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In 2015, two strangers on a flight noticed they looked nearly identical. After a laugh and a selfie,…
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Tag: travel
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AP PHOTOS: How Churchill embraces its title as polar bear capital of the world
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CHURCHILL, Manitoba (AP) — When polar bears started coming to Churchill, tourists did too.
And then suddenly, polar bears began to appear everywhere — from artwork to cushion covers and even on beer cans — as residents of this remote Canadian town on Hudson Bay embraced their title as polar bear capital of the world.
Tourists are greeted with bear imagery wherever they go. At one hotel restaurant, a painting of three bears resting on the sea ice hangs high above dining tables. In a hotel room, a cushion features the animals spelling out “polar bear” as they strike various yoga-like poses. At a tour company gift shop, a giant blue sculpture of a bear welcomes customers outside the entrance.
But the bears are not just for tourists: one residential apartment building features a giant mural of a polar bear standing on its hind legs, peering into the town. Another mural, this one on the side of a business, features alternating images of polar bears painted in bright colors and beluga whales swimming in pairs. And readers at the town’s public library share their space with a giant sculpture of a grinning bear, displayed prominently between the shelves.
In the town’s grocery stores, too, shoppers can enjoy a “bluebeary” ale, with an illustration of a polar bear on the can.
A pillow sits on a bed, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, at the Polar Inn and Suites in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
A can of beer with a polar bear on its label sits on a shelf, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, at a market in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) Climate change, caused mostly by people burning coal, oil and gas, means that one day the local population of polar bears could almost disappear.
But as long as there are bears in Churchill, residents and tourists alike will continue to appreciate and memorialize them.
A dumpster sits outside of the Tundra Pub, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
A garage displays a mural of a sleeping polar bear, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Churchill, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) __
Follow Joshua A. Bickel on X and Instagram.
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The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
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Alcohol-free beer is gaining popularity, even at Oktoberfest
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MUNICH (AP) — The head brewmaster for Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery, has a secret: He really likes alcohol-free beer.
Even though he’s quick to say he obviously enjoys real beer more, Tobias Zollo says he savors alcohol-free beer when he’s working or eating lunch. It has the same taste but fewer calories than a soft drink, he said, thanks to the brewery’s process of evaporating the alcohol.
“You can’t drink beer every day — unfortunately,” he joked last week at the Bavarian state brewery in the German town of Freising, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Munich.
Zollo isn’t alone in his appreciation for the sober beverage. Alcohol-free beer has been gaining popularity in recent years as beer consumption shrinks.
AP correspondent Shelley Adler reports alcohol-free beer is gaining in popularity, even at Oktoberfest.
At Weihenstephan, which was founded as a brewery in 1040 by Benedictine monks, non-alcoholic wheat beer and lager now make up 10% of the volume. The increase over the last few years, since they started making alcohol-free drinks in the 1990s, mirrors the statistics for the rest of Germany’s beer industry.
“The people are unfortunately — I have to say that as a brewer — unfortunately drinking less beer,” Zollo said Friday, the day before Oktoberfest officially started. “If there’s an alternative to have the crisp and fresh taste from a typical Weihenstephan beer, but just as a non-alcoholic version, we want to do that.”
Even at Oktoberfest — arguably the world’s most famous ode to alcohol — alcohol-free beer is on the menu.
All but two of the 18 large tents at the festival offer the drink through the celebration’s 16 days. The sober beverage will cost drinkers the same as an alcoholic beer — between 13.60 and 15.30 euros ($15.12 and $17.01) for a 1-liter mug (33 fluid ounces) — but save them from a hangover.
“For people who don’t like to drink alcohol and want to enjoy the Oktoberfest as well, I think it’s a good option,” Mikael Caselitz, 24, of Munich said Saturday inside one of the tents. “Sometimes people feel like they have more fun with alcohol, which is not a good thing because you can also have fun without alcohol.”
He added: “If you want to come and drink alcohol-free beer, nobody will judge you.”
This year marked the first time an alcohol-free beer garden opened in Munich. “Die Null,” which means “the zero” in German, served non-alcoholic beer, mocktails and other alcohol-free drinks near the city’s main train station this summer but was scheduled to close a few day before Oktoberfest opened.
Walter König, managing director of the Society of Hop Research north of Munich, said researchers have had to breed special hops varieties for alcohol-free beer. If brewers use the typical hops for alcohol-free beer, the distinct aroma gets lost when the alcohol is reduced during the brewing process.
But customers don’t care about that, König said Friday as he prepared for Oktoberfest.
“They only want to know that what they are tasting is as good as traditional beers with alcohol,” he said.
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JetBlue will imitate bigger and more successful rivals by opening airport lounges at JFK, Boston
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JetBlue Airways will open its first airport lounges next year in New York and Boston in a bid to compete with larger airlines for premium travelers.
The airline said Thursday that it will open an 8,000-square-foot lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York late next year, followed shortly by an 11,000-square-foot one at Boston Logan International Airport.
JetBlue said the lounges will primarily be for top-level members of its TrueBlue frequent-flyer program and those who get a new, premium JetBlue-branded credit card that is not yet available. The airline will also sell day passes if space is available.
Jayne O’Brien, head of marketing and customer support for the New York-based airline, said the lounges are part of building stronger service for premium leisure travelers on the East Coast.
“The lounges are something we have been looking at for a while, and now is the right time to put in these extra benefits for our most valuable customers,” O’Brien said in an interview.
JetBlue declined to say how much it will cost to build and operate the lounges, which are a staple at key airports for American, Delta and United.
Delta and United have reported that revenue from premium passengers is growing faster than other segments.
O’Brien said JetBlue will consider whether to open lounges at other airports after it sees results from JFK and Boston.
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Southwest plans to cut flights in Atlanta while adding them elsewhere. Its unions are unhappy
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DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines plans to eliminate about one-third of its flights to Atlanta next year to save money as it comes under pressure from a hedge fund to increase profits and boost the airline’s stock price.
The retreat in Atlanta, where Southwest is far smaller than Delta Air Lines, will eliminate more than 300 jobs for pilots and flight attendants, although they will have a chance to relocate, according to the company.
A Southwest official said Wednesday the airline needs to cut unprofitable routes, and “demand for Atlanta doesn’t support our level of flying.”
While the airline’s planners “try everything they can before making hard decisions like this one, we have to make this change to help drive us back to profitability,” the Atlanta-based official, Tiffany Laurent, said in a memo to employees.
Shares of Dallas-based Southwest fell 4.6%.
Southwest executives are expected to detail other changes that it plans to make when it holds an investor meeting Thursday. The session is in response to Elliott Investment Management’s campaign to shake up Southwest’s leadership and reverse a decline in profits over the past three years.
Southwest will cut 58 flights per day and reduce its presence at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport from 18 to 11 gates, according to the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, which says the news is painful for Atlanta-based employees.
“It is simply amazing that the airline with the strongest network in the history of our industry is now retreating in a major market because this management group has failed to evolve and innovate,” the union said in a memo to pilots.
Bill Bernal, president of the Transport Workers Union local representing Southwest flight attendants, said his union is outraged by the reduction of Atlanta jobs. He said Southwest assured the union that it would grow in Atlanta.
“This is gaslighting at its finest,” Bernal said in a memo to union members. “Yet again, flight attendants are paying the price for poor management decisions.”
A Southwest spokesperson responded, “Decisions like these are difficult for our company because of the effects on our people, but we have a history of more than 53 years of ensuring they are taken care of.”
While retreating in Atlanta, Southwest published its schedule through next June on Wednesday, and it includes new routes between Nashville and six other cities along with five new red-eye flights from Hawaii to Las Vegas and Phoenix. Those additions start in April.
Earlier this year, Southwest pulled out of four smaller markets and announced it would limit hiring in response to weakening financial results and delays in getting new planes from Boeing.
More notably, CEO Robert Jordan said in July that Southwest will begin assigning passengers to seats and set aside nearly one-third of its seats for premium service with more legroom.
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Flooding from seasonal rains threatens residents in northern Thailand, including elephants
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BANGKOK (AP) — Flooding in northern Thailand forced many residents of the city of Chiang Mai and its outskirts to seek safety on higher ground on Friday, with members of the animal world under similar threat.
Evacuations were underway at the Elephant Nature Park, which houses around 3,000 rescued animals, including 125 elephants, 800 dogs, 2,500 cats, 200 rabbits and 200 cows.
Flood waters caused by heavy rainfall swept through the park on Thursday.
Heavy seasonal monsoon rains and the effects of Typhoon Yagi combined to cause serious flooding in many parts of Thailand, with the northern region particularly badly hit.
Video posted online by the park vividly illustrated that care and compassion are not solely human traits.
The video shows several of the park’s resident elephants fleeing through rising, muddy water to ground less inundated.
Three of them dash through the deluge with some ease but, according to the park, a fourth one is blind and was falling behind. It showed greater difficulty passing through wrecked fencing.
Its fellows appear to call out to it, to guide it to their sides.
Efforts to evacuate more animals were hampered by the high water, while more rain is forecast.
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Manitoba’s train is a lifeline for many towns. Now tourists are also discovering the route
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The setting sun backlights a pristine panoply of pines of different sizes and species. Far northern Canadian countryside rolls by at a leisurely pace of a train ride, viewed through an upper deck glass-enclosed of a special observation car. Waves of green and brown in slightly varying shades sweep by. There’s no working Wi-Fi to interrupt with emails or social media demanding attention.
It’s mesmerizing and calming. Two or three hours pass peacefully without notice.
Now repeat. Repeat again. And again. Two hours becomes two days.
To get between Churchill, Manitoba, Canada — the polar bear and beluga whale capital of the world and a tourist hot spot for northern adventure tourism — and Winnipeg, Manitoba, there are only two options: A $1,100 one-way plane flight that takes two-and-a-half hours or a scenic 45-hour to 49-hour much cheaper train ride. It’s a $200 train ride like few others from the glass ceiling of the observation car Canada’s VIA railroad bills it as a “scenic adventure.”
It starts with a vista of the tree-less but not quite barren tundra, then powers through hours of tall forests. They eventually give way to more manicured cropland with the occasional animal, even a herd of elk. Sunset glimmers off a lake. When night comes it holds the hope of a Northern Lights sighting stretching all around. If there are no glimmering auroras, there’s a special beauty in the pitch black outside with only the lights of the train interrupting.
And it goes on for 1,697 kilometers (1,054 miles). There are 10 listed stops enroute with some only for a few minutes and others a few hours.
It’s Churchill’s connection to the rest of the world
While it’s promoted for tourism, the train is actually a lifeline for the town of Churchill. The community has roads inside town and for a few miles to the outskirts, but no roads go to other cities. So it’s expensive flying or an overnight train ride at a more reasonable price tag.
The semi-weekly trains bring tourists, residents, mail, food, fuel and other necessities.
From May 2017 to October 2018, part of the rail line washed out because of storms and poor maintenance, stranding an entire community.
Staples had to be delivered by air and propane fuel was brought in by ship through the Hudson Bay. Prices in town skyrocketed and lawsuits were filed over who was responsible for the repair costs.
“We had no rail service for about 18 months meaning Churchilleans couldn’t go out by rail to visit their families in other parts of Manitoba,” Churchill Mayor Mike Spence said. “It was devastating.”
The town and some First Nations in the area took over the rail line and it’s back to operating. Spence said with the community pouring tens of millions of dollars into repairs the lines should stay open even as the world’s weather gets more extreme.
A passenger eats breakfast as a train travels Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, near Ilford, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
A young passenger hangs on the side of a train as others unload their belongings Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Thicket Portage, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) It’s a very long ride
Sleeper berths are available on the train, along with shower cubicles the size of those in a New York hotel room, but for those traveling more cheaply or booking late, there are standard seats in the cabin. The seats recline — mostly. But it’s not full laying down.
Food is also limited.
There is a small galley below the observation deck. It has some food, heated by a microwave. The train does serve beer, but limited brands. Frequent commuters and those who do their research know to bring their own snacks on board, and make the most of the restaurants at longer stops in towns on route.
Stations along the way vary greatly: In Dauphin, passengers wait outside an historic brick station built in 1912, but in Wabowden, a single yellow sign nailed to a pole near the track that reads “Muster Point” alerts passengers to the stop.
For residents of smaller communities along the route, the train provides the only connection to other parts of Manitoba.
Passengers wait outside the train station Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Dauphin, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
A train waits at a stop Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Wabowden, Manitoba. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) At Thompson, passengers are better connected — and fed
Many ride the train weekly, traveling to and from Thompson. At about 13,600 residents, it’s the biggest community the train stops at, besides Winnipeg, with amenities like big-box stores and restaurants.
Thompson — just under halfway between Churchill and Winnipeg — is where many Churchill residents train journey ends.
Residents said they often keep cars in Thompson, take the train there and then drive to Winnipeg. They can shave 17 hours off the trip that way, they said.
All but two dozen passengers got off at Thompson, the closest bigger community connected to the rest of Manitoba by road.
First Nation communities line the route
After leaving Thompson, the train heads to remote First Nation communities on both sides of the route.
And though the journey distance-wise is short, it takes hours by train, with many passengers passing the time playing cards and chatting with each other in the dining car.
The town of The Pas, one of the longer stop on the route, includes a bar right by the station. But the train’s porter warned passengers off it, saying it was a rather rough establishment. She knew because she has been there.
In Thicket Portage, population around 150, residents gather to meet their rides back to town at the stop, a small wooden shack near the tracks. Here, they unload their luggage and other goods, food, diapers and other staples.
The train also ventured into a different zone in eastern Saskatchewan and the cute downtown of Canora, which strangely wasn’t on the train schedule for stops.
As the train heads further south, the landscape changes, the northern forest giving way to crop fields and livestock as the route approaches Winnipeg in southern Manitoba.
And finally, after 49 hours, the train pulls into Winnipeg.
This glimpse into the beautiful monotony of vast stretches of untouched trees and tan tundra is a trip of a lifetime, which — for some passengers at least — seemed to last that long.
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Read more of AP’s climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment
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Follow Seth Borenstein and Joshua Bickel on X at @borenbears and @Joshuabickel
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The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
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A hiker dies in a fall at Arches National Park in Utah
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MOAB, Utah (AP) — A hiker died in a fall on a popular trail at Arches National Park in Utah.
The 68-year-old man from Paramus, New Jersey, fell about 30 feet (9 meters) Tuesday morning, park officials said in a statement.
Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. The man’s name wasn’t released.
The fall happened near an overlook on Devils Garden Trail, a popular loop in the busy park known for its 2,000 sandstone arches.
It’s the world’s highest concentration of natural arches.
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Boeing withdraws contract offer after talks with union end without a deal
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Workers picket outside a Boeing Co. facility during a strike in Everett, Washington, US, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Boeing Co. factory workers walked off the job for the first time in 16 years, halting manufacturing across the planemaker’s Seattle hub after members of its largest union voted overwhelmingly to reject a contract offer and go on strike.
M. Scott Brauer | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Boeing withdrew a contract offer for 33,000 machinists who have been on strike since mid-September, and said further negotiations “do not make sense at this point.”
The machinists walked off the job on Sept. 13 after overwhelmingly rejecting a tentative labor deal, halting production of most of Boeing’s aircraft, which are made in the Puget Sound area. Boeing later sweetened the offer, increasing pay raises, a ratification bonus and other improvements, which the union turned down, arguing that it was not negotiated.
Talks again broke down this week, meaning the strike will continue. The stoppage will cost Boeing more than $1 billion per month, S&P Global Ratings said Tuesday as it issued a negative outlook for the aerospace giant’s credit ratings.
Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing’s commercial aircraft unit, said the company improved contract pay during talks this week but said the union didn’t consider the proposals.
“Instead, the union made non-negotiable demands far in excess of what can be accepted if we are to remain competitive as a business,” Pope said in a staff note.
The union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said Tuesday that Boeing refused to improve wages, retirement plans and vacation or sick leave.
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Hot-air balloon bumps line, causing brief power outage during Albuquerque balloon fiesta
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A hot-air balloon bumped into a power line in northeast Albuquerque on Monday, leaving nearly 13,000 customers of a major electric utility without power for nearly an hour, authorities said.
Monday marked the third day of the 52nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
The state’s largest electricity provider, Public Service Company of New Mexico, said the incident occurred at 8:35 a.m. and affected 12,730 customers.
Fiesta spokesman Tom Garrity said the pilot was the only person aboard and landed the balloon safely and wasn’t hurt. The man’s name wasn’t released and there was no immediate word on what caused the incident.
The balloon fiesta is one of the most photographed events in the world, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators each fall to New Mexico to see more than 100 balloons in bright colors and special shapes soaring aloft.
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Orlando International Airport to cease operations on Wednesday due to Milton
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Hurricane Milton is expected to bring wind and rain to Central Florida and that will likely cause delays and cancellations at area airports.
Orlando International Airport announced Monday afternoon that the airport will cease commercial operations on Wednesday morning in advance of Hurricane Milton.
Check below to see the status of all the flights at Orlando International Airport, as well as Orlando Sanford airport.
**Be sure to double check your flight status on the airport websites as information could be delayed**
Orlando International Arrivals
Orlando International Departures
Orlando Sanford Arrivals
Orlando Sanford Departures
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Spectrum News Staff
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Monitor real-time traffic in Tampa Bay due to Milton
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TAMPA, Fla. — With the forecast showing Milton impacting the west coast of Florida, many people will be taking to the roads to prepare and or evacuate.
Use our real-time traffic map below to check on the status of the roads near you as you continue to prep for the storm.
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Spectrum News Staff
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Latest airport delays and cancellations due to Milton
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TAMPA, Fla. — Milton is expected to bring a lot of wind and rain to the Bay area and that will likely cause delays and cancellations at our local airports.
Check back often to see the status of all the flights at Tampa International Airport as well as St. Pete / Clearwater airport.
JUST IN: The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport said Sunday it is awaiting Pinellas County Evacuation orders to announce when the Airport Terminal will close. An announcement will be made as soon as a decision is made.
Operations Status
Tuesday, October 8th – Contact airline for information.
Wednesday October 9th – All Allegiant flights cancelled.
Thursday, October 10th – All Allegiant flights cancelled.Please contact the Airlines directly for information regarding cancellations and resumption of service.
Allegiant – www.allegiantair.com Phone: 702-505-8888
Sun Country – www.suncountry.com Phone: 651-905-2737The airport is in a mandatory evacuation zone. The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is not a public shelter.
For more information on emergency planning in Pinellas County, visit disaster.pinellas.gov
General Airport Information – 727-453-7800
**Be sure to double check your flight status on the airport websites as information could be delayed**
Tampa International Arrivals
Tampa International Departures
St. Pete Clearwater Arrivals
St. Pete Clearwater Departures
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These Manchester hotels were made for a girls’ weekend away
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The number of hotels in Manchester has been burgeoning over the past decade, which comes as no surprise, given the city’s steady incline in popularity amongst tourists, celebs and ex-Londoners alike. Indeed, Manchester, the reigning queen of eclectic UK cities, is one of the most visited spots in England, offering plenty of wonders for tourists willing to make the journey up North. It’s home to a bustling nightlife scene with cool bars, cafes, restaurants and boutiques in every corner, making it the perfect city destination for your next girl’s weekend away or hen party. So it’s no surprise that luxury hotels can now be found in their hundreds.
If you’re planning the perfect Manchester getaway, we’ve rounded up some of the coolest, buzziest and most stylish hotels in Manchester for your perusal. From chic, luxury hotels to cosy stylish boutique hotels, our guide has got you covered for every style and budget. We’re certain you’ll find just the right Manchester hotel to make your weekend away one to remember.
Best hotels in Manchester at a glance:
- Best five-star hotel: King Street Townhouse
- Best boutique hotel: The Lowry Hotel
- Best spa hotel: The Edwardian Manchester
- Best hotel in Manchester city centre: Stock Exchange Hotel
- Best hotel for a girls’ weekend: The Cow Hollow Hotel
Ahead, the best hotels in Manchester to check into in 2024…
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Hannah Lynn Tan, Ali Pantony, Ben Neale
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‘I had goosebumps’: Ohio couple wins $100,000 Keno prize while on vacation
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IT WAS A BITTERSWEET WIN FOR KAREN KAUFMAN, AS SHE WON BIG ON A $1 MILLION SCRATCH OFF JUST AS HER HUSBAND OF NEARLY 31 YEARS WAS LOSING HIS BATTLE WITH THE BRAIN TUMOR, HE COULDN’T DO ANYTHING ANYMORE, AND MY DAUGHTER MOVED BACK HOME TO HELP ME TAKE CARE OF HIM, AND I WORKED EVERY DAY AND SHE WOULD WATCH HIM WHILE I WAS AT WORK, AND I’D COME HOME AND BUT AND THAT WAS JUST ONE OF THE DAYS THAT I STOPPED AFTER WORK AND STOPPED HERE. AND GRABBED THE TICKET AND I SCRATCHED IT AND WON A MILLION DOLLARS. JUST TWO WEEKS AFTER WINNING THAT LIFE CHANGING SCRATCH OFF, HER HUSBAND PASSED AWAY. AND WHILE SHE SAYS HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY WERE SHOCKED BY THE WIN, SHE HAD BEEN TELLING HER HUSBAND FOR YEARS SHE WAS GOING TO WIN BIG. KAUFMAN ALREADY HAS SEVERAL PLANS FOR HOW SHE’LL SPEND THE MONEY. WE’RE GOING TO DISNEY. ANYTHING ELSE? UH, I’M PROBABLY MOVING SOUTH. YEAH. I DON’T WANT WINTER ANYMORE. SO THAT’S THE PLAN. AND GO DEEP SEA FISHING. KNOCK THAT OFF THE BUCKET LIST. TAKING THE GRANDSONS WITH ME. AND WHILE THIS IS KOFMAN’S BIGGEST LOTTERY WIN, IT IS NOT THE ONLY TIME SHE’S HAD LUCK HERE. SHE SAID SEVERAL YEARS AGO, SHE WON A FEW PRIZES AS A NICE TRIP AND EVEN A $65,000 SCRATCH OFF TICKET I
‘I had goosebumps’: Ohio couple wins $100,000 Keno prize while on vacation in Kentucky
An Ohio couple made a big splash during a recent vacation, returning home with an extra $100,000 on a winning Keno ticket with the Kentucky Lottery.Related video above: ‘Bittersweet’: Pennsylvania woman wins $1 million in lottery 2 weeks before husband’s deathThe lottery says Steven and Wendy Green of Alexandria, Ohio, were at their Lake Cumberland houseboat when they went to their favorite restaurant, Wings and Rings in Somerset, and played Keno while dining.Lottery officials say Steven Green told them he had played with the same 10 numbers for a while, using significant birthdays and ages of his wife and kids. But, this time, he changed up a couple of numbers and purchased a $5 ticket instead of a $10 one.“Oh my God, we hit a lot of numbers on this one,” Wendy Green told the lottery. Once the drawing was complete, they handed the ticket to the bartender to check. “She scanned it, but it gave them the message, ‘See KLC Corp, prize exceeds cashing limit,’” Steven Green said.The ticket matched 10 of 20 numbers on a Sept. 12 Keno drawing, earning them the game’s $100,000 top prize.”I had goosebumps,” Steven Green said, describing how he felt seeing the number pop up on the screen after he scanned his ticket. “It took about 10-15 minutes for it to sink in.””She started crying, I started crying. Then there was hugging,” he added.After taxes, the couple took home a check for $72,000. The couple told lottery officials they are looking to retire in a couple of years, so the winnings will help them prepare.For selling a winning ticket, Wings and Rings will receive $1,000.
SOMERSET, Ky. —An Ohio couple made a big splash during a recent vacation, returning home with an extra $100,000 on a winning Keno ticket with the Kentucky Lottery.
Related video above: ‘Bittersweet’: Pennsylvania woman wins $1 million in lottery 2 weeks before husband’s death
The lottery says Steven and Wendy Green of Alexandria, Ohio, were at their Lake Cumberland houseboat when they went to their favorite restaurant, Wings and Rings in Somerset, and played Keno while dining.
Lottery officials say Steven Green told them he had played with the same 10 numbers for a while, using significant birthdays and ages of his wife and kids. But, this time, he changed up a couple of numbers and purchased a $5 ticket instead of a $10 one.
“Oh my God, we hit a lot of numbers on this one,” Wendy Green told the lottery.
Once the drawing was complete, they handed the ticket to the bartender to check.
“She scanned it, but it gave them the message, ‘See KLC Corp, prize exceeds cashing limit,’” Steven Green said.
The ticket matched 10 of 20 numbers on a Sept. 12 Keno drawing, earning them the game’s $100,000 top prize.
“I had goosebumps,” Steven Green said, describing how he felt seeing the number pop up on the screen after he scanned his ticket. “It took about 10-15 minutes for it to sink in.”
“She started crying, I started crying. Then there was hugging,” he added.
After taxes, the couple took home a check for $72,000. The couple told lottery officials they are looking to retire in a couple of years, so the winnings will help them prepare.
For selling a winning ticket, Wings and Rings will receive $1,000.
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Spirit tumbles to record low on report it’s exploring a bankruptcy filing. Here’s how it got here
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A Spirit commercial airliner prepares to land at San Diego International Airport in San Diego, California, U.S., January 18, 2024.
Mike Blake | Reuters
Spirit Airlines shares tumbled to a record low on Friday after a report that it’s exploring Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The carrier faces a deadline this month to renegotiate more than $1 billion in debt.
A bankruptcy filing would mark a dramatic turn for the carrier with its iconic yellow planes that caters to budget-conscious travelers.
Profitable and punctual before the pandemic, Spirit’s no-frills service became a punchline for late-night comedians and a thorn in the side of big network carriers, enticing customers with double-digit fares and fees for everything else from seat assignments to carry-on luggage.
But big airlines soon successfully copied much of that business model with their lowest bare-bones fares. And a federal judge at the start of the year blocked Spirit’s planned acquisition by JetBlue Airways on antitrust grounds, halting what both carriers argued was a key avenue to compete with larger rivals. The scuttled deal left Spirit on its own to struggle with a Pratt & Whitney engine recall, shifting consumer travel patterns and higher costs.
After the JetBlue deal fell apart, Spirit said in January that it was looking at options to refinance its debt.
Spirit has $1.1 billion in loyalty-program backed debt that is due next September. It has until Oct. 21 to refinance or extend those secured notes.
The carrier has been losing money since 2020 and has reported disappointing results this year, including a nearly $193 million loss in the second quarter. The company has spent much of this year scrambling to cut costs, including furloughing pilots, slashing flights and deferring Airbus jetliner orders.
Spirit reduced its November and December capacity growth plans by about 17%, Barclays airline analyst Brandon Oglenski said earlier this week.
“As we’ve said, Spirit has been implementing a comprehensive plan to help us better compete, strengthen our balance sheet, and return to profitability,” CEO Ted Christie said in a note to staff on Friday. “We remain engaged in productive conversations with our bondholders, and we’re focused on securing the best outcome for the business as quickly as possible.”
A Spirit spokesman declined to comment on a the Wall Street Journal report that the carrier is considering a bankruptcy filing. Spirit adviser Perella Weinberg Partners declined to comment.
Spirit’s stock price dropped more than 24% Friday to a record low of $1.69. Shares are down nearly 90% so far this year.
Shares of Frontier Airlines, which originally planned to merge with fellow budget airline Spirit before JetBlue swooped in in 2022, surged 16% on Friday. Shares of other airlines also rallied.
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What to do with 2 million Marriott points? Get a Bellagio fountain show
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By Sally French | NerdWallet
Most people spend their hard-earned hotel points on, well, hotels. Atlanta-based accountant Scott Krupa spent more than 2.4 million Marriott Bonvoy points at the Bellagio Las Vegas Hotel and Casino for a chance to choreograph his own Fountains of Bellagio performance, a water show with lights and music that takes place at the fountains outside of the iconic Las Vegas Strip hotel.
Set to the song “Beautiful Day” by U2, his choreography debuted in August 2024 and now joins a rotation of 40 possible fountain shows that run every 15 to 30 minutes every afternoon and evening.
How Krupa redeemed points for the Bellagio fountain show
(Photo courtesy of Marriott) Krupa exchanged his points through the Marriott Bonvoy Moments program, which allows members to redeem for experiences like concert and sporting event tickets. Some experiences sell at fixed prices, while others — like the fountain show experience — involve a bidding system.
Krupa said bidding for this experience was open for nearly two months. Five minutes before closing, it was going for just 1.3 million Bonvoys. But within the last few minutes, it went up by more than 1 million points.
“I knew this was truly the one [experience] I wanted to do,” Krupa says. “I was prepared to bid as much as I had.”
NerdWallet values 2.4 million Marriott Bonvoy points. That places Krupa’s winning bid at about $21,600.
How Krupa earned 2 million Marriott points
Krupa says that, while he vacations more than most people, he’s not obsessive about earning Bonvoy points. He says he’s been charging most of his purchases to a Marriott-branded credit card for years, but he’s not a travel hacker who constantly churns credit cards to maximize welcome offers.
Krupa said he considered saving his points to travel during retirement or redeeming his points for another Marriott Bonvoy Moments package, such as a stay in Monaco for the Monaco Grand Prix, an annual Formula One motor racing event.
“I’d been waiting for the right thing to bid on — something that no number of phone calls and no amount of money could buy,” Krupa says. “The Bellagio show was the right one.”
What goes into making a custom Bellagio fountain show
Choreographing a Bellagio fountain show is incredibly complex. Show choreographers account for technical challenges, like the time needed to refill the tubes with sufficient air pressure to shoot the water into the sky. Songs are broken up into millisecond segments, with every water and light motion meticulously planned.
To choreograph the show, Krupa flew to the Los Angeles studio of WET, which is the water feature design firm behind the Bellagio show. It’s also the team behind other famous water installations, such as the HSBC Rain Vortex at Jewel Changi Airport, which is often considered the best airport in the world.
Krupa covered his own airfare, but the Bonvoy Moment he bid on included a hotel stay in Los Angeles, a private tour of the studios and a work session with the WET team to choreograph the show.
Once the show was ready for debut, Krupa and his fiance flew to Las Vegas. Marriott covered the hotel stay and a tour of the mechanical room underneath the 8.5-acre lake where the show takes place.
“This is the kind of experience that truly defines one in a lifetime opportunity,” he says.
And while Krupa says he was willing to spend every last point to his name, he didn’t have to.
“Let’s just say I didn’t spend them all,” he says. “Now I’m saving again for another Bonvoy Moment.”
Sally French writes for NerdWallet. Email: sfrench@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @SAFmedia.
The article What to Do With 2 Million Marriott Points? Get a Bellagio Fountain Show originally appeared on NerdWallet.
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Want to travel this fall? Amtrak offers heavy discount tickets from NY to other cities
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Do you love to travel during the fall and see leaves change colors? We’ve got good news.
Amtrak is making weekday travel throughout the Northeast more affordable with its Northeast Fall Flash Sale, offering customers up to 25% off regular-priced fares on select routes.
Travelers can take the train from New York City to fall foliage hotspots, including Boston, New Haven, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and more. The trips with discounts are on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays between Oct. 7 and Dec. 18, 2024.
The offer to book discounted fares on Acela Business Class and Coach Class is available only until Oct. 5.
“With our Northeast Fall Flash Sale, guests can experience the convenience of Amtrak at a great value,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Eliot Hamlisch. “With these discounts, it’s a perfect reason for travelers to escape for a fall getaway, see breathtaking views of vibrant fall foliage, or snap up tickets for holiday travel early.”
This offer is perfect for exploring vibrant cities, historical sites and popular destinations throughout the Northeast while fall foliage is at its peak.
For full Amtrak Northeast Fall Flash Sale details and to book, visit this page.
Sample one-way fares include:
City Pairs Coach class Acela Business class New York City to Philadelphia $15 $114 Boston
to Providence$16 $62 Philadelphia
to New York City$26 $74 Washington, DC
to Philadelphia$28 $77 New Haven
to Boston$30 $85 Baltimore
to New York City$39 $102 New York City
to Boston$42 $90 Washington, DC
to New York City$42 $107 [ad_2]
SANDRA ESCALLÓN and TELEMUNDO 47
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My Secret Weapon for Affordable Business Travel | Entrepreneur
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Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.
Written by Amanda Eiden
I used to dread booking business trips. I’d spend hours hunched over my laptop, scouring the web for airfare that didn’t send my little art shop into the red. Needless to say, consistently high airfare costs drained the fun of touring brick-and-mortar stores and meeting with investors interested in my brand.
Matt’s Flights changed everything. This flight alert service constantly sends me affordable airfare deals. I haven’t stressed about booking in months. I only paid $79.97, and I’ll get offers emailed to me for life.
You won’t believe how affordable my flight to JFK was
These deals have already saved my business hundreds of dollars. A hobby shop in Brooklyn wanted me to visit in November, and my heart started racing—I figured flight costs would be off the charts with the upcoming holiday season.
I didn’t even want to look at Delta’s website. So, I went to Matt’s Flights and entered a custom search request that included the airports and my travel dates. I was already getting emails with deals for locations like Orlando, Houston, and Charlotte, but I didn’t have time to wait until deals for New York City hit my inbox.
Matt got back to me the next day with a flight from BOS to JFK for only $34. I literally couldn’t believe it, but I booked it anyway. And, yes, that was a roundtrip flight.
The prices I found on my own were closer to $200, so I’m not sure how Matt could find flights for so cheap. I won’t question his methods because me and my little sticker shop are grateful. With prices like these, I’ll get more opportunities to travel and grow my business into something huge. Well, I can hope.
If you want to find discounted flights for business travel, I couldn’t recommend Matt’s Flights more. Get a lifetime subscription for $79.97 (reg. $1,800) for a limited time.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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