Laundrie family hopes for answers after remains found
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Family members were hoping for more answers from law enforcement regarding the cause of death for Brian Laundrie, who was a person of interest in the death of girlfriend Gabby Petito while the couple was on a cross-country road trip, an attorney said Friday.
US budget deficit hits $2.77 trillion in 2021, 2nd highest
WASHINGTON — The U.S. budget deficit totaled $2.77 trillion for 2021, the second highest on record but an improvement from the all-time high of $3.13 trillion reached in 2020. The deficits in both years reflect trillions of dollars in government spending to counteract the devastating effects of a global pandemic.
Guns and belligerence are a bad combination. Especially at 30,000 feet
Federal aviation officials say more airline passengers than ever are showing up at airports with guns. Combined with the general uptick in belligerent behavior by passengers, this is an issue with the potential for real mayhem.
How not to let corporations kill Biden’s agenda
I’m not one of those liberals who believe that corporate greed is the root of all evil. It’s the root of only some evil; there are other dark forces, especially white nationalism, stalking the U.S. body politic.
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:
Tropical Gardening: Kona coffee harvesting now
Coffee was introduced to Hawaii almost 200 years ago, but it thrived best in Kona where the unique climate and soils were ideal. Kona coffee has experienced a quiet birth over a century ago, growth, expansion, almost death and a rebirth that has put Kona on the map as a number one producer of top quality coffee.
Senior project: Waiakea has experience, but they’re focused on effort, not outcome
Waiakea football coach Neil Azevedo has a huge roster with 71 players, including 14 seniors, so a few of them remember the 2019 season, which didn’t end happily ever after.
State preps for approval of Pfizer vaccinations for those 5-11
The state Department of Health is planning for the likely administration of COVID-19 vaccinations to children 5-11 as it closely monitors federal review of the Pfizer vaccine for that age group.
COVID vaccine: CDC expands booster rollout, OKs mixing shots
WASHINGTON — Millions more Americans can get a COVID-19 booster and choose a different company’s vaccine for that next shot, federal health officials said Thursday.
Council seeks Sunshine Law changes
All nine members of the County Council on Wednesday embraced a resolution seeking changes to the state Sunshine Law, even though most of the details remain unclear.
Hotels see ‘significant decline’ in occupancy rates after Ige request
Hawaii Island hotels saw occupancy drop significantly in September following Gov. David Ige’s request travelers hold off on coming to the Aloha State as Hawaii battled a surge in COVID cases.
Funds released to improve Waimea charter school
Construction of electrical and telecommunication system upgrades are set to begin at Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School following the release Monday of $1.2 million in Capital Improvement Project funds by Gov. David Ige.
Police: Scam tells victims to pay or have Social Security number canceled
Police are warning Big Island residents to be wary of a recent string of telephone scams by people posing as government officials.
Recent nene deaths caused by speeding, feeding in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
October marks the start of nene breeding and nesting season in Hawaii, but unfortunately the season is off to a deadly start for native geese in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Fed imposes sweeping new limits on policymakers’ investments
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve is imposing a broad new set of restrictions on the investments its officials can own, a response to questionable recent trades that forced two top Fed officials to resign.
Biden bill would put US back on path of reducing uninsured
WASHINGTON — The Democrats’ social spending and climate change bill would put the United States back on a path to reducing its persistent pool of uninsured people, with estimates ranging from 4 million to 7 million Americans gaining health coverage.
Remote Hawaiian immersion option 2 months into school year
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii education officials have launched a distance learning program for Hawaiian language immersion students — two months in the school year.
Your Views for October 22
Nice job
‘Forever chemicals’ are everywhere. It’s time to rein them in
Polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a class of man-made chemicals that break down slowly in the environment, can accumulate in the human body and have been linked to all manner of negative health effects from cancer to high cholesterol.
FBI: Remains found in Florida park ID’d as Brian Laundrie
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The FBI on Thursday identified human remains found in a Florida nature preserve as those of Brian Laundrie, a person of interest in the death of girlfriend Gabby Petito while the couple was on a cross-country road trip.
Let’s dismantle the surveillance state
On Oct. 26, 2001, Congress passed the U.S. PATRIOT Act. As a member of the U.S. Senate at the time, I cast the lone vote against it.
Obituaries for October 22
Yvonne Leslie Caplener, 91, of Kailua-Kona died Sept. 6 at Kona Community Hospital. Born in Kapaa, Kauai, she was a retired nurse at the Wahiawa General Hospital on Oahu. Services to be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18, at St. Catherine’s of Alexandria Cemetery in Kapaa. Survived by daughters Desiree Ann (Stephen) Watson of Wailuku, Maui; Jasie Paula Teves of Kailua-Kona; and Cecilia Nakaahiki of Moreno Valley, Calif.; seven grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
House votes to hold Trump ally Steve Bannon in contempt
WASHINGTON — The House voted Thursday to hold Steve Bannon, a longtime ally and aide to former President Donald Trump, in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the committee investigating the violent Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
Moscow closing schools, many businesses as virus deaths soar
MOSCOW — Restaurants, movie theaters and many retail stores in Moscow will be closed for 11 days starting Oct. 28, along with other new restrictions, officials said Thursday, as Russia recorded the highest numbers of coronavirus infections and deaths since the pandemic began.
Soccer: UHH women beat Biola 2-0, run win streak to six
On a sublime early afternoon for soccer, UH-Hilo’s women’s soccer team put forth a performance worthy off the backdrop.
