Bail maintained for man charged with numerous drug, gun offenses
A judge Monday denied a defense request to free a 61-year-old Mountain View man accused of 22 drug and firearms offenses on court-supervised release without cash bail.
Virus numbers and testing/vaccination sites
The state Department of Health on Monday reported 76 new COVID-19 cases on the Big Island and 365 new cases statewide amid an ongoing surge.
HHSC supports call for health care worker vaccine mandates
The Hawaii Health Systems Corp. on Monday said it supports the Healthcare Association of Hawaii’s new call to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for health care workers across the state.
Delta variant surge has had little impact on tourism
Despite the recent spike in Delta variant COVID-19 cases, Hawaii’s popularity as a travel destination continues to grow.
Ige, others say benefit of reopening schools exceeds the risk
State health and education leaders are committed to returning students to classrooms today, despite the latest surge of COVID-19 cases in Hawaii.
Families urge using new DNA tech to ID Pearl Harbor unknowns
HONOLULU — William Edward Mann enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school in rural Washington state. A guitar player, he picked up the ukulele while stationed in Hawaii.
US hits 70% vaccination rate — a month late, amid a surge
The U.S. on Monday finally reached President Joe Biden’s goal of getting at least one COVID-19 shot into 70% of American adults — a month late and amid a fierce surge by the delta variant that is swamping hospitals and leading to new mask rules and mandatory vaccinations around the country.
Congress must stop deferring on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Former President Barack Obama’s program protecting undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children was the right thing to do except in the way it was done: by executive order, instead of by legislation. That was more Congress’ fault than Obama’s, but the fact remains that this urgent protection for young people who are here and Americanized was never as complete or stable as it should have been.
Obituaries for August 3
Reid Christopher Agin, 58, of Kailua-Kona died July 3. Born in Ohio, he enjoyed scuba diving, surfing, fishing, hunting, music, gardening, flying and traveling. Celebration of life at a later date. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by cousin, Rex Barker; hanai brothers, Ross (Jeannie) Cumberledge, Richard Davis and Mark; aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Bankrupted by medical debt
American health care is too expensive. Exhibit A is a new study of Americans’ medical debt published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. That debt is twice as large as had previously been estimated — $140 billion in collections as of June 2020, compared to an earlier estimate of $81 billion.
US employers ratchet up the pressure on the unvaccinated
NEW YORK — Employers are losing patience with unvaccinated workers.
$1T infrastructure bill gets first action as senators dig in
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sought to speed up consideration of a nearly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package Monday, promising that Democrats would work with Republicans to put together amendments for consideration this week. GOP senators cautioned that they need time to digest the massive bill.
Your Views for August 3
Heed the warning
Let’s Talk Food: The Flavor Equation book
Imust have a thousand cookbooks and yet, I always enjoy skimming through new ones.
Turkey battles wildfires for 6th day; 10,000 are evacuated
BOZALAN, Turkey — Selcuk Sanli set his two cows loose, put his family’s most treasured belongings in a car and fled his home as a wildfire approached his village near Turkey’s beach resort of Bodrum, one of thousands fleeing flames that have coated the skies with a thick yellow haze.
Durant scores 29, U.S. reaches Olympic semis by topping Spain 95-81
SAITAMA, Japan — Back and forth they went, the reigning Olympic champions from the U.S. on one side, the reigning Basketball World Cup champions from Spain on the other.
Hurricane watchers keeping eye on Eastern Pacific
The National Weather Service is keeping an eye on two storms and another disturbance likely to organize in the Eastern Pacific.
Fern Acres man faces 22 drug and firearm felony charges
Officers arrested and charged a Mountain View man with 22 drug and firearms offenses after 27.2 pounds of marijuana, 222 marijuana plants, 14 firearms, and more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition, police said.
DOH reports 76 new COVID-19 cases on Big Island
The state Department of Health today reported 76 new COVID-19 cases on the Big Island.
Healthcare Association of Hawaii supports COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers
The Healthcare Association of Hawaii today announced support for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of healthcare workers — once full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug administration is granted and as long as exemptions are accommodated.
South Kohala fire ‘still very much a threat’
Hawaii County officials are asking residents and visitors to remain vigilant and to be prepared to evacuate if needed as firefighters continue to battle a 40,000-acre fire that threatened Waikoloa village Sunday afternoon.
Short stay for Team USA, Hawaii contingent
TOKYO — Hawaii’s Micah Christenson gave coach John Speraw a long, tearful embrace as his U.S. men’s volleyball teammates slumped on the floor and the victorious Argentinians celebrated.
Anger mounts as Biden, Congress allow eviction ban to expire
WASHINGTON — Anger and frustration mounted in Congress over the weekend as a nationwide eviction moratorium expired during a surge in the COVID-19 pandemic. One Democratic lawmaker even camped outside the Capitol in protest as millions of Americans faced being forced from their homes.
Fauci: More ‘pain and suffering’ ahead as COVID cases rise
Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Sunday that more “pain and suffering” is on the horizon as COVID-19 cases climb again and officials plead with unvaccinated Americans to get their shots.
Waikoloa Village evacuation order lifted as wildland fire continues to burn
An evacuation order Sunday afternoon that prompted thousands to flee Waikoloa Village was lifted at 7 p.m. as firefighters continued to battle a wildland fire that’s scorched more than 62.5 square miles and consumed two homes in South Kohala.
