Kidnappers free 2 Americans, Egyptian guide (AP)
3 Feb 2012, 4:12 pm

AP - Bedouin tribesmen abducted two female American tourists and their Egyptian guide at gunpoint Friday but released them several hours later after negotiations with tribal leaders in the Sinai Peninsula, the region's security chief said.

SC tourism targets SEC, ACC fans visiting state (AP)
3 Feb 2012, 4:09 pm

AP - They might be considered the newest attractions in South Carolina's $14 billion tourism industry: linebackers in Carolina garnet and wide receivers in Clemson orange.

Casino opens overlooking Turn 2 at Kansas Speedway (AP)
3 Feb 2012, 4:07 pm

AP - Lesa France Kennedy strode through the Art Deco-inspired lobby, past rows of blinking slots machines and spinning roulette wheels, her eyes trying to take in the homage to old Hollywood.

AP Exclusive: US No-Fly list doubles in 1 year (AP)
2 Feb 2012, 3:57 pm

AP - The Obama administration has more than doubled, to about 21,000 names, its secret list of suspected terrorists who are banned from flying to or within the United States, including about 500 Americans, the Associated Press has learned. The government lowered the bar for being added to the list, even as it says it's closer than ever to defeating al-Qaida.

Namaste, travelers! SFO opens airport yoga room (AP)
2 Feb 2012, 3:55 pm

AP - Stressed out by flying?

Madison Museum to host Harry Houdini exhibit (AP)
2 Feb 2012, 3:02 pm

AP - One of the 20th century's most famous performers who spent his childhood in Appleton will be the subject of an exhibit at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.

AP Interview: Kidnapped Filipino's daring escape (AP)
2 Feb 2012, 2:58 pm

AP - As his kidnappers took him in a speeding boat toward a notorious militant stronghold in the southern Philippines, Ivan Sarenas decided that he would die if he didn't try to escape. When he saw some fishermen, he took his chance, diving deep and hoping his armed captors wouldn't shoot.

NYC agent arrested in latest TSA theft allegation (AP)
2 Feb 2012, 2:50 pm

AP - A Transportation Security Administration agent stole $5,000 in cash from a passenger's jacket as he was going through security at John F. Kennedy International Airport, authorities said Thursday, the latest in a string of thefts that has embarrassed the agency.

From shipwreck in Italy, a treasure now beckons (AP)
2 Feb 2012, 2:45 pm

AP - In the chaotic evacuation of the Costa Concordia, passengers and crew abandoned almost everything on board the cruise ship: jewels, cash, champagne, antiques, 19th century Bohemian crystal glassware, thousands of art objects including 300-year-old woodblock prints by a Japanese master.

Turks & Caicos wins judgment against retreat owner (AP)
1 Feb 2012, 7:39 pm

AP - The Turks and Caicos Islands has won a $9.29 million judgment against a former U.S. billionaire and timber magnate who founded an ultra-exclusive resort in the Montana Rockies, officials announced Wednesday.

American Airlines aims to cut 13,000 jobs (AP)
1 Feb 2012, 7:36 pm

AP - The parent of American Airlines wants to eliminate about 13,000 jobs — 15 percent of its workforce — as the nation's third-biggest airline remakes itself under bankruptcy protection.

Tulsa jobs to be slashed among airline's plan (AP)
1 Feb 2012, 7:34 pm

AP - American Airlines is expected to slash about 2,100 jobs at its maintenance facility in Tulsa under a bankruptcy reorganization plan released by its parent company, a spokesman for the airline said Wednesday.

Upgrades eyed for Atlantic City in state plan (AP)
1 Feb 2012, 7:32 pm

AP - A dazzling Boardwalk pulsating with light, music, recreation and entertainment, surrounded by pedestrian-friendly enclaves away from the casinos is the vision of Atlantic City's future adopted Wednesday by a state agency tasked with turning around the struggling seaside resort.

Eastern Caribbean may soon have regional ferry (AP)
1 Feb 2012, 7:30 pm

AP - The eastern Caribbean may soon have an inter-island ferry system.

Security breach briefly closes NJ airport terminal (AP)
1 Feb 2012, 7:28 pm

AP - The Transportation Security Administration says an airline employee has caused a security breach that briefly closed a terminal at Newark Liberty International Airport.

DOT Secretary touts Atlanta streetcar project (AP)
1 Feb 2012, 7:27 pm

AP - Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed kicked off the construction of the city's $94 million streetcar project, which they say will be a catalyst for jobs and economic development and a boon for the downtown tourism district.

Gunmen abduct Dutch, Swiss in southern Philippines (AP)
1 Feb 2012, 7:23 pm

AP - Gunmen in the restive southern Philippines abducted Swiss and Dutch tourists and a Filipino bird photographer Wednesday and took the trio away by boat, authorities said.

United to launch Honolulu-DC nonstop flight (AP)
1 Feb 2012, 7:21 pm

AP - United will launch a daily non-stop flight between Washington, D.C. and Honolulu in June — raising to three the number of regularly scheduled direct air connections between Hawaii and the East Coast, the airline announced Tuesday.

Prince Harry's duty: Beach volleyball in Rio (AP)
1 Feb 2012, 7:20 pm

AP - Prince Harry will combine sports, military exercises and meetings with school children and locals on his first-ever trip as an official representative of Queen Elizabeth II, palace officials said Wednesday.

Emanuel announces new tourism push (AP)
1 Feb 2012, 7:18 pm

AP - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has a plan that's designed to save $1.3 million in administrative costs and attract 50 million visitors to the city each year by 2020.