Northwest Airlines crews prepare to walk out
Northwest Airlines crews prepare to walk out — As Northwest Airlines and its flight attendants union head into their third straight day of negotiations, the union is telling members and the company what a strike might look like if the airline imposes a wage-cutting contract on its 7,300 attendants. (Detroit Free Press)
Crime emergency in Washington D.C. — Police beefed up patrols around national landmarks Thursday, a day after the District of Columbia’s police chief declared a crime emergency in response to a string of violence that included the killing of a British activist. (AP)
U.S. focused on Iran after TWA 800 explosion — The White House, suspecting terrorism, readied plans for retaliation in the Middle East when TWA Flight 800 exploded over the ocean in 1996 after takeoff from New York, killing all 230 people on board. (CNN)
JetBlue bound for Port Columbus — Columbus travelers soon will have a new low-cost option for flying to the East Coast. JetBlue Airways is set to announce today that it will launch nonstop service starting in October to Boston and New York’s JFK Airport. (Columbus Dispatch)
Las Vegas Strip feels pinch of economy — Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, the heart of the U.S. gambling industry, are starting to feel the pinch from a slower economy and high fuel prices after a two-year run with Lady Luck. (Reuters)
As hotels prosper, their property taxes surge — The U.S. hotel industry is enjoying some of its best times ever, and local tax collectors are taking note. Hotel property taxes went up by at least 10% in eight cities, including Miami, Charlotte and Washington, according to an analysis by Atlanta-based PKF Hospitality Research. (USA Today)
Some cruisers are smarter than others — The 20 Tips column has long been one of Budget Travel magazine’s most popular sections, but some tips have always struck this writer as more useful than others. Here’s how a novice put some cruise-related tips to use. (Budget Travel Online)
Oil hits $76 as Mideast violence escalates — Oil prices hit a new high above $76 a barrel Thursday in a market agitated by escalating violence in the Middle East, the standoff with Iran over its nuclear program and news of explosions on Nigerian pipelines.