Announcements for Friday, December 22, 2023
HCFCU announces 2023 scholarship recipients &opens applications for 2024 scholarships
Island Life photo for Saturday, December 23, 2023 – ‘Seasonal scene’
Island Life photo for Saturday, December 23, 2023 – ‘Seasonal scene’
Nation & world news – at a glance- for Saturday, December 23, 2023
FDA seizes thousands of units of counterfeit Ozempic
Obituaries for Saturday, December 23, 2023
Johnson Lum
Supreme Court rejects prosecutor’s push to fast-track ruling in Trump election subversion case
WASHINGTON— The Supreme Court said Friday it will not immediately take up a plea by special counsel Jack Smith to rule on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted for his actions to overturn the 2020 election results.
Biden pardons thousands convicted of marijuana charges on federal lands and in Washington
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden pardoned thousands of people who were convicted of use and simple possession of marijuana on federal lands and in the District of Columbia, the White House said Friday, in his latest round of executive clemencies meant to rectify racial disparities in the justice system.
UN approves watered-down resolution on aid to Gaza without call for suspension of hostilities
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council adopted a watered-down resolution Friday calling for immediately speeding aid deliveries to hungry and desperate civilians in Gaza but without the original plea for an “urgent suspension of hostilities” between Israel and Hamas.
Champs again: Man City confirmed as world’s best club in 2023 after winning fifth trophy
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Pep Guardiola is happy to call Manchester City the best in the world this year, but an all-time great team? That debate must wait for years if not decades.
Prized pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto agrees with Dodgers on $325 million deal, according to reports
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prized free-agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a $325 million, 12-year contract, according to multiple reports.
UH recruiting: Fourteen players sign on to play Hawaii football
HONOLULU — Navigating through an evolving college football world of agents, NIL deals and well-funded programs, the Hawaii football team secured 14 signed commitments for head coach Tim Chang’s third recruiting class.
Volcano Watch: A pupu platter of earthquakes
A pupu platter is an assortment of appetizers commonly served at social gatherings in Hawaii. During one week in December 2023, island of Hawaii residents and visitors were treated to an assortment of earthquakes resulting from a variety of different geologic processes, like a pupu platter of earthquakes!
Tropical Gardening: The shortest day has passed so Merry Christmas
For centuries even before we celebrated Dec. 25 as the day Jesus was born, earlier cultures celebrated the passing of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The days will now get longer even though it is technically the beginning of winter and will last until the beginning of spring. Spring officially occurs when the sun reaches the equator as it appears to move northward. Of course what is actually happening is that the Earth is tilting toward the South Pole and will continue to do so until June 21. Then it is officially summer. Since we are roughly at latitude 19 degrees north, the sun will appear to move northward for a short time and then move toward the south until Dec. 21. Many plants respond to day length, including plants that form bulbs.
The Vanillerie
On a recent visit to the Vanillerie, I met up with founder Guy Collier’s wife Jeannie who was excited to show me some of the additions to their operation as well as a lovely holiday display of vanilla products.
Editorial: Blinken gets it exactly right: The secretary of state’s eloquent case against Hamas
In this space we do the talking, about what the Daily News deems important and worthy. But today we are giving a good chunk of our space to Secretary of State Tony Blinken. America’s top diplomat gave his year-end press conference Wednesday before he left for another trip to the Mideast for the Israel-Hamas war that the terror gang launched from Gaza on Oct. 7.
Letters- Your Voice – for Saturday, December 23, 2023
Three points regarding abortion
State hospital given another 90 days to treat Hilo murder suspect
A Hilo man accused of fatally stabbing his paternal grandparents in January will remain for now in the Hawaii State Hospital.
Federal grants slated for Big Island road improvement
The Big Island is slated to receive a share of more than $18 million in federal grants to the State of Hawaii from the U.S. Department of Transportation for projects to improve safety on roads and sidewalks.
New tax class pondered for rental owners
The County Council Finance Committee on Tuesday deferred a bill that would create a new long-term rental class for property taxes to a later meeting to further discuss ramifications of the proposal.
Editorial: US government revenues hit record highs
In his New York Times newsletter, business reporter Peter Coy in September argued that the only real solution for the nation’s rising debt crisis is “more tax revenue.” In other words, the government needs to take more money from Americans who work for a living.
Editorial: Choose choice: The Supreme Court must protect medication abortion
Once again, the U.S. Supreme Court finds itself at the center of a national case involving access to abortion, this time around the drug mifepristone, which along with misoprostol forms part of the regimen for a so-called medication abortion. Its ruling is expected in June, and that ruling should be clear, if only to help clean up the mess it created with its overturning of Roe v. Wade a year and a half ago.
Muay Thai coach accused of sexually assaulting minor
A 43-year-old Puna man was indicted today for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor.
MLB is widening the runner’s lane to first, changing a rule that has caused World Series controversy
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is widening the runner’s lane approaching first base to include a portion of fair territory, changing a more than century-old rule that caused World Series controversy over interference calls.
Matthew Stafford’s Rams start strong, hold off Saints 30-22 to surge forward in NFC playoff race
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Matthew Stafford passed for 328 yards and two touchdowns, rookie Puka Nacua had nine catches for a career-high 164 yards and a score, and the Los Angeles Rams surged forward in the NFC playoff race with a 30-22 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night.
PHOTOS: Wildcats wash Cougars
KEA‘AU — No. 3 Konawaena girls basketball dominated Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) competition once again, trouncing Kea‘au 80-11 in one of the most lopsided victories on the island thus far in the season.
Runnin’ with Rani: Hundreds take part in the 16th annual Jingle Bell Beach Run
KAILUA-KONA — Sunday’s 16th annual Jingle Bell Beach Run transformed Coconut Grove Marketplace into a winter wonderland, drawing hundreds of participants adorned in their most spirited Christmas attire to take part in the festive 5K run/walk event held on Alii Drive.
