Fighting back against library book bans
Abill recently passed by the West Virginia House of Delegates is one of the latest attempts to censor educational materials. If the measure becomes law, it would make librarians and other educators criminally liable for showing obscene materials to children who are not accompanied by an adult. Librarians and teachers could then face felony penalties, up to $25,000 in fines, and even up to five years in jail.
Final jurors seated for Trump’s hush money case, with opening statements set for Monday
NEW YORK — The final jurors were seated Friday in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, and an appellate judge rejected the former president’s latest bid to halt the case as a hectic day in court set the stage for opening statements to begin Monday.
Opioid addiction class raises awareness: PA students receive training
The next generation of physician assistants spent the day Friday learning how to treat opioid addiction at the University of Washington MEDEX Northwest PA School in Kealakekua.
STVR bills criticized: More than 60 people testify on TAR regulations
Biden administration restricts oil and gas leasing in 13 million acres of Alaska’s petroleum reserve
JUNEAU, Alaska — The Biden administration said Friday it will restrict new oil and gas leasing on 13 million acres (5.3 million hectares) of a federal petroleum reserve in Alaska to help protect wildlife such as caribou and polar bears as the Arctic continues to warm.
NBA capsules: Previewing the first round of NBA playoffs
Preview capsules for the first round of the NBA playoffs, which start Saturday.
BIIF basketball: Kauka, Samura named Scoring Live Player of the Year
KAILUA-KONA — Scoring Live officially released its All-Hawaii awards for the 2023-24 basketball season, and multiple Big Island Interscholastic (BIIF) players represented the isle by making the list.
San Francisco mayor announces the city will receive pandas from China
BEIJING (AP) — San Francisco is the latest U.S. city preparing to receive a pair of pandas from China, in a continuation of Beijing’s famed “panda diplomacy.”
Heat beat the Bulls to clinch last playoff spot
MIAMI — Tyler Herro scored 24 points and was an assist shy of a triple-double, rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 21 points and the Miami Heat grabbed the last spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, running away from the Chicago Bulls 112-91 in a play-in tournament elimination game Friday night.
Obituaries for April 20
Necitas Amplayo Revilla
Volcano Watch: Magnetics, magma, and monitoring: new technology for old questions
Earth’s magnetic field surrounds us every second of the day, everywhere on the planet. Anyone who has picked up a pocket compass and seen the magnetic needle quickly align itself has seen the action of this ever-present invisible field. But can we harness the magnetic field to forecast volcanic activity? Emerging technology in the field of “quantum” science may aid us in doing so.
Israel, Iran play down apparent Israeli strike. The muted responses could calm tensions — for now
JERUSALEM — Israel and Iran on Friday both played down an apparent Israeli airstrike near a major air base and nuclear site in central Iran, signaling the two bitter enemies are ready to prevent their latest eruption of violence from escalating into a full-blown regional war.
Stock market today: Tumbling tech stocks drag Wall Street to the finish line of another losing week
NEW YORK — The worst week for big technology stocks since the COVID crash in 2020 dragged Wall Street on Friday across the finish line of another losing week.
Staff and shoppers return to ‘somber’ Sydney shopping mall 6 days after mass stabbings
SYDNEY — Shoppers and workers returned to a “really quiet” Sydney mall Friday, where six days earlier an assailant stabbed six people to death and wounded more than a dozen others in an attack that police believe targeted women.
5 Japanese workers in Pakistan escape suicide blast targeting their van. A Pakistani bystander dies
KARACHI, Pakistan — A suicide bomber targeted a van carrying Japanese nationals in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi on Friday, police said. The Japanese nationals escaped unharmed but officials later said one bystander was killed.
Letters to the Editor for April 20
More funding needed to serve the homeless
Making sense of the ‘wage gap’
What’s behind the wage gap between men and women?
As I See It: Automatic weapons
The use, misuse and regulation of firearms in America is a long running controversy. Opinions range from a desire for total elimination, to no rules at all — and we struggle to find a balance.
Gourmet mushrooms are growing in Kona
As people seek healthy new food options, the demand for gourmet mushrooms is increasing. Fresh button mushrooms including cremini and portobello are still very popular but oyster mushrooms and exotics like lion’s mane are increasing in popularity. Luckily Amanda Evans of Mermaid Mushrooms is growing these in a warehouse in Kealakekua and offering them to enthusiasts around Hawaii Island.
Tropical Gardening: Celebrate Hawaii Island chocolate next week
As the Hawaii Island cacao industry continues to expand, it is time to celebrate with the 11th Annual Big Island Chocolate Festival from Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27. According to Fern Gavelek, the event culminates with the “Mystical Chocolate Masquerade” gala offering everything from sweet to savory.
