Thursday, October 24, 2024
It is Thursday, October 24, 2024. Here are today’s top stories.
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American Airlines fined $50M over treatment of disabled passengers
CBS News said American Airlines has agreed to pay a $50 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Transportation for violating laws that protect airline passengers with disabilities and those who use wheelchairs.
The DOT said it has multiple cases of American Airlines providing unsafe physical assistance to passengers who use wheelchairs, which resulted in injuries and mistreatment.
The DOT said the airline mishandled or damaged thousands of passengers’ wheelchairs in recent years.
DOT said although other airlines have issues with customers with disabilities, American Airlines was one of the worse airlines.
The $50 million fine will be split with half going to the U.S. federal government and the other half invested in airline equipment to reduce incidents of wheelchair damage and compensate passengers who felt their rights were violated.
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Arizona man accused of shooting at Democratic office
Police in Arizona said they arrested a 60-year-old man who is suspected of shooting at a Democratic Party campaign office on three occasions since September. Nobody was injured but it spooked workers and the office was forced to shut down.
The suspect’s name is Jeffrey Michael Kelly. Police said when they searched his home, they found over 120 guns, including machine guns, 250,000 rounds of ammunition and a grenade launcher. The front of his home had anti-Democratic Party signs that were lined with razor blades.
An attorney for Kelly said he had licenses to own his weapons, had no criminal record, and is more of a genius than a menace.
Kelly was charged with terrorism charges. Prosecutors said they believe he was preparing to commit an act of mass casualty. He is behind bars on a $500,000 bond and if he posts bond, will have to be placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/us/politics/arizona-dnc-office-shootings-arrest.html
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Boeing workers reject new contract, remain on strike
Axios reported that machinists who work for Boeing will remain on strike after 64% of union members rejected a contract offer.
The strike has lasted for six weeks and will keep on going. About 33,000 workers, including Deaf workers, are picketing. Boeing is losing billions of dollars due to the strike.
Union leaders said this is “workplace democracy.” They said they feel like they didn’t get enough the past ten years so they want to see the company make it up to them.
https://www.axios.com/2024/10/24/boeing-workers-reject-contract-offer-continue-strike
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Surfer dies after being impaled by swordfish
A 36-year-old surfer tragically died when she was impaled in the chest by a swordfish while surfing in Indonesia. Her name was Giulia Manfrini and she was from Italy.
A local official said Manfrini was surfing in a popular surfing area when unexpectedly, a swordfish jumped towards her and struck her squarely in the chest.
She was able to signal for help and although she got first aid and was transported to a medical center, she passed away.
Manfrini was popular on Instagram and ran a business that specialized in surfing travel. Her colleague said she was a victim of a “freak accident” and that she died doing what she loved, in a place that she loved.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/surfer-dies-reportedly-impaled-swordfish-indonesia-rcna176524
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Denny’s to close 150 restaurants
Denny’s said it would close 150 of its restaurants over the next year and may change its hours to stop being open 24 hours a day.
Denny’s said 50 locations will close by the end of this year and the other 100 will close in 2025. There will still be over 1,300 restaurants nationwide.
Denny’s executives said they are cutting off “underperforming restaurants” that cost the company money. Some locations are too old to be remodeled or in areas that no longer generate profits.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/22/food/dennys-closures/index.html
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That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.