If you've ever been hit with one, you know how an unexpected "resort fee" can take your breath away. At up to $30 a night, the dollars quickly add up when you spend a few nights in a hotel that charges a mandatory fee for amenities that might include the use of the property's gym or pool. The element of surprise that accompanies some of these mandatory fees has caught the attention of the Federal Trade Commission, which recently sent a letter to 22 hotel operators warning that their online rate quotes may be deceptive and in violation of FTC regulations.
SPORT-Golf-Belly-Putter-Ban-Bradley
The controversial method of putting whereby the club is "anchored" to a player's belly or another part of the body is to be banned from 2016, golf's law makers announced Wednesday. The move follows victories for Keegan Bradley in last year's U.S.PGA Championship, his fellow American Webb Simpson at this year's U.S. Open and the triumph by South African veteran Ernie Els at the 2012 British Open.
POLITICS
POL-Fiscal-Cliff
An angry warning by President Barack Obama delivered well over a year ago foreshadowed his campaign-style approach on Wednesday aimed at pressuring Republicans to compromise and reach a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff.
POL-House-Republicans-Fiscal-Cliff
As President Obama kicks off a series of events and meetings this week to pressure Congressional Republicans to reach a deal to avert the fiscal cliff, top House GOP leaders are planning their own public campaign to frame Democrats as the ones who are unwilling to budge.
POL-Cole-Fiscal-Cliff
Republican Rep. Tom Cole, who drew sharp disagreement from House Speaker John Boehner when he broke from party lines in the fiscal cliff negotiations, further stood by his position Wednesday night but added he would support the GOP no matter what decision was reached.
MONEY-blankfein-ceos-fiscal-cliff
Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein said Wednesday that a compromise in Washington was essential to avoid the fiscal cliff.
POL-Huntsman-GOP-Fiscal-Cliff
Former GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman has some tough words for his party as they approach negotiations with the White House to avert the "fiscal cliff." "In my party, compromise cannot be seen as analogous to treason, which it has been recently," Huntsman said in a recent interview with The Huffington Post published Wednesday.
POL-Obama-Romney-Meeting
President Barack Obama and his former rival Mitt Romney will meet Thursday for their first get-together since the November 6 election, according to a statement from White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.
POL-Michael-Grimm-Investigation
Democrats pounced Wednesday on news from earlier this week about a Department of Justice investigation involving Republican Rep. Michael Grimm of Staten Island and possible campaign finance violations.
POL-North-Carolina-Race
In the final race deemed too close to call, Republican David Rouzer conceded Wednesday after a recount in the race for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District showed incumbent Rep. Mike McIntyre won by a razor-thin margin.
MONEY
MONEY-powerball-550-million
Wednesday's Powerball drawing could be one for the history books, with the jackpot rising to a record $550 million.
MONEY-stocks-markets
U.S. stocks ended on a high note Wednesday as investors welcomed comments from President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner on the fiscal cliff negotiations.
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