AURN News

(AURN News) - Budget carrier Frontier Airlines is shaking up its pricing model, unveiling what it calls "The New Frontier" with upfront pricing and options, including new bundled Economy, Premium, and Business seat selections. The airline announced Friday that they are making changes to piecemeal fees for services like checked bags, seat assignments, and priority boarding. Instead, those amenities can now be selected together in the higher-priced bundle options. 

For Economy tickets, passengers can pay an extra $30 per fare to receive a complimentary carry-on bag. The $50 Premium bundle adds a checked bag, seat selection, and priority boarding. The top-tier $100 Business bundle comes with two checked bags, premium seat selection, and other perks. Frontier is also launching a "For Less" lowest fare guarantee. If flyers find a cheaper fare for the same itinerary after booking, the airline will provide 2,500 frequent flyer miles upon completing the trip.

The moves follow Frontier's poor ranking at No. 9 out of 10 major U.S. carriers in WalletHub's 2024 study of the best airlines. Rival ultra-low-cost carrier Southwest placed last at No. 10 overall.

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On May 19, President Joe Biden delivered two significant speeches to Black voters. He started his day with a commencement address at Morehouse College, a historically Black liberal arts college for men. Despite media reports of massive protests, there were none. Later, he spoke at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's (NAACP) "Fight for Freedom Fund" dinner in Detroit. 

In both speeches, Biden highlighted his administration's $16 billion investment in historically Black colleges and universities, the historically low Black unemployment rate, efforts to reduce prescription drug prices, and actions on student debt relief. 

He also emphasized his appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, and noted that he has appointed more Black judges to the federal bench than any other president in history combined.

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The Biden-Harris administration announced a record $16 billion in federal funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) from fiscal years 2021 to 2024. This includes over $11.4 billion through grants, contracts, and debt relief, plus more than $4 billion in financial aid and benefits for HBCU students.

The funds are intended to enhance educational programs, improve research facilities, and expand infrastructure at over 165 HBCUs. The historic investment also aims to bolster the growth and sustainability of these institutions, aiding in the development of vital academic research and supporting nearly 1 million students.

HBCUs, which produce 40 percent of Black engineers and 70 percent of Black doctors, are crucial for economic mobility. The administration’s commitment extends to enhancing financial literacy, expanding STEM education, and supporting veterans attending HBCUs.

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Seventy years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously decided that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

Brown v. Board of Education centered on Linda Brown, a young Black student denied admission to her neighborhood elementary school in Topeka, Kansas, due to her race. The ruling overturned the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision, which had permitted state-sponsored segregation in public education under the concept of "separate but equal."

The decision is considered a significant milestone in the nation’s civil rights history, as it paved the way for the courts to end racial segregation in public facilities and accommodations.

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There is some controversy surrounding President Joe Biden's upcoming commencement address at Morehouse College. On May 19, he will speak during the graduation ceremony, but a faction of Morehouse facility is rethinking the decision to award him an honorary degree.

Critics point to Biden's policies on policing, mass incarceration, and his recent remarks on student protests. They have also highlighted his handling of the Gaza conflict, where his support for Israel has sparked significant debate and protest encampments across the country. In contrast, supporters cite his achievements, such as reducing Black child poverty and appointing the first African American woman to the Supreme Court.

The faculty's dissatisfaction led to a call for a vote on this honorary degree, set for Thursday, just days before the commencement. The vote follows a procedural oversight as faculty approval is traditionally sought in September.

The final decision on the degree rests with Morehouse's Board of Trustees after the faculty vote.

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Friday, May 17, marks the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, when nine justices unanimously struck down "separate but equal" and ruled that schools segregated by race did not provide an equal education. 

In recognition, President Biden is engaging in several activities to honor this pivotal moment in history. Today, he meets with plaintiffs and their families at the White House. Tomorrow he'll speak at the NAACP's anniversary event at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. On Sunday, he'll address graduates at Morehouse College. 

Under Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Black household wealth has increased by 60 percent, over 2.5 million jobs have been created for Black Americans, and significant strides have been made in education, housing, and health care. Notably, Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman, to the Supreme Court. The administration says they are continually pushing for vital voting rights legislation to protect democracy for all Americans.

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Representative John Conyers Jr. was born on this day, May, 16, 1929. A Detroit Democrat who represented the 14th Congressional District, Conyers entered the U.S. House of Representatives in 1965.

Conyers' legacy is marked by significant achievements, including the passage of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, the Motor Voter Bill of 1993, and the Martin Luther King Holiday Act of 1983. Throughout his four decades in Congress, he tirelessly advocated for job creation and protection in Southeast Michigan, as well as for the interests of homeowners in Michigan. His dedication to international affairs was evident in his active involvement in efforts to support countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Haiti.

John Conyers Jr. passed away in 2019 at the age of 90.

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Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks clinched Maryland’s Democratic Senate primary, according to NBC News, prevailing over self-funded Rep. David Trone following a contentious and costly campaign. 

Her victory sets the stage for a challenging general election in the heavily Democratic state against Republican Larry Hogan, the former two-term governor, with Alsobrooks potentially becoming the state’s inaugural Black senator if successful. 

Despite Trone’s staggering $61 million self-investment, drawn from his personal wealth as the founder of Total Wine & More, Alsobrooks gained momentum in the campaign’s final stretch, getting endorsements from prominent Maryland figures and grassroots backing.

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(AURN News) - Consumer prices rose in April, with Americans now seeing even higher housing, medical, transportation, and gasoline costs, according to the latest data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Consumer Price Index, a key measure of inflation, increased 0.3 percent last month after rising 0.4 percent in March. Over the past 12 months, consumer prices have risen 3.4 percent. When it comes to the shelter category, which includes rent and housing prices, prices climbed 0.4 percent from March.

Energy prices jumped 1.1 percent on par with the March increase and largely reflected higher gasoline costs. The price of gasoline rose 2.8 percent in April. In some relief for consumers, food prices were flat last month compared to March. The "food at home" category, which includes grocery prices, actually declined 0.2 percent.

The Consumer Price Index is closely tracked as an important gauge of inflation here in the United States. While not a huge spike, April's increase underscores that we are still grappling with stubbornly high inflation, even as those on Wall Street hope the Federal Reserve will decrease interest rates at some point this year. The latest numbers show that will not be happening any time soon.

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(AURN News) - The unrelenting rise of household debt shows no signs of abating, as a troubling new report from the New York Federal Reserve reveals Americans are continuing to drown in a sea of credit and housing debt. According to a recent report released by the New York Fed, household debt soared by another $184 billion or 1.1% in the first quarter of 2024, pushing total debt owed by consumers to a staggering $17.69 trillion. The consumer debt crisis as a whole has ballooned by $3.5 trillion since 2019, just before the onset of the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With costs continuing to outpace income growth due to inflation, more and more households rely on credit cards to make ends meet. The quarterly report painted a grim picture across nearly every type of consumer debt. Housing debt expanded by $403 billion in the first three months of 2024 amid still-high mortgage rates. Credit card balances continued their relentless climb, surging by trillions since early 2003. The report also shows that 121,000 people had a new bankruptcy notation added to their credit reports.

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