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California travel industry edges closer to a full recovery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:33 GMT

California’s travel industry is gaining on a record-setting 2019, according to a new report from Visit California, projected this year to surpass a pre-pandemic milestone as the industry heads toward a full recovery.The nonprofit organization, which promotes and tracks tourism in California, said travel-related spending in the Golden State grew to $134.4 billion in 2022. That’s a 31.7% increase from the previous year but down 7.2% from the $144.9 billion peak seen in 2019.SEE MORE: New rules would have airlines paying passengers if flights canceled, delayedANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: A sign advertises Downtown Disney near Disneyland on April 24, 2023 in Anaheim, California. Disney will lay off several thousand workers this week amid an overall push by the media giant to cut 7,000 total jobs in an effort to save $5.5 billion in costs. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) The report also breaks out 2022 travel-related spending by county:Los Angeles County: $28.5 billion, up fro...

New rules would have US airlines paying passengers if flights canceled, delayed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:33 GMT

By David Koenig | The Associated PressThe Biden administration is working on new regulations that would require airlines to compensate passengers and cover their meals and hotel rooms if they are stranded for reasons within the airline’s control.The White House said President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg would announce the start of the rulemaking process Monday.The rulemaking pledge continues a push by the Democratic administration to require airlines to improve customer service, and it comes just weeks before the start of the peak summer travel season.The aim of the rules would be, for the first time, to require airlines to pay compensation beyond a ticket refund and to cover expenses that consumers incur, including rebooking on another flight, if the airline causes a cancellation or significant delay.“When an airline causes a flight cancellation or delay, passengers should not foot the bill,” Buttigieg said in a statement.Airline-caused cancellations inclu...

Cop accused of helping plan 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville decertified

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:33 GMT

The state’s law enforcement licensing commission decertified a former Woburn police officer accused of helping plan a 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., a move that adds the cop’s name to a national database of decertified officers.It is the first time the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission has decertified an officer under a 2020 police reform law that was created and passed in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.New records released Monday show that former Woburn cop John Donnelly entered into a “voluntary decertification agreement” with the POST Commission that was signed by POST Commission Chair Margaret Hinkle last month.“The respondent John Donnelly has entered into a voluntary decertification agreement under which he has agreed to the revocation of his certification as a law enforcement officer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the entry of his decertification in the National Decerti...

Woman, two police officers charged in home invasion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:33 GMT

Two Detroit police officers and a Warren woman were charged last week in connection to a Roseville home invasion last month.It is alleged that on April 11, Detroit police officers Brianna Cabano and Dayna Sears went with Warren resident Colleen Compton to the victim’s residence, who is also a Detroit police officer, and forced entry into his residence. The three women allegedly damaged his home and stole his property.Cabano, 29,  of Auburn Hills and Cabano, 29, of Warren were each charged with second degree home invasion, a 15-year felony; home invasion second degree conspiracy, a 15-year felony; malicious destruction of property between $1,000-$20,000, a five-year felony; and larceny in a building, a four-year felony.Sears, 21, of Southfield was charged with home invasion in the second degree; malicious destruction of property between $1,000-$20,000; larceny in a building; and accessory after the fact to a felony, a five-year felony.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | ...

Putin tells WWII event West is waging a ‘real war’ on Russia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:33 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday told his country’s traditional Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square that the West’s “untamed ambitions, arrogance and impunity” are driving “a real war” against Russia, while the Kremlin’s forces fired another cruise missile barrage at Ukraine.“Today civilization is once again at a decisive turning point,” Putin said at the annual commemorations celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. “A real war has been unleashed against our Motherland.”Putin’s remarks came just hours after the Kremlin’s forces fired its latest barrage of cruise missiles at Ukraine, which Russia invaded more than 14 months ago in what it officially refers to as a “special military operation.”Ukrainian authorities said air defenses destroyed 23 of the 25 missiles that were launched. The air force said in a Telegram post that eight Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from carriers in the Black Sea toward the east and 17 from strategic aircraft.Putin has ...

Party officials: Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan arrested as he appears in court on anti-graft charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:33 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Party officials: Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan arrested as he appears in court on anti-graft charges.Source

Tysons stumble as meat prices continue dropping in time for summer grilling season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:33 GMT

Tyson Foods suffered a surprise loss in the second quarter, something not since 2009, and cut its sales forecast due to the cost of plant closures and layoffs.Shares slid more than 15% Monday.Tyson has been trying to cut costs over the last six months. It closed its corporate offices in Chicago and South Dakota late last year and consolidated its workforce in Arkansas. In March it announced the closure of two plants in Arkansas and Virginia in order to better use available capacity at other facilities.Tyson laid off 15% of its senior leadership and 10% of its corporate workers last month as it faces steep inflation on labor, grain and other inputs.CEO Donnie King said in a conference call Monday that feed costs for chickens were $145 million higher in the second quarter. And in 2021 the company raised wages and implemented changes like flexible scheduling in order to combat rising absenteeism at plants.Chicken sales volumes rose 6% in the quarter but prices lagged as supplies rose a...

Alderweireld abused online after Belgian league match

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:33 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Former Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld was targeted by online hate messages including threats against his family following a Belgian league match.Alderweireld received the messages on social media after Antwerp rallied past Genk 2-1 in the league’s playoffs on Sunday. Alderweireld scored Antwerp’s first goal as his team came from behind to win.“I don’t understand why you write this and what you want to achieve with this,” Alderweireld asked the abuser after posting screenshots of the hateful messages on Instagram. “Everything has limits. I can take quite a bit, but threatening my family is beyond me.”Alderweireld is the latest high-profile soccer player in a long list to receive online abuse. The scope of hate speech aimed at players was detailed by FIFA last year from research at the European Championship and Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 2021. It said half of the players received some kind of discriminatory abuse, with most of it coming from t...

Estudiantes podrán hacer ejercicio gratis en Planet Fitness este verano: aquí cómo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:33 GMT

Planet Fitness ofrece a los adolescentes la oportunidad de mantenerse en forma durante el verano.Por tercer año consecutivo, la cadena de gimnasios recupera su programa llamado “High School Summer Pass” para ayudar a los estudiantes de secundaria a “mantenerse activos durante los meses de verano en un entorno divertido y seguro”, explica la empresa en un comunicado de prensa.Con este programa, los adolescentes de 14 a 19 años podrán hacer ejercicio en cualquiera de los más de 2,400 centros Planet Fitness desde el 15 de mayo hasta el 31 de agosto. Para inscribirse, los adolescentes sólo tienen que visitar la página del Pase de Verano en el sitio web de Planet Fitness y rellenar la información solicitada. Los menores de 18 años deberán inscribirse junto a uno de sus padres, ya sea en línea o en persona. Estudio revela cuál sería el mejor momento para quemar grasa con el ejercicio Los participantes en el “Summer Pass” tendrá...

Gregor Townsend extends deal as Scotland rugby coach to 2026

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:43:33 GMT

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Scotland ended any uncertainty over the future of head coach Gregor Townsend heading into the Rugby World Cup by handing him a new contract until April 2026 on Tuesday.Townsend is already the longest-serving Scotland coach in the professional era, having been in charge since 2017.His contract with Scotland was due to expire after the World Cup but he has been given at least three more Six Nations campaigns at the helm.The Scots were third in this year’s Six Nations, their highest finish since 2018, and have climbed to No. 5 in the world rankings.“As coaches, we have been very encouraged by the progress the team has made this season, and we believe there is much more to come from this group,” Townsend said. “I also feel the connection the team has with the country is special and that our supporters are backing the team like never before … Our focus right now remains on Rugby World Cup preparations, but I am delighted to have secured my fut...