TSA screens record number of people, surge expected to continue
The TSA broke its record for most people screened in a single day on Sunday, June 23. Agents screened 2.99 million airline passengers, breaking the previous record of 2.5 million reached a month earlier on Friday, May 24.
The TSA’s top five busiest days of all time have occurred in the past four weeks. According to the TSA, this summer’s record-breaking travel volumes across America will continue through the July 4 holiday period. The period begins on Thursday, June 28, and continues through Monday, July 8.
In total, the TSA is predicting it will screen more than 32 million passengers over the holiday period. That is an increase of 5.4% over the last year.
So, for those heading to the airport for a July 4 trip, make sure to get there early.
NCAA agrees to deal to allow schools to directly pay players
In a historic move for college sports, the NCAA agrees to a deal that would allow schools to directly pay their players. And a group of graduates walk out of Harvard’s commencement after 13 students are barred from the ceremony. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, May 24, 2024.
NCAA agrees to deal to allow schools to directly pay players
A big change is on the horizon for college sports after the NCAA and its five power conferences have agreed to allow schools to pay student-athletes directly for the first time.
The agreement, disclosed on Thursday, May 23, is part of a multi-billion dollar settlement concerning three antitrust cases accusing the NCAA of restricting compensation and benefits to college players. The NCAA has denied any wrongdoing.
The NCAA, in statement, called the settlement “ a road map for college sports leaders and Congress to ensure this uniquely American institution can continue to provide unmatched opportunity for millions of students.”
Under the proposal, the NCAA and the five conferences would pay nearly $2.8 billion over 10 years to more than 14,000 former and current student-athletes.
The deal also calls for revenue sharing between schools and players, permitting each school to set aside up to $21 million to go directly to students.
The exact nature of how the damages will be dispersed and how the revenue-sharing system will be implemented still needs to be worked out.
The terms of the deal still need approval by a federal judge.
Israeli army says 3 more bodies of hostages recovered in Gaza
The Israel army said the bodies of three more hostages have been recovered in Gaza on Friday morning. Officials said the three were killed on the day of Hamas’ attack in Israel and their bodies were then taken into Gaza.
They have been identified as Hanan Yablonka, Michel Nisenbaum, and Orion Hernandez Radoux. Israeli officials said their families have been notified.
Last week, the Israeli army said it found three other bodies of hostages killed by Hamas as they were fleeing a music festival.
Israel believes around 100 hostages remain in Gaza.
Later today, the United Nations’ International Court of Justice is expected to rule on whether Israel should cease military operations in the Gaza city of Rafah.
Though the court has no way of enforcing its ruling, the case brought by South Africa comes amid growing worldwide scrutiny over Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Group of students walk out during Harvard graduation
The latter chant was about 13 students the school barred from receiving their degrees at commencement due to their conduct at an on-campus protest encampment.
Harvard said the students were not in good standing and violated the university’s policies despite a recommendation from faculty members that the students be able to receive their diplomas.
The pro-Palestinian encampment, which lasted three weeks at Harvard, aimed to get the school to divest from companies that support Israel and the war in Gaza. Harvard agreed it would discuss the protester’s demands.
Also on Thursday, the presidents of Northwestern and Rutgers universities testified in front of a House committee where they defended their decisions to negotiate with protesters to end encampments on their campus.
The chancellor of UCLA also took questions about the delay in sending in police to respond to violence between sparring protesting groups on the California campus.
Hundreds feared dead after major landslide in Papa New Guinea
The landslide struck the South Pacific nation around 3 a.m. local time, reportedly flattening dozens of homes as people were asleep inside.
The Australian Broadcasting Company reported more than 100 people have been killed, but authorities have not released an official death toll as of yet.
Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement, “We are sending in disaster officials, PNG Defence Force, and the Department of Works and Highways to meet provincial and district officials in Enga and also start relief work, recovery of bodies, and reconstruction of infrastructure. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the landslide disaster.”
NOAA releases its busiest hurricane season forecast ever
It is anticipated to be a very active hurricane season this year, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) releasing its busiest hurricane season forecast ever.
According to NOAA scientists, there will be between 17 and 25 named storms, compared to an average of 14.
Of those storms, 8 to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes, including 4 to 7 major hurricanes which are classified as category 3, 4, or 5 and have wind speeds of 111 miles per hour or higher.
Officials said near-record warm temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and the development of La Nina in the Pacific are among the factors contributing to this record forecast.
AAA projects nearly 44 million people will travel for Memorial Day
We have a warning for you if you’re traveling for Memorial Day: You will be among a near-record number of people to be on the move this holiday weekend — a number not seen in almost 20 years.
AAA projects 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the five-day Memorial Day holiday period, which began on Thursday, May 23 and extends through Monday, May 27.
AAA said the total number of travelers is a 4 percent increase over last year and is very close to matching 2005’s record high of 44 million travelers.
AAA is projecting at least one record will be broken as 38.4 million travelers are expected to hit the road. That’s the highest number for a Memorial Day weekend since AAA began tracking in 2000.
Winter weather delays flights, holiday travel across US
Christmas Day created travel chaos for certain travelers. In parts of Nebraska, semis jackknifed, vehicles piled up, and some drivers slid off of the road, Monday, Dec. 25.
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) reported responding to at least 100 weather-related incidents.
The NSP urged drivers to only travel if necessary and carry a survival kit in case vehicles get stranded. Authorities also say to stay in the car if waiting for help.
In the upper Midwest, heavy snow, freezing rain and whipping winds are the reason for those words of caution.
Nebraska isn’t the only state feeling the wrath of winter.
Parts of South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming were under blizzard warnings Tuesday, Dec. 26.
Forecasters expect the extreme conditions to get worse in some areas, and they predict up to a foot of snow in south-central South Dakota.
The storm is expected to weaken Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service. However, a “wintry mix” may last until Wednesday across the Plains and upper Midwest.
For travelers looking toward the skies, air travel seems a little more welcoming.
According to Flight Aware, a flight tracking website, just 2,430 flights were delayed and 68 canceled as of Tuesday morning.
Southwest Airlines had the most delays with 663, but just two cancellations.
Flight Aware reported 3,514 total delays and 174 cancellations Monday.
Substantially more flights were delayed or canceled Saturday through Sunday. On Saturday, there were 5,901 delays and 250 cancellations. Sunday, 3,881 flights were delayed and 363 were canceled.
The bulk of delays once again came from Southwest, accounting for 2,690.
A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines blamed most of the delays on fog at Chicago Midway.
This year, airlines have prepared for massive amounts of passengers by hiring thousands of pilots, flight attendants and other workers.
The enhanced hiring efforts are to avoid the delays and cancellations that created a travel nightmare in 2022, most notably, Southwest Airlines stranding more than 2 million people.
Earlier this month, Southwest Airlines reached a $140 million settlement with the federal government for the ordeal.
However, 2023 is proving to be a much better year for airlines. The Department of Transportation is reporting the lowest flight cancellation rate in five years.
The percentage of flights canceled is at 1.3%, down from 2.3% in 2022, and even lower than pre-pandemic flight cancellations. But the test isn’t over yet, with AAA predicting 115 million people to travel by car or air nationwide by the time New Year’s Day arrives. That number is up 2% from last year.
If traveling by air, experts say travelers should check their flight status before heading to the airport, and check in online to avoid lengthy lines.
For drivers, check the weather, tire pressure and make sure to have a full tank of gas.
Blankets, flashlights and extra winter gear are also suggested, as well as food and water in case of emergencies.
Sneakers, owned by SAN producer Brent Jabbour, has an entire closet of holiday wear.
#5: Clothing
Two-thirds of American households own pets and a third of them will buy holiday clothing for those pets, according to SoFi.
The most popular clothes are holiday sweaters, followed by collars, harnesses and hats. That’s not even accounting for holiday costumes, but for a more understated look, you can always go for a classy holiday bowtie.
It’s easy to think of dogs and cats the most in this category, but there is also a robust market for dressing guinea pigs.
For the 26% that will board animals this season, it can run them an average of $45 per night, according to Rover.
It’s always free if you can hand them off to friends and family, but that might cost you in goodwill, depending on their behavior.
#3: Grooming
Just like human children, you have to make sure your pet looks good for get-togethers. Thirty-eight percent of pet parents budget for grooming.
No one wants a smelly dog running around the house when your family is visiting. Beyond a haircut and bath, a nail trim is always helpful.
The average trip to an animal spa day runs $50-$125. To knock out grooming and travel, some places that handle boarding can also pamper your pet so they are nice and clean when you get home.
If you go through all the trouble of buying holiday clothes and getting them groomed, you might as well professionally document it for everyone you know.
#1: Gifts
So it’s clear people are somewhat obsessed with their pets. SoFi says 70% will buy a gift for them, with 27% spending more than $100 on pet gifts.
Judge says Trump Georgia trial will be livestreamed: The Morning Rundown Sept. 1, 2023
A judge has made a decision on whether Donald Trump’s trial in Georgia will be televised. And some say the truth is out there — now the Pentagon may make it easier to find with a website all about UFOs. These stories highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.
Donald Trump Georgia trial to be livestreamed
A Fulton County, Georgia superior court judge gave the OK on Thursday, Aug. 31 for former President Donald Trump’s trial to be televised and livestreamed.
Judge Scott McAfee’s decision comes as Trump pleaded not guilty to all 13 felony charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.
Trump also waived his right to appear at the arraignment scheduled for next Wednesday, Sept. 6, in Atlanta, which likely would have been shown on television.
Trump’s attorneys requested the judge on Aug. 31 to split his case from the other 18 co-defendants and asked for a later trial date to give the team time to prepare.
A trial date has not yet been set.
Former Proud Boys leaders sentenced for Jan. 6 sedition
Former organizer of the Proud Boys Joseph Biggs was sentenced on Thursday to 17 years in prison after being convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role at the Capitol on January 6th. This is one of the longest sentences handed down to a January 6th defendant — only behind Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, who received 18 years.
Zachary Rehl, the former president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Proud Boys, was sentenced alongside Biggs to 15 years.
The Justice Department had recommended a minimum of 30 years for both defendants. Norm Pattis, the defense attorney for Biggs, called the sentences significant.
“But they were half of what the government asked for, and so even at sentencing, our view is the government overreached. The case was overcharged. The government sought to make a point, and it did,” Pattis said.
Student loan interest resumes; payments restart next month
For those with student loans, Sept. 1 marks a significant step in the return of payments after a pause that has lasted more than three years. Borrowers will begin to see their interest accruing again after the federal policy keeping rates at 0% ends.
The Department of Education says borrowers will be charged the interest rate they were paying before March 2020 when the pandemic-related pause on student loan payments began. But those with student loans won’t need to take any further action just yet as borrowers still have another month before payments are due.
The Biden administration has instituted a yearlong grace period where late or missed payments will not be reported to credit agencies – but payments will still be due during this on-ramping period.
The government agency All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) is in charge of analyzing aerial phenomena in U.S. airspace. Its website, AARO.mil, will serve as a hub of data accessible by the public.
The government is still in the process of building the site, but it’s live right now and includes graphs showing how high these objects often fly and where they are most often found.
The goal of the new site is to offer more transparency to an ever-so-curious public.
Labor Day weekend travel soars, so do gas prices
For many families, Labor Day weekend is the finale to a summer of fun. Fifty-seven percent of Americans say they plan to take a trip for Labor Day, which would round out the busiest summer travel season on record.
The TSA predicts this will be one of the busiest weekends of the year with more than a quarter of a million flights scheduled through Tuesday, Sept. 5.
Even more Americans will be driving to their Labor Day destination despite the price of gas being near all-time highs for this time of year. The average price of a gallon of gas as of Aug. 31 is $3.83. That’s one penny shy from the all-time record for the week leading up to Labor Day.
Lego begins selling braille bricks for the first time
Starting Sept. 1, Lego is selling a line of its famous toy bricks – that serve a special purpose. Lego Braille Bricks are now available to purchase through the company’s website for the first time ever.
They were only being distributed free of charge to organizations specializing in the education of children with vision impairment for the past three years. Each brick has studs that correspond to the braille system, along with the printed versions of the symbol or letter on it.
Lego says these bricks are designed for anyone six years and older who is curious about braille whether they are blind, partially sighted or sighted. And for those Lego enthusiasts wondering — the company says, yes, they are fully compatible with other Lego products.
