Cartoon for January 2
The Big Island as seen by Hawaii Tribune-Herald cartoonist Gary Hoff.
Officials: Nearly 1K structures destroyed in Colorado fire
SUPERIOR, Colo. — A Colorado official says nearly 1,000 homes and other structures were destroyed, hundreds more were damaged, and three people are missing after a wildfire charred numerous neighborhoods in a suburban area at the base of the Rocky Mountains.
‘Just hop on the bus’: Council bill would make bus rides free thanks to grants
Bus rides may be free for the next two years if a bill being discussed by the Hawaii County Council passes.
Another blow for Honua Ola
The state’s Consumer Advocate has filed a document with the Public Utilities Commission saying “due to remaining questions and concerns, it is unable to recommend approval” of Honua Ola Bioenergy, the nearly completed biomass power plant in Pepeekeo.
Taking a step back: US colleges returning to online classes
With COVID-19 cases surging just as students are about to return from winter break, dozens of U.S. colleges are moving classes online again for at least the first week or so of the semester — and some warn it could stretch longer if the wave of infection doesn’t subside soon.
Volcano woman to be sentenced for robberies, brazen parking lot incident
A 26-year-old Volcano woman will be sentenced later this month for multiple robberies and a brazen daylight parking lot incident in which two police officers discharged their service weapons.
New Year’s Rose Parade marches on despite COVID-19 surge
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — A year after New Year’s Day passed without a Rose Parade due to the coronavirus pandemic, marching bands and floral floats took to the streets again to celebrate the arrival of 2022 despite a new surge of infections due to the omicron variant.
Pope on new year: Pandemic is hard, but focus on the good
VATICAN CITY — In his New Year’s wishes to the world, Pope Francis encouraged people Saturday to focus on the good which unites them and decried violence against women while acknowledging that the coronavirus pandemic has left many scared and struggling amid economic inequality.
12 dead in crowd surge at popular Hindu shrine in Kashmir
SRINAGAR, India — A crowd surge at a popular Hindu shrine in Indian-controlled Kashmir killed at least 12 people and injured 15 others on New Year’s Day, officials said.
New year brings more canceled flights for air travelers
For air travelers, the new year picked up where the old one left off – with lots of frustration.
Israeli jets hit militant targets in Gaza after rocket fire
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military said early Sunday it launched strikes against militant targets in the Gaza Strip, a day after rockets were fired from the Hamas-ruled territory.
Obituaries for January 2
Kosetatino “Kofe” Gugu, 82, of Hilo died Dec. 7 at home. Born in Asili, American Samoa. He was a retired supervisor for McKinley Car Wash in Honolulu and member of Pahoa Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Family service at 5 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 6) at Connect Point Church, 168 Holomua St. in Hilo. Casual attire; face masks and social distancing required. Survived by daughter, Ema Leilani Gugu (Ulufale) Noa-Vae; hanai daughters, Taiana Kapeli and Eveliga (Jake Kunimitsu) Kapeli-Kunimitsu; hanai son, Guy Nelson Nobriga Jr.; 10 grandchildren and a great-grandson. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Pass democracy-saving voting rights law
It’s time to start panicking about the possibility of losing democracy in the United States. A host of bills are being passed in electoral battleground states, many of which are controlled by GOP-majority legislatures and governors. They seek either to keep liberal-leaning constituencies from voting or, more nefariously, to let election officials overturn accurate results.
Volcano Watch: Should old eruptions be forgot? Increase your volcano awareness this January
We traditionally spend the New Year singing “Auld Lang Syne,” a song that reminisces about times long past. For the first month of the New Year, staff at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and hopefully you too, will reflect on past and ongoing eruptions during the annual Volcano Awareness Month.
Your Views for January 2
No rights for victims
