Have a safe trip: Oregon trains magic mushroom facilitators
DAMASCUS, Oregon (AP) — At a woodsy retreat center in Oregon, some 30 men and women are seated or lying down, masks covering their eyes and listening to serene music.
International migration drove US population growth in 2022
The U.S. population expanded by 1.2 million people this year, with growth largely driven by international migration, and the nation now has 333.2 million residents, according to estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Homelessness is especially deadly in the winter
On the longest night of the year (known as the winter solstice), hundreds of communities in the United States honor people who died while affected by homelessness over the past year.
I lost my grandson to fentanyl. We owe young people like him a lot more
My grandson Joshua died from fentanyl last month.
FTX founder Bankman-Fried allowed $250M bond, house arrest
NEW YORK (AP) — Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried walked out of a Manhattan courthouse Thursday with his parents after they agreed to sign a $250 million bond and keep him at their California home while he awaits trial on charges that he swindled investors and looted customer deposits on his FTX trading platform.
US economy grew 3.2% in Q3, an upgrade from earlier estimate
WASHINGTON (AP) — Shrugging off rampant inflation and rising interest rates, the U.S. economy grew at an unexpectedly strong 3.2% annual pace from July through September, the government reported Thursday in a healthy upgrade from its earlier estimate of third-quarter growth.
Pope warns Vatican staff an ‘elegant demon’ lurks among them
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis warned Vatican bureaucrats on Thursday to beware the devil that lurks among them, saying it is an “elegant demon” that works in people who have a rigid, holier-than-thou way of living the Catholic faith.
Your Views for December 23
Quarantine thwarted
Photos: Konawaena defeats Kamehameha
Konawaena defeated Kamehameha 55-53 in overtime on Wednesday night. The Wildcats are 7-2 overall this season and will be playing Hawaii Preparatory at home at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 7. The Warriors are now 4-5 and will face Honokaa at home on Jan. 2.
Franco Harris’ legacy forged in humility and empathy
PITTSBURGH — It was never just about football to Franco Harris. It couldn’t be. That would have been too limiting. Too easy. A cop out.
AP source: Mets swoop, snatch Correa for $315M, 12-year deal
In a wild twist overnight, Carlos Correa agreed to a $315 million, 12-year contract with the free-spending New York Mets after his pending deal with the San Francisco Giants came apart over an issue with his physical.
NIL casts cloud over college football’s early signing period
The early signing period for college football opened Wednesday and in many ways it looked the same as usual.
US to send $1.8 billion in aid, Patriot battery, to Ukraine
WASHINGTON — The U.S. will send $1.8 billion in military aid to Ukraine in a massive package that will for the first time include a Patriot missile battery and precision guided bombs for their fighter jets, U.S. officials said Tuesday, as the Biden administration prepares to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington.
California town grapples with toll of quake on homes, water
RIO DELL, Calif. — Outside the Dollar General, the store manager ticked off the items she had to share with families trying to jumpstart their lives after an earthquake jolted them from their beds and cut off the town’s water and power.
Migrants at US-Mexico border await ruling on asylum limits
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Francisco Palacios waited for four hours with his wife and 3-year-old daughter at a border crossing between Tijuana and San Diego early Wednesday before going to a nearby hotel for a three-hour nap. They came back, bags packed, only to be disappointed again.
Council delays forming Hilo business group
A proposed Business Improvement District for Hilo was kicked down the road Wednesday after the Hawaii County Council voted to postpone the matter until March.
Battling the beetle: Officials propose release of wasp to fight coffee berry borer
Officials are proposing the release of a parasitoid wasp from Africa to assist in the fight against the invasive coffee berry borer.
Kahele bill seeks to lower blood quantum requirement for DHHL lease successors
U.S. Rep Kai Kahele has introduced a bill to reduce the Native Hawaiian blood quantum required for those wanting to succeed relatives who currently have a lease from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands or are on the application waiting list.
Storm adds uncertainty to strong holiday travel demand
Concerns about illness or inflation aren’t stopping Americans from hitting the roads and airports this holiday season. But a massive winter storm might.
Obituaries for December 22
Dorothy “Lei” Ah Tou, 81 of Kealia died Oct. 21 at home. Born in North Kona, she was retired from the Kealakekua Ace Hardware and a member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church (Painted Church. Celebration of life held. Survived by sons, Thomas M. Ah Tou Sr. and Mervyn K. Ah Tou of Kealia; five grandchildren and four great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Jan. 6 panel prepares to unveil final report on insurrection
WASHINGTON (AP) — An 800-page report set to be released Thursday by House investigators will conclude that then-President Donald Trump criminally plotted to overturn his 2020 election defeat and “provoked his supporters to violence” at the Capitol with false claims of widespread voter fraud.
Pro-oil petition drive in California under question
Community organizer Pete Woiwode was walking to meet a friend at a street festival near downtown Oakland in November when a signature gatherer approached and asked if he wanted to sign a petition to lower gas prices.
WHO “very concerned” about reports of severe COVID in China
GENEVA (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization said the agency is “very concerned” about rising reports of severe coronavirus disease across China after the country largely abandoned its “zero COVID” policy, warning that its lagging vaccination rate could result in large numbers of vulnerable people getting infected.
Why we must bring back the full Child Tax Credit
It’s been one year since the last monthly Child Tax Credit (CTC) payment was issued.
Elongate: Musk’s Twitter bans make a mockery of conservative complaints
In April, when Elon Musk offered to buy Twitter, he spoke in elevated terms about fulfilling a high moral purpose. “I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy,” he said, adding “since making my investment I now realize the company will neither thrive nor serve this societal imperative in its current form. Twitter needs to be transformed as a private company.”
