Queen’s plans new hospital in Kailua-Kona with helipad, housing

The Queen’s Health Systems plans to build an 80-bed hospital next to the Kailua-Kona Costco on Hawaii island that would include a helipad to cut travel time to its trauma center on Oahu and, critically, construct adjacent, below-market-­rate housing to recruit and retain some of the estimated 300 hospital staff, nurses and doctors.

Under Trump, Voice of America journalists fear politicization

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Kari Lake to serve as the director of the federally funded broadcaster Voice of America sent a chill through the ranks of the organization, where journalists expressed anxiety about Lake and what the future could hold.

Uber and Lyft found a loophole in a driver pay law. Drivers pushed back.

NEW YORK — New York City was the first place in the United States to mandate minimum pay rates for drivers for companies such as Uber and Lyft. But after the companies found a loophole that made it much harder for some drivers to get by, the city is looking to change its law, prompting dueling pressure campaigns as both sides seek to influence the outcome.

New federal rule limits overdraft fees at large banks

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Thursday finalized a rule that would limit overdraft charges at large banks and credit unions, a move that federal officials said could help save Americans billions in fees each year.

Can a US missile defense system shield Guam from Chinese threat?

An SM-3 interceptor erupted into the night sky over Guam late on Tuesday, its engine briefly illuminating the northeast corner of the island as it accelerated toward its target: a ballistic missile. U.S. Missile Defense Agency and military personnel monitored the radars and telescopic cameras tracking both projectiles; this was not an attack, but a complex test.

Cell tower bills head to council

A duel between two proposed regulations on Big Island cell towers ended with both bills victorious, after the Windward Planning Commission punted them both to the County Council on Thursday.

November rainfall a one-day deluge

Much of the Big Island received normal to near-normal rainfall totals in November. In some areas, however, especially in East Hawaii, much, if not most fell on Nov. 4.