HVNP fire now 100% contained
HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK – The wildfire on the southeast flank of Mauna Loa is 100% contained and is holding at 42.5 acres in size, HVNP announced Tuesday.
Council wants details on homeless program
A skeptical council Finance Committee on Tuesday advanced a no-bid $10 a year lease for a homeless shelter in Kona’s Old Industrial Area after officials with the county Housing Office and the nonprofit holding the contract assured council members they would provide more details about the program at the final reading of the measure Aug. 3.
NOAA administrator ratifies dolphin swim ban
As litigation over the validity of a rule banning swimming with Hawaiian spinner dolphins continues, NOAA Administrator Richard Spinrad recently ratified the final rule issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service last fall.
Ookala Post Office to close: Users of the plantation-era site will have to get their mail in Paauilo
The Ookala Post Office is closing at the end of business on July 31, and dozens of seniors who live in the former plantation town on the Hamakua Coast will now have to go to Paauilo to get their mail.
US environmental study launched for Thirty Meter Telescope
HONOLULU — The National Science Foundation said Tuesday it plans to conduct a study to evaluate the environmental effects of building one of the world’s largest optical telescopes on sites selected on the Big Island and Spain’s Canary Islands.
Waianuenue Ave work slated to be finished by end of year
Construction work on Waianuenue Avenue is still on track to be finished by the end of December.
Most major nations lag in acting on climate-fighting goals
WASHINGTON — For most of the major carbon-polluting nations, promising to fight climate change is a lot easier than actually doing it. In the United States, President Joe Biden has learned that the hard way.
House passes same-sex marriage bill in retort to high court
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House overwhelmingly approved legislation Tuesday to protect same-sex and interracial marriages amid concerns that the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade abortion access could jeopardize other rights criticized by many conservatives.
Methanol in blood of teens who died in South African tavern
JOHANNESBURG — The toxic chemical methanol has been identified as a possible cause of the deaths of 21 teenagers at a bar in the South African city of East London last month.
UK breaks record for highest temperature as Europe sizzles
LONDON — Britain shattered its record for highest temperature ever registered Tuesday amid a heat wave that has seared swaths of Europe, as the U.K.’s national weather forecaster said such highs are now a fact of life in a country ill-prepared for such extremes.
Putin, in Tehran, gets strong support from Iran over Ukraine
TEHRAN, Iran — Russian President Vladimir Putin won staunch support from Iran on Tuesday for his country’s military campaign in Ukraine, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei saying the West opposes an “independent and strong” Russia.
Obituaries for July 20
Kristin Kaena Elizabeth Abarca, 40, of Aspers, Penn., died June 15 at her family’s home. Born in Kapaau, she was a medical decoder and biller for Bridgeport Healthcare and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kohala Ward. Visitation 9-11 a.m., Saturday (July 23) at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kohala Ward. Funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial to follow at Hawi County Cemetery. Casual attire. Survived by hanai son, Sivai Afoa of Pennsylvania; hanai daughters, Antonette Carvalho of Hawi and Amelia Afoa of Pennsylvania; mother, Keala (Ronnie) Brown of Aberdeen Md.; father, Jeffrey (Desiree) Medeiros of Hawi; sisters, Jackie (Frank) Johnson of Hilo, Crystalyn (Chris Usman) Rabang of Hawi, Ariel Afoa of Arizona, Sariah (Anthony) Scaffidi of Pennsylvania and Ivy (Elmer Romero) Medeiros of Marylane; maternal grandmother, Lillian Ching of Hawi; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
In post-Roe America, questions arise over the meaning of fetal personhood
A Texas woman is fighting a ticket she received on June 29 for driving in a Dallas HOV lane. Under normal circumstances, this would not merit an editorial mention. But times have changed in Texas. The woman, Brandy Bottone, argues that, because she is pregnant, her fetus counts as a human with equal rights under Texas law. The Texas Legislature and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott made that bed with a big assist from the U.S. Supreme Court, now they must lie in it.
Your Views for July 20
County roads
The Webb telescope photos are a welcome antidote to the grim facts of today
Facts these days seem so grim. They feel like storm clouds: all too real and ready to bring more lightning than much-needed rain.
Stanton, Buxton lead AL over NL in 9th straight All-Star win
LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton homered into an especially sweet spot in his Dodger Stadium homecoming at the All-Star Game, putting his name alongside some of the sluggers he loved watching from the left field seats as a kid.
For Ukrainian high jumper, world silver feels like gold
EUGENE, Ore. — The second-place finish at world championships was beside the point for Ukraine’s best high jumper, Yaroslava Mahuchikh.
NASCAR to hit the streets of Chicago with downtown race
CHICAGO — Ben Kennedy is thinking big. As in big cities, big ideas and big plans.
