Brush fire continues to burn out of control in South Kohala
Strong winds have hampered efforts to contain a brush fire in South Kohala that by late Saturday afternoon had burned more than 12,000 acres — and counting.
Case count total tops 4,000 on Big Island
The Big Island reported 101 new cases of COVID-19 Saturday, sending the island’s total case count to 4,051.
NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week
A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the facts:
Will pricey Hawaii do enough to limit evictions?
HONOLULU — A federal freeze on most evictions enacted last year is scheduled to expire today, after the Biden administration extended the original date by a month. The moratorium, put in place by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, was the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. Many of them lost jobs during the coronavirus pandemic and had fallen months behind on their rent.
Tourists fined $500 for touching Hawaiian monk seals
HONOLULU — A woman from Louisiana who was honeymooning in Hawaii has been fined $500 after a social media video showed her touching an endangered Hawaiian monk seal, U.S. authorities said.
Evictions looming, Biden fails to get Congress to extend ban
WASHINGTON — A nationwide eviction moratorium is set to expire Saturday after President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress worked furiously but ultimately failed to align on a long-shot strategy to prevent millions of Americans from being forced from their homes during a COVID-19 surge.
Announcements: July 31, 2021
KidX Back to School Celebration is finishing its school supply drive today in collaboration with Get Ready Hawaii, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Keauhou Shopping Center. The event will feature keiki crafts, yard games, selfie station, face painting, giveaways and more. Get Ready Hawaii will be giving away one free book per child while supplies last.
Island Life: Lilikoi lizard
A juvenile gold dust day gecko clings to a lilikoi in Kailua-Kona on July 23. (Terri Brache/Community contributor)
In Brief: July 31, 2021
Trump urged Justice officials to declare election ‘corrupt’
Commentary: To confront the reality of domestic terrorism, we need a federal law
A House committee to investigate the events of Jan. 6 held its first hearing this week, aiming to unravel the details of the Capitol riot that left five dead. The riot was an attack on our democracy, a startling insurrection that many have called an act of domestic terrorism, including FBI Director Christopher A. Wray.
Record-breaking virus cases reported
Friday marked the largest single-day COVID-19 case count in Hawaii since the pandemic began early last year.
Man in Hilo fined for undersized ‘opihi harvest
A 27-year-old man was cited Friday for harvesting 345 undersized ‘opihi from the shoreline at Onekahakaha Beach Park in Hilo.
Dozens turn out to sign wave during World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
Dozens of people lined up on Kamehameha Avenue on Friday to wave signs and inform the public about ways to alleviate human trafficking in East Hawaii.
South Kona woman sentenced for traffic fatality
A 46 year-old South Kona woman was sentenced to prison Wednesday for a 2018 traffic fatality that took the life of Nevada resident Mark Brown.
Chaotic waters: U.S. stars win, but Dressel won’t get six golds
TOKYO — Caeleb Dressel is pretty much invincible when he has a lane to himself.
Biles out of vault and uneven bars; beam and floor possible
TOKYO — Simone Biles is opting not to defend her Olympic vault title, pulling out of Sunday’s event finals for both vault and uneven bars while she focuses on her mental health.
Officials scale back Queen Liliuokalani Race to Big Island paddling crews only
After its cancellation in 2020, the Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Canoe Race will return this year, however this time with limited participation.
MLB capsules: Joey Votto homers for seventh straight game, one shy of MLB record
NEW YORK — Joey Votto homered for the seventh straight game, one shy of a major league record, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 6-2 on Friday night.
Monster trade: Dodgers get Scherzer, Turner from Nationals
PHOENIX — A dizzying trade deadline saw the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers pull off the biggest whopper of them all.
Giants land Kris Bryant from Cubs just before deadline
SAN FRANCISCO — Kris Bryant was the face of the Chicago Cubs for a long time.
