Buckle up, phone down for Memorial Day weekend travel Ashland Daily Press
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Buckle up, phone down for Memorial Day weekend travel Ashland Daily Press
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Last year, the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau offered a new service, providing themed itineraries for vacationers to experience the area “like the locals do.”
That program won awards — and is back for summer 2022. And with an addition. Now, when the itinerary of the month is unveiled, it will be accompanied by a chance to win prizes through the CVB’s Instagram account, @VisitLB.
This month’s trip is called Aquatic Adventure, highlighting all the ways to enjoy Long Beach’s 11 miles of waterway and coastline. The prize is aquatic-themed as well, with a family four pack of whale watching tickets from Harbor Breeze Cruises and four tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific. The day at the aquarium comes with an added perk: a family “Animal Encounter” with sharks and rays, or with some of the aquarium’s feathered friends.
A new specially curated itinerary will be released once a month for the next three months, according to Samantha Mehlinger, CVB’s vice president of communications.
“Our Long Beach Days & Getaways let you explore Long Beach like a local, showcasing unique attractions and activities alongside hidden gems that’ll make your friends say, ‘Where is that, and when can I go?’” she said in a release. “Be sure to follow us on Instagram for a chance to win prizes all summer long.”
Each itinerary will be revealed with an original video and giveaway on Instagram. To qualify for the prize drawing, go to @VisitLB on Instagram, spot the new video, tag two friends in the comments and follow @VisitLB.
For more ideas about things to do, go to visitlongbeach.com and visit the “This is Long Beach” blog on that website.
Tallahassee, Fla. — With May marking Older Americans Month, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumers Services Nikki Fried is sharing tips to recognize and avoid consumer fraud scams, specifically those that target seniors.
“With $3 billion in annual losses from scammers among older Americans, it is critical to educate our seniors and caretakers of elderly loved ones on how to recognize the signs of fraudulent activity to protect against fraud,” said Commissioner Fried. “Together, we can help raise awareness of the warning signs to protect against becoming a victim of fraud and crack down on those criminals targeting seniors – not just during Older Americans Month but year-round.”
General Rules to Avoid Scams:
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommend the following tips to help avoid fraud:
Most Common Financial Scams Targeting Seniors
According to the National Council on Aging, seniors are more susceptible to the following scams:
Government Imposter Scams: An imposter scammer pretends to be someone you trust, oftentimes a government agency like the Social Security Administration, or the Internal Revenue Service. The scammer can have a fake name or number show up on your caller ID to convince you. Often, they will inform you your Social Security or Medicare benefits are in danger if you do not pay a fee or provide identifying information.
Grandparent or Emergency Scams: Emergency scams usually target parents, grandparents, or other family members. In these instances, someone calls or sends a message claiming to be a child or grandchild in trouble or the friend of a family member who is in trouble and urges the targeted victim to wire money immediately to help with an emergency.
Computer Tech Support Scams: Tech support scams rely on convincing you of a serious problem with your computer. In doing so, the scammers will sell you services to “repair” your computer or will request remote access allowing them to find personal information on your device.
Sweepstakes and Lottery Scams: There are many legitimate sweepstakes offered in Florida. Prizes in legitimate contests are awarded solely by chance, and contestants don’t have to pay a fee or buy something to enter or increase their odds of winning. In fraudulent schemes, “winners” almost always have to pay to enter a contest or collect their “prize.”
Romance Scams. A romance scam occurs when a criminal creates a fake online identity and uses it to gain the affection and trust of a victim. In romance scams, also called confidence scams, the criminal deceives a victim into believing they have a trusted relationship and then uses the relationship to persuade the victim to give money, personal and financial information, or items of value to the scammer.
What should consumers do?
Background: FDACS Division of Consumer Services is Florida’s state consumer protection agency, responsible for regulating charities, handling consumer complaints, and protecting against unfair and unsafe business practices. The Division regulates businesses including motor vehicle repair shops, pawnbrokers, health studios, travel sellers, intrastate movers, professional surveyors and mappers, sweepstakes/game promotions, and telemarketers.
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Press Release
March 31, 2022
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) reminds New Yorkers of their rights as they plan spring and summer travel. Travel disputes remain one of the top complaints handled by DCP. In 2021, DCP fielded hundreds of complaints from consumers who had to cancel or reschedule their travel plans due to COVID-19. As restrictions due to COVID-19 lift and more New Yorkers are traveling again, consumers should be informed of their rights, shop smartly to safeguard their hard-earned money and stay vigilant to protect themselves from scams.
“The COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruptions to travel, but also taught consumers valuable lessons about traveling responsibly,” said Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez, who oversees the Division of Consumer Protection. “By following these tips, New Yorkers will be better prepared to navigate the marketplace and spend responsibly as they plan their long-awaited travel this spring and summer.”
“As New Yorkers resume travelling, they are strongly encouraged to read any travel insurance policies and related documents carefully if they are considering the purchase of travel insurance to fully understand what is covered in the event that travel plans go awry,” said Superintendent of Financial Services Adrienne A. Harris.
SHOPPING SMART FOR TRAVEL
There are basic travel tips that consumers should be aware of when they are booking travel:
TRIP CANCELLATION
When all or part of a trip is cancelled, the cancellation policy and a consumer’s right to a refund will vary based on laws that regulate the company’s industry, who initiates the cancellation, when the cancellation is made, and the company’s own policy.
If a consumer is having trouble getting a refund owed for all or part of a cancelled trip, they are encouraged to file a complaint with DCP.
SIGNS OF A TRAVEL SCAM
The Federal Trade Commission warns against common travel scams. Some signs of a scam when booking travel include the following:
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection.
Travel insurance is regulated by the Department of Financial Services. Consumer with complaints about travel insurance policy or ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ coverage issued in New York or by New York companies should contact DFS at www.dfs.ny.gov/complaint or through the DFS Consumer Hotline at (800) 342-3736 (212) 480-6400 or (518) 474-6600 (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM).
For more consumer protection tips, follow the Division on social media at Twitter: @NYSConsumer and Facebook: www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.
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ALEXANDRIA — The Minnesota Department of Transportation has enacted a no travel advisory on state and federal highways in Douglas, Becker, Clay, Grant, Mahnomen, Otter Tail and Wilkin counties due to dangerous driving conditions. This includes Interstate 94 from Moorhead to Osakis, and Highway 10 from Moorhead to Wadena.
Blowing snow is causing whiteout conditions. Snowplows will continue to operate, but motorists are advised not to travel until conditions improve.
For tips on safe winter driving, go to www.mndot.gov/workzone/winter.html.
For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org or get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.
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Are you planning to travel this summer? | News | pressrepublican.com Plattsburgh Press Republican
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For many, this relative calm, occurring just as the holiday season approaches, means only one thing: an opportunity to leave the United States, to go overseas to that favorite tourist destination — somewhere in Europe where there aren’t so many tourists.
Which brings us to the two questions for potential holiday travelers: Is it really this bad or is the CDC just being cautious? And is it going to get worse over there and, gulp, over here, too?
Given all this uncertainty, international travel in the next weeks seems like a singularly bad idea. Yes, maybe this is all just a cold weather pause, or perhaps some more people need a boost, or maybe the virus is doing something new we have not yet discerned. But from what we know right now, there is a real possibility that whatever is driving the Western European increase will also mess things up in the US.
Once again, just when we think we have this pandemic figured out and are on the right track to extinction, something new gets thrown in our path. Decisions, though, still must be made — and the only thing we have learned, it seems, from almost two years of the pandemic is this: If the experts are confused about what’s going on, the best thing for everyone to do is to stay put.
Jen Psaki, Joe Biden’s White House press secretary, said on Sunday she had tested positive for Covid-19.
Psaki, 42, did not travel with Biden to Rome for this week’s G20 summit. The president is also due to travel to Glasgow for the Cop26 climate talks. Biden has been accompanied in Europe by his principal deputy press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre.
News of a positive test for such a close aide to the president came a little over a year after an outbreak at the White House reached the then president, Donald Trump, who fell seriously ill and was forced to spend time in hospital.
In a statement, Psaki said she last saw the 78-year-old Biden on Tuesday, “when we sat outside more than 6ft apart and wore masks”.
Biden tested negative for Covid-19 on Saturday, Reuters quoted “a person familiar with the matter” as saying.
Psaki said she stayed in the US “due to a family emergency, which was members of my household testing positive for Covid-19”. She has two children.
“Since then,” Psaki continued, “I have quarantined and tested negative via PCR for Covid on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. However, today I tested positive for Covid.
“While I have not had close contact in person with the president or senior members of the White House staff since Wednesday and tested negative for four days after that last contact, I am disclosing today’s positive test out of an abundance of transparency.”
Psaki also said that “thanks to the vaccine I have only experienced mild symptoms, which has enabled me to continue working from home.
“I will plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of the 10-day quarantine following a negative rapid test, which is an additional White House requirement beyond [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidance, taken out an abundance of caution.”
White House staff and others traveling with the president began undergoing daily tests for Covid-19 before departing Washington and are all fully vaccinated. Many officials have also received booster shots, due to the close-quarters environment and frequent travel associated with their work.
Biden got his Covid-19 booster on 27 September, shortly after federal regulators approved the third dose for many Americans.
On Sunday Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists, responded to the news that Psaki had worn a mask around Biden by tweeting: “Good to still mask up, even if vaxxed.”
According to Johns Hopkins University, the US has recorded nearly 46m cases of Covid-19 and more than 745,000 deaths. Resistance to vaccination mandates remains a concern, particularly among Republican voters, though case numbers are slowing.
On Sunday, the CDC said the US had administered 422,070,099 doses of Covid-19 vaccines, up from 420,657,683 doses on Saturday. The agency said 221,520,153 people had received at least one dose, while 192,453,500 people were fully vaccinated.
The CDC tally includes two-dose vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot vaccine. About 18.6 million people have received a booster dose.
Full approval for children aged five to 12 to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is expected as soon as this week.
Route 32 Traffic Enforcement Effort
Members of the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Traffic Safety Section along with several officers from the four Police Districts conducted a high-intensity traffic enforcement detail on Route 32 on October 28, 2021, in the morning hours.
Utilizing marked and unmarked cars in the three and a half hour detail, officers made 56 traffic stops and issued 19 citations and 41 warnings for various offenses ranging from cell phone usage, speeding, seatbelts, and move-over law violations. This enforcement effort also included federally certified commercial vehicle inspectors who performed 13 commercial vehicle inspections. Three of the inspected commercial vehicles were placed out of service for safety violations. This enforcement is a continuation of directed enforcement patrols conducted on various county roadways as a result of crashes, aggressive driving, and speed complaints.
Additional enforcement efforts will be conducted on various county roadways focused on deterring aggressive driving, distracted driving, speeding, and occupant protection. Citizens observing any vehicles operated in a careless or reckless manner are asked to contact the police department by calling 911 or the non-emergency number- 410 222-8610.
Northern District
Robbery/Cutting – Linthicum
21-736548
On October 29, 2021, at approximately 11:00 a.m., officers responded to Motel 6 located at 5179 Raynor Avenue in Linthicum for a report of a robbery. An adult male victim and two adult female victims were in their hotel room when an unknown male suspect armed with a handgun and a knife, forced his way into the room and demanded money. The male victim fought off the suspect and sustained a cut to an extremity from the suspect’s knife. The suspect fled without taking anything. The victim was treated for minor injuries. Northern District detectives are investigating and ask anyone with information to contact 410-222-6135. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at 410-222-4700.
Suspect: Black male wearing a black and gold jacket and black hat
Southern District
Fatal Crash – Bristol
21-736584
On October 28, 2021, at approximately 2:00 p.m., officers responded to MD Route 4 northbound near Talbot Road for a reported single-vehicle crash. The investigation revealed that a red 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was traveling northbound on MD Route 4 near Talbot Road when the driver of the Chevrolet left the roadway and drove into a cluster of various sized trees. The vehicle overturned and came to rest on its roof amongst the trees. This caused serious injuries to the driver who was extricated by two witnesses to the crash: an off-duty nurse and a retired law enforcement officer. The driver of the Chevrolet was treated by Anne Arundel County Fire Department personnel but was ultimately pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the Chevrolet was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office (OCME) in Baltimore where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. Preliminarily, the primary cause of this crash is the driver of the Chevrolet failing to stay in his lane of travel. At this time, it is unknown what caused the Chevrolet to leave the roadway. The Traffic Safety Section is investigating and anyone with any information is asked to call 410-222-4700.
Vehicle:
2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Driver:
Michael Magtutu (Fatal Injuries)
64-year-old
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Eastern District
Serious Injury, Hit & Run Crash / Curtis Bay
21-736635
On October 28, 2021, at 6:50 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Fort Smallwood Road and Hilltop Road for a crash involving a motorcycle and a car.
The investigation revealed that a 2019 Yamaha YFZR3 motorcycle was traveling northbound on Fort Smallwood Road approaching Hilltop Road on a steady green signal when a 2020 Nissan Altima traveling southbound on Fort Smallwood Road Avenue attempted to make a left turn onto Hilltop Road in front of the Yamaha. The rider of the Yamaha was unable to avoid striking the Nissan and was ejected from the motorcycle. The driver of the Nissan fled the scene in the vehicle. The vehicle was located unoccupied on Hilltop Road at Stoney Beach Way.
The rider of the motorcycle was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Preliminarily, the primary cause of this crash is the driver of the Nissan failing to yield the right-of-way to the Yamaha. The Altima was located a short distance away unoccupied and investigators are working to identify the driver.
The crash is currently under investigation by the Traffic Safety Section. Anyone with any information is asked to call 410-222-4700.
Vehicle 1:
2020 Nissan Altima
Driver 1:
Unknown
Vehicle 2:
2019 Yamaha YFZR3 motorcycle
Driver 2:
21-year-old (Life-threatening injuries)
Pasadena, MD
Route 32 Traffic Enforcement Effort
Members of the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Traffic Safety Section along with several officers from the four Police Districts conducted a high-intensity traffic enforcement detail on Route 32 on October 28, 2021, in the morning hours.
Utilizing marked and unmarked cars in the three and a half hour detail, officers made 56 traffic stops and issued 19 citations and 41 warnings for various offenses ranging from cell phone usage, speeding, seatbelts, and move-over law violations. This enforcement effort also included federally certified commercial vehicle inspectors who performed 13 commercial vehicle inspections. Three of the inspected commercial vehicles were placed out of service for safety violations. This enforcement is a continuation of directed enforcement patrols conducted on various county roadways as a result of crashes, aggressive driving, and speed complaints.
Additional enforcement efforts will be conducted on various county roadways focused on deterring aggressive driving, distracted driving, speeding, and occupant protection. Citizens observing any vehicles operated in a careless or reckless manner are asked to contact the police department by calling 911 or the non-emergency number- 410 222-8610.
Northern District
Robbery/Cutting – Linthicum
21-736548
On October 29, 2021, at approximately 11:00 a.m., officers responded to Motel 6 located at 5179 Raynor Avenue in Linthicum for a report of a robbery. An adult male victim and two adult female victims were in their hotel room when an unknown male suspect armed with a handgun and a knife, forced his way into the room and demanded money. The male victim fought off the suspect and sustained a cut to an extremity from the suspect’s knife. The suspect fled without taking anything. The victim was treated for minor injuries. Northern District detectives are investigating and ask anyone with information to contact 410-222-6135. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at 410-222-4700.
Suspect: Black male wearing a black and gold jacket and black hat
Southern District
Fatal Crash – Bristol
21-736584
On October 28, 2021, at approximately 2:00 p.m., officers responded to MD Route 4 northbound near Talbot Road for a reported single-vehicle crash. The investigation revealed that a red 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was traveling northbound on MD Route 4 near Talbot Road when the driver of the Chevrolet left the roadway and drove into a cluster of various sized trees. The vehicle overturned and came to rest on its roof amongst the trees. This caused serious injuries to the driver who was extricated by two witnesses to the crash: an off-duty nurse and a retired law enforcement officer. The driver of the Chevrolet was treated by Anne Arundel County Fire Department personnel but was ultimately pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the Chevrolet was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office (OCME) in Baltimore where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. Preliminarily, the primary cause of this crash is the driver of the Chevrolet failing to stay in his lane of travel. At this time, it is unknown what caused the Chevrolet to leave the roadway. The Traffic Safety Section is investigating and anyone with any information is asked to call 410-222-4700.
Vehicle:
2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Driver:
Michael Magtutu (Fatal Injuries)
64-year-old
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Eastern District
Serious Injury, Hit & Run Crash / Curtis Bay
21-736635
On October 28, 2021, at 6:50 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Fort Smallwood Road and Hilltop Road for a crash involving a motorcycle and a car.
The investigation revealed that a 2019 Yamaha YFZR3 motorcycle was traveling northbound on Fort Smallwood Road approaching Hilltop Road on a steady green signal when a 2020 Nissan Altima traveling southbound on Fort Smallwood Road Avenue attempted to make a left turn onto Hilltop Road in front of the Yamaha. The rider of the Yamaha was unable to avoid striking the Nissan and was ejected from the motorcycle. The driver of the Nissan fled the scene in the vehicle. The vehicle was located unoccupied on Hilltop Road at Stoney Beach Way.
The rider of the motorcycle was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Preliminarily, the primary cause of this crash is the driver of the Nissan failing to yield the right-of-way to the Yamaha. The Altima was located a short distance away unoccupied and investigators are working to identify the driver.
The crash is currently under investigation by the Traffic Safety Section. Anyone with any information is asked to call 410-222-4700.
Vehicle 1:
2020 Nissan Altima
Driver 1:
Unknown
Vehicle 2:
2019 Yamaha YFZR3 motorcycle
Driver 2:
21-year-old (Life-threatening injuries)
Pasadena, MD