News and notes from around the interweb:
- Woman arrested at O’Hare with $238K of cocaine in her wheelchair cushions
They examined her luggage but found nothing suspicious. Then they put the wheelchair through an X-ray machine and found “anomalies” in the density of the cushions, and a drug-sniffing dog alerted officers that narcotics were present.
An official drilled into the cushions and saw white powder on the tip of the drill bit. Authorities said they discovered 14 one-kilogram packages of cocaine in the cushions, each one worth at least $17,000 — or at least $238,000 for all of them.
Later, Perez-Pena was pacing without difficulty in a holding cell and allegedly told authorities she didn’t need her cane or a wheelchair to get around.
- Is Las Vegas topping out?
Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip have posted five consecutive months of year-over-year declines in gaming revenue. Gambling parlors in downtown Las Vegas and along the Boulder Strip have reported decreases in three of the past four months of available data.
Statewide, non-restricted casino win has been down in four of the past five months, resulting in an almost 2 percent dip in gambling revenue over the six-month period of June to November.
- NIMBYs sue to block American Airlines flights from returning airline service to Carlsbad. They seem to want only (noisier!) private jets. It’s a clash between the California Environmental Quality Act which serves as a veto point for nearly all activity, requiring years of reports and opening most anything to legal challenge, versus FAA rules that require airports accepting federal funds to be open to all comers (runways are essentially like public roads).
- ‘It’s a PR stunt’: Some fire victims claim Airbnb’s free housing vouchers are useless
- GHA Discovery Titanium breakfast benefit now extends to Parkroyal and Pan Pacific brands.
- United appears to have access to Thai Airways awards that other Star carriers do not
- United has taken delivery of its 1,000th mainline jet
It’s a miracle! I’m reminded of Dr. Strangelove: “I can walk!” How timely. *gestures broadly*
Glad to see the crowds getting sick of the nickel and diming that Vegas has been doing for the past decade. Hope it continues.
The resort fees have probably pushed a lot of people to the limit in Vegas and they are just fed up with it and not coming anymore or less than they used to.
Online gambling has to be taking a bigger slice of the pie. Lose all your money from the comfort of your sofa.
Must have snorted some of her product before hand which gave her the energy to walk on her own.
I remember being a kid and everyone saw Vegas as the place to go when you get of age — now the last couple times I’ve been I’ve spent almost zero time of the strip and the surrounding nature is 99% of the appeal.
However, one huge reason to visit (or at least fly through): Capital One Lounge! If rumors are true should be opening under a month from now 🙂 I wonder what it says about me when that will likely be a top highlight of my month haha
Regarding McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, the FAA needs to inform the State of California that the Airport is Federal Property, and until the AA flights are approved, nobody flies in or out.
So that’s what Jetway Jesus is up to these days…
One of many reasons why this scam shouldn’t be tolerated. (At the very least, such passengers should get the SSSS treatment.)
Glad to hear it wasn’t TWA884 caught at ORD, as the arrested trafficker is said to be half the age and female.
So what’s the bigger crime? A quarter million in coke or preloading with a fake disability?