Airline executives blasted at Senate hearing over carrier fees
CBSN
Officials from some of the largest U.S. airlines faced intense questioning on Capitol Hill Wednesday over so-called junk fees passengers are being charged for baggage, seat selection and other services.
"Our investigation found that in 2023 alone, American, Delta, United, Frontier and Spirit collected more than $3 billion in seat fees — only seat fees. That's not airfare, that's just fees for booking a specific seat in advance, or selecting a slightly better seat," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal in a hearing by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations on the impact of such charges on consumers.
"And that's an increase of 50% from 2018, just six years ago," added the Connecticut Democrat, who chairs panel.
A Connecticut man who was found not guilty by reason of insanity of killing a victim with a hatchet and eating body parts has been granted conditional release from the state's only maximum-security psychiatric hospital, despite concerns expressed by the victim's family and state lawmakers.
Two police officers in Virginia were shot and killed during a traffic stop late Friday night, authorities said.
In southwest Atlanta, Black-owned businesses are keeping the history of their neighborhoods alive – and it all starts with a cup of coffee.
A Hawaii man who spent 30 years in prison for a murder he long denied committing declared the day "Freedom Friday" and said he was eager to visit his mother after a judge ordered him released because of new DNA evidence.
Hamas has handed over three more Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in the latest exchange under the fragile ceasefire.
The Defense Department said Friday that it's cutting about 5,400 probationary workers starting next week and will put a hiring freeze in place.
A federal judge on Friday blocked a sweeping executive order from President Trump that sought to end government support for programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.
The Department of Justice has eliminated its national database that tracked misconduct incidents among federal law enforcement officers.
Former Proud Boys national leader Enrique Tarrio was arrested Friday near the U.S. Capitol on a charge that he assaulted a woman protesting a gathering attended by Tarrio and others who received presidential pardons for crimes stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in the nation's capital.
The Associated Press sued three Trump administration officials Friday over access to presidential events, citing freedom of speech in asking a federal judge to stop the 10-day blocking of its journalists.
The Trump administration is considering moving the U.S. Postal Service, an independent federal agency, under the Commerce Department, two sources tell CBS News.
Washington — A federal judge on Friday declined to block the Trump administration from putting thousands of employees with U.S. Agency for International Development on administrative leave and recalling others from overseas, clearing the way for the president to resume his efforts to overhaul the agency as part of his plans to slash the size of the federal government.
An attorney employed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement allegedly made "racist, bigoted, xenophobic, hateful, harassing and dishonest" posts on an X account where he tried to hide his identity, according to a legal complaint filed against him.