Newsom to ‘tighten things up’ as coronavirus cases rise
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With coronavirus cases surging, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that he plans to “tighten things up” when it comes to the state’s stay-at-home order ahead of a busy Fourth of July weekend.
Coronavirus’ spread in GOP territory, explained in 6 charts
Coronavirus first spread in the United States as a mostly coastal and big-city scourge, sparing many rural areas, small towns and even small cities. Translated into U.S. political geography: The virus hit Democratic areas first.
Florida doctor: Infections will rise for weeks to come
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As Florida enters the height of summer tourist season, the state’s largest cities and counties are closing beaches, mandating masks and halting business reopenings, hoping the measures will slow a steep resurgence of coronavirus cases.
Arizona faces new closures as hospitals prep for virus surge
PHOENIX — Arizona hospitals are hiring out-of-state nurses, squeezing in more beds and preparing for the possibility of making life-and-death decisions about how to ration care as they get ready for an expected surge of coronavirus patients in one of the nation’s worst hot spots.
Fauci, CDC chief raise concerns about full airline flights
The government’s top experts in infectious diseases on Tuesday criticized American Airlines’ decision to pack flights full while the coronavirus outbreak continues to grow across much of the United States.
With a pen stroke, Mississippi drops Confederate-themed flag
JACKSON, Miss. — With a stroke of the governor’s pen, Mississippi is retiring the last state flag in the U.S. with the Confederate battle emblem — a symbol that’s widely condemned as racist.
City crews remove some barriers from Seattle protest zone
SEATTLE — Seattle city crews used heavy equipment Tuesday to remove makeshift barriers around the city’s “occupied” protest zone following two fatal shootings in the area.
Weinstein reaches tentative $19M deal with accusers
NEW YORK — Harvey Weinstein and his former studio’s board have reached a nearly $19 million settlement with dozens of his sexual misconduct accusers, New York state’s attorney general and lawyers in a class-action lawsuit said Tuesday.
Boston to remove statue of slave kneeling before Lincoln
BOSTON — Boston’s arts commission voted unanimously Tuesday night to remove a statue that depicts a freed slave kneeling at Abraham Lincoln’s feet.
Biden and Trump agree: November election could be corrupt
ATLANTA — President Donald Trump and his challenger, Joe Biden, have found something they agree on: The November election could be rife with corruption because of how officials handle the voting process.
Oahu maintains rental restrictions eased by other counties
HONOLULU — As other Hawaii counties prepare to loosen restrictions on vacation rentals in anticipation of the reopening of trans-Pacific tourism, Oahu rentals remain under health restrictions imposed at the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
City of Honolulu limits permits for reopened campgrounds
HONOLULU — The city of Honolulu has announced that campgrounds will reopen for the first time in three months with limited permits to ensure social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Perks for electric vehicle owners set to expire in Hawaii
HONOLULU — Drivers will no longer receive certain benefits for driving electric vehicles in Hawaii under a law set to expire at the end of the month.
EPA fines Hawaii library system $144K for cesspool violation
HONOLULU — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has assessed nearly $144,000 in penalties against the Hawaii State Public Library System for continued use of large-capacity cesspools.
‘Letting the kids be kids’
LIHU‘E — The Boys & Girls Club added a satellite site when the summer program opened, Monday at its three main sites — the Kapa‘a Clubhouse, the Lihu‘e Clubhouse, the West Kaua‘i Clubhouse, and the new satellite site at the Kukui Grove Center.
Motorcycle riders host food drive in memory of Russell Haluapo
LIHU‘E — Russell Haluapo would have stomped off, muttering something, said Larry Feinstein during the food drive remembering Haluapo and benefiting the Hawai‘i Foodbank, Kaua‘i Branch.
How to watch KFD change of command ceremony
LIHU‘E — Tomorrow, the Kaua‘i Fire Department welcomes new Fire Chief Steven R. Goble to the company with a change of command ceremony. The event will be aired on Ho‘ike Kaua‘i Community Television after the ceremony, time TBD.
Officials: Keep avoiding big groups
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i health officials have tested more than 150 people that have had close contact to active cases of COVID-19 on the island, and officials are advising avoidance of large gatherings.
Lawa‘i man dies in crash
LAWA‘I — Kaua‘i police responded to a report of a single vehicle traffic crash early Monday morning on Piko Road in the vicinity of the Konishi Road intersection in Lawa‘i. The crash resulted in the fatality of a 20-year-old Lawa‘i man.
Male resident dies while hiking Kalalau Trail
KE‘E —A 41-year-old Kapa‘a man died Sunday while hiking the Kalalau Trail on the way to Hanakapi‘ai Beach on the Napali Coast.