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WestJet to shut down Sunwing Airlines, merge it with mainline business

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

WestJet is planning to wind down Sunwing Airlines, integrating the low-cost carrier into its mainline business within two years as part of a plan to streamline operations.In an internal memo obtained by The Canadian Press, Sunwing Airlines president Len Corrado says the change will unlock growth opportunities for the 18-year-old company as well as its employees.The decision comes barely a week after WestJet opted to fold budget subsidiary Swoop’s operations under its flagship banner as well.Both moves magnify the major consolidation of the Canadian aviation market that followed WestJet’s acquisition of Sunwing’s main airline and vacation divisions last month.The memo gave no indication that Sunwing Vacations would also shut down, suggesting that WestJet planes could be flying Sunwing tour package customers to their destinations.Last week, WestJet announced it would fold Swoop into its main business by late October as the country’s second-biggest airline recal...

WestJet to shut down Sunwing, merge with main business in 2 years

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

WestJet is planning to wind down Sunwing Airlines, integrating the low-cost carrier into its mainline business within two years as part of a plan to streamline operations.In an internal memo obtained by The Canadian Press, Sunwing Airlines president Len Corrado says the change will unlock growth opportunities for the 18-year-old company as well as its employees.More to come

A severe storm in southern Brazil has killed 8 people and left 19 others missing

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

SAO PAULO (AP) — Authorities of the southern Brazil state of Rio Grande do Sul said Saturday that eight people died and 19 others were missing after a winter storm swept through the region. Gov. Eduardo Leite said that one of those killed was a 4-month-old baby, who died before rescuers were able to get there. Fatalities were registered in seven cities. “This first moment, since Thursday night until now, is especially to protect human lives, support and rescue people,” Leite said at a news conference on Saturday with other authorities.Two ministers from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government traveled to the state to show support and arrange investments for Rio Grande do Sul and cities facing a critical situation. They will also go to neighboring Santa Catarina state, which was also hit by the floods. Firefighters performed 2,400 rescues across the 35 cities at Rio Grande do Sul hit by the tropical storm. Several roads were still blocked in Rio Grande do Sul, fl...

Rescuers are braving snipers as they rush to ferry Ukrainians from Russia-occupied flood zones

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) — At last, help came for Vitalii Shpalin. From a distance, he spotted the small Ukrainian rescue boat traversing floodwaters that had submerged the 60-year-old’s entire neighborhood after a catastrophic dam collapse in the country’s embattled south. He and others boarded with sighs of relief — interrupted suddenly by the crackle of bullets.Shpalin ducked, and a bullet scraped his back. He felt one pierce his arm, then his leg. The boat’s rescue worker cried into the radio for reinforcements. “Our boat is leaking,” Shpalin heard him say. An older man died before his eyes, his lips turning blue.Their vessel, taking civilians to safety in Kherson city across the river, had been shot by Russian soldiers positioned in a nearby house, according to Ukrainian officials and witnesses on the boat. “They (Russians) let the boats through, those coming to rescue people,” Shpalin said. “But when the boats were full of people, they started shooting.”Massive flooding fro...

Foggy finish line as runners race to summit of New England’s tallest mountain

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

PINKHAM NOTCH, N.H. (AP) — A Colorado runner raced through cold drizzle to the summit of New England’s tallest peak, finding a finish line nearly obscured by fog, to win the Mount Washington Road Race on Saturday. Joseph Gray, 39 of Colorado Springs, won for a record-tying seventh time in a time of 1 hour, 24 seconds, followed by Sam Chelanga, 38, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Tyler Andrews, 33, of Concord, Massachusetts. Amber Ferreira, 41, of Concord, New Hampshire, finished with a time of 1:15:16 to win the women’s division, followed by Marybeth Chelanga, 33, of Colorado Springs, and Meghan Davis, 22, from Plainfield, Massachusetts. The Chelangas are husband and wife.The 7.6-mile (12.2-kilometer) race route was drizzly, and thick fog enveloped the mountain above the tree line. Visibility was about 10 feet (3 meters) and the wind chill was about 32 degrees Fahrenheit, race spokesperson Randy Zucco said.With a 6,288-foot (1,917-meter) summit, Mount Washington is sy...

Collapsed portion of I-95 in Philadelphia to reopen within 2 weeks, governor says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The collapsed stretch of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia will reopen within two weeks, Pennsylvania's governor said Saturday, after joining President Joe Biden on a helicopter tour over the critical stretch of highway closed to East Coast traffic since last weekend.“We are getting it done here in Philly,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a briefing at Philadelphia International Airport after the flyover that included members of Congress and the city's mayor. I-95 Philadelphia collapse: What you need to know Biden outlined the substantial initial federal commitment and longer term support for a permanent fix for the vital roadway. “I know how important this stretch of highway is” to Philadelphia and the Northeast Corridor, Biden said. "Over 150,000 vehicles travel on it every day, including 14,000 trucks. … It’s critical to our economy and it's critical to our quality of life.’’Shapiro, offering a timeline that would be welcome news to commuters and long-haul truckers al...

Americans' confidence in science dropped in 2022: survey

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

(The Hill) – A new national survey found that Americans’ confidence in science has fallen as the political divides brought on by the COVID pandemic continue.Thirty-nine percent of Americans said they have a “great deal” of confidence in science, down from 48% in 2018 and 2021, according to the General Social Survey by the University of Chicago’s NORC, or National Opinion Research Center.Confidence in science is lower among Republicans, the survey found, showing that partisan divides that began during the COVID pandemic still hold. After the pandemic began, Republicans showed less confidence in science and Democrats showed more, as prominent political figures in each party respectively doubted or held up government claims related to the virus and vaccines.“It doesn’t look all that dramatic when you just look at the trends for the overall public,” NORC Deputy Director Jennifer Benz told The Associated Press. “But when you dig into that by people’s political affiliations, there’s a rea...

1 dead in motorcycle crash on William Cannon Drive

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — One adult is dead after a motorcycle crash on William Cannon Drive in southeast Austin, according to Austin-Travis County EMS. The collision happened just before noon Saturday in the 4900 block of East William Cannon Drive. That is near the intersection of Nuckols Crossing Road and William Cannon. An adult was pronounced dead at the scene, according to ATCEMS.Traffic delays are expected in the area.

75 Years of Women in the Armed Forces: Do you know these news-making veterans

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – How many of these women who formerly served in the Armed Forces do you recognize?June 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act, but it's still a little surprising for some to comprehend that women, too, are veterans. Oftentimes, though, it makes sense when you recognize the former military service in a woman's past and can recognize how military service made a significant contribution to her civilian career. Take Bea Arthur, for example. Bea Arthur(Photo by Theo Westenberger/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)Bea Arthur wasn’t just a tough-as-nails cast-mate on The Golden Girls. She was once a U.S. Marine, where she was a typist, and drove trucks as she was becoming one of the first members of the Women’s Reserve. Arthur enlisted in 1943, and a few of her appraisals called her “argumentative” and “over-aggressive.” But that's an endearing quality for a military woman, right? Jennifer Marsh...

Top high school graduates for 2023

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:34:19 GMT

Resilience. Persistence.The high school graduates of 2023 endured a deadly pandemic, social isolation and canceled events en route to their diplomas. Today we salute those who did so with academic excellence.Each year, we ask east metro and western Wisconsin schools to submit a list of their top graduates, however they define them. This year, 80 schools responded. Some designate valedictorians and salutatorians, others award “cum laude” honors. Some choose a Top 10 or a small percentage of the class.For those who send us a smaller list, we invite them to include students’ favorite quotes. The words they choose come from authors and artists, politicians and scientists, athletes and other notables of the past and the present. Many students cite a religious reference.Here are some words that inspired them, and us.“Rejection is redirection,” from musician Kayla King.Also from the world of music, “The only time you should ever look back is to see how far you’ve come,” attributed to Suga ...