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UPI
2 days ago
- General
- UPI
L.A.'s Union Station hosting 2-day train trip through time
The Union Pacific 4014 Big Boy Steam Locomotive pulls into Kirkwood, Mo., on August 2021. It is similar to the Santa Fe 3751 steam locomotive that will be on display at this year's train festival in Los Angeles. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo July 23 (UPI) -- Los Angeles' Union Station will give visitors a closer look at Southern California's railroad history during Train Festival 2025: LA's Spirit in Motion in September. The free two-day event is scheduled Sept. 20 and 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. PDT and will feature railroad equipment tours, displays, model train exhibits and interactive information booths. Visitors also can enjoy live entertainment and giveaways during the family-friendly event that is sponsored by Metro, Amtrak and Metrolink and celebrates Los Angeles' "vibrant rail history and its revolving role in the city's future." "Transportation is ... about the people, places and stories that compel us to move," Metro Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Wiggins said. "We're proud to make those connections possible," Wiggins added, "and there's no better place to see that in action than Los Angeles Union Station." She called the event a "celebration of the journeys we embark on, the history that grounds us and the communities we build through shared travel." Visitors can learn about nearly a century of rail history and tour and view displays of railroad equipment dating from 1927 to now. Among featured exhibits will be the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society's Santa Fe 3751 steam locomotive, which pulled the rail station's first named passenger train more than 85 years ago. "Many kids grow up reading about steam trains in their history books but will never actually see one in person," SBRHS President Alex Gillman said. "Santa Fe 3751 offers families ... the chance to experience what a working, 874,000-pound steam locomotive looks like as they climb into the cab, meet the engineer and learn what it takes to keep this rare icon of American history operating today," Gillman added. Amtrak, Metrolink, and the Pacific Railroad Society also are scheduled to display their respective train equipment during the event. So will several of Southern California's model train clubs. Young attendees can visit the kids' zone and receive a train conductor hat that they can keep and wear while taking selfies next to Travel Town Museum's restored Railway Express Agency delivery truck. More event information is available at Union Station's Train Festival 2025 webpage.
UPI
5 days ago
- Business
- UPI
Trump administration sanctions Mexico over air carrier trade pact
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced sanctions against Mexico for violating a trade deal at Mexico City's international airport. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo July 20 (UPI) -- The Transportation Department has announced a series of actions against Mexico for violating a years-old bilateral air carrier trade pact. The department said Mexico has not been in compliance with the airline competition agreement since 2022 when it took back some slots for flights for U.S. air carriers at Benito Juarez International airport in Mexico City and forced U.S. cargo planes to shift their operations to other parts of the city. "Since 2022, Mexico has altered the playing field significantly for airlines that reduce competition and allow prominent competitors to gain an unfair advantage in the U.S.-Mexico market," a release from the Transportation Department said. "The United States and Mexico have an air services agreement... that commits both parties to a liberalized operating environment for all has walked away from its commitments." Mexico has said it rescinded the slots to make room for construction at the airport, but the work has yet to materialize three years later, the transportation department contended. "By restricting slots and mandating that all-cargo operations move out of [Mexico City International Airport], Mexico has broken its promise, disrupted the market and left American businesses holding the bag for millions in increased costs," the release continued. The "America First" actions enacted by the Trump administration require Mexican airlines to file schedules with the transportation department for all of their U.S. operations, mandate prior DOT approval before operating any large passenger or cargo aircraft charter flights from the United States and addressing anti-competitive issues in the market. Mexico seized slots from U.S.-based carriers American Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines, as well as from three Mexican airlines -- Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris -- to make room for the construction. "Despite repeated outreach from the Department, Mexico has not provided any information regarding when these slots would be returned or any major construction projects at MEX will ever materialize," the release continued. Duffy added that the United States is also reviewing trade agreements with other countries to determine if they are being violated, including pacts with some European nations.
UPI
5 days ago
- Health
- UPI
The hidden dangers of feeding wild animals
Researchers at the University of California San Diego say feeding wild elephants can lead to serious harm. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo Feeding wild elephants might seem kind or exciting, but a new study warns it can lead to serious harm. Researchers at the University of California San Diego say that giving food to wild animals -- especially elephants -- can change their behavior in dangerous ways. "Many people, especially foreign tourists, think Asian elephants are tame and docile, like domestic pets," lead author Shermin de Silva, a conservation scientist and professor of biological sciences, said in a UCSD news release. "They don't realize these are formidable wild animals and try to get too close in order to take photographs or selfies, which can end badly for both parties," she added. The study, published in the journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence, looked at 18 years of data from elephant tourism areas in Sri Lanka and India. In Sri Lanka's Udawalawe National Park, researchers found that dozens of elephants had learned to "beg" for food near fences and tourist vehicles. One male elephant, nicknamed Rambo, became a local celebrity for this behavior. The impact? Tragic. Several people were killed or injured in elephant encounters, the news release said. At least three elephants were killed, and some animals ate plastic bags or other waste while trying to get food. In India's Sigur region, researchers tracked 11 male elephants who were fed by people. Four of animals later died, likely because of humans. "Food-conditioned animals can become dangerous, resulting in the injury and death of wildlife, people or both," the researchers wrote. "These negative impacts counteract potential benefits," they added. Feeding wild elephants may cause them to lose their natural foraging skills, especially if they start relying on sugary snacks or processed food, researchers said. It may also raise the risk of disease spreading between people and animals. While most tourists mean well, experts say the best thing to do is never feed wild animals, no matter how safe it seems. Feeding animals might feel like helping a friend, the researchers explained. "But this encourages wild animals to seek food from people, attracting them to areas that can put themselves or people at risk," de Silva said. "It can be a conduit for disease transfer between species," she said. "Such feeding can also cause animals to lose their ability to forage for themselves if the behavior becomes prevalent, especially with young animals." More information The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has more on the potential harm in feeding wildlife. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
UPI
18-07-2025
- Business
- UPI
Delta Air Lines' AI determines airfares for some passengers
Delta Air Lines Delta said it is using AI to determine 3% of current fares charged. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo July 18 (UPI) -- Delta Air Lines has begun to use AI to price tickets, charging people based on a calculation of what they should pay rather than a standard fare for all passengers. Delta said it is using AI to determine 3% of current fares charged and considers this method of pricing by personal stats to be "amazingly favorable." The company compiles the fares by using Israel-based Fetcherr AI, a Delta spokesperson told Fortune, a spokesman said. Consumer Watchdog called the determination of what a passenger pays via AI "surveillance price gouging," which it said could "violate deceptive practices and unfair competition laws." The non-profit advocacy organization noted that no state or federal laws protect consumers from any gouging that could occur with surveillance pricing. Investors of the airline were told last week that Delta plans to bolster its AI ticket cost determination program to manage 20% of ticket sales by the end of the year. It may face hurdles, however. "This isn't fair pricing or competitive pricing. It's predatory pricing," Sen. Ruben Gallego, D- Ariz., wrote in an X post Tuesday. "I won't let them get away with this."
UPI
15-07-2025
- Business
- UPI
Dozens of U.S. ice cream makers pledge to eliminate artificial colors
The International Dairy Foods Association said Monday that major U.S. ice cream makers have pledged to remove artificial food coloring from their milk products by 2028. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo July 15 (UPI) -- Dozens of U.S. ice cream manufacturers are pledging to eliminate the use of artificial food colors from their ice cream products made with real milk by the end of 2027, the U.S. dairy manufacturing and marketing trade association said. Announced Monday by the International Dairy Foods Association, the companies have agreed to remove certified artificial colors Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Green No. 3, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6 from their frozen dairy products by 2028. According to the dairy trade association, the commitment is from companies that together make more than 90% of the ice cream sold in the United States. "Americans are passionate about their ice cream, and the IDFA Ice Cream Commitment will ensure wholesome, indulgent ice cream products made with real milk from American dairy farmers remain a special part of our lives as state and federal policies evolve," Michael Dykes, president and CEO of IDFA, said in a statement. The announcement comes as the Food and Drug Administration has been seeking to remove artificial food colorings from the U.S. market. During the final days of the previous Biden administration, the FDA announced it had revoked authorization for the use of synthetic food dye Red No. 3 after a linkage to cancer was found in animal studies, with its use to be phased out by 2028. Under the Trump administration, the FDA announced in April plans to phase out petroleum-based dyes, including those U.S. ice cream makers pledged Monday to eliminate from their products. "These poisonous compounds offer no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children's health and development," Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement making the announcement. "That era is coming to an end." While phasing out artificial color dyes, the FDA has been approving natural color additives, announcing the authorization of galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract and calcium phosphate, in May. The FDA also approved the use of a new blue color additive from the gardenia fruit on Monday. The IDFA said the Monday commitment from U.S. ice cream makers only applies to products made with real milk sold at food retail and does not apply to products made with non-dairy ingredients or those made in-house by small ice cream shops or restaurants. On Friday, the Consumer Brands Association announced a voluntary commitment to encourage U.S. food and beverage makers to remove certified Food, Drug and Cosmetic colors from products served in schools nationwide by the start of the 2026-27 school year.
