Page 6 - Florida Sentinel 6-24-22

Political
Biden Says Decision On
BLM Movement, Obama Presidency Leading More Black High School Graduates To HBCUs
Gas Tax Holiday May
Former President Barack Obama‘s eight years in office and the 2020 Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement have led to a significant rise in Black high school graduates choosing histor- ically Black colleges and universi- ties (HBCUs).
The New York Times reports applications to HBCUs have sky- rocketed in recent years as Black high school graduates feel a sense of duty to attend Black colleges.
Black students also want to spend their money at a place where they’ll be supported during and after their time at school.
The 101 HBCUs across the country are expected to receive more than 40,000 applications this year according to The Com- mon Black College App.
Additionally, President Joe Biden‘s $2.7 billion investment in HBCUs has led to a significant boost in funding that can be used
to fix a litany of issues including Howard University’s housing is- sues as well as technology and fa- cility upgrades.
“We say this is a renaissance for H.B.C.U.s, but the level of clout and capital the institutions have now is unprecedented,” Lo- driguez Murray, a senior vice president for the United Negro College Fund, told the Times. Murray added, “Frankly, it is about time.”
Come For 4th Of July
President Joe Biden said Monday that he will decide by the end of the week whether he would support a federal gaso- line tax holiday, possibly saving U. S. consumers as much as 18.4 cents a gallon.
“Yes, I’m considering it,” Biden told reporters after tak- ing a walk along the beach near his vacation home in Delaware. “I hope to have a decision based on the data — I’m looking for by the end of the week.”
The administration is increas- ingly looking for ways to spare the public from higher prices at the pump, which began to climb last year and surged after Russia invaded Ukraine in Feb- ruary. Gas prices nationwide are averaging just under $5 a gallon, according to AAA.
Biden said members of his
PRESIDENT BIDEN
team were to meet this week with CEOs of the major oil com- panies to discuss rising prices. Biden lashed out at oil compa- nies, saying they are making ex- cessive profits when people are feeling the crunch of skyrocket- ing costs at the pump and infla- tion. But Biden said he would not be meeting the oil execu- tives himself.
“I want an explanation for why they aren’t refining more oil,” Biden said.
'Travel Armageddon'As Flight Delays, Cancellations Pile Up: What's Going On
Travel issues continued piling up for fliers as flight delays and cancellations topped 10,000 — a tumultuous weekend for holiday travel blamed on staffing short- ages, packed planes and the ripple effects from previous bad weather. Last Monday, more than 3,000 flights within, into, or out of the U. S. were delayed and about 370 flights canceled, as of 5 p.m. ET, according to FlightAware. TSA projected on Twitter that Monday could be Seattle-Tacoma Interna- tional Airport's busiest day since the start of the pandemic.
Friday was the busiest day for air travel this year with over 2.4 million people passing through se- curity at U. S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Ad- ministration. On Saturday, there were 2.1 million travelers.
The U.S. has dominated global flight issues, but it isn't the only country having airline issues; worldwide, an additional 3,500 flights have been canceled and over 23,000 have been delayed this weekend.
Currently, passenger volumes nationwide for this month are 87.7% of 2019 volumes, according to TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers. The average number of people screened per day is 2.24 million compared to 2.56 million in June 2019.
"This is the highest sustained level we have seen since travel began to recover from the pan- demic," Dankers told USA TODAY on Monday.
Nationwide, Delta and United have the highest number of can- cellations, with 7% and 3% of flights canceled, respectively, not including flights on their regional affiliates. Airports that are seeing the most issues include Hartsfield-
Community participates in the Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day in the historic Germantown section of North- west Philadelphia, PA.
Jackson Atlanta International Air- port, John F. Kennedy Interna- tional Airport and LaGuardia
Airport in the New York City area. SATURDAY: U. S. flight can- cellations, delays continue Satur- day: More than 4,000 flights
affected so far
FRIDAY AND THURSDAY:
6,000+ US flights canceled or de- layed Friday after one of worst summer air travel days yet
Why are flights being canceled and delayed?
There are several factors con- tributing to the ongoing situation at the nation's airports, notably the severe storms that hit much of the country the past week, the in- creased number of travelers dur- ing the Father's Day and Juneteenth weekend and staff shortages. We might have a real problem in two weeks for the 4th of July holiday.
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