Stocks climb on Wall Street as appetite for risk returns
Stocks closed higher Monday on Wall Street, and the broad rally helped the S&P 500 claw back more than half of its losses during the past two weeks.
US Judge: Saipan casino builder must pay 7 ex-workers $5.4M
HONOLULU — A judge on Saipan on Monday ordered a Hong Kong company to pay seven Chinese construction workers a total of $5.4 million for forcing them to work long hours in dangerous conditions to build a casino, while they were denied medical care for injuries and threatened with deportation and death.
News briefs for May 25
US warns against all travel to Japan as Olympics loom
Watchdog: US forced deported parents to leave kids behind
WASHINGTON — A government watchdog says the Trump administration, under its practice of separating families at the border, forced migrant parents to leave the U.S. without their children, contradicting claims by officials that parents were willingly leaving them behind.
Biden doubling spending to prepare for hurricanes, storms
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Monday that he’s doubling U.S. emergency spending to help communities prepare for hurricanes and other extreme weather events, while launching a new effort at NASA to better understand and track the impact of climate change.
NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week
A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week.
Israel, Hamas agree to cease-fire to end bloody 11-day war
JERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire Thursday, halting a bruising 11-day war that caused widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip, brought life in much of Israel to a standstill and left more than 200 people dead.
Retailers see confusion, conflict over mask mandate
HONOLULU — Retailers in Hawaii say the state’s mask mandate is creating confusion and conflict among customers, many of whom come from different states to vacation in the islands.
When do I still need to wear a mask?
NEW YORK — When do I still need to wear a mask?
It depends, mostly on whether or not you’re vaccinated.
News briefs for May 21
Stocks end higher on Wall Street, breaking a 3-day slump
Biden hails Israel-Hamas cease-fire, sees ‘opportunity’
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday hailed the impending cease-fire in the fighting between Israel and Hamas, saying he sees a “genuine opportunity” toward the larger goal of building a lasting peace in the Middle East.
Big gaps in vaccine rates across the US worry health experts
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — A steady crowd of people flowed into the New England Patriots’ stadium for their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this week in Massachusetts, which is nearing its goal of vaccinating more than 4 million and plans to close its biggest clinics in little more than a month.
Teen baker sweetens lives making desserts for those in need
Vedika Jawa’s mission to sweeten the lives of those in need began when she was just 13, on a family trip to San Francisco. She could not help but see the multitudes living on the streets.
Panel says faith community must lead slavery reparations
The faith community should guide the way on reparations for America’s history of slavery and racial discrimination and help the nation’s process of reconciliation and healing, religious leaders said during a panel conducted to discuss the issue.
Hawaii News Now obtains video from police shooting of teen
HONOLULU — A Honolulu police officer was directly behind a car when he fired 10 shots at the back of the driver’s seat during a shooting last month that killed a teen who authorities say was a suspect in a series of violent crimes, according to body camera footage obtained by Hawaii News Now.
US jobless claims fall again as some states end federal aid
WASHINGTON — Fewer Americans sought unemployment benefits last week — the latest encouraging sign for the rebounding U.S. economy — just as Republican-led states are moving to cut off a federal benefit for the jobless.
House backs commission on Jan. 6 riot over GOP objections
WASHINGTON — The House voted Wednesday to create an independent commission on the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, sending the legislation to an uncertain future in the Senate as Republican leaders work to stop a bipartisan investigation that is opposed by former President Donald Trump.
State briefs for May 20
Campaign donations under investigation
COVID briefs for May 20
Las Vegas Strip rules to end for vaccinated
Can monthly cash payments cut child poverty by nearly half?
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The check won’t arrive until mid-July, but Katrina Peters already knows what she’ll do with her Child Tax Credit payments. The 20-year-old mother of three applied to work as a driver with a food delivery app, and the extra cash is earmarked for repairing, registering and insuring her car.