News
Heavy Traffic Congestion at LAX Caused by Construction Delays
Construction delays at Los Angeles International Airport resulted in heavy traffic congestion on Sunday morning, causing frustrations for travelers who reported lengthy delays getting through the airport.
On Saturday night, LAX announced lane closures on Century Boulevard for construction work, but the delays extended into Sunday morning, exacerbating the situation.
The construction was necessary for the development of the Automated People Mover, a driver-less transit system aimed at reducing traffic around the airport ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
By 11 a.m., LAX took to social media to alert passengers about the anticipated increase in traffic congestion. They advised travelers to arrive early, pre-book parking, and utilize Cell Phone Waiting Lots to help ease vehicle traffic. Additionally, they warned that flight times could be affected due to the traffic backup.
At 1 p.m., the @FlyLAXstats Twitter account reported that drivers were experiencing delays of approximately 52 minutes on the airport’s upper level and 20 minutes on the lower level. Earlier in the day, wait times on the upper level had reached up to 91 minutes.
Some travelers resorted to abandoning their rideshare vehicles and walking to the airport to avoid the gridlock. The situation was described as a “nightmare” by several passengers who took to social media to express their frustrations.
News
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Protesters reach an agreement to dismantle encampment
Protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have agreed to end their pro-Palestinian encampment following an agreement reached with the school, university officials announced on Sunday. The encampment, which had been in place for two weeks, will be dismantled by Tuesday, marking the end of what was believed to be the last standing encampment at a Wisconsin college.
University officials had allowed the encampment to remain on a patch of lawn between Mitchell Hall and a busy thoroughfare on the campus’s southern boundary, opting not to involve law enforcement. This approach differed from the response at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where police were called in to remove tents after negotiations fell through. Despite initial efforts to disband the encampment, Wisconsin-Madison eventually reached an agreement with protesters to voluntarily dismantle the camp prior to commencement ceremonies.
Chancellor Mark Mone of Wisconsin-Milwaukee stated last Wednesday that the university had exhibited “the widest possible amount of patience and restraint.” However, he also cautioned that patience was wearing thin and hinted at potential action by the school. Following discussions with the UWM Popular University for Palestine Coalition, the university agreed to advocate for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, condemn the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza by Israeli forces, and hold meetings with protest leaders regarding university investments.
Additionally, the university pledged to urge the Water Council, a Milwaukee organization of water technology companies, to sever connections with two Israeli government-owned entities, Mekorot and the Israel Innovation Authority. Chancellor Mone serves as the treasurer on the Water Council’s board of directors.
In return for these commitments, the protesters agreed to dismantle the encampment beginning on Sunday and completing the process by Tuesday. They also agreed not to disrupt the university’s commencement ceremonies scheduled for Sunday. In a statement, the protesters expressed their satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “After hard fought edits and careful consideration by the coalition, we determined we had obtained all possible benefits from the encampment.”
The resolution of the encampment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee represents a successful outcome of negotiations between university officials and protesters. By reaching a compromise that addresses the concerns of both parties, a peaceful resolution has been achieved, allowing for the encampment to be taken down without incident.