286 new cases on Big Island; more than 3,000 statewide
Almost 300 new COVID-19 cases were reported on the Big Island today, with more than 3,500 statewide.
BIIF boys basketball: Defending champ Kamehameha banking on man defense, ball movement, size
Darius Olloway, a 6-foot-4 senior, is the only starter back for the Kamehameha basketball team, which is loaded with promising young talent.
UHH men tough one out, down Holy Names after long layoff
The UH-Hilo men’s basketball team was lucky to get its PacWest game against Holy Names in on Thursday night at Hilo Civic.
Mosaic workshop slated at Volcano Art Center
Volcano Art Center is hosting a ‘make your own mosaic’ three-session workshop starting this weekend.
EHCC exhibit explores themes of personal and collective grief
Through the exhibition “Grief” at the East Hawaii Cultural Center, now on display, international artist and educator Douglas Diaz examines his personal grieving process in a world overwhelmed by the global pandemic.
First cruise ship in nearly two years slated to arrive in Hawaii next week
Carnival Corp.’s Grand Princess is scheduled to be the first passenger cruise ship to arrive in Hawaii since March 2020.
Schools sticking with in-person learning scramble for subs
HARTFORD, Conn. — Principals, superintendents and counselors are filling in as substitutes in classrooms as the surge in coronavirus infections further strains schools that already had been struggling with staffing shortages.
Biden warns of US peril from Trump’s ‘dagger’ at democracy
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden forcefully blamed Donald Trump and his supporters Thursday for holding a “dagger at the throat of democracy” with election lies that sparked last year’s deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol, using the anniversary of the attack to warn that America’s system of government remains under urgent threat.
More COVID-19 test sites open to alleviate demand
The demand for COVID-19 testing remains high as case counts climb following the New Year’s holiday weekend.
Reapportionment Commission approves House seat move from Oahu to Hawaii Island
The Big Island will gain an eighth seat this year in the state House of Representatives at the expense of Oahu, following an 8-0 vote Thursday by the state Reapportionment Commission.
Paauilo man nabbed in large meth bust
A 44-year-old man entered not guilty pleas Thursday to multiple offenses stemming from a large-scale methamphetamine bust Monday in Paauilo.
WHO: Record weekly jump in COVID-19 cases but fewer deaths
GENEVA — The World Health Organization said Thursday that a record 9.5 million COVID-19 cases were tallied over the last week as the omicron variant of the coronavirus swept the planet, a 71% increase from the previous 7-day period that the U.N. health agency likened to a “tsunami.” However, the number of weekly recorded deaths declined.
Monsanto pleads guilty to pesticide-related crimes in Hawaii
HONOLULU — The Monsanto Company pleaded guilty Thursday to illegally using and storing agricultural chemicals in Hawaii, and will pay $12 million in fines.
Hunters kill 20 Yellowstone wolves that roamed out of park
BILLINGS, Mont. — Twenty of Yellowstone National Park’s renowned gray wolves roamed from the park and were shot by hunters in recent months — the most killed by hunting in a single season since the predators were reintroduced to the region more than 25 years ago, according to park officials.
Dozens of protesters, 12 police dead in Kazakhstan protests
MOSCOW — Security forces in Kazakhstan killed dozens of protesters and 12 police officers died in an eruption of violence that saw demonstrators storm government buildings and set them on fire, authorities said Thursday.
Obituaries for January 7
Rudy Greenlee, 47, of Hawaii Island, died Dec. 17. No services. No known family. Survivors are asked to contact Hilo Medical Center at (808) 932-3500, option 4.
The ocean needs our help — now
Our two organizations, Blue Frontier and the Center for the Blue Economy, were among the first, in 2019, to highlight how our public seas must play a central role in national climate policy. The ocean, after all, is the planet’s major sequesterer of heat and carbon, as well as the source of vast quantities of carbon-free energy from winds, tides and currents. Coastal communities, from those of Native Alaskans to condo residents in south Florida, are on the frontlines for rising sea level impacts.
Hawaii council predicts tax revenue jump as tourism rebounds
HONOLULU — The Council on Revenues on Thursday predicted that the Hawaii’s general fund tax receipts will surge 15% during the current fiscal year through June as tourism recovers from the COVID-19 downturn.
