Latest news with #JohnAckerman
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Human error led to double votes in Tazewell County election
PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) — Two people in Tazewell County voted twice last November during the general election but it was due to human error, not to trying to commit fraud. Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman, who oversees the elections for the county, said two people voted early and then forgot about it. They then went to the polls on Election Day and voted again. Local election commissions ensure ballot safety Because it was human error, and not something malicious, neither person was charged, the clerk said during a news conference Thursday morning. Ackerman said he called the press conference to give the public an update on the status and the integrity of the election in November. The two voters, who weren't identified by Ackerman, were interviewed at the homes about the double votes and after that, it was deemed to be a mistake. This story will be updated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LAX drops down the list of the world's busiest airports by passenger count
Los Angeles International Airport fell from a global ranking of the world's busiest airports following a drop in domestic travel and ongoing struggles to rebound from the pandemic. The Airports Council International — an organization of airport authorities whose rankings are widely accepted — released its preliminary numbers on Monday ahead of its annual July report. Notably absent from its Top 10 list of busiest airports by passenger count was LAX. The airport was the third-busiest in the world in 2019 by that ranking, but it fell off ACI's list and landed at No. 15 a year later as the COVID-19 pandemic halted air travel. The congested hub bounced back to No. 5 in 2021 and was No. 8 on the 2023 ranking before its recent drop, according to last year's numbers. Los Angeles World Airports confirmed it was aware of the drop. LAX is still considered one of the busiest airports in the world when ranked by takeoffs and landings, but it fell from No. 6 to No. 7, according to ACI. The airport also fell from the top rankings of airports that handle cargo. 'We're among the worst recovered airports in the country for passenger traffic, and now we're seeing that performance actually worsen. We have been slowly recovering, and we've seen that trend reverse,' LAWA Chief Executive Officer John Ackerman said Thursday during a Board of Commissioners meeting. 'We've actually seen some slippage and shrinkage in the last couple of months.' Ackerman cited 'consumer confidence, immigration and trade policy, monetary policy' as some of the reasons for the drop in traffic. Read more: In a city known for traffic, LAX is a standout for its gridlock. Can it be fixed? The airport had seen some growth in passengers since 2020's significant decline, but officials have sounded the alarm as traveler counts have continued to dip below forecasts. Last year, the airport saw more than 76.5 million passengers — a little more than a 2% increase from 2023. But its domestic count dropped from roughly 52.8 million passengers flying within the United States in 2023 to about 52.6 million last year, according to LAWA data. In February, the total passenger count at LAX of those flying in the U.S. and internationally was roughly 4.9 million travelers — a 7% decrease from last February. Not every airport has faced the same obstacles in recovering from pandemic losses. By comparison, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's passenger count grew by more than 3% to more than 108 million passengers in 2024, according to ACI, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport's count increased by more than 7% to more than 87 million passengers. Both airports have held steady at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots on ACI's ranking. Some regional airports have also seen an uptick in passenger counts. Long Beach Airport, for instance, hit record passenger numbers last year, and in 2023, Hollywood Burbank Airport surpassed its record-setting numbers from 2019. Ackerman acknowledged that if passengers aren't going to LAX, they must be going elsewhere, but he told The Times that the increase in passengers at other nearby airports doesn't fully account for LAX's losses. And he reiterated that a variety of factors has played into the struggle. In 2019, LAX saw more than 88 million passengers. Airport officials had previously planned for 110 million passengers in 2028, but they have dropped their estimate to roughly 90 million, leaders have said in past board meetings. That change prompted airport officials last year to shift some projects away from terminal expansion to infrastructure updates, such as plumbing fixes. LAWA is revising its current and future fiscal budgets, which Chief Financial Officer Tatiana Starostina said will be affected by the recent drop in domestic travelers. Read more: L.A. waited so long it seemed like a fantasy. But it's actually coming: A rail connection to LAX 'We know that the situation is very fluid,' Starostina said at the board meeting Thursday. 'As we're revising the numbers down, it is not a surprise that we obviously continue to expect that we will not be fully recovered. You see that compared to 2019, the overall number for 2026 will be about 15% below the pre-pandemic level.' The airport is undergoing a $30-billion overhaul, with multiple projects slated for completion ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics. Among the most anticipated is the automated people mover train, which officials and transit experts believe will significantly improve traffic by offering an alternative route in and out of the 1 World Way horseshoe loop and a direct connection to Metro. Airport officials expect the elevated train to open in early 2026. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
18-04-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
LAX drops down the list of the world's busiest airports by passenger count
Los Angeles International Airport fell from a global ranking of the world's busiest airports following a drop in domestic travel and ongoing struggles to rebound from the pandemic. The Airports Council International — an organization of airport authorities whose rankings are widely accepted — released its preliminary numbers on Monday ahead of its annual July report. Notably absent from its Top 10 list of busiest airports by passenger count was LAX. The airport was the third-busiest in the world in 2019 by that ranking, but it fell off ACI's list and landed at No. 15 a year later as the COVID-19 pandemic halted air travel. The congested hub bounced back to No. 5 in 2021 and was No. 8 on the 2023 ranking before its recent drop, according to last year's numbers. Los Angeles World Airports confirmed it was aware of the drop. LAX is still considered one of the busiest airports in the world when ranked by takeoffs and landings, but it fell from No. 6 to No. 7, according to ACI. The airport also fell from the top rankings of airports that handle cargo. 'We're among the worst recovered airports in the country for passenger traffic, and now we're seeing that performance actually worsen. We have been slowly recovering, and we've seen that trend reverse,' LAWA Chief Executive Officer John Ackerman said Thursday during a Board of Commissioners meeting. 'We've actually seen some slippage and shrinkage in the last couple of months.' Ackerman cited 'consumer confidence, immigration and trade policy, monetary policy' as some of the reasons for the drop in traffic. The airport had seen some growth in passengers since 2020's significant decline, but officials have sounded the alarm as traveler counts have continued to dip below forecasts. Last year, the airport saw more than 76.5 million passengers — a little more than a 2% increase from 2023. But its domestic count dropped from roughly 52.8 million passengers flying within the United States in 2023 to about 52.6 million last year, according to LAWA data. In February, the total passenger count at LAX of those flying in the U.S. and internationally was roughly 4.9 million travelers — a 7% decrease from last February. Not every airport has faced the same obstacles in recovering from pandemic losses. By comparison, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's passenger count grew by more than 3% to more than 108 million passengers in 2024, according to ACI, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport's count increased by more than 7% to more than 87 million passengers. Both airports have held steady at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots on ACI's ranking. Some regional airports have also seen an uptick in passenger counts. Long Beach Airport, for instance, hit record passenger numbers last year, and in 2023, Hollywood Burbank Airport surpassed its record-setting numbers from 2019. Ackerman acknowledged that if passengers aren't going to LAX, they must be going elsewhere, but he told The Times that the increase in passengers at other nearby airports doesn't fully account for LAX's losses. And he reiterated that a variety of factors has played into the struggle. In 2019, LAX saw more than 88 million passengers. Airport officials had previously planned for 110 million passengers in 2028, but they have dropped their estimate to roughly 90 million, leaders have said in past board meetings. That change prompted airport officials last year to shift some projects away from terminal expansion to infrastructure updates, such as plumbing fixes. LAWA is revising its current and future fiscal budgets, which Chief Financial Officer Tatiana Starostina said will be affected by the recent drop in domestic travelers. 'We know that the situation is very fluid,' Starostina said at the board meeting Thursday. 'As we're revising the numbers down, it is not a surprise that we obviously continue to expect that we will not be fully recovered. You see that compared to 2019, the overall number for 2026 will be about 15% below the pre-pandemic level.' The airport is undergoing a $30-billion overhaul, with multiple projects slated for completion ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics. Among the most anticipated is the automated people mover train, which officials and transit experts believe will significantly improve traffic by offering an alternative route in and out of the 1 World Way horseshoe loop and a direct connection to Metro. Airport officials expect the elevated train to open in early 2026.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tazewell County clerk's office earns national award for election security work
The Tazewell County Clerk and Recorder of Deeds Office announced Wednesday it was recognized by the United States Election Assistance Commission for excellence in election administration. The EAC presented the county with a Clearinghouse Award, also known as a "Clearie," given annually to celebrate the work of election officials throughout the nation. The Clerk and Recorder of Deeds Office won its award for 'Security: Innovations and New Tools in Election Security and Technology,' for an initiative to remove the requirement that election judge badges display the judge's name. This move was made to add privacy security for volunteers who serve as election judges. Tazewell County is the first Illinois county to win a Clearinghouse Award in the program's nine-year history, according to John Ackerman, Tazewell County Clerk and Recorder of Deeds. Pekin news: Pekin nursing home fined $25,000 after resident wandered off for three days 'Our office is extremely proud to be recognized by the United States Election Assistance Commission, and as such Congress, for our administration of Tazewell County elections' Ackerman said in a release. 'We deeply value the approximately 500 election judges that serve the citizens of county each and every election. These volunteers serve a vital role in making sure our elections are safe, secure, and accurate. This was opportunity to for us to add a layer of safety and security to these positions.' The office also received an honorable mention in the 'I Voted Stickers: Creative and Original' category for their 2024 series celebrating Pekin's bicentennial and its affinity for marigolds. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Tazewell County program wins 'clearie' from U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$5 billion approved for LAX to work with local businesses on its revamp
Los Angeles City Council recently approved $5-billion worth of contracts for Los Angeles World Airport's $30-billion overhaul ahead of the 2028 Olympics. City leaders on Wednesday approved 51 contractual agreements between the airport and several local businesses to tackle projects that include the rebuild of Terminal 5, updates at Tom Bradley International Terminal and improvements for how people will navigate the airport's horseshoe loop on 1 World Way, where construction and traffic typically delay travelers. 'No matter what door you walk out of at the airport, you should see a world-class experience. You should know you're in L.A. — you should see palm trees, you should see bright lighting, you should see things that are clean and warm and friendly or inviting," LAWA CEO John Ackerman said. 'The signage should be easy to follow — things should be intuitive. And that's what we're going to do at the lower level. That will actually be a profound impact on our traveling guests and our employees.' The five-year contract creates a pool of pre-qualified designers and contractors to create a more streamlined process. 'This strategic initiative will accelerate LAX's infrastructure upgrades while expanding access for small businesses and creating thousands of good-paying jobs," Councilmember Traci Park, whose district includes LAX, said in a statement. The projects won't slow down plans for the launch of the long-anticipated Automated People Mover, Ackerman said, which is still expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and to open in early 2026. The elevated train would offer travelers a direct connection to Metro. As the Trump administration makes changes across departments and threatens to pull federal funding for transportation projects, Ackerman said that LAWA has not seen any effect on its projects. "We avail ourselves of anything that we can, and we're always looking for federal funding. But we are also a very well-managed organization from a financial perspective," he said. Total annual passenger counts have continued to rise at LAX, but numbers have still not reached pre-pandemic levels. LAX saw more than 76 million passengers in 2024; by comparison, the airport saw more than 88 million passengers in 2019. Officials had expected 110 million passengers in 2028, but now estimate a count closer to 90 million passengers. The decrease in passenger forecasts prompted a shift in planning, with a greater focus on infrastructure updates over terminal expansion. Most projects will be completed by the Olympics, Ackerman said. Those still underway when the Games arrive will take a pause in construction — offering a rare solace at the airport that Ackerman said has not been experienced since the 1984 Olympics. 'There will be a moment in time in 2028 when there will be no construction at LAX. There will be no jackhammers in the central terminal, there will be no orange cones,' he said. 'That is the opportunity that we have to be kind of the first airport team in literally 40 years to get everything done.' Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
