Christian officials accuse Israel of holiday discrimination
JERUSALEM — A spokesman for Christian churches in the Holy Land on Wednesday accused Israel of discriminating against Christian tourists during the normally busy Christmas holiday season.
Canada advises against foreign travel, Ontario limits events
TORONTO — The Canadian government on Wednesday advised Canadians against all non-essential international travel, and the largest province of Ontario capped capacity at large events like NBA and NHL games at 50% because of the new coronavirus variant.
Spain urges child vaccinations and boosters before Christmas
MADRID — Spanish health authorities are stepping up efforts to give out coronavirus vaccine shots before Christmas and end-of-the-year gatherings that usually bring large groups together.
Honolulu becomes latest Hawaii county to adopt hotel tax
HONOLULU — Honolulu has become the latest Hawaii county to adopt its own hotel tax after Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed legislation adding a 3% surcharge to the state’s levy on short-term rentals.
Federal report details fatal Kaua‘i helicopter crash in 2019
HONOLULU — The National Transportation Safety Board released an investigation report Wednesday on a fatal Kaua‘i tour helicopter crash that killed seven people.
Happy Camper for Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Happy birthday, Ed Kawamura Sr.! He got a special Tire Warehouse face mask delivered by Sharron Weber, who made a special trip to get the mask and deliver it to Ed, who was busy working on chainsaws (we had a lot of wind and rain over the past couple of weeks!) at M. Kawamura Farm Enterprises in Lihu‘e.
The Musubi Truck launches ‘Feeding the Keiki’ campaign for winter break
KAPA‘A — “I no mo’ one dollah, aunty,” one school-aged student told Kelly Kakalia of The Musubi Truck. “I only get 50 cents.”
500 residents sought for food-insecurity survey
LIHU‘E — The nonprofit Malama Kaua‘i wants to survey 500 residents experiencing food insecurity to lay the groundwork for an island-wide joint Food Access Plan with the state Department of Health.
9 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday on Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — Tuesday, the state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported nine new cases of COVID-19.
Kaua‘i RSVP acknowledges its volunteers in drive-thru reception
Tuesday marked the second Kaua‘i Retired and Senior Volunteer Program annual Senior Recognition Day event for 2021 at the Waimea Athletic Field, where Mayor Derek Kawakami surprised both organizers and award recipients by attending.
Christmas Fund seeks blankets, shoes and toys for the kids
Mike and Laurie enjoy taking their three kids — Taylor, Jamie and Sam — to the beach to spend quality time with them.
Kapa‘a Middle School teacher leads pilot HSTA training program
KAPA‘A — The Hawai‘i State Teacher’s Association has appointed Kapa‘a Middle School art teacher Dr. Michael Hurst to coach a new, statewide Early Leadership Institute that aims to educate new teachers in the state and improve teacher retention.
Old-fashioned Christmas ‘Ohana Night at Grove Farm Museum Friday
LIHU‘E — ‘Ohana Night is a perfect way to unwind following a week of work, enjoy some time to get the mind ready for the holiday activity schedule and savor the atmosphere of Christmas past at the Grove Farm Museum.
HOOSER: 10 things to do in 2022
As we enter the final days of the year it’s good to remind ourselves of a few things (10 to be exact) that we can do to make our community a better place.
ERSOY: Naturally reduce, heal lower back pain
Lower back pain is, unfortunately, a very common health issue. It is also multifactorial, which means that finding the real cause can be very challenging, which of course will also affect and often delay treatment.
Obituaries for Wednesday, December 15, 2021
• Nancy Louise Null • Alice F. Jeremias • Paz Florida Coma Valenciano • Maggie V. Alayvilla • Josephine ‘Sefa’ Mary dela Torre
Wisconsin attorney general won’t enforce any abortion ban
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul said in an interview Tuesday that he would not investigate or prosecute anyone for having an abortion should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade and a currently unenforceable state ban takes effect.
Senate votes to raise debt limit by $2.5T, avoiding default
WASHINGTON — The Senate approved legislation Tuesday to lift the nation’s debt limit by $2.5 trillion under a deal struck between party leaders, defusing a volatile issue until after next year’s midterm elections while saddling majority Democrats with a tough vote.
State details of AP’s review of potential voter fraud cases
Details from The Associated Press review of potential voter fraud cases in the six political battleground states where former President Donald Trump and his allies disputed his loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
Washington, DC, sues Proud Boys, Oath Keepers over Jan. 6
WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia has filed a civil lawsuit seeking harsh financial penalties against far-right groups Proud Boys and Oath Keepers over their role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Data indicate omicron is milder, better at evading vaccines
JOHANNESBURG — The omicron variant is offering more hints about what it may have in store as it spreads around the globe: A highly transmissible virus that may cause less severe disease, and one that can be slowed — but not stopped — by today’s vaccines.
Hamas accuses rival Fatah of deadly shooting in Lebanon camp
SIDON, Lebanon — Hamas officials buried three of their members Tuesday who were killed by gunfire in a tense Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon days earlier. The militant group accused members of a rival faction of the deadly shooting.
Boat capsizing in Channel: 26 dead migrants identified
PARIS — The Paris prosecutor said 26 migrants have been formally identified, including seven women, a teenager and a 7-year-old girl, in the tragic capsizing last month of a boat in the English Channel that cost the lives of at least 27 people trying to reach Britain.
Israeli official says Syria must not have chemical weapons
TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel’s intelligence minister said Tuesday that Syria cannot be allowed to obtain chemical weapons, after a report emerged that Israel targeted the country’s chemical weapons facilities.
The AP Interview: UN nuke chief says view of Iran blurred
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog warned Tuesday that the restrictions faced by his inspectors in Iran threaten to give the world only a “very blurred image” of Tehran’s program as it enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels.