River Ranch at their 24-hour customer service center at 1-888-624-2569. 

Click here to find the full list of products on the recall list.

Home improvement store Menards is joining the lineup at the future Portage Crossing retail development in Cuyahoga Falls.

"I would say it's kind of like a cross between a Home Depot and a Lowe's on steroids-- it's just bigger, they have more things and unique things," Mayor Don Robart said.

Robart says this store will lure shoppers to the soon-to-be-built retail complex on State Road.

"I think it's going to be a very popular destination for people not only in Cuyahoga Falls, but way beyond," he said.

Menards will occupy space close to where the former Montgomery Wards was located. Giant Eagle will occupy the the south side of the development.

As for places to snack or dine out; Panera Bread, Chipolte Mexican Grill and Chef Michael Symon's B Spot restaurant have also signed on as tenants to join Portage Crossing.

"We're expecting about six or eight more announces between now and when we break ground, which will probably be in June," he said. "The reason we're not positive how many is that, it depends on how much square feet they want."

Previous Coverage:

Portage Crossing Signs First Tenants

Giant Eagle may be gearing up to take on a new competitor in Green, but the company won't comment about it either way.

The Beacon Journal reports Giant Eagle has submitted plans to the city's planning and zoning commission for a 23-thousand square foot store expansion and additional parking.

The extra space would be added to the store's north end, along with 438 parking spots

When asked if the company was sprucing up its store in response to Acme Fresh Market's new store coming soon, the company spokesperson did not comment.

Acme Fresh Market is set to build a new grocery nearby, off of Massillon Road in 2013.

On the web: Ohio.com







The extra space would be added to the store's north end, along with 438 parking spots.

Giant Eagle operates two stores in Cuyahoga Falls, but one might move if plans progress for a retail development the city has been working to kick start.

Giant Eagle officials tell the Beacon they're interested in becoming an anchor store at the Portage Crossing retail development off of State Road. Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Robart said the store of a major anchor would take up 94,000 square feet.

The Pittsburgh-based chain would then have to move its Graham Road location just down the street.

Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Robart told 1590 WAKR's Ray Horner back in December that the city had 15 businesses committed in one fashion or another to the development of Portage Crossing.

"Whether it be through a letter of intent or a signed lease or expressed some desire in wanting to be part of the team," Robart said.

Groundbreaking is expected to start no later than the fall of 2013.

On the web: Ohio.com

Giant Eagle is  voluntarily removing its Valu Time brand canned pumpkin purchased on or after August 30, 2011.

The move was announced Wednesday, just the day before Thanksgiving.

In a prepared statement, Giant Eagle said that while they are not aware of any immediate health concerns, they plan on working with Topco Associates to further investigate the situation and will notify customers if any further actions are warranted.

The grocery chain is encouraging people not to consume the products in any way.

Customers are invited to receive a full refund, complimentary pie, or replacement ingredients, from any area Giant Eagle supermarket.

Every little buck helps, right? With many ATM's charging $3 and up one northeast Ohio gas chain is taking advantage of a marketing opportunity.

Giant Eagle's GetGo convenience stores taking a page from the recent flap over banking fees -- and partnering with Huntington Banks to offer fee-free ATM access, even if customers aren't Huntington clients. However, the company says you still might be on the hook for what YOUR bank charges for going off-network.

News release - Giant Eagle

With some financial institutions now charging for using a debit card and many convenience stores requiring upwards of $3 to use their ATM, finding ways to access your money without a fee is getting increasingly more difficult.

All Northeast Ohio GetGo locations now offer surcharge-free ATMs in conjunction with Huntington Bank.  Regardless of whether you have a Huntington checking account, these ATMs will not charge a fee to withdraw money.  As with all surcharge-free ATMs, fees assessed by your own card-issuing institution are not affected.  

Giant Eagle is recalling shredded lettuce for possible listeria contamination.

The store is said the packages they believe could be contaminated are under the F.M. Shredded Lettuce brand, with a UPC number of 3003430195.

The store is asking its customers who purchased the lettuce not to eat it. Customers may return the lettuce for a full refund. For additional questions, customers may call Giant Eagle Customer Care at 1-800-553-2324 or River Ranch at 1-800-762-7708.