Railroad crisis averted
Just a day before rail workers planned to strike, companies and labor unions reached an agreement. Sent by Florida's governor, about 50 migrants unexpectedly showed up by plane to Martha's Vineyard. And Roger Federer announced his retirement from tennis.
👋 It's Thursday! Laura Davis here. And today is the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month. Read more about it here! Now, let's get to the news.
But first: New images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope pierce through thick layers of stardust and gas, revealing the most detailed look yet into the heart of the Orion Nebula. Check them out.
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'Big win for America': Labor deal averts major rail strike
After 20 straight hours of negotiations, President Joe Biden said Thursday that freight railway companies and workers had reached a tentative agreement that would avert a shutdown that could have paralyzed the economy. Biden celebrated the deal alongside union leaders and rail executives at the White House, calling it a “big win for America” and for both sides of the labor dispute. He said rail workers will receive better pay, improved working conditions and a “peace of mind” over health insurance, while companies will strengthen their ability to recruit and retain workers. See the terms of the deal here.
Amtrak cancellations: Amtrak working to restore canceled trips after railroad strike averted.
When third-party travel plans go sideways
If you're like me, checking third-party booking sites is my tried-and-true method when planning any type of travel. Third-party sites like Expedia, Priceline and Kiwi.com are one-stop shops, offering package deals on flights, car rentals and accommodations. However, when travel plans go awry, it can be confusing and stressful to figure out who is responsible for resolving the issue: the hotel (or airline, or car rental company) or the booking site. First things first: Stay calm. Next: Read this for a look at what to do.
'Traumatic': Airline loses woman's luggage containing her prosthetic leg.
Some good news: Airline passenger dances her way to a seat upgrade.
What everyone's talking about
New family of wolves spotted in federally protected Oregon mountains.
Chick-fil-A worker stops carjacker who attacked mom, baby in parking lot.
'I don't condone violence': Michelle Branch on therapy with husband, fight that led to her arrest.
Cops confounded at LA crime scene as food delivery robot rolls through. See the video.
Birds flying high; do you know how they feel? New app maps migration dangers.
Trump said he declassified Mar-a-Lago docs. For his legal defense, it might not matter.
Communicating by thought? How a first-of-its-kind brain implant could help a paralyzed NJ man.
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A royal outpouring of grief: Mourners lined up Thursday to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II, who is lying in state in Westminster Hall – with people waiting at least nine hours to do so. The queue snaked across a bridge and along the south bank of the River Thames beyond Tower Bridge. But people said they didn’t mind the wait. Read more.
Florida gov: 50 people flown to Massachusetts are 'illegal immigrants'
Taking locals by surprise, two planes landed on Massachusetts' Martha's Vineyard that appeared to be carrying Venezuelan nationals sent there by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who claims undocumented immigrants belong in progressive states. The immigrants, thought to be from Venezuela, were flown by a chartered aircraft from Florida, Texas or both, local officials said. A spokesperson for DeSantis said late Thursday that the people on the planes are "illegal immigrants." The group of 50 people – men, women and children – said they had been put on a plane with only a brochure from the island's service center. Why did DeSantis do this? Keep reading.
DeSantis' Martha's Vineyard stunt cruelly uses migrants as human pawns, helping no one. | Opinion
Cubans, Haitians are fleeing to US in historic numbers. These crises are fueling migration.
🥳 Lordy, lordy, USA TODAY is 40!
In 1982, USA TODAY introduced a brash new way to deliver the news – short, to the point, lots of color. Did that mark an inflection point for an industry that rejected us? Or did it, as some smartly think, serve as a template for the internet? Either way, what became apparent as we flipped through 480 months of news since the first edition in 1982, writes former executive editor David Colton, was how often USA TODAY made a difference. We've got 40 moments, chosen by dozens of current and former staffers, when USA TODAY made a difference to our readers, our nation or to our staff. Check out our 40 most meaningful moments here.
'McPaper' at 40: Nation's newspaper is grown up – but still different.
Print changes by design: See USA TODAY pages over the last 40 years.
Real quick
Soccer teams in trouble for playing after Queen Elizabeth II's death.
Will Nancy Pelosi run for House speaker again? She won't say.
Woman arrested after children's bodies found in New Zealand suitcases.
As Ukraine firepower thunders forward, Russian troops flee to the border.
Ready for 'Thursday Night Football'? How to watch on Amazon Prime.
As monkeypox cases steadily decline, White House turns focus to equity.
California's biggest wildfire of 2022: Mosquito Fire grows to 100 square miles as air quality worsens.
🌤 What's the weather up to in your neck of the woods? Check your local forecast here.
Roger Federer announces he will retire from tennis
Roger Federer, who became the first man to win 20 Grand Slam titles in tennis, announced Thursday that he is retiring from competition after a multiyear struggle with knee injuries. Federer, 41, had hoped to come back for one final goodbye in 2023 but said next week’s Laver Cup in London will be his final event. Though Federer will not finish his career as the player with the most Grand Slam titles – Rafael Nadal has 22 and Novak Djokovic passed him with his 21st at Wimbledon this year – his popularity and influence on the sport goes beyond just numbers. Read more about Federer's illustrious career here.
A break from the news
🍁 Spice up your home with these cozy fall home decor finds.
🍿 'Blonde': Why is Netflix's Marilyn Monroe movie rated NC-17?
☕️ Love pumpkin spice? Here are 8 recipes to bring all the fall vibes.
🤔 Buffalo dip! We cooked this game day staples 3 ways. Which is best?
Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures – and misadventures – on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Railroad union strike, migrants sent to Martha's Vineyard, USA TODAY anniversary, Roger Federer. Thursday's news.