Hawaii Gov. wants 3,000 vacation rentals for wildfire survivors

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:29:37 GMT

Hawaii Gov. wants 3,000 vacation rentals for wildfire survivors By Audrey McAvoy | Associated PressHONOLULU — Hawaii Gov. Josh Green on Friday said he wants 3,000 condos and homes that are normally rented to Maui tourists converted to long-term housing for displaced wildfire survivors who are now living in hotels.Green said he’s prepared to use the “hammer” of post-fire emergency orders to make sure owners of short-term vacation rentals extend them to long-term units if enough spaces aren’t converted voluntarily by mid-January.The governor said that as of Thursday, there were 6,297 residents still living in hotels more than four months after the Aug. 8 wildfire wiped out historic Lahaina. The vast majority don’t have anywhere else to go given the extreme housing shortage on Maui.The lack of stable housing has been a source of stress for Lahaina residents, some of whom have had to switch hotel rooms multiple times since the fire. One group is camping out on Kaanapali Beach in front of resort hotels and vows to stay t...

Letters: Family responsibility | Free speech | Gun buybacks | Abortion bans | No call

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:29:37 GMT

Letters: Family responsibility | Free speech | Gun buybacks | Abortion bans | No call Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Families shouldstep up for homelessRe: “We must bring all to bear on homelessness” (Page A6, Dec. 14).The homeless problem in California will be unsolvable until the families of these people come forward and offer to help them.The state should not have to be the caretaker of the vulnerable among us. Family should. My parents have taken responsibility for my mentally ill brother for three decades. It is not easy, but the family will not allow him to be homeless.If the families of these people don’t care, why should we?Patricia Marquez RuttRedwood CityLet’s make effortsnot to squelch speechAfter exiting the Cupertino Library on Wednesday with my ESL student, we encountered a 6-foot-long printed sign: “THE HOMELESS ARE VERMIN!” What? What jerk …? My outrage, however, was quickly tempered by my student’s question: “What’s vermin?” After defining vermin, I added a quick tut...

SFO worker wins $20M after buying Scratchers ticket in East Bay

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:29:37 GMT

SFO worker wins $20M after buying Scratchers ticket in East Bay (KRON) -- A man who walked into L&M Liquor in Hayward walked out millions of dollars richer. Durwin Hickman, a skycap at San Francisco International Airport, was the lucky winner when he bought a $30 "Set For Life!" Scratchers ticket. 3 Bay Area cities named among CA towns with most holiday spirit Hickman, by uncovering the word "LIFE" on his ticket, won the top prize of $20 million, California State Lottery said in a news release on Friday. L&M Liquor, the store that sold the ticket, also received $100,000."It was the biggest rush I have had in my life," Hickman said in the press release.With the life-changing money, Hickman plans to buy his wife a house. Hickman also said he won $1,000 in the past when playing the California Lottery.L&M Liquor is located at 22610 Vermont St. Forbes: This is California’s favorite dog breed CA Lottery announced three other million-dollar winners in the Bay Area.Teresa Martinez won $5,000,000 after buying a Scratchers ticket at Golde...

Israeli military says it mistakenly killed 3 Israeli hostages in battle-torn part of Gaza

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:29:37 GMT

Israeli military says it mistakenly killed 3 Israeli hostages in battle-torn part of Gaza Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)(AP/Leo Correa) Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)(AP/Leo Correa) RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli troops mistakenly shot three hostages to death Friday in a battle-torn neighborhood of Gaza City, and an Israeli strike killed a Palestinian journalist in the south of the besieged territory, underscoring the ferocity of Israel’s ongoing onslaught.The deaths were announced as a U.S. envoy tried to persuade the Israelis to scale back their campaign sooner rather than later.The hos...

With holiday season underway, DC police are reminding people to drive sober or get pulled over

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:29:37 GMT

With holiday season underway, DC police are reminding people to drive sober or get pulled over With Christmas and New Year’s approaching, D.C. police are sending out a message in the name of safety: drive sober or get pulled over.The department said it’s working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to put a strong emphasis on stopping distracted and drunken driving.The goal is to make sure that everyone is safe on the roads.The reminder comes amid a rise in traffic deaths across the District. Forty-seven people died in D.C. crashes this year, according to the most recent numbers from Vision Zero. It’s the highest number of deaths the city has seen in over 15 years.From Dec. 15 through Jan. 1, there will be officers on the streets “working on a special high-visibility enforcement campaign” to promote the message about how much harm drunken driving can do, according to a police news release.“The holidays are a time for celebration and joy. Drunken driving jeopardizes not only your own life, but also those on the road with y...

Gigantesca llamarada solar interrumpe señales de radio en la Tierra

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:29:37 GMT

Gigantesca llamarada solar interrumpe señales de radio en la Tierra CABO CAÑAVERAL, Florida — Un telescopio de la NASA ha capturado la llamarada solar más grande de los últimos años, la cual interrumpió temporalmente las comunicaciones por radio en la Tierra.El Sol escupió la enorme llamarada junto con ondas de radio el jueves, causando dos horas de interferencia de radio en partes de Estados Unidos y otros lugares del mundo que en ese momento eran iluminados por el Sol.Científicos de la Oficina Nacional de Administración Oceánica y Atmosférica de Estados Unidos (NOAA por sus siglas en inglés) dijeron que fue la mayor llamarada desde 2017, y que la ráfaga de ondas de radio fue extensa, afectando incluso a las frecuencias más altas. NASA descubre luna diminuta al pasar cerca de pequeño asteroide Marte registró un enorme temblor en el 2022 La combinación dio lugar a uno de los mayores eventos de radio solar jamás registrados, dijo el viernes Shawn Dahl, del Centro de Predicción Meteorológica Espacia...

Canucks acquire Cicek and 2024 6th-round pick from Sharks for Studnicka

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:29:37 GMT

Canucks acquire Cicek and 2024 6th-round pick from Sharks for Studnicka VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Vancouver Canucks acquired defenseman Nick Cicek and a 2024 sixth-round draft pick from the San Jose Sharks on Friday for forward Jack Studnicka.The 23-year-old Cicek has a goal and two assists in 18 this season for the San Jose Barracuda in the American Hockey League. He has four assists in 16 career NHL games, all last season with the Sharks.Studnicka has a goal in five games for Vancouver this season and a goal and six assists in nine games for Abbotsford in the AHL. The 24-year-old center joined Vancouver in an October 2022 deal with Boston. He has six goals and 10 assists in 90 NHL games over parts of five seasons with the Bruins and Canucks.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhlSource

Israeli military opens probe after videos show Israeli forces killing 2 Palestinians at close range

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:29:37 GMT

Israeli military opens probe after videos show Israeli forces killing 2 Palestinians at close range JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel on Friday said it was opening a military police investigation into the killing of two Palestinians in the West Bank after an Israeli human rights group posted videos that appeared to show Israeli troops killing the men — one who was incapacitated and the second unarmed — during a military raid in a West Bank refugee camp.The B’Tselem human rights group accused the army of carrying out a pair of “illegal executions.”The security camera videos show two Israeli military vehicles pursuing a group of Palestinians in the Faraa refugee camp in the northern West Bank. One man, who appears to be holding a red canister, is gunned down by soldiers. B’Tselem identified the man as 25 year-old Rami Jundob.The military jeep then approaches Jundob as he lies bleeding on the ground and fires multiple shots at him until he is still. Soldiers then approach a man identified by B’Tselem as 36-year-old Thaar Shahin as he cowers underneath the hood of a car. They shoot ...

US Space Command reaches full operational capability

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:29:37 GMT

US Space Command reaches full operational capability COLORADO SPRINGS (KXRM) — Various community leaders are celebrating the U.S. Space Command reaching full operational capability.Army General James Dickinson, the commander of U.S. Space Command, made the announcement at a headquarters town hall on Friday, Dec. 15. The decision followed an in-depth evaluation of the command's capabilities, including the ability to execute its mission on "our worst day, when we are needed the most," said Gen. Dickinson. Colorado designated as federal technology, innovation hub The criteria for full operational capability included:Accomplishing the Unified Command Plan mission alongside global campaigning, exercising, and responding to crises.Having the right number of skills across the human capital.Having the infrastructure needed to support command and control across mission and business functions.Having the necessary command processes and functions in place.Being able to set the conditions and requirements for the future fight.“As the command has...

2 dogs rescued in 2 days by Aspen firefighters

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:29:37 GMT

2 dogs rescued in 2 days by Aspen firefighters DENVER (KDVR) -- Two canines were rescued in the span of two days by the Aspen Fire Protection District this past week.The rescues showcase the department members' skill and dedication, as well as the holiday season's spirit: hope, joy and community."I am so proud to be a part of this team. Aspen Fire was at its finest these past two days!" firefighter Drew Barr said, which was echoed by the team.Aspen Fire said on Facebook that it is "deeply grateful that no humans attempted to save these animals.""Many people have died or been seriously injured attempting to rescue pets," the department shared. Judge yet to rule on industry request to delay wolf reintroduction Complicated rescues, even of pets, should be left to trained experts, Aspen Fire said.Bailey is pictured here with some of her rescuers (Credit: Aspen Fire)This Bernese Mountain dog was rescued by Aspen firefighters. (Credit: Aspen Fire)A skunk and a dog, trapped undergroundThe first call was on the evening of Dec. 12: A p...