Police charge two men with Puna burglary
Police charged two men with burglary in connection with a Puna break-in on May 21.
Police say the men stole jewelry and electronic from a house on Ihope Road in Mountain View. Tips from the public helped police solve the case.
On June 2, police arrested Ethan Bailey, 24, of Mountain View. He was taken to the Hilo police cellblock and charged Wednesday with first-degree burglary, second-degree theft and third-degree theft. He was released after posting $36,000 bail.
On Friday, police arrested 23-year-old Ronald Altura Jr. of Hilo and charged him with first-degree burglary. His bail was set at $5,000. He was held at the cellblock until his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday.
Police arrest 21 for DUI
Hawaii Island police arrested 21 motorists for driving under the influence of an intoxicant between June 2 and Sunday. Three of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. One was younger than 21.
So far this year, there have been 545 DUI arrests compared with 571 during the same period last year, a 4.6 percent decrease.
There have been 684 major accidents so far this year compared with 618 during the same period last year, a 10.7 percent increase.
So far this year, there have been seven traffic fatalities on the Big Island, compared with 17 during the same period last year, a 58.5 percent decline.
To date, three fatalities were related to drugs and two to a combination of drugs and alcohol.
DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.
Abercrombie: Budget not balanced
HONOLULU — Gov. Neil Abercrombie is saying that Hawaii’s state budget is not balanced.
Abercrombie said Monday that he will have to veto some of the Legislature’s proposed spending so that the numbers will add up.
He explained that the budget bill and the bond authorization bills are supposed to be in balance, but they are not.
To solve the problem, Abercrombie said he will veto about $45 million in proposed spending by the Department of Education for its facilities improvement projects.
State budget director Kalbert Young said the Department of Education has agreed to the change and has said the reduced funding will not cause delays to current projects.
Young said lawmakers will have to reinstate those funds when they return in the next legislative session.
Senator, ex-reporter among lt. gov candidates
HONOLULU — Four candidates are trying to unseat incumbent Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui in the Democratic nomination for the position.
Observers expect the primary to come down to Tsutsui and state Sen. Clayton Hee, with former TV journalist Mary Zanakis being the wild card, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Monday.
Other Democrats in the primary include Sam Puletasi and Miles Shiratori. Elwin P. Ahu and Warner Kimo Sutton are vying for the Republican nomination. Les Chang is the Hawaii Independent Party’s candidate, running with former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann. Cynthia “Lahi” Marlin is running as a Libertarian.
Once elected in the primary, the nominees campaign with the gubernatorial candidate as a single team for their party.
Tsutsui was state Senate president when he became lieutenant governor after Brian Schatz was appointed to the U.S. Senate to replace the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.
Even though he’s been lieutenant governor for only two years, Tsutsui said he’s hopeful voters judge him for representing Maui for 10 years as a legislator.
Hee, a familiar name in Hawaii politics, serves as chairman of the Judiciary and Labor Committee. This isn’t Hee’s first time running for lieutenant governor. He ran unsuccessfully in 2002.
Before that, Hee served as a state representative from 1982-84 and as a state senator from 1984-88. He also served in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs from 1990-2002.
Zanakis could be a factor, as she’s hoping voters remember her from her 22 years as a news reporter for KITV and KHON-TV, Hart said.
Kona Bay Books burglarized
Hawaii Police are investigating a burglary at Kona Bay Books in Kailua-Kona.
Bookstore owners Kris Arnett and Wendy Zweigardt said someone entered the bookstore either late Saturday or early Sunday, damaging the building and taking about $1,000 in cash.
Police confirmed they are investigating the case but did not have any additional information to release on Monday.
The store, located in Kona’s Old Industrial Area, was closed Sunday to allow for clean up of the damage.
By local sources