West
On this day in history, August 21, 1959, Hawaii becomes the 50th state: 'A stronger nation'
President Dwight Eisenhower signed a proclamation declaring Hawaii the 50th state on this day in history, Aug. 21, 1959.
“All 49 states will join in welcoming the new one – Hawaii – to this union,” said Eisenhower in extemporaneous remarks made after signing the proclamation.
He noted the “truly historic” nature of the time, as Hawaii was the second state added to the United States within that year.
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“We will wish for her prosperity, security, happiness, and a growing closer relationship with all the other states. We know that she is ready to do her part to make this union a stronger nation – a stronger people than it was before because of her presence as a full sister to the other 49 states,” said Eisenhower.
Hawaii’s statehood marked the first time in 158 years that the makeup of Congress consisted only of senators and members of Congress, rather than the “delegates” that had represented the Hawaii Territory and the Alaska Territory.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower is shown signing the proclamation adding Hawaii to the U.S. as the 50th state on Aug. 21, 1959. (Getty Images)
“The delegates are gone and in their place we have senators and congressmen,” noted Eisenhower.
The position of “delegate” would return to Congress in the 1970s.
As of 2023, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands have a non-voting delegate in Congress, according to the official website of Congress.
Hawaiian statehood came about as a result of the Hawaii Admission Act, passed into law in March 1959.
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Section 7b of that law required that Hawaiians be given the opportunity to vote on whether they wished to join the United States as a state and if they agreed with the rest of the provision of the Hawaii Admission Act.
Hawaii was defined in the bill as “all the islands, together with their appurtenant reefs and territorial waters, included in the Territory of Hawaii on the date of enactment of this Act, except the atoll known as Palmyra Island, together with its appurtenant reefs and territorial waters, but said State shall not be deemed to include the Midway Islands, Johnston Island, Sand Island (off-shore from Johnston Island), or Kingman Reef, together with their appurtenant reefs and territorial waters.”
Hawaii became America’s 50th state on Aug. 21, 1959. (iStock)
In a June 27, 1959, election, Hawaiians voted overwhelmingly to be admitted to the United States as a state.
That remains the highest electoral turnout in state history.
Hawaii’s statehood came about more than half a century after the United States annexed the island chain in 1898. The area’s history, however, goes back much further.
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Roughly 1,500 years ago, Polynesians arrived in Hawaii, as the Hawai’i Tourism Authority website noted.
In 1778, Captain James Cook landed on the island of Kauai, becoming the first European to reach any of the Hawaiian Islands. He named the islands the Sandwich Islands.
Cook would be killed on the island of Hawaii one year later, noted the Hawai’i Tourism Authority.
In 1810, King Kamehameha I united the Hawaiian islands under his rule. The Kamehameha dynasty would lead Hawaii from 1795 until 1874, when William Charles Lunalilo, known as King Lunalilo, died without an heir.
Lydia Kamekeha Liliuokalani was the last Queen of the Hawaiian Islands. She died in 1917. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Hawaii was officially led by a monarch until 1887.
That year, the 1887 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was signed — thus “stripping King Kalākaua and therefore the Hawaiian monarchy of much of its authority, empowering the legislature and cabinet of the government,” said the Hawai’i Tourism Authority.
The following year, the Republic of Hawaii was established.
King Kalākaua signed the constitution under force, which led to its nickname of the Bayonet Constitution.
Hawaii would continue to have a monarch until 1893, when Queen Liliʻuokalani was overthrown in a coup, according to the History Channel’s website.
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The following year, the Republic of Hawaii was established; it was led by Sanford Dole.
Dole would continue as the head of the Republic of Hawaii until the creation of the Territory of Hawaii in 1900, per the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor triggered the entry of the United States into World War II. Here, uniformed American sailors place leis over the graves of the casualties of the attacks on Pearl Harbor in a spring 1942 photo. (PhotoQuest/Getty Images)
After that, President William McKinley appointed Dole as “territorial governor” of the Hawaiian territory.
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Hawaii burst into the public consciousness on Dec. 7, 1941, when Japanese forces bombed the U.S. Navy base located at Pearl Harbor.
That attack saw 2,403 American service members and civilians killed, with scores more injured, said the National Park Service’s website for the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.
Of the 2,341 service members who died in the attack, 1,177 died on the USS Arizona, which was sunk by Japanese bombs.
August 21 is officially known as “Statehood Day” in Hawaii, although the event is observed each year on the third Friday in August.
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Denver, CO
Nuggets sign former Denver West basketball player Alpha Diallo out of EuroLeague
The Nuggets have made a habit of signing bench players with Colorado ties.
The latest homecoming they’ve arranged is for Alpha Diallo, who played a season of high school basketball at Denver West and is now signing a one-year, $1.4 million minimum contract with Denver in NBA free agency, a league source told The Denver Post on Sunday.
Diallo, 29, was named Defensive Player of the Year in the EuroLeague last season. This will be his first foray into the NBA after a five-year stint with AS Monaco. He recently committed to join Dubai Basketball on a multiyear deal, according to a report by the European media outlet BasketNews, but his contract included a clause granting his release if he left for the NBA by July 15.
The Nuggets have signed Diallo, Reggie Jackson (Palmer High School), David Roddy (Colorado State) and KJ Simpson (CU) to various deals in the last three years.
Born in New York, Diallo helped lead Denver West to the Colorado Class 4A Sweet 16 as a sophomore. He transferred to Lincoln High before his junior season, but he was ruled ineligible to compete for the entire school year due to what CHSAA deemed an implicit recruiting violation; Lincoln’s coach at the time had just coached Diallo in a summer tournament.
The eligibility fight with CHSAA eventually led Diallo to leave the state. He returned to the East Coast and played four years of college basketball at Providence, where he earned Second Team All-Big East honors twice.
Signing Diallo is the latest example of Denver’s attempt to prioritize defense and athleticism around Nikola Jokic. Last month, the Nuggets drafted Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins in the second round, betting on defensive upside in both cases. They’ve also replaced backup center Jonas Valanciunas with the younger, bouncier Marvin Bagley III on a veteran minimum contract.
Denver tentatively has 12 players under contract on its 15-man roster for the 2026-27 season now: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, Christian Braun, Zeke Nnaji, Julian Strawther, DaRon Holmes II, Tyus Jones, Bagley, Brazile and Diallo. Restricted free agency negotiations have not yet been resolved with Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones.
Diallo will count for $2.45 million toward the luxury tax despite his $1.4 million salary, the minimum for NBA rookies. The accounting quirk exists so that owners aren’t incentivized to overlook more experienced free agents for tax purposes; the tax ramifications are equal for all minimum signings, regardless of NBA service time.
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Seattle, WA
Portland aims to top Seattle’s 405 e-bikes with 2-mile Guinness record ride and party
PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Portlanders are being invited to help BIKETOWN mark its 10th birthday with what organizers hope will become a new world record: the largest electric bicycle party and ride.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation is organizing a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS attempt on Sunday, July 19, aiming to beat the current record set in Seattle in 2018 with 405 e-bikes. PBOT is seeking the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the Largest Electric Bicycle Party and Ride.
Riders will gather at Salmon Springs, the fountain in Tom McCall Waterfront Park, starting at 8:30 a.m.
Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m., and the ride is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. from Southwest Naito Parkway and Southwest Salmon Street. PBOT said the date is “10-years-to-the-day since BIKETOWN service started with a maiden voyage group ride across the Willamette River.”
“I can’t wait to see all of Portland come out to celebrate the ways BIKETOWN has transformed our community,” PBOT Director Millicent Williams said. “Since 2016, BIKETOWN has introduced thousands of Portlanders to biking, and e-bikes in particular, and made biking more accessible for more people. By breaking this GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title, we will remind everyone of Portland’s place at the front of the pack of leading bike cities across the nation.”
PBOT said the event is designed for massive participation and will follow a 2-mile loop that includes Tilikum Crossing, the Eastbank Esplanade and the Hawthorne Bridge, taking place mostly on the Waterfront and Eastbank Esplanade. Organizers said participants should expect a slow ride with some stops and are asked to stay on the route to be counted, while watching for pedestrians and other riders.
People riding personal e-bikes and pedal bikes are welcome, though PBOT said only e-bikes will be counted toward the record attempt. PBOT said registration is strongly encouraged to ensure riders are counted and that participants will need to provide their e-bike make and model. Riders are also encouraged to arrive early to check in and get a bib.
For people without an e-bike, PBOT said BIKETOWN will have bikes available to reserve on a first-come, first-served basis, with early registration recommended. Riders must be 16 or older to use BIKETOWN.
After the ride, PBOT said the event will conclude with a celebration featuring vendors, refreshments and remarks from City of Portland and BIKETOWN partners. PBOT said an official judge from Guinness World Records is expected to verify the attempt and confirm whether Portland set a new record.
PBOT also encouraged participants to head to the Portland Pride Parade and Festival afterward. The first 1,000 people who register for the ride will receive free entry to the Pride Festival, supported by BIKETOWN founding partner and title sponsor Nike.
PBOT said the event is possible with financial support from Nike, with additional support from Lyft and the City of Portland.
BIKETOWN launched July 19, 2016, with 1,000 bikes. PBOT said the system has deployed 3,000 electric pedal-assist bicycles serving a 50.5-square-mile service area, including portions of East Portland. BIKETOWN is a partnership between the City of Portland’s PBOT and Nike, and is operated by Lyft.
San Diego, CA
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev to win Wimbledon again
Jannik Sinner is starting to make a habit of responding to adversity in Paris with Wimbledon titles.
The top-ranked Sinner beat Alexander Zverev 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4 Sunday for his second consecutive title at the All England Club after his German opponent appeared bothered by a knee issue following a slip to the grass on a key point in the third set.
Sinner’s fifth Grand Slam title came in his first tournament since a second-round meltdown at the French Open, when he wilted in a Paris heat wave.
A year ago, Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final at the All England Club after wasting three match points against his rival in the Roland Garros final.
It was Sinner’s 10th straight victory over Zverev, who was coming off his first Grand Slam title at the French Open.
Linda Noskova beat Karolina Muchova in an all-Czech women’s final on Saturday for her first Grand Slam title.
Prince William joined his wife Kate and two of their children for the final in a star-studded Royal Box that also included actors Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman and Ben Stiller.
Zverev slips
The top two seeds appeared perfectly matched until Zverev earned his first break point of the match at 3-3 in the third set — 2 hours and 42 minutes in. Sinner produced a drop shot and Zverev slipped and appeared to hyper-extend his right knee as he attempted to change directions behind the baseline.
Zverev grasped his knee in apparent discomfort and Sinner went around the net and helped his opponent up off the grass. Zverev quickly resumed playing but he appeared slightly hampered and slung his racket across the baseline in frustration when he missed a forehand and handed Sinner the first break of the match and a 5-3 lead in the third. Sinner then served it out.
Zverev had also lost 14 straight sets to Sinner and when he claimed the opening set of the final with a forehand winner up the line to conclude a tight tiebreaker, he let out a loud roar toward his box as he bent over in celebration.
Zverev continually cranked out serves at up to 139 mph (224 kph), while Sinner produced a series of well-placed aces at a slightly lower speed.
But Sinner began to read Zverev’s serve better in the second-set tiebreaker and Zverev started to miss forehands.
Paris meltdown
Amid stifling heat and humidity in Paris in late May, Sinner had his 30-match winning streak ended after coming within one game of a straight-set victory over Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who was ranked No. 56.
Conditions were cooler in southwest London for the final, with clear skies and a temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 Celsius) but it was also breezy — which led to a series of shanked shots from both players.
Sinner went in for medical exams in Milan after the Paris defeat and didn’t play an official match again until he arrived at Wimbledon, where he twice had to come back from a set down in a five-set marathon against Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round.
Sinner then didn’t drop a set the rest of the way until the final, having dominated against Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
Despite the defeat in the final, Zverev will leapfrog Alcaraz into the No. 2 spot in the rankings on Monday.
Alcaraz missed both the French Open and Wimbledon this year due to a right wrist injury.
Associated Press writer Mattias Karén contributed.
Wimbledon is keeping the World Cup off its official screens, even in the players’ lounge. Fans and players can still watch on their phones, but tournament TVs will stay focused on tennis.
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