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Sunday, July 21, 2024

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VP Kamala Harris says she plans to 'earn and win' Democratic nomination after Joe Biden drops out and endorses her; New Alabama bill threatens voter rights, legal challenge ensues; Fact-checking GOP claims on immigrants; Water contamination a concern in Midwest flood aftermath.

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President Joe Biden drops his 2024 re-election bid. He's endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to take his spot on the ticket, and election experts say they see benefits to this decision.

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It's grass-cutting season and with it, rural lawn mower races, Montana's drive-thru blood project is easing shortages, rural Americans spend more on food when transportation costs are tallied, and a lack of good childcare is thwarting rural business owners.

Friendly skies get friendlier with cash refunds for flight cancellations

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Friday, April 26, 2024   

Just in time for the fall holidays, air travelers could face fewer obstacles in securing a refund if their flight is canceled or changed under new federal rules.

The Department of Transportation has announced that airlines must promptly provide passengers with automatic cash refunds when they're owed one.

Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, said some carriers haven't adhered to these standards, leaving passengers in a bind.

"And they would drag their feet," she said, "and they would say, 'Well, you bought your ticket from a ticket agent, and, so we don't know where your money is.' Or, 'Here, have a voucher.'"

The new rules, set to take effect in six months, say instead of first offering a voucher or credit, airlines "must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them." Murray's watchdog group reported complaints about refunds for flight cancellations spiked at the start of the pandemic. They since have eased, but remain higher than pre-pandemic years.

Murray said most people aren't frequent fliers, and it's hard for them to keep up on airlines' latest practices and policies.

"The average person only flies once every 18 months," she said, "so this will just bring transparency to that process and it kind of evens the playing field."

The new rules, which are being phased in, provide clearer definitions for travel disruptions. For example, refunds are required for baggage fees when a piece of luggage is delayed by 12 hours or more for domestic flights.

The changes should ease concerns for New Mexico customers headed to one of the state's five major airports just as a winter storm prepares to wreak havoc on their travel plans.


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Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a political event in Grand Rapids, Mich., in early 2024. (The White House/Wikimedia Commons)

Health and Wellness

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Vice President Kamala Harris focused on reproductive rights at a campaign event in Michigan Wednesday. Her remarks come as President Joe Biden has …


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