By RIO YAMAT, Associated Press

Southwest Airlines will soon require travelers who can’t fit within the armrests of their seat to pay for an extra one in advance, part of a string of recent changes the carrier is making.

The new rule goes into effect Jan. 27, the same day Southwest starts assigning seats.

Currently, plus-size passengers can either pay for an extra seat in advance with the option of getting that money back later, or they can request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the carrier’s new policy, a refund is still possible but no longer guaranteed.

In a statement Monday, Southwest said it is updating some of its policies as it prepares for assigned seating next year.

“To ensure space, we are communicating to Customers who have previously used the extra seat policy that they should purchase it at booking,” the statement said.

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It marks the latest change at Southwest, which had long been known for letting its passengers pick their own seats after boarding the plane, and for letting their bags fly for free, which ended in May. Those perks were key to differentiating the budget carrier from its rivals.

Southwest says it will still refund a second ticket under its new policy for extra seating if there is at least one open seat on the flight when it departs, and if both of the passenger’s tickets were purchased in the same booking class. The passenger also needs to request the refund within 90 days of the flight.

If a passenger who needs an extra seat doesn’t purchase one ahead of time, they will be required to buy one at the airport, according to the new policy. If the flight is full, the passenger will be rebooked onto a new flight.

The airline has struggled recently and is under pressure from activist investors to boost profits and revenue. It also said last year that it would charge customers extra for more legroom and offer red-eye flights.

The Minnesota high school football season kicks off Thursday and Friday across the metro. Here’s a a selection of teams in the eastern metro, with more team-by-team previews to come throughout the week.

Chisago Lakes

2024 record: 4-6 (lost in Class 4A, Section 3 semifinals)

Returning starters: 1 on offense, 2 on defense

Impact returnees: Quarterback Kellen Meissner had six touchdowns through the air and six on the ground while battling injuries as a junior. Cole Stilp and Reese Nasvik are playmakers in the secondary.

Shoutout to a lineman: Junior lineman William Naatz. Chisago Lakes coach Ryan Anderson said Naatz “has a great motor, a great heart, and is an awesome team guy. He’s fun to watch in the trenches.”

Schedule: vs. Hill-Murray, at Cambridge-Isanti, vs. Simley, vs. St. Anthony, at North St. Paul, vs. Princeton, at South St. Paul, at Zimmerman

The skinny: There will be a lot of newness for the Wildcats this fall, both from the different opponents on the schedule to the fresh faces lining up after graduating a senior-laden team from a year ago. But Anderson said this group has come together as a team. Time will tell how many times Chisago Lakes gets to fire off its civil war replica cannon after home victories this fall.

Hill-Murray

2024 record: 9-2 (lost in Class 4A state quarterfinals)

Returning starters: Unknown

Impact returnees: Senior George Evert was an all-district edge rusher last fall. Sophomore Grady Buettner averaged seven yards a carry in 2024 and figures to get more rushing work this season.

Shoutout to a lineman: Sophomore Brady Reeves is an intriguing defensive end prospect.

Schedule: at Chisago Lakes, at Minneapolis Southwest, vs. Byron, at North St. Paul, vs. South St. Paul, vs. Providence Academy, at Simley, vs. St. Agnes

The skinny: Hill-Murray returns a bevy of defensive talent, particularly in the secondary with the likes of Caden Harrington, Ezo Lane, Air Force commit Levi Grigson and Jacob Dornan all back.

There’s enough skill for the Pioneers to achieve at a high level, but Hill-Murray must replace graduated quarterback Jackson Reeves and hold up in the trenches to get back to the 4A state tournament.

North St. Paul

North St. Paul quarterback Elijah Ernwein looks to throw as he scrambles out to the pocket during the first half of the at Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Simley won 41-20. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

2024 record: 4-6 (lost in Class 4A, Section 3 semifinals)

Returning starters: 6 on offense, 4 on defense

Impact returnees: Senior quarterback Elijah Ernwein is a four-year starter who tallied north of 30 touchdowns and 4,000 all-purpose yards as a junior while also playing in the secondary.

Shoutout to a lineman: Senior Michael Timmers is a three-year starter aiming for a bounce-back campaign after injuries impacted his 2024 season.

Schedule: at St. Cloud Tech, vs. Como Park, at South St. Paul, vs. Hill-Murray, vs. Chisago Lakes, at Simley, vs. Faribault, at Concordia Academy

The skinny: The Polars are without two key figures from last year’s team that won a playoff game — coach Justin McDonald stepped away to prioritize family health matters and star receiver John Jeanetta now attends a school in North Carolina. But new head coach Isaiah Koran knows how to win at North St. Paul, having played for the 2015 state tournament team. Plus, the Polars have three offensive linemen back — Timmers, Cory Huggar and Colin Graber — with Matt Bono, Jayden Her and Changa Burch set to make plays from the skill positions.

The Polars also have three members of their secondary back in Ernwein, Adrian Treziok and Montaeo Jarvis.

Simley

2024 record: 5-5 (lost in Class 4A, Section 3 title game)

Returning starters: 3 on offense, 3 on defense

Simley’s running back Carter Bungue (6) celebrates with quarterback Christian Urbina after scoring a touchdown during the second half of the at Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Simley won 41-20. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)Impact returnees: Junior quarterback Christian Urbina threw for 1,333 yards and 18 scores last season. Senior Carter Bungue had 73 tackles at linebacker while rushing for 10 touchdowns on offense.

Shoutout to a lineman: Luis Fierro is a strong, athletic lineman who will play on both fronts. Spartans coach Chris Mensen said Fierro “understands leverage and plays with a chip on his shoulder.”

Schedule: at Minneapolis North, vs. Two Rivers, at Chisago Lakes, vs. South St. Paul, at Stewartville, vs. North St. Paul, vs. Hill-Murray, at SMB

The skinny: A number of sophomores and juniors set to contribute, but there is talent in the lower classes, and enough seniors at key spots — such as Bungue, defensive lineman Gracious Tasha, edge rusher Bryan Guillen and even kicker Charlie Martin — to suggest Simley could follow a similar script to a year ago, when it started slow but hit its stride in the second half of the campaign and was a play or two away from the state tournament.

South St. Paul

Hill-Murrqay linebacker John Pietruszeweski, right, knocks down a pass by South St. Paul quarterback Sincere Casarez-McCampbell during the second half at South St. Paul High School in South St. Paul High,, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. Hill-Murray won 35-14. (Craig Lassig / Special to the Pioneer Press)

2024 record: 3-6 (lost in Class 4A, Section 3 quarterfinals)

Returning starters: 7 on offense, 9 on defense

Impact returnees: Sincere Casarez-McCampbell is a prototypical Packers quarterback; he’s tough, smart, runs and can make timely plays. Cornerback Brody Henry is savvy and athletic.

Shoutout to a lineman: Packers coach Manuel Spreigl said Wyatt Henderson and Gavin Skalicky “have the potential to be the best guards in 4A. They are physically imposing and tough.”

Schedule: at Minneapolis Camden, vs. Richfield, vs. North St. Paul, at Simley, at Hill-Murray, vs. Winona, vs. Chisago Lakes, at Breck

The skinny: This could be the year the Packers re-enter subdistrict and section title contention. They have five offensive linemen — Henderson, Skalicky, Adam Miller, Nick Dwelle and Jayden Scholten — along with tight end Jackson Schultz back to block for the likes of Jake Baldus and Ben Thrun.

Linebackers – Landon Murphy, Daniel Fitzgerald and Lachlan Aune return to play behind Donovyn O’Donnell and Schultz up front, with playmakers like Henry, Keishion Jarman and Zay Wraggs in the secondary. That’s a depth of experience few 4A school will be able to match this fall.

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GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee man with the same name as New York Yankees legend Babe Ruth is facing charges alleging that he used the names of hundreds of dead or retired pro baseball players to make phony claims for payouts in class action settlements.

George Herman Ruth is charged with 91 counts in the indictment handed down in U.S. District Court in Greeneville, Tennessee, on Aug. 12, the U.S. attorney’s office announced late last week. The 69-year-old from Morristown is charged with mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, fraudulent use of Social Security numbers, money laundering, making false statements to his probation officer and possessing firearms after having previously been convicted of felonies.

The indictment says Ruth obtained or attempted to obtain more than $550,000 through the scheme. He sought payouts in lawsuit settlements ranging from contact lens pricing allegations to claims of racial discrimination against a staffing agency, the indictment adds.

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Ruth opened more than a dozen P.O. boxes in several Tennessee cities for himself and for sham companies, then submitted hundreds of fraudulent claim forms to class action administrators across the country, according to the indictment. He used the old baseball players’ names or variations of his own name and the Social Security numbers of unwitting victims, prosecutors said.

The indictment doesn’t list the names of the players Ruth claimed to be, but it does describe some of them. For instance, some played for defunct teams such as the Philadelphia Athletics, the St. Louis Browns and the Kansas City Packers.

A public defender representing Ruth declined to comment on the charges.

Ruth had previously pleaded guilty in an Indiana federal court to a scheme to commit Social Security fraud. In 2020, he was sentenced to prison before going on probation from October 2023 until July 2025, court records show.

Correction: This story has corrected the date of the indictment to Aug. 12, not late last week.

By STEPHEN GROVES, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the estate of the late Jeffrey Epstein on Monday as congressional lawmakers try to determine who was connected to the disgraced financier and whether prosecutors mishandled his case.

The committee’s subpoena is the latest effort by both Republicans and Democrats to respond to public clamor for more disclosure in the investigation into Epstein, who was found dead in his New York jail cell in 2019. Lawmakers are trying to guide an investigation into who among Epstein’s high-powered social circle may have been aware of his sexual abuse of teenage girls, delving into a criminal case that has spurred conspiracy theories and roiled top officials in President Donald Trump’s administration.

A board outlining the case against Ghislaine Maxwell is seen during a news conference to announce charges against Maxwell for her alleged role in the sexual exploitation and abuse of multiple minor girls by Jeffrey Epstein, July 2, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

The subpoena, signed by Rep. James Comer, the Republican chair of the oversight committee, and dated Monday, demands that Epstein’s estate provide Congress with documents including a book that was compiled with notes from friends for his 50th birthday, his last will and testament, agreements he signed with prosecutors, his contact books, and his financial transactions and holdings.

Comer wrote to the executors of Epstein’s estate that the committee “is reviewing the possible mismanagement of the federal government’s investigation of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell, the circumstances and subsequent investigations of Mr. Epstein’s death, the operation of sex-trafficking rings and ways for the federal government to effectively combat them, and potential violations of ethics rules related to elected officials.”

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The Justice Department, trying to distance Trump and Epstein, last week began handing over to lawmakers documentation of the federal investigation into Epstein. It has also released transcripts of interviews conducted with Ghislaine Maxwell, his former girlfriend. But Democrats on the committee have not been satisfied with those efforts, saying that the some 33,000 pages of documents they’ve received are mostly already public.

“DOJ’s limited disclosure raises more questions than answers and makes clear that the White House is not interested in justice for the victims or the truth,” Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement.

Pressure from lawmakers to release more information is likely to only grow when Congress returns to Washington next week.

A bipartisan group of House members is attempting to maneuver around Republican leadership to hold a vote to pass legislation meant to require the Justice Department to release a full accounting of the sex trafficking investigation into Epstein.