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Newark Airport runway to reopen Monday, nearly 2 weeks ahead of schedule: Gov. Phil Murphy
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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and the Port Authority on Friday announced a closed runway at Newark Liberty International Airport will reopen 13 days ahead of schedule, allowing regular runway operations to resume Monday.
The planned rehabilitation work was required for Runway 4L-22R to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety standards for runways.
Since FAA staffing and operational challenges limited air traffic controllers’ ability to effectively use the remaining two operational runways during the closure, the Port Authority accelerated the construction schedule by bringing in additional crews, expanding shifts and enabling construction 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“I commend the crews who have worked tirelessly to get this critical project done ahead of schedule,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “I’m grateful for New Jersey’s partnership with the Port Authority and the FAA as we work to return to full capacity at Newark Airport. New Jersey will do all we can to support plans from the [U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)] to invest in modernizing our air traffic control system and fully staffing our air traffic controllers.”
Newark Airport has faced lengthy delays after a runway was closed due to repairs and a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers weighed on its operations. (Getty)
NEWARK AIRPORT DISRUPTIONS LEAVE AIRLINE FLYERS SCRAMBLING AS EXPERTS SHARE TIPS FOR NOT BEING ‘STRANDED’
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said as airports approach the busy summer travel season, the additional runway is a “key milestone” that puts the Department of Transportation on a path to further reducing congestion, enhancing safety and ensuring a seamless travel experience.
“With the runway completed, we’ll continue our work to harden the telecoms infrastructure and improving the staffing pipeline for the airspace,” Duffy wrote in a statement.
In an interview with Fox News’ Steve Doocy Friday, Duffy gave a rundown of what he thinks are the major issues causing nationwide delays and cancellations.
“So, listen, what’s happening is we have weather. It happens at this time of year, No. 1. No. 2, we have a limited amount of controllers with 3,000 short nationally. And then, specifically in Newark, we have our runway that’s been shut down.”
LAWMAKERS REACT TO NEWARK AIRPORT CHAOS: ‘YOUR FAMILY DESERVES TO KNOW YOU’LL BE SAFE’
Runway 4L-22R, which is 11,000 feet long, was last renovated in 2014 and was showing significant signs of wear. Runways are typically repaved every 10 years.
The $121 million construction project began in early March and required runway closures on weeknights and weekends, followed by a full 24/7 closure that started April 15, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
Though the full runway closure was the most disruptive stage of the project, closures will continue on weeknights through December, and on weekends, September through December, to fully complete the rehabilitation project by the end of this year, according to the release.
Two remaining runways, 4R-22L and 11-29, remain available for use throughout the closure periods, pending weather disruptions.
A United plane is parked at the gate at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., May 7, 2025. (Kena Betancur/AFP)
Duffy noted that while it can be frustrating for air travelers to have their flights delayed or canceled, the DOT’s top priority remains ensuring passenger safety.
“Whether it’s weather, we might have some shortages of air traffic controllers. You know that we had telecom issues in Philadelphia, or in Newark, out of the Philly TRACON. So those factors all come into play. And the key is your safety,” Duffy said.
“A lot of the questions that come though — is it safe to fly? And of course it is. We have so many redundancies in place, but we have to fix the system.”
The transportation secretary then dove into the details of how he predicts departures out of Newark Airport will improve after the runway and other improvements are complete.
“So 28 departures an hour. It used to be 50-54,” he claimed. “So when the runway opens, we’ll get to 34.”
Duffy revealed he has offered retirement-age air traffic controllers special incentives to keep experienced workers on the job and improve efficiency. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.; Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Another issue plaguing Newark Airport, according to Duffy, is the fact that new air traffic controllers from other airspaces can’t simply be brought in to alleviate the shortage. They must first be trained in Newark’s airspace.
Duffy said there are 16 air traffic controllers in training at Newark, and that it typically takes six months to a year to become certified in a new airspace.
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“Again, I can’t just snap my fingers and fix the problems that Pete Buttigieg and Joe Biden left for me,” he said.
After being asked by Doocy about another issue facing the air traffic controller industry – the large numbers of controllers retiring – Duffy laid out his plan for incentivizing retirement-age controllers to stay on the job.
“Air traffic controllers can retire after 25 years of service. I’ve offered them a 20% upfront bonus to stay on after their eligible date of retirement,” he said. “This is a government job where you are paid very well. So, to give them that bonus, I think it matters.”
Duffy said his goal is to keep experienced controllers while also expanding the pipeline to get more young people into the FAA Academy and working in the industry.
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Rainbow flags are flying in the South End as the neighborhood prepares to celebrate Boston’s LGBTQ community at Saturday’s Pride for the People Parade.
Three hundred different organizations with about 12,000 people are expected to participate in what will be the city’s nearly 60th Pride parade.
”There are still things that we are fighting for today, and so we want to remember those that fought before us,” said Adrianna Boulin, of Boston Pride for the People.
The Pride for the People Parade and Festival is happening Saturday in Boston, among other events across New England.
This year’s theme is Pride as Protest – 1776, and organizers say Pride will always be a protest.
“The fact that we are here, the fact that in the midst of what is really an attack LGBTQ people’s rights by legislatures across the country, by our own federal government — we’re here to protest and say we’re not going anywhere,” said Gary Daffin of Boston Pride for the People.
The parade is nearly 2 miles. It starts in Copley Square and works its way through a number of streets in the South End and the Back Bay before ending on Charles Street between the Public Garden and the Common.
Not going to the parade? Watch NBC10 Boston’s coverage wherever you get your news, starting at 11 a.m. Saturday.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates are producing at the plate and its something they’ve done throughout this season.
The Pirates continued that in their most recent series vs. the Houston Astros at Daikin Park, scoring 24 total runs and winning two of three games in their first series of the month.
Pittsburgh won 10-6 in the series opener on June 2, fell 11-9 on June 3 and then won 5-1 in the series finale on June 4.
The Pirates put up good enough performances to win all three games from the plate and it’s the main reason they’ve had so much success this season.
Pirates Offense Takes Liftoff in Houston
The Pirates swept the Minnesota Twins at PNC Park, May 29-31, prior to this series and scored 25 total runs, marking 49 over the past six games, good for more than eight runs per contest.
Pittsburgh has shown their power this season and they hit six home runs vs. the Astros to keep it going.
Catcher Endy Rodríguez hit a two-run home run to tie the game up 2-2 in the second inning of the series opener, center fielder Oneil Cruz hit a three-run home run to give the Pirates a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning and then second baseman Brandon Lowe sealed the win with a three-run home run in the eighth inning to make it 9-4.
Fellow catcher Henry Davis hit the first grand slam of his career in the second game of the series to give the Pirates a 4-2 lead int he fourth inning and second baseman Nick Gonzales hit a two-run home run, his second of the season, extending the Pirates’ lead to 7-3 in the seventh inning.
Right fielder Ryan O’Hearn hit the sole home run in the series finale, a two-run home run to make it 4-0 in the sixth inning, and finished with three RBI in the victory.
Cruz had a great series in Houston, with six hits and four walks, while Gonzales also tied him with six hits and three RBI.
Outfielder Jake Mangum had four hits and two stolen bases in the series opener and played some solid defense in the series finale too.
Pirates Hitters vs. Astros
|
Player |
Hits/At-Bats |
Walks |
RBI |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Oneil Cruz |
6-for-14 |
4 |
3 |
|
Nick Gonzales |
6-for-13 |
1 |
3 |
|
Jake Mangum |
5-for-9 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ryan O’Hearn |
3-for-10 |
1 |
3 |
|
Brandon Lowe |
3-for-14 |
1 |
3 |
|
Bryan Reynolds |
2-for-12 |
2 |
1 |
|
Endy Rodríguez |
2-for-9 |
1 |
3 |
|
Jared Triolo |
1-for-9 |
4 |
1 |
The Pirates haven’t had to rely on just one person this season, as they’ve gotten contributions from almost everyone in the lineup on a consistent basis.
Pittsburgh saw that happen against Houston, with different players stepping up in different games to come through and provide runs and hits.
How Pirates Offense Stacks Up to Rest of MLB
The Pirates rank statistially amongst the best teams in baseball and are in the top five/top 10 teams in most categories.
Pirates 2026 Stats and NL/MLB ranking
|
Stat (Total) |
NL/MLB Ranking |
|---|---|
|
Hits (560) |
1st/1st |
|
OBP (.339) |
2nd/2nd |
|
Stolen Bases (62)/Batting Average (.256) |
3rd/3rd |
|
OPS (.744) |
3rd/4th) |
|
Walks (251)/Slugging % (.405) |
(3rd/5th) |
|
RBI (310)/Runs (325) |
4th/4th |
|
Home Runs (74) |
6th/10th |
It’s a dramatic change from last season, where they were arguably the worst hitting team in baseball, ranking dead-last or close to the bottom of most of these same statistical categories.
The offseason additions of O’Hearn and Lowe have been massive for the Pirates, both of whom have brought veteran leadership, but also great production at the plate.
O’Hearn has slashed .295/.371/.486 for an OPS of .857 in 48 games, with 51 hits, six doubles, nine home runs, 33 RBI and 20 walks to 39 strikeouts.
Lowe leads the Pirates and ranks 4th in the National League/11th in baseball with 15 home runs, eighth in the NL/16th in MLB with 40 RBI, seventh in NL/13th in MLB with a .532 slugging percentage and 10th in NL/20th in MLB with a .873 OPS.
Cruz is having a big rebound season and is slashing .269/.349/.482 for an OPS of .831 in 61 games, with 45 runs scored, 66 hits, 10 doubles, 14 home runs, 44 RBI and 20 stolen bases.
He is second in baseball with stolen bases, ranks tied for third in NL/tied for sixth in MLB in runs scored, tied for fifth in NL/tied for sixth in MLB in RBI, tied for 8th in NL/tied for 14th in MLB in hits, tied for seventh in NL/tied for 16th in MLB in home runs, while ranking 21st in baseball in slugging percentage and 25th in OPS.
Bryan Reynolds has also been excellent with his plate discipline, tied for the sixth-most walks in baseball (44) and has the ninth-best on-base percentage (.397), while Spencer Horwitz isn’t too far behind with the a .386 on-base percentage, 17th-best in baseball.
Gonzales has been one of the best hitters in baseball, with his .313 batting average eighth-best in MLB.
Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin had a solid May and if the likes of Mangum, Rodríguez, Davis, fellow rookie Jhostynxon Garcia can join in more consistently, this Pirates lineup will continue playing a big role in a lot of wins the rest of the season.
Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!
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