(CNN) A long-awaited jobs report offered a mixed picture of the US labor market. The economy added 119, 000 jobs in September, an unexpected rebound for the labor market but it comes as the overall economy shows signs of slowing. Economists were expecting 50, 000 jobs to have been added and an unemployment rate that remained at 4. 3%, according to FactSet. Delayed for seven weeks due to the government shutdown, the latest snapshot of America’s job market showed that unemployment rose in September to the highest level in nearly four years. In addition, August’s tepid job gains of 22, 000 were revised to a job loss of 4, 000 jobs and July was revised down by 7, 000 jobs, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Thursday. The health care and social assistance sector continued to drive overall employment growth. Those sectors added an estimated 57, 100 jobs in September, accounting for nearly half of the overall gains. Leisure and hospital contributed 47, 000 jobs during a month with unseasonably warm weather. Jobs were lost in sectors such as transportation and warehousing (-25, 300), temporary help services (-15, 900) and manufacturing (-6, 000). Although the September employment data has been on the shelf since early October, it provides a critical snapshot of the labor market at a time when tariffs, stubborn inflation and elevated interest rates continue to slow the US economy. Plus, Thursday’s report might very well be the last clean jobs report for a couple of months, since the shutdown mucked up the finely tuned process of data collection and analysis during October and part of November. The BLS on Wednesday announced that there will not be a separate October jobs report published but instead some of that data will be included in the November report scheduled for December 16. Despite the stronger-than-expected September gains bolstered in part by warm weather that supported strong leisure and hospitality employment this year is still on pace for the weakest employment growth since the pandemic and, before that, the Great Financial Crisis. This story is developing and will be updated. The-CNN-Wire™ & ©.
https://wsvn.com/news/us-world/the-us-economy-added-119000-jobs-in-september-but-unemployment-rose-to-a-nearly-four-year-high/
Tag Archives: transportation
FAA lifts order slashing flights, allowing commercial airlines to resume their regular schedules
Airlines can resume their regular flight schedules beginning Monday at 6 a.m. EST, the agency announced in a joint statement by Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
Citing safety concerns amid growing staffing shortages at air traffic control facilities during the government shutdown, the FAA issued an unprecedented order to limit traffic in the skies. This order, in place since November 7, affected thousands of flights across the country, impacting major hubs including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.
Initially, flight cuts started at 4% and later increased to 6%. However, on Friday, the FAA rolled back restrictions to a 3% reduction, attributing the change to continued improvements in air traffic controller staffing following the end of the record 43-day shutdown on November 12.
This weekend saw the lowest number of flight cancellations since the order took effect, falling well below the 3% cuts mandated by the FAA for Saturday and Sunday. Flight tracking website FlightAware reported 149 flights canceled on Sunday and 315 on Saturday.
According to the FAA statement, an agency safety team recommended rescinding the order after “detailed reviews of safety trends and the steady decline of staffing-trigger events in air traffic control facilities.” The statement also acknowledged reports of non-compliance by carriers during the emergency order and noted that the agency is reviewing enforcement options, though it did not provide further details.
Flight cancellations peaked on November 9, when more than 2,900 flights were cut due to the FAA order, ongoing controller shortages, and severe weather conditions in parts of the country. Conditions improved throughout the following week as more controllers returned to work, encouraged by news that Congress was close to resolving the shutdown. This progress led the FAA to pause plans for further rate increases—the agency had initially targeted a 10% reduction in flights.
During the shutdown, air traffic controllers were among the federal employees required to work without pay, missing two paychecks amid the impasse. Secretary Duffy has not shared specific safety data prompting the flight restrictions but cited reports during the shutdown of planes getting too close in the air, increased runway incursions, and pilot concerns regarding controller responses.
Airline leaders have expressed optimism that operations will rebound in time for the Thanksgiving travel period now that the FAA has lifted its order.
—
Yamat reported from Las Vegas and Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska.
https://whdh.com/news/faa-lifts-order-slashing-flights-allowing-commercial-airlines-to-resume-their-regular-schedules/
FAA will lift emergency flight reductions Monday
The emergency order will officially lift on Monday at 6 a.m. ET, bringing an end to the reductions that caused mass cancellations and delays at airports.
The cuts, which began with a 4% reduction in flights at 40 major airports on November 7, were implemented to address fatigue and staffing issues among air traffic controllers during the record-long government shutdown.
The FAA announced that these reductions are being rolled back now that staffing levels have “stabilized” following the end of the government shutdown on Wednesday.
There has been a dramatic improvement in staffing triggers, with only six reported on Friday, eight on Saturday, and one on Sunday, compared to a record high of 81 staffing triggers on November 8.
In addition to the flight reductions, other restrictions will also end, including limitations on some visual flight rule approaches, commercial space launches, and parachute operations.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. [Last name or statement to be completed as needed].
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/faa-will-lift-emergency-flight-reductions-monday-rcna244282
‘Nose-diving confidence’ in Trump’s economy has experts making a suggestion
Despite President Donald Trump’s message of affordability resonating with working-class Americans in 2024, that pattern is shifting as “diverging fortunes for wealthy and poor Americans has tanked confidence in the economy—and the president who promised to solve the affordability crisis in the U.S.,” writes Sasha Rogelberg in *Fortune*.
While a wave of working-class voters flooded the Republican Party ahead of the 2024 presidential election, that same group sent a loud message in the early November off-year elections, electing Democrats in every single race in which they were running, Rogelberg notes.
Economists say that all Trump has done thus far is make the rich richer and the poor poorer. Apollo chief economist Trosten Slok pointed out that wage growth for the lowest-income Americans plummeted to its lowest level in about a decade, while wage growth for the highest-income group surpassed all other income levels, citing data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
The housing market has become “frozen,” Rogelberg adds, because “it’s simply unaffordable to sell your house and buy another one with mortgage rates above 6 percent.” Sean Dobson, CEO of The Amherst Group, says, “We’ve probably made housing unaffordable for a whole generation of Americans.”
Much of these indicators can be traced directly to Trump, according to Pantheon Macroeconomics analysts Samuel Tombs and Oliver Allen. “Data show wage growth has slowed more in the trade and transportation sector, and to a lower level, than any other major sector since the end of last year. Fears workers would be able to secure larger wage increases in response to the tariffs look highly unlikely to be realized,” the analysts write.
Under Trump, the economy is what Peter Atwater, adjunct professor of economics at William & Mary, calls K-shaped, in which different sectors or groups experience wildly different outcomes—like the two diverging arms of a “K.”
“What we have today is a small group of individuals who feel intense certainty paired with relentless power control—and on the other, it is a sea of despair,” Atwater tells *Fortune*. “And that’s the piece that never gets talked about.”
Robert Armstrong agrees with Atwater in his *Financial Times* column, writing, “It could be that after five years of going nowhere, households in the bottom half of the wealth and income distributions have started to anticipate a bleaker future and are changing their spending habits accordingly.”
Rogelberg points out that nose-diving confidence in the U.S. economy is reflected in the attitudes of Republicans and independents who voted for Trump. According to a national NBC News poll, about 30 percent of Republicans believe Trump has fallen short of their expectations regarding the economy.
Two-thirds of independents blamed Trump for increasing inflation, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll, and CNN polling data shows Trump’s approval rating has reached its lowest level since he took office the second time.
Peter Loge, professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University and former senior advisor to the FDA commissioner under President Barack Obama, says that Trump’s struggling economy is a clarion call for change.
“People want to know that they can afford a medical bill if they get sick, their kids will have a better future than they do, or have a chance of a better future. And if voters feel like things aren’t working, they fire their politicians in charge to hire new ones,” Loge explains.
“Voters are pretty well saying, ‘We don’t think whatever the Republicans are doing is making stuff less expensive. We need life to be more affordable and less chaotic. It’s pretty unavoidably chaotic. Now we’re going to bring in new people to try a new thing,’” he adds.
https://www.alternet.org/trump-economy-nosedive/
FAA says flight cuts will stay at 6% because more air traffic controllers are coming to work
**Flight Reductions Implemented at 40 Major U.S. Airports Amid Safety Concerns**
WASHINGTON (AP) — Flight reductions have been put into effect at 40 major U.S. airports following recommendations from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) safety team. This move comes after a “rapid decline” in controller callouts, which raised concerns about maintaining safe air traffic operations.
The agencies involved announced that a 6% flight reduction limit will remain in place while officials evaluate whether the air traffic system can safely return to normal operations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized that safety remains their top priority, and all decisions will continue to be guided by data.
Since the restrictions took effect last Friday, thousands of flights have been canceled. Initially, the FAA had planned to increase flight cuts gradually from 4% up to 10% of flights at the affected 40 airports.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the nation’s air travel system operates safely and efficiently, prioritizing passenger safety above all.
https://www.dailynews.com/2025/11/12/government-shutdown-flight-cuts/
Acadia is winding down for winter just as the government might reopen
Though the federal shutdown could soon end, operations at Acadia National Park are expected to continue winding down for the winter.
The U.S. House of Representatives was expected to meet Wednesday to vote on ending the 43-day-long shutdown, but winter weather has taken precedence over the potential reopening of Maine’s only national park. On Veterans Day, snow led the park to close Summit Road on Cadillac Mountain, according to the park’s website.
Acadia does not require reservations for driving up the summit starting in November, but how late in the season the road remains open depends on weather conditions. The road may reopen before the end of the month if warmer weather melts away the ice and snow; however, it is typically closed for the winter each December 1.
Despite the shutdown, Acadia was busy in early October when the tourist season was still in full swing. Some facilities were closed due to reduced staffing caused by the shutdown, but popular attractions such as the summit of Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and the Jordan Pond House remained open.
The fare-free Island Explorer Bus System, which is operated by the nonprofit group Downeast Transportation, also continued to operate during the shutdown.
Visitation to Acadia has been high this year and was on pace to exceed four million visits for only the second time ever, after first surpassing four million in 2021. The park recorded its highest number of visits for any month in July 2023, then broke that record in August.
However, the park has not released monthly visit estimates for September (before the shutdown went into effect on October 1) and has not been collecting visitation data since that date. As a result, visitation estimates for October are not expected.
Typically, visitation drops sharply in November, although the park never fully closes for the winter. The Ocean Drive section of Park Loop Road usually remains open to vehicles year-round, as do the park’s hiking trails. Additionally, the Schoodic Loop Road in the Schoodic section of the park, located on the east side of Frenchman Bay, is open throughout the winter.
The Visitors’ Center in Hulls Cove will remain closed regardless of shutdown developments, as it normally closes at the end of October. The Sieur de Monts Nature Center and the Rockefeller Welcome Center at Schoodic Point are also not expected to reopen until next spring.
Park campgrounds shut down each October, and facilities run by concession companies—including the Jordan Pond House, the Thunder Hole Gift Shop, and Wildwoods Stables—have also closed for the winter season.
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/12/hancock/hancock-government/acadia-winter-operations-wind-down-n6hjn1me0n/
Flight cancellations ease with end to the shutdown in sight
**FAA Air Traffic Control Tower at LaGuardia Stands in Spotlight Amid Government Shutdown**
The FAA Air Traffic Control tower at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in the Queens borough of New York has become a focal point during the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has strained the entire U.S. aviation industry.
Flight cancellations eased across the country on Wednesday ahead of a pivotal House vote on a funding bill that could end the longest federal government shutdown in American history. Lawmakers in the House were expected to vote around 7 p.m. ET on the bill, which had already been passed by the Senate earlier in the week.
The shutdown has once again raised concerns about air travel and intensified the burden on air traffic controllers, who have been required to work without receiving their regularly scheduled paychecks. On Wednesday alone, 811 U.S. departures were canceled.
Trump administration officials began requiring airlines to trim their schedules on Friday, citing safety risks and the mounting strain on controllers. However, these cuts were not enough to prevent further disruptions, as widespread staffing shortages and inclement weather led to a surge in cancellations and delays over the weekend.
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said during an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” that the ongoing shutdown will have a financial impact on the airline, though it would not be enough to erase company profits. Bastian also warned of the possibility of another shutdown in the future and emphasized that air traffic controllers should be paid if such an event occurs.
U.S. airline shares saw a broad uptick on Wednesday prior to the House vote.
Thin staffing of air traffic controllers has become a pronounced issue since the shutdown began on October 1. According to Airlines for America, an industry group representing the largest U.S. carriers, this shortage has led to thousands of flights being slowed or canceled, disrupting travel plans for an estimated five million passengers. Reports from the controllers’ union and government officials indicate that some air traffic controllers have even been forced to take second jobs to make ends meet.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, along with major airlines, warned this week that air travel will not immediately return to normal even after the shutdown concludes. “We’re going to wait to see the data on our end before we take out the restrictions in travel, but it depends on controllers coming back to work,” Duffy stated during a press conference at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Tuesday.
As the industry awaits the results of the House vote and a resolution to the shutdown, travelers and airline officials remain hopeful for a swift return to normal operations.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/flight-cancellations-ease-with-end-to-the-shutdown-in-sight/
UPS Grounds Planes After Deadly Crash
**UPS Temporarily Grounds Part of Its Air Fleet Following Deadly Cargo Plane Crash in Kentucky**
UPS has temporarily grounded a portion of its air fleet after a tragic crash involving one of its cargo planes resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people in Kentucky. The decision impacts approximately 9 percent of the company’s aircraft.
“Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety, we have made the decision to temporarily ground our MD-11 fleet. MD-11s are approximately 9% of the UPS Airlines fleet,” the company said in an official statement.
The grounding is effective immediately. UPS added, “We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve. Contingency plans are in place to ensure we can continue to deliver the reliable service our customers around the world count on.”
### Why It Matters
This grounding highlights the fragility of the U.S. supply chain as the country heads into the busy holiday season. UPS is one of the nation’s largest air cargo carriers, and any disruption to its operations could delay deliveries and impact businesses that depend on rapid shipping.
### Crash Details
On Tuesday, UPS Airlines Flight 2976, an MD-11 aircraft, crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky. The flight was bound for Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii.
At least 14 people lost their lives in the crash, including pilots Captain Richard Wartenberg, First Officer Lee Truitt, and International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond.
The incident occurred around 3 a.m. local time with three crew members onboard. Moments after takeoff, the plane’s left wing reportedly caught fire and an engine detached, causing the wide-body freighter to crash to the ground and erupt into a massive fireball.
### Industry Response and Investigation
In response to the accident, rival FedEx also grounded its fleet of 28 MD-11 planes as a precautionary measure.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the aircraft’s maintenance history. Notably, the jet had recently undergone repairs in Texas. Early NTSB findings suggest that the engine—not the wing—detached mid-flight, though the exact cause of the crash remains under review.
### Legal Actions Filed
The day following the crash, a class-action lawsuit was filed against UPS, Boeing, and General Electric. The lawsuit alleges that the companies’ “recklessness” led to the tragedy.
According to the complaint, filed by local resident Shakeara Ware, auto shop Triple D, Inc., and property owner Ensey LLC, the defendants’ actions have caused “trauma, fear and uncertainty” among plaintiffs and many Kentuckians. The suit seeks damages for emotional distress, business interruption, revenue losses, lost wages, and property damage.
The lawsuit also criticizes the MD-11 aircraft model and its CF-6 engines, citing a troubling safety history. It alleges that the plane has been linked to multiple catastrophic failures and ranks among the least reliable commercial aircraft still in service.
The complaint references previous MD-11 crashes, including a 2009 FedEx disaster in Tokyo, along with several CF-6 engine-related accidents over the decades. It suggests that similar mechanical defects “caused or contributed” to the Louisville crash.
### Ongoing Investigations
No definitive conclusions have been reached regarding the cause of the crash. Investigations and analysis by the NTSB and other authorities are ongoing.
UPS and related parties have vowed full cooperation with investigators as efforts continue to uncover what led to this devastating event.
https://www.newsweek.com/ups-grounds-planes-after-deadly-crash-11014977
Trump once again nominates tech space traveler Jared Isaacman to serve as NASA administrator
**Trump Announces Re-Nomination of Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator**
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has decided to nominate Jared Isaacman to serve as his NASA administrator, months after initially withdrawing the tech billionaire’s nomination due to concerns about his political leanings.
In late May, Trump had announced the withdrawal of Isaacman’s nomination following a “thorough review” of his “prior associations.” Weeks later, the president expressed further reservations about Isaacman’s Republican credentials. At the time, Trump acknowledged that he thought Isaacman “was very good,” but revealed he was “surprised to learn” that Isaacman was a “blue blooded Democrat,” who had never contributed to a Republican before.
Isaacman had received the endorsement of Trump’s former DOGE adviser and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. Although Trump and Musk had a very public falling out earlier this year, the two are now reportedly on better terms. Last week, Trump told reporters that he and Musk have spoken “on and off” since sitting together at conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s funeral last month in Arizona, describing their current relationship as “good.”
In his Tuesday evening announcement of the re-nomination on his Truth Social platform, Trump made no mention of his previous decision to nominate and then withdraw Isaacman. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the president’s reversal.
“This evening, I am pleased to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of NASA,” Trump posted. “Jared’s passion for space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new space economy make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new era.”
Since the departure of the previous administrator, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been serving as interim NASA administrator. Trump praised Duffy on Tuesday, saying he has done an “incredible job.”
Isaacman, CEO and founder of credit card-processing company Shift4, has been a close collaborator with Musk ever since purchasing his first chartered flight with SpaceX. He has also bought a series of spaceflights from SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk. SpaceX holds extensive contracts with NASA.
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee had approved Isaacman’s nomination in late April, and a full Senate vote had been expected before Trump abruptly withdrew it.
In his own social media post Tuesday, Isaacman thanked Trump for the nomination and expressed gratitude to the “space-loving community,” without referencing the earlier nomination turmoil.
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/05/nx-s1-5599010/trump-nominates-tech-space-jared-isaacman-nasa-administrator
Look: Blueberries create sticky traffic jam on California highway
Oct. 21 (UPI) — The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has issued a warning to travelers in the Fresno area about a “berry sticky situation” on the road.
A truck lost its load of blueberries on Monday evening, causing a spill in the southbound lanes of Highway 99 near the eastbound Highway 180 interchange.
CHP Fresno took to social media to share photos showing the blueberries scattered across the roadway, as well as the sticky, purple mess created when vehicles ran over the berries.
To address the issue and prevent traffic disruptions, a California Department of Transportation crew was dispatched to the scene to clear the blueberry jam from the highway.
Drivers in the area are advised to use caution and expect possible delays as cleanup efforts continue.
https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/10/21/California-Highway-Patrol-Fresno-blueberry-spill-Highway-99/7131761058198/