Tropical storm heads for Florida
Tropical storm heads for Florida — The first named storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season strengthened slightly in the Gulf of Mexico early Monday, prompting tropical storm warnings for the dry Florida coast. (AP)
115 have norovirus on Celebrity cruise — The Celebrity cruise ship Mercury returned to Seattle Friday morning with 115 people who had a gastrointestinal illness during their 7-night voyage to Alaska, the cruise company said. (AP)
Aloha Air offers free interisland ticket — A day after go! and Hawaiian airlines announced promotional interisland fares of $19 plus fees and taxes one-way, Aloha Airlines came out with its own offer — free tickets. (AP)
Is there a doctor on board? — Although serious incidents are rare, airlines are stepping up responses to in-flight health emergencies. (The Los Angeles Times)
NYC cabs tried to scam undercover agents — Just about everyone flying to New York for the first time gets the warning: When you hail a cab, don’t act like a tourist. You’ll get taken for a ride. Undercover city investigators tested that adage this week and found some truth to it. (AP)
Passenger train derails in Israel — A passenger train has derailed in Israel, killing at least five people and injuring more than 60. (BBC News)
In Florida and the desert, it’s $110 in the shade — It’s no secret that resorts in the off-season can be comparatively cheap. But hotels in destinations like Miami Beach; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Palm Springs, Calif, that are busy in winter do more than trim room rates. As temperatures rise, prices not only go in the opposite direction but hotels also toss in extras. (The New York Times)
Turning rivers into playgrounds — Until recently, Manhattan’s waterfront has been a neglected resource, certainly when compared with the urban playgrounds that have sprung up around the Thames in London, the Seine in Paris and even the San Antonio River in Texas. (The New York Times)