The U.S. government has fined American Airlines $50 million for failing to properly assist passengers with disabilities and mishandling wheelchairs over a five-year period. The fine follows an investigation by the Department of Transportation, which revealed that wheelchair users had been injured in some cases, though an exact number was not disclosed.
The investigation focused on incidents that occurred between 2019 and 2023, and was partly triggered by formal complaints from Paralyzed Veterans of America.
One incident that raised particular concern took place at Miami International Airport last year, when workers mishandled a wheelchair, sending it crashing down a baggage ramp. The incident was caught on camera and added to mounting scrutiny of the airline’s practices.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg criticized American Airlines, calling it one of the worst offenders. He said the problems identified were not unique to American, noting that investigations into other airlines were underway.
“The era of tolerating poor treatment of wheelchair users on airplanes is over,” Buttigieg said in a statement, signaling a stronger stance from the department on this issue.
In its defense, American Airlines stated that it had made significant investments to improve how it handles wheelchairs and assists passengers with disabilities.
The airline said it spent over $175 million this year on training, infrastructure, and equipment, and claimed it had reduced its mishandling rate by 20%.
As a result of these improvements and its efforts to compensate affected passengers, the airline received a $25 million credit against the fine.
Between 2019 and 2023, American Airlines mishandled more than 10,000 wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Southwest Airlines reported more incidents, while Spirit Airlines had the highest percentage of errors in some years.
Disability advocates, including Carl Blake from Paralyzed Veterans of America, applauded the government’s action. Blake said the enforcement showed that passengers with mobility disabilities deserve to travel with the same level of safety and dignity as everyone else.
Looking ahead, the Department of Transportation is finalizing new rules to protect passengers with disabilities.
These rules would make it illegal for airlines to damage or delay the return of wheelchairs and would require annual training for employees who handle mobility devices. While no timeline has been given for the finalization of these rules, it is clear that airlines are under increasing pressure to improve how they serve passengers with disabilities.
San Diego will not enforce laws against living in vehicles
San Diego has agreed to stop enforcing laws that penalized homeless individuals living in their vehicles, following a lawsuit that challenged the city’s Vehicle Habitation and Oversized Vehicle Ordinances. The settlement will forgive outstanding tickets, expand the Safe Parking Program, and provide $15,000 in damages to each plaintiff.
The lawsuit, filed by Disability Rights Advocates, argued that the ordinances unfairly targeted vulnerable populations, particularly those with disabilities.
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The Vehicle Habitation Ordinance, passed in 2019, prohibited people from using their vehicles as homes, while the Oversized Vehicle Ordinance restricted parking for large vehicles overnight.
Advocates claimed these laws criminalized homelessness instead of addressing underlying issues like affordable housing.
As part of the settlement, the city will improve its Safe Parking Program by adding more spaces and upgrading facilities with amenities such as bathrooms and electricity.
The program provides a designated area where people living in vehicles can park overnight without facing fines or harassment. Law enforcement will also receive training to ensure respectful interactions with unhoused individuals, particularly those with disabilities.
The settlement, which includes court oversight for three years, is seen as a victory for advocates and a shift toward a more compassionate approach to homelessness in San Diego. “This settlement is a step toward more humane treatment of our homeless neighbors,” one advocate said.
San Diego hopes that by focusing on services rather than enforcement, they can create long-term solutions to the homelessness crisis while ensuring the rights and dignity of individuals living in vehicles are protected.
East Palestine residents may wait years for payments due to appeal of settlement
East Palestine residents may have to wait up to two years before getting paid out by Norfolk Southern for a disastrous train derailment in 2023, according to lawyers on Monday, Sept. 30. Settlement checks were reportedly supposed to go out by the end of this year but now that appears it will not happen after an appeal by one of the plaintiff’s last week.
The appeal challenges whether a federal judge’s decision to approve a more than $600 million settlement gave enough money to East Palestinians.
Some residents reportedly expressed outrage over the weekend about the appeal by a local pastor because they said they needed those payments to move out of town.
Other residents said that they had deeper concerns about the chemicals they were exposed to from the rail disaster after officials decided to blow up the boxcars filled with toxic chemicals. Those residents want the plaintiff’s lawyers to reveal what their expert found when he tested for any lingering contamination in East Palestine.
Now, an appeals court will have to determine whether or not the settlement offers enough money to residents and if enough information was given to East Palestinians before an agreement was reached.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys vowed on Monday to do everything in their “power” to “quickly resolve this appeal,” adding, “It is tragic that one person is substituting their judgement for the entire community who wants this settlement, and instead of opting out, they have gone this route.”
Lawyers say it is likely the payments will be delayed six months to a year. However, they say the wait may be even longer if the case reaches the U.S. Supreme Court or gets sent back to federal court.
The settlement offers payments of up to $70,000 per household and up to $25,000 per individual. The funds are meant to cover health issues and property damage to the community from the derailment disaster.
23andMe agrees to $30 million settlement after major data breach
Genetic testing company 23andMe has agreed to a $30 million settlement after a data breach exposed the personal information of approximately 6.9 million customers. The breach, which went undetected for five months, compromised users’ names, birth years, genders, ancestry reports, and raw genotype data, with hackers specifically focusing on customers of Chinese and Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
U.S. intelligence agencies recently identified foreign actors, particularly Russia and China, as key perpetrators behind multiple sophisticated cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure and personal information in the United States.
The hacker has only been identified as “Golem,” and shared victims’ personal information on an online forum used by cybercriminals, The New York Times reported.
As a part of the settlement, 23andMe will compensate affected customers and provide free access to a security monitoring program for three years. The company expects cyber insurance to cover $25 million of the $30 million total settlement.
23andMe said it will conduct annual cybersecurity audits and maintain a dedicated data breach incident response plan. The company is also ceasing to store personal information for inactive or deactivated accounts to minimize data retention risks.
The genetic testing company denies any wrongdoing and the settlement is still pending approval by a judge.
Pro-life activist wins settlement after arrest for silent prayer
A pro-life activist in the United Kingdom has won a legal victory and a financial settlement after being arrested for silently praying outside an abortion clinic. The arrest raised concerns about freedom of speech and religious expression for those opposing abortion.
Isabel Vaughan-Spruce received a settlement of nearly $17,000 from the West Midlands Police. The payment follows what Vaughan-Spruce’s legal team described as acknowledgement of “unjust treatment” by law enforcement.
Vaughan-Spruce was first arrested in December 2022 after standing near an abortion clinic, which police said violated a public space protection order. The order bans protests within a certain distance of abortion facilities, including any act of approval or disapproval related to abortion. That order includes silent prayer.
Religious freedom groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom UK, call the settlement a positive step. They do, however, still warn that the situation highlights a growing crisis around free speech and thought in the U.K.
While this case has been resolved with a settlement, concerns remain over the rights of those opposing abortion, and how they can be protected under the PSPO laws.
As the government prepares to roll out these buffer zones, many are watching closely, to see how the laws pertain to peaceful protest.
In response to the settlement, Vaughan-Spruce expressed relief, but also concern. She said, “Silent prayer is not a crime. Nobody should be arrested merely for the thoughts they have in their heads.”
Israeli settlers set Palestinian village ablaze, kill 1 in West Bank attack
Dozens of Israeli settlers torched several homes and cars in a Palestinian town in the West Bank on Thursday, Aug. 15, firing bullets and tear gas at residents and drawing widespread condemnation from Israeli leaders and the United States. The riot, which happened in the village Jit, led to the death of a 23-year-old Palestinian man.
Witnesses said that at least a hundred masked settlers raided the village. According to the witnesses, they were forced to fend off the attackers for a quite some time before Israel Defense Forces (IDF) showed up to the village.
Once the IDF showed up, soldiers dispersed the crowd and reported that some attackers threw rocks and Molotov cocktails before being stopped. Israeli authorities took one person into custody for questioning regarding the attack. Israel’s security agency and Israeli police announced joint investigation into the riot.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the attackers would be “apprehended and tried.” Israel’s interior minister called the riots a “serious nationalist crime” and Israeli President Isaac Herzog demanded that police swiftly bring those responsible to justice. The White House called the incident “unacceptable.”
However, a similar attack by Israeli settlers on a Palestinian village in April went without the same condemnation by Israel as the one in Jit on Thursday.
Violence across the region is up since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel. The United Nations reported that nearly 1,200 Israel settler attacks have been documented from Oct. 7 to Aug. 5. The U.N. said that 114 of those attacks resulted in Palestinian deaths and injuries.
Israeli settlements have been built on lands controlled by Israel since Six-DayWar in 1967. The international community largely believes that these settlements are illegal under international law, which Israel disputes.
Lahaina fire survivors make steps toward recovery on anniversary of disaster
There are signs of recovery one year after the deadly fires on the island of Maui, Hawaii. But there is a long road ahead for many who call the town of Lahaina home.
Reportedly, 102 people were killed in the fast moving firestorm. It was the deadliest fire in the U.S. in over a century. What used to be piles of smoking rubble and ash has now been largely cleared by contractors and the Army Corp of Engineers. This is leaving behind smooth lots where homes and businesses once stood.
With their town razed to the ground, thousands of survivors continue to struggle to find secure housing in a market saturated with short-term vacation rentals.
“Housing remains the number one issue.” Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii said. “Businesses still need help as tourism lags and people of all ages need expanded access to mental health resources and other health care. Every part of the government, whether it’s federal, state or county, has a responsibility to help the survivors get back on their feet.”
“Building housing is going to be critical in the second year.” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, D, said. “We’re changing the laws around short-term rentals, hoping to bring as many as 7,000 short-term rentals back to the market for local families on Maui.”
Lahaina was a cultural and economic hub in the islands and its loss is still sorely felt. Despite the difficulties faced by the survivors, there is hope for a stable life after the disaster. A $4 billion global settlement was reached just days before the anniversary, offering a path forward for the thousands of plaintiffs affected by the wildfires.
Next to the hollowed out skeleton of the old Lahaina courthouse there is new growth. The massive 151-year old sacred banyan tree, the oldest banyan in the state, is covered in green shoots.
“For the people of Lahaina,” Schatz said. “The past year has been a year of uncertainty and unease. Unspeakable grief and heartache, impossible choices, a year of what ifs and what’s next. Nothing will ever fully replace the people and the things that were lost on that harrowing day about a year ago. But what we can do is be there for them as they recover. For as long as it takes every step of the way. That is our responsibility and that is our promise.”
Meta agrees to $1.4B settlements over Texas privacy lawsuit
Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta has agreed to pay a record $1.4 billion settlement with Texas over allegations it used biometric data without permission. Filed in 2022, the Texas lawsuit said Meta violated a state law that prohibits capturing or selling a resident’s biometric information, such as their face or fingerprint, without their consent.
The state accused Meta of using its facial recognition software on photos uploaded to Facebook without users’ consent to automatically tag their faces on its site.
To date, Meta has now paid more than $2 billion in settlements over biometric privacy claims. Meta shut down its face-recognition system in 2021 and deleted the faceprints of more than a billion people amid growing concerns about potential misuse of the technology by governments, police and others.
Dollar General to pay $12M safety violations settlement
Dollar General has agreed to pay a $12 million fine and improve working conditions at thousands of its stores across the country. The company reached a settlement with OSHA to resolve alleged violations, including unsafe storage, blocked emergency exits and fire extinguishers, and inaccessible electrical panels.
Under the agreement, if inspectors find similar problems in the future, Dollar General could be fined up to $100,000 a day if they’re not resolved within 48 hours.
The terms of the deal also require Dollar General to significantly reduce inventory and improve stocking to prevent hazards and hire more safety managers. The company will also create a health and safety committee with employee participation.
Biden fields questions on ability, foreign affairs while misspeaking at times
For almost an hour President Joe Biden takes questions from the media about his policies, his candidacy and his health. And Prince Harry addresses the controversy surrounding his selection as an award recipient at the ESPYs. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, July 12, 2024.
Biden fields questions on ability, foreign affairs while misspeaking at times
The eyes of the world were on President Joe Biden on Thursday night, July 11, as he delivered an hour-long press conference to close out the NATO summit in Washington, D.C. It was his first press conference since his poor performance at the June 27 debate, which has led to growing concern in the Democratic Party about his candidacy.
The president fielded questions from reporters, but it was a gaffe he made earlier in the day at the summit that was already on people’s minds. He misspoke while introducing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine who has as much courage as he has determination, ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” Biden said, before quickly catching himself. “President Putin? He’s going to beat President Putin. President Zelenskyy. I’m so focused on beating Putin, we’ve got to worry about it. Anyway, Mr. President.”
Then came the evening press conference — President Biden’s first in eight months. He made it clear he plans on staying in the race to face former President Donald Trump in November, despite the calls from some Democratic lawmakers to step aside.
“I think I’m the most qualified person to run for president,” President Biden vowed. “I beat him once and I’ll beat him again.”
However, just minutes into the Q&A portion, Biden slipped when asked about Vice President Kamala Harris’ ability to beat Trump if she were at the top of the ticket.
“Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president, did I think she was not qualified to be president, so let’s start there,” he said.
And when answering a question about the U.S.’ military assistance for Ukraine, Biden made another error before correcting himself.
“I’m following the advice of my Commander in Chief — my, the Chief of Staff of the military, as well as the Secretary of Defense and our intelligence people,” he said.
Still, Biden spent most of his time in front of the press corps displaying his understanding of foreign affairs, giving detailed responses to questions on Russia, China and the Middle East.
“We have to make clear China has to understand that if they are supplying Russia with information and capacity along with working with North Korea and others to help Russia and armament, that they’re not going to benefit economically as a consequence of that by getting the kind of investment they’re looking for,” Biden said.
He also touched on the ongoing war in Gaza.
“I know Israel well and I support Israel,” he said. “But this war cabinet is one of the most conservative war cabinets in the history of Israel and there’s no ultimate answer other than a two-state solution here.”
Ultimately, the questions came back to Biden’s well-being. The president was asked if he’d be willing to take another neurological exam.
“Every single day I’m surrounded by good docs, if they think there’s a problem, I promise you or even if they don’t think it’s a problem, they think I should have a neurological exam again I’ll do it but no one’s suggesting that to me now,” he responded.
When asked by a reporter if he’d step aside if data showed Vice President Harris would be in a better position to win the election in November, Biden remained defiant.
“No, unless they came back and said there’s no way you can win,” he said. “Me. No one’s saying that. No poll says that.”
Former President Donald Trump seized the moment during Thursday’s press conference, commenting on Biden’s missteps on his Truth Social app, highlighting any mistakes the president made. When asked about that, Biden replied, “Listen to him.”
Crooked Joe begins his “Big Boy” Press Conference with, "I wouldn't have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president, though I think she was not qualified to be president." Great job, Joe!
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 12, 2024
More Democratic lawmakers call on Biden to drop out of race
While President Biden may have hoped his press conference Thursday night would calm fears of his abilities among his party, three more Democratic lawmakers are now calling for him to drop out of the race. They join 13 other House members and one Senate Democrat.
Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut said in a statement that he believes Biden is “a remarkable leader” but needs to “step away from his presidential campaign.”
Rep. Scott Peters of California said he’s asking the president to withdraw, adding the stakes are high and the Democrats are on a losing course.
And Rep. Eric Sorensen of Illinois said he hopes the president will step aside for a candidate “who will communicate a positive vision for every person in this country.”
Meanwhile, CBS News reports dozens of Democratic lawmakers are expected to issue statements calling for Biden to leave the race within the next 48 hours.
Trump asks judge to toss criminal conviction over SCOTUS immunity ruling
Former President Trump is seeking to have his recent criminal conviction in New York thrown out based on the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity. Trump’s lawyers argue some of the evidence and testimony used in the criminal trial should not have been allowed because they were related to official acts Trump made while president, which the Supreme Court ruled are protected from prosecution.
Already the Supreme Court’s decision has delayed sentencing in that case. Originally set for Thursday, July 11, it’s now been pushed back to Sept. 18 to give the judge time to consider how the ruling impacts the outcome of the trial.
We were all taught in grade school that there are no kings here in America, but what the MAGA Justices have done is placed a crown on Donald Trump's head.
I am working in the Senate on legislation to clarify that Trump's election-subversion acts do not count as official acts.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Democrats are considering a bill that would classify some of Trump’s actions that have landed him in legal troubles as “unofficial acts” so he could still be prosecuted.
Record-setting heat wave scorches western U.S., dozens dead
A week-long heat wave has left nearly 30 people dead and incinerated multiple temperature records in the west. Forecasters say it will continue to bring dangerously high temperatures through Saturday, July 13, before moving to the central and eastern U.S. by Sunday, July 14.
Millions of people across multiple states are under heat advisories. The situation is especially bad in Texas, where thousands of people are still without power after Hurricane Beryl tore through Monday, July 8, killing at least ten people.
More than 1 million power customers in southeast Texas — mainly between Galveston and north of Houston — are still without power. Officials say half a million Houston-area homes and businesses may not have their power restored until July 22.
NRG Arena is being converted into a 250-bed post-hospital recovery site so discharged patients don’t go to homes without power. This is intended to alleviate the backup of patients at Houston’s hospitals. #KHOU11pic.twitter.com/zmPQowa9nO
The outages have crippled infrastructure across the region, including hospitals and water treatment plants, leaving many without clean drinking water.
Dollar General to pay $12M safety violations settlement
Dollar General has agreed to pay a $12 million fine and improve working conditions at thousands of its stores across the country. The company reached a settlement with OSHA to resolve alleged violations, including unsafe storage, blocked emergency exits and fire extinguishers, and inaccessible electrical panels.
Under the agreement, if inspectors find similar problems in the future, Dollar General could be fined up to $100,000 a day if they’re not resolved within 48 hours.
The terms of the deal also require Dollar General to significantly reduce inventory and improve stocking to prevent hazards and hire more safety managers, as well as create a health and safety committee with employee participation.
Prince Harry accepts Pat Tillman Award for Service at 2024 ESPYs
The best in the world of sports were honored Thursday night at ESPN’s annual award show — the ESPYs. But going into the event, there was some controversy over ESPN’s choice to receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
Prince Harry is the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
The Duke of Sussex founded The Invictus Games, an international platform that supports wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women who are navigating both physical and invisible injuries. pic.twitter.com/M3F3Rmft4j
Prince Harry was selected for his role in starting the Invictus Games for wounded military personnel and veterans.
In the days leading up to the ceremony. the mother of Pat Tillman — the former NFL player turned U.S. soldier who was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 — criticized ESPN’s selection, saying there were recipients far more fitting. Harry took a moment to respond to the controversy while delivering his acceptance speech.
“I’d like to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to everyone at the Pat Tillman Foundation, led by Marie Tillman Shenton, who I’m so honored is here tonight,” he said. “I’d also like to acknowledge the Tillman family, especially Mrs. Mary Tillman, Pat’s mother. Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect. The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses.”
During his speech, Prince Harry said he is just a voice for the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service members who have taken part in the games over the past 10 years, adding the award belongs to them.
