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As Maui rebuilds, residents reckon with tourism’s role in their recovery

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:49 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Long before a wind-whipped wildfire blasted through the island of Maui, tension existed between Hawaii’s kamaaina, or longtime residents, and the visitors some islanders resent for turning their beaches, mountains and communities into playgrounds. It’s a love-hate relationship that dates back generations. But now that tension is building in the aftermath of a blaze that killed over 100 people and scorched the historic town of Lahaina, making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.A week after the fire, a state flag blew upside down in the breeze along a road leading to a neighborhood designated for residents of Hawaiian descent, signifying that the community is in distress. Beneath the flag, a sign scrawled in blue paint ordered tourists to “KEEP OUT.”“Tourism has definitely been a hinderance at this point, because we need to take care of our families – our ohana,” said Kapali Keahi, who lives in the neighborhood. Keahi said those affected...

After a hazy start, temperatures start to rise Saturday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:49 GMT

CHICAGO — We'll have a bit of a haze to start Saturday with some wildfire smoke from Northwestern Canada still filtering in as temperatures start to rise as a hot stretch begins in the Chicago area.The haze will clear out by the afternoon and we'll see partly to mostly sunny skies. Winds will be a bit breezy out of the southwest with gusts up to 25 miles per hour. We'll also start to see that humidity rise later in the day. Highs are expected into the mid-80s this afternoon. Temperatures continue to climb Sunday with highs into the low to mid-90s. We'll see humidity increase and heat index values into the triple digits. A heat advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

DeSantis tied with Ramaswamy for second in GOP primary: poll

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:49 GMT

(The Hill) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are tied for second place in the Republican presidential field in a new poll. An Emerson College poll showed DeSantis and Ramaswamy tied at 10% each, trailing former President Trump, who leads with 56%. DeSantis kept his position in second place from previous polls, but he registered a big drop from the 21% he had in June Ramaswamy rose from just 2% then. Biden to travel to Maui next week The poll’s release comes as a leaked memo from the super PAC supporting DeSantis’ candidacy, Never Back Down, urged DeSantis to “take a sledgehammer” to Ramaswamy. Some polling has shown Ramaswamy closing in on DeSantis for second place, and the memo appears to acknowledge a few other candidates also gaining momentum behind the Florida governor. "Another boring, establishment attack from Super PAC-creation 'Robot Ron' who is literally taking lame, pre-programmed attack lines against me for next week’s de...

Evanston's Art & Big Fork Festival enters its 10th year

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:49 GMT

CHICAGO — For the tenth time, a festival in a north suburb will get the chance to see art that is made both locally and nationally. The Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival has started in Evanston, opening up on Friday and continuing through Sunday afternoon, located at the corner of Church Street and Sherman Avenue.It features over 130 juried artists and artisans during the three-day event with a variety of items for visitors to see or purchase. There will also be live music, food trucks, and activities for kids during the three-day event. Amy Amdur, the producer of the Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival, joined WGN Weekend News on Saturday to talk about the event. She also brought some of the art in studio to show host Sean Lewis along with the audience.You can watch that show from the August 19 show in the video above. The Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and you can see more about the event here.Love the WGN Morning News?...

2 Tennessee tourists found safe after becoming lost in Alaskan wilderness for over a week

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:49 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Two Tennesseans have been found safe after they were reported missing a week ago in Alaska, troopers announced on Friday. Jonas Bare, 50, and Cynthia Hovsepian, 37, both of Nashville, were last seen on a hiking trail at Chena Hot Springs Resort in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 10. Bare and Hovsepian had previously checked into an Airbnb on Aug. 9 and were scheduled to check out two days later on Aug. 11, but never did. Investigators then learned that the couple left their personal belongings at the Airbnb and never made their return flight home, police in Fairbanks said.The two were officially reported missing on Aug.12. Troopers launched a search and rescue operation in the area, using helicopters, small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), ATVs and K-9 teams.  LATEST: Lahaina fire fatalities rise to 114 On Friday, Aug. 18, Alaska Wildlife Troopers announced that Bare and Hovsepian were found safe a short distance away from the Chena Hot Springs Reso...

Franklin, Weinstein: The U.S. bungled COVID-19 vaccine distribution. We need a post-mortem, now

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:49 GMT

Although the lion’s share of COVID-19 infections and deaths in the United States is over, Americans should embrace their inner Yogi Berra, who once observed that “it ain’t over till it’s over.”Indeed, a number of issues regarding COVID-19 remain active, including hundreds of thousands of patients potentially stricken with long COVID-19 and the mystery of the virus’s origin. But among the most important and least appreciated issues is a public accounting of how the vaccine was distributed and administered throughout the country. The vaccine distribution system was not our finest hour, and the process must be upgraded for future health emergencies.Whatever one believes about Donald Trump, Operation Warp Speed was one of the most effective research projects ever undertaken. Considering the time pressures, employing an mRNA platform permitted rapid development of a vaccine that was relatively safe and resulted in fairly effective protection from hospi...

Hormel sending five truckloads of Spam to Maui to feed wildfire victims

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:49 GMT

AUSTIN, Minn. — Austin-based Hormel Foods Corp. is sending Spam and other aid to Maui, which is struggling to recover from devastating wildfires.The company announced Thursday, Aug. 17, that three truckloads of the canned pork product are on the way with two more trucks following, totaling more than 264,000 cans. The company is working with Convoy of Hope, a faith-based nonprofit that aids communities affected by natural disasters.The Hormel brand says it has donated cash and products with a retail value of more than $1 million to directly help people affected by the wildfires. The company says it is donating proceeds from sales of a Spam-themed T-shirt to Aloha United Way’s Maui Fire Relief Fund.Hormel team members are also raising money to donate to the local area food bank with a match from their employer.“We are so grateful for our partners like Convoy of Hope and local Hawaii retailers who are helping us get more product to people in need as quickly as possible,” said Jennesa K...

Working Strategies: Negotiating a raise can cut both ways

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:49 GMT

Amy LindgrenHow do you negotiate for salary when the other person knows pretty much everything about your current pay package? This is the situation for internal negotiations, which workers may undergo when asking for a new role, navigating a promotion, or starting with a new employer post-merger.The problem with your boss knowing the specifics of your current compensation is that you can’t leverage any of those points. In an external negotiation, it’s routine to state that you’re used to a certain level of flexibility or vacation time or bonus. In an internal situation, not only are the facts already known, they were likely being used to build the offer you’re now pondering.Still, if these were the only challenges faced by internal candidates, the process would be pretty manageable. Unfortunately, the situation gets murkier by the minute when two people who know each other enter into a salary conversation.Here are some of the pitfalls for internal candidates, followed by tips for m...

More roadblocks for NY’s Cannabis industry

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:49 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New York State's slow rollout of legalized marijuana sales hits another roadblock after a new ruling in the ongoing legal challenge against the State's retail cannabis licensing process. A group of four military veterans filed the lawsuit and it claims that process unfairly kept them out of the industry. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! A New York State Supreme Court judge upholding the injunction first issued last week that would keep the Office of Cannabis Management from approving any new pending applications, but those who applied before August 7, 2023, will be able to continue the process.The injunction states the OCM has an unfair licensing process that keeps others from getting cannabis ready.The Marcellino brothers, of Amsterdam Cannabis were just about to have their walkthrough with the OCM to okay the shop to be able to open their doors. But the brothers were put on pause due to the injunction....

Today in Sports – Tiger Woods becomes first golfer since 1953 to win 3 majors in a calendar year

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:49 GMT

By The Associated PressAug. 201921 — Molla Bjurstedt Mallory beats Mary Browne, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to win the U.S. women’s national tennis title at the Germantown Cricket Club in Philadelphia.1931 — Helen Wills Moody beats Eileen Bennett Whitingstall 6-4, 6-1 to capture the women’s title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championship.1944 — Robert Hamilton upsets Byron Nelson in the final round 1 up to win the PGA Championship.1960 — Holland’s Hairos II, driven by Willem Geersen, wins the second International Trot at Roosevelt Raceway before a record crowd of 54,861.1990 — George Steinbrenner steps down as NY Yankee owner.1995 — Monica Seles completes a remarkable first week back in tournament tennis, routing Amanda Coetzer 6-0, 6-1 to capture the Canadian Open. Her 74 games sets a tournament record for the fewest played by a champion.1999 — 7th Athletics World Championships open at Seville, Spain.2000 — Tiger Woods wins...