New data suggests 1 in 44 US children affected by autism
New autism numbers released Thursday suggest more U.S. children are being diagnosed with the developmental condition and at younger ages.
Senate passes stopgap funding bill, avoiding shutdown
WASHINGTON — The Senate passed a stopgap spending bill Thursday that avoids a short-term shutdown and funds the federal government through Feb. 18 after leaders defused a partisan standoff over federal vaccine mandates. The measure now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
Antonio Brown, two others suspended by NFL for faking vaccination status
The NFL on Thursday suspended Antonio Brown, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers star receiver, and defensive back Mike Edwards without pay for the next three games for misrepresenting their COVID-19 vaccination status, an egregious violation of protocols that were jointly agreed upon by the league and its players’ union.
Hawaii artist featured in Lowe’s National Mural Art Campaign
Lowe’s has selected Hawaii artist Siena Baldi as the mural artist to represent Hawaii for its Centennial campaign that includes 100 murals across the country.
Gregg Karukas gets his groove on at Gertrude’s
Last Saturday, Grammy Award-winning keyboardist Gregg Karukas stepped out of his smooth jazz comfort zone for an evening of heart-pumping jazz-funk fusion with a splash of playful Bossa nova at Gertrude’s.
Ramesh Ponnuru: Fauci can’t use science to excuse his missteps
Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser and the longtime head of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, keeps saying that his critics are “really criticizing science because I represent science.” Maybe he even believes it. But it might be time for science to find another spokesman.
Editorial: Omicron reminds us that now’s the time for COVID vaccines and boosters
President Joe Biden got it right: The new coronavirus variant omicron is “a cause for concern, not a cause for panic.” The travel restrictions the U.S. and 70 other nations imposed will buy scientists time to further understand what risks omicron poses at this extended stage of the pandemic. For now, it’s time to double down on what already works: Vaccinations, booster shots and wearing masks in crowded indoor settings.
Editorial: Too bad CNN didn’t pull Chris Cuomo off the air months ago
CNN finally admitted Tuesday night that anchor Chris Cuomo went too far. He crossed, blurred and stepped over the line of trusted network anchor when he used his position to help protect his big brother, Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York, fight off sexual harassment allegations that eventually led to his resignation in August.
Obituaries: December 3, 2021
Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. Content is subject to editing for parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Any questions regarding obituaries should be directed to the mortuary or via email to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
Omicron reaches Hawaii
The omicron variant of the novel coronavirus has been found in Hawaii, the state Department of Health confirmed Thursday.
‘The fire that’s here’: US is still battling delta variant
While all eyes are on the new and little-understood omicron variant that is popping up around the country, the delta form of the coronavirus isn’t finished wreaking havoc in the U.S., swamping hospitals with record numbers of patients in the Midwest and New England.
China, US tussle over Biden’s ‘Summit for Democracy’
BEIJING — China and the United States are tussling over President Joe Biden’s upcoming democracy summit, which the ruling Communist Party sees as a challenge to its authoritarian ways.
Biden helps light National Christmas Tree near White House
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden helped light the National Christmas Tree on Thursday while remembering those lost to the COVID-19 pandemic and crediting the American people for his optimism.
City council approves additional 3% tax on Oahu lodging
HONOLULU — The Honolulu City Council has approved a measure to levy an additional 3% tax on hotel and other transient accommodations.
Christmas tree buyers face reduced supplies, higher prices
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Even Christmas trees aren’t immune to the pandemic-induced shortages and inflation plaguing the economy.
Reviving Ojibwe spiritual traditions, one pet at a time
CASS LAKE, Minnesota — Animal neglect used to be such a problem on the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota, with basic services like sterilization out of reach for many due to poverty and remoteness, that packs of stray dogs would sometimes bring traffic to a halt on the main highway.
Holidays arrive: Christmas tree lit in Kailua Village
The holidays have arrived in Kailua Village.
State: Petroleum detected in tap water near Pearl Harbor
HONOLULU — The state Department of Health said Wednesday a laboratory has detected petroleum product in a water sample from an elementary school near Pearl Harbor amid heightened concerns that fuel from a massive Navy storage facility could contaminate Oahu’s water supply.
Man sentenced to prison for posting sex videos of ex-partner
HONOLULU — A U.S. judge in Hawaii sentenced an Arizona man to three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and acknowledged posting online sexual videos of a woman he was previously in a relationship with.
Obituaries: December 2, 2021
Editor’s note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. Content is subject to editing for parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Any questions regarding obituaries should be directed to the mortuary or via email to obituaries@westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.
US reports 1st case of omicron variant in returning traveler
SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. recorded its first confirmed case of the omicron variant Wednesday — in a vaccinated traveler who returned to California after a trip to South Africa — as scientists around the world race to establish whether the new, mutant version of the coronavirus is more dangerous than previous ones.
Closer to normal: County confirms restaurants, bars can operate at full capacity
Hawaii County officials confirmed Wednesday that Mayor Mitch Roth’s most recent emergency rule permits restaurants, bars, gyms and spas to operate at full capacity, with COVID-19 mitigation measures in place.
County Democrats seek clarity on reapportionment
The Hawaii County Democratic Party is asking the state Reapportionment Commission to take another look at how nonresident military and students were extracted from population data in light of new figures showing there were almost twice as many military personnel as previously thought.
Heat, no food, deadly weather: Climate change kills seabirds
PORTLAND, Maine — The warming of the planet is taking a deadly toll on seabirds that are suffering population declines from starvation, inability to reproduce, heat waves and extreme weather.
