Hilo hospital sees surge in patients
Hilo Medical Center is experiencing a high influx of patients and is overcapacity.
Officials use legislation to help fight vaping
Legislation has been a key weapon in the fight against smoking and vaping in Hawaii County.
Editorial: Kansas voters showed the nation how to keep abortion rights safe
In record numbers, Kansas voters went to the polls Tuesday and definitively told conservative state legislators to back off from trying to take away abortion rights. Voters across Democratic and Republican swaths of Kansas resoundingly defeated a ballot measure that would have amended the state constitution to remove the right to abortion.
Editorial: Alex Jones lawsuit must be coupled with social media reform
We are glad to see the consequences for the devastating lies that conspiracist Alex Jones promoted about the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre begin to materialize this week in an Austin courtroom.
2,695 and counting: Hawaii Wildlife Center marks 10 years of saving native birds and bats
Kapaau-based Hawaii Wildlife Center is celebrating 10 years of providing emergency response, medical and rehabilitative care for Hawaii’s native birds and bats.
Health officials report large increase in COVID deaths
Eight more people on the Big Island have died from COVID-19, the state Department of Health reported Wednesday.
Panel OKs rezoning requests for proposed subdivisions
The Windward Planning Commission has approved rezoning requests for two planned 20-lot subdivisions in Honokaa.
Fate of alleged killer now in the hands of jurors
The prosecution’s closing arguments in the murder trial of Kalani Kaohimaunu went as expected — with Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Lee saying Venus Mitchell recognized Kaohimaunu as the man who fatally shot her boyfriend, Keola Penovaroff, on Thanksgiving Day 2015.
After Supreme Court ruling, it’s open season on US gun laws
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruling expanding gun rights threatens to upend firearms restrictions across the country as activists wage court battles over everything from bans on AR-15-style guns to age limits.
Vaping out of control: Parents ‘just not aware of the harm’ as younger kids try electronic smoking devices
Vaping is a nationwide epidemic, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a 2019 National Youth Risk and Behavior Survey reported nearly half of high school students and 36% of middle school students in Hawaii County have tried vaping.
Trump White House lawyers subpoenaed by 1/6 probe grand jury
WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury investigating efforts to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election has subpoenaed the White House counsel under then-President Donald Trump and his top deputy, according to a person familiar with the matter.
US declares public health emergency over monkeypox outbreak
WASHINGTON — The federal government declared a public health emergency Thursday to bolster the response to the monkeypoxoutbreak that has infected more than 7,100 Americans.
Nation and world news at a glance
Pelosi: China cannot stop US officials from visiting Taiwan
Runnin’ with Rani: Peaman’s Whirled Peas Biathlon
Sunday’s Peaman Whirled Peas Biathlon held at Kaiakeakua Beach attracted over 100 participants to compete in the long course ½-mile swim and 2-mile run, or the shorter LavaKids Peawee course featuring a 200-yard swim and 1-mile run.
Kershaw leaves with back pain as Dodgers beat Giants 5-3
SAN FRANCISCO — Clayton Kershaw left his start with low back pain and the Los Angeles Dodgers went on to beat the San Francisco Giants 5-3 on Thursday to complete a four-game sweep.
WNBA’s Griner convicted at drug trial, sentenced to 9 years
KHIMKI, Russia — U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted Thursday in Russia of drug possession and smuggling and was sentenced to nine years behind bars in a politically charged case that could lead to a high-stakes prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow.
Raiders give McDaniels happy homecoming, beat Jaguars 27-11
CANTON, Ohio — The Las Vegas Raiders gave coach Josh McDaniels a successful homecoming in his debut on their sideline.
Island Life: Rub-a-dub-dub
A reef manta ray hovers over a cleaning station in Keauhou Bay.
Honolulu utility finds chemical in Red Hill monitoring well
HONOLULU — The Honolulu Board of Water Supply said Thursday it has detected a small amount of a chemical naturally occurring in coal, crude oil and gasoline in a monitoring well near a Navy fuel storage facility that spilled jet fuel last year.
Trump-aligned challengers ousting GOP legislative incumbents
MADISON, Wis. — As Wisconsin’s longest-serving Assembly speaker, Republican Robin Vos has presided over efforts to restrict abortions, weaken unions, expand gun rights and push back against COVID-19 mandates. Despite that, he’s facing a primary challenger who claims he’s not conservative enough.