A ‘Right Stuff’ for Our Moment of Space Travel

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By Elliot Ackerman

Stacey Abrams Contains Multitudes

Her obsessions with public policy and pop culture came together in the new Supreme Court thriller “While Justice Sleeps,” the first time she has used her own name on one of her novels.

By Sarah Lyall

Boeing beefs up business to convert old 737 passenger planes into cargo jets

• Boeing is partnering with a Costa Rican company to add to freighter-conversion capacity.
• Old 737 passenger planes converted into freighters have won orders with companies including Amazon.
• Cargo demand has been a relative bright spot in the pandemic while passenger travel remains below 2019 levels.

Boeing is adding capacity to convert old 737 passenger planes into cargo haulers, a bet on continued growth in e-commerce.

The Chicago-based company said Wednesday it will add two production lines to convert Boeing 737-800s into freighters that will be operated by Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales, which is located in a free-trade zone near Costa Rica's capital, allowing for the duty-free importation of parts.

Converted 737 freighters have become more popular and won orders from Amazon as the e-commerce giant adds to the fleets of airlines that fly for its Amazon Air arm.

Boeing already converts 737-800s into freighters in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Jinan, China.

Air cargo has been a bright spot for airlines during the pandemic as passenger demand dropped sharply, while lower capacity has driven up freight costs. Air cargo volumes hit a record in March, the International Air Transport Association said Tuesday.

Management Firm Grandview Promotes Delaney Morris To Manager

EXCLUSIVE: LA-based management firm Grandview has promoted Delaney Morris to manager.

Morris joined Grandview in 2018 as an assistant, and prior to that was an assistant at Verve. Her roster of clients includes Zenzele Price (Apple’s WeCrashed), Krystle Drew (Apple’s Home Before Dark), MK Malone (Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why), Ariana Quiñónez (CW’s Roswell, New Mexico) and Sophie Miller (Love The One You’re With at QCode).

Morris said: “I’m incredibly excited and proud to have the opportunity to keep building a talented and varied roster of voices with something special to say. Grandview has fostered my growth from day one and I’m eager to continue working alongside so many passionate colleagues and creators.”

The Grandview Partners commented: “Delaney has been such a valued member of Grandview since the day she joined us, and we have watched her grow from strength to strength. We look forward to continuing to grow together, and to continue championing artists who are telling the most incredible stories.”

Grandview’s recent hires include CFO/COO Cecilia Owens and manager Tracy Kopulsky, while additional promotions include Faisal Kanaan, Erick Mendoza and Adam Klein.

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Hertz endorses improved Knighthead bid in effort to exit bankruptcy

• The board's endorsement of the Knighthead-Certares bid represents a change of course for the company, which previously had chosen a plan supported by Centerbridge Partners, Warburg Pincus and Dundon Capital. 
• The new bid values Hertz at more than $6 billion.

Car rental company Hertz Global Holdings on Tuesday backed an improved bid from Knighthead Capital Management and Certares Management to support its exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, people familiar with the discussions told "Halftime Report" host Scott Wapner.

The board's endorsement of the Knighthead-Certares bid represents a change of course for the company, which previously had chosen a plan supported by Centerbridge Partners, Warburg Pincus and Dundon Capital. 

The new bid values Hertz at more than $6 billion. The company's stock rallied about 20% at the start of trading Wednesday after The Wall Street Journal previously reported Hertz's decision to endorse the sweetened bid. It was last seen at around $3.80 per share.

Oaktree Capital, co-founded by Howard Marks, would backstop a portion of the new equity financing. Glenview Capital, run by Larry Robbins, is one of the company's largest stakeholders with about 4.5 million shares.

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— CNBC's Scott Wapner contributed reporting.

Broadway to reopen at full capacity in New York City on Sept. 14

• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Broadway theaters would reopen on Sept. 14.
• Theaters will be able to operate at full capacity.
• Tickets are expected to go on sale starting Thursday.

The Great White Way finally has an official reopening date — Sept. 14.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that Broadway theaters would reopen just after Labor Day at full capacity. Tickets are expected to go on sale starting Thursday.

The governor did not specify which shows will be operating on this timeline. Individual productions may require more time to hire or rehire actors, crew and other in-house employees as well as conduct rehearsals.

The timeline also depends on the state government's approval of each theaters' health and safety protocols.

The announcement of Broadway's September reopening comes as Mayor Bill de Blasio seeks to have New York City full reopened starting July 1.

The delayed Broadway reopening is partially due to the time theaters' need to restart production and the fact that tourists account for 65% of annual live theater ticket sales in the city. Still, pent-up demand from locals could fuel sales of tickets in the interim.

Broadway has been shuttered for more than a year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, crippling the local economy. In a traditional year, the theater industry in New York funds nearly 100,000 jobs and pumps nearly $15 billion into the local economy.