David Schaper

An "operational emergency" is grounding more than 40 planes at Southwest Airlines because of mechanical problems and creating havoc with travelers.

A gunman who entered the Henry Pratt Company in Aurora, Ill., on Friday afternoon, armed with a handgun, killed five civilians, officials said. Five police officers were also wounded.

It's a plane so big it can carry the population of a tiny town. But more efficient jets and airports have changed the market, so Airbus will no longer make the massive A380 jetliner.

Congress is moving to keep air traffic controllers and other FAA employees from feeling the effects of another government shutdown. Could that ease the pressure on leaders to avoid future shutdowns?

There's cold and then, there's -60 wind chills coming from a brutal storm front creating havoc in much of the Midwest. Yes, it's winter, but this is upwards of 40 degrees colder than normal.

Wind chill warnings stretch from the Dakotas into Western Pennsylvania. Airlines have canceled thousands of flights, and the governors of Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois have declared emergencies.

Flight delays were reported at some major East Coast air hubs, because of absent workers at air traffic control facilities, as the government shutdown entered its 35th day.

On Wednesday, unions representing airline pilots, air-traffic controllers and flight attendants said there would be serious safety concerns if the partial government shutdown continues.

From inspecting planes to controlling air traffic, the federal government touches every aspect of air travel. Now a lot of that work isn't getting done because of the government shutdown.

As the shutdown continues, the number of TSA agents calling in sick continues to rise, meaning longer security lines. But some delayed travelers are mixing their frustration with gratitude.

Federal regulations haven't kept up with technology, say drone operators and enthusiasts. Now the Department of Transportation is proposing to allow drones to fly over cities and at night.

Jacinda, whose husband is a TSA officer, says her biggest concern is losing her home. "I feel this sneaking anxiety that it all can be gone," she says.

As the government shutdown continues, there are reports of longer lines at security checkpoints at some airports around the country. TSA acknowledges more employees are calling in sick.

Many online retailers are extending holiday free shipping, but how free is it? It still costs retailers to deliver the goods, there's greater traffic congestion, thefts and a toll on infrastructure.

The explosion in online holiday shopping means billions of packages need to be delivered — and companies like UPS, FedEx and Amazon are under more pressure than ever.

A federal report suggests America's interstates are worn, overused and highly congested. It also recommends billions of dollars in fixes.

Businesses like Amazon and McDonald's are building offices near bus and train lines to attract and keep top talent in a tight labor market.

Indonesian investigators say it appears the pilots of a Lion Air jet that crashed last month struggled with an automated system to control the plane almost from the moment it took off.

A preliminary investigation into the Lion Air crash in October finds the pilots struggled against a new anti-stall flight control system, which forced the plane's nose down 26 times before it crashed.

A report shows that the overwhelming majority of jobs created in the Chicago area are located near transit stations. The same thing is happening in other metropolitan regions — as well as the suburbs.