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A Pahoa man and woman were indicted in connection with a large-scale drug bust July 24. A 15-count indictment charges 44-year-old David Benevides Sr. with one count each of first-, second- and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, four counts of attempted first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and two counts of possession of drug…

A 33-year-old Hilo man already under indictment for allegedly possessing child pornography now faces more severe charges in connection with the same incident. A Hilo grand jury on Aug. 5 returned a two-count indictment against Jasun Sulla, also known as Jasun Sulla-Menashe, charging him with two counts of second-degree promotion of child abuse. Both counts…

Big Island public schools will implement 100% distance learning for at least the first four weeks of instruction, as will most other schools on the neighbor islands, the state Department of Education announced today. During the transition to distance learning, school leaders will assess plans for the rest of the quarter, the DOE said in…

The Hawaii State Teachers Association said today that COVID-19 has been reported at five schools in Hawaii since Aug. 6, including Hilo Intermediate School. The HSTA held a news conference this afternoon, which can be viewed online at facebook.com/HawaiiStateTeachersAssociation. According to the HSTA, there have been at least nine campuses with COVID-19 in the last…

The state Department of Health reported 118 new COVID-19 cases today. That raises the overall statewide total to 3,756. Today’s new cases include 133 on Oahu, two on Hawaii Island and four on Maui and Kauai, according to DOH. One cases was re-categorized from Honolulu to the Big Island, and one Honolulu case was removed…

The state Department of Health reported 14- new COVID-19 cases today. That raises the overall statewide total to 3,638. Today’s new cases include 138 on Oahu and one each on Maui and Kauai, according to DOH. There are also three new deaths, bring the total of coronavirus-related fatalities to 34. No information on those deaths…

The county will consider filing a lawsuit against fossil fuel companies for damages caused by climate change. While the Hawaii County Council passed a resolution last Wednesday to join a lawsuit by the City and County of Honolulu against a collective of fossil fuel companies, Hawaii County Corporation Counsel Joe Kamelamela said last week that…

Races for two County Council seats will be decided in runoffs during the Nov. 3 general election. Longtime former councilman and former County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong led in a crowded race for the District 1 seat representing Hamakua currently held by Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter, who is term-limited. Yagong received 37% of votes after eliminating…

The state Department of Health reported 152 new COVID-19 cases today. That raises the overall statewide total to 3,498. Today’s new cases include 147 on Oahu, three on Big Island and one each on Maui and Kauai, according to DOH. Hawaii County Civil Defense said this morning that there are 12 active Big Island cases.…

Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth and political newcomer Ikaika Marzo were headed for a Nov. 3 runoff for Hawaii County mayor, judging from early returns in the state’s first all-mail election that had voters participating in record numbers. With all ballots counted except those received Friday and Saturday, Roth had 19,168 votes or 32%, compared…

When the state Legislature reconvenes in 2021, Puna will have new representation in both the Senate and House. With most of the votes counted in the first and second printouts, state Rep. Joy San Buenaventura won the Democratic primary by a landslide for the District 2 Senate seat currently occupied by Island Naturals owner Russell…

Rainfall continues to be plentiful over the Kona slopes with mostly above-average rainfall totals recorded during July. Nine of the 10 rain gauges in the North Kona and South Kona districts saw more than 115% of average rainfall during July. The Kona area experiences its rainy season during the summer months, which is the dry…

Oahu schools will temporarily move to online classes only when the school year starts — and the neighbor islands could follow suit. Gov. David Ige announced Friday that, in light of an ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases centered on Oahu — as well as a series of new restrictions on Oahu to combat that surge…

As the state prepares to reinstate interisland travel restrictions next week to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, administrators at the University of Hawaii at Hilo have pushed back against further restrictions for out-of-state students. Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim on Thursday told the Tribune-Herald he urged the university and Gov. David Ige to suspend in-person attendance…

The Hawaii State Teachers Association is urging Gov. David Ige and the state Department of Education to switch to 100% distance learning for the first quarter of the school year in light of a growing number of COVID-19 cases. In a news conference today, HSTA president Corey Rosenlee said the union’s board of directors unanimously…

The state Department of Health is reporting 201 new COVID-19 cases statewide today, along with two more fatalities. Both victims were Oahu men, one of whom was hospitalized, while the other died unattended at home, having reportedly not sought medical care. The total death count in the state is now 31. Of the 201 new…

A motion seeking partial summary judgment against the state over its management of land around the Maunakea Access Road was heard Tuesday in Honolulu. First Circuit Court Judge Lisa W. Cataldo took the motion under advisement and did not rule, instead asking counsel for the plaintiffs to submit written response to objections raised by Deputy…

UPDATED (3:10 p.m.): Gov. David Ige announced today that the 14-day interisland quarantine will be imposed Tuesday for all interisland travelers, not just for travelers from Oahu as previously reported. Starting Tuesday, passengers traveling between islands will be required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Ige said the decision to reinstate the quarantine policy…

The state Department of Health reports 53 new COVID-19 cases today, although technical difficulties in the state’s case reporting system mean that number is an undercount. The Department of Health intends to update the count with the full numbers later today. With the partial numbers, the total number of cases statewide is 2815. None of…

Two more Hawaii residents have died of COVID-19, bringing the statewide death count to 29. Both casualties were elderly Oahu residents, one male and one female, both with underlying health issues, and both were hospitalized when they died. “The passing of this man really demonstrates how rapidly and invisibly COVID-19 is spreading through our communities,…

The county said today a firefighter stationed at the Waikoloa Fire Station has tested positive for COVID-19. A total of five personnel are currently self-quarantined as a precaution. All are asymptomatic. The firefighter, a battalion chief assigned to the station’s 2nd Battalion, also remains asymptomatic. He remains in isolation, monitored by the Department of Health.…

The state Department of Health reports 173 new COVID-19 cases today, all on Oahu. That brings the count in the City and County of Honolulu to 2,394 cases. Maui County remains at 177 cases, Hawaii Island at 122 cases and Kauai County at 47 cases. Hawaii residents diagnosed outside Hawaii number 23. According to DOH,…