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Maui’s economy needs tourists. Can they visit without compounding wildfire trauma?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:35 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — The restaurant where Katie Austin was a server burned in the wildfire that devastated Hawaii’s historic town of Lahaina this summer.Two months later, as travelers began to trickle back to nearby beach resorts, she went to work at a different eatery. But she soon quit, worn down by constant questions from diners: Was she affected by the fire? Did she know anyone who died?“You’re at work for eight hours and every 15 minutes you have a new stranger ask you about the most traumatic day of your life,” Austin said. “It was soul-sucking.”Hawaii’s governor and mayor invited tourists back to the west side of Maui months after the Aug. 8 fire killed at least 100 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings. They wanted the economic boost tourists would bring, particularly heading into the year-end holidays.But some residents are struggling with the return of an industry requiring workers to be attentive and hospitable even though they are trying to c...

A tax increase, LGBTQ+ youth protections and more sick leave highlight California’s new laws in 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:35 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Doctors in California who mail abortion pills to patients in other states will be protected from prosecution. Workers will receive more paid sick leave on the heels of a big year for labor. And companies can’t fire employees for using marijuana outside of work. These are among the hundreds of laws that take effect Jan. 1 in the nation’s most populous state.Each year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs hundreds of laws passed by the state Legislature. Most take effect Jan. 1 the following year. But sometimes lawmakers will delay a law’s effective date for a variety of reasons, including giving people more time to prepare for the new rules.Some of the highest-profile bills passed by the Legislature in 2023 will not take effect until later. Fast food workers will get a minimum wage increase to $20 per hour on April 1. Health care workers are scheduled to see the first increases in their minimum wage on June 1. Laws requiring businesses to rep...

Suspects ransack Orange County home, escaping with $130,000 worth of items

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:35 GMT

Surveillance video captured two suspects ransacking a Santa Ana home and escaping with around $130,000 in cash and jewelry.The burglary happened on Dec. 22 at a home on the 4000 block of W. Mary Circle around 8:45  a.m., according to the Santa Ana Police Department.The suspects approached the home shortly after the homeowners had left for work.Security video shows a masked female suspect knocking at the victim’s front door. Meanwhile, a male suspect forced his way into the residence through a bathroom window at the back of the house, police said.While inside, the suspects ransacked all the bedrooms and stole around $130,000 worth of cash, jewelry, and a medium-sized safe.They were seen quickly loading the stolen goods into the trunk of a silver Kia Sorento SUV before driving away. 3 arrested after stolen Maserati found being stripped in downtown L.A. Surveillance video captured two suspects ransacking a Santa Ana home and escaping with around $130,000 in cash, jewelry along w...

Sharks rookie goalie put in difficult spot in first NHL start

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:35 GMT

SAN JOSE — A little less than a year ago, goalie Magnus Chrona was starting his second game in as many days for the University of Denver. He went on to make 25 saves on Jan. 7, helping the Pioneers earn a 7-2 non-conference win over Alaska-Fairbanks.Thursday, Chrona found himself in a completely different world. He was making his first career NHL start, and within the first few seconds of the opening puck drop, saw Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid come barreling into the San Jose Sharks zone with a full head of steam.The Oilers scored on that opening shift — and continued to pour it on against the rookie goaltender and a reeling and fragile Sharks team.Chrona allowed four goals on 11 shots — not all his fault — before he was mercifully pulled, as Kaapo Kahkonen played the final two periods in what became a 5-0 loss to the Oilers before an announced sellout crowd of 17,435 at SAP Center.The Sharks put xx shots toward Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner but were...

Warriors drubbed by depleted Heat to begin home stand

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:35 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO —Steve Kerr and Erik Spoelstra grew close over the summer, traveling to the Philippines to coach the USA national team in the FIBA World Cup. They swapped stories, enjoyed bus rides and grabbed beers.It was clear which head coach had the upper hand on Thursday night in the Chase Center, and it wasn’t the one still searching for his best lineups.Spoelstra’s squad threw zones, full-court pressures and traps at Golden State. The Heat snatched the ball from the Warriors and took care of it. They bottled up Steph Curry, were first to 50/50 balls and forced the Warriors into 42% field goal shooting and 24.2% from deep. Golden State stepped on the baseline, lost dribbles, and threw errant passes en route to a pile of early turnovers.Despite playing a Heat team without star Jimmy Butler and rotation players Caleb Martin, Josh Richardson and Kyle Lowry, the Warriors led in the early minutes of the second quarter but never again.To start a seven-game home stand, the Warriors (15...

Prep roundup: St. Patrick-St. Vincent grounds high-flying Fremont-Oakland at Damian Lillard Classic

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:35 GMT

 St. Patrick-St. Vincent 74, Fremont Oakland 45Christian Trusclair had just splashed one 3-pointer to give St. Patrick-St. Vincent a double-digit lead when he found himself open on the next possession in the third quarter. The 6-foot-2 sniper didn’t hesitate on his second attempt either, letting it fly before watching the ball rip through the net. That pushed SPSV’s lead over Fremont-Oakland to 15, and the rout was on as the Bruins began to run away with the 74-45 victory in the Damian Lillard Classic at Oakland HS. “My teammates set me up to be in those positions,” said Trusclair, who ended the night with 23 points. “We came out there and got the job done.”Fremont only trailed 31-25 at halftime thanks to the individual brilliance and scoring arsenal of Jaylen Wheeler, the Salesian transfer who scored 17 of his game-high 28 in the first half. Wheeler was comfortable making pull-up triples, slashing into space for floaters and stopping on a dime for midrange shots at the elbow. “He w...

Today in History: December 29, Texas becomes a state

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:35 GMT

Today in HistoryToday is Friday, Dec. 29, the 363rd day of 2022. There are two days left in the year.Today’s Highlight in History:On Dec. 29, 1845, Texas was admitted as the 28th state.On this date:In 1170, Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was slain in Canterbury Cathedral by knights loyal to King Henry II.In 1812, the American frigate USS Constitution engaged and severely damaged the British frigate HMS Java off Brazil during the War of 1812.In 1851, the first Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in the United States was founded in Boston.In 1890, the Wounded Knee massacre took place in South Dakota as an estimated 300 Sioux Indians were killed by U.S. troops sent to disarm them.In 1940, during World War II, Germany dropped incendiary bombs on London, setting off what came to be known as “The Second Great Fire of London.”In 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, crashed into the Florida Everglades near Miami International Airport, killing 101...

Virginia reports first pediatric death of 2023 flu season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:35 GMT

The Virginia Department of Health reported the state’s first influenza-associated pediatric death for the season on Thursday.Officials reported that a child between the ages of five and 12 in Virginia’s Eastern region died from complications associated with the virus. To protect the family’s privacy, VDH said they would not provide any further information.“We at the Virginia Department of Health, are brokenhearted and extend our sympathies to the family of this child during this difficult time,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton. “Even though the flu is common, it can cause serious illness and even death […] I urge everyone who is eligible to receive the flu vaccine to do so, not only to protect themselves, but to protect those around them.”VDH said that as we get into the tougher part of flu season amidst the onset of winter months,  three main actions are recommended to prevent the flu, or reduce its effects if you do contract it:Everyone over the age of...

Jokic perfect from field, line for 11th triple-double of the season, Nuggets beat Grizzlies 142-105

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:35 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic was perfect from the field and free throw line, finishing with 26 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists as the Denver Nuggets posted their highest point total of the season in a 142-105 win over the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night.Jokic was 11 for 11 from the field, hit his only 3-point try and went 3 for 3 from the line. The performance followed another near-perfect outing after he converted all 18 free throws Monday in a 120-114 win over Golden State. It was the 116th regular-season triple-double of Jokic’s career, and that ranks fourth all-time in NBA history and 22 behind Magic Johnson for third place. Russell Westbrook tops the list with 198, and Oscar Robertson has 181 all-timeJokic went to the bench Thursday after feeding Christian Braun for a dunk with 1:31 left in the third quarter and completing his 11th triple-double of the season.Memphis played without Ja Morant, who was sidelined due to illness. Morant missed his first game since...

Denker banks in 3-pointer at the buzzer as Idaho beats Sacramento State in Big Sky Conference opener

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:35 GMT

MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) — Quinn Denker banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to help Idaho defeat Sacramento State 61-58 on Thursday night in a Big Sky Conference opener.Idaho inbounded it with 3.0 seconds left. Julius Mims caught a long pass from Tyler Linhardt and handed it off to Denker at the 3-point line for a contested shot at the horn — to avoid a third straight overtime game in the series.Denker shot 6 for 13 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 6 of 6 from the free throw line to finish with 21 points for the Vandals (7-6). Mims scored 18 points while shooting 7 for 11, including 3 for 3 from beyond the arc, and added nine rebounds. Linhardt had nine points and shot 4 for 9, including 0 for 3 from beyond the arc.The Hornets (3-9) were led in scoring by Duncan Powell, who finished with 20 points and eight rebounds. Sacramento State also got 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks from Akolda Mawein. In addition, Zee Hamoda had 12 points and two steals.___The Associated Press created thi...