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‘Fire incidents’ cited by Southwest in new policy applying to wheelchair travelers

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‘Fire incidents’ cited by Southwest in new policy applying to wheelchair travelers


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Southwest Airlines will be making a change to its boarding process that impacts travelers with wheelchairs and scooters. 

In a recent message sent to employees, Dave Hunt, vice president of safety and security at the airline, said there will be a new safety requirement regarding lithium-powered mobility devices.

“Beginning Sept. 25, customers will be required to take out removable lithium batteries from their mobility device(s) before boarding and carry them into the cabin,” according to the memo.

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“These batteries will not count as a customer’s carry-on or personal item.”

A new size requirement will be put in place by Jan. 11, 2026, restricting lithium batteries to 300 watt-hours or fewer.

Southwest Airlines is changing the boarding process for mobility device users due to fire risks associated with lithium batteries.  (iStock)

“Lithium batteries have become one of the most common sources of smoke and fire incidents on aircraft,” the memo states. 

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“While these events are rare, quick access and visibility are critical to keeping everyone onboard safe.”

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The Texas-based airline said it will be among the first U.S. carriers to adopt these standards. 

A spokesperson for the airline told Fox News Digital it has begun notifying the affected customers with travel planned for Sept. 25 and onward. 

The new policy by Southwest requires that passengers with wheelchairs or scooters must remove lithium batteries before boarding, starting Sept. 25. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

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“While this change applies to less than 0.1% of our customers, we remain committed to supporting each individual who may be affected,” the guidance also said. 

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Earlier this year, Southwest updated its policy requiring portable chargers to remain visible while in use during a flight. 

A new size requirement will be put in place by Jan. 11, 2026, restricting lithium batteries to 300 watt-hours or fewer. (iStock)

Passengers may bring up to 20 spare batteries on the flight with them, according to Southwest’s website. 

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In July, a lithium battery exploded in a passenger’s bag on a Delta flight from Atlanta. 

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The flight, which was headed to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was diverted, with flight attendants extinguishing the device and declaring an emergency, as Fox 5 and other outlets reported. 



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Augusta, GA

Augusta’s Turpin neighborhood to get affordable homes with $1.85M federal grant

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Augusta’s Turpin neighborhood to get affordable homes with .85M federal grant


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The historic Turpin neighborhood will soon welcome more affordable homes after Augusta Habitat for Humanity was awarded $1.85 million in federal funding this week.

The grant will fund the construction of at least 12 homes in the area.

“Habitat for Humanity applied for federal funding, and they were awarded the funding,” said District 2 Commissioner Stacy Pulliam.

Reviving a historic community

The Turpin neighborhood was once home to professionals, including educators, doctors, and lawyers.

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“These big professionals that lived mostly over this way,” one resident said of the neighborhood’s history.

Pulliam described the area’s former prominence as “its grand days of glory, when it was the place.”

The project brings together city organizers and community partners through the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing, or GICH.

“We have so many partners. We have the Housing Authority on board. We have a representative from the Hub on board,” Pulliam said. “There’s so many great partners at the table that’s helping pull all of this together.”

Federal support and future plans

The project received backing from Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

Habitat for Humanity, with support from GICH, focused its application on Turpin Hill intentionally, as officials say the community had been needing to be addressed for years.

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With Habitat for Humanity continuing to advocate for more funds, Pulliam said their motivation could lead to additional housing development in the future.

“We keep going and going and going,” she said. “Now we can do 20. Now we can do multifamily. So it’s fueling our fire to get more housing, but not just housing, to clean up the area.”



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Washington, D.C

‘Strong smell’ shuts down flights at major DC-area airports for the second time this month

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‘Strong smell’ shuts down flights at major DC-area airports for the second time this month


A reported “strong smell” at a key air traffic control center disrupted flights Friday evening at major airports across the Washington, D.C., region for the second time in two weeks.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO) and Richmond International Airport (RIC), the agency told FOX Business in an email.

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The FAA said the disruptions were due to a “strong smell” at the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) center, which manages airspace in the region.

GROUND STOP LIFTED AT MAJOR DC-AREA AIRPORTS AFTER CHEMICAL ODOR DISRUPTS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

An FAA air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. (Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

It was not immediately clear what caused the smell.

Ground stops at Dulles, Reagan National and BWI remained in effect until around 8 p.m. ET before being lifted, according to the FAA’s website.

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The FAA said the disruption was due to a “strong smell” at the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) center. (Flightradar24)

As of 8:30 p.m., Reagan National was experiencing ground delays, while BWI continued to see departure delays.

Earlier this month, a ground stop was similarly issued at several airports in the Washington, D.C., region after a chemical odor was detected at the TRACON center.

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Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy speaks at a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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The temporary ground stop March 13 similarly affected DCA, IAD, BWI and RIC, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at the time.

Duffy said the smell came from an overheated circuit board, which has since been replaced.



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Austin, TX

Austin Police Investigating Two Friday Morning Traffic Fatalities

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Austin Police Investigating Two Friday Morning Traffic Fatalities


The Austin Police Department is investigating two fatal Friday morning crashes that represent the city’s 17th and 18th traffic fatalities of the year.

APD put out details about the two deaths in separate press releases on Friday. The first bulletin reveals that at 3:03 a.m. on March 27, officers responded to a single motor vehicle collision in the 2600 block of W. Slaughter Ln.

According to the release, the collision involved a motorcycle leaving the roadway. The motorcycle rider, 27-year-old Evan Sedall, was pronounced dead on the scene.

The incident is being investigated as the city’s 17th fatal crash of the year. On this date in 2025, the city had seen 20 fatal crashes resulting in 24 deaths.

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According to the second press release, at 3:58 p.m., officers responded to a collision involving a motor vehicle and a pedestrian in the southbound lanes of the 13300 block of N. U.S. Highway 183.

An unidentified pedestrian was pronounced dead on the scene. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.

This incident is being investigated as Austin’s 18th fatal crash of the year, resulting in 18 fatalities

The statements in these press releases are from the initial assessments of the fatal crashes, and the investigations are still pending. Fatality information could change.

Anyone with information about either case should contact APD’s Vehicular Homicide Unit at 512-974-8111. Residents can also submit anonymous tips through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting its website or calling 512-472-8477.

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