Huge surf pounds West Coast and Hawaii, flooding some low-lying areas
LOS ANGELES — Powerful surf rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii on Thursday as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushed toward shorelines, causing localized flooding.
Federal judge accepts redrawn Georgia congressional and legislative districts that will favor GOP
ATLANTA— A federal judge on Thursday accepted new Georgia congressional and legislative voting districts that protect Republican partisan advantages, saying the creation of new majority-Black voting districts solved the illegal minority vote dilution that led him to order maps to be redrawn.
New weight loss drugs are out of reach for millions of older Americans because Medicare won’t pay
WASHINGTON — New obesity drugs are showing promising results in helping some people shed pounds but the injections will remain out of reach for millions of older Americans because Medicare is forbidden to cover such medications.
Israeli strikes across Gaza kill dozens of Palestinians, even in largely emptied north
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli forces bombarded cities, towns and refugee camps across Gaza on Thursday, killing dozens of people in a widening air and ground offensive against Hamas that has forced thousands more to flee from homes and shelters in recent days.
Maine bars Trump from ballot as US Supreme Court weighs state authority to block former president
PORTLAND, Maine — Maine’s Democratic secretary of state on Thursday removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the Constitution’s insurrection clause, becoming the first election official to take action unilaterally in a decision that has potential Electoral College consequences.
Nation & world news – at a glance – for Friday, December 29, 2023
Supreme Court urged to move fast on Trump’s ballot eligibility
Venezuela will hold military exercises off its shores as a British warship heads to Guyana
BOGOTA, Colombia — President Nicolás Maduro ordered Venezuela’s armed forces to conduct defensive exercises in the Eastern Caribbean after the United Kingdom sent a warship toward Guyana’s territorial waters as the South American neighbors dispute a large border region.
Independent lawyers begin prosecuting cases of sexual assault and other crimes in the US military
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military on Thursday opened a new chapter in how it investigates and prosecutes cases of sexual assault and other major crimes, putting independent lawyers in charge of those decisions and sidelining commanders after years of pressure from Congress.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard out of prison years after persuading boyfriend to kill her abusive mother
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the Missouri woman who persuaded an online boyfriend to kill her mother after she had forced her to pretend for years that she was suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy and other serious illnesses, was released Thursday from prison on parole.
2023’s problems and peeves are bid a symbolic farewell at pre-New Year’s Times Square event
NEW YORK — One person wanted to get past anger issues. Others sought to turn the page on medical bills, work stress, insecurities, taxes, regrets, bad habits, bad hair days, COVID-19, worrying about what other people think, and “all negativity of 2023.”
Island Life photo for Friday, December 29, 2023 – ‘Croaky coqui’
Island Life photo for Friday, December 29, 2023 – ‘Croaky coqui’
Nikki Haley doesn’t mention slavery when asked what caused the Civil War. She later walks that back
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was asked at a New Hampshire town hall about the reason for the Civil War, and she didn’t mention slavery in her response. She walked back her comments hours later.
Aloha Airlines uniform donation makes UH keeper of historical collection
Aloha Airlines was known at one time in Hawai‘i as “The People’s Airline” and served the state from 1946–2008.
Was 2023 a tipping point for movies? ‘Barbie’ success and Marvel struggles may signal a shift
NEW YORK— Eight years ago, Steven Spielberg predicted that the superhero movie would one day go “the way of the Western.”
She died weeks after fleeing the Maui wildfire. Her family fought to have her listed as a victim.
LAHAINA, Maui — Sharlene Rabang and her calico cat fled the wildfire that destroyed her town on Maui and arrived at a family home on another Hawaii island after a 24-hour odyssey that included sleeping in a car.
Hilo man accused of sexually assaulting estranged girlfriend
A 45-year-old Hilo man accused of sexually assaulting his estranged long-time girlfriend on Christmas Eve is free on $65,000 bail, according to court records.
Americans sour on the primary election process and major political parties, an AP-NORC poll says
WASHINGTON — With the GOP presidential primaries just about to start, many Republicans aren’t certain that votes will be counted correctly in their contest, as pessimism spreads about the future of both the Democratic and Republican parties, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Trapped in his crashed truck, an Indiana man is rescued after 6 days surviving on rainwater
PORTAGE, Ind. (AP) — A 27-year-old man survived for six days on only rainwater while pinned tightly inside his crashed pickup truck beneath a highway bridge in northwest Indiana, police said.
Boebert switches congressional districts, avoiding a Democratic opponent who has far outraised her
DENVER — Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert announced Wednesday she is switching congressional districts, avoiding a likely rematch against a Democrat who has far outraised her and following an embarrassing moment of groping and vaping that shook even loyal supporters.
Cell tower raises concerns: Proposed project in HOVE would be located near Kahuku Park
A cell tower planned to be built in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates is being challenged by residents concerned about the project’s close proximity to their homes.
Fireworks: Permits, rules, regs
The sale of firecrackers and other fireworks in Hawaii County began Tuesday and ends at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
State: 17 more tons of illegal fireworks seized
HONOLULU — The state’s Illegal Fireworks Task Force has made another large seizure of illegal fireworks.
Hilo man pleads not guilty in child porn case
Federal court documents link an 18-year-old Hilo man charged with possession of child pornography to neo-Nazi satanic pedophiles.
Pistons lose NBA single-season record 27 straight games, falling to Nets 118-112
DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons have made NBA history.
Owens, Presley help No. 22 Oklahoma State beat Texas A&M 31-23 in Texas Bowl
HOUSTON — Rashod Owens had a career-high 164 yards receiving with two touchdowns and Brennan Presley tied a school record with 16 receptions and had 152 yards receiving in No. 22 Oklahoma State’s 31-23 victory over Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday night.
