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Geocaching is an activity where people hide items for others to find using coordinates and other clues. SEATTLE — Geocaching celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.  The global game of hide and seek started in May 2000, when the U.S. government flipped a switch that made GPS signals far more accurate for civilian use.  Just one day later, a man named Dave Ulmer hid a container in the woods near his home in Beavercreek, Oregon and posted the coordinates on a website. Within just a few days, the container had been found by two people and the activity of geocaching had been born.  He called it the "Great American GPS Stash Hunt." What started as one container hidden in the Oregon wilderness quickly grew as outdoor enthusiasts and tech fans began hiding and seeking their own "caches." Within months, the activity earned a new name: geocaching. The nerve center of this worldwide hobby is Geocaching HQ, tucked into Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. That's where Jake Whittenberg and Mimi Jung recently toured to mark the 25th anniversary. The headquarters is equal parts office and community hub, where staff maintain the website and app, support millions of players, and help organize international events. Bryan Roth, along with two of his friends in tech, founded Geocaching HQ with a desire to share the joy of geocaching with the world.  The website they created, Geocaching.com, launched in 2000 and quickly became the central hub for the growing community. There are more than three million active caches hidden in cities, parks and even underwater -- and in almost every country in the world.  Millions of geocachers use GPS devices or smartphone apps to track down these caches. Some hold small toys or collectibles. Others are part of elaborate puzzles and themed adventures. No two caches are the same, and that variety has helped keep the game fresh across decades. "People hide boxes, whether it's a Tupperware box or a little pill container or something bigger or something camouflaged. They post the coordinates of that box online where they've hidden it, and then other people go out and try and find it using the geocaching app," explained Roth. Jake and Mimi tried to find their first cache just a few blocks away from Geocaching HQ in Fremont. Using the app, they navigated to within 30 feet of the cache. The only hint? A verse from the Bible -- Luke 2:42. It took about 10 minutes of searching, but they eventually found the hidden container.  For newcomers and seasoned adventurers alike, geocaching remains a unique blend of technology, exploration, and community. And after 25 years, the thrill of the hunt is still going strong.

Volunteers struggle to maintain the Enchantments, hauling out 12 pounds of toilet paper in one day as federal cuts strain resources. CHELAN COUNTY, Wash. — Behind the postcard views of the Enchantments in the North Cascades lies a crisis.  Trash, human waste, graffiti, and crowds are threatening the fragile alpine environment. Volunteers say years of federal staffing cuts have left this wilderness on the brink. “There’s just human waste everywhere,” said Matt Lyons with the nonprofit TREAD. Lyons said there have been problems there for a while, but this is the worst he's ever seen. “A lot of graffiti, a lot of trash, a lot of problems happening in the Enchantments this year, "Troy Campbell, who heads up the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, said.  Sarah Shaffer of Wenatchee Outdoors said the situation seems to be getting worse. “There’s poop just on top of rocks with toilet paper on top of rocks. It’s just a really crappy situation," she said. "“My daughter and I actually packed out 12 pounds of just toilet paper."  Trash mars the Enchantments in North Cascades The 4.5-mile trail to Colchuck Lake is one of the most popular hikes in the state, attracting up to 2,000 hikers a day in peak season. But the resources to protect it are nearly gone. Where there were once 11 U.S. Forest Service rangers in the region, there is now only one. That single ranger is responsible for nearly 900 miles of trail. “She’s out here by herself hauling toilets that can weigh 300 pounds when they’re full,” Lyons said. “I don’t know how she does it. She’s a hero.” Earlier this year, the Trump administration slashed Forest Service staffing nationwide, insisting hikers wouldn’t notice the cuts. But in the Enchantments, the impact is impossible to ignore. Back in April, KING 5 emailed the U.S. Forest Service to ask what those cuts would mean for Washington trails. At the time, the agency downplayed concerns, responding in an email: “We continue to evaluate our needs, resources, and personnel, within allocated budgets, to carry out our mission. The Forest Service remains committed to ensuring public health and safety while balancing access to recreation areas. • Recreation services and public access are vital to local economies. It is our intent to maintain access to recreation opportunities to the greatest degree possible. • Protecting the people and communities we serve, as well as the infrastructure, businesses and resources they depend on to grow and thrive, remains a top priority for the USDA and the Forest Service. We are incredibly proud of our firefighters, and we will ensure they have the training, tools, and resources they need to work alongside our state and local partners, as well as private landowners, to continue the work to protect lives and livelihoods. • The Forest Service continues active management activities, including hazardous fuels reduction projects and prescribed fires, and are being conducted under the agency’s available funding authorities, including annual appropriations.” But months later, volunteers and local leaders say the agency’s assurances don’t match the reality on the ground. With little official presence, volunteers are doing what they can. Wenatchee Outdoors logged 57 hours of cleanup in July. TREAD has contributed 75 hours this summer. The Leavenworth Recreation Ambassador Program averages 288 hours each month. But even with all that effort, the problems are growing. Waste vaults at campsites overflow. Graffiti mars granite walls. On Aasgard Pass, the rugged climb to the core of the Enchantments, volunteers are cleaning graffiti off granite. “We went caveman and just beat it with other rocks," Vernon Nelson, with Chelan County Mountain Rescue, said. And while volunteers can clean, they can’t enforce. That falls on the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Mike Morrison said his deputies are stretched thin. He has two deputies assigned to the area. This year alone, there have been 29 rescues in the Enchantments which Morrison said is much higher than previous years. Many rescues involve hikers lured by Instagram or TikTok posts, showing off turquoise lakes and dramatic peaks without warning of the grueling climbs required to reach them. “They’re showing up in pajama bottoms, Birkenstocks, sweatpants,” Morrison said. “Individuals are clearly not in the kind of shape you should be to go up there.” Visitors travel from across the country, and even overseas, after seeing viral videos. Some arrive unprepared, without water, food, or the physical conditioning needed for the hike. “I would call them weak-minded individuals that go up and just don't have the capacity to push themselves so they get tired. They are, in a sense, pushing the easy button expecting the sheriff's office or search and rescue to rescue them. It's happened numerous times," Morrison said. Campbell, with the Chamber of Commerce, warned the dangers of what's happening go beyond the rescues. “The entire Enchantments burning down and maybe taking thousands of acres around it, including Leavenworth, with it is one of the things that keeps me up at night,” he said. Even the wildlife isn’t immune. KING 5 spotted a chipmunk gnawing on toilet paper. And Shaffer, of Wenatchee Outdoors, worries about fecal matter impacting the environment. “I'm worried about the fecal matter leaching into Colchuck Lake and to other lakes in the area, which can then in turn affect the city of Leavenworth, because they get their water supply...indirectly from Colchuck Lake," she said. Morrison said he's in contact with the Forest Service, hoping to find a solution soon. Volunteers said some possible solutions include shuttle buses or requiring day use permits. Right now, permits are only required for overnight camping. Morrison said if things don’t improve, he’s ready to shut down access to the Forest Service road that leads to the trailhead. Closing that gate would stop vehicle access, forcing hikers to walk an extra 3.5 miles each way turning the 9-mile roundtrip hike to the lake into 16. “It's not much to ask that if I shut the gate and you have to hike 7 miles more total round trip. I don't think that's much to ask," Morrison said. "You should be in the kind of condition to be able to take that challenge on.” Some, like Shaffer, believe a temporary closure may be necessary to protect the wilderness. “For me, I'm like, let's just shut it down for a while if that's what we have to do," she said. Others, like Nelson, with Chelan County Mountain Rescue, feared it would make the area harder to access and enjoy. For now, the gate remains open. But volunteers and locals alike said without more action, the Enchantments’ natural beauty could be permanently scarred. “If nothing changes,” Shaffer warned, “we will lose the natural beauty and wonderment of the Enchantments.”

The Duchess was married to the Duke of Kent, a cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. WASHINGTON — The Duchess of Kent, who was married to the cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has died, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday. She was 92.  Buckingham Palace said that the Duchess of Kent "passed away peacefully" and was surrounded by family. "It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent," a statement shared on the Royal Family's social media account read. "The King and Queen and all Members of The Royal Family join The Duke of Kent, his children and grandchildren in mourning their loss and remembering fondly The Duchess’s life-long devotion to all the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people." The flag was lowered to half-staff at Buckingham Palace at noon to pay respect to the duchess. The Duchess of Kent was the oldest member of the Royal Family, according to the BBC. It is with deep sorrow that Buckingham Palace announces the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent.Her Royal Highness passed away peacefully last night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family.The King and Queen and all Members of The Royal Family join The Duke… pic.twitter.com/OsCeb3pQ7d— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 5, 2025 Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley was born on Feb. 22, 1933, as the only daughter to aristocrat Col. Sir William Worsley, a baronet, and Lady Worsley of Hovingham Hall, near York. She joined the Royal Family when she married Edward, King George V’s grandson, in a lavish 1961 ceremony. Throughout the years, the Duchess, Katharine, was closely tied to the Wimbledon championships. She presented the Ladies' Singles Trophy for several years.  Perhaps her most memorable Wimbledon moment was when she consoled Czech star Jana Novotna after her defeat in the 1993 final. The duchess who preferred to be known as Mrs. Kent, was also a passionate musician and music teacher, dedicating a number of years to teaching music at a primary school in Hull, England. The pianist, organist and singer founded the charity Future Talent to break down barriers for young musicians and provide them with instruments. She stepped aside as a working Member of the Royal Family in 2002 to focus on her private and charitable work in music, according to Buckingham Palace. In 1994, she converted to Catholicism and became the first royal to do so in over 300 years. She leaves Edward and three children, George, Earl of St. Andrews, Lady Helen Windsor, and Lord Nicholas Windsor. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tyson, who will turn 60 next year, will return to the ring after his loss to Jake Paul last year in an eight-round bout. NEW YORK — Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are set to meet in an early 2026 matchup of boxing Hall of Famers. Tyson, who will turn 60 next year, will return to the ring after his loss to Jake Paul last year in an eight-round bout. He'll meet the unbeaten Mayweather, 48, who said the "exhibition will give the fans what they want.” No date or site was provided in the announcement Thursday by CSI Sports, the live boxing production company which will launch a media streaming and broadcast partnership with this event. “When CSI came to me about stepping in the ring with Floyd Mayweather, I thought, ‘No way this happens,’" Tyson said in the release announcing the fight. “But, Floyd said yes.” “This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen. However, boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable — and this fight is as unpredictable as it gets,” Tyson added. "I still can’t believe Floyd wants to really do this. It’s going to be detrimental to his health, but he wants to do it, so it’s signed and it’s happening!” Tyson was a heavyweight champion and though Mayweather won titles in five weight classes, none was above the 154-pound limit of junior middleweight. His last official bout of his 50-win career was against MMA star Conor McGregor in 2017. That fight, along with his victories over Manny Pacquiao and Canelo Alvarez, were the three richest bouts in boxing history. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years and there hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy,” Mayweather said. “You already know that if I am going to do something, it’s going to be big and it’s going to be legendary. I’m the best in the business of boxing. This exhibition will give the fans what they want.” Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

Forty-three teams will get their spots through continental qualifying tournaments WASHINGTON — The 2026 World Cup will have a record 48 teams in the tournament to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. Uruguay had a 3-0 win over Peru, Colombia defeated Bolivia 3-0 and Paraguay held Ecuador to a 0-0 draw to secure their places Thursday from South American qualifying. Forty-three teams will get their spots through continental qualifying tournaments. Another two will secure their places in the intercontinental playoffs featuring six teams and scheduled for March 2026. The three host countries automatically qualify. The breakdown Asia will have eight direct places and one in the intercontinental playoff. Africa has nine direct spots plus one for the intercontinental playoff. North and Central America and the Caribbean get three direct berths (plus the three host nations) and another two spots in the intercontinental playoffs. South America has six direct spots and will send another team to the intercontinental playoffs. Oceania for the first time has a guaranteed spot — New Zealand clinched that in March. It could add another with New Caledonia going into the intercontinental playoffs. Europe will have 16 teams sure to play in the next World Cup. Already qualified United States, Mexico, Canada (qualified automatically as hosts) Asia Japan (qualified on March 20) Iran (qualified on March 25) Jordan (qualified on June 5) South Korea (qualified on June 5) Uzbekistan (qualified on June 5) Australia (qualified on June 10) Oceania New Zealand (qualified on March 24) South America Argentina (qualified on March 25) Brazil (qualified on June 10) Ecuador (qualified on June 10) Uruguay (qualified on September 4) Colombia (qualified on September 4) Paraguay (qualified on September 4) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

The downtown waterfront and Pioneer Square have undergone major changes over the last year, leading to optimism ahead of the football season. SEATTLE — Scores of Seahawks fans lined up along Elliott Bay in Seattle on Thursday for the team's official kickoff celebration, 'Party at the Pier,' a symbolic gathering at the recently completed Waterfront Park. The gathering marks the start of the Seahawks’ 50th season, which begins Sunday, just one day after the city celebrates the completion of the $800 million, 20-acre park along Elliott Bay. The project took 15 years to complete and was key to several adjacent projects, including the Pioneer Square East-West pedestrian improvement plan. "I feel great for the Seahawks and what's happened in Seattle. It's wonderful, man... It's great for Seattle," said Mike Kendrick, a longtime fan. In other words, the Seahawks' golden anniversary coincides with major changes in the neighborhoods surrounding Lumen Field.  "2025 has been transformational and really pivotal for Pioneer Square... there's a lot of new, unique things that people haven't seen in a very long time," said Lisa Howard, executive director of the Alliance for Pioneer Square. Howard said more new businesses opened in the first quarter of 2025 than all of 2024, which has created "new experiences" for potential visitors. "It's not only game day … the other days of the week are seeing a huge uptick," she added. "The Seahawks games have just a few more people coming so there's definitely that very excited crowd on gamedays and it makes for a really exciting environment all across the neighborhood.” The hope in Pioneer Square is that the influx of visitors translates into more fans spending time in the neighborhood, rather than simply passing through. "I think it's been a while since a lot of people have been down here and they have perceptions about what they've seen on TV and that's not the reality of today," Howard said. Among the new businesses is The Hall on Occidental, a bar and restaurant steps from the stadium’s northwest corner. “It’s special, it feels exciting, and it feels like Seattle right now,” General Manager Josh Robinson told KING 5 during the preseason.

SEATTLE — Seattle leaders are pushing back against the possibility of increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in sanctuary cities, after President Trump’s border czar warned that a surge could be imminent. Councilmember Bob Kettle, a military veteran and chair of the Public Safety Committee, said the city is working to address crime without help from Washington, D.C. RELATED: Leaders respond to state slashing ICE database access after KING 5 investigation "We're up to 24 pieces of legislation." Kettle said. "The real time crime center, the CCTV, also the automatic license plate readers, they help system. This is making a difference for our city." Kettle, who criticized the Trump administration’s militarization of the National Guard in Los Angeles this summer — a move a judge struck down this week — called the federal tactics “junior varsity” compared to Seattle police. “No face mask, no face coverings. They have to announce who they are … They don’t come in all dressed tactical, dressed with face coverings. That’s not law enforcement,” he said. Council President Sara Nelson also criticized federal actions, saying they undermine Seattle’s approach to building trust in policing.  “Not on our watch will ICE agents undermine our efforts to ensure everyone in every community across our city feels safe,” she said in a statement this week. RELATED: ICE arrests dip in July but remain high in Washington Advocates with the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) say they’ve tracked ICE arrests at hotspots such as 3rd Avenue and Pike Street in downtown Seattle, often involving agents in unmarked cars. They warn the activity is creating fear that keeps immigrants from working in both urban and rural communities. “It’s terrible because we can’t do anything without them trying to do something,” said Naomi Bailey, a White Center coffee stall manager who said she feared for her freedom after witnessing an ICE arrest in a drive-through in July. “I mean, I almost got arrested just yelling at them.” Kettle argued federal agencies should instead focus on cutting off the flow of drugs and weapons into the city along the I-5 corridor. “Our public safety challenges are driven by the fact that guns and drugs come into our city,” he said. “That’s what we need the federal government to be working on — ATF, FBI, DEA.” Kettle acknowledged the city does not have a specific response planned if ICE enforcement ramps up but vowed to keep pressing federal government to “stay in its lane.”

Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez apologized Thursday for his behavior following his team's defeat by the Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup final earlier this week. Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez apologized Thursday for his behavior following his team's defeat by the Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup final earlier this week, antics that became the latest entry on a long list of on-field transgressions over his lengthy career. Suárez — a longtime teammate of Inter Miami star Lionel Messi — appeared to spit toward a member of the Sounders' staff, plus grabbed at least one Seattle player by the neck during a postgame melee. Major League Soccer and Leagues Cup officials are investigating, and Suárez could face sanctions. "First of all, I want to congratulate the Seattle Sounders on their Leagues Cup victory. But above all, I want to apologize for my behavior at the end of the match," Suárez wrote on Instagram in his native Spanish. "It was a very tense and frustrating moment. Things happened right after the match that shouldn't have happened, but that doesn't justify my reaction. I was wrong and I sincerely regret it. Luis Suárez appeared to spit on a Seattle staff member after the final whistle in the Leagues Cup Final 👀🎥: @MLS pic.twitter.com/gCMLdbwDlC— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 1, 2025 "It's not the image I want to portray, neither to my family, who are suffering because of my mistakes, nor to my club, which doesn't deserve to be affected by something like this. I feel bad about what happened and didn't want to miss the opportunity to acknowledge it and apologize to everyone who felt bad about what I did." Inter Miami issued a statement Thursday as well, without naming any players. The club said it is working with both MLS and Leagues Cup officials "to ensure the situation is addressed appropriately" and thanked fans for their continued support. "Inter Miami condemns the altercations that took place following the conclusion of the Leagues Cup Final," the club wrote. "These actions do not reflect the values of our sport, and we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of sportsmanship both on and off the pitch." Suárez's history is both highly colorful and highly successful. With Suárez, Uruguay ended 20 years of World Cup underachievement by reaching the semifinals in 2010. He helped deliver Uruguay's first Copa America title in 16 years in 2011. He was instrumental in Atletico Madrid's first Spanish title in seven years in 2021. He also is known for an infamous intentional handball in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals to take a semifinal spot from Ghana and served bans on three occasions for biting opponents — the most recent of those in 2014, after he chomped down on the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini following a tussle in the penalty area during a World Cup match. Suárez has been involved in 16 Inter Miami goals — scoring six and assisting on 10 others — during MLS play this season, second-most on the team behind only Messi. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has 19 goals and 10 assists in MLS matches this year. "We know there's still a long season ahead, and we're going to work together to achieve the success this club and all its fans deserve," Suárez wrote to conclude his statement Thursday. "A hug to everyone." [embedded content] Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

The head of the National Capital Planning Commission says crews can start demolishing parts of the White House for a new ballroom without needing approval. WASHINGTON — Demolition to build President Donald Trump’s new ballroom off the East Wing of the White House can begin without approval of the commission tasked with vetting construction of federal buildings, the Trump-appointed head of the panel said Thursday. Will Scharf, who is also the White House staff secretary, said during a public meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission that the board does not have jurisdiction over demolition or site preparation work for buildings on federal property. “What we deal with is essentially construction, vertical build,” Scharf said. He called Trump’s promised ballroom “one of the most exciting construction projects in the modern history of” Washington. He made the comments during the only public meeting of the commission scheduled before crews are expected to break ground on a $200 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom likely to greatly alter the look and size of both the White House's East and West Wings. The planning commission is responsible for approving construction work and major renovations to government buildings in the Washington area. But Scharf made a distinction between demolition work and rebuilding, saying the commission was only required to vet the latter. “I think any assertion that this commission should have been consulted earlier than it has been, or it will be, is simply false,” he said. Scharf said the White House hadn't yet submitted building plans for the White House renovations but when that happens, “I’m excited for us to play a role in the ballroom project when the time is appropriate for us to do so.” Asked after the meeting if the eventual approval process might delay work on the ballroom, Scharf said, “Demolition and site preparation work can certainly occur, but if you’re talking about actually building anything, then, yeah, it should go through our approval process.” “Given the president’s history as a builder, and given the plans that we’ve seen publicly I think this will be a tremendous addition to the White House complex, a sorely needed addition,” Scharf said. L. Preston Bryant Jr., who was appointed to chair the National Capital Planning Commission in 2009 by President Barack Obama and served in that role for nine years, said proposed projects typically worked in four major stages of commission approval that began “with an early consultation, where a project is very much conceptual.” That hasn't been the case with Trump's promised ballroom. “The White House and its design team would be very, very wise to involve NCPC and its staff very much on the front end of the project – in the early design stages – as it’ll make for a better project and help ensure it meets all regulatory and legal compliances,” Bryant said. “I cannot stress enough the value to be had at the conceptual and early consultation stages.” Trump has been anxious to hustle toward work beginning on the ballroom, with an eye toward completing it prior to his leaving office in January 2029. A building mogul before he was a reality TV star and politician, has relished personally overseeing improvement projects at the White House and walked last month on the building’s roof with construction officials. The ballroom will be the latest change introduced to what’s known as “The People’s House” since Trump returned to office in January, and the first structural change to the Executive Mansion itself since the Truman Balcony was added in 1948. Trump already has substantially redecorated the Oval Office through the addition of golden flourishes and cherubs, presidential portraits and other items, and installed massive flagpoles on the north and south lawns to fly the American flag. The lawn in the Rose Garden was paved over with stone and patio tables reminiscent of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, complete with exterior speakers. Scharf also used the meeting to argue that the Federal Reserve had flouted planning board jurisdiction while undertaking major renovations to its building. Trump has for months called on Fed Chair Jerome Powell to resign, and has specifically decried the long-planned building project for going well over budget. The Fed has posted on its website that the designs for the original improvement plans to its building were previously approved by the planning commission, and that it “does not regard” subsequent changes made to the original plan as being major enough to warrant “further review.” But Scharf said he’d be sending a letter to the Fed “noting my severe concerns” and accusing the central bank of arguing it essentially had the right to do “whatever the heck it wants on its property. They could build an amusement park on their property and no one would have any qualms.” A Fed spokesperson declined to comment on Thursday. Scharf said after the meeting of Fed officials, “I'm hopeful that they'll see the light of day and come back in and re-present their construction project as they should have up front.” Slide 1 of 4 PreviousNext National Capital Planning Commission Chairman Will Scharf presides over a National Capital Planning Commission meeting, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) DateSep 4, 2025 2:01 PMHeadlineTrump BallroomSourceFR172078Restrictions Eds: UPDATES: Adds comment from former past commissioner. Adds additional Scharf quote, background. Use information Use of this content is for editorial purposes only. For inquiries regarding non-editorial uses,  Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

The proposed rule sought to require airlines to compensate stranded passengers with cash, lodging and meals for flight cancellations or changes caused by a carrier. WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said Thursday it is abandoning a Biden-era plan that sought to require airlines to compensate stranded passengers with cash, lodging and meals for flight cancellations or changes caused by a carrier. The proposed rule would have aligned U.S. policy more closely with European airline consumer protections. It was proposed last December in the final weeks of then-President Joe Biden's administration, leaving its fate in the hands of his Republican successor. In a document posted Thursday, President Donald Trump's Transportation Department said its plan to scrap the proposed rule is “consistent with Department and administration priorities.” Trump has sought to significantly roll back or modify federal regulations that his administration deems are wasteful or burdensome. Industry trade group Airlines for America, which represents carriers including United, Delta and Southwest Airlines, welcomed the move by the Trump administration. “We are encouraged by this Department of Transportation reviewing unnecessary and burdensome regulations that exceed its authority and don’t solve issues important to our customers," the group said Thursday in a statement. Airlines already offer some level of customer service when they cause flight cancellations or severe delays, but passengers usually have to ask for help at the airport, and airline promises don’t carry the weight of federal rules. But the proposed rule sought compensation starting at $200 when a flight is canceled or significantly delayed because of a mechanical problem with the plane or an airline computer outage. Compensation as high as $775 was proposed for delays of nine hours or more. Carriers fiercely opposed it. In a public comment submitted this summer, Spirit Airlines said the rule threatened to increase operating costs for airlines and drive up ticket prices for passengers. The budget carrier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week for the second time in a year. Spirit quickly followed that announcement with news that it planned to suspend operations next month in about a dozen cities. “There is no free lunch,” Spirit said. “If every time a flight has to be cancelled due to, say, an aircraft maintenance issue, airlines were required to pay each affected passenger $300 plus hotel and meals, there would be a perverse incentive to cancel flights preemptively at any hint of trouble.” Biden's Transportation Department was also considering free rebooking on the next available flight, including flights on rival airlines, as well as meals and lodging when passengers are stranded overnight.