PUC rejects Honua Ola’s bid to go online
The state Public Utilities Commission has again rejected a power purchase agreement between Hawaiian Electric Co. and Honua Ola Bioenergy — preventing the nearly completed wood-burning powerplant formerly known as Hu Honua from going online.
Roth encourages “mindful masking” as COVID numbers rise
Mayor Mitch Roth has called for “mindful masking” among Big Island residents as COVID cases increase.
Consumers defy inflation to support economy. For how long?
WASHINGTON — With prices across the economy — from food, gas and rent to cars, airfares and hotel rooms — soaring at their fastest pace in decades, you might think Americans would tap the brakes on spending.
Biden promises ‘concrete benefits’ from Asian trade pact
TOKYO — President Joe Biden early Monday promised “concrete benefits” for the people of the Indo-Pacific region from a new trade pact he was set to launch, designed to signal U.S. dedication to the contested economic sphere and address the need for stability in commerce after disruptions caused by the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
County takes different approach to relocate homeless from Kona park
Twenty individuals who have been camping in front of the Kona Community Aquatic Center were relocated Friday morning by a coordinated effort between county departments and service providers.
Kim, other N. Koreans attend large funeral amid COVID worry
SEOUL, South Korea — A huge number of North Koreans including leader Kim Jong Un attended a funeral for a top official, state media reported today, as the country maintained the much-disputed claim that its suspected coronavirus outbreak is subsiding.
Charter proposals seek to fine-tune mayor’s administration
Two council members are looking to fine-tune the structure of administrative offices to better respond to constituent concerns.
Priceless seeds, sprouts key to US West’s post-fire future
A New Mexico facility where researchers work to restore forests devastated by fires faced an almost cruelly ironic threat: The largest wildfire burning in the U.S. was fast approaching.
78,000 pounds of infant formula arrives in US
INDIANAPOLIS — A military plane carrying enough specialty infant formula for more than half a million baby bottles arrived Sunday in Indianapolis, the first of several flights expected from Europe aimed at relieving a shortage that has sent parents scrambling to find enough to feed their children.
Rural Texas official arrested, charged with stealing cattle
MENTONE, Texas (AP) — The top elected official in a rural and sparsely populated West Texas county has been arrested after being accused of stealing cattle.
Taliban enforcing face-cover order for female TV anchors
ISLAMABAD — Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers on Sunday began enforcing an order requiring all female TV news anchors in the country to cover their faces while on-air. The move is part of a hard-line shift drawing condemnation from rights activists.
Obituaries for May 23
Betty Jane Becker, 95, of Kailua-Kona died May 10 at home. Born in Los Angeles, she was a homemaker. Private services to be held. Survived by daughters Sharon (Milton) Miles of Idaho, Debbie (Ronald) Horst of Kailua-Kona; son James (Linda) Becker of New Mexico; seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Rainy Side View: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
I’m sure you’ve heard about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an accumulation of trash twice the size of Texas, floating in the North Pacific Ocean between California and Japan, with Hawaii right in the middle.
Who are they? And what do they want?
They don’t try to communicate, and they don’t respond when we try to communicate with them. They speed away if we get too close. They move faster than anything known in this world and violate the laws of physics. At least 11 times, they’ve nearly collided with American military aircraft. And we have no idea what UFOs, now known as unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), are.
Say no to nuclear power
The nuclear power industry has been pushing the fantasy of yet another “renaissance” of nuclear power, based on the absurd idea that atomic reactors — which operate at 571 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in substantial greenhouse gas emissions and, periodically, explosions — can somehow cool the planet.
