Eruption's Disruption of Air Traffic Deepens Across Europe

AP – A car is seen driving through the ash from the volcano eruption under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier


By Anthony Faiola and Karla Adam
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, April 17, 2010; 5:59 AM

LONDON -- The global bottleneck in air travel from a spectacular volcanic cloud emanating from Iceland deepened Saturday as nations as far south as Italy were forced to shut down airports and others, including Britain, extended closures into Sunday.

First Coast Educators, Parents Applaud Gov. Crist's Veto of Senate Bill 6

Florida Gov Charlie Crist

Posted: April 15, 2010 - 12:38pm

By Topher Sanders
Educators, parents and school leaders celebrated Thursday after Gov. Charlie Crist’s veto of Senate Bill 6, the much-talked-about teacher pay reform bill.

Annette Worthen, president of the Duval County Council PTAs, said Crist’s veto was an example of the power of citizens’ voices on important issues.

“The governor listened to the parents, teachers and superintendents and didn’t put this burden on the backs of the children of Florida,” Worthen said.

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta CEO on State of Economy

Submitted by Abel Harding on April 15, 2010 - 3:16pm

Abel Harding

Dennis P. Lockart, the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, delivered a speech on the state of the economy at the Pensacola Surburban West Rotary Club earlier today.

In it, he discussed several key issues, including the state of the current recovery, the housing crisis and concerns about the commercial real estate sector.

I'm posting his remarks in their entirety - they're well worth the read.

Jacksonville Unemployment Rate Falls for First Time in 18 Months, But Remains High

Posted: April 16, 2010 - 10:36am

By Mark Basch

Jacksonville's unemployment rate fell in March for the first time in 18 months, the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation reported today. But the jobless rate remains extremely high.

The unemployment rate for the Jacksonville metropolitan area - consisting of Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties - fell from 12.2 percent in February to 11.9 percent in March, the state labor agency said. That was the first monthly drop in the rate since it fell by 0.2-percentage points to 6.4 percent in September 2008. The jobless rate had been rising steadily since then.

The 10 Most Common Travel Booking Mistakes

If you're planning to travel during a busy time like Presidents' Day week in Orlando book well in advance for the best prices and availability. (AP FILE PHOTO)

USA TODAY • April 16, 2010

If you're a long-time reader of SmarterTravel, you may consider yourself an old pro when it comes to booking airfare, hotels, and rental cars. But even the savviest of travelers can always use a refresher course, especially in light of travel's new realities—fees aplenty, confusing regulations, and endless fine print. Read on to see the 10 most common travel booking mistakes, and how to avoid them.

On Main Street, Wall Street's Big Profits Seem Like Bad Manners

By Tomoeh Murakami Tse
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 16, 2010; 9:43 AM

NEW YORK -- Any other year, blockbuster earnings would be something to brag about.

But this is a precarious moment for Wall Street, as Congress buckles down on its efforts to pass a financial regulatory bill that could erase billions from the bottom lines of big banks.

"It's got to be mixed emotions -- like your teenage daughter coming home at 3 a.m. with the Gideon Bible," said A. Gary Shilling, former chief economist at Merrill Lynch and president of an investment management and economic consulting firm.

April 2010 Business Meeting

The April 2010 Business meeting for IAM LL731 will be held Tuesday, April 13, 7pm at the Union Hall, 277 Tallulah Ave, Jacksonville, FL, 32208. Please click on Maps & Directions on how to reach the hall. If you arrive before 7pm please be respectful and wait in the outer lobby for the Executive Board to finish their meeting.

Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association Opposes Delta/USAirways Slot Swap Proposal

Mon Apr 5, 11:12 am ET

DALLAS, April 5 –

Unprecedented agreement would shut out low fares in New York and Washington, D.C.

DALLAS, April 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association is pushing for the Department of Transportation to disallow the permanent exchange of several hundred slots between Delta Airlines and USAirways at LaGuardia (LGA) and Washington National (DCA) Airports. This unprecedented anti-competitive deal would create hubs dominated by Delta at LGA and USAirways at DCA, giving them unchecked market and pricing power.

US Airways Starts Tarmac Delay Response Early

Mon Apr 5, 4:02 pm ET

TEMPE, Ariz. – US Airways is getting an early start in dealing with new rules requiring airlines to let passengers off the plane after a three-hour delay.

The new rule starting April 29 means airlines risk big fines if they keep passengers on the tarmac more than three hours. To keep that from happening, US Airways says its flights will return to the gate after two-and-a-half hours, unless takeoff is imminent. It says it began following its new procedures on Thursday.

The airline says it expects more cancellations as crews who return to the gate run up against federal rules limiting how long they can fly.

United, Brussels Airlines Reach Sales Agreement

United, Brussels Air reach codeshare agreement to sell tickets on 1 another's routes

On Thursday April 1, 2010, 6:17 pm EDT

CHICAGO (AP) -- United Airlines said Thursday that a new sales agreement with Brussels Airlines will give United customers new connections to cities in Europe and Africa.

The flights, which begin Monday, add to nonstop service between Chicago and Brussels that United launched March 28, the airline said.

United customers may now purchase tickets on flights operated by Brussels Airlines between Brussels and 24 destinations in Europe 12 in Africa. Some African markets are subject to government approval.