click to enlarge Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority - Facebook Memphis airport officials were stung Wednesday by a New York Times story that painted a "bleak, negative picture" of the airport in the days since the Delta de-hub. Available flights to and from Memphis International Airport plummeted in the years after Delta's decision to close the hub here in 2013. Since then, airport officials have worked to bring more flights and new airlines to its roster. Also, the airport just started a five-year plan to modernize and rightsize itself. The Times story by Alan Blinder is headlined "The Trouble With the Memphis Airport: No Crowds." It said the airport here was learning "how to shrink gracefully." But instead of talking of the efforts made to grow flights back to Memphis, Blinder pointed to the empty concourses and "deserted corridors." click to enlarge The descriptions chafed airport president and CEO Scott Brockman who, in a letter to members of the Memphis … [Read more...] about Airport Fires Back at New York Times Story
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Ronald Torreyes optioned by New York Yankees as Greg Bird returns from DL
NorthJersey Published 5:23 p.m. UTC May 26, 2018 It appears Ronald Torreyes is the odd man out. With Greg Bird set to return from the disabled list this weekend, a tough roster decision was imminent for the Yankees. On Saturday, the team made its choice with Torreyes being sent down to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre: Bird had been on the shelf since March after undergoing ankle surgery. Meanwhile, Torreyes struggled to find a role in the Yankees' crowded infield. He appeared in just 22 games this season, but he hit a solid .339 with zero homers and six RBI. In four seasons with the Yankees, Torreyes has four homers, 55 RBI, a .288 average and .317 on-base percentage. Meanwhile, the Yankees have seen budding young infielders Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres already develop into everyday players. Torres, 21, is on a tear as an AL Rookie of the Year candidate, becoming the youngest in AL history to homer in four straight games. On the season, Torres, is hitting .333 with nine … [Read more...] about Ronald Torreyes optioned by New York Yankees as Greg Bird returns from DL
New York State Police helicopter joins search for missing toddler
Meaghan M. McDermott and Meghan Finnerty and Victoria E. Freile Democrat and Chronicle Published 2:16 p.m. UTC May 26, 2018 A New York State helicopter has joined the search for 14-month-old Owen Hidalgo-Calderon in the fields of a Wayne County apple orchard Saturday. Authorities resumed the search and recovery efforts about 8 a.m. During a news conference Friday evening, Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts said more than 145 people, including numerous volunteers from local fire and ambulance companies, combed through the orchards on Joy Road looking for any sign of the boy, who has been missing since May 16. Police recovered the bagged body of Owen's mother, Selena Hidalgo-Calderon, 18, from a wooded area of the farm on Wednesday. Virts said although his office issued an AMBER Alert for the 14-month-old boy on Friday morning, he has no evidence that the boy was abducted and believes the search will end in a body recovery. "As a father and grandfather, my heart … [Read more...] about New York State Police helicopter joins search for missing toddler
U.S. Coast Guard’s long history of service in New York
More than a dozen Navy and Coast Guard ships took part in a 30-year tradition this week, parading through New York Harbor for Fleet Week. The nautical display lasts just a few days, but the U.S. Coast Guard patrols the waterways of New York all year long, reports CBS News correspondent Don Dahler. "As Frank Sinatra would say, start spreading the news. You are about to become a Coast Guard city," Adm. Paul F. Zukunft said. "Without a doubt New York is one of the most patriotic, one most welcoming cities that I've ever been stationed at," said Day, who is in charge of more than 1,000 active duty and reserve guardsmen and women in the city where Alexander Hamilton founded the Coast Guard nearly 240 years ago. "Right here in New York City, right at Federal Hall. George Washington signed it in August 4, 1790. So we've got a lot of history here with the city of New York," Day said. He said it was first started as a "revenue cutter service." "As the ships … [Read more...] about U.S. Coast Guard’s long history of service in New York
When Will New York Elect an Atheist Mayor?
New York City, that crown jewel of the American metropolis, may well be the most liberal, diverse and secular place in the nation. So why don’t we have any atheists elected to public office? That’s the question posed by this article on City & State New York But even in New York City, there may be one religious line which politicians are not willing to cross: godlessness. Based on a dozen conversations with City Council members, staffers and others in the political world, there don’t seem to be any city politicians, whether on the 51-member Council or in the three citywide positions, who are “out” atheists who do not believe in God or any higher power. Granted, New York City isn’t the swirling vortex of godlessness that red-state preachers would have you believe. According to the Public Religion Research Institute, about 25% of New Yorkers identify as unaffiliated or none-of-the-above, which is just slightly higher than the national average. Pew … [Read more...] about When Will New York Elect an Atheist Mayor?