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USDA's recommended monthly food budget for a family of four has risen 27% since 2020. AdvertisementOn average, across the four food plans, the monthly budget recommendation has risen 27% since the start of 2020. Meanwhile, as of November, grocery prices were up 25.1% since the start of 2020, outpacing the 18.9% increase in overall prices. USDA Food Plan recommended monthly budgets. Andy Kiersz/Business InsiderWith food prices still weighing down consumers, some are becoming more conscious of how much they're spending and where.

Persons: USDA's, Andy Kiersz Organizations: US Department of Agriculture, USDA, USDA Food Locations: Alaska, Hawai'i

☆ The States Where Middle-Income Earners Pay the Most in Taxes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

To determine the tax burden, WalletHub looked at the percentage of a resident's income in each state that goes to sales and excise taxes, property taxes, and income taxes. Hawai'i was ranked as the worst state for middle-income earners, with 13.62% of earnings going to state taxes. Middle-income New Yorkers pay 12.58% of their income toward state taxes, and residents of Illinois pay 12.57%. 5) are in the top half in terms of the highest tax burden despite not having a state income tax. AdvertisementHere are the 10 states where middle-income residents pay the highest percentage of their income on state taxes.

Persons: —, WalletHub Organizations: Service, Business, Hawai'i, Washington Locations: Alaska, York, Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nevada, Florida

☆ The mystery of Siberia's strange exploding craters may have finally been solved
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

They may be due to hot time bombs made of natural gas building up under the frozen ground. AdvertisementScientists are putting forward a new explanation for the giant exploding craters that seem to be randomly appearing in the Siberian permafrost. AdvertisementNow scientists are proposing that hot natural gas seeping from underground reserves might be behind the explosive burst. The natural gas building up over a layer of sediment is represented in purple. The area is rife with natural gas reserves, which lines up with Hellevang and colleagues' theory, per the study.

Persons: —, Helge Hellevang, VASILY BOGOYAVLENSKY, It's, Sofie Bates, Hellevang, Helge Hellevang et, Lauren Schurmeier, Thomas Birchall, Hellenvang Organizations: Service, University of Oslo, Gas, Getty, NASA, University of Hawai'i, New, University Locations: Siberia, Norway, AFP, Northern Russia, Canada, Svalbard

☆ Alaska Airlines says it's buying Hawaiian Airlines in $1.9 billion deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines planes takeoff at the same time from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, United States on June 21, 2023. Alaska Airlines has agreed to acquire its rival Hawaiian Airlines in a deal valued at about $1.9 billion, as the companies make a push to expand along the West Coast. The combined company will be based in Seattle, where Alaska Airlines is headquartered, and led by its CEO, Ben Minicucci. "With the additional scale and resources that this transaction with Alaska Airlines brings, we will be able to accelerate investments in our guest experience and technology, while maintaining the Hawaiian Airlines brand," Peter Ingram, CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, said in the release. The combination will allow Alaska Airlines to triple nonstop or one-stop flights from the Hawaiian islands to destinations throughout North America.

Persons: Ben Minicucci, Peter Ingram, Minicucci Organizations: Hawaiian Airlines, San Francisco International Airport, Alaska Airlines, North America . Alaska Airlines, Airlines Locations: Alaska, San Francisco , California, United States, West Coast, Seattle, North America, Hawai'i, Maui

SEATTLE (AP) — Alaska Airlines said Sunday it agreed to buy Hawaiian Airlines in a $1.9 billion deal, including debt, putting it on track for a potential clash with a Biden administration that has shown wariness about higher fares in the industry. The deal also includes $900 million in Hawaiian debt, which the airlines said brings the acquisition's total value to $1.9 billion. The combined airline would be based in Seattle, with Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci at its head. Both Hawaiian and Alaska are leading airlines flying between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland, which could raise concerns about lessened competition. The Alaska and Hawaii companies expect the deal to close in 12 to 18 months.

Persons: Ben Minicucci, they're “, Minicucci, Biden Organizations: SEATTLE, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Biden, oneworld Alliance, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay, Cathay Pacific ., Pacific, Inter, Island Airways, ”, Hawaiian Holdings, Sprit Airlines, Justice Department, JetBlue, U.S . Department of Transportation Locations: Alaska, Seattle, Cathay Pacific, Cathay Pacific . Alaska, United States, Americas, Asia, Australia, Honolulu, Hawaii, North America, Hawai'i, aloha, U.S

☆ Naming a species after a celebrity may do more harm than good
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

But it's very difficult to change a species' scientific name, and that can lead to regrets. The list of species named for celebrities is lengthy and includes everything from flies (Beyoncé) to lichen (Oprah Winfrey) to lizards (Lionel Messi). An eponym is a scientific species name based on a person, either real or fictional. AdvertisementAdvertisementUniversity of Oxford biologist Katie Blake and her co-authors found that species with celebrity names had almost three times as many page views on Wikipedia as non-famously monikered control species. AdvertisementAdvertisementSome examples include Adolf Hitler, Cecil Rhodes, and George Hibbert, all of whom have species named after them.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Leonardo DiCaprio, David Attenborough, Oprah Winfrey, Lionel Messi, Jimmy, Sericomyrmex radioheadi, Tarantobelus, roundworm, Jeff Daniels, Taylor Swift's millipede, Katie Blake, cuvier, Georges Cuvier, Andre Seale, Blake, Hitler, Christopher Bae, Adolf Hitler, Cecil Rhodes, George Hibbert, Sergio Pitamitz, Bae, Cecil John Rhodes, There's, heidelbergensis, CESAR MANSO, Rhodes, bodoensis, Bodo D'ar, Jimmy Buffett’s “, Hal Horowitz, Hibbert, George Rinhart, Stephen B, Heard, Charles Darwin's Barnacle, David Bowie's Spider Organizations: Service, Virginia Tech, University of Oxford, VW, Getty, University of Hawai'i, American Ornithological Society, NPR Locations: Mano, Slovenia, Africa, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Right, Spain, AFP, Ethiopia

☆ Starbucks faces backlash over a symbol in a Native American Heritage Month sign
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Gloria Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Some Starbucks workers are calling out a poster intended to celebrate Native American History Month. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The latest issue centers around a poster Starbucks created to celebrate Native American History month. AdvertisementAdvertisementOne Reddit user who said they were a Native American Starbucks employee wrote: "it would've been a great opportunity for the company to feature the tribes located near each region. "In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, Starbucks is celebrating Indigenous Peoples across the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawai'i alongside our Indigenous Partner Network (employee network), local communities, and in our stores," a Starbucks spokesperson told Insider.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, American Starbucks, Starbucks, American Heritage Month, Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Partner Network, Network, American Heritage Locations: American, United States, Alaska, Hawai'i

☆ Remarkable video showed a false killer whale twirling and 'twerking' in front of divers. The species is known to socialize with humans, even bringing them large fish.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Video taken by divers showed a false killer whale twirling right in front of them in Costa Rica. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe false killer whale proceeded to blow bubbles before moving away from McSweeney and then circling back, stopping beside him. False killer whale Morten Falch SortlandThe sharing of prey is common for false killer whales, which are long-lived creatures with strong social bonds, Baird said. A lone false killer whale, far from its typical range, would catch fish and offer them to people on boats. As for the video of the false killer whale twirling before the divers, he said it's likely on that same scale of behavior.

Persons: Robin Baird, —, Lee Bertrand Robin Baird, Baird, Dan McSweeney, McSweeney, Dan, Morten Falch, He's, mahi, it's Organizations: Costa Rica . Research, Service, Cascadia Research, Hawai'i's Dolphins Locations: Costa Rica ., Costa Rica, Hawaii, Kona, British Columbia

☆ Death toll from Hawaii wildfires drops to 97
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The shells of burned houses and buildings are left after wildfires driven by high winds burned across most of the town in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 11, 2023. Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 15 (Reuters) - The death toll from last month's wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui has dropped to 97 and the number of people missing is now 31, Hawaii Governor Josh Green told CNN in an interview on Friday. Green said last week the death toll was 115 and 66 people were missing. "The death toll dropped because we have Department of Defense anthropologists who are able to do a lot more advanced genetics. Reporting by Eric Beech in Washington; editing by Dan Whitcomb and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Josh Green, Green, Eric Beech, Dan Whitcomb, Sandra Maler Organizations: Hawai'i Department of Land, Natural Resources, REUTERS, CNN, Department of Defense, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Washington

☆ US House panel asks Hawaiian Electric CEO to testify in wildfire probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The shells of burned houses and buildings are left after wildfires driven by high winds burned across most of the town in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 11, 2023. Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc FollowSept 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday asked utility company Hawaiian Electric (HE.N) CEO Shelee Kimura to testify at a hearing investigating the causes of the wildfire that killed at least 115 people and razed the historic town of Lahaina. Along with Kimura, the committee also summoned officials of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and the Hawai’i State Energy Office. Last month, the panel sent letters to Hawaiian Electric as well as state utility officials, seeking information about the wildfires. Reporting by Mrinalika Roy and Sourasis Bose in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja DesaiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Shelee Kimura, Kimura, Mrinalika Roy, Sourasis Bose, Pooja Desai Organizations: Hawai'i Department of Land, Natural Resources, REUTERS, Hawaiian Electric Industries, U.S . House Energy, Commerce, Electric, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, Hawai’i, Energy Office, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Washington, United States, Bengaluru

[1/2] A view of burned debris after wildfires devastated the historic town of Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S., August 10, 2023. Maui County sued Hawaiian Electric last week, accusing the utility of negligently failing to shut off power and causing the devastating fires that destroyed the coastal town of Lahaina and killed more than 114 people. "We were surprised and disappointed that the County of Maui rushed to court even before completing its own investigation," CEO Shelee Kimura said in a statement. Even with Monday's rally, shares are still down more than 60% since the wildfires started on Aug. 8. "To the extent HECO (Hawaiian Electric Co) has information of a second ignition source, HECO should offer that evidence now.

Persons: Shelee Kimura, HECO, John Fiske, Raymond James, Pavel Molchanov, Arunima Kumar, Mrinalika Roy, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter, Maju Samuel, Shounak Organizations: Hawai'i Department of Land, Natural Resources, REUTERS, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Hawaiian Electric, Electric, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Maui County, West Maui, Bengaluru

[1/2] A view of burned debris after wildfires devastated the historic town of Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S., August 10, 2023. Officials also encouraged relatives to submit the names of anyone else still missing and to provide DNA samples to assist in identifying remains. Officials had said earlier in the week that they had a running list of 1,000 to 1,100 people still unaccounted for. On Thursday, Maui County sued Hawaiian Electric (HE.N) for failing to shut down its equipment despite warnings that the high winds could knock down power lines. "We are very disappointed that Maui County chose this litigious path while the investigation is still unfolding," the company said in response to a request for comment.

Persons: John Pelletier, Joseph Ax, Julia Harte, Frank McGurty, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Hawai'i Department of Land, Natural Resources, REUTERS, FBI, Police, Hawaiian Electric, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maui County

A sign at the site of the destroyed Pioneer Hotel and Pioneer Theater is seen after wildfires driven by high winds burned across most of the town in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 10, 2023. The wildfires incinerated the town of Lahaina on Aug. 8, destroying 2,200 homes and businesses and leaving hundreds unaccounted for. Biden has faced criticism from Republicans for not speaking publicly about the tragedy until five days after it occurred. Criswell said she was in communication in the days that followed the wildfires, helping Biden understand the magnitude of the situation and what resources were needed. Some will be too traumatized to attend when their schools in Lahaina reopen while some parents will opt to move rather than rebuild.

Persons: Deanne Criswell, Joe Biden, Criswell, Biden, Jonathan Allen, Brendan O'Brien, David Morgan, Mary Milliken, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Pioneer, Hawai'i Department of Land, Natural Resources, REUTERS Acquire, . Federal Emergency Management Agency, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Kihei, Chicago, Washington

☆ Maui children face grief, destruction as schools start up after wildfire
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Sharon Bernstein | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] A view of burned debris after wildfires devastated the historic town of Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S., August 10, 2023. Getting kids back in school poses numerous challenges: hundreds have already enrolled in schools in areas outside the burn zone. To help students, parents and staff, the Hawaii State Department of Education is offering in-person and telehealth counseling services, according to the department's website. SCHOOLS REOPEN OUTSIDE BURN ZONEThe state has been encouraging families from Lahaina to enroll their children at schools outside of the burn zone where they may be staying temporarily. Children whose families already lived outside Lahaina but attend schools there on special permits should also enroll elsewhere, the Hawaii State Department of Education said on its website.

Persons: Mike Landes, King Kamehameha, Landes, Courtney Walter, King Kamehameha III, Nahi'ena'ena, They've, Sharon Bernstein, Jonathan Allen, Liliana Salgado, Donna Bryson, Sonali Paul Organizations: Hawai'i Department of Land, Natural Resources, REUTERS Acquire, King Kamehameha III Elementary School, Lahainaluna, Landes, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii State Department of Education, Reuters, Maui High School, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Hawaii's, Kihei, Landes, Maui's Upcountry, Lahainaluna, West Maui, Sacramento

KAHULUI, Hawaii, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Hawaii Governor Josh Green on Sunday called a part of the island of Maui that was devastated by wildfires a "war zone," as the death toll reached 93 and was expected to keep climbing. "We're at 93 (victims) now ... it's a war zone, but the help is incredible." The death toll made the blaze Hawaii's worst natural disaster, surpassing a tsunami that killed 61 people in 1960, a year after Hawaii became a U.S. state. [1/2]The shells of burned houses and buildings are left after wildfires driven by high winds burned across most of the town in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 11, 2023. Reuters Graphics'TOO GRIM'Authorities began allowing residents back into west Maui on Friday, although the fire zone in Lahaina remained barricaded.

Persons: Josh Green, Green, We'll, Joe Biden, Deanne Criswell, we've, a.m, Mike Blake, Marco Garcia, David Ljunggren, Jorge Garcia, Sandra Stojanovic, Maria Caspani, Joseph Ax, Daniel Wallis, Raju Gopalakrishnan, William Mallard, Paul Simao Organizations: MSNBC, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Sunday, National Fire Protection Association, Officials, Hawai'i Department of Land, Natural Resources, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Reuters Graphics, Authorities, Facebook, Thomson Locations: KAHULUI, Hawaii, Maui, Lahaina, obliterating, it's, U.S, Paradise , California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maui County, Kula, Kahului, Honolulu , Hawaii

[1/5] The shells of burned houses and buildings are left after wildfires driven by high winds burned across most of the town in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 11, 2023. RAPID ADVANCEAuthorities began allowing residents back into west Maui on Friday, though the fire zone in Lahaina remained barricaded. "When I see Lahaina town itself, I cannot describe the feelings I get," said Lacuesta, who was headed to a church shelter next to continue his search. Subsequent updates were focused on the Kula fire, which had burned hundreds of acres and forced some local evacuations. But at around 3:30 p.m., according to the county's updates, the Lahaina fire flared up.

Persons: Anne Lopez, Josh Green, Dacruz, We'll, Lacuesta, a.m, Mike Blake, Marco Garcia, Joseph Ax, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Hawai'i Department of Land, Natural Resources, REUTERS, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, CNN, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, REUTERS KAHULUI, Kahului, Kula, Maui County, Honolulu , Hawaii

☆ Hawaiian Airlines just launched its new route to a destination previously hard to reach for American tourists
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hawaiian Airlines launched its new nonstop route between Honolulu and the Cook Islands on Saturday. American tourists previously could stop in only New Zealand or Tahiti to get to the island. Hawaiian's new route is the only link between the Cook Islands and the US, allowing travelers to more easily reach the isolated nation. In August, the nation's home airline, Air Rarotonga, launched direct flights between Papeete in Tahiti and Rarotonga, reported local publication Enjoy Cook Islands. The service comes after Air Tahiti ended its route between the two nations in 2020 after 13 years.

☆ Hammerhead sharks 'hold their breath' when deep diving up to 2,500 feet to avoid freezing to death
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Marianne Guenot | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Hammerhead sharks are able to deep dive to frigid, near-freezing waters to catch rare prey. The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Science on Thursday, found scalloped hammerhead sharks are able to conserve their body temperature while diving over 2,500 feet under the surface to hunt for deep-sea prey. Keeping the cold water outA hammerhead shark. This video spotted a hammerhead shark swimming during a deep dive off the coast of Tanzania. The strategy gives them an evolutionary advantage, but there's a catchA hammerhead shark caught in a net.

☆ Hawaiian Airlines is launching a new route to a destination hard to reach for American tourists
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hawaiian Airlines is launching a new nonstop route between Honolulu and the Cook Islands. American tourists previously had to stop in only New Zealand or Tahiti to get to the island. Hawaiian's new route will be the only link between the Cook Islands and the US, allowing travelers to more easily reach the isolated nation. In August, the nation's home airline, Air Rarotonga, launched direct flights between Papeete in Tahiti and Rarotonga, reported local publication Enjoy Cook Islands. The service comes after Air Tahiti ended its route between the two nations in 2020 after 13 years.

☆ Factbox: Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano erupts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Mauna Loa’s summit region glows during an eruption as viewed by a geologist of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in Hawaii, U.S. November 28, 2022. USGS/Ken Hon/Handout via REUTERSNov 29 (Reuters) - Hawaii's Mauna Loa began erupting on Nov. 27 for the first time in nearly four decades. * Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on the planet, rising some 13,679 feet (4,169 meters) above the Pacific Ocean and dominating the Island of Hawai'i, also known as the Big Island. Geologists estimate that Mauna Loa first erupted on the sea floor between 600,000 and 1 million years ago, and emerged above sea level about 300,000 years ago. * Mauna Loa has previously erupted 33 times since modern record-keeping began in 1843, according to the USGS.

☆ Senate passes bill to include Native Hawaiian sexual violence survivors in funding
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Kimmy Yam | Kimmy Yam Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

While services allocated to specifically help Native Hawaiian survivors of gender-based violence were previously inadvertently excluded from that funding, the legislation would rectify that. As it stood, the legislation allocated money for native women but not, specifically, Native Hawaiian women due to language and drafting errors. “The people who suffer the worst of that are Native Hawaiian women," she added. Barriers to addressing violence against Native Hawaiian women can also be traced back to American colonization, Kanaʻiaupuni said. “And of course the majority of trafficked people are Native Hawaiian women and children.

☆ The 10 states with the highest average credit card debt—and they aren't New York or California
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Americans with credit card debt face a double whammy. At the same time, credit card rates are on the rise. Run a balance on your card and you'll have to pay it back at a rate of 18.1%, on average, according to Bankrate — the highest rate since 1996. The result: Americans now carry a near-record amount of credit card debt, with the average household owing $8,942, according to recent data from WalletHub. Here are the 10 states with the highest average household credit card debt, according to WalletHub.

Abortion rights demonstrators protest outside the House chambers in the Indiana Statehouse during a special session to debate banning abortion in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. August 2, 2022. REUTERS/Cheney Orr/File PhotoSept 19 (Reuters) - A Planned Parenthood affiliate and other abortion rights groups and providers on Monday urged an Indiana judge to block the state's ban on most abortions, which took effect last Thursday. The ACLU sued to challenge the law alongside Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai'i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky and others. He argued the ban puts Indiana residents' health at risk and that Hanlon should put it on hold while she considers the case. "That history forecloses any legitimate claim to a right to have an abortion under the Indiana constitution," he said.

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