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Paying for paradise? Hawaii mulls fees for ecotourism crush

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Repairing coral reefs after boats run aground. Shielding native forest trees from a killer fungus outbreak. Patrolling waters for swimmers harassing dolphins and turtles. Taking care of Hawaii’s unique natural environment takes time, people and money. Now Hawaii wants tourists to help pay for it, especially because growing numbers are traveling to the islands to enjoy the beauty of its outdoors — including some lured by dramatic vistas they’ve seen on social media. “All I want to do, honestly, is to make travelers accountable and have the capacity to help pay for the impact that they have,” Democratic Gov. Josh Green said earlier this year. “We get between nine and 10 million visitors a year (but) we only have 1.4 million people living here. Those 10 million travelers should be helping us sustain our environment.” Hawaii lawmakers are considering legislation that would require tourists to pay for a yearlong license or pass to visit state parks and trails....

Asian shares mixed after Wall St dips on weak economic data

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were trading mixed Wednesday following a decline on Wall Street after reports on the U.S. economy came in weaker than expected. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 1.3% in morning trading to 27,931.00. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 stood little changed, inching down less than 0.1% to 7,235.80. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.2% to 2,485.21. Trading was closed in Hong Kong and Shanghai for the Qingming Festival, a holiday. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 dropped 0.6% to 4,100.60, breaking a four-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6%, to 33,402.38. The Nasdaq composite sank 0.5% to 12,126.33. Investors are still split on whether the U.S. economy will fall into a recession and how badly corporate profits might drop. The biggest question remains what the Federal Reserve will do next with interest rates after hiking them furiously over the last year to get high inflation under control. The reports on job openings and factory or...

Robotaxis aim to take San Francisco on ride into the future

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Two trailblazing ride-hailing services are heading toward uncharted territory as they seek regulatory approval to transport passengers around the clock throughout one of the most densely populated U.S. cities in vehicles that will have no one sitting in the driver’s seat.If Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, and Waymo, a spinoff from Google, reach their goal before year’s end, San Francisco would become the first U.S. city with two totally driverless services competing against Uber, Lyft and traditional taxis — all of which depend on people to control the automobiles.But Cruise and Waymo still must navigate around potential roadblocks, including complaints about their vehicles making unexpected, traffic-clogging stops that threaten to inconvenience other travelers and imperil public safety.Cruise already has been charging people for driverless rides in less congested parts of San Francisco during night-time hours since last June. Waymo has been giving...

Donald Trump, the attention economy’s most potent stimulus

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

In the currency of today’s attention economy, Donald Trump is the world’s richest man. His media-engulfed arraignment in New York was an out-of-court Exhibit A. In returning to the no-business-like-show-business metropolis that propelled him to tabloid-fodder fame so many years ago, the former president also returned to the very stage where he thrives the most. As he did so, even in an atypically sedate manner, he demonstrated the peculiar way he encounters the world — as luminary and aggrieved party rolled into one.Love him? Hate him? Don’t care? Doesn’t matter. Just like during his presidency, he commands notice. Still. Thousands of New York City police officers, the U.S. Secret Service and swarms of journalists deployed across lower Manhattan can all attest to that.It was a procedural court appearance, the low rung of drama in a criminal case, but it was a full-on spectacle. And calling it that, assessing it in that way, does not diminish it — not in today’s world, where spectacl...

Russia invites children’s official sought by ICC to brief UN

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, who is being sought for war crimes, will brief a controversial U.N. meeting Wednesday that Russia called to counter what it claims is disinformation by Western officials and media about Ukrainian children taken to Russia.Russia’s U.N. Mission confirmed Tuesday that Maria Lvova-Belova will be the lead speaker, by video link, to an informal meeting of the Security Council that has sparked opposition from Ukraine’s supporters. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last month for her and President Vladimir Putin over the abductions. The United Kingdom said it has blocked outside broadcast of the meeting in protest and will not send an ambassador, and the U.S. Mission said it won’t send its ambassador either.“The fact that they are inviting someone indicted by the ICC speaks for itself,” UK deputy ambassador James Kariuki said. Later, the UK Mission added in a statement: “If she wants to give an account ...

For McCarthy and Taiwan’s leader, visit marks historic first

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The moment will be historic — a U.S. House speaker meeting with the president of Taiwan for a rare visit on American soil, a high-profile encounter designed to boost support for the island government but already drawing blowback from an enraged China.For Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen the meeting Wednesday with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California is the most sensitive stop on her transit through the U.S. and Central America, a whirlwind diplomatic mission that is delicate, secretive and politically fraught.But for the newly elected House speaker it is the start of his foray into foreign affairs. The Republican leader has focused more on domestic politics at home than international concerns abroad. Outspoken, even bellicose, against China, McCarthy sends a potentially provocative nod of support to Taiwan with the meeting.“It’s a very good debut,” said Newt Gingrich, the Republican former speaker who led a delegation...

Severe storms including hail, tornadoes hit Midwest, South

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — People still sorting through the wreckage of their homes after a weekend of deadly weather braced for another wave of strong storms that began rolling into parts of the Midwest and South on Tuesday evening. At least one tornado was confirmed Tuesday night, and officials warned residents to have shelter ready before going to sleep.“This could be a night to just set up down in the basement to be safe,” said Tom Philip, a meteorologist in Davenport, Iowa.The National Weather Service began issuing tornado warnings Tuesday evening in Iowa and Illinois and said a confirmed twister was spotted southwest of Chicago near Bryant, Illinois. No damage was immediately reported.The storms were expected to hammer some areas hit by severe weather and possibly dozens of tornadoes just days ago that killed at least 32 people, meaning more misery for those whose homes were destroyed in Arkansas, Iowa and Illinois. Dangerous conditions were predicted into the overnight hours Tue...

FULL BLOG: Brandon Johnson elected Chicago mayor, defeating Paul Vallas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

CHICAGO — Former teacher and union organizer Brandon Johnson has been elected Chicago mayor, according to Associated Press projections.City Council seats, as well as suburban mayor and village presidents races, continue to be decided.The Chicago mayoral race pitted former Chicago schools CEO Paul Vallas, a moderate Democrat endorsed by Chicago’s police union and several trade unions, against progressive Johnson, the Cook County Board Commissioner, who was backed by the Chicago Teachers Union and several public sector unions. All Chicago and Illinois Election ResultsTuesday's runoff election is due to no candidate receiving over 50% of the vote on the Feb. 28 election. On that day, Vallas, 69, was the majority frontrunner. Johnson, 46, followed and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot finished third in the polls. The soon-to-be-ousted Lightfoot was the first city mayor in 40 years to seek reelection and lose.WGN News’ special coverage began at 7 p.m. and included analysis and updat...

Rockies waste chance, German Marquez gives up three homers in loss to Dodgers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

For the Rockies, a team that struggles mightily to manufacture runs on the road, it was shaping up as a dream inning Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.Ezequiel Tovar led off the third with a single and advanced to second on Jurickson Profar’s single to right — Profar’s first hit in a Rockies uniform. Then Yonathan Daza executed a perfect bunt toward third base to load the bases with no outs.Into the batter’s box stepped the big boys. Problem was, Kris Bryant struck out looking at a 3-2 curveball by Julio Urias and C.J. Cron grounded into a rally-killing double play.With Jurias on the mound, that was pretty much the ballgame. Dodgers 5, Rockies 2.That makes four consecutive losses for the Rockies after they opened the season 2-0.Los Angeles had only seven hits, but three of them left the yard off right-hander German Marquez, who continues to be haunted by home runs. The three homers given up tied a career-high for Marquez, who served up 30 homers last season.In ...

Police seek public's help identifying driver involved in fatal hit-and-run in Wilmington

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:14 GMT

Authorities with the Los Angeles Police Department on Monday asked for the public’s help in identifying a suspect involved in a hit-and-run that claimed the life of a 52-year-old man.  The fatal collision occurred on April 2, just before 5:30 a.m., at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Wilmington Avenue, according to an LAPD news release.  Police say a driver in a Scion xB was traveling westbound on PCH when they collided with the pedestrian who was crossing the intersection against a red light. The force of the impact caused the 52-year-old victim to fall on the roadway.  The driver of the Scion immediately pulled over, was attempting to call 911 and get aid to the victim when another unknown vehicle, possibly a dark sedan, entered the intersection and ran over the man as he was lying in the roadway, police said.  “The second driver that collided with the pedestrian fled the scene and did not stop to render aid or identify themselves,” the release stated.  Police ar...