DOH: 50 omicron cases in Hawaii
Hawaii now has 50 confirmed cases of the omicron variant of the novel coronavirus.
Police seeking vehicle involved in Puna mail thefts
The Hawaii Police Department is requesting public assistance in identifying a vehicle believed to be involved in a mail theft in Leilani Estates.
National academic honors for two of the Vuls’ best and brightest
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Second and win for Waikoloa mechanic: Hill wins Hawaii Bird Conservation marathon; Wee is top female
Running in his second marathon, Daniel Hill won the 4th annual Hawaii Bird Conservation marathon in 2 hours, 24 minutes on Sunday in a 26.2-mile race, which started at Volcano and finished at the Boys Scouts Council on Stainback Highway.
Breaking rank: UH-Hilo women continue to trend upward with win against acclaimed Anchorage in OT
It might be time to get ready to say “ranked” and “UHH women’s basketball team” in the same sentence.
Man gets 10 years for extreme abuse case
A 27-year-old Honokaa man was sentenced to 10 years behind bars Friday for a series of domestic abuse incidents that took place between February and April.
Fauci says omicron variant is ‘just raging around the world’
WILMINGTON, Del. — The COVID-19 omicron variant is “just raging around the world,” the White House’s top medical adviser said Sunday as President Joe Biden prepares to issue “a stark warning of what the winter will look like” for unvaccinated Americans.
Trying to please everyone: Redistricting Commission continues tinkering with council districts
Residents attending public hearings in Kona and Hilo this past week were pretty clear: They didn’t want the Kailua Village business district to be split between County Council districts, nor Waimea, nor Hawaiian Paradise Park, nor the Keaukaha and Panaewa Hawaiian Home Lands property.
Man enters not guilty plea in attempted murder case
A Big Island man pleaded not guilty Friday to attempted murder and four other charges stemming from a domestic violence incident earlier this month in which police allege the man tried to strangle the victim.
Police: Missing woman found safe
• According to police, 29-year-old Natalie Johnson, who was previously reported missing, was found Saturday in Puna in good health.
To the rescue: Police officers assist motorist left stranded on side of Kaawalii Gulch
The Hawaii Police Department’s mission statement mentions “preserving the spirit of aloha” and “working cooperatively with the community to … provide a safe environment.”
Typhoon deaths in Philippines top 140; mayors plead for food
MANILA, Philippines — The death toll in the strongest typhoon to batter the Philippines this year has reached at least 146, and the governor of an island province especially hard-hit by Typhoon Rai said there may be even greater devastation that has yet to be reported.
Manchin not backing Dems’ $2T bill, potentially dooming it
WASHINGTON — Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said Sunday he cannot back his party’s signature $2 trillion social and environment bill, dealing a potentially fatal blow to President Joe Biden’s leading domestic initiative heading into an election year when Democrats’ narrow hold on Congress was already in peril.
Spreading holiday cheer: West Hawaii kids ‘Shop with a Cop’
Hawaii Police Department officers spread some holiday cheer among West Hawaii keiki Saturday during the annual Shop with a Cop event in Kailua-Kona.
Spidey nets 3rd best opening of all time with $253 million
Never underestimate your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, even with a mutating virus afoot. Despite rising concerns over the omicron variant, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” not only shattered pandemic-era box office records; it became the third best opening of all time behind “Avengers: Endgame” ($357.1 million) and “Avengers: Infinity War” ($257.7 million).
The experts should feed Florida’s starving manatees
Federal and state officials made the right decision last week to feed manatees this winter on an emergency basis if the die-off in Florida continues. More than 1,000 manatees have died this year, out of estimated population statewide of about 9,000. Nearly 760 died, mostly from starvation, in the Indian River Lagoon, on Florida’s east coast, where pollution from farms, septic tanks and lawns has killed off seagrass, the manatee’s primary food source.
Rainy Side View: A road trip to remember
The first Christmas I spent away from home was during my freshman year at the University of Washington.
Vaccination rates are up, but holdouts ensure the virus will stick around
As of last week, more than 200 million Americans had been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, constituting around 60% of the population. It’s an important milestone, but so is the milestone of the nation’s 800,000th coronavirus death this week. With a new variant on the rise and a sizable minority of the country still holding out against the vaccines, infection rates continue to rise. What the U.S. is seeing now is what doctors are calling “an epidemic of the unvaccinated.” And it’s creating what psychologists call “pandemic fatigue” throughout society.
Big Island briefs, Dec. 19
Tryouts set for eXtreme Adrenaline
UHH women seek more thrills against No. 5 Alaska-Anchorage
UH-Hilo’s women’s basketball team has made do with just nine players in uniform all season, and lately they’ve been dressed to thrill.
Cartoon for December 19
The Big Island as seen by Hawaii Tribune-Herald cartoonist Gary Hoff.
Police seek missing Puna woman
Police are seeking leads from the public to locate 29-year-old Natalie Johnson of Puna, whom family members say they last heard from on Dec. 14.
‘It’s truly a blessing’: UH-Hilo holds in-person commencement
After nearly two years without a traditional graduation, the University of Hawaii at Hilo celebrated more than 200 graduates at an in-person commencement Saturday morning.
Water work to affect traffic on Highway 130
The county Department of Water Supply will be working on Keaau-Pahoa Road (Highway 130) near the Kaloli Drive intersection from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., daily, from Monday, Jan. 3, through Thursday, Jan. 6, to install a new water service.
