Two new cases of COVID-19 announced Thursday
LIHU‘E – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported two new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, Dec. 31.
Siblings take to removing derelict vehicle at Anini
‘ANINI — After two weeks of seeing an abandoned blue Nissan Pathfinder stuck on the rocks of ‘Anini Beach’s northern shoreline, two siblings and friends rolled up their sleeves on Monday.
Kaua‘i first responders receive Moderna vaccine
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Police Department officer Kevin Kamakahi didn’t feel a thing on Wednesday getting his first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Kaua‘i to reinstate inter-island Safe Travels program
LIHU‘E — Those traveling from a neighbor island to Kaua‘i will soon be able to bypass the quarantine by using the state’s Safe Travels program beginning Tuesday, Jan. 5.
Waimea High School farm featured in HIDOE documentary
LIHU‘E — The Department of Education (DOE) is airing a short documentary film created by their Communication Branch titled “Sustainability in Action.”
Christmas trees accepted for green-waste recycling
LIHU‘E — Christmas trees are being accepted for recycling daily except on holidays at County of Kaua‘i green waste drop-off areas.
Schatz provision for Papahanaumokuakea signed into law
WASHINGTON – Last Sunday, the president signed a bipartisan government funding bill which included a provision authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that will strengthen protections for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument by starting the process to designate it as a National Marine Sanctuary.
Pandemic of Love in search of more locals in need
HANALEI — The flagship Florida-based organization of Pandemic of Love recently received publicity on CNN’s “Heroes” segment, and the surplus of interest created a positive problem.
December tests reveal high bacteria counts in rivers, streams
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Chapter of Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force has completed water-quality sampling for December.
VOICES: Kaua‘i living the essence of Aloha
In the closing days of 2020 — a year like no other — amidst the uncertainty, anxiety and dislocating change that the coronavirus has brought to Kaua‘i, let us celebrate one shining fact about our island community that has been demonstrated over and over again in the past year — that we care about each other and take care of each other.
Drought conditions on Moloka‘i leading to animal starvation
KAUNAKAKAI, MOLOKA‘I – Surveys and investigations by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) staff suggest that recent instances of deer dying on Moloka‘i are due to severe drought conditions. DOFAW began receiving reports earlier this month of deer being found both on roadways and on private lands in West Moloka‘i.
Monthly siren, emergency alert system test scheduled
HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System, is scheduled for Monday, January 4, 2021 at 11:45 a.m.
Letters for Thursday, December 31, 2020
• On being thankful • Squeaky Wheel gets the grease • Pandemic Pop Quiz #5
Shipwreck Beach closed due to shark sighting Thursday
PO‘IPU — Ocean Safety Bureau officials have closed Shipwreck Beach in Po‘ipu to swimming until further notice due to a shark sighting.
Lawa‘i man arrested following fatal Christmas Eve crash
KOLOA — The Lawa‘i man involved in a fatal two-vehicle crash on Christmas Eve on Kaumuali‘i Highway near Knudsen Gap, east of the Maluhia Road junction, was arrested and released Wednesday.
Missouri senator to contest Electoral College win for Biden
WASHINGTON — Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said Wednesday he will raise objections next week when Congress meets to affirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the election, forcing House and Senate votes that are likely to delay — but in no way alter — the final certification of Biden’s win.
Pelosi likely speaker again, but might require high-wire act
WASHINGTON — There’s little doubt that Nancy Pelosi will be reelected House speaker when the new Congress convenes Sunday. It could take a high-wire act for her to get there, largely thanks to the pandemic.
Georgia governor pushes back on Trump’s call for resignation
ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday called a tweet by President Donald Trump demanding his resignation a “distraction” and said he was focused on the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and upcoming runoff elections for two U.S. Senate seats.
US bomber mission over Persian Gulf aimed at cautioning Iran
WASHINGTON — The United States flew strategic bombers over the Persian Gulf on Wednesday for the second time this month, a show of force meant to deter Iran from attacking American or allied targets in the Middle East.
Census Bureau to miss deadline, jeopardizing Trump plan
The Census Bureau plans to announce it will miss a year-end deadline for handing in numbers used for divvying up congressional seats, a census official said.
GOP-led Senate rejects vote on Trump’s push for $2K checks
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shut the door Wednesday on President Donald Trump’s push for $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks, declaring Congress has provided enough pandemic aid as he blocked another attempt by Democrats to force a vote.
After a year like this, expect a strange New Year’s Eve
NEW YORK — If ever a year’s end seemed like cause for celebration, 2020 might be it.
China clamps down in hidden hunt for coronavirus origins
MOJIANG, China — Deep in the lush valleys of southern China lies the entrance to a mine shaft that once harbored bats with the closest known relative to COVID-19.
EXPLAINER: Scientists trying to understand new virus variant
Does it spread more easily? Make people sicker? Mean that treatments and vaccines won’t work? Questions are multiplying as fast as new variants of the coronavirus, especially the one moving through England and now popping up in the U.S. and other countries.
California announces first case of virus variant
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced the first known case of the new and apparently more contagious variant of the coronavirus in the nation’s most populated state, following the first reported U.S. case in Colorado.