“Top stories and breaking news from Hawaii, across the nation, and around the world.”
Views expressed in this Hawaii and U.S. news summary are those of the reporters and correspondents.
Accessed on 20 February 2026, 1346 UTC.
Content and Source: “Honolulu Star-Advertiser.”
URL–https://www.staradvertiser.com/category/breaking-news/
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Community Event: The Kohala-Hamakua Amateur Radio Club presents its annual Waimea Big Island of Hawaii Ham Fest and Swap Meet on Saturday, 21 February 2026, 0930 HST, at The Waimea Community Center.
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Russ Roberts (https://hawaiinewsjournal.com).
Breaking News
Get the latest top stories and breaking news today from Hawaii, across the nation and around the world.
Rainbows rally from down 6 to shock Wichita State
Kody Watanabe delivered the go-ahead two-run double with two strikes and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Hawaii an improbable 7-6 win over Wichita State in the opener of a four-game series tonight at Les Murakami Stadium. Read more
Rainbow Warriors fall to Cal Poly for first losing streak of season
Hamad Mousa scored 24 points to lead Cal Poly to Thursday night’s 86-75 victory over Hawaii in Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Read more
Hawaii County, former department head exonerated in civil trial
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, centered on allegations of discrimination during the recruitment for a film commissioner position, which resulted in the 2022 hiring of Aulani Freitas as commissioner. Read more
Hawaii union membership in 2025 led nation at 26%
New York was second at 22.5% while Alaska was third at 20.7%. Read more
Big run propels Rainbow Wahine to win at Cal Poly
The University of Hawaii women’s basketball team used a 20-point run bridging the first and second quarters to take control at Cal Poly in a 71-54 runaway tonight at Mott Athletics Center in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Read more
New DHS memo orders detention of refugees after one year in U.S.
In a new memo, officials at the Department of Homeland Security said immigration agents would be required to detain refugees if they had not applied for legal permanent status after a year of living in the country. Read more
Alysa Liu ends U.S. figure skating medal drought with gold
In a commanding and joyful performance, Liu nailed jump after jump as the sold-out crowd at the Milano Ice Skating Arena erupted. Read more
Trump warns Iran of ‘bad things’ if no deal made within 10 to 15 days
Trump’s threats to bomb Iran have pushed up oil prices as a Russian corvette warship joined Iranian naval drills today in the Gulf of Oman, a vital sea route for global energy. Read more
Las Vegas sees sharp visitor drop as leisure spending wanes
Las Vegas drew about 3.1 million fewer visitors in 2025, a 7.5% drop — its sharpest decline outside the pandemic since record-keeping began in 1970, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Read more
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West Virginia sues Apple, saying iCloud distributed ‘child porn’
Attorney General JB McCuskey, a Republican, accused Apple of prioritizing user privacy over child safety. Read more
Dollar advances after data implies stable economy
The dollar index, which measures the dollar against a basket of currencies, rose 0.2% to 97.90, with the euro down 0.16% at $1.1763. Read more
In Guthrie mystery, rampant speculation is like ‘salt on the open wound’
Fevered, and unfounded, speculation caromed around social media, livestreams and message boards, and by Monday, Sheriff Chris Nanos of Pima County, Arizona, was fed up. Read more
Trade deficit jumps 32.6% despite Trump tariffs
The second straight monthly deterioration in the trade deficit reported by the Commerce Department today suggested that trade made little or no contribution to gross domestic product in the fourth quarter. Read more
New Mexico probes allegation of bodies buried near Epstein ranch
New Mexico Department of Justice spokesperson Lauren Rodriguez said it had requested from the U.S. Justice Department an unredacted copy of an email in 2019 containing the allegation. Read more
King Charles’ brother Andrew released after arrest over Epstein-linked misconduct
Thames Valley Police said that “the arrested man” had been “released under investigation.” Read more
Police arrest 2 teens in connection with Kapolei shooting
A 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl were arrested today in connection with the Sunday shooting of two contractors from the mainland in front of a Taco Bell in Kapolei, police said. Read more
Hawaii island police seek 3 ‘armed and dangerous’ suspects
Police say the three are known to frequent the Kailua-Kona and the Ocean View areas. Read more
U.S. military moves into place for possible strikes in Iran
Trump has given no indication that he has made a decision about how to proceed. Read more
Woman, 32, arrested in Waianae armed robbery; 2 suspects at large
The incident began at approximately 6:20 a.m. when a 34-year-old man was working in the area. Read more
Gold surges over 2% on geopolitical jitters
Spot gold was up 2.4% at $4,992.11 per ounce by 02:18 p.m. ET (9:18 a.m. Hawaii time). Bullion prices had fallen more than 2% to $4,841.74 on Tuesday, hitting their lowest in a week. Read more
FDA reverses course, will review Moderna’s flu vaccine application
The reversal, which could clear the way for the first mRNA-based flu vaccine in the United States, also underscores the volatility at the FDA, which has seen top career officials depart under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Read more
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