Officials report 12 new COVID-19 cases, two deaths on Hawaii Island
Two coronavirus-related deaths and 12 new COVID-19 cases were reported Saturday on Hawaii Island, according to county and state officials.
Editorial: Counting us out? A bad Supreme Court census ruling
After Tuesday’s daylong Senate confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court came a one-paragraph, unsigned opinion from her potential future colleagues: They granted the Trump administration’s effort to stop the counting for the decennial census, proving once again that the top bench — and who sits on it — matters immensely.
Commentary: COVID-19 contact tracing apps: Choose the technology wisely
There has been significant interest in leveraging smartphone apps for contact tracing, a public health strategy that involves tracking people who are COVID-19 positive to identify disease hot spots. Traditionally this is done by workers on foot and over the telephone, and we know this labor-intensive method works — it has helped in the elimination of smallpox and in curbing the spread of sexually transmitted infections. However, the efficacy of the app-boosted method is still unknown.
Volcano Watch: Crack team of geologists measure the Koa‘e fault system
The Koa‘e fault system connects Kilauea’s East and Southwest Rift Zones south of the caldera. Faults here appear as low cliffs, or “scarps” along Hilina Pali Road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. These fault-cliffs slip during major earthquakes, such as those of May 4, 2018, near the beginning of Kilauea’s 2018 eruption.
Russian-US crew welcomed aboard the space station
MOSCOW — A trio of space travelers blasted off to the International Space Station on Wednesday, using for the first time a fast-track maneuver that allowed them to reach the orbiting outpost in just a little over three hours.
NASA’s new moonshot rules: No fighting or littering, please
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA’s new moonshot rules: No fighting and littering. And no trespassing at historic lunar landmarks like Apollo 11’s Tranquility Base.
No significant changes at Kilauea’s summit water lake
There have been no significant changes observed recently at Kilauea’s summit water lake, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said this week.
The world’s largest tropical wetland has become an inferno
This year, roughly a quarter of the vast Pantanal wetland in Brazil, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, has burned in wildfires worsened by climate change. What happens to a rich and unique biome when so much is destroyed?
In Brief: October 17, 2020
Virus surges in key battleground states as election nears
Trump changes course, approves California relief for 6 fires
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — President Donald Trump’s administration abruptly reversed course and approved California’s application for disaster relief funds to clean up damage from six recent deadly and destructive blazes that have scorched the state, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday.
Island Life: Eye candy
A gorgeous cotton-candy sunset decks Kona skies on Oct. 11. (Bob Viggers/Community contributor)
Drive-through service for seniors: Flu shots, health screenings, medical info available at county health fair
The 20th annual Akamai Living Health Fair thrived as a drive-through event for seniors in East Hawaii on Friday morning.
Board votes against problematic online learning program
HONOLULU — Hawaii’s Board of Education has approved phasing out distance learning curriculum that parents and teachers complained contained racist and sexist content and will send parents a letter acknowledging the Acellus program was selected hastily during the pandemic without proper vetting.
All hands on deck: Testing system smoother on second day of trans-Pacific travel
It was all hands on deck Friday at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, the second day of rapid testing for trans-Pacific arrivals.
Kim makes interisland pitch: Travelers exempt from quarantine after post-arrival negative test for virus
County civil attorneys were ironing out details of a plan to be submitted to Gov. David Ige to allow interisland travelers to come to the Big Island without a 14-day quarantine as of late Friday afternoon, Mayor Harry Kim said.
About Town: October 17, 2020
Time changed for COVID-19 testing in Ka‘u
Ozuna mishap costs Braves as World Series wait continues
ARLINGTON, Texas — Marcell Ozuna and the Atlanta Braves got a little ahead of themselves.
Chiefs’ locker room mum on Bell’s arrival – well, almost
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The only member of the Kansas City Chiefs that was available and willing to discuss Le’Veon Bell, arguably the biggest free-agent signing since the offseason, happened to be the defensive coordinator who won’t have anything to do with him.
College sports world holds its breath as SEC goes toe-to-toe with COVID
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Anyone who knows anything about both college football and COVID-19 realized this season was going to get messy.
Patriots cancel practice, positive COVID-19 test
The New England Patriots canceled practice Friday after a member of the organization tested positive for COVID-19, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
