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E L L I O T T' S TRAVEL NOTES
Travel news, opinion and analysis

July 8, 2004

Car Rental President is Indicted
An Owings Mills, Md., businessman has been indicted on a charge of first-degree assault in an incident last month, court records show. Kenneth Lester Blum Jr., president of the Rent-A-Wreck car rental company, is also charged in the indictment, issued Tuesday by a Baltimore County grand jury, with the use of a handgun in the commission of a felony and the use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, according to documents filed in Baltimore County Circuit Court. Blum, 40, is charged with pulling a gun on process server Ryan Smith when Smith went to Blum's home June 8 to serve papers, court records show. Efforts to reach Blum yesterday were unsuccessful. His attorney, Gerard Martin of Baltimore, said Blum plans to plead not guilty. Baltimore Sun | Posted 6:30 a.m.
-- WBAL: Blum had ordered Smith off his property
-- WJZ: Rent-a-Wreck has 400 locations internationally

• This is one of the odder stories of the summer. I mean, how often do you get a pistol-waving president of a major car rental company indicted on a charge of first-degree assault? How many car-rental company presidents own guns, for that matter? Send us your comments.

Terror Troubles Summer Travelers
Living with fear, to use a post-Sept. 11 cliché, is the "new normal." Even so, an improving economy is fueling an increase in the number of Americans traveling this summer, and they're hitting the road at a tense time. U.S. officials say al-Qaeda may be ready to launch another major attack; the summer months provide enticing targets, including national political conventions in Boston and New York City. As a result, more Americans than ever are likely to feel the effects of the terrorist threat and stepped-up security in ways big and small. USA Today | Posted 6:45 a.m.

Ky. Governor's Plane Nearly Downed
The top general at the North American Aerospace Defense Command was on the telephone and prepared to order an F-16 fighter to shoot down an unidentified plane that turned out to be carrying the governor of Kentucky to former president Ronald Reagan's funeral last month, according to two federal security officials briefed separately about the incident. The tense incident June 9 ended after the twin-engine Beechcraft King Air carrying Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) turned to land at Reagan National Airport. But the close call caused officials to reassess safeguards for the airspace around Washington and prompted calls to expand the no-fly zone beyond its current 16-mile radius. Washington Post | Posted 7 a.m.

One-Third of US Travel Seen Booked Online - Online travel research firm PhoCusWright has forecast that more than one-third of US travel would be booked on the Web by 2006, up from 20 percent in 2003. Trips booked on the Web by leisure trailers and business people making their own arrangements will rise 34 percent to $52.8 billion in 2004 from $39.4 billion in 2003, it projected on Wednesday. (Reuters)

Travel Agent Sentenced in Theft - A judge has convicted a travel agency manager of felony theft for stealing more than $23,000 from clients. Washington County Circuit Judge Donald E. Beachley did not set a sentencing date for Rebecca Calimer Price after finding her guilty Tuesday of five felony theft counts, each punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $1,000 fine. (AP)

New Groople Site Allows Multiple Bookings - Groople, Denver, announced yesterday the public launch of www.groople.com, a retail marketplace designed for group travel. The site targets myriad groups -- military, educational, religious, fraternal, bridal and other social organizations -- allowing them to book travel and accommodations for more than five rooms in a single online session. (DM News)

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• Off the Record... here's the story behind the story on how this blog got the news about the VP announcement. (Yes, I'm a regular lurker on USAviation.com). Also, what do you think of the newly expanded blog? I'm always interested in hearing your comments. Posted 7:10 a.m. | Send us your comments.

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