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☆ Fact Check-Heat map showing Republican voters in Maricopa County does not prove that voter fraud was committed during the midterm elections
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A photograph of a heat map showing Republican voters in Maricopa County, Arizona, has been shared online along with unfounded claims that fraud was committed during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections. The Maricopa County Elections Department told Reuters that the picture circulating online has been cropped and that claims they only have the Republican heat map in their offices are false. In the MCTEC hallway, we have a Democratic In-Person Voter Turnout Map, a Republican In-Person Voter Turnout Map, and a Total Voter In-Person Turnout Map”, Gilbertson said. The Maricopa County Elections Department has maps with voter data on its website, including one of voting precincts by party majority (scroll down “Geography layers”) (here). A photograph of a heat map showing only Republican voters in Maricopa County does not prove that fraud was committed during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, contrary to claims on social media.

☆ The Rental-Car Fees That Stump Even the Travel Pros
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Airlines and hotels get the most grief for annoying fees. But car-rental companies have turned squeezing extra money from travelers into something of an art form. Want to pay tolls electronically? Fork over a daily “convenience” fee on top of the toll. With some one-day rentals, canceling could cost as much as the rental would have.

☆ Which Side of the Southwest Airlines Seat-Saving Debate Are You On?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/southwest-airlines-flights-boarding-saving-seats-11670356912

☆ Fact Check-Election Day turnout numbers do not account for Arizona early voting
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Data showing low Democratic turnout on Election Day does not account for early mail-in and ballot drop-off votes. One of the Uplift charts, titled “Maricopa County E-Day Check Ins,” shows 16.6% Democrat, 30.7% Other, and 52.7% Republican check ins at Election Day in Maricopa County. These included 250,000 (16%) in-person votes on Election Day, 290,000 (19%) early ballot drop-offs on Election Day and 1.02 million (65%) early ballots before Election Day. “The short answer to why this is incorrect is the data is from primary election day 8/2/2022,” Almy said. “Voters in the primary have no relevance to the general election.”Megan Gilbertson, communications director for Maricopa County, said “Maricopa County has not asserted either of the claims stated that article.”VERDICTMissing context.

☆ The Hotel Inside the Bass Pro Shops Inside the Pyramid
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | Photographs Whitten Sabbatini For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—I settled into one of the giant black rocking chairs on the screened-in porch in my room at Big Cypress Lodge a few hours after check in. Rushing waterfalls in the distance soothed me after a day of Thanksgiving travel. Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” provided a chill soundtrack. An overhead announcement jolted me back to reality.

☆ These Travelers Would Rather Eat Glass Than Pay an Airline Fee
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Frontier Airlines Inc. boasted about collecting $78 per passenger in fees this summer. Denver frequent flier Ashlee Lane can brag that she didn’t contribute a cent to that record haul. The 39-year-old nanny flies her hometown airline several times a year and refuses to pay for bags, seat assignments and other extras that budget carriers peddle nonstop during booking. She pays only for airfare. She has taught her whole family how to pack only the essentials.

☆ Fact Check-Maricopa County says bipartisan staff transport mail-in ballots for preparation of signature verification
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A video showing a truck departing from the Maricopa County Elections Department in Arizona to a third-party facility triggered social media claims of fraud, citing an allegedly inadequate chain-of-custody process. Both the Maricopa County Elections Department and Runbeck Election Services told Reuters that bipartisan staff are present during the transport of the sealed envelopes to and from their offices. News reports covering Runbeck’s Elections Services role in Maricopa County 2022 midterm elections and in the past are viewable (here) (here )( here )VERDICTMisleading. Maricopa County Elections Department and Runbeck Election Services told Reuters that bipartisan staff are present during the transport of the sealed envelopes to and from their offices. Runbeck Election Services assists with the scanning of sealed envelopes of returned early ballots, which helps with signature verification that later takes place at Maricopa County Elections Department.

☆ Fact Check-Video footage of people dropping off ballots in Maricopa County is not proof of voter fraud
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Social media users claiming that video footage of a Maricopa County drop box proves people dropped off fraudulent ballots during the Arizona midterm election are missing key context. Videos of multiple people putting ballots in the ballot box in Maricopa county.” The tweet received over 2,600 likes and 1,500 retweets at the time of writing (here). One Instagram user shared the video with the caption, “We got Mules again in Maricopa County” (here), (here). Megan Gilbertson, communications director at the Maricopa County Elections Department, confirmed via email that the videos were taken at a Maricopa County Tabulation and Elections Center. Videos of individuals dropping off multiple ballots at a Maricopa County drop box are not in themselves evidence of voter fraud.

☆ Fact Check-Canvass bags shown in live feed are used to legally transport ballots and results reports to the Election Department, Maricopa County says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Claims on social media that a photo of a pile of black bags at Arizona’s Maricopa County central tabulation location shows something fraudulent are missing key context. A spokesperson for the Elections Department of Maricopa County told Reuters the photo shows “canvass bags” used to transport voted ballots and results reports from polling locations. “This is from the live feed from Maricopa County a few minutes ago. The image circulating online captures a moment of the live video feed provided by Maricopa County Elections Department (here) (select Tabulation – View 1). In a press conference, Maricopa County District Supervisor Bill Gates said the county would have their “last big drop of votes” after 6 pm that day.

☆ How The Wall Street Journal Compiled Its 2022 Airport Rankings
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | Harry Carr | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Wall Street Journal ranked the 50 busiest airports based on 19 measures that span a journey, from ticket purchase through takeoff and landing. We divided the airports into two categories: the 20 largest airports, in terms of number of passengers, and the next 30 we call midsize; each group has distinct advantages and challenges. The 19 factors in the rankings are grouped into three broad categories important to travelers: reliability, convenience and value.

☆ The Best and Worst Airports of 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | Photographs Nicholas Albrecht For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The local unemployment rate is already nearly a percentage point above the U.S. average of 3.5%. "It's very premature in my view to think about or be talking about pausing our rate hikes. The target federal funds rate is now in a range of between 3.75% and 4%, the highest since early 2008. In the 1970s and 1980s, Fed Chair Paul Volcker's attack on inflation sparked a recession that pushed the unemployment rate above 10%, then a post-World War II high. "I do worry about how rates affect the economy," Bostic said at the forum.

☆ Will a Peloton Bike Drive You to Pick One Hotel Over Another?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Your next hotel workout might remind you of those at-home gyms we all hastily set up during Covid lockdowns—minus the cramped quarters, mismatched weight sets and kids clamoring for attention. With business and vacation travel bouncing back, Hyatt Hotels Corp., Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. and other chains are betting that travelers want hotels that help them take their pandemic-inspired fitness routines on the road. More hotels are bragging about their Peloton bikes and private exercise suites to lure travelers with the hope that they might actually work out on their next trip.

☆ Hotels Pitch Peloton Bikes, Private Gyms to Lure Guests
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Your next hotel workout might remind you of those at-home gyms we all hastily set up during Covid-19 lockdowns—minus the cramped quarters, mismatched weight sets and kids clamoring for attention. With business and vacation travel bouncing back, Hyatt Hotels Corp., Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. and other chains are betting that travelers want hotels that help them take their pandemic-inspired fitness routines on the road. More hotels are bragging about their Peloton bikes and private exercise suites to lure travelers with the hope that they might actually work out on their next trip.

☆ Bad News, Deal-Seekers. Even Cheap Flights Are Expensive Now.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Airline bosses have been downright giddy about travel demand on earnings calls this month. That means one thing for fliers: Hang on to your wallets. The ravenous appetite for trips, a shortage of new jets and shifting travel patterns coming out of the pandemic mean high ticket prices and rising fees are likely to stick around. Budget travelers counting on their usual workarounds, such as frill-free airlines and off-peak dates, might be disappointed in the savings.

☆ Watching Football Can Cost $550—in a Las Vegas Casino
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/football-betting-las-vegas-casino-sportsbook-11665512643

☆ Watching Football Can Cost $550—In a Las Vegas Casino
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/football-betting-las-vegas-casino-sportsbook-11665512643

☆ Tens of thousands likely jobless after Hurricane Ian, economists say
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Martha C. White For Cnn Business | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Although the damage is still being tallied, early estimates indicate that Ian could be the most costly hurricane to make landfall in Florida. In the short term, a spike in jobless claims is almost inevitable, economists say: “Hurricane Harvey in Texas prompted a rise of about 50,000 in August of 2017,” noted Mike Englund, chief economist at Action Economics. A view of the destroyed road between Florida's Matlacha and Pine Island after Hurricane Ian. “Katrina was a much more damaging storm, and impacted Louisiana, which is much less affluent than Florida,” Zandi said. A powerboat lies atop a pile of debris two days after the passage of Hurricane Ian, in Fort Myers, Florida.

☆ Airline Fees Are Baffling. The White House’s Fix Is a Long Shot.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The government wants airlines to display, in detail, fees for bags, ticket changes and cancellations when they first flash a ticket’s price. The White House on Monday proposed a major fix to the often maddening maze of airline fees. Fliers shouldn’t expect relief anytime soon, if ever. The government wants airlines and online travel agencies to display, in detail, fees for bags, ticket changes and cancellations and certain seats when they first flash a ticket’s price. Today, ticket buyers are regularly warned of fees but at varying times, with specifics hard to find.

☆ Airline Fees Are Baffling. The White House’s Fix Is a Longshot.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Hotels Want You to Be a Good Tipper, Even When You Don’t Have Cash
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Dawn Gilbertson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Mike Lynn paid his way through graduate school by bartending and waiting tables. He has written more than 80 academic papers on tipping. The professor at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration doesn’t always have cash on hand to tip hotel housekeepers, though.

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