Latest news with #Schatz
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Big upgrades coming to Maui's Kahului Airport
KAHULUI, Hawai'i (KHON2) — A big change is coming to Kahului Airport on Maui, where long security lines have frustrated travelers for years. Body found in wheel well of United Airlines flight from Chicago to Maui The State broke ground on a new TSA checkpoint on May 29 to help ease the wait. The Hawai'i Department of Transportation kicked off construction for a new, two-story TSA checkpoint at Kahului airport on Thursday — it is a project aimed at cutting down the hours-long security wait times that currently plague travelers. 'Nothing is easier to explain than this project, because anybody who has gone through this airport in recent years understands what a relief this checkpoint will be,' said Senator Brian Schatz. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Schatz joined State officials at the groundbreaking ceremony, where the focus was improving the travel experience for everyone. State Senator Lynn DeCoite said it is for both residents and visitors. 'As the chair of Economic Development and Tourism, it's to create balance. It's to have that welcoming feeling of 'Okay I coming from work, I got to make a trip, I want to get through TSA as fast as I can,'' DeCoite said. The new checkpoint at the south end of the ticket lobby will add several new screening lanes, Department of Transportation director Ed Sniffen said it will be a major upgrade for the facility — though there will be a period in the fall where only the new checkpoint will be open. Skip long TSA lines at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport with CLEAR 'For a little while in September, when we finish this one, we'll shut down the main checkpoint, refresh that area, make sure we air condition it, make sure everybody stays more comfortable, and take care of the equipment a lot better,' Sniffen said. 'Main checkpoint with seven lanes, and there's a northern checkpoint with two lanes. So, there are nine lanes total that we have now. This one that we're building now is going to be six new lanes that are coming through. So all told, when everything's done, we will have 15 lanes for this airport, which will be tremendous.' Just under 4.5 million travelers pass through security at Kahului Airport every single year, residents said that adding another TSA checkpoint is long overdue. 'Yeah, way overdue! Because sometimes just, you know, when it's tourist season it's real busy and the line goes all the way to the street sometimes,' said Wailuku resident Les Chung. Check out more news from around Hawaii About $30 million of the $46 million checkpoint is being covered by the federal government, all 15 lanes are expected to be operational by the end of 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Vikings' Greatest Position of Need – Per Mr. DVOA
During their busy offseason, the Minnesota Vikings have reconstructed their roster through a gangbusters free agency class, a short-handed NFL Draft class and a strong crop of UDFAs. Now that the bulk of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's offseason work is over, it's time for head coach Kevin O'Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores to mold this new-look squad into something that can build on a surprising 14-win campaign from 2024. Aaron Schatz calls out MN Vikings cornerback room Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images But should Kwesi be sitting on his hands between now and the start of training camp? Or, is there more work on the 2025 roster that still needs done? That's exactly what Aaron Schatz — an ESPN analyst and creator of the popular advanced football metric DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) — believes. Advertisement Schatz points to the departures in Minnesota's secondary this offseason, in veterans Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin. He likes the Byron Murphy Jr. extension, but Mr. DVOA believes the Vikings will need more than the newly aqcuired Isaiah Rodgers and Mekhi Blackmon, who's coming off injury. But per that will not be enough. 'Byron Murphy Jr. is back after a fabulous season in which he ranked seventh in the league in my coverage DVOA metric. But you need three starting cornerbacks in the NFL, plus depth behind them. Right now, the other two starters would be Mekhi Blackmon and Isaiah Rodgers. Blackmon missed last season with a torn ACL and had a below-average 9.8% coverage DVOA as a rookie in 2023. Rodgers was good with the Eagles last season but started only three games. Behind them are Jeff Okudah, a onetime high draft pick who played only 7% of Houston's defensive snaps last season, and Tavierre Thomas, a 29-year-old slot corner who played only 4% of Tampa Bay's defensive snaps in 2024.' Aaron Schatz – ESPN After skipping the position during the NFL Draft, it seems logical that the Vikings go pay for a free agent to join the starting lineup, but who would that be and what caliber CB do they desire? Options for the Minnesota Vikings at CB… The Minnesota Vikings played a game of chicken with Stephon Gilmore, finally getting a deal done just before the season started. He was pretty good, but he's now 34 years old and has even contemplated retirement. 2024 CB Shaq Griffin is still on the open market, but he 30 years old and he's been flirting heavily with Seattle. There are other options available on the open market for Minnesota, including Asante Samuel Jr., who's name has been floated to the Vikings recently, but he's also fighting a shoulder injury. Schatz doesn't mention newly acquired Jeff Okudah, but while talented, he can't be trusted for major reps entering the season, either. Advertisement Related: MN Vikings QB JJ McCarthy Reminds TJ Hockenson of Who…? Thus, Mr. DVOA is urging the Vikings to do more at CB, and he's probably right. Could that be a depth signing, like last year when the Vikings brought in Fabian Moreau? Would that be enough?
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Eurozone grows 0.3% at the start of the year, industrial output soars
The eurozone economy expanded by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025 on a quarter-over-quarter basis, according to a second estimate from Eurostat released on Thursday. This marks a slight acceleration from the 0.2% growth recorded in the final quarter of 2024, but represents a minor downward revision from the initial flash estimate of 0.4%. On an annual basis, the euro area's gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 1.2%, consistent with earlier readings and in line with economist expectations. Among member states for which data is available, Ireland posted the highest quarterly growth rate at 3.2%. Spain again proved resilient among major economies with 0.6% growth, ahead of Italy (0.3%), Germany (0.2%) and France (0.1%). By contrast, economic contraction was recorded in Portugal (-0.5%) and Slovenia (-0.8%). Labour market conditions appear to be improving, with eurozone employment rising by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in the first three months of the year. This surpassed both expectations and the previous quarter's 0.1% gain. On an annual basis, employment was up 0.8%, matching consensus forecasts. A strong performance in industrial output added to signs of economic momentum. In March, eurozone industrial production jumped by 2.6% on a month-over-month basis, marking the sharpest one-month gain since November 2020. The figure beat expectations of a 1.8% rise and followed a revised 1.1% gain in February. Eurostat data revealed robust monthly increases in capital goods (3.2%), durable consumer goods (3.1%) and non-durable consumer goods (2.3%). Intermediate goods saw a more modest rise of 0.6%, while energy production dipped 0.5%. Related Eurozone economy stalls in April as tariffs rattle services activity Eurozone inflation tops expectations: ECB rate cuts in jeopardy? Among member states, Ireland led industrial output growth with a 14.6% surge, followed by Malta (4.4%) and Finland (3.5%). Meanwhile, output fell in Luxembourg (-6.3%), Denmark and Greece (both -4.6%), and Portugal (-4.0%). On an annual basis, eurozone industrial production rose by 3.6%, its highest rate since 2022. The March industrial rebound can be attributed to two key factors: the announcement of an €800 billion German fiscal stimulus focused on defence and manufacturing, and a pre-emptive surge in European exports to the United States ahead of anticipated tariff hikes under Donald Trump's proposed trade policy. The euro rallied on Thursday's economic data, with the euro-dollar exchange rate climbing above 1.12, recouping earlier weekly losses. Bond markets remained stable, with German 10-year Bund yields hovering at 2.67% and two-year Schatz yields slipping slightly to 1.91%. European equities were subdued following a week of strong gains, as investor sentiment was tempered by mixed corporate earnings. The Euro STOXX 50 index was down 1.1% by mid-morning, dragged lower by underwhelming results from several large-cap firms. Shares of Siemens fell 2.4% after the engineering giant cited increased uncertainty in the economic environment and reaffirmed its full-year guidance. Allianz also slipped 2.5% following a weaker-than-expected earnings report. Luxury stocks continued to struggle amid concerns over slowing demand in China. Kering declined by 3.9%, while LVMH lost 2.4%, extending recent losses across the sector. Sign in to access your portfolio
Euronews
15-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Eurozone grows 0.3% at the start of the year, industrial output soars
The eurozone economy expanded by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025 on a quarter-over-quarter basis, according to a second estimate from Eurostat released on Thursday. This marks a slight acceleration from the 0.2% growth recorded in the final quarter of 2024, but represents a minor downward revision from the initial flash estimate of 0.4%. On an annual basis, the euro area's gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 1.2%, consistent with earlier readings and in line with economist expectations. Among member states for which data is available, Ireland posted the highest quarterly growth rate at 3.2%. Spain again proved resilient among major economies with 0.6% growth, ahead of Italy (0.3%), Germany (0.2%) and France (0.1%). By contrast, economic contraction was recorded in Portugal (-0.5%) and Slovenia (-0.8%). Labour market conditions appear to be improving, with eurozone employment rising by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in the first three months of the year. This surpassed both expectations and the previous quarter's 0.1% gain. On an annual basis, employment was up 0.8%, matching consensus forecasts. A strong performance in industrial output added to signs of economic momentum. In March, eurozone industrial production jumped by 2.6% on a month-over-month basis, marking the sharpest one-month gain since November 2020. The figure beat expectations of a 1.8% rise and followed a revised 1.1% gain in February. Eurostat data revealed robust monthly increases in capital goods (3.2%), durable consumer goods (3.1%) and non-durable consumer goods (2.3%). Intermediate goods saw a more modest rise of 0.6%, while energy production dipped 0.5%. Among member states, Ireland led industrial output growth with a 14.6% surge, followed by Malta (4.4%) and Finland (3.5%). Meanwhile, output fell in Luxembourg (-6.3%), Denmark and Greece (both -4.6%), and Portugal (-4.0%). On an annual basis, eurozone industrial production rose by 3.6%, its highest rate since 2022. The March industrial rebound can be attributed to two key factors: the announcement of an €800 billion German fiscal stimulus focused on defence and manufacturing, and a pre-emptive surge in European exports to the United States ahead of anticipated tariff hikes under Donald Trump's proposed trade policy. The euro rallied on Thursday's economic data, with the euro-dollar exchange rate climbing above 1.12, recouping earlier weekly losses. Bond markets remained stable, with German 10-year Bund yields hovering at 2.67% and two-year Schatz yields slipping slightly to 1.91%. European equities were subdued following a week of strong gains, as investor sentiment was tempered by mixed corporate earnings. The Euro STOXX 50 index was down 1.1% by mid-morning, dragged lower by underwhelming results from several large-cap firms. Shares of Siemens fell 2.4% after the engineering giant cited increased uncertainty in the economic environment and reaffirmed its full-year guidance. Allianz also slipped 2.5% following a weaker-than-expected earnings report. Luxury stocks continued to struggle amid concerns over slowing demand in China. Kering declined by 3.9%, while LVMH lost 2.4%, extending recent losses across the sector.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats heap scrutiny on Trump jet gift: ‘It is gross, it is reckless, it is corrupt'
Democrats are planning to put as much scrutiny as they can on President Trump's plan to accept the gift of a plane from Qatar to serve as Air Force One, arguing the ethical and national security lapses in accepting the jet will resonate with the public. They also want to cast the Department of Justice under Trump as no longer standing for U.S. values, saying that under Attorney General Pam Bondi, it has instead been transformed into a legal entity solely set up to protect the president. That effort began in earnest Tuesday, as multiple Democrats took to the floor to highlight what they argue isn't just the blurring of the lines between a public act and personal gain, but total erasure of them. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), who have been among the leading voices in opposition, rolled out a resolution condemning 'any acceptance of Presidential aircraft, or any other substantial gift, from a foreign government.' The aircraft is valued at roughly $400 million. 'It really should go without saying, but no president should be accepting a $400 million gift from a foreign country,' Schatz said on the floor Tuesday afternoon. 'It is gross, it is reckless, it is corrupt, and the outrage and the condemnation, especially on the Republican side, should be universal. There is no excuse or justification for this. It is wrong, and that is the end of the story.' 'This is the most blatant, obvious, ridiculous, gross corruption that I've ever seen in my entire life. By dollar amount, by symbolism, by violating constitutional and statutory law,' he continued. 'You don't have to be … a lawyer. You don't have to be all fancy-pants to understand how ridiculous it is that a foreign government is going to say, 'Hey, we'll take care of Air Force One for you.'' Schatz attempted to pass the resolution via unanimous consent after the remarks, but Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) blocked that request, arguing Democrats are 'losing their minds' over a still-unfinished deal. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) followed up immediately with an attempt to pass a resolution of his own that would authorize a Senate-led lawsuit to enforce the Emoluments Clause. The constitutional clause prohibits lawmakers from accepting gifts from foreign countries without approval from Congress. Tuberville blocked that effort as well. But Democrats are not deterred, plotting other moves in the coming weeks, with members citing the anger they are hearing from constituents and the uneasiness they sense from their GOP colleagues over Trump's potential acceptance of the gift. 'It is extreme,' Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told The Hill about the level of anger on the Democratic side. 'It feeds a corruption narrative about this administration and it feeds a second narrative: Trump gets a gift of a plane at the same time he's telling little kids they have to carve their Christmas gifts down?' 'The anger is very, very palpable,' he continued. Kaine said he plans to sign onto a privileged motion to challenge security assistance and weapons transfers to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which Trump is set to roll out in each country as part of his Middle East trip in the coming days. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) has vowed to force votes aimed at blocking those arms sales, which he sees as attempts to curry favor with the Trump administration. 'I expect in the next couple of weeks, we're going to have more of these corrupt deals coming from the president that will add to the fury and deep disappointment that a lot of us are feeling over how the office of the president has been corrupted,' Blumenthal said. 'It will be seen in the context of the crypto corruption, the real estate deals that will potentially be detailed during the president's trip and other misuses of the presidency.' In addition, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced Tuesday that he is placing a hold on all political nominees for the Justice Department, the first such move by him during his tenure atop the conference On top of the hold, the Democratic leader pressed the Department of Justice's Foreign Agents Registration Act unit to 'disclose all activities by Qatari foreign agents inside the U.S. that could benefit' from the president or his business interests. He also laid out a number of other questions, including the state of readiness of the jet, numerous safety considerations he and some Republicans have raised, what it means for the contract between the U.S. government and Boeing and who in the Justice Department signed off on allowing such a deal to move forward and pass legal muster. 'This is not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat,' Schumer said in his Tuesday floor remarks. 'Until the American people learn the truth about this deal, I will do my part to block the galling and truly breathtaking politicization at the Department of Justice.' '[Bondi] must testify before both the House and Senate to explain why gifting Donald Trump a private jet does not violate the Emoluments Clause — which requires congressional approval — or any other ethics laws,' Schumer added. The hold could affect dozens of nominees ultimately, but few in the immediate term. Very few Republicans outside of Tuberville have given Trump full-throated support for the move and have instead been tepid in their reactions, even though they understand his frustration with Boeing's lengthy delay and budget overruns that have held back two new aircraft from being completed as part of a contract to replace Air Force One. Multiple members signaled concerns, including on the security and potential espionage side, while others said they are worried about the appearance of a quid pro quo and what the expectations will be on Qatar's moving forward if this deal is complete. 'What's their expectation with the contribution? My sense is people want to support Donald Trump around the world because he's engaged with them. I don't know that that's a bad thing as long as there's no quid pro quo attached to it, or an expectation that you're going to get preferential treatment of some sort,' Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said, adding that some gifts have been a positive for the U.S. 'We have a Statue of Liberty from France for crying out loud,' he added. But what Democrats are certain of is that if the shoe was on the other foot, Republicans would be apoplectic at such a deal. 'They'd be shooting the plane down before it made it to the ground,' Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said. 'And rightly so.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
