Tours of Devil’s Icebox cave near Columbia scrapped to protect bats from deadly fungus

Bat fungus nixes Mo. park wild cave tours
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A bat-killing fungus has led the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to cancel wild cave tours at Rock Bridge State Park near Columbia.

Devil’s Icebox is considered one of the state’s most biologically diverse wild caves. But the discovery of a fungus known as white-nose syndrome … Original article on : Tours of Devil’s Icebox cave near Columbia scrapped to protect bats from deadly fungus.

Jiminy Cricket! Disney World raises price of 1-day adult ticket to $82; other passes rise, too

Disney World to charge $82 for 1-day adult pass

ORLANDO, Fla. – Visitors to Walt Disney World will have to dig deeper into their pockets to get into the theme park resort in Orlando.
Disney World is raising the price of a one-day, one-park adult ticket to $82 starting Thursday.
The change in ticket price is a 3.8 [..] Read the original article: here.

Pa. carnival game with players shooting foam darts at Obama likeness is yanked after complaint

Darts shot at Obama likeness in Pa. carnival game

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The head of an eastern Pennsylvania amusement company has yanked a carnival game in which players shot foam darts at an image resembling President Barack Obama.
Irvin Good Jr. pulled the target-shooting game after receiving a complaint from a patron attending a fair in Roseto, …. Original article  : Pa. carnival game with players shooting foam darts at Obama likeness is yanked after complaint.

New exhibition on Dali’s late work to show exclusively at Atlanta’s High Museum

New Dali exhibition exclusively at Atlanta museum

ATLANTA – A new exhibition opening exclusively in Atlanta explores artist Salvador Dali’s late work, including several major pieces that haven’t been seen in the U.S. in half a century.
Dali is best known as a surrealist, his melting watches an iconic image of that movement. But after about 10 …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Ohio woman says she found photos of husband’s 2nd wedding on Facebook; he says she knew sooner

On Facebook, wife learns of husband’s 2nd wedding

CLEVELAND – An Ohio woman says she discovered her husband had married another woman when she found photos of the wedding on Facebook. He dismisses the claim as a publicity ploy.
Lynn France says she had suspected her husband was having an affair for months. But she says confirmation … Read more »»».

Colosseum by night _ Rome to open ancient arena to tourists after dark for 7 Saturdays

Rome to open Colosseum to tourists after dark

ROME – Gazing at the Colosseum in moonlight can make for a romantic date. Soon tourists will be able to stroll inside the ancient arena on Saturday nights for a limited time only.
Rome officials announced on Friday that for seven straight Saturdays starting Aug. 21, visitors can tour …. Source article  : Colosseum by night _ Rome to open ancient arena to tourists after dark for 7 Saturdays.

French man slips while taking pictures at Grand Canyon, survives 75-foot fall off South Rim

French man survives 75-foot fall at Grand Canyon

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. – A French tourist has survived a 75-foot fall off the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Witnesses say the 18-year-old man reportedly slipped Thursday afternoon while taking pictures near the rim. Park rangers received a report of a man falling over the edge … Original source on Gaea Times at : French man slips while taking pictures at Grand Canyon, survives 75-foot fall off South Rim.

Miners protest traps more than 100 foreign tourists in Bolivian highland city since last week

Protest traps tourists in Bolivian highland city

LA PAZ, Bolivia – A protest by Bolivian miners has trapped more than 100 mostly European tourists in the southern Bolivia mining city of Potosi for more than a week.
The protesters piled rocks on the runway of the Potosi airport Friday to prevent a plane from landing to pick …. Read the original article  : here.

Israel complains about US travel advisory singling out Israel, not Jordan, for precautions

Israel complains about new US travel advisory

JERUSALEM – Israel is protesting what it says is a biased U.S. warning for American travelers to locate bomb shelters when visiting the Israeli resort of Eilat and not neighboring Jordan.
The travel advisory was issued after rockets hit Israel’s Eilat and Aqaba in Jordan, where one person was killed … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Israel complains about US travel advisory singling out Israel, not Jordan, for precautions.

Maine State Museum hosts exhibit about Maine’s last sardine cannery

Maine State Museum hosts sardine canning exhibit

AUGUSTA, Maine – The last three sardine cans packed at America’s last industrial sardine cannery are on display as part of a new exhibit on display at the Maine State Museum in Augusta.
The museum’s exhibit, “End of the Line…America’s Last Sardine Cannery,” is on view until Sept. 4.
The old …. Read the original article  : Maine State Museum hosts exhibit about Maine’s last sardine cannery.

Detroit Historical Society offers series of ‘Behind the Scenes’ tours this month

Detroit group offers ‘Behind the Scenes’ tours

DETROIT – The Detroit Historical Society is offering a series of “Behind the Scenes” tours this month.
Remaining tours scheduled for August include an Aug. 14 trip to Elmwood Cemetery, an Aug. 21 walking tour of Detroit’s Indian Village neighborhood and an Aug. 28 walking tour of the city’s Corktown …. Source  : Detroit Historical Society offers series of ‘Behind the Scenes’ tours this month.

Michelle Obama travels to Spanish resort island of Mallorca, meets King Juan Carlos

Michelle Obama meets Spain’s king
PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain – U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha had lunch with Spain’s king and queen on Sunday at the royal family’s holiday retreat on the resort island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean.

Mrs. Obama and her daughter arrived at Marivent palace shortly before 1 p.m. and were …. Source article  : Michelle Obama travels to Spanish resort island of Mallorca, meets King Juan Carlos.

US revises Israel travel warning following complaints of bias from Israeli government

US revises Israel travel warning after complaint

WASHINGTON – The State Department has revised its travel warning for Israel after the Israeli government complained it unfairly singled out an Israeli resort.
The department on Tuesday replaced a warning issued just five days ago with a new version that eliminates references to the Red Sea resort of Eilat, [..] Read the original article: here.

On 15th anniversary, Cleveland’s rock museum plans to revisit year Elvis turned 21

Rock hall to mark anniversary with Elvis exhibit

CLEVELAND – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame plans to celebrate its 15th birthday with a look back at the year rock’s king turned 21.
An exhibit of photos taken of Elvis Presley in 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer will open Sept. 13 at the hall.
The hall said Tuesday …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : On 15th anniversary, Cleveland’s rock museum plans to revisit year Elvis turned 21.

9/11 museum taking shape in NYC offers visitors a raw experience, impression of vast scale

9/11 museum going up in NYC offers raw experience

NEW YORK – The Sept. 11 museum is taking shape 70 feet below ground, a cavernous space that provides an emotionally raw journey and ends at bedrock where huge surviving remnants and spacial voids reveal the scale of the devastation of what once was the World Trade …. Source article  : 9/11 museum taking shape in NYC offers visitors a raw experience, impression of vast scale.

3 June flights sat on the tarmac for more than 3 hours; no increase in canceled flights

3 United flights had long tarmac delays in June

NEW YORK – Only three flights sat on the tarmac for more than three hours in June compared with nearly 300 a year ago, the government said Tuesday. Airlines didn’t have to cancel more flights to avoid potentially massive fines for those long delays.
All three of the … Read more : 3 June flights sat on the tarmac for more than 3 hours; no increase in canceled flights.

TxDOT seeks callers with drawls, system ‘learning’ to understand voices for travel help line

Drawls welcome: TxDOT tests phone info line

AUSTIN, Texas – That drawl from y’all could help the Texas Department of Transportation update its phone line for travel information.
The agency on Tuesday launched its interactive voice response interface for the Texas Travel Information Line, at 1-800-452-9292.
The new system, for several weeks, will be “learning” to understand voices. …. Original source  : TxDOT seeks callers with drawls, system ‘learning’ to understand voices for travel help line.

Canadian Maritime provinces throw out welcome mat for motorcyclists

Tourism in Atlantic Canada is motorcycle-friendly

PORT HAWKESBURY, Nova Scotia – Riding through a West Coast state three decades ago on a motorcycle, two hungry riders – my wife and I – stopped at a small roadside restaurant and asked for a couple of seats so we could enjoy steaks that were advertised on the chalkboard.
But … Original article on : Canadian Maritime provinces throw out welcome mat for motorcyclists.

Cameron’s postcard to UK holidaymakers: Wish you were here, spending money in Britain

Cameron: Wish you were here, in Britain
LONDON – Prime Minister David Cameron is urging British tourists to spend their vacation in the U.K., helping to spur the country’s fragile economic recovery.

Cameron said Thursday that he’s asked tourism minister John Penrose to work up ideas on how to increase domestic tourism.
Britons made 126 million overnight trips … Original source on Gaea Times at : Cameron’s postcard to UK holidaymakers: Wish you were here, spending money in Britain.

Opportunities abound for volunteering abroad; take some time to pick the program that fits

How to find the right volunteer abroad program

Kathy Boisvert, who teaches preschoolers with special needs near her home in Massachusetts, had never been overseas before she signed up with World Teach, a nonprofit organization that matches volunteer teachers with overseas assignments.
Now Boisvert is spending her third summer at a tiny school in a small community … Read more >>.

NYC on track to host record number of visitors in 2010, breaking 2008 record by half a million

NYC on track for record number of tourists in 2010

NEW YORK – The Big Apple is on track to host a record number of visitors in 2010.
City officials say preliminary data show New York is on course to host 47.5 million tourists and visitors this year. That’s half a million more than the record set …. Original article  : NYC on track to host record number of visitors in 2010, breaking 2008 record by half a million.

Obama taking first family on Gulf vacation, seeking to boost region’s sagging tourism industry

Obama Gulf trip part vacation, part sales pitch

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is taking his family to the Florida Panhandle this weekend.
The trip is billed as part family vacation, part presidential sales pitch, as Obama looks to boost the region’s sagging tourism industry in the wake of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Obama taking first family on Gulf vacation, seeking to boost region’s sagging tourism industry.

3 kids buy airplane tickets, fly alone from Fla. to Tenn., unbeknownst to their parents

3 kids buy airplane tickets, fly alone to Tenn.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Bored on a hot summer day, three Florida youngsters were just sitting around when one sent a text message to another with an adventurous idea.
“Hey do you want to go 2 Tennessee today,” the message read.
“Sure,” the other responded.
Not even old enough to get …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : 3 kids buy airplane tickets, fly alone from Fla. to Tenn., unbeknownst to their parents.

Hey, you, in 22A! Pipe down, take a deep breath and relax _ only you can prevent flight misery

Don’t jump! Ways to fly without wanting to scream

NEW YORK – OK, OK, we get it: It’s tough to be a flight attendant.
We get it even more now after Steven Slater’s now-famous “peace out” move. But a little sympathy, please: it’s tough to be a passenger these days, too. There have surely been plenty of [..] Read the original article: here.

Obama takes first family on Gulf vacation with hopes other Americans will do the same

Obama looks to boost Gulf tourism with family trip
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is heeding his own advice to American vacationers, taking his family to the Gulf Coast this weekend to help the sagging tourism industry.
The president will arrive Saturday and spend just over 24 hours in the Panama City, Fla., area, … Read more »»».

Cruising with porpoises and spooning up ice cream highlight final day of Obamas’ trip to Gulf

A boat ride and ice cream cap Obama’s trip to Gulf
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – President Barack Obama and his family cruised the waters off their Florida Panhandle hotel on Sunday, offering a portrait of a family on vacation to boost a region struggling with the economic damage wrought by the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Off the Florida Panhandle, Obamas cruise with porpoises to showcase Gulf as a vacation spot

Obamas take a boat ride during Gulf Coast vacation
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – Catching a glimpse of porpoises, President Barack Obama and his family went boating Sunday as part of a weekend trip to the Gulf of Mexico that was designed to showcase the region’s attractions as well as …. Source article  : Off the Florida Panhandle, Obamas cruise with porpoises to showcase Gulf as a vacation spot.

Luxury residential cruise ship to stop in Maine on yearlong voyage

Luxury residential cruise ship to stop in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine – A luxury cruise ship that serves as a floating vacation home as it navigates around the world has scheduled a stop in Maine.
Portland spokeswoman Nicole Clegg says The World, a 644-foot ship with 165 residences ranging from studio apartments to a six-bedroom ocean penthouse, will … Read more : Luxury residential cruise ship to stop in Maine on yearlong voyage.

Spanish colonial museum exhibit displays diverse cultures that led to unique NM art

Diverse cultures contributed to NM art
SANTA FE, N.M. – For centuries, New Mexico has been home to a distinctive tradition of painting Catholic saints in simple portraits, rather than adhering to the elaborate styles of European art.

Some critics have said the paintings resulted from untrained Spanish artists doing the best they could. But the curator …. Original source  : Spanish colonial museum exhibit displays diverse cultures that led to unique NM art.

Enjoying the ride: Pa. man, 78, makes 4,000th trip on roller coaster after 90 turns in a day

Pa. man, 78, rides roller coaster 90 times in day

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. – A 78-year-old man rode a Pittsburgh-area roller coast 90 times in one day – bringing his lifetime total to 4,000 rides.
Vic Kleman spent about five hours on the Jack Rabbit roller coaster at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin.
The wooden coaster is no …. Original source  : Enjoying the ride: Pa. man, 78, makes 4,000th trip on roller coaster after 90 turns in a day.

Cruising with porpoises and spooning up ice cream highlight final day of Obamas’ trip to Gulf

A boat ride and ice cream cap Obama’s trip to Gulf
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – President Barack Obama and his family cruised the waters off their Florida Panhandle hotel on Sunday, offering a portrait of a family on vacation to boost a region struggling with the economic damage wrought … Original article on : Cruising with porpoises and spooning up ice cream highlight final day of Obamas’ trip to Gulf.

Off the Florida Panhandle, Obamas cruise with porpoises to showcase Gulf as a vacation spot

Obamas take a boat ride during Gulf Coast vacation
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – Catching a glimpse of porpoises, President Barack Obama and his family went boating Sunday as part of a weekend trip to the Gulf of Mexico that was designed to showcase the region’s attractions as well as … Read : Off the Florida Panhandle, Obamas cruise with porpoises to showcase Gulf as a vacation spot.

Luxury residential cruise ship to stop in Maine on yearlong voyage

Luxury residential cruise ship to stop in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine – A luxury cruise ship that serves as a floating vacation home as it navigates around the world has scheduled a stop in Maine.
Portland spokeswoman Nicole Clegg says The World, a 644-foot ship with 165 residences ranging from studio apartments to a six-bedroom ocean penthouse, will …. Source article  : Luxury residential cruise ship to stop in Maine on yearlong voyage.

Obama taking first family on Gulf vacation, seeking to boost region’s sagging tourism industry

Obama Gulf trip part vacation, part sales pitch
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is taking his family to the Florida Panhandle this weekend.
The trip is billed as part family vacation, part presidential sales pitch, as Obama looks to boost the region’s sagging tourism industry in the wake of the oil spill in the Gulf … Read more »».

3 kids buy airplane tickets, fly alone from Fla. to Tenn., unbeknownst to their parents

3 kids buy airplane tickets, fly alone to Tenn.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Bored on a hot summer day, three Florida youngsters were just sitting around when one sent a text message to another with an adventurous idea.
“Hey do you want to go 2 Tennessee today,” the message read.
“Sure,” the other responded.
Not even old enough to get … Read : 3 kids buy airplane tickets, fly alone from Fla. to Tenn., unbeknownst to their parents.

Hey, you, in 22A! Pipe down, take a deep breath and relax _ only you can prevent flight misery

Don’t jump! Ways to fly without wanting to scream

NEW YORK – OK, OK, we get it: It’s tough to be a flight attendant.
We get it even more now after Steven Slater’s now-famous “peace out” move. But a little sympathy, please: it’s tough to be a passenger these days, too. There have surely been plenty of … Read more >>>.

Obama takes first family on Gulf vacation with hopes other Americans will do the same

Obama looks to boost Gulf tourism with family trip
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is heeding his own advice to American vacationers, taking his family to the Gulf Coast this weekend to help the sagging tourism industry.
The president will arrive Saturday and spend just over 24 hours in the Panama City, Fla., area, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Obama takes first family on Gulf vacation with hopes other Americans will do the same.

Cameron’s postcard to UK holidaymakers: Wish you were here, spending money in Britain

Cameron: Wish you were here, in Britain
LONDON – Prime Minister David Cameron is urging British tourists to spend their vacation in the U.K., helping to spur the country’s fragile economic recovery.

Cameron said Thursday that he’s asked tourism minister John Penrose to work up ideas on how to increase domestic tourism.
Britons made 126 million overnight trips …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Cameron’s postcard to UK holidaymakers: Wish you were here, spending money in Britain.

Opportunities abound for volunteering abroad; take some time to pick the program that fits

How to find the right volunteer abroad program

Kathy Boisvert, who teaches preschoolers with special needs near her home in Massachusetts, had never been overseas before she signed up with World Teach, a nonprofit organization that matches volunteer teachers with overseas assignments.
Now Boisvert is spending her third summer at a tiny school in a small community … Read more : Opportunities abound for volunteering abroad; take some time to pick the program that fits.

NYC on track to host record number of visitors in 2010, breaking 2008 record by half a million

NYC on track for record number of tourists in 2010

NEW YORK – The Big Apple is on track to host a record number of visitors in 2010.
City officials say preliminary data show New York is on course to host 47.5 million tourists and visitors this year. That’s half a million more than the record set …. Original source  : NYC on track to host record number of visitors in 2010, breaking 2008 record by half a million.

US revises Israel travel warning following complaints of bias from Israeli government

US revises Israel travel warning after complaint

WASHINGTON – The State Department has revised its travel warning for Israel after the Israeli government complained it unfairly singled out an Israeli resort.
The department on Tuesday replaced a warning issued just five days ago with a new version that eliminates references to the Red Sea resort of Eilat, … Read more >>>.

On 15th anniversary, Cleveland’s rock museum plans to revisit year Elvis turned 21

Rock hall to mark anniversary with Elvis exhibit

CLEVELAND – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame plans to celebrate its 15th birthday with a look back at the year rock’s king turned 21.
An exhibit of photos taken of Elvis Presley in 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer will open Sept. 13 at the hall.
The hall said Tuesday …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

9/11 museum taking shape in NYC offers visitors a raw experience, impression of vast scale

9/11 museum going up in NYC offers raw experience

NEW YORK – The Sept. 11 museum is taking shape 70 feet below ground, a cavernous space that provides an emotionally raw journey and ends at bedrock where huge surviving remnants and spacial voids reveal the scale of the devastation of what once was the World Trade …. Source article  : 9/11 museum taking shape in NYC offers visitors a raw experience, impression of vast scale.

3 June flights sat on the tarmac for more than 3 hours; no increase in canceled flights

3 United flights had long tarmac delays in June

NEW YORK – Only three flights sat on the tarmac for more than three hours in June compared with nearly 300 a year ago, the government said Tuesday. Airlines didn’t have to cancel more flights to avoid potentially massive fines for those long delays.
All three of the … Original source on Gaea Times at : 3 June flights sat on the tarmac for more than 3 hours; no increase in canceled flights.

TxDOT seeks callers with drawls, system ‘learning’ to understand voices for travel help line

Drawls welcome: TxDOT tests phone info line

AUSTIN, Texas – That drawl from y’all could help the Texas Department of Transportation update its phone line for travel information.
The agency on Tuesday launched its interactive voice response interface for the Texas Travel Information Line, at 1-800-452-9292.
The new system, for several weeks, will be “learning” to understand voices. …. Source article  : TxDOT seeks callers with drawls, system ‘learning’ to understand voices for travel help line.

Canadian Maritime provinces throw out welcome mat for motorcyclists

Tourism in Atlantic Canada is motorcycle-friendly

PORT HAWKESBURY, Nova Scotia – Riding through a West Coast state three decades ago on a motorcycle, two hungry riders – my wife and I – stopped at a small roadside restaurant and asked for a couple of seats so we could enjoy steaks that were advertised on the chalkboard.
But …. Original source  : Canadian Maritime provinces throw out welcome mat for motorcyclists.

Israel complains about US travel advisory singling out Israel, not Jordan, for precautions

Israel complains about new US travel advisory

JERUSALEM – Israel is protesting what it says is a biased U.S. warning for American travelers to locate bomb shelters when visiting the Israeli resort of Eilat and not neighboring Jordan.
The travel advisory was issued after rockets hit Israel’s Eilat and Aqaba in Jordan, where one person was killed …. Read the original article  : Israel complains about US travel advisory singling out Israel, not Jordan, for precautions.

Maine State Museum hosts exhibit about Maine’s last sardine cannery

Maine State Museum hosts sardine canning exhibit

AUGUSTA, Maine – The last three sardine cans packed at America’s last industrial sardine cannery are on display as part of a new exhibit on display at the Maine State Museum in Augusta.
The museum’s exhibit, “End of the Line…America’s Last Sardine Cannery,” is on view until Sept. 4.
The old … Read more >>>.

White House aide stresses possibility of work while angling for relaxation on Obama vacation

Hiking, beach – and maybe work – on Obama vacation
BOSTON – President Barack Obama is planning to hike, laze at the beach and visit an ice cream parlor or two while vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard, but his spokesman realizes world affairs may interfere.
Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters Tuesday aboard Air Force …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : White House aide stresses possibility of work while angling for relaxation on Obama vacation.

Pablo Picasso still draws crowds: Exhibit of 300 works brings over 700K to NYC’s Met Museum

Picasso show draws huge crowds to NYC’s Met Museum

NEW YORK – Pablo Picasso is as popular as ever.
An exhibition of 300 works by the Spanish modernist drew more than 700,000 people to The Metropolitan Museum of Art between April 19 and Aug. 15. That makes it the most highly attended show since 2001.
The museum announced …. Source article  : Pablo Picasso still draws crowds: Exhibit of 300 works brings over 700K to NYC’s Met Museum.

JetBlue brings back popular ‘All You Can Jet’ pass, allows unlimited flights for 1 month

JetBlue brings back ‘All You Can Jet’ passes

NEW YORK – JetBlue is bringing back its popular All-You-Can-Jet pass that allows anyone to travel to an unlimited number of cities over a one-month period.
The pass is valid for flights between Sept. 7 and Oct. 6, the company said Tuesday. There are two price tiers: an unlimited … Read more : JetBlue brings back popular ‘All You Can Jet’ pass, allows unlimited flights for 1 month.

Kentucky State Fair to offer new rides to make up for loss of amusement park

Kentucky State Fair bringing in new rides
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Kentucky State Fair will offer some new midway rides this year in an effort to make up for the loss of amusement park rides at Kentucky Kingdom.

A statement from the fair board says the midway operator, North American Midway Entertainment, will bring more than 50 … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Kentucky State Fair to offer new rides to make up for loss of amusement park.

Spanish colonial museum exhibit displays diverse cultures that led to unique NM art

Diverse cultures contributed to NM art
SANTA FE, N.M. – For centuries, New Mexico has been home to a distinctive tradition of painting Catholic saints in simple portraits, rather than adhering to the elaborate styles of European art.

Some critics have said the paintings resulted from untrained Spanish artists doing the best they could. But the curator …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Spanish colonial museum exhibit displays diverse cultures that led to unique NM art.

Enjoying the ride: Pa. man, 78, makes 4,000th trip on roller coaster after 90 turns in a day

Pa. man, 78, rides roller coaster 90 times in day

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. – A 78-year-old man rode a Pittsburgh-area roller coast 90 times in one day – bringing his lifetime total to 4,000 rides.
Vic Kleman spent about five hours on the Jack Rabbit roller coaster at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin.
The wooden coaster is no …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Salvagers to pull rare World War II plane from Calif. reservoir 6 decades after it crashed

Divers to pull WWII plane from Calif. reservoir

SAN DIEGO – It was a surprising image for the fisherman hoping to find bass on his electronic fish finder: The outline of an airplane submerged 85 feet below the surface of a San Diego reservoir.
Navy divers later confirmed it was a rare World War II dive bomber … Read more »».

British, Indian men have Nepal’s first foreign gay wedding ceremony

Gay men hold 1st foreign wedding ceremony in Nepal

KATMANDU, Nepal – A Hindu priest performed the first wedding ceremony in Nepal for a foreign gay couple, a rights group said Wednesday, as activists and tourist agencies increasingly promote the Himalayan nation as a gay-friendly destination.
The ceremony was held Tuesday night in Katmandu for Sanjay Shah, … Read more »»».

Mud delays efforts to pull rare World War II dive bomber from Southern Calif. reservoir

Mud delays efforts to extract WWII plane from lake

SAN DIEGO – Divers worked through the day Thursday to extract a rare World War II dive bomber from the bottom of a reservoir but were unable to finish removing thick silt and mud from the plane to enable it to be lifted out of the water.
Former …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Mud delays efforts to pull rare World War II dive bomber from Southern Calif. reservoir.

AP sources: Phone call was about hijacking an American Airlines plane bound for NY

AP sources: Phone was about hijacking threat

WASHINGTON – A source close to the investigation says a New York-bound jetliner was stopped from taking off from San Francisco after someone threatened to hijack it.
American Airlines Flight 24 was halted just before its scheduled takeoff Thursday morning at San Francisco International Airport after someone called in the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : AP sources: Phone call was about hijacking an American Airlines plane bound for NY.

Correction: American Airlines seat fee story

Correction: American Airlines seat fee story

NEW YORK – In a story Aug. 19 about American Airlines new seat fees, The Associated Press reported erroneously that elite frequent fliers can reserve the first few rows of coach for no charge. Elite fliers have access to other preferred seats without a fee but must pay $19 to … Read : Correction: American Airlines seat fee story.

Veterans’ families watch salvagers working to pull rare WWII plane from California reservoir

Divers work to lift WWII plane from Calif. lake

SAN DIEGO – Salvage divers gently cleared away silt and mud covering a WWII dive bomber buried in the bottom of the San Diego reservoir, carefully working Thursday to lift the rare plane from the water 65 years after it was ditched during a training run.
Bob Metz, … Read more : Veterans’ families watch salvagers working to pull rare WWII plane from California reservoir.

NTSB says metal fatigue led to hole in roof of Southwest Airlines jet last year

Hole in Southwest jet blamed on metal fatigue

DALLAS – Federal investigators say metal fatigue caused a hole to rip open in the roof of a Southwest Airlines jet as it cruised at 35,000 feet last year.
The National Transportation Safety Board says the 14-inch crack developed in a spot where two sheets of aluminum skin were …. Original article  : NTSB says metal fatigue led to hole in roof of Southwest Airlines jet last year.

American Airlines to start charging $19-$39 for seats in the first few rows of coach cabin

American Airlines to charge for front-row seats

NEW YORK – American Airlines has found another fee.
The Fort Worth, Texas, airline said Wednesday it’s now charging between $19 and $39 for “Express Seats” – those spots in the first few rows of coach that include bulkhead seats.
American said the price of the seats includes getting on the … Original article on : American Airlines to start charging $19-$39 for seats in the first few rows of coach cabin.

Website hopes to serve travelers in their own backyards

Website aimed at hometown tourists
BOISE, Idaho – My family will travel halfway around the world to see a koala bear sitting in a eucalyptus tree, but for some reason it took us four years in Boise to see the city’s spooky old 19th century penitentiary, a local favorite just a few miles from our house.

The … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Website hopes to serve travelers in their own backyards.

Man hospitalized after falling 20 feet while waiting to board Disney theme park ride

Man falls at Disney’s California Adventure park

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Police say a man was hurt in a 20-foot fall while waiting to get on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride at Disney’s California Adventure theme park in Anaheim.
The 20-year-old was treated for minor injuries at a hospital and released.
Disneyland Resorts spokeswoman Suzi Brown says …. Read the original article  : Man hospitalized after falling 20 feet while waiting to board Disney theme park ride.

Judge rejects Fisk deal for Ark. museum to take joint ownership of O’Keeffe art collection

Judge rejects Fisk deal to sell O’Keeffe share

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Nashville judge has rejected Fisk University’s proposal to sell a joint share in a 101-piece collection donated by late artist Georgia O’Keeffe to an Arkansas museum.
Fisk argued that its precarious financial state prevents the historically black university from maintaining and displaying the collection.
Judge Ellen … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Judge rejects Fisk deal for Ark. museum to take joint ownership of O’Keeffe art collection.

Ex-policeman in Philippine capital holds tourist bus hostage with 26 aboard

Ex-policeman in Philippines holds tourists hostage

MANILA, Philippines – A dismissed policeman armed with an automatic rifle seized a bus in the Philippine capital Monday with 24 passengers, most of them Hong Kong tourists, in a bid to demand his reinstatement, police said.
Six hostages, including three children, were subsequently released, and appeared to be unhurt.
Police sharpshooters …. Source article  : Ex-policeman in Philippine capital holds tourist bus hostage with 26 aboard.

Philippines in shock as 9 die after fired cop, demanding job back, hijacks Hong Kong tour bus

Mayhem in Manila: 9 killed on hijacked tourist bus

MANILA, Philippines – It looked like a hostage rescue in slow motion: Police creeping up on the bus with sledgehammers and smashing first one window, then another, then trying and failing to rip open the door.
When they finally got inside, authorities said, they found nine bodies: eight …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Secret History: Former US spy goes to work for DC’s International Spy Museum as historian

Spy Museum adds another former spy to staff in DC

WASHINGTON – The International Spy Museum in Washington has recruited an ex-spy as its new historian.
The museum said Monday that Mark Stout would become historian after spending 13 years in intelligence. He is the museum’s first research chief with an intelligence background.
Stout worked at the CIA … Original article on : Secret History: Former US spy goes to work for DC’s International Spy Museum as historian.

Manila hospitals say 6 out of 15 Chinese bus hostages killed after gunman seizes vehicle

Hospitals: 6 out of 15 bus hostages dead
MANILA, Philippines – Hospitals in the Philippine capital say six out of 15 Chinese tourists have been killed as police stormed their bus to end a daylong hostage-taking by a dismissed policeman.

Police said earlier the hostage-taker was killed Monday evening.
The Manila Hospital says five hostages were brought there, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Manila hospitals say 6 out of 15 Chinese bus hostages killed after gunman seizes vehicle.

Spain’s tourist numbers up 4.5 percent in July, biggest increase since 2008

Spain’s tourist numbers up in July
MADRID – Spain’s government says the nation’s tourist arrivals rose by 4.5 percent in July, the biggest year-on-year increase in more than two years.

The tourism ministry says about 7 million tourists arrived last month, the third consecutive month of increase.
But the ministry also said Monday that 30 million foreign tourists … Read more >>.

Some of 15 Chinese hostages leave bus as Philippine police enter vehicle

Police move in, some hostages leave Philippine bus

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine police stormed a bus Monday evening after shots were heard from the hostage-taker of 15 Chinese tourists, and at least four of the hostages crawled out of the back door.
The hostage-taker was killed, said Senior Superintendent Nelson Yabut.
There was no immediate confirmation of any … Original article on : Some of 15 Chinese hostages leave bus as Philippine police enter vehicle.

Ahoy, Philadelphia! Paddleboat to start cruises at Penn’s Landing on Delaware River

Paddleboat cruises coming to Philly waterfront

PHILADELPHIA – There’s a new attraction expected soon on Philadelphia’s waterfront: a 260-foot paddlewheel riverboat replica.
The newly dubbed Philadelphia Belle arrived at Penn’s Landing on Tuesday amid fanfare that included a Mummers string band and a Ben Franklin impersonator.
A group of investors led by Norfolk, Va.-based CI Travel bought the …. Source article  : Ahoy, Philadelphia! Paddleboat to start cruises at Penn’s Landing on Delaware River.

Philippines acknowledges mistakes in handling hostage crisis that killed 8 Hong Kong tourists

Philippines mourns, HK angry after hijack deaths

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines acknowledged “inadequacies” in handling a hostage crisis that killed eight Hong Kong tourists, as anger over the botched negotiations erupted Tuesday in Hong Kong with demonstrations and harsh words.
A heartbreaking picture emerged of the victims – a mother of three who lost her husband … Read : Philippines acknowledges mistakes in handling hostage crisis that killed 8 Hong Kong tourists.

Yankee mag celebrates 75th year, names Kent, CT top foliage town in New England

Yankee mag names Kent, CT tops for leaf-peeping

Yankee magazine has been celebrating New England for three-quarters of a century, but even after all these years, there’s still room for surprise.
In its 75th anniversary issue, on newsstands Tuesday, the magazine named Kent, Conn., population 3,000, the best town in New England for fall foliage.
Kent trumped better-known … Read more »».

Renovated Bandelier National Monument tells story of NM’s pueblo people, early dwellers

Bandelier monument shares NM pueblo people’s story

BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT, N.M. – The canyons and cliff dwellings of Bandelier National Monument are telling a story, and this time it’s through the voices and artwork of the American Indian tribes whose ancestors inhabited this sliver of northern New Mexico.
After nearly a decade of careful consultation with neighboring …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Renovated Bandelier National Monument tells story of NM’s pueblo people, early dwellers.

Beachfront Hawaii estate rented by Obama family during Christmas vacations sold for $6.9M

Obama’s Hawaii vacation rental sold for $6.9M
HONOLULU – The beachfront Hawaii home rented by President Barack Obama and his family during their last two Christmas vacations has been sold for $6.9 million.
The five bedroom, single-story, 4,900-square-foot Kailua estate was sold to Paradise Point Estates LLC, a company managed Glenn Weinberg of Owings Mills, …. Source  : Beachfront Hawaii estate rented by Obama family during Christmas vacations sold for $6.9M.

After 4-day deluge, rain lifts on Martha’s Vineyard and the first family has lunch out

Rain lifts, vacationing Obamas dine out for lunch
OAK BLUFFS, Mass. – Emerging from semi-seclusion after four days of drenching rain, President Barack Obama and his family ate lunch at a wharfside restaurant on Wednesday in their first joint public appearance since beginning their Martha’s Vineyard vacation.
“Hey, how are you guys doing? You dried … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : After 4-day deluge, rain lifts on Martha’s Vineyard and the first family has lunch out.

Muppet homecoming: original Kermit the Frog back in DC for good at Smithsonian

Henson donates original Kermit to Smithsonian

WASHINGTON – The original Kermit the Frog, his body created with an old dull-green coat and his eyes made of pingpong balls, has returned home to the nation’s capital, where the puppet got his start.
The first Kermit creation from Jim Henson’s Muppet’s collection appeared in 1955 on the early TV …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

U. of Mich. Museum of Art exhibits more than 100 prints from James McNeill Whistler collection

U-M art museum exhibits Whistler prints collection

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan Museum of Art has opened a three-month show of more than 100 prints by 19th century American artist James McNeill Whistler.
The exhibition called “On Beauty and the Everyday: The Prints of James McNeill Whistler” runs through Nov. 28. It’s the largest … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : U. of Mich. Museum of Art exhibits more than 100 prints from James McNeill Whistler collection.

AAA sees Labor Day weekend travel to increasing nearly 10 percent, most driving close to home

AAA: More people will hit the road this Labor Day

DENVER – More Americans will get away for the Labor Day weekend this year, yet stick closer to home as they try to get the most for their money, AAA said Wednesday.
The auto club expects 34.4 million people to travel at least 50 miles from home …. Source article  : AAA sees Labor Day weekend travel to increasing nearly 10 percent, most driving close to home.

Muppet Homecoming: Original Kermit the Frog heads back to DC for home at Smithsonian

First Kermit the Frog being given to Smithsonian

WASHINGTON – The original Kermit the Frog from Jim Henson’s Muppets collection is coming home to Washington where the characters were created in the 1950s.
On Wednesday, Henson’s widow Jane Henson will donate 10 characters from the early TV show “Sam and Friends” to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of … Original source on Gaea Times at : Muppet Homecoming: Original Kermit the Frog heads back to DC for home at Smithsonian.

National Gallery of Canada deputy director David Franklin to lead Cleveland Museum of Art

Franklin named director of Cleveland Museum of Art

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Museum of Art has hired a new director.
He’s David Franklin, the deputy director of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. He replaces Deborah Gribbon, who became interim director last year when Timothy Rub left to take the top job at the Philadelphia Museum …. Read the original article  : National Gallery of Canada deputy director David Franklin to lead Cleveland Museum of Art.

FAA hits American Airlines with $24.2 million penalty over maintenance problems

FAA hits American with $24.2 million penalty

DALLAS – Federal officials are seeking a record penalty of $24.2 million against American Airlines over maintenance lapses that caused thousands of canceled flights in 2008.
American said the civil penalty was unwarranted and it would appeal.
The dispute dates to 2008, when American had to cancel more than 3,000 flights …. Read the original article  : FAA hits American Airlines with $24.2 million penalty over maintenance problems.

Obama, wife, daughters go on vacation bike outing under brilliant skies on Martha’s Vineyard

First family goes on island vacation bike outing

EDGARTOWN, Mass. – President Barack Obama is following up a morning bike ride on Martha’s Vineyard with an afternoon round of golf.
Under brilliant New England skies Friday, the president headed back to the Vineyard Golf Club. The outing marked his fifth round off golf during his 10-day vacation.
Earlier …. Original source  : Obama, wife, daughters go on vacation bike outing under brilliant skies on Martha’s Vineyard.

Enjoy the Holiday Weekend with Labor Day

WASHINGTON (GaeaTimes.com) — It seems that this holiday weekend will be quite exciting as a number of people tend to take trips in the coming labor day holiday. AAA projects the number of Americans traveling this Labor Day holiday weekend will increase 9.9 percent from 2009, with about 34.4 million travelers taking a trip …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Enjoy the Holiday Weekend with Labor Day.

Bosnia, Serbia restart steam train line in bid to attract tourists, boost ties

Steam train connects Bosnia, Serbia
VISEGRAD, Bosnia-Herzegovina – Bosnia and Serbia restarted an old steam-powered train Saturday in an effort to increase tourism in a region that was devastated by war in the 1990s.

Thousands of people gathered in the eastern Bosnian town of Visegrad to greet the train on century-old, narrow-gauge rails as it ended its [..] Read the original article: here.

Obama, rest of first family, travel to private beach as Martha’s Vineyard vacation nears end

First family hits beach as vacation nears end
EDGARTOWN, Mass. – The first family is spending time at the beach.
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, on Saturday spent part of their final full day on Martha’s Vineyard at a private beach.
The family motorcaded from their rented farm … Read more >>.

Obama, wife, daughters go on vacation bike outing under brilliant skies on Martha’s Vineyard

First family goes on island vacation bike outing
EDGARTOWN, Mass. – President Barack Obama is following up a morning bike ride on Martha’s Vineyard with an afternoon round of golf.
Under brilliant New England skies Friday, the president headed back to the Vineyard Golf Club. The outing marked his fifth round off golf during his … Read more >>.

Enjoy the Holiday Weekend with Labor Day

WASHINGTON (GaeaTimes.com) — It seems that this holiday weekend will be quite exciting as a number of people tend to take trips in the coming labor day holiday. AAA projects the number of Americans traveling this Labor Day holiday weekend will increase 9.9 percent from 2009, with about 34.4 million travelers taking a trip … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Enjoy the Holiday Weekend with Labor Day.

National Gallery of Canada deputy director David Franklin to lead Cleveland Museum of Art

Franklin named director of Cleveland Museum of Art

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Museum of Art has hired a new director.
He’s David Franklin, the deputy director of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. He replaces Deborah Gribbon, who became interim director last year when Timothy Rub left to take the top job at the Philadelphia Museum …. Original source  : National Gallery of Canada deputy director David Franklin to lead Cleveland Museum of Art.

FAA hits American Airlines with $24.2 million penalty over maintenance problems

FAA hits American with $24.2 million penalty

DALLAS – Federal officials are seeking a record penalty of $24.2 million against American Airlines over maintenance lapses that caused thousands of canceled flights in 2008.
American said the civil penalty was unwarranted and it would appeal.
The dispute dates to 2008, when American had to cancel more than 3,000 flights … Read this article on Gaea Times at : FAA hits American Airlines with $24.2 million penalty over maintenance problems.

Renovated Bandelier National Monument tells story of NM’s pueblo people, early dwellers

Bandelier monument shares NM pueblo people’s story

BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT, N.M. – The canyons and cliff dwellings of Bandelier National Monument are telling a story, and this time it’s through the voices and artwork of the American Indian tribes whose ancestors inhabited this sliver of northern New Mexico.
After nearly a decade of careful consultation with neighboring …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Beachfront Hawaii estate rented by Obama family during Christmas vacations sold for $6.9M

Obama’s Hawaii vacation rental sold for $6.9M
HONOLULU – The beachfront Hawaii home rented by President Barack Obama and his family during their last two Christmas vacations has been sold for $6.9 million.
The five bedroom, single-story, 4,900-square-foot Kailua estate was sold to Paradise Point Estates LLC, a company managed Glenn Weinberg of Owings Mills, …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

After 4-day deluge, rain lifts on Martha’s Vineyard and the first family has lunch out

Rain lifts, vacationing Obamas dine out for lunch
OAK BLUFFS, Mass. – Emerging from semi-seclusion after four days of drenching rain, President Barack Obama and his family ate lunch at a wharfside restaurant on Wednesday in their first joint public appearance since beginning their Martha’s Vineyard vacation.
“Hey, how are you guys doing? You dried …. Original source  : After 4-day deluge, rain lifts on Martha’s Vineyard and the first family has lunch out.

Muppet homecoming: original Kermit the Frog back in DC for good at Smithsonian

Henson donates original Kermit to Smithsonian

WASHINGTON – The original Kermit the Frog, his body created with an old dull-green coat and his eyes made of pingpong balls, has returned home to the nation’s capital, where the puppet got his start.
The first Kermit creation from Jim Henson’s Muppet’s collection appeared in 1955 on the early TV …. Original source  : Muppet homecoming: original Kermit the Frog back in DC for good at Smithsonian.

U. of Mich. Museum of Art exhibits more than 100 prints from James McNeill Whistler collection

U-M art museum exhibits Whistler prints collection

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan Museum of Art has opened a three-month show of more than 100 prints by 19th century American artist James McNeill Whistler.
The exhibition called “On Beauty and the Everyday: The Prints of James McNeill Whistler” runs through Nov. 28. It’s the largest … Original article on : U. of Mich. Museum of Art exhibits more than 100 prints from James McNeill Whistler collection.

AAA sees Labor Day weekend travel to increasing nearly 10 percent, most driving close to home

AAA: More people will hit the road this Labor Day

DENVER – More Americans will get away for the Labor Day weekend this year, yet stick closer to home as they try to get the most for their money, AAA said Wednesday.
The auto club expects 34.4 million people to travel at least 50 miles from home … Read more >>>.

Muppet Homecoming: Original Kermit the Frog heads back to DC for home at Smithsonian

First Kermit the Frog being given to Smithsonian

WASHINGTON – The original Kermit the Frog from Jim Henson’s Muppets collection is coming home to Washington where the characters were created in the 1950s.
On Wednesday, Henson’s widow Jane Henson will donate 10 characters from the early TV show “Sam and Friends” to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of … Read : Muppet Homecoming: Original Kermit the Frog heads back to DC for home at Smithsonian.

Ahoy, Philadelphia! Paddleboat to start cruises at Penn’s Landing on Delaware River

Paddleboat cruises coming to Philly waterfront

PHILADELPHIA – There’s a new attraction expected soon on Philadelphia’s waterfront: a 260-foot paddlewheel riverboat replica.
The newly dubbed Philadelphia Belle arrived at Penn’s Landing on Tuesday amid fanfare that included a Mummers string band and a Ben Franklin impersonator.
A group of investors led by Norfolk, Va.-based CI Travel bought the … Read more >>>.

Philippines acknowledges mistakes in handling hostage crisis that killed 8 Hong Kong tourists

Philippines mourns, HK angry after hijack deaths

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines acknowledged “inadequacies” in handling a hostage crisis that killed eight Hong Kong tourists, as anger over the botched negotiations erupted Tuesday in Hong Kong with demonstrations and harsh words.
A heartbreaking picture emerged of the victims – a mother of three who lost her husband … Read more >>>.

Yankee mag celebrates 75th year, names Kent, CT top foliage town in New England

Yankee mag names Kent, CT tops for leaf-peeping

Yankee magazine has been celebrating New England for three-quarters of a century, but even after all these years, there’s still room for surprise.
In its 75th anniversary issue, on newsstands Tuesday, the magazine named Kent, Conn., population 3,000, the best town in New England for fall foliage.
Kent trumped better-known … Original source on Gaea Times at : Yankee mag celebrates 75th year, names Kent, CT top foliage town in New England.

Philippines in shock as 9 die after fired cop, demanding job back, hijacks Hong Kong tour bus

Mayhem in Manila: 9 killed on hijacked tourist bus

MANILA, Philippines – It looked like a hostage rescue in slow motion: Police creeping up on the bus with sledgehammers and smashing first one window, then another, then trying and failing to rip open the door.
When they finally got inside, authorities said, they found nine bodies: eight …. Read the original article  : Philippines in shock as 9 die after fired cop, demanding job back, hijacks Hong Kong tour bus.

Secret History: Former US spy goes to work for DC’s International Spy Museum as historian

Spy Museum adds another former spy to staff in DC

WASHINGTON – The International Spy Museum in Washington has recruited an ex-spy as its new historian.
The museum said Monday that Mark Stout would become historian after spending 13 years in intelligence. He is the museum’s first research chief with an intelligence background.
Stout worked at the CIA …. Read the original article  : here.

Manila hospitals say 6 out of 15 Chinese bus hostages killed after gunman seizes vehicle

Hospitals: 6 out of 15 bus hostages dead
MANILA, Philippines – Hospitals in the Philippine capital say six out of 15 Chinese tourists have been killed as police stormed their bus to end a daylong hostage-taking by a dismissed policeman.

Police said earlier the hostage-taker was killed Monday evening.
The Manila Hospital says five hostages were brought there, … Read more : Manila hospitals say 6 out of 15 Chinese bus hostages killed after gunman seizes vehicle.

Spain’s tourist numbers up 4.5 percent in July, biggest increase since 2008

Spain’s tourist numbers up in July
MADRID – Spain’s government says the nation’s tourist arrivals rose by 4.5 percent in July, the biggest year-on-year increase in more than two years.

The tourism ministry says about 7 million tourists arrived last month, the third consecutive month of increase.
But the ministry also said Monday that 30 million foreign tourists … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Spain’s tourist numbers up 4.5 percent in July, biggest increase since 2008.

Some of 15 Chinese hostages leave bus as Philippine police enter vehicle

Police move in, some hostages leave Philippine bus

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine police stormed a bus Monday evening after shots were heard from the hostage-taker of 15 Chinese tourists, and at least four of the hostages crawled out of the back door.
The hostage-taker was killed, said Senior Superintendent Nelson Yabut.
There was no immediate confirmation of any … Original source on Gaea Times at : Some of 15 Chinese hostages leave bus as Philippine police enter vehicle.

Ex-policeman in Philippine capital holds tourist bus hostage with 26 aboard

Ex-policeman in Philippines holds tourists hostage

MANILA, Philippines – A dismissed policeman armed with an automatic rifle seized a bus in the Philippine capital Monday with 24 passengers, most of them Hong Kong tourists, in a bid to demand his reinstatement, police said.
Six hostages, including three children, were subsequently released, and appeared to be unhurt.
Police sharpshooters … Original article on : Ex-policeman in Philippine capital holds tourist bus hostage with 26 aboard.

Judge rejects Fisk deal for Ark. museum to take joint ownership of O’Keeffe art collection

Judge rejects Fisk deal to sell O’Keeffe share

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Nashville judge has rejected Fisk University’s proposal to sell a joint share in a 101-piece collection donated by late artist Georgia O’Keeffe to an Arkansas museum.
Fisk argued that its precarious financial state prevents the historically black university from maintaining and displaying the collection.
Judge Ellen …. Original article  : Judge rejects Fisk deal for Ark. museum to take joint ownership of O’Keeffe art collection.

Mud delays efforts to pull rare World War II dive bomber from Southern Calif. reservoir

Mud delays efforts to extract WWII plane from lake

SAN DIEGO – Divers worked through the day Thursday to extract a rare World War II dive bomber from the bottom of a reservoir but were unable to finish removing thick silt and mud from the plane to enable it to be lifted out of the water.
Former …. Read the original article  : Mud delays efforts to pull rare World War II dive bomber from Southern Calif. reservoir.

AP sources: Phone call was about hijacking an American Airlines plane bound for NY

AP sources: Phone was about hijacking threat

WASHINGTON – A source close to the investigation says a New York-bound jetliner was stopped from taking off from San Francisco after someone threatened to hijack it.
American Airlines Flight 24 was halted just before its scheduled takeoff Thursday morning at San Francisco International Airport after someone called in the … Read : AP sources: Phone call was about hijacking an American Airlines plane bound for NY.

Correction: American Airlines seat fee story

Correction: American Airlines seat fee story

NEW YORK – In a story Aug. 19 about American Airlines new seat fees, The Associated Press reported erroneously that elite frequent fliers can reserve the first few rows of coach for no charge. Elite fliers have access to other preferred seats without a fee but must pay $19 to … Read more : Correction: American Airlines seat fee story.

Veterans’ families watch salvagers working to pull rare WWII plane from California reservoir

Divers work to lift WWII plane from Calif. lake

SAN DIEGO – Salvage divers gently cleared away silt and mud covering a WWII dive bomber buried in the bottom of the San Diego reservoir, carefully working Thursday to lift the rare plane from the water 65 years after it was ditched during a training run.
Bob Metz, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Veterans’ families watch salvagers working to pull rare WWII plane from California reservoir.

NTSB says metal fatigue led to hole in roof of Southwest Airlines jet last year

Hole in Southwest jet blamed on metal fatigue

DALLAS – Federal investigators say metal fatigue caused a hole to rip open in the roof of a Southwest Airlines jet as it cruised at 35,000 feet last year.
The National Transportation Safety Board says the 14-inch crack developed in a spot where two sheets of aluminum skin were … Read more >>.

American Airlines to start charging $19-$39 for seats in the first few rows of coach cabin

American Airlines to charge for front-row seats

NEW YORK – American Airlines has found another fee.
The Fort Worth, Texas, airline said Wednesday it’s now charging between $19 and $39 for “Express Seats” – those spots in the first few rows of coach that include bulkhead seats.
American said the price of the seats includes getting on the … Original source on Gaea Times at : American Airlines to start charging $19-$39 for seats in the first few rows of coach cabin.

Website hopes to serve travelers in their own backyards

Website aimed at hometown tourists
BOISE, Idaho – My family will travel halfway around the world to see a koala bear sitting in a eucalyptus tree, but for some reason it took us four years in Boise to see the city’s spooky old 19th century penitentiary, a local favorite just a few miles from our house.

The …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Brazil’s Rio works with local citizens to promote tourism in city’s slums

Brazil’s Rio wants tourists visiting its slums

RIO DE JANEIRO – Tourists usually try to run from Rio’s notorious slums. Now officials are inviting them to come visit instead.
The Santa Marta shantytown on Monday became the first community in a program meant to promote tourism in the poor neighborhoods that are home to some unique music … Read more »».

EHi Car Rental gets $70 million investment from Goldman Sachs-led consortium

EHi Car Rental gets $70M investment
SHANGHAI, China – The Chinese company eHi Car Rental said Monday that a consortium led by Goldman Sachs has agreed to make a $70 million investment.

Existing shareholders of eHi Car Rental are also part of the group, including Qiming Venture Partners, CDH Ventures, Ignition Capital, JAFCO Asia and New Access …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Fundraising tour for Corvette museum will include caravan around state to see top sites

Corvette tour will lap Kentucky
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A “One Lap of Kentucky” tour sponsored by the National Corvette Museum will take riders on a five-day tour of some of the state’s top attractions.

The tour planned for next month is also being sponsored by the Kentucky State Police for the event, which will benefit the … Read more : Fundraising tour for Corvette museum will include caravan around state to see top sites.