US paves way for resumption of Mexico avocado exports
MEXICO CITY — The U.S. Embassy announced Friday that Washington is lifting a ban on inspections of Mexican avocados, freeing the way for exports to resume.
Weekly US jobless claims up, but remain historically low
WASHINGTON — Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits rose last week but remain near historically low levels, reflecting relatively few layoffs across the economy.
Biden now ‘convinced’ Russia will launch invasion of Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine — U.S. President Joe Biden says he is now “convinced” Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine and assault the capital, an ominous assessment that emerged as the country’s war-torn east saw more attacks that the West said could be designed to establish a pretext for an attack.
A mild US flu season is waning, but is it really over?
NEW YORK — This winter’s mild flu season has faded to a trickle of cases in much of the U.S., but health officials aren’t ready to call it over.
Tesla faces another US investigation: Unexpected braking
DETROIT — U.S. auto safety regulators have launched another investigation of Tesla, this time tied to complaints that its cars can stop on roads for no apparent reason.
Families of American captives frustrated with Justice Dept.
WASHINGTON — When relatives of American oil executives jailed in Venezuela met virtually with a senior Justice Department official this month, it didn’t take long for their frustrations to surface.
National and world news at a glance
Texas voting law leads to jump in ballot application rejections
Island Life: Plant patterns
Intriguing plant patterns found in a local nursery in Kona.
Editorial: Trump’s business fortune begins to unravel
Never mind those 10 years of Donald Trump’s financial statements, says the longtime accountant to the former president and past, present and future chiseler. The documents purporting to show Trump’s great wealth are, according to the firm which prepared them, themselves worthless. Oh, and please find another bookkeeper.
Commentary: Returning to our common values through national service
Vice President Kamala Harris has been widely criticized for her assessment that “our democracy” presented one of the biggest threats to national security. Perhaps the vice president was more correct than the critics are giving her credit for, but the threat she identified (state laws with the proffered goal of ballot integrity) does nothing to address another insidious harm to democracy demonstrated over the last 20 years.
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:
HHSAA Basketball: Wildcats to face Iolani in HHSAA D-I Championship
After a slow start, a dominant third quarter lifted the Konawaena Wildcats to a 40-21 victory in their HHSAA D-I Semifinal contest against Lahainaluna Friday.
BIIF Basketball: Hilo takes down Konawaena 41-39, earns spot in BIIF D-I Championship
KEALAKEKUA – With a spot in the BIIF D-I Championship on the line, Hilo had to dig deep to get one final stop.
Freezing cold to Olympic gold, New Zealand wins on halfpipe
ZHANGJIAKOU, China — The gold medalist, Nico Porteous, had blood caked to his ear.
Spurs’ Manu Ginobili heads Basketball Hall of Fame finalists
CLEVELAND — Manu Ginobili, a four-time NBA champion who spent his entire career with the San Antonio Spurs, headlines this year’s group of finalists for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
NFL hires former SEC chair to investigate Commanders’ Snyder
The NFL has hired former Securities and Exchange Commission chair Mary Jo White to investigate an allegation that Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder sexually harassed a team employee more than a decade ago.
MLB cancels spring games through March 4 due to lockout
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball canceled the first week of spring training games through March 4 in the first public acknowledgement of the disruption caused by the lockout.
All-Star host Cavaliers getting chance to strut their stuff
CLEVELAND — The NBA All-Star Game’s hosts aren’t just welcoming guests or showing off their renovated home arena this weekend.
