Lainey Wilson set for NFL Thanksgiving halftime, Red Kettle campaign kickoff
Country music star Lainey Wilson, the reigning CMA and ACM Entertainment of the Year award winner, will be performing at the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day game featuring the Dallas Cowboys, the league announced Sunday, Oct. 13. This year, the Cowboys will face their NFC East rival, the New York Giants, at AT&T Stadium.
The Pulitzer Prize winner will have a lot of eyes on him when he takes the field at the Caesar Superdome. Last year’s Super Bowl attracted 123.7 million people — the largest TV audience on record, according to Nielsen.
While the Super Bowl is without question the NFL’s most watched game of the entire year, with many considering it to be a national holiday, the NFL’s most watched game of the regular season happens a few months earlier.
The NFL’s Thanksgiving game continues to break regular season viewership records. Last year’s game against the Washington Commanders averaged 41.8 million viewers, only beaten in ratings by 2022’s game between Dallas and the Giants with over 42 million viewers.
Wilson, coming off a Best Country Album win at this year’s Grammys, will follow in the footsteps of Reba McEntire, the Jonas Brothers and last year’s performer Dolly Parton.
Along with football and music, the halftime show will kick off the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign for the 28th time. The Red Kettle campaign itself is entering its 134th year.
The Salvation Army said it has raised over $3 billion since the first Red Kettle kickoff halftime show almost 30 years ago.
In a statement, Wilson called it an honor to kick off the Red Kettle campaign.
“We truly can do more good when we come together to serve those in need in our communities,” she said.
The Cowboys-Giants game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28, on Fox.
At least 15 dead, 2.6 million without power after Hurricane Milton
The death toll from Hurricane Milton rises as millions are left without power in the storm’s aftermath. And one person is killed and 12 others rescued after a disaster during a tour of a Colorado mine. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 11, 2024.
At least 8 dead, 2.6 million without power after Hurricane Milton
At least 15 people are dead (that number has risen since Unbiased Updates was recorded Friday morning, Oct. 11), and 2.6 million homes and businesses remain without power as Florida begins to pick up the pieces after Hurricane Milton roared across the state. It was the second devastating storm to batter the Sunshine State in less than two weeks.
Now a post-tropical cyclone, Milton is expected to continue to weaken over the next few days.
While Milton made landfall on Florida’s west coast near Sarasota, most of the deaths reported have been in the eastern part of the state, where dozens of tornadoes have been reported. While the storm did not prove to be the worst-case scenario, rescuers have been very busy pulling and dragging hundreds of people from flooded areas to safety.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Joe Biden have both said in this case, warnings came early and often, spurring tens of thousands of people to evacuate and saving countless lives.
Still, the cleanup and recovery processes are expected to take weeks, if not months — especially in the areas that were also hit by Hurricane Helene just 13 days before Milton barreled in.
1 dead, 12 rescued after elevator malfunction at Colorado gold mine
In Colorado, 12 people are now safe after getting trapped at the bottom of a gold mine for six hours Thursday, Oct. 10. One person died after the elevator at the Mollie Kathleen Mine, a popular tourist attraction, experienced a mechanical problem 500 feet below the earth’s surface.
The 12 adults had access to water and were able to communicate with authorities via radio while trapped. As that group was stuck, rescuers were able to get to 11 other people who were riding the elevator and get them to safety.
The local sheriff said it is not yet known what caused the malfunction. An investigation is underway.
The incident happened during the final week of Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine‘s tourist season before it shuts down for the winter.
Chemical leak at Houston oil refinery kills 2, injures dozens more
Two people are dead and 35 more are injured after a chemical leak involving hydrogen sulfide, a potentially toxic gas, at an oil refinery in Deer Park, Texas — near Houston. Officials said a group was working on a flange Thursday when some kind of accident happened, and gas started leaking.
Emergency officials urged residents in the area to shelter in place after the incident, but this morning, that’s since been lifted after air monitoring showed no signs hazardous chemicals had gotten into the air.
Trump talks economic plan in Detroit; Obama rallies for Harris in PA
With just 25 days until Americans head to the polls, voters in two battleground states heard from two former presidents on Thursday. Republican nominee former President Donald Trump spoke to supporters in Detroit, Michigan while former President Barack Obama – stumped for Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
While delivering his economic address to the Detroit Economic Club, Trump spoke about his goal to revive the auto industry and bring a “rebirth” to Detroit. He then turned to international companies and his plan for them to open facilities in America.
“So, here is the deal that I will be offering to the world to companies outside of our world — big companies, powerful companies that have become powerful because we were stupid, we were stupid, we allowed them to come and raid and rape our country,” Trump said. “That’s what they did. ‘Oh, he used the word rape.’ That’s right, I used the word. They raped our country. The United States will give you the lowest taxes, the lowest energy cost, we have more liquid gold under our feet than any other country in the world and it’s the best…But only if you make your products here in America. In other words, you get all of these assets, but you have to make your product here in America and you have to hire American workers.”
“Kamala is as prepared for the job as any nominee for president has ever been,” Obama said. “That’s who Kamala is.”
He added, “I’m sorry gentlemen; I’ve noticed this especially with some men who seem to think Trump’s behavior of bullying and of putting people down is a sign of strength. I am here to tell you, that is not what real strength is. Real strength is about working hard and carrying a heavy load without complaining and telling the truth even when it’s inconvenient. Real strength is about helping people who need it and standing up for those who can’t always stand up for themselves. That is what we should want for our daughters and for our sons and that is what I want to see in a president for the United States of America.”
Hezbollah official escapes during deadly Israeli strikes in Lebanon
Lebanese authorities say Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in Beirut killed 22 people and injured 117 others. Sources told Reuters a senior Hezbollah official, targeted by Israeli forces during the Thursday night strikes, was able to survive.
Israel has not commented on the attack.
The United Nations said its personnel is facing increasing danger in Lebanon as two U.N. peacekeepers were injured after an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower at its main headquarters in the southern portion of the country. Israel issued a statement on that incident, saying its military operated “next to” the U.N.’s base and had instructed U.N. officials to remain in protected spaces before its troops opened fire.
Hezbollah operates from within and near civilian areas in southern Lebanon, including areas near @UNIFIL_ posts.
The IDF is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with UNIFIL.
IDF troops operated in the area of Naqoura, next to a UNIFIL base.…
The peacekeepers were said to be in good condition after being treated for their injuries.
Sports leagues come together to combat hate in America
In a sign of true sportsmanship, eight American sports leagues have come together to back a new campaign targeting hate in the U.S. It is an idea from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his foundation to combat antisemitism.
The initiative brought together the heads of the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHK, NASCAR and others to come up with plans to curb hate of any kind in the country. The sports leaders are spending $50 million to get the word out.
The campaign, titled “Timeout Against Hate,” launched during Thursday night football on Oct. 10, with a commercial featuring legendary figures and current-day athletes from all sports speaking out against hate.
Florida sports teams prep for Hurricane Milton as Bucs, Lighting evacuate
As Hurricane Milton, the strongest Gulf of Mexico storm since 2005 nears Florida, sports teams across the state are adjusting their schedules, and in some cases relocating, to ensure safety. With mass evacuations underway, the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning have both left the area.
The Buccaneers have moved the team’s practices to New Orleans ahead of Sunday’s away game against the Saints, while the Lightning has relocated to Raleigh, where they will face the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, Oct. 11, for their season opener. Currently, the Lightning’s home opener against the Hurricanes on Saturday, Oct. 12, remains as scheduled.
In college football, the University of South Florida’s game against Memphis has been moved from Friday to Saturday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, with both teams saying they will closely monitor the storm’s progress prior to kickoff.
The University of Central Florida’s game against Cincinnati remains set for Saturday, though the matchup’s Orlando venue is in the storm’s projected path which could force schedule changes.
Meanwhile, an NBA preseason game between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks has been rescheduled from Thursday, Oct 10, to next Wednesday, Oct. 16. While Miami is not expected to experience full hurricane conditions, strong winds and heavy rain are anticipated.
Vance, Walz defend their running mates’ records in vice presidential debate
We have a recap of the first, and likely only, vice presidential debate of 2024. And Iran has launched its largest attack ever on Israel. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Vance, Walz defend their running mates’ records in vice presidential debate
For the first time, the two vice presidential candidates took the stage next to one another Tuesday night, Oct. 1. Republican Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz introduced themselves to American voters while defending their running mates’ opposing views.
Vance and Walz kept the vice presidential debate cordial, at various times saying they agreed with the other, but they sparred on the policies and the statements made by their parties’ presidential nominees, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Look if you’re going to be president, you don’t have all the answers. Donald Trump believes he does. My pro tip of the day is this, if you need heart surgery, listen to the people at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, not Donald Trump,” Walz said.
“I honestly, Tim, I think you got a tough job here because you’ve got to play whack-a-mole; you’ve got to pretend that Donald Trump didn’t deliver rising take-home pay, which of course he did; you’ve got to pretend that Donald Trump didn’t deliver lower inflation, which of course he did; and then you simultaneously got to defend Kamala Harris’ atrocious economic record,” Vance said.
The debate covered many topics including abortion, climate change, the economy and health care. The two opened the 90-minute CBS News debate discussing the conflict in the Middle East and the need for stability in the White House.
“I’m 40 years old, when was the last time that an American president didn’t have a major conflict break out? The only answer is during the four years that Donald Trump was president,” Vance said.
“So Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon than they were before because of Donald Trump’s fickle leadership. And when Iran shot down an American aircraft in international airspace, Donald Trump tweeted because that’s the standard diplomacy of Donald Trump,” Walz said.
On illegal immigration, Vance and Walz disagreed on whether former President Trump’s involvement helps or hurts solving the border crisis.
“But as soon as I was getting ready to pass [legislation] and actually tackle this, Donald Trump said no, told them to vote against it because it gives him a campaign issue,” Walz said.
“We have a historic immigration crisis because Kamala Harris started and said that she wanted to undo all of Donald Trump’s border policies — 94 executive orders, suspending deportations, decriminalizing illegal aliens, massively increasing the asylum fraud that exists in our system. That has opened the floodgates,” Vance said.
When the debate turned to gun violence, the two VP contenders shared a moment, highlighting the human aspect and often the aftermath.
“I think all the parents watching tonight, this is just your biggest nightmare. Look, I got a 17-year-old and he witnessed a shooting at a community center playing volleyball, those things don’t leave you,” Walz said.
When it was his turn to speak, Vance responded, “Tim, first of all, I didn’t know that your 17-year-old witnessed a shooting and I’m sorry about that and I hope he’s doing OK. Christ have mercy, it is it is awful.”
Things, however, turned contentious over the 2020 election and Jan. 6.
“[January 6, 2021] was a threat to our democracy in a way that we had not seen, and it manifested itself because of Donald Trump’s inability to say — he is still saying, he didn’t lose the election,” Walz said.
Vance replied, “Tim, I’m focused on the future. Did Kamala Harris censor Americans from speaking their mind in the wake of the 2020 COVID situation?”
“That is a damning non-answer,” Walz said.
Both candidates thanked each other for the debate and the viewers at home, who will make their decision at the polls on Election Day, Nov. 5, in just 34 days.
Trump backs out of ’60 Minutes’ election special; Harris interview to still air
CBS News says former President Trump has backed out an upcoming interview with “60 Minutes.”
For decades, “60 Minutes” has broadcast election specials with the candidates. CBS reported both Trump and Vice President Harris had agreed to take part in this year’s special in separate one-on-one interviews, but Trump has since reportedly changed his mind.
In a press conference last night, Trump said his decision was based on his last interview with CBS anchor Lesley Stahl in 2020 — which he walked out of early.
“They came to me and would like me to do an interview, but first, I want to get an apology because the last time I did an interview with them, if you remember, they challenged me on the computer,” Trump said. “They said the laptop from hell was from Russia. And I said, ‘It wasn’t from Russia, it was from Hunter [Biden].’ And I never got an apology, so I’m sort of waiting. I’d love to do ’60 Minutes’, I do everything.”
In a statement of its own, “60 Minutes” said the special will still move forward.
“Our election special will broadcast the Harris interview on Monday as planned,” the statement read. “Our original invitation to former President Donald Trump to be interviewed on ’60 Minutes’ stands.”
The special is set to air Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. ET.
Iran launches largest-ever attack on Israel; Israel vows retaliation
Israel has vowed to retaliate after Iran launched its largest ever attack on Israel. Late Tuesday, Iran fired more than 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which seem to have been intercepted by the Israeli military with help from the United States and other allies.
So far, one person has been reported to have died in the attack, and the extent of the damage is not yet known.
Iran’s military chief also warned of broader strikes if Israel responds. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already vowed to do so, saying, “Iran made a big mistake and it will pay for it.”
Also Tuesday, just before Iran’s barrage began, at least six people were killed and a dozen more hurt when Israeli police say two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a train station in Tel Aviv. Police say the shooting was an act of terrorism and one of the gunmen was killed at the scene while the other was severely injured.
No specific group has claimed responsibility for that deadly attack.
Search and rescue efforts continue in North Carolina after Helene
Combs is already being held without bond at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
He has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have said he is innocent of all charges.
Louisiana governor supports bringing back live tiger mascot to LSU games
College sports are known for fierce competition. Now the governor of Louisiana is looking at making things even more ferocious by bringing back an old Louisiana State University football mainstay.
Officials from PETA are now speaking out against the idea, saying it would be cruel and dangerous for the animal.
These days, the current tiger mascot is on campus in an enclosure near the stadium, but the governor says returning the tiger to the field would be “an unbelievable opportunity.” LSU officials have not yet commented on whether there is a possibility of seeing a live tiger at football games once again.
Casino mogul offers to help pay for UNLV to retain departing QB Matthew Sluka
Las Vegas is known for its wealth and high-rolling lifestyle, but none of that fortune will be aiding the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) football team’s recent dilemma with former starting quarterback, Matthew Sluka. The senior who led the Rebels to a 3-0 start this season has departed from the team following a dispute over Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation.
According to sources close to the player, Sluka was allegedly promised a minimum of $100,000 to join the UNLV football program under NIL deals. However, school officials have disputed these claims, stating that no formal offer of such compensation was ever made.
In an attempt to salvage the situation, Derek Stevens, owner of Circa Resort and Casino, reportedly reached out to UNLV through a representative, offering to pay the money required to keep Sluka on the team.
However, despite Stevens’ intervention, UNLV officials are said to have quickly declined the offer, citing that Sluka had already left the school, and indicating the relationship between the player and the program was beyond repair.
UNLV Rebels QB Matthew Sluka departs team amid NIL deal controversy
The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Rebels’ promising 2024 college football season may have just been derailed only three games into the campaign. Following an undefeated 3-0 start, the team will now have to finish the year without their starting quarterback, Matthew Sluka, who decided to leave the program on Tuesday, Sept. 24, over a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) dispute.
“I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled,” Sluka said in a statement posted to his X account. “Despite discussions, it became clear that these commitments would not be fulfilled in the future. I wish my teammates the best of luck this season and hope for the continued success of the program.”
Sluka, a senior transfer from Holy Cross, left the Rebels after the university reportedly failed to fulfill its financial obligations in an NIL deal.
According to reports, Sluka had been verbally promised a minimum of $100,000 as part of the NIL agreement to join UNLV. However, his father told ESPN that the university deferred payments multiple times, before ultimately telling the player’s agent last week the school would only be paying out $3,000 in relocation costs instead of the full amount initially agreed upon.
This led Sluka to announce he would no longer play for the team this season. Instead, he plans to take a redshirt year to preserve his college eligibility, leaving the Rebels without their star quarterback for the remainder of the season.
This incident highlights the growing impact of NIL deals in college sports, which allow athletes to earn compensation for their name, image, and likeness. As these agreements become more common, disputes over payments could become a recurring issue, potentially affecting team rosters and season outcomes across various sports.
Heisman winner Reggie Bush sues for NIL money 2 decades after playing
Months after getting his 2005 Heisman Trophy reinstated, former USC superstar Reggie Bush is again taking on college football. This time, the running back-turned-broadcaster filed a lawsuit against the university, the Pac-12 and the NCAA.
Bush’s lawsuit claims the three profited “from uncompensated use” of his name, image, and likeness, known as NIL. Star college athletes can make big NIL money today after the NCAA reluctantly changed its rules in 2021 following a loss at the Supreme Court.
During his junior year at USC, Bush rushed for 1,740 yards and 18 total touchdowns on his way to securing the Heisman Trophy. He was also part of the university’s 2004 National Championship team.
But years later, the NCAA ruled Bush received improper benefits as a player and he was stripped of the sport’s greatest award. USC was forced to vacate the 2004 national title and 14 wins associated with Bush.
More recently, rule changes allow athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness. At the same time, Bush has become an outspoken critic of the NCAA.
“From day one, you already owned your NIL,” Bush said during an appearance on “All The Smoke.” “It was just that when you got into college football or basketball, now you were stripped of that ability.”
Bush and his legal team are very aware of the implications of his latest lawsuit.
“It’s about setting a precedent for the fair treatment of all college athletes,” said Evan Selik, one of Bush’s lawyers. “Our goal is to rectify this injustice and pave the way for a system where athletes are rightfully recognized, compensated and treated fairly for their contributions.”
Retroactive NIL compensation isn’t a farfetched idea. In a proposed settlement for three federal antitrust cases, the NCAA and the power conferences agreed to pay around $2.7 billion over 10 years to athletes involved in the suit who played sports in the five years leading up to NIL rule changes. That settlement is currently on hold as a federal judge called for revisions.
In April of this year, Bush was reunited with his Heisman Trophy. The Heisman Trust cited “enormous changes in the college football landscape” as the reason behind the decision. Bush also reunited with USC and his retired jersey, which once again hangs in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
If Bush’s tenacity for getting his award back is any indication, he won’t soon back down on his latest pursuit.
“I’ve always felt like I was gonna get the Heisman Trophy back,” he told Pat McAfee during the NFL Draft in April. “I just didn’t know how long it was gonna take. And it didn’t matter to me how long it took. I was gonna fight. It could have been another 20 years. I was gonna continue to fight for it.”
Family of chief behind Redskins logo wants his image back in the NFL
Four years ago, the Washington Redskins dropped their name amid pressure that it was offensive. Now, the family of the Native American chief behind the Redskins logo is asking the league to bring his image back.
The Blackfeet chief, John Two Guns White Calf, was the face of the Redskins for nearly 50 years. His family claims he was the “most famous and most photographed” Native American in history.
His descendants, now living on a reservation in Montana, are working with Republican lawmakers to reinstate their ancestor’s image on the NFL team.
Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., told Fox News Digital, “This is about righting a wrong. It’s a point of pride and represents the rich Native American history that helped make our nation great, and it should be enthusiastically celebrated across our culture.”
In response to the family’s request to reinstate their grandfather’s legacy, the Washington Commanders say they have no plans to bring back the chief’s portrait. However, the team said it is in talks with the chief’s descendants.
“We are collaborating with Sen. Daines to honor the legacy of our team’s heritage and the Native American community,” a Commanders spokesperson said. “At the senator’s suggestion, we have developed a positive relationship with Ryan Wetzel, the grandson of Walter ‘Blackie’ Wetzel, who designed the logo. We look forward to honoring that legacy.“
Blackie Wetzel, a tribal leader, created the portrait of Two Guns White Calf in 1971, which the team adopted in 1972. White Calf, born in 1872, is known for representing tribes in Washington and fighting to preserve Native American culture. Now, his descendants are seeking to continue that legacy.
NFL sets record with most watched week 1, averaging 21 million viewers
The NFL had an opening week that surpassed last year’s, with a large increase of viewership across the board. Around 21 million viewers watched the games, a 12% increase from 2023.
Nielsen says 123 million people tuned in to at least part of a game, the highest total since 2019. NBC’s game featuring the Chiefs and the Ravens led the way, drawing 29.2 million viewers, making it the second most watched regular season game since 2006.
Fox also had a big week, with Tom Brady’s debut as an analyst pulling nearly 24 million viewers for the Cowboys-Browns game, and CBS had its strongest week since 1998.
There were some regional rules in play too, cities like New York, Chicago and Atlanta couldn’t air games opposite their home teams. Peacock’s Friday night Eagles-Packers game drew 14 million viewers, the second most watched live event in its history.
Even with some blackouts, Monday night football on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+ still averaged 20.4 million viewers.
Father of 14-year-old Georgia school shooting suspect charged with murder
The father of the 14-year-old suspect in the shooting at a Georgia high school has been arrested and charged in connection to the deadly incident. And in a surprise move, Hunter Biden has pleaded guilty in his federal tax case. What’s next for the president’s son. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
Father of 14-year-old Georgia school shooting suspect charged with murder
The 14-year-old arrested in connection to the Georgia school shooting is expected to appear in court Friday, Sept. 6. Colt Gray has been charged with murder as an adult.
He’s now not the only one charged in connection to the shooting. His father has been arrested by authorities and charged with second-degree murder.
Colin Gray, 54, is facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter, eight counts of cruelty to children, and two counts of second-degree murder.
Authorities said the charges stem from Colin Gray “knowingly allowing his son” to have a gun. According to investigators, he bought the AR-style gun used in the shooting as a gift for his son.
This comes as we’re getting a clearer picture of what happened inside the school as shots first rang out. An eyewitness says 53-year-old math teacher Christina Irimie died after jumping in front of a student to protect them from gunfire.
We’ve also learned more about an incident report from last year involving the suspect regarding anonymous posts threatening a school shooting. Those threats were made on the social media platform Discord under a username referring to the 2012 Sandy Hook gunman, according to the police file.
Colt and Colin Gray were interviewed at the time. Colin Gray told investigators there were guns in their home, but his son did not have access to them. Colin Gray denied making the threats and authorities say there was no probable cause at the time for an arrest.
Hunter Biden pleads guilty in federal tax case
In a surprise move, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to federal tax charges Thursday, Sept. 5. It was not part of any plea deal and sets up the possibility the president’s son could spend decades in prison.
The plea was a move to avoid a second criminal trial this year. He was after already found guilty in a federal gun case, which he’s set to be sentenced for in November.
The plea is related to charges alleging Hunter schemed to avoid paying more than a million dollars in income taxes. His attorneys acknowledged the evidence is “overwhelming” and offered a guilty plea — while keeping options open for an appeal.
“Hunter decided to enter his plea to protect those he loves from unnecessary hurt and cruel humiliation,” defense attorney Abbe Lowell said. “Hunter put his family first today, and it was a brave and loving thing for him to do.”
It’s considered an unorthodox and unexpected move in the federal court system. Guilty pleas often come with plenty of warning and after negotiations with prosecutors.
Last year when Hunter Biden was on the cusp of reaching a plea agreement that many critics called “a sweetheart deal” that would have spared him from any prison time. That deal was tossed out over concerns the president’s son was getting preferential treatment.
US announces new controls on chip-related exports to China
As China makes advances in the global chip industry, the U.S. is rolling out new export controls on certain crucial technologies like quantum computing and semiconductor goods.
The Commerce Department cited “national security and foreign policy reasons” for issuing the new rules over worldwide exports. It does, however, make exemptions for countries that adopt similar rules, like Japan and the Netherlands.
In the past, federal investigators have also subpoenaed cell phones belonging to the New York police commissioner and another one of the mayor’s close advisers, Tim Pearson, but it’s also not clear if that was related to the recent searches.
Federal probe targets airlines’ frequent flyer programs
Today, @SecretaryPete opened a probe into some of the big airline points programs. The inquiry seeks to better understand: – Rewards devaluation tactics – Hidden pricing and junk fees – Risks of reductions in competition and choice https://t.co/FQWTbY1Pjc
The Department of Transportation has ordered the CEOs of American, Delta, Southwest, and United airlines to answer detailed questions and provide records on their policies for how passengers can accrue and spend their miles. The probe is focused on how consumers could be affected by the devaluation of earned rewards, extra fees, hidden or dynamic pricing, and reduced competition and choice.
First NFL game of the season ends in dramatic fashion
We’ve heard of winning “by a nose” in horseracing. But last night, in the first NFL game of the season, it came down to winning “by a toe.”
With the seconds ticking down in the fourth quarter, it appeared Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson successfully threw a touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely, giving Baltimore a chance to win the game.