Supply shortages and emboldened workers: A changed economy
Employees at a fast-food restaurant in Sacramento, California, exasperated over working in stifling heat for low wages, demanded more pay and a new air conditioner — and got both.
Business news at a glance
JPMorgan fined $200M after staff used personal chats for company business
Regulators: threats to US financial system remain elevated
WASHINGTON — The nation’s top financial regulators told Congress Friday that threats to U.S. financial stability remain elevated even though the country has recovered from what appears to be the worst economic shocks from the pandemic.
Man gets 10 years for extreme abuse case
A 27-year-old Honokaa man was sentenced to 10 years behind bars Friday for a series of domestic abuse incidents that took place between February and April.
Omicron may sideline two leading drugs against COVID-19
WASHINGTON — As strained U.S. hospitals brace for a new surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the fast-spreading omicron variant, doctors are warning of yet another challenge: the two standard drugs they’ve used to fight infections are unlikely to work against the new strain.
Search continues for missing man
A second day of searching Sunday turned up no sign of a 47-year-old man who reportedly fell into the ocean Saturday at Kaiwi Point.
Man enters not guilty plea in attempted murder case
A Big Island man pleaded not guilty Friday to attempted murder and four other charges stemming from a domestic violence incident earlier this month in which police allege the man tried to strangle the victim.
Fauci says omicron variant is ‘just raging around the world’
WILMINGTON, Del. — The COVID-19 omicron variant is “just raging around the world,” the White House’s top medical adviser said Sunday as President Joe Biden prepares to issue “a stark warning of what the winter will look like” for unvaccinated Americans.
From masks to book banning, conservatives take on educators
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A recent Wyoming school board meeting was again packed with opponents of mask mandates when things took an abrupt turn and a parent started reading aloud sexually explicit passages from a book available in school libraries.
Staying sober for the holidays: From mocktails to mental health, here are some tips
The holidays are high time for parties, parties, parties. And for adults over the age of 21, that often means alcohol.
Tahiti’s cowboys of the ocean
When writing about Tahiti, there is something that compels most scribes to start their pieces with romantic passages from authors like Robert Louis Stevenson, Melville, Gauguin or Michener. If it is a fishing article, quotes from Zane Gray appear ad nauseam.
Commentary: Congress slouches as USPS workers hustle
Nobody wants a repeat of last year’s postal delivery delays during the holidays, especially not my fellow postal workers.
Hits ‘keep coming’: Hospitals struggle as COVID beds fill
DETROIT — Hospitals across the country are struggling to cope with burnout among doctors, nurses and other workers, already buffeted by a crush of patients from the ongoing surge of the COVID-19 delta variant and now bracing for the fallout of another highly transmissible mutation.
How COVID-19 upended Blinken’s diplomatic mission
HONOLULU — U.S. Air Force Special Air Mission 50601 departed from Joint Base Andrews on the night of Dec. 9 with an ambitious journey ahead — an eight-day, around-the-world trip with America’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Typhoon leaves 31 dead, many homes roofless in Philippines
MANILA, Philippines — A powerful typhoon left at least 19 people dead, knocked down power and communications in entire provinces and wrought widespread destruction mostly in the central Philippines, officials said Saturday. A governor said her island has been “leveled to the ground.”
National and world news at a glance
As covid surges, experts say US booster effort is far behind
New Mexico Salvation Army official: Theft of toys no victory for Grinch
FARMINGTON, N.M. — Farmington-area residents of northern New Mexico donated gifts and money after somebody stole a Salvation Army van loaded with $6,000 worth of toys for children, an official with the organization said Saturday.
New York Mets hire Buck Showalter as manager
Nearly 30 years since making his name in pinstripes, Showalter has been hired as manager of the Mets as he returns to the Big Apple to take over his fifth major league team.
Division rivalries, playoff implications highlight Week 15
Division rivalries add extra spice to NFL matchups. There are a bunch of them in Week 15 as teams hit the stretch run.
Give living gifts for Christmas
Christmas in the tropics can be a challenge. The surf and beach are still a big attraction. Some folks might even take the holidays to catch up on gardening projects. There are folks who miss the snow and the bite of frost in the air. They remember the cold, dark days when all life is dormant. They long for the coziness of an open fireplace and the smell of holiday cooking in the kitchen. A trip to Maunakea will help add to the spirit of the season.
Hold the salt: Tommy Greenwell prefers pepper
In a recent Hana Hou magazine article, I read about coffee farmer Tommy Greenwell’s decade-long venture into growing black pepper on his farm in Kealakekua. Being a fan of fresh-ground black pepper, I wanted to try some of his. No luck. He’s sold out for the season. I did, however, take one of his farm tours and had a chance to see his field of pepper vines, standing tall in the late afternoon sun.
Island Life: I see you
The profile of this green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis) looks a lot like the Velociraptors dinosaurs in the movie “Jurassic Park.” The green anole lizard was first introduced onto Oahu in the early 1950s.
My Turn: No automatic subdivision re-approvals for a sustainable Hawaii County
What is required for sustainable, environmental development in Hawaii County? I support Mark Van Pernis’ call for a “sunset clause” or an end date to subdivision entitlements. I would take it a few steps further.
Spreading holiday cheer: West Hawaii kids ‘Shop with a Cop’
Hawaii Police Department officers spread some holiday cheer among West Hawaii keiki Saturday during the annual Shop with a Cop event in Kailua-Kona.
UAB knocks off No. 12 BYU in Independence Bowl
SHREVEPORT, La. — Dylan Hopkins broke the Independence Bowl record for completion percentage, connecting on 19 of 23 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns in UAB’s 31-28 victory over No. 12 BYU on Saturday.
