drivers

The North Carolina home of late NASCAR driver Greg Biffle was burglarized less than a month after he, his wife and two children were among the seven people who died in a plane crash near Charlotte.

According to a Jan. 8 incident report by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, a backpack and $30,000 in cash were stolen from Biffle’s home in Mooreville, N.C. The alleged incident was classified as a burglary at a residence with forcible entry.

Investigators believe someone entered a safe at the home during the alleged incident, Sheriff Darren Campbell said Wednesday, and some guns and memorabilia are also missing from the estate. No one was home at the time of the alleged incident.

The incident report states that the home was last known to be secure on Jan. 7 at 3 p.m.

“Currently, no arrest has been made,” Campbell said in a statement. “Investigators are continuing to review all evidence, including digital and other available information, as the case remains under investigation.”

Biffle was a retired driver who won more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three circuits, including 19 in the Cup Series. He, his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, were on a business jet that took off from Statesville Regional Airport headed for Florida on the morning of Dec. 18.

Soon after takeoff, the plane attempted to return and land back at the Statesville airport but hit the ground short of the runway and burst into flames. There were no survivors. No cause of the crash has been released.

A public memorial service for the victims is scheduled for Friday morning at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

THE price for passenger drop-offs at London’s second busiest airport has jumped 40 percent.

That’s a £3 increase from previous charge of £7 and will apply to all drivers entering the drop off zone, excluding Blue Badge holders.

From today London Gatwick will have the highest drop-off fees in the country thanks to the new £10 charge.

The price has steadily increased over the years since it was first introduced in 2021 and was only £5.

It jumped to £6 in 2024 before being increased to £7 just a year later in May 2025.

“Poor old passengers and drivers are getting another blow to the pocket,” complained travel writer Andy Mossack in an interview with BBC Radio Surrey.

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“It is disgraceful.”

London Gatwick, which is the busiest single runway airport in Europe, said it was “not a decision they took lightly”.

However, it cited reasons such as the “doubling of business rates” as one of the reasons for the increase in cost.

A spokesperson for Gatwick suggested passengers could use the free shuttle bus if they are dropped of in the long stay car park.

They added: “We also have excellent public transport connectivity at the airport, with passengers able to connect directly with more than 120 train stations.

“Many local bus routes serve the airport 24  hours a day, seven days a week.”

Drop off fees have also increased at London Heathrow with its drop off fee increasing from £6 to £7 on January 1.

It is also introducing a strict 10-minute drop off time, with drivers charged £80 if they go over.

And London City, the last of the London airports to allow free drop offs, will be introducing a new charge in 2026 as well.

The move comes as part of a wider plan to cut the number of vehicles in central London

In the new year, certain drivers who are now exempt from an additional fee will have to pay the charge. From January 2, 2026, an existing discount will be removed, following an announcement from London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The Mayor has confirmed that in 2026, electric vehicles (EVs) will no longer be exempt from London’s Congestion Charge. While EVs previously received the Cleaner Vehicle Discount, they will now be subject to charges as part of an overall effort to cut down the number of vehicles in the city centre.

Transport for London announced that January 2 is the specific date when numerous alterations will be implemented. Starting then, electric van and lorry drivers will benefit from a 50% discount to enter the zone, while electric car drivers will receive a 25% reduction.

Electric vehicle drivers will be required to pay a £13.50 fee to access the zone, while electric van owners will face a £9 charge. Nevertheless, by March 2030, discounts will decrease to 25% for electric vans and lorries, and to 12.5% for electric cars.

The standard Congestion Charge for non-electric vehicles will rise from £15 to £18 starting January 2. This marks the first increase since 2020.

People living in the zone can expect discounts of up to 90%. However, those moving into the area after March 1, 2027, will not qualify for a discount unless they own an electric vehicle.

Reductions of up to 100% will remain in place to assist low-income and disabled residents of London. According to the Mirror, Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said last month: “Keeping London moving by reducing congestion is vital for our city and for our economy.

“While the congestion charge has been a huge success since its introduction, we must ensure it stays fit for purpose, and sticking to the status quo would see around 2,200 more vehicles using the congestion charging zone on an average weekday next year.

“We must support Londoners and businesses to use more sustainable travel, so I’m pleased that substantial incentives will remain in place for Londoners who switch to cleaner vehicles, as we work to build a greener and better London for everyone.”

Christina Calderato, TfL’s Director of Strategy, added: “If we want to ensure that London remains a thriving city for everyone to enjoy, then it’s vital that traffic and congestion is kept under control and managed effectively.

“The changes to the Congestion Charging scheme play a key role in allowing us to do that, while striking a careful balance that enables drivers, businesses and other organisations to continue transitioning to cleaner vehicles and more sustainable forms of transport.”

Within Transport for London’s press announcement, Izzy Romilly, Sustainable Transport Manager at climate charity Possible, also said: “Tying the Congestion Charge to public transport fares is welcome. It’s only right to make sure that public transport doesn’t get disproportionately more expensive than driving. We’re also pleased to see new support for electric car clubs.

“We need to cut traffic and invest in accessible and affordable public transport, and make sure Londoners can walk, wheel and cycle safely. This will put us on the path to a healthier, fairer London – reducing air pollution and making the city safer for everyone.”

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