Hurricane Sally unleashes flooding, hundreds rescued
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Hurricane Sally lumbered ashore near the Florida-Alabama line Wednesday with 105 mph (165 kph) winds and rain measured in feet, not inches, swamping homes and forcing the rescue of hundreds of people as it pushed inland for what could be a slow and disastrous drenching across the Deep South.
Sisolak blasts Trump’s Nevada rallies, may alter directives
CARSON CITY, Nev. — Gov. Steve Sisolak asked in a letter Wednesday to Vice President Mike Pence why President Donald Trump’s campaign defied White House guidance on public gatherings by holding two weekend rallies in Nevada.
Wildfire smoke brings haze, vivid sunsets to East Coast
The smoke from dozens of wildfires in the western United States is stretching clear across the country — and even pushing into Mexico, Canada and Europe. While the dangerous plumes are forcing people inside along the West Coast, residents thousands of miles away in the East are seeing unusually hazy skies and remarkable sunsets.
Trump not ready to OK TikTok deal, admits US won’t get cut
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he expects to get a report Thursday about Oracle’s bid for the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok and admitted there is no legal path to letting the U.S. Treasury get a cut of the deal — a proposition experts had criticized as unprecedented and possibly illegal.
In reversal, intelligence panels to get election briefings
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has agreed to provide in-person briefings on threats to the November election to key members of Congress, backing down from a decision last month to provide that information only in writing.
Biden says he trusts vaccines and scientists, not Trump
WILMINGTON, Del. — Joe Biden said Wednesday that while he trusts what scientists say about a potential coronavirus vaccine, he doesn’t trust President Donald Trump.
Trump says he can talk GOP into going for ‘larger’ virus aid
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump parachuted into the coronavirus aid debate Wednesday, upbraiding his Republican allies for proposing too small of a relief package and encouraging both parties in Congress to go for a bigger one that would include his priority of $1,200 stimulus checks for most Americans.
Trump disputes health officials, sees mass vaccinations soon
WASHINGTON — Openly contradicting the government’s top health experts, President Donald Trump predicted Wednesday that a safe and effective vaccine against the coronavirus could be ready as early as next month and in mass distribution soon after, undermining the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and calling him “confused” in projecting a longer time frame.
Fed sees rates near zero through 2023, perhaps longer
WASHINGTON — With the economy still struggling to recover from the pandemic recession, Federal Reserve policymakers signaled Wednesday that their benchmark short-term interest rate will likely remain at zero at least through 2023 and possibly even longer.
Big Ten’s cardiac registry aims to study effects of COVID-19
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Big Ten’s plan to play football this fall includes trying to save lives in the future.
More than 6K Hawaii residents apply for housing assistance
HILO — A new state program providing $100 million of rental assistance to struggling tenants in Hawaii has received more than 6,000 applications.
Pearl Harbor munitions depot expansion concerns residents
HONOLULU — A U.S. military plan to expand a Pearl Harbor munitions depot has raised concerns there has not been enough information released to the public, considering that the depot was the site of a massive and deadly explosion 76 years ago.
Honolulu reminds voters they don’t need to request ballots
HONOLULU — Honolulu elections officials said Wednesday voters don’t need to request ballots to be mailed to them after the U.S. Postal Service sent postcards to residents across the country warning them to ask for mail-in ballots at least 15 days before Election Day.
Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring goes virtual
LIHU‘E — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kaua‘i received a $40,000 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Grant from the county to implement a “Virtual Future” app to assist in helping to mentor kids of Kaua‘i.
COVID scammers target Kauai residents, KPD issues warning
LIHU‘E — The COVID scammers are trying to strengthen their grip on Kaua‘i. That was the word Tuesday from the Kaua‘i Police Department, with investigators saying several new fraud schemes have cropped up in recent days.
Gov. Ige approves Kawakami’s ‘Resort Bubble’
LIHU‘E — Mayor Derek Kawakami has penned a new emergency rule which establishes an enhanced-movement quarantine, or “resort bubble” program.
Mayor Kawakami signs bill to ban polystyrene
LIHU‘E — Mayor Derek Kawakami Tuesday signed Bill No. 2775 into law, restricting the use and sale of polystyrene foam food-service containers.
West Kaua‘i Lions paint learning center, to be dedicated Sept. 21
HANAPEPE — The West Kaua‘i Lions Club recently helped paint the “green” distance-learning center at the Storybook Theatre of Hawai‘i that will celebrate its opening on Monday, Sept. 21, as part of the International Day of Peace celebration.
St. Catherine’s community to plant peace pole
KAPA‘A — St. Catherine School, the church’s parish and the community will be planting a peace pole on Monday, Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace.
IROK celebrates peace Sunday
For the first time ever, the Interfaith Roundtable of Kaua’i will be holding its annual International Day of Peace celebration virtually.