Author: Andrew Rogers

Hawaii County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd died unexpectedly early Sunday morning at the age of 45. Todd had served the Hawaii Fire Department for 21 years and was appointed chief in 2021. His mother, Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd, described him as an inspiration. “I’m lucky I had him as my son. He made me a better person every day of his life,” she said. She added that the family has been touched by stories of how Todd helped and cared for others. The cause of death has not been confirmed, but Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said it was from natural…

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Kansas is facing criticism from other tribal groups after its economic development subsidiary secured a $29.9 million federal contract from the Department of Homeland Security to design potential ICE detention facilities. The contract, signed in October, has drawn backlash for its perceived connection to historical forced relocations, as the tribe was moved from the Great Lakes region to Kansas in the 1830s. Tribal chair Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick confirmed in a video statement Friday that KPB Services, a subsidiary of Prairie Band LLC, signed the contract. Rupnick apologized for the “concern, frustration, and confusion” the…

A man has been arrested in connection with the killing of a taxi driver from Danbury, Connecticut, whose body was discovered in a New York reservoir earlier this month. Santos Vasquez Ramirez, 28, of Pawling, New York, has been charged with Second Degree Murder and First Degree Robbery, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities say Vasquez Ramirez confessed to strangling and killing 66-year-old Aurelio Zhunio-Orbez over the fare. Zhunio-Orbez was last seen on December 1 picking up a customer at the Metro-North train station in Brewster, New York. His taxi was later found abandoned in the parking lot…

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill on Friday legalizing medical aid in dying for certain terminally ill adults, with the law set to take effect in September 2026. The delayed rollout will allow the Illinois Department of Public Health and healthcare systems to establish strict safeguards. Known as Senate Bill 1950 or “Deb’s Law,” the legislation sets a narrowly defined process. Eligible patients must be adults with a terminal illness expected to cause death within six months, verified by two physicians. The request must come directly from the patient, who must have the mental capacity to make medical decisions.…

National Wreaths Across America Day was observed Saturday at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro. Members of the Millsboro Fire Company, along with their families, volunteered to place wreaths on the graves of veterans, honoring their service and sacrifice. The event is part of a nationwide initiative that engages more than 2 million volunteers at over 5,200 locations across all 50 states. Each year, Wreaths Across America Day focuses on remembering veterans, teaching the value of their service, and honoring their legacy through the placement of wreaths at burial sites. Volunteers at the Delaware ceremony helped ensure that each…

A fire in Middletown, Delaware, left a 77-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman hospitalized with serious injuries on Saturday, December 13, 2025. First responders were called to the 700 block of Cleaver Farms Road, at the Villagebrook Trailer Park, around 1:15 p.m. after reports of an active structure fire. When firefighters arrived, they found both adults injured at the scene. Officials said the man is in critical condition with burns and possible smoke inhalation, while the woman is in serious condition with potential internal injuries and smoke inhalation. Both were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. A third person…

Colorado Springs firefighters responded to a large structure fire on the east side of I-25 Saturday afternoon. Crews were dispatched to the 3100 block of Century Street around 2:43 p.m. after an engine in the area spotted heavy black smoke and called for a full structure fire response. Dispatch reportedly received about 58 calls regarding the fire. The Colorado Springs Fire Department said the structure appears to be a storage area, with materials such as styrofoam and other building items on fire. Firefighters initially had difficulty accessing the blaze due to fencing around the building. Despite the challenge, the bulk…

Colorado is considering a major change to its higher education and workforce systems. Lawmakers aim to merge seven state departments into a single agency to simplify services and boost economic growth. Democratic House Speaker Julie McCluskie supports the plan, saying the current system is confusing for residents. “We have a Department of Education, Department of Higher Education, Department of Labor and Employment, and Office of Economic Development and International Trade,” McCluskie said. “Coloradans clearly deserve better.” Governor Jared Polis agreed, noting that even state leaders find the current structure hard to navigate. “If I can’t even name all the state…

California has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the termination of more than $33 million in federal transportation funding. The suit, filed late Friday, targets Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The funding was withheld after the U.S. Department of Transportation claimed California did not meet rules requiring English proficiency for commercial truck drivers. California argues its English-language standards for commercial drivers comply with federal requirements and that the funding cuts are unjustified. The grants were part of the state’s commercial vehicle safety programs and were initially announced in October. The Trump administration…

SpaceX is moving forward with plans for a 2026 initial public offering, valuing Elon Musk’s space company at around $800 billion and potentially setting a record for the largest IPO ever. The announcement comes as SpaceX conducts an insider share sale, with the latest secondary offering priced at $421 per share. This nearly doubles the $212 per share set in July, which valued the company at $400 billion. If completed, the valuation surpasses OpenAI’s $500 billion mark and makes SpaceX the world’s most valuable privately held company. In a company memo, Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsen said the IPO proceeds…