UH to join MWC in all sports

The University of Hawaii announced Tuesday that it will join the Mountain West Conference as a full-time member effective July 1, 2026.

Giant pandas from China return to National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON — A pair of pandas from China arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, in a revival of so-called panda diplomacy after an 11-month pause that had left countless zoogoers disappointed by the absence of the lovable black-and-white bears.

Harris pledges marijuana reform if elected

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate defended her record as a prosecutor, pledged to decriminalize marijuana and to push for police reform on Tuesday, as she aimed to shore up support among Black men in an interview with radio host Charlamagne tha God in Detroit. Charlamagne, a Black comedian and author who hosts radio program “The Breakfast Club,” is known for his blunt interviews of celebrities. Although he is a Harris supporter, he has been critical of her and President Joe Biden in the past and called Democrats “cowards” for ineffectively prosecuting a case against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. One of his first questions was asking Harris to address a common rumor – that she disproportionately locked up Black men over her more than a dozen years as San Francisco’s district attorney. Harris said she was “one of the most progressive prosecutors” on marijuana cases, and would work to decriminalize it, because she knows how that has hurt certain populations, especially Black men. Some polls show that fewer Black men support Harris than they did Biden in the 2020 election. Her campaign and allies including Barack Obama are working to win them back in Michigan and other battleground states that will be decided by a thin margin.

Obituaries for October 16

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BIIF volleyball: Last week of regular season begins

The final week of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) girls volleyball regular season began Monday with matches across the isle. Official BIIF playoff brackets will become official after the last match is played Thursday night. Playoffs will begin Friday.