INSIDER
New REAL ID requirement at airports also applies to TSA PreCheck passengers
Read full article: New REAL ID requirement at airports also applies to TSA PreCheck passengersTransportation Security Administration agents warned that people who do not have a REAL ID, including TSA PreCheck passengers, will not be allowed to board their domestic flights starting May 7.
Federal trial looms for Canadian accused of attacking TSA officers at Miami airport
Read full article: Federal trial looms for Canadian accused of attacking TSA officers at Miami airportA Canadian man accused of assaulting two Transportation Security Administration officers at Miami International Airport has until Friday to enter into a plea agreement or head to a federal trial in late April or early May, according to court documents obtained by Local 10 News on Tuesday.
Man found with a live turtle concealed in his pants by TSA at a New Jersey airport
Read full article: Man found with a live turtle concealed in his pants by TSA at a New Jersey airportAuthorities say a man passing through security at a New Jersey airport was found to have a live turtle concealed in his pants.
Homeland Security ends TSA collective bargaining agreement, in effort to dismantle union protections
Read full article: Homeland Security ends TSA collective bargaining agreement, in effort to dismantle union protectionsA union representing Transportation Security Administration workers calls the Department of Homeland Security's decision to end the collective bargaining agreement with them an “unprovoked attack.”.
TSA to pursue federal case against Canadian accused of attacking its officers at MIA
Read full article: TSA to pursue federal case against Canadian accused of attacking its officers at MIAA Canadian arrested on state charges after police said he attacked passengers and Transportation Security Administration officers at Miami International Airport over the weekend could wind up in more trouble.
Another unticketed passenger attempts to stow away on a Delta flight this holiday season
Read full article: Another unticketed passenger attempts to stow away on a Delta flight this holiday seasonIn the thick of holiday travel, another unticketed passenger attempted to stow away on a Delta Air Lines flight.
TSA officers on Thanksgiving Day travel rush: Turkey and stuffing allowed at checkpoints
Read full article: TSA officers on Thanksgiving Day travel rush: Turkey and stuffing allowed at checkpointsTransportation Security Administration officers felt Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day travel rush in South Florida and reported that travelers are allowed to bring turkey and stuffing through checkpoints.
Travelers who waited to make Thanksgiving trips are hitting the biggest crowds so far
Read full article: Travelers who waited to make Thanksgiving trips are hitting the biggest crowds so farThe last-minute Thanksgiving travelers are packing their cars and carry-on bags to hit the nation's highways and airports.

Broward man accused of having images of child sex abuse worked for TSA, attorney says in court
Read full article: Broward man accused of having images of child sex abuse worked for TSA, attorney says in courtAn attorney said Wednesday in Broward County court that a man who was facing 10 charges related to images of child sex abuse worked the Transportation Security Administration for over 20 years.
Miami airport gets first-of-its-kind ‘laser wall’ tech to detect intruders
Read full article: Miami airport gets first-of-its-kind ‘laser wall’ tech to detect intrudersThere is now a new surveillance system in place at Miami International Airport to bust intruders trying to breach its fence — and it’s the first airport in the nation to have it installed.
Travelers are getting a head start on the long Labor Day weekend
Read full article: Travelers are getting a head start on the long Labor Day weekendAirports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed across the U.S. this Labor Day weekend as a lot Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the season’s unofficial start: by traveling.
More than 3 million pass through US airport security in a day for the first time as travel surges
Read full article: More than 3 million pass through US airport security in a day for the first time as travel surgesAgents for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration on Sunday screened 3 million airline passengers in a single day for the first time ever.
The July 4th holiday rush is on. TSA expects to screen a record number of travelers this weekend
Read full article: The July 4th holiday rush is on. TSA expects to screen a record number of travelers this weekendA long Fourth of July holiday weekend in the United States is expected to create new travel records.
Friday's preholiday travel breaks the record for the most airline travelers screened at US airports
Read full article: Friday's preholiday travel breaks the record for the most airline travelers screened at US airportsA record was broken ahead of the Memorial Day weekend for the number of airline travelers screened at U.S. airports.
‘Totally inexcusable’: GOP electeds weigh in on MIA Cuban delegation flap
Read full article: ‘Totally inexcusable’: GOP electeds weigh in on MIA Cuban delegation flapThe controversy over a group of Cuban officials given a tour of Transportation Security Administration facilities at Miami International Airport continues to resonate, with three elected Republicans adding to the uproar.
Senators want limits on the government's use of facial recognition technology for airport screening
Read full article: Senators want limits on the government's use of facial recognition technology for airport screeningA bipartisan group of senators wants restrictions on the use of facial recognition technology by the Transportation Security Administration.
Miami International Airport deals with large crowds after weather-related delays
Read full article: Miami International Airport deals with large crowds after weather-related delaysThere were storms on Friday night and Saturday morning in Miami-Dade County. There was wintry weather on Sunday in New England and California. Flight cancellations and delays had travelers resting on the floor at Miami International Airport.
Migrants lacking passports must now submit to facial recognition to board flights in US
Read full article: Migrants lacking passports must now submit to facial recognition to board flights in USThe U.S. government has started requiring migrants without passports to submit to facial recognition technology to take domestic flights under a change that prompted confusion this week among immigrants and advocacy groups in Texas.
TSA unveils passenger self-screening lanes at Vegas airport as 'a step into the future'
Read full article: TSA unveils passenger self-screening lanes at Vegas airport as 'a step into the future'Federal airport security officials have unveiled a prototype passenger self-screening system at busy Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas but say they do not plan to use it in other cities around the country.
Officials tout Super Bowl plans to crimp counterfeiting, ground drones, curb human trafficking
Read full article: Officials tout Super Bowl plans to crimp counterfeiting, ground drones, curb human traffickingFederal and local officials say they're taking steps to crimp counterfeiting, ground drones and curb human trafficking during Super Bowl week in Las Vegas.
Busiest holiday travel season in years is off to a smooth start with few airport delays
Read full article: Busiest holiday travel season in years is off to a smooth start with few airport delaysThe holiday travel rush is hitting its peak as mild weather and lower flight cancelation rates raise hopes for merrier drivers and airline passengers than last year.
A passenger hid bullets in a baby diaper at New York's LaGuardia Airport. TSA officers caught him
Read full article: A passenger hid bullets in a baby diaper at New York's LaGuardia Airport. TSA officers caught himThe Transportation Security Administration says security officers found 17 bullets concealed inside a disposable baby diaper at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
TSA demonstrates proper way for FLL passengers to pack, travel with firearm
Read full article: TSA demonstrates proper way for FLL passengers to pack, travel with firearmTransportation Security Administration (TSA) officials at Fort Lauderdale Airport spent Friday morning demonstrating and describing how to properly travel with a firearm.
US airports saw record passenger volumes, but fewer headaches, over Thanksgiving weekend
Read full article: US airports saw record passenger volumes, but fewer headaches, over Thanksgiving weekendA record number of passengers traveled through U.S. airports over Thanksgiving weekend, the Transportation Security Administration said Monday.
Not again. Federal workers who've weathered past government shutdowns brace for yet another ordeal
Read full article: Not again. Federal workers who've weathered past government shutdowns brace for yet another ordealAcross the country, federal workers still stung by memories of past government shutdowns are bracing for the possibility of another extended closure.
Police: Trio of TSA officers conspired to steal from MIA flyers
Read full article: Police: Trio of TSA officers conspired to steal from MIA flyersMiami-Dade police arrested three Transportation Security Administration officers Thursday after accusing them of conspiring to steal passengers’ money as they went through screening at Miami International Airport.
TSA is testing facial recognition at more airports, raising privacy concerns
Read full article: TSA is testing facial recognition at more airports, raising privacy concernsThe agency tasked with securing America's airports is testing the use of facial recognition technology at a number of airports across the country.
Power outage blacks out terminals at Los Angeles airport
Read full article: Power outage blacks out terminals at Los Angeles airportPower was briefly knocked out at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, leaving many passengers at one of the world’s busiest airports in the dark and halting security checks.
TSA : Gun parts found in peanut butter jars at JFK
Read full article: TSA : Gun parts found in peanut butter jars at JFKTransportation Security Administration officers find a disassembled semi-automatic handgun inside two peanut butter jars inside checked bag at John F. Kennedy International Airport before the Holiday weekend.
‘Personal fowl’: TSA finds gun stuffed in raw chicken at Fort Lauderdale airport
Read full article: ‘Personal fowl’: TSA finds gun stuffed in raw chicken at Fort Lauderdale airportWith Thanksgiving right around the corner, officials with the Transportation Security Administration said its officers found a gun hidden in an unlikely place: inside a raw, whole chicken.
Florida judge voids US mask mandate for planes, other travel
Read full article: Florida judge voids US mask mandate for planes, other travelA federal judge in Florida struck down a national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit Monday, and airlines and airports swiftly began repealing their face covering requirements.
CDC extends travel mask requirement to May 3 as COVID rises
Read full article: CDC extends travel mask requirement to May 3 as COVID risesThe Biden administration has announced it will extend through May 3 the nationwide mask requirement for airplanes and public transit as it monitors an uptick in COVID-19 cases.
Video allegedly shows hitman counting cash payment for killing TSA officer, prosecutors say
Read full article: Video allegedly shows hitman counting cash payment for killing TSA officer, prosecutors sayThe State Attorney’s Office released a video on Wednesday showing Javon Carter — who is accused of killing a U.S. Transportation Security Administration officer — while he recorded himself in a car counting stacks of $100 bills.
US extends mask rule for travel while weighing new approach
Read full article: US extends mask rule for travel while weighing new approachFederal officials are extending the requirement for masks on planes and public transportation through mid-April while taking steps that could lead to lifting the rule.
TSA officer saves infant who stopped breathing at airport
Read full article: TSA officer saves infant who stopped breathing at airportNewly released video shows a security officer leaping over conveyor belt rollers and saving a 2-month-old boy who stopped breathing at a New Jersey airport security checkpoint.
Atlanta airport checkpoint chaos: Man grabs gun, it goes off
Read full article: Atlanta airport checkpoint chaos: Man grabs gun, it goes offAuthorities say a passenger awaiting a bag search at the Atlanta airport’s main security checkpoint reached in the bag and grabbed a firearm, and it went off, causing chaos among travelers.
Thanksgiving air travel to rebound to 2019 levels, TSA says
Read full article: Thanksgiving air travel to rebound to 2019 levels, TSA saysThe number of airline passengers traveling for Thanksgiving this year is expected to rebound to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, but the Transportation Security Administration says it is ready to handle the surge.
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Travel stocks slump, with airlines, cruises, hotels tumble
Read full article: Travel stocks slump, with airlines, cruises, hotels tumbleAir travel in the United States hit another pandemic-era record over the weekend as vacationers jammed airports, but shares of airlines, cruise lines, hotels and almost anything else related to travel are tumbling on growing concerns about highly contagious variants of coronavirus.
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Travel stocks slump, with airlines, cruises, hotels tumble
Read full article: Travel stocks slump, with airlines, cruises, hotels tumbleAir travel in the United States hit another pandemic-era record over the weekend as vacationers jammed airports, but shares of airlines, cruise lines, hotels and almost anything else related to travel are tumbling on growing concerns about highly contagious variants of coronavirus.
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Airline industry looks to fill jobs as labor shortages lead to canceled flights
Read full article: Airline industry looks to fill jobs as labor shortages lead to canceled flightsHundreds of American Airlines customers faced canceled flights over the weekend, which the airline attributed to both weather and labor shortages with some vendors.
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Travel rebound: 2 million people go through US airports
Read full article: Travel rebound: 2 million people go through US airportsThe airline industry’s recovery from the pandemic passed a milestone as more than 2 million people streamed through U.S. airport security checkpoints on Friday for the first time since early March 2020.
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Hack prompts new security regulations for US pipelines
Read full article: Hack prompts new security regulations for US pipelinesThe federal government will issue cybersecurity regulations in the coming days for U.S. pipeline operators following a ransomware attack that led to fuel shortages across much of the Eastern Seaboard.
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Mother, 24, killed next to daughter in Miami-Dade after working TSA officer shift
Read full article: Mother, 24, killed next to daughter in Miami-Dade after working TSA officer shiftMiami-Dade detectives are investigating the murder of a 24-year-old woman who worked for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration.
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US air travel rises to highest levels yet since pandemic hit
Read full article: US air travel rises to highest levels yet since pandemic hit(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)Across the United States, air travel is recovering more quickly from the depths of the pandemic, and it is showing up in longer airport security lines and busier traffic on airline websites. "Our last three weeks have been the best three weeks since the pandemic hit, and each week has been better than the one prior,” American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said Monday. However, the airlines still have far to go before travel fully returns to pre-pandemic levels. Since the pandemic hit, air travel has picked up a few times — mostly around holidays — only to drop back down. The airline said people are booking leisure trips to beach and mountain destinations but business travel is still lagging.
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The Latest: All Duke University undergrads must quarantine
Read full article: The Latest: All Duke University undergrads must quarantine(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University issued a quarantine order for all of its undergraduates effective Saturday night due to a coronavirus outbreak caused by students who attended recruitment parties, the school said. The university said in a statement that all undergraduate students will be forced to stay-in-place until at least March 21. Suspension or dismissal from the school are potential punishments for “flagrant or repeat violators.”Over the past week, the school has reported more than 180 positive coronavirus cases among students. AdItaly has now tallied some 3.2 million cases in the pandemic. The COVAX alliance aims to share COVID-19 vaccines with more than 90 lower and middle-income nations.
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TSA agent convicted for tricking woman into showing breasts
Read full article: TSA agent convicted for tricking woman into showing breastsLOS ANGELES – A former Transportation Security Administration agent who was accused of tricking a traveler into showing her breasts as she went through security at Los Angeles International Airport pleaded no contest Friday to false imprisonment, authorities said. Lomeli was also barred from working as a security guard. Lomeli was charged with using fraud or deceit to falsely imprison the woman in June 2019. But when they were alone on an elevator, Lomeli told the woman he could perform the screening there and ordered her to lift her shirt and show her breasts, then looked down her pants, she said. Lomeli then told the woman she was free to go and added that she had nice breasts, authorities said.
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TSA looking into adding Capitol rioters to US no-fly list
Read full article: TSA looking into adding Capitol rioters to US no-fly listFederal safety officials are investigating people who took part in last week's riot at the U.S. Capitol to decide whether they belong on the federal no-fly list. The assessments are one of several steps federal agencies are taking to increase security before President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration next week. The assessments could result in rioters being added to the federal no-fly list, the person said. The FBI said earlier this week it was considering adding Capitol rioters to the federal no-fly list but stopped short of saying that individuals were being scrutinized. Airlines and Washington-area airports also have promised tighter security after last week’s riot at the Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump.
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VIRUS TODAY: Huge study on another COVID vaccine is underway
Read full article: VIRUS TODAY: Huge study on another COVID vaccine is underwayAdministrative worker Sander Edmondson, left, hands a COVID-19 testing kit to a woman at a testing site in Los Angeles, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Here’s what’s happening Monday with the pandemic in the U.S.:THREE THINGS TO KNOW TODAY— A huge study of another COVID-19 vaccine candidate is getting underway Monday as states continue to roll out scarce supplies of the nation’s first shots. Some 30,000 volunteers are needed to prove if this vaccine — a different kind than its Pfizer and Moderna competitors — really works and is safe. — Homicides in Detroit, New York, Philadelphia and other U.S. cities have topped 2019 numbers as violence surged during the coronavirus pandemic. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
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The Latest: China tests millions in port over virus cluster
Read full article: The Latest: China tests millions in port over virus cluster(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)BEIJING — Authorities in China’s northeastern port city of Dalian are testing millions of residents after seven new coronavirus cases were reported there in the last 24 hours. It has a deal to secure up to 100 million doses of the potential vaccine produced by AstraZeneca. Koca said the first shipment of three million doses of CoronaVac would be shipped to Turkey on Sunday and arrive Monday. He said Turkey could get 4.5 million doses until the end of March and would have the option buy up to 30 million doses. Indonesia has reported nearly 700,000 COVID-19 cases, the largest caseload in Southeast Asia and second in Asia only to India’s 10.1 million confirmed cases.
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About 9.5 million passengers screened by TSA during Thanksgiving holiday travel period
Read full article: About 9.5 million passengers screened by TSA during Thanksgiving holiday travel periodMIAMI – The Transportation Security Administration reported Tuesday that it screened more than 1 million airline passengers on four individual days during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, which began Friday, Nov. 20 and ended this past Sunday. About 9.5 million passengers were screened by TSA over the full 10-day period. Officials say since then, people have begun gradually traveling more, with travel volumes rising to about 40% of recovery between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. The last time travel volume rose above 1 million passengers in a single day was Sunday, October 18 during the Columbus Day holiday travel period, the news release stated. TSA urges passengers to check the CDC’s travel guidelines before heading out on a trip, as well as their airline’s, and urges passengers to check the COVID-19-related guidelines at their destination.
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Holiday air travel surges despite dire health warnings
Read full article: Holiday air travel surges despite dire health warningsThe Transportation Security Administration screened at least 1 million people on four of the last 10 days through Sunday. That's still half the crowd recorded last year at airports, when more than 2 million people were counted per day. With new reported cases of coronavirus spiking across the country, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had issued a warning against Thanksgiving travel just a week before the holiday. It's unclear whether the pleas of experts like Fauci had any effect on travel and large gatherings at Thanksgiving. On Monday, JetBlue Airways said “booking trends remain volatile,” and a recovery in travel demand will be uneven into next year.
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Thanksgiving travel rush: About 60,000 pass through Miami International Airport
Read full article: Thanksgiving travel rush: About 60,000 pass through Miami International AirportMIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami International Airport had smaller crowds than last year, but airport officials said there were still about 60,000 travelers passing through during the Thanksgiving travel rush. There were plexiglass barriers, hand sanitizing stations, testing areas, and face mask requirements. A kiosk displays a message encouraging wearing face masks and social distancing as passengers wait in line at Miami International Airport, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, in Miami. People who decide not to get tested should stay home for two weeks after travel, officials said. Avoid touching your face mask, eyes, nose, and mouth.
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Airports seeing more travelers, a positive sign for lagging industry
Read full article: Airports seeing more travelers, a positive sign for lagging industryMIAMI – Cell phone video showed a crowded Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Monday, and there are further signs of an upward trend in air travel across South Florida and the country. The Transportation Security Administration is reporting the highest number of recorded passengers, crew and employees screened since the coronavirus pandemic began. Sunday at Miami International Airport, 44,000 passengers made their way through. It’s great news for an airline industry dealing with massive furloughs and layoffs. One downside is that some airline employees are worried that because of those ongoing layoffs and furloughs, there may not be enough staffing to safely process the increase in passengers.
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With fewer passengers, TSA agents find more loaded firearms at Miami International Airport
Read full article: With fewer passengers, TSA agents find more loaded firearms at Miami International AirportMIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. Transportation Security Administration officers reported an increase in the number of undeclared firearms they are finding inside carry-on baggage at checkpoints. This is while TSA reported screening about 75% fewer passengers than last year. Dan Ronan, the TSA federal security director at Miami International Airport, reported agents have discovered undeclared firearms at MIA checkpoints at a rate 2.5 times higher than last year. According to TSA Administrator David Pekoske, about 80% of the undeclared firearms found at airport checkpoints around the nation are loaded. Ronan and Pekoske want the public to remember the violation comes with civil penalties and criminal prosecution.
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Air traffic is down, gun seizures up at US airports
Read full article: Air traffic is down, gun seizures up at US airports(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)With air traffic nearing a five-month high, airport security is finding guns in passenger carry-on bags at three times the rate recorded before the pandemic. There has been a significant increase in loaded guns at checkpoints, said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. Last year, 4,432 guns were found in carry-on bags, or about 12.1 per day, and 87% were loaded. TSA's public appeal to follow gun rules came the same day that it reported screening 831,789 people on Sunday. It was the first time checkpoint traffic in U.S. airports has topped 800,000 since March 17.
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More employees test positive for coronavirus at Miami International Airport
Read full article: More employees test positive for coronavirus at Miami International AirportMIAMI The Miami-Dade Aviation Department reported on Tuesday that coronavirus cases among Miami International Airport employees have increased during the last few weeks. Lester Sola, the departments chief executive officer, made the announcement during a public meeting of the Miami-Dade County Tourism and the Ports Committee. As of July 10, MIA had 64 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 59 TSA screen officers, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Victor Chung, one of the founding officers at the Miami International Airport for TSA, died from complications from coronavirus. (WPLG)In April, TSA reported Victor Chung, 65, who worked at MIA and was with the TSA for more than 17 years, died of COVID-19.
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Reports: TSA insider faults agency's response to coronavirus
Read full article: Reports: TSA insider faults agency's response to coronavirusThe top TSA official in Kansas, Jay Brainard, says the TSAs actions amount to gross mismanagement." The special counsel has ordered TSA's parent agency, the Homeland Security Department, to conduct an investigation. Brainard filed his whistleblower complaint on June 3, and the special counsel on Thursday ordered the Homeland Security Department to investigate the allegations. By law, the special counsel only takes that step when it believes there is a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing. The special counsel will review Homeland Securitys findings and issue a report to the White House and Congress.
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Businesses ramp up operations as nations prep for tourists
Read full article: Businesses ramp up operations as nations prep for touristsFive restaurants continue to operate with enhanced off-premise service only, while nine restaurants remain temporarily closed. Transactions at fast food restaurants were down 17% the week of May 24, while transactions at sit-down chains were down 49%. CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS & BANKS: Spains national statistics office said that it received zero international tourists in April. That compares with 7 million tourists that spent 7 billion euros ($7.8 billion) in Spain in the prior-year period. Istanbuls 15th century Grand Bazaar, museums, gyms, child care centers and nurseries, were among other venues allowed to resume operations.
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Be ready for some new airport procedures as TSA aims to protect travelers and workers
Read full article: Be ready for some new airport procedures as TSA aims to protect travelers and workersThats why the agency is taking steps to reduce the amount of times TSA agents have to touch travelers personal belongings. Carry-on food must be in a clear plastic bag and placed in a bin, whereas before, this was optional. There will also be more plastic shielding throughout the airport and regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. If youre flying out, the TSA wants you to wear a mask and get to the airport early so you have time to check your bags and get screened because the pandemic has affected airport staffing and operations. The TSA also wants you to check with your airline for specific coronavirus-related guidance before coming to the airport.
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Retailers reopening more stores, tourism expanding
Read full article: Retailers reopening more stores, tourism expandingThe chain began to reopen stores earlier this month and expects most stores to be open in mid-June. TJX Canada began reopening stores in some provinces this week, and stores in Germany, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands and Australia are fully open. Victorias Secret said Thursday its closing 250 stores in the next few months, about a quarter of all its stores. The sales drop was the largest one-month decline since a 22.5% fall in July 2010. The Finance Ministry said imports fell 7% to 6.1 trillion yen ($57 billion) from 6.6 trillion yen.
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TSA halts employees from using TikTok for social media posts
Read full article: TSA halts employees from using TikTok for social media postsWASHINGTON, D.C. – The Transportation Security Administration said Sunday it has stopped allowing employees to use the China-owned video app TikTok to create social media posts for the agency after the Senate’s top Democrat raised concerns about potential national security issues. Schumer also cited a Department of Homeland Security policy prohibiting TikTok on agency devices. He also noted in the letter that Chinese laws compel companies to cooperate with China’s government and intelligence collection. Over the past few months, the agency has posted a number of videos reshared on other social media platforms such as Twitter, which have amassed hundreds of thousands of views. The agency said it never directed viewers to TikTok or published content directly to the platform, despite videos reposted on other TSA social media accounts having the TikTok logo in the bottom of the screen.

Record number of fliers expected around Thanksgiving
Read full article: Record number of fliers expected around ThanksgivingThe number of passengers flying over this Thanksgiving holiday period should be one for the record books, the Transportation Security Administration says. WASHINGTON, D.C. - The number of passengers flying over this Thanksgiving holiday period should be one for the record books, the Transportation Security Administration says. That would be a record for the Thanksgiving period, and about 4% more than the same time last year, Cogswell said at a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is expected to be "the single busiest day ever for the US airline industry," said Sharon Pinkerton, senior vice president for industry group Airlines for America. About 3.1 million passengers are expected on that day, December 1, Pinkerton said.

Flying anywhere next year? Here's another reminder to check your license for that star
Read full article: Flying anywhere next year? Here's another reminder to check your license for that starWere now just under the one-year mark before REAL ID enforcement begins in the United States. What about an enhanced license? Answering your REAL ID questions | Got a gold star on your license? The time to prepare is now.Preparing, by the way, might be as simple as opening your wallet and taking a peek at your current drivers license. Heres what you want to look for:Photo: tsa.govIf you have an enhanced license, youre all set.

New screening system at Miami International Airport should mean less wait time
Read full article: New screening system at Miami International Airport should mean less wait timeMIAMI - Miami International Airport has unveiled its new, one-of-a-kind system intended to expedite the screening process for travelers while increasing the safety of Transportation Security Administration agents. The new automated baggage screening system is part of a series of security upgrades at Miami International Airport, which, in addition to the robotic tables, will include a dozen new explosive screening devices. "This system, with 12 state-of-the-art explosive detection systems from Smiths Detection, replaces 10 medium-speed systems and 13 low-speed systems," Ronan said. Officials said it is the largest system of its kind to be installed at a U.S. airport. The money for the new system came from a $101 million baggage handling grant from the federal government.

Woman boards Delta flight without ticket or identification
Read full article: Woman boards Delta flight without ticket or identificationDelta Airlines via CNN(CNN) - Authorities are investigating how a woman managed to board a Delta Air Lines flight from Orlando to Atlanta without identification or a boarding pass. The Orlando Police Department said in a statement that officers responded to a suspicious person report Saturday morning at the airport. Officers asked the passenger for identification and for her boarding pass. She said she had thrown her ticket away and did not have Identification, the police statement said. Delta Air Lines apologized to Flight 1516 passengers in a statement "for the delay after a person not ticketed for that flight was removed from the aircraft."

Energy regulator warns of blackouts if gas pipeline were attacked
Read full article: Energy regulator warns of blackouts if gas pipeline were attackedNeil Chatterjee, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, warned that an attack on even a single US natural gas pipeline could cause mass blackouts. "Today, we have eight or nine generators depending on a single gas pipeline." TSA's pipeline security branch has just six full-time employeesThe Government Accountability Office has recently identified "weaknesses" in TSA's pipeline security program, including severe staffing limitations that prevented the agency from conducting security reviews. The GAO found that the pipeline security branch employed just six full-time employees last year. The GAO also found that the pipeline security branch has not updated its risk assessment on the top 100 critical pipeline systems since 2014.

Travelers routinely try to get weapons past TSA
Read full article: Travelers routinely try to get weapons past TSAWhile most of these items can travel in checked luggage, none of them are allowed in carry-on luggage, said Lorie Dankers, a spokesperson for TSA. We have not allowed knives since the inception of TSA. Between 42,000 and 63,000 passengers pass through TSA checkpoints at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport each day, she said. Of those 253 firearms, 225 were loaded and 84 had a round in the chamber, according to the TSA Blog. Seven of those firearms -- all loaded, four with a round in the chamber -- were found in carry-on bags at Phoenix Sky Harbor, according to the blog post.