DeSantis says he’s driven more by faith in God than by politics
SALT LAKE CITY — Ron DeSantis boasted Friday about his lengthy list of endorsements and support in Utah, telling a group of backers in the deeply religious state that he was driven by faith in God more than political ideology.
Scientists say Florida Keys coral reefs are already bleaching
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Some Florida Keys coral reefs are losing their color weeks earlier than normal this summer because of record-high water temperatures, meaning they are under stress and their health is potentially endangered, federal scientists said.
‘Help me’ sign leads to rescue of kidnapped Texas girl
LONG BEACH, Calif. — A 13-year-old girl kidnapped in Texas and sexually assaulted was rescued in Southern California when passersby saw her hold up a “help me” sign in a parked car, police and federal authorities said.
No remains found at dig near former Native American school
An archeological dig for a lost children’s cemetery near the Nebraska site of a former Native American boarding school has ended after two weeks — and no remains were found.
Damage to Pfizer plant unlikely to cause drug supply shortages
RALEIGH, N.C. — Most of the destruction from a tornado that tore through eastern North Carolina Wednesday and struck a large Pfizer pharmaceutical plant affected its storage facility, rather than its medicine production areas, the company said Friday.
Russia targets Ukraine’s farm storage sites
KYIV, Ukraine — Russia followed its withdrawal from a grain export deal by expanding its attacks from port infrastructure to farm storage buildings in Ukraine’s Odesa region on Friday, while also practicing a Black Sea blockade.
Russia under U.N. pressure to avoid global food crisis
UNITED NATIONS — Russia came under pressure at the U.N. Security Council on Friday from its ally China and developing countries as well as Western nations to avert a global food crisis and quickly revive Ukrainian grain shipments.
North Korea fires cruise missiles, mum on U.S. soldier
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea fired several cruise missiles toward its western sea Saturday, South Korea’s military said, marking the second launch event this week apparently in protest of the docking of a nuclear-armed U.S. submarine in South Korea.
Thousands express outrage over Quran desecration
BEIRUT — Thousands of people took to the streets in a handful of Muslim-majority countries Friday to express their outrage at the desecration of a copy of the Quran in Sweden, a day after protesters stormed the country’s embassy in Iraq.
Vatican plans to reunite Ukrainian children, families
ROME — The Vatican is pressing ahead with a plan to try to reunite Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war with their families, a senior Vatican official said. The effort follows an explicit request by Ukraine and Russia has expressed an apparent willingness to engage in the process.
U.N. agency mired in grueling debate over deep sea mining
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Members of a U.N. agency that governs international waters were locked in a fierce debate late Friday over whether to allow deep sea mining and set a new deadline for proposed regulations still stuck in draft mode.
Warning may jolt Lake Tahoe into managing tourist crowds
SAND HARBOR, Nev. — Lake Tahoe tourism officials were surprised, and a bit miffed, when a respected international travel guide put the iconic alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada line on its list of places to stay away from this year because of the harmful ecological effects of overtourism.
Real Estate Directory for July 21, 2023
Find the latest real estate listings, broker information and home improvement ideas.
Local man injured in motorcycle crash
HANAMA‘ULU — A Hanama‘ulu man remains hospitalized following a motorcycle crash earlier this week, the Kaua‘i Police Department said on Wednesday.
Volunteers make an impact at Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank
NAWILIWILI — With the start of school looming in less than two weeks, a group of 20 volunteers from Starbucks and Mason Taylor of Southern California made an impact on the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank’s (KIFB) school preparations on Thursday.
‘Koloa: Hawaiian Sense of Place Cultural Practitioners’ takes place Friday
KOLOA — The “Koloa: Hawaiian Sense of Place Cultural Practitioners” gathering that was previously announced as “to be determined” will take place on Friday at the Koloa Neighborhood Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., ending at the time the Koloa Plantation Days Festival and Paniolo Backyard BarBQue starts across the street at Koloa Village shopping center.
Happy Camper for Friday, July 21, 2023
Kudos, Johnny Gordines and Dottie Yadao (home of the Moloa‘a Pride pineapple that’s only sold at the North Shore farmers markets) on getting the Hawai‘i Floriculture and Nursery Association convention back on Kaua‘i, where convention delegates (and local residents) could have the advantage of touring some of the farms of the newer flower (roses?) growers, as well as take advantage of visiting floral designers to learn of the most current trends.
Feds invest $1M in endangered Hawaiian, Pacific Island plant protections
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a $5.1 million federal investment to aid in the recovery of endangered species, with approximately $1 million dedicated to native Hawaiian and Pacific Island plants.
Fire, rescue keep first responders busy on Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — A structure fire and water rescue on opposite ends of the island ended with minimal damage and no injuries on Wednesday, the Kaua‘i Fire Department said.
Obituaries for Friday, July 21, 2023
• Barbara Jean Ku‘ulani Leota • Fusako Y. Harada