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Southwest Airlines promised better performance after holiday meltdown. Has it delivered?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

Alexandra Skores | The Dallas Morning News (TNS)DALLAS — More than half a year has elapsed since Southwest Airlines’ December meltdown displaced thousands of passengers and canceled flights for days across the country during the holidays.The airline promised passengers that it has put measures in place so something of this magnitude wouldn’t happen again. Southwest CEO Bob Jordan has praised the airline’s operational performance and continued to reiterate that customers have stayed loyal to the carrier.“I guarantee there’ll be changes to our plan to put even more focus on operations because, I can’t say it enough, it just can’t happen again,” Jordan said during an interview with the Dallas Morning News in January.So how has the Dallas-based carrier fared since then?For the first six months of the year, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking data firm, Southwest had 709,073 flights in the U.S. and international flights in and out of the country scheduled, but it canceled 8...

Here’s the latest on Madonna’s shows in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

Madonna has announced her rescheduled North American dates for her Celebration Tour.She has also canceled a number of pre-existing dates.Both of those items factor into the pop star’s California run.Madonna is now set to perform Feb. 27-28 at Chase Center in San Francisco, two shows that were originally scheduled for Oct. 4-5. Her date at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento has been moved from Jan. 13 to Feb. 24.Madonna’s San Francisco date on Jan. 15 has been canceled.And there has been a whole mess of changes for her run in Los Angeles.For starters, her dates on Sept. 27, 28, 30 and Oct. 1 at Crypto.com Arena have been moved to March 4, 5, 7 and 9 at the Kia Forum, respectively.Also, the Jan. 7 and 8 shows originally set for KIA are being combined into one date at the same venue on March 11.Tickets for the previously scheduled shows will be valid at the rescheduled dates — except in the case of Los Angeles (and one gig in New York) due to the change of venue.L.A. f...

College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

By Elaine S. Povich, Stateline.orgThousands of college students will get hundreds of dollars in compensation as colleges and universities move this summer to settle multimillion-dollar lawsuits stemming from canceled classes and activities during COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.While some of the class-action suits against the colleges and universities are still in litigation, and still others dismissed, several major cases have been settled in recent weeks.The settlements mean students who were charged tuition and fees but weren’t able to use in-person services during the pandemic shutdowns will receive some compensation, though they won’t be refunded for all the on-campus amenities they lost.The amounts depend on the total settlement figure, minus legal fees and other court expenses. Each case has a different timeline.Most recently, the University of Delaware agreed in June to set up a $6.3 million fund to partially reimburse tuition and fees that the students paid for classes, housing...

Pac-12 finances: Estimating the NCAA Tournament cash available for the remaining schools

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

Before the ‘Pac-4’ schools begin their home renovation — if, in fact, they choose that option — the quartet must establish a budget. How much cash would Cal, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State have available to offset expenses and attract expansion candidates?The details are unknown. Less than two weeks after the collapse of the conference, the financial officers and general counsels are plowing through budgets, bank accounts and bylaws.Which schools have voting rights and thus control the assets?How significant are the liabilities?What resources are available for the rebuild?One revenue stream is clear: The remaining schools would own the NCAA Tournament units earned by the outgoing members.“Those shares stay with the conference,” Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes said recently. “It’s one of the many valuable assets we have.”Each game played by a conference in March Madness equals one unit. Those units translate to dollars and are paid out...

Local news producer dies in Folsom Lake accident

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

(KRON) -- A producer at KCRA News in Sacramento was killed over the weekend in an accident on Folsom Lake, the station confirmed on its website. Kathryn Hoedt, who was known as "Katie," according to KCRA, was killed on Saturday just before 12:30 p.m. when she fell from a rope swing.Hoedt, who was just 23, fell 30 feet onto the shoreline north of Rattlesnake Bar. Her friends took her to a nearby boat ramp where an off-duty doctor performed CPR, according to KCRA.Park rangers arrived to assist and Hoedt was taken to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Body found at Golden Gate Park identified as San Francisco woman Hoedt was a producer on the morning newscast at KCRA 3, according to the station. She earned a master's degree from New York University at age 21.In the wake of her death, Hoedt's parents have called for an increase in water safety at Folsom Lake. Rope swings are not permitted at the lake according to chief ranger Barry Smith."You don't know wh...

Grass fire shuts down SR-242 connector ramp in Concord

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

(KRON) -- A grass fire underneath an overpass has shut down the State Route 242 connector ramp from Interstate 680 just after 9 a.m. on Tuesday. All lanes are closed. A photo by KRON4 Reporter Michael Thomas shows the fire from I-680.The cause of the grass fire is currently unknown. This is developing news. Stick with us for updates.

Bills tackle Brandon Shell not at practice, with team announcing 7th-year player intends to retire

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Recently signed offensive tackle Brandon Shell was not present at the Buffalo Bills’ practice on Tuesday, with the team announcing the 31-year-old intends to retire after seven NFL seasons.Shell signed with the Bills on June 1 and was listed as the primary backup to starting right guard Spencer Brown on the team’s depth chart. His departure thins Buffalo’s veteran depth at the position, leaving the team with only two backup tackles with NFL experience — sixth-year player David Quessenberry and Tommy Doyle, who is entering his third season.Shell played 18 snaps, including one on special teams, in a 23-19 preseason-opening win against Indianapolis on Saturday. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 324 pounds, Shell started 11 games for Miami last season after being promoted off the Dolphins’ practice squad. He spent his first four seasons with the New York Jets and spent two years with the Seattle Seahawks.Overall, he had 72 starts in 83 career NFL games, and was a fo...

IF Grissom back with the Braves after 2B Albies goes on injured list with hamstring strain

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves recalled infielder Vaughn Grissom from Triple-A Gwinnett ahead of their game against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.Grissom, who lost out for the starting shortstop job during spring training, was promoted after the Braves placed second baseman Ozzie Albies on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.Nicky Lopez had three hits and drove in three runs while replacing Albies in Atlanta’s 11-3 win over the Yankees on Monday night. It was the first game Albies missed all season.Lopez likely will get more playing time, though Grissom played 40 games at second base last season while Albies was injured.One of the Braves’ top prospects, Grissom showed plenty of offensive potential by batting .291 with five homers, 18 RBIs and five stolen bases in 2022, making him the apparent successor at shortstop after Dansby Swanson left in free agency.But questions about the 22-year-old Grissom’s defensive skills led to journeyman Orlando ...

California judge charged in wife’s murder expected to appear in Los Angeles court

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California judge charged with killing his wife during an argument while he was drunk is expected to appear Tuesday in court.Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, who is free on $1 million bail, is set to be arraigned on a murder charge in a Los Angeles courtroom. The hearing is scheduled there because Ferguson has been a judge hearing criminal cases in a courtroom about 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the southeast in Orange County.The 72-year-old was arrested on Aug. 3 at his home in the upscale neighborhood of Anaheim Hills after police found his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, shot to death. Prosecutors said in court filings that the couple had been arguing and the judge was drinking when he pulled a pistol from an ankle holster and shot her in the chest. The couple’s adult son and Ferguson called 911, and Ferguson texted his court clerk and bailiff to say he had shot his wife, according to the filings.He texted: “I just lost it. I just shot ...

Going to college? Here’s what you should know about student loans

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — If you’re heading to college or starting to think about where you’d like to apply, you’re probably considering options for funding your education. If you need to borrow money to pursue your dreams, you are far from alone. According to the Federal Reserve, 30% of all U.S. adults said they incurred at least some debt for their education. Borrowers owe a collective $1.77 trillion in student loan debt, including federal and private loans. “Borrowing is almost at the point where it’s a requirement,” said Dana Kelly, from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.If you’re a high school senior or a college student, you’ll want to apply for federal student loans through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA, in December for the 2024-2025 school year. For private student loans, you can apply whenever you need the loan. When you take out student loans, it’s beneficial have to have an idea of what professiona...