Virus cut court access, but opens door to virtual future
Just two reporters were allowed inside a Georgia courtroom to serve as the eyes and ears of the public when jury selection began for the men charged with murdering Ahmaud Arbery. Pandemic restrictions also kept reporters and the public out of the courtroom during the sex-trafficking trial of music star R. Kelly.
From New York to Hawaii, enforcement of indoor mandates proves uneven
HONOLULU — Go out for a night on the town in some U.S. cities and you might find yourself waiting while someone at the door of the restaurant or theater closely inspects your vaccination card and checks it against your photo ID. Or, conversely, you might be waved right through just by flashing your card.
Your Views for October 27
‘Remarkably unwise’
Obituaries for October 27
How Sui “Lily” Lam, 74, of Kealakekua, died Oct. 5 at her family’s home in Kailua-Kona. Born in Guangdong, China, she was the former owner of Hong Kong Chop Suey in Captain Cook and a member of the Hawaii County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. Celebration of life to be held Saturday (Oct. 30) 12:30 p.m. at Big Island Grill. Casual attire. Survived by husband Yim Sin Lam of Kealakekua; sons Michael (Carol) Lam of Kailua-Kona and Alan (Wenting) Lam of Kailua-Kona; sisters Kam Shui Kow of Hilo, Stella Yuen of Kailua-Kona, Irene Chan of Kailua-Kona, Kam (Jeffrey) Kahakua of Kailua-Kona, Sandy (Bryan) Caldwell of Kailua-Kona, Kammie (Jody) Char of Kailua-Kona, Kam Oi (Chris) Wigen of Kailua-Kona; brother Hon Ming (Lani) Wong of Kailua-Kona and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
TMT protesters oppose state’s US attorney pick
HONOLULU — Some Native Hawaiians are objecting to President Joe Biden’s choice for U.S. attorney, saying Clare Connors treated dozens of elders like criminals when her office prosecuted them for blocking a road while protesting the construction of a the Thirty Meter Telescope
Water power charges to increase: 30 cent rise follows 40 cent decrease in December
An increase in electric rates is leading to the highest power cost surcharge on county water bills in at least two years, with the Water Board on Tuesday approving a 16% hike in the power cost charge.
Phase 2 of lava buyout program set to begin
Owners of secondary residences that were isolated, damaged or destroyed during the 2018 Kilauea eruption will be able to apply next week for the county to buy their properties.
VIDEO: New close-up footage of lava erupting from west vent inside Kilauea
This is a USGS video taken Saturday morning. The view is from the southern rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater inside Kilauea volcano.
Big Island COVID case count increases by 28
Nearly a third of the new COVID-19 cases reported across the state Monday were from the Big Island.
Help is on the way: $300,000 coming to coffee farmers to battle leaf rust
An additional $300,000 will soon be made available to coffee farmers to battle coffee leaf rust on the Big Island.
Residents protest failed injunction against COVID restrictions
Several dozen residents gathered in front of the Hilo courthouse Monday to protest a failed injunction against COVID-19 restrictions.
Hitchhiker pleads not guilty in frightening incident at Hilo drive-thru
A Puna man pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of kidnapping and armed robbery following a harrowing incident last week at a Hilo fast-food restaurant.
Ige eyeing tweaks to Safe Travels program
Gov. David Ige has no plans to end the Safe Travels program, but is considering adding more options for users.
Apple once threatened Facebook ban over Mideast maid abuse
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Two years ago, Apple threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram from its app store over concerns about the platform being used as a tool to trade and sell maids in the Mideast.
People or profit? Facebook papers show deep conflict within
Facebook the company is losing control of Facebook the product — not to mention the last shreds of its carefully crafted, decade-old image as a benevolent company just wanting to connect the world.
COVID-19 testing available in Hilo
Although lines have shortened, COVID-19 testing continues to be widely available in Hawaii County via the provider TrueCare24 six days a week.
Work ongoing at two Waiakea schools
Construction crews continue to work on paving parking lots at Waiakea Elementary School and Waiakea Intermediate School to address traffic concerns.
COVID cases falling, but trouble signs arise as winter looms
Tumbling COVID-19 case counts have some schools around the U.S. considering relaxing their mask rules, but deaths nationally have been ticking up over the past few weeks, some rural hospitals are showing signs of strain, and cold weather is setting in.
Tesla’s market value tops $1T after Hertz orders 100K cars
DETROIT — Hertz announced Monday that it will buy 100,000 electric vehicles from Tesla, one of the largest purchases of battery-powered cars in history and the latest evidence of the nation’s increasing commitment to EV technology.
Record-breaking storm douses drought-stricken California
SAN FRANCISCO — Across Northern California, crews worked Monday to clear streets of toppled trees and branches and to clean gutters clogged by debris carried by rainwater from a massive storm that caused flooding and rock slides, and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands.
Honolulu city workers cite religion for vaccine exemptions
HONOLULU (AP) — More than half of Honolulu first responders who applied for exemptions from the city’s vaccine mandate cited religion as their reason for not getting inoculated.
Your Views for October 26
Make it a monument
Bannon’s subpoena defiance is illegal, yet the ‘law and order’ party defends it
For anyone who still needs it, most Republican House members last week provided more evidence that the GOP — once the “law-and-order” party — is now the party that coddles criminals. By overwhelmingly voting against holding Donald Trump crony Steve Bannon in criminal contempt for his refusal to testify in the investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, this shameful roster (including all six of Missouri’s GOP House members) is once again running interference for a lawless ex-president who tried to overthrow a valid election.
Add voting rights to the long list of worthy goals killed by the filibuster
For the third time this year, Senate Republicans last week filibustered legislation that would have protected voting rights from GOP efforts around the country to restrict them. Democrats unanimously supported it this time, after the measure was scaled back to satisfy moderates. Yet the minority party was able to thwart the will of the Senate majority — not to mention the majority of the country — on an issue more critical than ever after former President Donald Trump’s unprecedented attempt to overturn last year’s election results.
UN: Greenhouse gas levels hit a new record, cuts fall short
GENEVA — Greenhouse gas concentrations hit a new record high last year and increased at a faster rate than the annual average for the last decade despite a temporary reduction during pandemic lockdowns, the World Meteorological Organization said in a report published Monday.
