Yeego Connect

Americans can now renew their passports online, bypassing a cumbersome mail-in paper application process that often caused delays.

The State Department announced Wednesday that its online renewal system is now fully operational, after testing in pilot programs, and available to adult passport holders whose passport has expired within the past five years or will expire in the coming year.

Small businesses along popular vacation destinations like boardwalks and piers in the U.S. say the number of tourists flocking to the waterfront is back to normal, meaning pre-2020 levels. But while the affluent are spending freely, lower-income vacationers are sticking to carefully planned-out budgets.

The Fourth of July travel rush is expected to be the busiest in history but has begun to a rough start with major storms delaying or canceling thousands of flights over the weekend. NBC News' Sam Brock reports on what to expect from the weather and the holiday travel rush. 

Jared King, owner of New Mexico-based travel agency and consulting firm Yeego Connect, said he is double- and triple-checking itineraries for clients worried their upcoming flights could be affected.

“They’re a little on edge, having read the news about the massive delays and cancellations,” he said.

In collaboration with the State of Maryland and Google, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) now accepts Maryland-issued mobile driver’s licenses and ID cards in Google Wallet on Android mobile phones at select TSA airport security checkpoints.

Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its intent to extend the REAL ID full enforcement date by 24 months, from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025.