Russia says 60 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility
MOSCOW (AP) — Assailants burst into a large concert hall in Moscow on Friday and sprayed the crowd with gunfire, killing over 60 people, injuring more than 100 and setting fire to the venue in a brazen attack just days after President Vladimir Putin cemented his grip on power in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide.
Trump says he has nearly $500 million in cash but doesn’t want to use it to pay New York judgment
NEW YORK — Donald Trump claimed on Friday to have almost a half-billion dollars in cash but said he’d rather spend it on his presidential run than on the $454 million civil fraud judgment against him in New York. The former president vowed to fight the verdict “all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary” as the state gears up to potentially seize some of his assets if he doesn’t pay the hefty tab.
US surgeons transplant a gene-edited pig kidney into a patient for the first time
NEW YORK — Doctors in Boston have transplanted a pig kidney into a 62-year-old patient, the latest experiment in the quest to use animal organs in humans.
Trump leads in polls but badly trails in crucial 2024 money race
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump has an enthusiastic base and a polling advantage in swing states. He does not have anywhere near the amount of money as his rival, President Joe Biden.
Pahoa man arrested, released after viral video of dog abuse
A video posted on social media appears to be a 30-year-old Pahoa man who was arrested Thursday by police in an animal cruelty case.
Justice Department sues Apple, alleging it illegally monopolized the smartphone market
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Thursday announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of engineering an illegal monopoly in smartphones that boxes out competitors, stifles innovation and keeps prices artificially high.
EPA issues new auto rules aimed at cutting carbon emissions, boosting electric vehicles and hybrids
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration announced new automobile emissions standards Wednesday that officials called the most ambitious plan ever to cut planet-warming emissions from passenger vehicles.
From dentist to al dente: Hilo’s Alan Fijimoto transitioned from treating mouths to feeding them
A painful, disabling condition caused Hilo dentist Alan Fujimoto to retire several years ago after decades of practice.
1 of the few remaining survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor has died at 102
HONOLULU — Richard C. “Dick” Higgins, one of the few remaining survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, has died, a family member said Wednesday. He was 102.
‘Clean elections’ measure is dead: House committee chair says it lacked ‘the necessary resources’
A proposed program that would publicly finance election campaigns in Hawaii is dead after a Big Island lawmaker concluded last week that the plan was fatally flawed.
DEM director explains difficult path toward 2050 mandate
The Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee met Tuesday with one agenda item leading the discussion — to hear a presentation about the Integrated Wastewater Management Plan.
Anticipation and anger on Texas border after Supreme Court lets strict immigration law take effect
McALLEN, Texas — A Supreme Court decision that lets Texas arrest and deport migrants — at least for now — on charges of illegally entering the country could have a dramatic impact on the U.S.-Mexico border but its immediate effect was muted.
Gov. Green in Japan to help boost tourism
Gov. Josh Green, who is in Japan this week meeting with Japanese officials and business leaders, is working on lowering barriers to travel between Japan and Hawaii through a “Travel Corridor” that expands the Global Entry program, beefs up biometric screening and pursues “preclearance” status.
Subpoenas on Maui agencies and officials delay release of key report into deadly wildfire
HONOLULU — Hawaii’s attorney general on Monday blamed a delay of the release of a key report into a deadly Maui wildfire on county agencies that forced investigators to issue subpoenas.
Dangerous dogs bill advances: Measure would create harsher penalties for their owners
A proposal to strengthen state laws regarding vicious dogs will reach another milestone today following weeks of overwhelming public support.
More housing, hotels for Kona: Lili‘uokalani Trust plans to develop nearly 70 acres
A draft environmental assessment for the Lili‘uokalani Trust Makalapua Project details plans for a mixed residential/hotel/commercial development on land adjacent to the Old Kona Industrial, Kona Commons and Old Kona Airport Park.
Biden campaign has amassed $155M in cash on hand for 2024 campaign and raised $53M last month
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s campaign has amassed $155 million in cash on hand for the 2024 election, far exceeding the in-hand total for his Republican opponent, Donald Trump.
Hawaii seeks answers to state’s lithium-ion battery conundrum
As Hawaii strives toward its clean energy goals, there is growing concern over the waste stream of lithium-ion batteries that come with renewable energy technology.
With cloudy state finances, Hawaii’s ‘rainy day’ fund held for future rainy day
Hawaii lawmakers have recently considered cutting every state agency’s budget along with various special funds and capital improvement projects to pay for stunning costs related to the Maui wildfire disaster, with one very big special fund excluded.
County bill would require waste facilities be open at least 2 days a week
Garbage day may come twice a week again for Kalapana residents thanks to a new County Council proposal.