Traffic detoured because of Kawili Street rubbish fire
UPDATE: Kawili Street in Hilo is now open.
Portuguese center one step closer to fruition
Today marks an important milestone for the organizers of the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Cultural and Educational Center — they will be inking signatures on a construction contract for the long-envisioned facility at the corner of Komohana and Ponahawai streets in Hilo.
Documents: Dispute over tequila led to stabbing
A 25-year-old woman told officers her refusal to give a bottle of tequila to an acquaintance she described as highly intoxicated led to the man stabbing her early Tuesday morning, according to court documents filed by police.
Patrol officer honored for work during investigation
A South Kohala patrol officer was recently honored for her work during a sexual assault investigation by the Hawaii Island Security and Safety Professionals Association.
CDC: County a high-level community for COVID-19
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday moved Hawaii County from the “Medium” to “High” COVID-19 community level.
Increased homeowner exemption clears committee
A bigger break in taxes for homeowners and kupuna is all but assured next year, following a unanimous committee vote Tuesday on a bill and assurances from the administration that it supports the measure.
Ige signs three bills benefiting LGBTQ+ community
A trio of LGBTQ-related bills became law Thursday in an effort to shore up discrimination protections for sexual and gender minorities.
Woman sought in financial crimes cases
Police are seeking for the public’s assistance to locate a 44-year-old woman wanted for questioning in connection with several financial criminal investigations.
Feds sentence Big Island man to 10 years for meth distribution
Senior U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor on Wednesday sentenced 58-year-old Dwayne P. Gouveia of Waimea to 10 years in for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gouveia was previously sentenced by the court in 2005 to 10 years for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Panel sharpens focus on Trump’s ‘crazy’ Jan. 6 plan
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s extraordinary effort to overturn his 2020 election defeat came into ever-clearer focus Thursday, with testimony describing his pressuring Vice President Mike Pence in vulgar private taunts and public entreaties to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the run-up to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
AP Interview: Biden says a recession is ‘not inevitable’
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Thursday the American people are “really, really down” after a tumultuous two years with the coronavirus pandemic, volatility in the economy and now surging gasoline prices that are slamming family budgets. But he stressed that a recession was “not inevitable” and held out hope of giving the country a greater sense of confidence.
Police: 2 dead, 1 hurt in church shooting; suspect detained
VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. (AP) — A lone suspect fired on a small group meeting at a suburban church near one of Alabama’s major cities Thursday evening, fatally wounding two people and injuring a third before being taken into custody, authorities said.
Production at bedeviled baby formula factory halted by storm
Severe weather has forced Abbott Nutrition to pause production at a Michigan baby formula factory that had just restarted after being closed for several months, contributing to a national shortage.
Gateway towns to Yellowstone become dead ends after flood
RED LODGE, Mont. — This gateway town to Yellowstone National Park has become a dead end, a casualty of the severe flooding that tore through one of America’s most beloved natural attractions and swept away roads, bridges and homes.
GOP, Dem Senate bargainers divided over gun deal details
WASHINGTON — Democratic and Republican senators were at odds Thursday over how to keep firearms from dangerous people as bargainers struggled to finalize details of a gun violence compromise in time for their self-imposed deadline of holding votes in Congress next week.
Wall Street tumbles on fears for economy as more rates rise
NEW YORK — Stocks tumbled on Wall Street Thursday as worries roared back to the fore that the world’s fragile economy may buckle under higher interest rates.
Obituaries for June 17
Maxima “Aida” Adelaida Simpao Gatchalian, 77, of Hilo died June 8 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Manila, Philippines, she was a retired certified nursing assistant and member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hilo and the Filipino Community Center in Grover Beach, Calif. Visitation 5-6 p.m. Monday (June 20) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Wake service at 6 p.m. Visitation again 10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday (June 21) at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Papaikou. Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. Burial to follow at Homelani Memorial Park, Ilima section. Casual attire; masks requested. Survived by daughter, Valerie (Christopher) Parayno of Hilo; son, Raymond Gatchalian of California; brother, Jose (Elsie) Simpao of California; sisters, Julieta Apilado of California and Mila (Anil) Kumar of South Carolina; three grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Good cop, bad cop? Jan. 6 hearings remind us it’s more complicated
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think that, as a police officer … I would find myself in the middle of a battle,” Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards said last week at the first public hearing of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. “I’m trained to detain a couple of subjects … but I’m not combat-trained. And that day, it was just hours of hand-to-hand combat.”
Leaders pledge arms and EU path for Ukraine in Kyiv visit
KYIV, Ukraine — Four European leaders expressed their support for Ukraine on Thursday while meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, vowing to back Kyiv’s candidacy to eventually join the European Union and offering more weapons to fend off Russia’s invasion.
New names — and Rory McIlroy — top US Open leaderboard
BROOKLINE, Mass. — For one day at least, the U.S. Open was wide open.
