DALLAS (AURN News) — Southwest Airlines is continuing to move away from long-standing customer-friendly policies with a series of new changes that include ending its free checked baggage benefit for most passengers.

The announcement comes less than a year after the airline said it would end its signature open seating policy.

Under the new baggage policy, A-List Preferred Members and Business Select customers will still be able to check two bags for free, while A-List Members and certain other customers will be limited to one free checked bag. Other passengers will now face baggage fees.

Southwest is also revising how customers earn points, adjusting the number of Rapid Rewards points earned on qualifying flights.

Additionally, the airline is implementing stricter expiration policies for flight credits. Credits issued for tickets purchased on or after May 28, 2025, will expire one year or earlier from the date of ticketing. The airline described all of these changes as "implementing new initiatives that support business objectives."

"We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future Customer needs, attract new Customer segments we don't compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our Shareholders expect," Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said in a statement.

These policy changes represent a significant shift for the airline, which has traditionally differentiated itself in the market through customer-friendly policies like free checked bags and no change fees.

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President Donald Trump has stirred up more trade tension with Canada by announcing a 50 percent tariff increase on steel and aluminum imports. The move comes after Ontario Premier Doug Ford imposed a new tax on electricity supplied to three U.S. states.

However, Ford quickly backtracked on his decision after discussions with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Trump initially attributed the tariff increase to the tax and stated that the new measure would take effect on Wednesday, March 12.

The back-and-forth escalated market concerns, causing a drop in the stock market as investors grew uneasy about the potential economic fallout.

Trump also hinted at declaring a national emergency over electricity, while the Canadian government pushed back, calling the tariffs an attack on its workers.

For now, the trade dispute continues to unfold, with both sides signaling they may reconsider their positions.

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On this day in 1959, “A Raisin in the Sun” debuted on Broadway, making history as the first play produced by a Black woman, Lorraine Hansberry. Starring Sidney Poitier and Claudia McNeil, the play was inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem "Harlem ('A Dream Deferred')" and depicted a struggling Black family in Chicago’s Washington Park neighborhood.

Originally titled “The Crystal Stair,” it was Hansberry’s first play after leaving her writing job. Despite being a debut work, it ran for 530 performances and was widely acclaimed.

Hansberry became the first Black playwright and the youngest American to win a New York Critics’ Circle Award, cementing her legacy as a groundbreaking voice in American theater.

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The Trump administration is cranking up the pressure on colleges and universities, launching a sweeping investigation into 60 institutions over alleged antisemitic harassment and discrimination.

This comes as Trump makes it clear his administration will not tolerate what it sees as anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses. Just last week, Columbia University became the first target, losing $400 million in federal grants after the administration accused it of failing to crack down on antisemitism.

Six Ivy League schools are now under federal scrutiny, along with dozens of other universities that have seen pro-Palestinian protests erupt in response to the war in Gaza.

Student activists argue that this isn’t about antisemitism; it’s about silencing criticism of Israel.

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Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, are launching a brand-new podcast, IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. The series will feature thought-provoking discussions on daily life, culture, and big questions—all with insights from experts and celebrity guests.

The first two episodes drop on March 12, with Episode 1 introducing the series and Episode 2 featuring Issa Rae. New episodes will be released weekly on all major audio platforms.

Meanwhile, Marvel fans may have something big to look forward to—Marvel Studios’ streaming and TV boss Brad Winderbaum recently hinted that efforts are underway to bring back Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist at some point. While no official timeline has been set, fans are eager for Luke Cage’s return.

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The stock market plunged Monday, sending shockwaves through Wall Street as fears of a recession take center stage.

The Dow crashed more than 1,000 points, the Nasdaq collapsed 4.6%, and the S&P 500 sank 3.2%, wiping out all gains since Trump’s reelection.

So what’s causing the meltdown? Trump’s trade war. Investors are spooked after a week of whiplash, including tariff shifts. First, he slapped 25% duties on all Mexican and Canadian imports, then carved out last-minute exemptions for goods compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Trump doubled down on threats against Canadian lumber and dairy, while Canada hit back with tariffs of its own.

The chaos is already rippling through the economy. Consumer confidence is slipping, inflation is climbing, and job numbers are cooling, fueling deep recession fears among economists—even Republicans are getting nervous.

Trump brushed off whether he is worried about triggering a recession, but right now investors aren’t buying it, and if the market’s freefall continues, Americans might be paying for it.

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(AURN News) — President Donald Trump is making sweeping promises about economic prosperity as his administration grapples with persistent inflation, slowing job growth and high grocery prices that continue to burden Americans in the early months of his second term.

The president's economic agenda has been complicated by uncertainty surrounding his tariff policies, which have faced repeated delays, changes and possible reversals.

"All I know is this, we're going to take in hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs, and we're going to become so rich you're not going to know where to spend all that money. I'm telling you, you just watch. We're going to have jobs, we're going to have open factories. It's going to be great," Trump said Sunday while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.

The administration has yet to provide specific details on how tariff revenue would directly address current economic challenges facing American households or a timeline for the economic turnaround Trump is forecasting.

Trump's comments come as many Americans continue to express concerns about their financial situation despite the president's optimistic economic outlook.

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According to The New York Times, Native American tribes and students are suing the Trump administration over layoffs at federally run Native schools, claiming the cuts have severely harmed education quality.

The layoffs, part of broader federal job reductions, affected nearly a quarter of staff at Indian Nations University in Kansas and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in New Mexico.

Instructors, a basketball coach, and maintenance workers were among those dismissed in February, leading to instructor shortages, undrinkable water, power outages, and overflowing garbage in dorms.

The lawsuit, filed by the Native American Rights Fund, argues the government violated its trust responsibility to tribes by not consulting them.

Tribal leaders condemn the cuts as a continuation of historical neglect, vowing to protect their communities’ futures.

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The government is one week away from a shutdown, and House Republicans are playing hardball. Instead of negotiating, Speaker Mike Johnson is forcing a take-it-or-leave-it spending bill to the floor Tuesday, daring Democrats to vote against it.

The bill boosts defense spending to $892 billion while slashing non-defense programs by $13 billion. It also cuts funding for local projects and gives the Trump administration sweeping power over federal spending decisions.

Democrats are calling it a power grab that puts critical programs at risk. Trump, meanwhile, is demanding total GOP loyalty, warning lawmakers on Truth Social, “Remain united, no dissent.”

And so far, it’s working. Conservatives who usually oppose temporary spending bills are backing this one, betting that Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will find deeper cuts. But with Democrats refusing to play along, the risk of a shutdown by midnight is growing.

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Adrien Brody took home the Best Actor Oscar for The Brutalist on Sunday night, delivering a speech that unexpectedly included a mention of Harvey Weinstein’s children with his ex-wife, Georgina Chapman—who also happens to be Brody’s current partner.

Backstage, Brody reflected on the historical significance of his role, saying:

“As I had mentioned in my speech, I am oddly receiving recognition for representing a time in history that we witness unchecked anti-Semitism. Hatred and oppression have no place in this world, and we must learn from the past.”

From his prison cell, Weinstein, now 72, reacted to Brody’s mention of his children, saying he was “both happy for his ex and their children.” Chapman, 48, divorced Weinstein after his conviction for sexual assault, and she and Brody have been together since.

Sounds like a Hollywood drama in real life—but one with an Oscar-winning performance at its center.

Don’t miss our exclusive red-carpet coverage from the Academy Awards! Check out all the glitz, glam, and behind-the-scenes moments at @aurnonline, and follow @TanyaHollywood for more insider scoops! 🎥🏆✨

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