Alabama can enforce ban on puberty blockers, hormones
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A federal appeals court ruled Monday that Alabama can enforce a ban outlawing the use of puberty blockers and hormones to treat transgender children, the second such appellate victory for gender-affirming care restrictions that have been adopted by a growing number of Republican-led states.
Canadian firefighters step up defense of territorial capital
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Canadian firefighters prevented wildfires from destroying more structures in a scenic region of British Columbia and stepped up their defense of a territorial capital threatened by flames, authorities said Monday as the prospect of rain raised hopes for the effort to contain the blazes.
Japan to start releasing treated radioactive water to sea
TOKYO — Japan will start releasing treated and diluted radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean as early as Thursday — a controversial but essential early step in the decades of work to shut down the facility 12 years after its meltdown disaster.
Decades of inactivity blamed for Russian lander’s crash
LONDON — The head of Russia’s space agency said Monday that the Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the moon after its engines failed to shut down correctly, and he blamed the country’s decades-long pause in lunar exploration for the mishap.
Prigozhin said to be recruiting Wagner ‘strongmen’ for Africa
LONDON — Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin on Monday published his first recruitment video for the Wagner Group since organizing a short-lived mutiny against defense officials in Russia, according to information on Russian social media channels.
North Korea may try again to launch a military spy satellite
TOKYO — North Korea told Japan on Tuesday it plans to launch a satellite in the coming days, possibly a second try to put a military spy satellite into orbit three months after its first effort failed, Japanese officials said.
Obituaries for Monday, August 21, 2023
• Lydia Madriaga • Barbara Schumacher Bales • Flora Elizabeth Leialoha Ornellas • Damon M. Ventura
Water use plan update meetings set
The public is invited to attend the county Department of Water’s (DOW) meetings for the Kaua‘i Water Use and Development Plan (KWUDP) update. Meetings are held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations: Tuesday, Aug. 29, Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center, 3353 Eono Street in Lihu‘e; and Thursday, Aug. 31, Kilauea Neighborhood Center, 4260 Keneke Road in Kilauea.
Hundreds celebrate cancer survivors in Lihu‘e
The weather cooperated on Saturday afternoon at the north Vidinha Stadium soccer fields, as the orographic precipitation was held to the mountains and a cooling wind bathed the hundreds of people who joined cancer survivors in celebrating their victories, efforts of caregivers, and raising funds to continue the fight against cancer at the American Cancer Society Kaua‘i Relay For Life.
Kaua‘i High defeats Viewpoint School 20-6
Viewpoint School, a private school in Calabasas, California with an enrollment of 1,2oo students, had its chances on Friday against host Kaua‘i High School at Vidinha Stadium.
12U softball state champs feted
The Diamonds SC Kaua‘i softball team earned the championship at the 2023 12U-A Softball Hawai‘i State Tournament Championship on O‘ahu earlier this summer.
Happy Camper for Monday, August 21, 2023
Zaylee Doi Desmarais (how many remember when BEAT Athletica started three years ago?) is the latest volunteer with the Memory Keepers rummage sale (Pat Gonsalves and Rose Manago said it’s been 18 years now!) that had a line snaking from the entrance of the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center towards Isenberg Park when the fundraising effort for Walk to End Alzheimer’s opened on Saturday morning.
Lahaina Fire death toll at 114
The death toll from the Lahaina Fire stood at 114 as of Saturday evening, nearly two weeks after the blaze tore through the town on the leeward side of Maui.
Olinda Fire on Maui 85 percent contained
WAIHOU SPRINGS FOREST RESERVE, Hawai‘i — The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife said the Olinda Fire in Upcountry Maui was 85 percent contained as of Saturday afternoon.
Garden Isle Quilters Quilt Exhibit and Sale opens
LIHU‘E — What kind of quilt does the “Sweet Lady of Waihole” have at her home?
Kilauea traffic fatality victim identified
KILAUEA — Jerry Swanson, 60, of Kapa‘a, was identified as the man who died following a traffic crash in Kilauea last week, the Kaua‘i Police Department said.
Road lane closures set for Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — A number of lane and shoulder closures are on tap this week around the island with the heavy lifting being done in the Wailua area, according to a weekly update from the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation.
Maui water is unsafe even with filters, a lesson learned from California fires
The language is stark: People in torched areas of Maui should not try to filter their own drinking water because there is no “way to make it safe,” Maui County posted on its Instagram account this week.
Hope is hard to let go after Maui fire, as odds wane over reuniting with still-missing loved ones
LAHAINA, Hawai‘i — The days of waiting have become harder and harder as the odds grow longer and longer, but Kevin Baclig remains undeterred in his search for his wife and her parents, missing since Aug. 8 when a wildfire engulfed and flattened the Hawaiian town of Lahaina.
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As Maui rebuilds, residents reckon with tourism’s role
LAHAINA, Hawai‘i — Long before a wind-whipped wildfire blasted through the island of Maui, tension existed between Hawai‘i’s kama‘aina, or longtime residents, and the visitors some islanders resent for turning their beaches, mountains and communities into playgrounds.
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Green: Maui town ravaged by fire will ‘rise again’
LAHAINA, Hawai‘i — Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green said Friday that what’s rebuilt from the ashes of the devastating wildfires on Maui will be determined by the people.
Coco Palms developers planning 2026 resort completion amid controversy
LIHU‘E — Amid state investigations into alleged land use violations, the developers of the Coco Palms Resort maintain they are on track with plans to restore the once-renowned hotel over the next three years.
Grove Farm presents scholarship recipients for 2023
LIHU‘E — Hope Newton, a graduate of Waimea High School, said she would be leaving for school on Thursday, Aug. 17, during a Grove Farm reception at Puakea Grill on Wednesday, Aug. 16.
Taylor Montemayor wins NAPA Ladies Night drag races
MANA — Taylor Montemayor won big at the NAPA Ladies Night drag races on Saturday, Aug. 12. Driving her 1986 Chevy S-10, Taylor eliminated a field of over 25 lady racers in bracket racing competition to take first place.
2023 Kaua‘i United Way Campaign goal is $600,000
PO‘IPU — While a lot of Kaua‘i minds and hearts are wrapped up with the Maui disaster, there are people on Kaua‘i who need the services and help being provided by the Kaua‘i United Way network of more than 20 partners, said Kaua‘i United Way Executive Director Lori Almarza on Wednesday.