‘Too many are selfish’: US nears 5 million virus cases
BOSTON — Fourth of July gatherings, graduation parties, no-mask weddings, crowded bars — there are reasons the U.S. has racked up more than 155,000 coronavirus deaths, by far the most of any country, and is fast approaching an off-the-charts 5 million confirmed infections, easily the highest in the world.
Chasm grows between Trump and government coronavirus experts
WASHINGTON — In the early days of the coronavirus crisis, President Donald Trump was flanked in the White House briefing room by a team of public health experts in a seeming portrait of unity to confront the disease that was ravaging the globe.
Progress slow as urgency grows on virus relief legislation
WASHINGTON — Frustrated Senate Republicans re-upped their complaints on Tuesday that Democratic negotiators are staking too hard a line in talks on a sweeping coronavirus relief bill, but an afternoon negotiating session brought at least modest concessions from both sides, even as an agreement appears far off.
Mississippi gets statewide mask mandate, some school delays
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Tuesday that he’s setting a statewide order for people to wear masks in public amid a recent surge in cases of the new coronavirus. The Republican also delayed the start of the school year for upper grades in eight counties that are hard-hit by COVID-19.
Technical issue has California under-reporting virus cases
LOS ANGELES — A technical problem has caused a lag in California’s tally of coronavirus test results, casting doubt on the accuracy of recent data showing improvements in the infection rate and number of positive cases, and hindering efforts to track the spread, the state’s top health official said Tuesday.
Massive Beirut blast kills more than 70, injures thousands
BEIRUT — A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the city’s port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky. More than 70 people were killed and 3,000 injured, with bodies buried in the rubble, officials said.
Judge orders trial tied to discovery of missing kids’ bodies
BOISE, Idaho — A judge ruled Tuesday there’s enough evidence for a man to go to trial after the bodies of his new wife’s two children were found buried on his Idaho property. The bizarre case involving doomsday beliefs and the deaths of several people linked to the couple has attracted national headlines.
Military finds human remains, sunken tank off California
SAN DIEGO — The Navy has located a seafaring tank that sank off the Southern California coast last week and was working to recover human remains, officials said Tuesday.
Trump encourages mail voting in key battleground Florida
WASHINGTON — In an abrupt reversal, President Donald Trump now is encouraging voters in the critical swing state of Florida to vote by mail after months of criticizing the practice, and only days after threatening to sue Nevada over a new vote-by-mail law.
Worries about 2020 census’ accuracy grow with cut schedule
ORLANDO, Fla. — The U.S. Census Bureau is cutting its schedule for data collection for the 2020 census a month short as legislation that would have extended the national head count’s deadlines stalls in Congress.
Tropic storm Isaias whips up eastern US, killing at least 4
WINDSOR, N.C. — At least four people were killed as Tropical Storm Isaias spawned tornadoes and dumped rain Tuesday along the U.S. East Coast after making landfall as a hurricane in North Carolina, where it caused floods and fires that displaced dozens of people.
Residents cut off by volcano say more road openings needed
HILO — Residents of a Hawaii island area who lost access to their properties in the Kilauea volcanic eruption say the county needs to expand a road restoration plan.
Hawaii private schools preparing for in-person instruction
HONOLULU — As school administrators across the country grapple with ways to restart classes during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many private schools in Hawaii expect to begin the new year with in-person instruction.
Hawaii governor warns of travel plan delay as cases spike
HONOLULU — Hawaii continued to experience a sharp spike in the number of COVID-19 cases on Monday, prompting Gov. David Ige to warn that the state may have to once again delay the start of a pre-travel testing program for travelers if the trend doesn’t change.
Overnight water service shutdown scheduled for Waimea
Shutdown to allow contractors to tie in a new 8-inch water line into the system
Sustainability search
LIHU‘E — Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Megan Fox said she anticipated members of the labor force would feel the pandemic’s economic ripple effect.
KGEFCU donates to Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank
NAWILIWILI — Chantal Zarbaugh of the Kaua‘i Government Employees Federal Credit Union said even the bag used for the recent food drives were locally-produced.
KHS, COK still negotiating details for FY2021
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Humane Society (KHS) is currently operating on a short-term contract with the County of Kaua‘i that is extending the Fiscal Year 2020 services through August, and is providing more time for the two entities to negotiate their contract for the FY 2021.
State has another record reporting day
HONOLULU — The highest, single-day record of new positive COVID-19 cases is being reported by the Dept. of Health today, at 207. Approximately 114 of these cases are the result of delayed reporting over the weekend, a result of private clinical laboratory reporting issues.
KCSC’s logo contest winners
WAIMEA — The Kaua‘i Community Science Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, announced the student winners of their Climate Connect logo contest and the Wednesday, Aug. 5 deadline for its 2020-21 student internship program.