Dogs get their own airport bathrooms

Dogs get their own airport bathrooms

NEW YORK

Dogs and other animals now have a bathroom of their own at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The tiny room outfitted with a red fire hydrant and a patch of artificial turf is the latest “pet relief facility” to be installed at airports across the country.

It allows service and guide dogs, emotional support animals and pets traveling with their owners to relieve themselves without the need to exit the terminal and go through security again.

The Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna has a designated pet relief area along Terminal Boulevard, according to Dan Dickten, director of aviation.

A federal regulation says all airports serving more than 10,000 passengers per year must install a pet relief area in every terminal by this August.

Graceland receives 20 millionth visitor

MEMPHIS, Tenn.

The operators of Graceland say the Memphis tourist attraction centered on the life and music of Elvis Presley has received its 20 millionth paid visitor.

Elvis Presley Enterprises says CEO Jack Soden greeted the 20 millionth visitor, 31-year-old Tiffany Greenoak, at Graceland last week. Greenoak, who’s originally from Montreal, Canada, and now lives in London, was on her honeymoon with her husband, 40-year-old Robert Greenoak.

The couple received a private tour of Presley’s former home, which is now a museum. They also spoke by phone with Priscilla Presley, the late singer’s former wife.

Elvis Presley lived at Graceland for 20 years before he died on Aug. 16, 1977. Tours of Graceland began on June 7, 1982.

Impact of park

GATLINBURG, Tenn.

The National Park Service says Great Smoky Mountains National Park provided nearly $874 million in economic benefit to communities near the park last year and supported more than 13,000 jobs in the area.

A report from the National Park Service said more than 10.7 million visitors traveled to the park and spent time in local communities for lodging, meals and entertainment.

Nationwide, the report said there was $16.9 billion of spending by 307.2 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. The spending supported 295,000 jobs nationally, with a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $32 billion.

Geography quiz

Q. In which country is the seaport of Cherbourg-Octeville?

A. France. Capturing the port was a key part of the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II.

Ninja Turtles official NYC ambassadors

NEW YORK

Cowabunga, dudes! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are New York City’s official family ambassadors for 2016.

The city’s tourism agency, NYC & Company, has announced that the sewer-dwelling reptiles will star in ads to encourage families to explore New York.

Agency CEO Fred Dixon says the turtles are “the perfect guides to help families discover the vibrancy and excitement throughout the five boroughs.”

The crime-fighting ninja turtles — Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael — started out in comic books in the 1980s before branching out to TV and film. The latest movie came out in 2014 and a sequel is set for release in June.

They succeed Dora the Explorer, who served as last year’s ambassador.

Combined dispatches