Jan. 6 witness recounts pressure campaign from Trump allies
WASHINGTON — Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson described to the House Jan. 6 committee a wide-ranging pressure campaign from Donald Trump’s allies aimed at influencing her cooperation with Congress and stifling potentially damaging testimony about him.
Trial: Expert disputes Lake’s claim over her gov’s race loss
PHOENIX — An expert testifying at Republican Kari Lake’s trial challenging her defeat in Arizona governor’s race said Thursday that her claims about the impact of Election Day lines and voter disenfranchisement on the outcome weren’t backed by evidence.
Holiday travel upended as forecasters warn of ‘bomb cyclone’
MISSION, Kan. — Thousands of flights were canceled and homeless shelters were overflowing Thursday amid one of the most treacherous holiday travel seasons the U.S. has seen in decades, with temperatures plummeting 50 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas and forecasters warning of an impending “bomb cyclone” that could make conditions even worse before Christmas.
Trump’s taxes: House OKs bill on IRS audits of presidents
WASHINGTON — The House took action Thursday after disclosures that the IRS never fully reviewed Donald Trump’s tax returns during his presidency, passing a bill that would require audits of any president’s income tax filings. The legislation would turn what had been a long-standing post-Watergate norm into established federal policy.
Senate passes $1.7 trillion bill to fund gov’t, aid Ukraine
WASHINGTON — The Senate passed a massive $1.7 trillion spending bill Thursday that finances federal agencies through September and provides another significant round of military and economic aid to Ukraine one day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s dramatic address to a joint meeting of Congress.
Ukrainians hail Zelenskyy after U.S. visit dismissed by Putin
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainians hailed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s wartime visit to the United States as a success, while Russian officials said Thursday that it only fueled the conflict.
Russia scrubs Mariupol’s Ukraine identity, builds on death
Throughout Mariupol, Russian workers are tearing down bombed-out buildings at a rate of at least one a day, hauling away shattered bodies with the debris.
Venezuela opposition looks to overhaul ‘interim government’
CARACAS, Venezuela — Juan Guaidó has been the face of Venezuelans’ efforts to restore their democracy since he took to the streets to challenge the rule of President Nicolás Maduro in early 2019.
Taliban minister defends ban on women’s university studies
KABUL, Afghanistan — The minister of higher education in the Taliban government on Thursday defended his decision to ban women from universities — a decree that had triggered a global backlash.
White House: Russia’s Wagner received arms from North Korea
WASHINGTON — The White House said Thursday that the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company, has taken delivery of an arms shipment from North Korea to help bolster its forces as it fights side-by-side with Russian troops in Ukraine.
Letter for Thursday, December 22, 2022
• Guiding principles
Giving trees for the holidays
LIHU‘E — Nearly 200 trees were distributed free over four sites around the island to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants, small farms and community-based agriculture sites that provide food to those in need, such as food pantries, schools, after-school programs and other nonprofit organizations.
Benny is a young male with a disability that requires constant supervision.
His parents work hard to support Benny and his siblings. Benny wants toys for Christmas, and his parents would appreciate any help this holiday season.
Crew of air ambulance to be honored
LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Life Flight team invites everyone “to gather in honor of the three crew members from Hawai‘i Life Flight N13GZ,” who disappeared last week in waters between Maui and Hawai‘i Island.
Solomone Malafu signs to UCLA
KAPA‘A — Kapa‘a High School teacher David Morales double-checked the paperwork on Wednesday before Kapa‘a High School senior Solomone Malafu signed his Letter of Intent to play football for the UCLA Bruins.
Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i sweep Tuesday series in KIF basketball
LIHU‘E — The Kapa‘a High School boys basketball teams, and the Kaua‘i High School boys basketball teams swept their respective games on Tuesday night during Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys basketball games at Wilcox Gymnasium at Island School, and Bernice Hundley Gym at Kapa‘a High School.
Voyager men shut out Red Raiders in KIF soccer
LIHU‘E — The Island School boys soccer team shut down Kaua‘i High School 8-0 during a Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys soccer game played Tuesday at Vidinha Stadium where action was limited to daylight hours due to the county working on the lighting system.
Millions in federal dollars coming
LIHU‘E — A federal spending bill will channel more than $500 million to the state of Hawai‘i, with millions of dollars designated for programs and projects on Kaua‘i.
Lots happening at convention hall on Friday
LIHU‘E — There is a lot more going on at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall on Friday than just Kimie Miner & Friends’ Christmas in Hawai‘i concert featuring the Makaha Sons.
Food distribution Thursday
PUHI — A food distribution for 250 families will take place on Thursday at the Kaua‘i Philippine Cultural Center, the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i announced.
Obituaries for Thursday, December 22, 2022
• Bernard ‘Pinake’ Balmores • Charles ‘Charlie’ Takeo Moriguchi
Senate hits snag in bid to pass $1.7 trillion spending bill
WASHINGTON — Momentum toward passing a $1.7 trillion government funding bill with more aid for Ukraine slowed considerably Wednesday as lawmakers struggled to reach an agreement on amendments needed to get to a final vote and avoid a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday.
Storm adds uncertainty to strong holiday travel demand
Concerns about illness or inflation aren’t stopping Americans from hitting the roads and airports this holiday season. But a massive winter storm might.
As flu rages, US releases medicine from national stockpile
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden administration said Wednesday it will release doses of prescription flu medicine from the Strategic National Stockpile to states as flu-sickened patients continue to flock to hospitals and doctors’ offices around the country.
Kari Lake trial to be Arizona governor lacks day 1 shockers
PHOENIX — Since her loss in the Arizona governor’s race, Republican Kari Lake has claimed the election was stolen and promised bombshells showing she was the rightful winner. But on the first day of trial in her election challenge Wednesday, her lawyers alleged small-bore problems that didn’t appear to show the widespread, intentional misconduct she would need to prove.