Prepare for liftoff, in 2008
Prepare for liftoff, in 2008 — Commercial spaceships could be cleared to carry passengers by 2008, the secretary of transportation said Thursday. Speaking to a group of space entrepreneurs, Norman Mineta said that a number of companies should be set to take passengers into space and that the Department of Transportation would be ready to clear these flights within two years. (CNNMoney.com)
TSA criticized for delays in passenger-screening program — The government’s long-delayed kickoff of a program to improve background checks of airline passengers is “at risk of failure” and faces an uncertain future, congressional investigators said Thursday. (USA Today)
Bush tells of foiled plot to strike Los Angeles — Providing new details about a foiled plot, President Bush said yesterday that the United States and the governments of several Southeast Asian countries disrupted a plan by Al Qaeda to hijack a commercial airliner and fly it into a Los Angeles skyscraper in early 2002. (The Boston Globe)
Delta pilots threaten strike — The Delta Air Lines pilots union Thursday renewed its threat to strike the financially troubled airline, which seeks deep cuts in pay and benefits amid Chapter 11 restructuring. (USA Today)
How big will scaled-down Mardi Gras be? — Mardi Gras, which always holds a bit of mystery for outsiders with its fun, frolic and debauchery, is a mystery itself this year for New Orleans, where an estimated two-thirds of its half-million, pre-Katrina populace remains elsewhere. (AP)
Cities in red states play ball with gay travelers — Phoenix is just one of a growing number of red-state enclaves vying for a piece of the estimated $65 billion spent annually on U.S. travel by gay men and lesbians. And in doing so, these cities are distinguishing themselves from state politics. (USA Today)
Hotels, resorts put guests in the kitchen — Guests are donning chef’s jackets and stepping into the kitchen to learn or hone culinary skills, as an increasing number of inns, hotels and resorts put cooking classes on the menu. (USA Today)
Fossett passes halfway mark, but fuel, winds problematic — Adventurer Steve Fossett flew past the halfway point in his effort to break aviation’s distance record, even as a fuel leak, soaring heat in the cockpit and weak winds jeopardized his quest. (AP)
Carrie Charney, Christopher Elliott, John Frenaye, Charles Leocha, Marge Purnell, Valerie Schneider, Mary Staley, Stephanus Surjaputra, Richard Wong.