Southwest Airlines to operate into LaGuardia

The Dallas Morning News files this report.

08:53 PM CST on Tuesday, November 18, 2008

By TERRY MAXON / The Dallas Morning News
tmaxon@dallasnews.com 

Southwest Airlines Co. plans to buy ATA Airlines so it can obtain the bankrupt carrier’s operating slots at New York LaGuardia Airport, the airline confirmed Tuesday evening.

Southwest spokeswoman Beth Harbin said the airline intends to start service out of LaGuardia, assuming the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Indianapolis approves Southwest’s bid of $7.5 million.

“We’re working with ATA Airlines with the conditions and terms of the bid,” Ms. Harbin said. “The intent is not to operate ATA Airlines. The intent is to allow Southwest Airlines to acquire the LaGuardia slots.”

The deal, first reported by Bloomberg News, would give Southwest the control of 14 takeoff and landing slots, sufficient to operate seven round trip flights a day.

 

Filed under: Uncategorized

Saving General Motors UPDATED

There is a lot of debate. Here is what GM is telling customers who have bought new cars in the past few years. It is a decent argument.

u made the right choice when you put your confidence in General Motors, and we appreciate your past support. I want to assure you that we are making our best vehicles ever, and we have exciting plans for the future. But we need your help now. Simply put, we need you to join us to let Congress know that a bridge loan to help U.S. automakers also helps strengthen the U.S. economy and preserve millions of American jobs.

Despite what you may be hearing, we are not asking Congress for a bailout but rather a loan that will be repaid.

The U.S. economy is at a crossroads due to the worldwide credit crisis, and all Americans are feeling the effects of the worst economic downturn in 75 years. Despite our successful efforts to restructure, reduce costs and enhance liquidity, U.S. auto sales rely on access to credit, which is all but frozen through traditional channels.

The consequences of the domestic auto industry collapsing would far exceed the $25 billion loan needed to bridge the current crisis. According to a recent study by the Center for Automotive Research:

• One in 10 American jobs depends on U.S. automakers
• Nearly 3 million jobs are at immediate risk
• U.S. personal income could be reduced by $150 billion
• The tax revenue lost over 3 years would be more than $156 billion

Discussions are now underway in Washington, D.C., concerning loans to support U.S. carmakers. I am asking for your support in this vital effort by contacting your state representatives.

Please take a few minutes to go to www.gmfactsandfiction.com, where we have made it easy for you to contact your U.S. senators and representatives. Just click on the “I’m a Concerned American” link under the “Mobilize Now” section, and enter your name and ZIP code to send a personalized e-mail stating your support for the U.S. automotive industry.

Let me assure you that General Motors has made dramatic improvements over the last 10 years. In fact, we are leading the industry with award-winning vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu, Cadillac CTS, Buick Enclave, Pontiac G8, GMC Acadia, Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, Saturn AURA and more. We offer 18 models with an EPA estimated 30 MPG highway or better — more than Toyota or Honda. GM has 6 hybrids in market and 3 more by mid-2009. GM has closed the quality gap with the imports, and today we are putting our best quality vehicles on the road.

Please share this information with friends and family using the link on the site.

Thank you for helping keep our economy viable.

It sounds like a good idea.

Then, about an hour later, this comes in from an outfit called “Friends of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce.” Now, who the hell is that? The Corleone family? The Addams family? If the U. S. Chamber of Commerce has any “friends,” they are not normal people. Anyway, here is what they sent, and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Too bad for Detroit. I am not less inclined to go along.

CONGRESS: FIX THE ECONOMY FIRST
Vote in Our Poll and Submit a Video Message

Increasing taxes…

Stifling domestic energy production…

Empowering personal injury trial lawyers…

Killing the secret ballot in Union organizing elections…

Fundamental legislative debates such as these are at stake in the new Congress.

But with our economy in crisis, we need Congress to make fixing the economy their first priority.

We need to make sure they hear your voice loud and clear.

Which economic issue is most important to you? Please take a moment to vote in our online poll – and then we’ll give you the opportunity to submit your own personal video message to Congress:

Filed under: Commentary, Economy, National politics

Tuesday early morning happenings

My morning newscasts are on K-106.3 The Greatest Hits of All Time with John Lee and Spirit FM on 93.3 and 100.7.  I am on twice an hour.Also, in south Arkansas, look for me on 100kw. Y-95 in Camden.

Bill Vickery and I have the winners and losers of the week on the Wednesday Wake-Up on KARK TV Channel 4 tomorrow morning a little after 6:30.

Did I mention that I am still looking for my third job?

My passenger train blog is very popular. You will be surprised at the happenings on Trains for America.

http://trains4america.wordpress.com/

Sen. Joyce Elliott is the new majority leader and Kim Hendren is the minority leader of the State Senate. Gilbert Baker of Conway will be the Senate co-chairman on the Joint Budget Committee during next year’s legislative sesession.  Senator Bob Johnson, leader of the so-called Brotherhood, is the new President Pro-Tem of the State Senate.

Work is under way to add about 160 parking spaces on the Capitol grounds in time for the regular legislative session that starts in January.

Arkansas Native and retired Army General Wesley Clark argues in a New York Times Guest editorial for the federal financial assistance for automakers.

Arkansas will open a small office next month in China. Arkansas’ Japan office also has been reorganized, said Maria Haley, director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. The one-person China office, which will be in Beijing, will consist of a consultant under a $100,000 a year contract

Custody hearings are starting for the six girls who were seized during a raid on the Tony Alamo Christian compound in Fouke.

The University of Central Arkansas refuses to release names of students given presidential discretionary scholarships despite a federal provision allowing information about “honors and awards” to be released without student or parental consent.

There is a new clue in the Anne Pressly murder. Good Morning America reveals that an item was taken from her home. It was something she and her mother purchased the day before.

Arkansas Times Blog hints that former Attorney General Steve Clark may be in line to head the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce.

The Walton Family Foundation is giving $300,000 toward a Northwest Arkansas satellite campus of the University of Arkansas Medical School. That accounts for about 10 percent of the $3 million that supporters of the campus hope to raise from private sources.

Motions are scheduled for Wednesday in the trial of a bus driver accused of causing the deaths of four people last November. Felix Badillo Tapia of Brownsville, Texas, is charged with four counts of negligent homicide.

The civil trial of a Searcy alderman on discrimination charges has been indefinitely postponed. Kyle Reeves, a television consultant is accused of maltreatment of a pregnant employee. Democrat Monty Betts defeated Reeves, a Republican, in the Nov. 4 general election for the Arkansas House of Representatives.

After 18 years, Wampus Cat Head Coach Kenny Smith will step aside to accept other responsibilities in the Conway Public School District. Conway has not made the state playoffs since 2006.

Dave Floyd, retired director of the Arkansas Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation, will investigate circumstances that led to the recent closure of the Pulaski County Special School District’s two largest elementary schools,

Bank of the Ozarks has applied for participation in the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program. The Little Rock-based bank holding company may still not participate in the program.

Sherwood Animal Control workers are still trying to find the owners of two pit bulls that crawled under a fence to attack a family pet. That golden retriever died. There’s been a pit bull ban in Sherwood since 1987.

Filed under: Arkansas