BIIF glance, Feb. 1
BASKETBALL
BIIF basketball: HPA spoils Ka’u’s much-delayed opener
All BIIF athletes and coaches have had to remain patient while navigating their seasons amid a pandemic, but extra credit goes out to Ka’u’s boys basketball team. It had been waiting around to play the longest.
BIIF swimming and diving results
Saturday at HPA
‘It’s an amazing field’: UHH goes up against some of nation’s best at Amer Ari
The 31st annual UH-Hilo men’s golf team’s Amer Ari tournament features 10 nationally ranked teams and seven ranked golfers, including defending champion David Puig from Arizona State.
BIIF soccer: Hilo boys blanket Kamehameha 3-0
KEAAU – For any BIIF followers looking to see what they’d missed while they were away, Hilo High packed a condensed version of its 2022 self into 80 minutes of crisp soccer.
40,000 open building permits set to expire as county streamlines permit process
More than 40,000 open building permits, some dating back 40 years, will be declared null and void if permit holders don’t act soon, as the county continues its transition to an online permit system.
Omicron amps up concerns about long COVID and its causes
More than a year after a bout with COVID-19, Rebekah Hogan still suffers from severe brain fog, pain and fatigue that leave her unable to do her nursing job or handle household activities.
Finding an alternative road to Puna: Measure would fund surveys for possible routes
State Rep. Greggor Ilagan has introduced a bill that, if passed, would order and fund site surveys to identify the most suitable location for an alternate road to lower Puna makai of Highway 130.
State: Amplifier short circuit caused siren malfunction
A spokesman for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said a malfunctioning emergency warning siren that sounded in error Saturday night was caused by an amplifier in the siren apparatus that had short-circuited.
Measuring climate change: It’s not just heat, it’s humidity
When it comes to measuring global warming, humidity, not just heat, matters in generating dangerous climate extremes, a new study finds.
Mandate to vaccinate New Orleans schoolchildren kicking in
NEW ORLEANS — As school systems across the U.S. struggle to keep classrooms open amid the pandemic, New Orleans is set to become the nation’s first major district to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for children 5 and up, though state regulations will allow parents to opt out easily.
State briefs for February 1
Undercover police explored for illegal fireworks
Celebrations for Year of the Tiger are muted, but bring hope
BEIJING — People across Asia prepared Monday for muted Lunar New Year celebrations amid concerns over the coronavirus and virulent omicron variant, even as increasing vaccination rates raised hopes that the Year of the Tiger might bring life back closer to normal.
Obituaries for February 1
Leroy Robert Mattos, 64, of Honomu died Jan. 21 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo and was employed by the former Hamakua Sugar Co., was a supervisor at Mauna Kea Banana, a security guard, member of the Hawaii National Guard and the U.S. Army Ready Reserve, he was also a cook at the former Herk’s Tavern, the former Apple Annie’s and the former Kalapana Drive Inn. Celebration of life at a later date. Survived by wife, Shelly Mattos of Honomu; sons, Lee Mattos and Alden Mattos of Honomu; sisters, Sandra (Ronald) Konanui and Monica (Victor) DeCosta of Honomu, Sharon (Robert) Arial of Pepeekeo; brother, Wayne (Tina) Mattos of Honokaa; brothers-in-law, Milton (Suellen) Tanoue and Carl (Betsy) Tanoue of Hilo; sisters-in-law, Hazel (Bill) Michling of Texas, Elaine (Richard) Fukui and Lana (Wendell) Paiva of Hilo; cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Canada PM tests positive for COVID, rips anti vaccine demo
TORONTO — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday he has tested positive for COVID-19 but is “feeling fine” and will continue to work remotely from home.
Judge rejects plea deal for man who killed Ahmaud Arbery
BRUNSWICK, Ga. — A federal judge rejected a plea agreement Monday that would have averted a hate crimes trial for the white man convicted of murder for fatally shooting Ahmaud Arbery, whose parents angrily objected to the deal as unfair and unjust.
Russia, US exchange harsh words over Ukraine at UN
UNITED NATIONS — Russia accused the West on Monday of “whipping up tensions” over Ukraine and said the U.S. had brought “pure Nazis” to power in Kyiv as the U.N. Security Council held a stormy and bellicose debate on Moscow’s troop buildup near its southern neighbor.
US military to appeal Hawaii’s order to drain fuel tanks
HONOLULU — A top U.S. military official said Monday the Defense Department will appeal Hawaii’s order that it drain fuel from a massive tank farm that leaked petroleum into the Navy’s water system and contaminated Pearl Harbor’s tap water.
Let’s Talk Food: Japanese curry
Curry was introduced to Japan during the Meiji era, between 1868-1912, when the Indian subcontinent was under British rule. The soldiers of Indian descent in Japan then introduced them to curry. This dish took off in popularity and the rest is history.
Biden has a chance to leave the Constitution stronger
When President Donald Trump left Washington last January after losing his noisy battle to overturn the 2020 election, it was tempting to heave a sigh of relief and rejoice that the guardrails of democracy had held.
