Thursday, May 7, 2026

The ghosts of Spirit Airlines

Spirit's shut down leaves gap for budget-conscious travelers. Other carriers are maneuvering to fill the void. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Short List

Tue May 5 2026

 

Phaedra Trethan National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Hi there! I'm Phaedra Trethan, extending congratulations to this year's Pulitzer Prize winners. Journalism matters, and their work proves it. 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼

In Tuesday's news:

Travelers and competitors are grappling with the fallout over the demise of Spirit Airlines. ✈️
An all-women's college is drawing scrutiny from the Trump administration over its admission of transgender students. 🎓
Law enforcement officers are searching for a Tennessee military veteran accused of killing his wife.

But first: I'm sorry, but as a Filipina who grew up in an Italian neighborhood, I think "dumpling" and "lasagna" do not belong in the same recipe. 👎🏼

Ghosts of Spirit Airlines 🪦 ✈️

When low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines ceased operations over the weekend, it created an opening for its former competitors to grow. Now JetBlue and other airlines are trying to lure budget-conscious (and who isn't budget-conscious in this economy?) travelers in markets where Spirit had a strong presence. What experts say will happen next – and how long it might take for air travel to return to some sense of normalcy.

A voice actor launched a public campaign to buy Spirit Airlines. Could it work? 🤨
Why travelers who used to hate on Spirit Airlines will miss it. 😢
What to do if you were planning to fly Spirit. 🧳

Spirit Aviation Bankruptcy

A departure board displays canceled flights, informing passengers of Spirit Airlines' shutdown at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, on May 2, 2026.

David Dee Delgado, REUTERS

Smith under scrutiny 🎓

An all-women's college in Massachusetts is the latest higher-ed target of the Trump administration. The Department of Education said Monday it opened an investigation into Smith College, which considers for admission "any applicants who self-identify as women; cis, trans, and nonbinary women," according to the private liberal arts school's website.

The DOE said its Office for Civil Rights Investigation will focus on whether Smith's policy, in place since 2015, violates Title IX by "admitting biological men and granting them access to women-only spaces, including dormitories, bathrooms, locker rooms, and athletic teams."

The Trump administration's National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving on the National Mall later this month is meant to celebrate religion in the U.S. – but critics say one faith is overwhelmingly favored above others.

Search for accused special forces vet

Tennessee authorities are combing through the wilderness trying to find Craig Berry , a military special forces veteran with "extensive training in survival tactics" accused of shooting his wife. Berry allegedly shot his wife after what the sheriff called a "domestic altercation" early on May 1, then fled into the woods. He's believed to be armed and dangerous, authorities said, and is facing second degree attempted murder charges.

Real quick

The ceasefire with Iran continues to hold, even as the U.S. ramps up efforts to get ships through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.
The Supreme Court will allow its recent ruling limiting a key part of the Voting Rights Act to take effect early, boosting GOP hopes for a new congressional map in Louisiana before the November election. ⚖️
Two hikers were injured after a bear encounter in Yellowstone National Park Monday.
The Trump administration is pushing to remove bison from public lands in Montana, a boost to ranchers but a blow to Native American tribes and conservationists. 🦬

The best looks from the Met Gala 🤩

The biggest names in fashion, music, media and entertainment added bold looks to their boldface names at last night's Met Gala, showing off their (or their stylists') interpretations of the theme, "Costume Art." We have all the wildest, weirdest and most wonderful looks from the A-listers, including the Carters (Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Blue Ivy), Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman, Sabrina Carpenter, Madonna and more.

The hottest celebrity couples at the Met Gala
Athletes show their fashionable sides ⛹🏻‍♀️
What did I just see?! How nude tones took over the Met Gala 🫨
Bad Bunny, the ageless entertainer 🐰
The whole red carpet recap.
Not everyone loves the Met Gala. 👎🏼

20260504_VPC_TOP MET GALA MOMENTS_THUMB_GETTY.00_00_00_00.Still003.jpg

Madonna arrives for the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, on May 4, 2026.

ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images

A break from the news

NASA released thousands more images from the Artemis II mission. Prepare to be dazzled. 🤩 🌌
The Tony Award nominations are out. Who's among Broadway's best? 🎭
Expecting? What new parents don't want to leave off their baby registry. 👶🏻

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. She'd love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and your favorite looks from the Met Gala. Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.

Defendant Tanner Horner reacts while listening to his mother testify on April 22, 2026, at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder in the November 2022 strangulation killing of 7-year-old Athena Strand.

At the start of his murder trial, Tanner Lynn Horner pleaded guilty to kidnapping and killing 7-year-old Athena Strand in November 2022.

Police lights activated on an Evansville Police Department vehicle.
 

Texas strip mall shooting leaves 2 dead, 3 hospitalized, police say

A shooting at a strip mall in Carrollton, Texas, left two people dead. Authorities identified a 69-year-old suspect.

Tax refunds are expected to be larger on average in the 2026 tax season, especially for those who can claim new deductions included in One Big Beautiful Bill.
 

Millions may be owed an IRS refund from COVID-19 era. How to claim it

Millions of Americans may be owed an IRS refund from the COVID-19 era due to a court ruling. The deadline to claim is July 10, 2026.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. at a press conference at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 16, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo
 

RFK Jr. has a message for people taking antidepressants

At a MAHA Institute event Monday, the Health and Human Services Secretary compared his heroin withdrawal to a family member's withdrawal from SSRIs.

Jul 8, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; A Houston Police Officer badge is seen.
 

4 people, including 2 children, found dead in suspected Houston murder-suicide

Four family members, including two young children, were found dead in a River Oaks home in a suspected murder-suicide, Houston police said.

A gas station across from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway shows gas prices on April 30, 2026. As of May 1, the national average price for regular gas is $4.39, according to AAA.
 

These 10 states have the cheapest gas. Is yours on the list?

Only nine states have gas prices that are that are at or below $4 per gallon Tuesday, May 5, as the national average pump price nears $5 per gallon.

Jane Lynch
 

Jane Lynch's dad suffered from hearing loss. Then it came for her.

Jane Lynch first noticed her hearing start to go in her early 50s. She knew she had to do something.

Louisiana protests
 

Louisianans protest SCOTUS ruling

Demonstrators rallied against a Supreme Court ruling that gives state Republicans a chance to redraw congressional maps before the November midterms.

Tucker Carlson hosts his Tucker Carlson Live Tour finale at Desert Diamond Arena on Oct. 31, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz.
 

Tucker Carlson says Ted Cruz is more morally repulsive than Nick Fuentes

Tucker Carlson says U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is more 'morally repulsive' than a white nationalist and Holocaust denier. Here's what he said.

US singer-actor Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, performs during Austin City Limits Festival at Zilker Park on October 7, 2022 in Austin, Texas.
 

What to know about 2026 Austin City Limits Music Festival lineup, tickets

Austin City Limits Music Festival 2026 lineup is out, featuring Charli XCX, Lorde, and Twenty One Pilots. What to know and how to get tickets.

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Unwind with crosswords and challenges that recharge you. 

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