Surprising Michigan takes run at Georgia’s dominate D in CFP
Just about everything about this season has been a joyride for No. 2 Michigan, the first team to start unranked in the AP Top 25 and reach the College Football Playoff.
Editorial: America’s sick and costly health care system
Forget car dealers; Americans are flummoxed by the marketplace for health care. Two new reports published last week show that consumers are increasingly anxious about medical costs and access to care, with record numbers signing up for subsidized health coverage. The system is not working for the majority of Americans, and the inequities are only getting worse.
Editorial: COVID is surging again. But omicron leaves us with a tiny bit of hope
The terrible year of 2020 ended with a glimmer of hope. While the United States and California were in the grip of the worst surge yet of the pandemic, the first vaccines against COVID-19 were being distributed to health care workers and plans were underway for the largest immunization rollout in the nation’s history.
The Nutcracker holiday tradition continues
Virginia Holte, founder and artistic director of the West Hawaii Dance Theatre (WHDT) has offered performances of the Nutcracker Ballet and has across the state for the past 29 years, many of which took place at the Kahilu Theatre.
Island life: Tiny but loud
An invasive coqui frog is seen on a monstera leaf. The distinctive “KO-kee” call that gives the frog its name can reach 100 decibels, louder than many power tools and lawn equipment, and can be very disruptive for residents in infested areas, according to the Big Island Invasive Species Council. For more information on this pest, including prevention and control, visit https://www.biisc.org/pest/coqui.
Undertakers, rabbis join global fight promoting COVID shots
In Germany, Lutheran pastors are offering COVID-19 shots inside churches. In Israel’s science-skeptical ultra-Orthodox community, trusted rabbis are trying to change minds. And in South Africa, undertakers are taking to the streets to spread the word.
Goodbye, 2021: A look back at the year that was
As we bid a perhaps not-so-fond farewell to 2021, the novel coronavirus pandemic continued to be the most important story of the year, as it had been in 2020 — locally, statewide, nationally and worldwide.
Hawaii reports explosion of COVID cases
Both Hawaii County and the state set records Thursday for the most new COVID-19 cases in a single day.
Purdue rallies to beat Tennessee in OT in Music City Bowl
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mitchell Fineran kicked a 39-yard field goal in overtime and Purdue finished off its best season since 2003 by overcoming a 14-point deficit and beating Tennessee 48-45 on Thursday in a record-setting Music City Bowl.
Obituaries: December 31, 2021
Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. Content is subject to editing for parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Any questions regarding obituaries should be directed to the mortuary or via email to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Non-P5 Cincy takes CFP journey to Cotton semi against Bama
ARLINGTON, Texas — Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder and the breakthrough Bearcats aren’t caught up in what their unprecedented playoff appearance could eventually mean for other non-Power Five teams. This is their journey.
Embiid, 76ers spoil Durant’s return to Nets’ lineup
NEW YORK — Joel Embiid scored 34 points and the Philadelphia 76ers spoiled Kevin Durant’s return to the lineup by beating the Brooklyn Nets 110-102 on Thursday night.
Not ready yet: Public participation in meetings to continue remotely
A new law setting stricter rules for governmental bodies holding remote meetings, including a requirement to provide a physical location for the public to testify, is supposed to go into effect Saturday, but Gov. David Ige has delayed that part of the new law in an emergency proclamation effective through Feb. 28.
National world news at a glance
Biden and Putin stake out Ukraine positions in 50-minute call
Colorado wildfires burn hundreds of homes, force evacuations
DENVER — An estimated 580 homes, a hotel and a shopping center have burned and tens of thousands of people were evacuated in wind-fueled wildfires outside Denver, officials said Thursday evening.
CDC warns against cruises, regardless of vaccination status
MIAMI — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned people on Thursday not to go on cruises, regardless of their vaccination status, because of onboard outbreaks fueled by the omicron variant.
Navy needs more time to flush Pearl Harbor drinking water
HONOLULU — Military officials say they need more time to flush jet fuel from their Pearl Harbor water system, but some of the 4,000 military families who were displaced because of contaminated drinking water could begin returning by the end of next week.
10 design trends to look for in 2022
With a new year comes new trends. What will be hot this year? While many existing trends are slated to remain popular, a number of new trends are also emerging. Here are some of the predictions for what will be on trend for this year.
Hester, Ware, Andre Johnson 1st-year Hall of Fame finalists
DeMarcus Ware, Andre Johnson and Devin Hester, all in their first year of eligibility, are finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2022.
Stephen L. Carter: What to expect from the world in 2022
December’s end is when we reflect on what we hope to improve in the year to come … and also the time for my annual predictions of news headlines for the next 12 months.
High court ruling could carry Maunakea ramifications
A Hawaii Supreme Court verdict regarding a Maui telescope protester could have implications for Maunakea protesters.
New COVID-19 cases in US soar to highest levels on record
CHICAGO — More than a year after the vaccine was rolled out, new cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. have soared to their highest level on record at over 265,000 per day on average, a surge driven largely by the highly contagious omicron variant.
Late Senate leader Harry Reid remembered as `man of action’
WASHINGTON — Presidents and former Senate colleagues are lauding longtime Majority Leader Harry Reid, who died Tuesday, for a political legacy that included an expansion of health insurance coverage for millions of Americans and helping secure an economic aid package and banking overhaul following the 2008 financial crisis.
DOE: In-person learning to resume following winter break
The state Department of Education announced Wednesday that full in-person learning will resume during the second semester that begins next week.
