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As death toll of Maui wildfires rises to 80, a timeline of failed communications emerges

By Rebecca Boone, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Audrey McAvoy, Associated Press

In the hours before a wildfire engulfed the town of Lahaina, Maui County officials failed to activate sirens that would have warned the entire population of the approaching flames and instead relied on a series of sometimes confusing social media posts…

Analysis: Burning of Lahaina’s sacred sites is a major loss for Native Hawaiians. But their history will live on

By Rosalyn R. LaPier, The Conversation

Lahaina has been revered by its Indigenous peoples as a sacred place for generations. It is believed to be the home of Kihawahine, a woman who transformed into a goddess.

Lahaina residents met with devastation as they return to Maui town’s charred remains

By Claire Rush, Associated Press/Report for America, Ty O'Neil, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Associated Press

Residents of Lahaina were being allowed back home on Friday for the first time since wildfires that have killed at least 67 people turned large swaths of the centuries-old town into a hellscape of ashen rubble.

Why people in Maui were caught off guard by the deadly wildfires

By Stephanie Sy, Eliot Barnhart, Solveig Rennan, Courtney Norris, Dorothy Hastings

At least 55 people are now confirmed dead after fast-moving wildfires ravaged the Hawaiian island of Maui this week. Those who did manage to survive now face the daunting task of piecing their lives back together. Stephanie Sy reports on…

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Supreme Court blocks Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan shielding owners from lawsuits

By William Brangham, Courtney Norris

The Supreme Court blocked a bankruptcy plan for drug maker Purdue Pharma that would have paid out billions of dollars to address the opioid epidemic and shielded the company’s owners from legal liability. The Justice Department argued that shielding the…

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EPA eyes formal evaluation of toxic chemical that burned after Ohio train derailment

By Matthew Daly, Associated Press

The Biden administration could soon launch a formal evaluation of vinyl chloride, the chemical that burned following the fiery train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried jailed after judge revokes bail in crypto fraud case

By Larry Neumeister, Associated Press

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was sent to jail Friday to await trial after a bail hearing for the fallen cryptocurrency wiz left a judge convinced that he had repeatedly tried to influence witnesses against him.

How to help survivors of the deadly wildfires in Maui

By News Desk and Glenn Gamboa, Associated Press

Experts recommend donating to nonprofits based on Hawaii that have provided rapid response services in the past, and organizations with deep local ties and knowledge of the affected communities.

Kentucky school district’s bus route meltdown draws public outrage, calls for change

By Bruce Schreiner, Dylan Lovan, Travis Loller, Associated Press

It took just one disastrous day for Jefferson County Public Schools leaders to completely reexamine the transportation plan for Kentucky's largest district, which serves 96,000 students.

Prosecutors say California judge informed court staff via text after shooting his wife

By Amy Taxin, Associated Press

A Southern California judge accused of killing his wife texted his court clerk and bailiff afterward to say he had shot her, prosecutors said Friday as they charged him with murder and sought new bail conditions.