Boeing whistleblower John Barnett died by suicide, coroner rules
Boeing whistleblower John “Mitch” Barnett took his own life on March 9, South Carolina authorities reiterated in two reports released Friday. All findings suggest he died from a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Ukraine braces for heavy battles as Putin says Russia carving out ‘buffer zone’
KYIV — Ukraine’s top commander warned on Friday of “heavy battles” looming on the war’s new front in the northeastern Kharkiv region as Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was carving out a “buffer zone” in the area.
Phillies’ Johan Rojas made it look easy in center last year. This season hasn’t been as smooth
PHILADELPHIA — The day after two balls clanked off his red glove, Johan Rojas went to right field to practice with some tennis balls. But he wasn’t the only outfielder doing the drill Thursday afternoon. Paco Figueroa, the first-base coach who oversees Phillies outfielders, invited everyone.
In today’s game, more than before, catchers ‘have to enjoy the bruises’
Catching was a family tradition, so when Reese McGuire of the Boston Red Sox was 8 or 9, as he recalled, he tested out his new catching gear in the backyard on Christmas. As he crouched in the grass and baseballs caromed off his forearms, his grandfather told him: “It takes a tough kid to be a catcher. You have to enjoy the bruises.”
Fierce fighting in northern Gaza as aid starts to roll off US-built pier
CAIRO — Israeli forces battled Hamas fighters in the narrow alleyways of Jabalia in northern Gaza on Friday in some of the fiercest engagements since they returned to the area a week ago, while in the south militants attacked tanks massing around Rafah.
Man who attacked Pelosi’s husband with hammer gets 30 years in prison
(Reuters) — The man who broke into former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s home in 2022 and assaulted her husband with a hammer was sentenced on Friday to 30 years in prison, federal prosecutors said.
Super Bowl odds, projections: Why our model sees Falcons, Chargers as playoff contenders
With the NFL schedule officially released Wednesday night, it’s time to simulate the entire season using my NFL Projection Model. The model forecasts the quality of each team and then simulates each game of the regular season and playoffs until a Super Bowl champion emerges.
Scottie Scheffler fires 66 following ‘huge misunderstanding,’ arrest
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It was a day the world’s top golfer could have never expected.
Caitlin Clark show comes to Big Apple as Fever visit Liberty
The New York Liberty look to remain unbeaten on Saturday afternoon when they host the Indiana Fever and rookie Caitlin Clark in their home opener in Brooklyn.
NFL distances itself from player’s controversial speech on women, LGBTQ issues
The NFL has distanced itself from a commencement speech by Kansas City Chiefs placekicker Harrison Butker in which he urged women to prioritize motherhood over careers, attacked President Joe Biden for supporting abortion rights and criticized “dangerous gender ideologies.”
Tropical Gardening: Invasive insects and disease far worse than most weeds
We tend to freak out when a new invasive plant species arrives in our islands, but most spread relatively slowly. Usually we have some time to either deal with them or learn to live with them. Being plants, they are at least sequestering carbon and supplying oxygen. Some like the Fountain Grass covering the raw lava flows help to break down the rocks and in time create habitat for birds and other wildlife. The downside is that it and other non native grasses also create the opportunity for fires to spread. This requires management practices to avoid fires such as grazing, firebreaks, planting fire resistant vegetation to shade out grasses, etcetera.
Sin City scares: a guide to Las Vegas’ most haunting attractions
LAS VEGAS — Just what are Vegas’ most haunting haunts?
When ‘Stop the Steal’ becomes your motto
There is a good chance that Donald Trump’s polling lead in the 2024 presidential election is more fragile than it looks.
You won’t like Trumponomics 2.0
Whoever wins November’s election, inflation will present them with an immediate challenge. More than two years after the Federal Reserve started raising interest rates to alleviate a pandemic-era price spike, the so-called core consumer price index remains well above the central bank’s target. It’s a bit puzzling, then, that former President Donald Trump’s economic agenda seems to be dedicated to raising prices.
Motorcyclist dies after crash in Ka‘u
A 59-year-old Ocean View man died Thursday following a motorcycle crash Thursday at the intersection of Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 11) and Leilani Street in Ka‘u.
Menendez jurors see the gold bars at the heart of a bribery case
NEW YORK — With the corruption trial of Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., underway Thursday, a prosecutor handed a juror in the first row of the jury box a plastic bag containing an object at the heart of the government’s case: a gold bar that glinted under the courtroom lights.
Collumn: Dramatic weekend at youth soccer championships
Heavy rain and a flash flood advisory didn’t stop the 2024 Big Island Hawaii Youth Soccer Association (HYSA) Championships from happening, as youth club teams from across the isle — ranging from U8 to U19 — gathered for the playoff and championship games at Hilo’s Bayfront soccer fields.
Maui native crowned new Miss USA following pageant controversy
Kihei native Savannah Gankiewicz was crowned Miss USA 2023 at a special coronation ceremony Wednesday, amid controversy surrounding the Miss USA organization after both the former Miss USA 2023 and former Miss Teen USA 2023 resigned last week.
US unveils proposal to ease restrictions on marijuana
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday unveiled a historic proposal to ease restrictions on marijuana, a rule that if enacted would also enable more research on its medicinal benefits.
Judge maintains bail for Puna carjacking suspect
A judge on Thursday maintained bail for a carjacking suspect.
Kona Community Policing invites you to have ‘Coffee with a Cop’
Kona Community Policing invites the community to have “Coffee with a Cop.”
Trump’s lawyer and Cohen match wits in crucial cross-examination
NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s criminal trial entered a critical and combative phase Thursday as his lawyer grilled the prosecution’s star witness, Michael Cohen, about a medley of misrepresentations, manipulations and outright lies.
At Justice Alito’s house, a ‘Stop the Steal’ symbol on display
After the 2020 presidential election, as some Trump supporters falsely claimed that President Joe Biden had stolen the office, many of them displayed a startling symbol outside their homes, on their cars and in online posts: an upside-down American flag.
Congress gives up on immigration
Last week, the White House unveiled new rules to more quickly reach asylum denials for people considered national security and public safety threats, something of a prelude for more expansive expected restrictions.
Cristian Javier rebounds, Astros sweep A’s
Cristian Javier twirled six shutout innings in a bounce-back performance while Joey Loperfido clubbed his first career home run as the Houston Astros completed a four-game sweep of the visiting Oakland Athletics with an 8-1 victory on Thursday.
