Why grading Byron Murphy’s rookie season with Seahawks isn’t easy
SEATTLE — After Byron Murphy II became the first Seahawk selected in the Mike Macdonald era, general manager John Schneider declared that “we had him graded as the best defensive player in the draft.”
The fastest spacecraft ever heads for its close-up with the sun
On Christmas Eve, a vehicle traveled at incomprehensible speed around a celestial object to bring wonder to the people of Earth — and it’s not Santa’s sleigh.
Hawaii basketball team falls 69-55 to Nebraska in Diamond Head Classic
Spending fight shows limits of Trump’s power to change fiscal path
WASHINGTON — When Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the businesspeople whom President-elect Donald Trump tapped to lead his new Department of Government Efficiency, met with lawmakers in early December, they laid out their plans for cutting federal spending and eliminating waste.
How ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ (and its writer) went down in history
There were “years of heartbreak,” songwriter Johnny Marks once recalled of his start in the music business in 1935. He eventually found some modest success collaborating on a No. 1 hit for the Ink Spots, “Address Unknown,” and songs made popular by Bing Crosby and Glenn Miller. It was just enough renown for Billboard magazine to briefly note his decision to pause to volunteer for World War II in the spring of 1942, when he enlisted as a U.S. Army private.
Nation and world news in brief for December 25
Former President Clinton discharged from hospital
Looting cripples food supply in Gaza despite Israeli pledge to tackle gangs, sources say
Israel has failed to crack down on armed gangs attacking food convoys in Gaza, despite a pledge to do so in mid-October to help ward off famine in the Palestinian enclave, according to three U.N. and U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
Grind Session hoops tourney in Hilo this week
Some of the best boys youth basketball talent in the nation will be coming to Hilo town this week.
A cultural casualty of the war in Ukraine: ‘The Nutcracker’
VILNIUS, Lithuania — Unimpressed by the substitute for Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker,” the mother and her young daughter left at the intermission, a small protest over a decision by the opera house not to perform the Russian composer’s Christmas classic.
Federal anti-hazing law would help save lives
Jolayne Houtz and Hector Martinez lost their 19-year-old son in 2019. And like many parents who have had that experience, they vowed to keep his memory alive. The Bellevue couple used the enormous personal tragedy of their son’s death to help thousands of others.
IRS cuts make Uncle Sam lose money — Reducing the enforcement budget is bad policy
No one loves the Internal Revenue Service, but we need the much-maligned agency having enough resources to make sure that everyone pays their fair share of taxes to support Uncle Sam and Republicans should not slash that funding.
As drugstores close, older people are left in ‘pharmacy deserts’
In July, a notice appeared on the front door of The Drug Store, the only pharmacy in rural Kernville, California. After 45 years, the proprietor wrote regretfully, it would be closing in four days and transferring customers’ prescriptions to a Rite Aid about 12 miles away.
NFL Christmas Day odds, expert picks, how to watch: Netflix, Beyoncé and one massive bet
It’s an NFL + Netflix yuletide extravaganza this week, with a Christmas Day doubleheader featuring some of the league’s top superstars, a taped Mariah Carey performance and a Beyoncé halftime show.
Obituaries for December 25
George Donald DeCosta, 87, of Volcano died Nov. 30 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a former Catholic priest at Malia Puka O Kalani Catholic Church in Keaukaha and U.S. Navy veteran. Celebration of life with music, entertainment and food noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18 at Cooper Center, 19-4030 Wright Rd) in Volcano. call or email Joseph Camacho at (808) 756-0439 or joe.k.camacho@gmail.com by Jan. 12 to confirm your attendance. Condolences to: P.O. Box 706, Volcano, HI 96785. Survived by hanai sons, Samuel Yates of Bakersfield, Calif., and Joseph Camacho of Volcano; sister, Pamela Carter of Hilo; two nephews, two nieces, two grandnephews, a grandniece, and a great-grandniece. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Huge waves batter California coast: Man dead, another missing, pier partially collapses
LOS ANGELES — Northern California is bracing for another day of deadly waves topping 40 feet Tuesday as officials in Santa Cruz search for survivors and assess the damage from a partial collapse of the city’s landmark pier.
Social Security’s full retirement age will jump in 2025. When can you collect your full benefits?
LOS ANGELES – If you were planning to retire next year, double check your math because a law passed in the ’80s is annually raising the age when Americans can collect their full Social Security benefits. And next year is no exception.
Why I’m getting rid of my smartwatch
The first thing I do each morning is check my watch — not for the time but for my sleep score.
American Airlines briefly grounds US flights over technical issue
American Airlines briefly grounded all its flights in the United States on Tuesday morning, according to a notice from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Trump slams Biden for commuting death sentences of 37 federal prisoners
President-elect Donald Trump slammed President Joe Biden on Tuesday for commuting the death sentences of 37 federal prisoners in an act of holiday clemency.
Love match: Katie Boulter, Alex de Minaur announce engagement
Australia’s Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter of Great Britain made some news before the scheduled United Cup competition between their nations on New Year’s Day.
Lakers, Warriors enter spotlight chasing bounce-back efforts
LeBron James and Stephen Curry share the national spotlight on Christmas Day for perhaps the final time when the visiting Los Angeles Lakers square off with the Golden State Warriors in the holiday primetime showcase Wednesday night at San Francisco.
Olympic Snowboarder From Switzerland Dies in Avalanche at 26
Sophie Hediger, a member of Switzerland’s national snowboard cross team who competed in the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, died Monday in an avalanche in the Swiss Alps, the country’s ski federation said. She was 26.
Your Views for December 24
Campaign to smear Gabbard is ‘shameful’
Young mammoth remains found nearly intact in Siberian permafrost
YAKUTSK, Russia, — Researchers in Siberia are conducting tests on a juvenile mammoth whose remarkably well-preserved remains were discovered in thawing permafrost after more than 50,000 years.
Apple approaches $4 trillion valuation as investors bet on AI momentum
Apple is closing in on a historic $4 trillion stock market valuation, powered by investors cheering progress in the company’s long-awaited AI enhancements to rejuvenate sluggish iPhone sales.
