A jury in Honolulu, Hawaii has convicted a couple of conspiracy, passport fraud, and identity theft after they were found to have been living under the names of dead babies since the 1970s. Bobby Fort and Julie Montague, whose real names are Walter Glenn Primose and Gwynn Darle Morrison, were found guilty after two hours of deliberation on Monday. They face up to 10 years in prison for the conspiracy charge, and up to 15 years for the passport fraud and identity theft charges.
Posts tagged as “Hawaii”
Maui County, Hawaii is set to reopen to tourism on November 1st, following the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. The August 8th fire caused extensive damage and destruction, resulting in the evacuation of travelers and the suspension of tourism. Mayor Richard Bissen has announced a phased plan to reopen West Maui, which will bring back jobs and help the local economy recover. He is hopeful that the reopening will be the first step in the recovery process and that the area will be able to rebuild and become a vibrant destination once again.
The Pentagon released a report on Thursday detailing China's increasing military power, including a potential intercontinental missile system and nuclear weapons arsenal. In response, President Joe Biden sent Congress a detailed request on Friday to spend $106 billion in the coming year to help Ukraine and Israel defend themselves and counter China in the western Pacific. The request is a sign of the Biden administration's commitment to countering China's military buildup.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has been facing federal bribery charges and is refusing to resign, despite calls from fellow Senate Democrats. After a closed-door meeting on Thursday, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) commented on Menendez's refusal to resign, calling it a "level of arrogance that is astonishing." Menendez himself spoke to reporters after the meeting, expressing confidence that his colleagues would look for his vote when they need it. The outcome of the controversy remains to be seen.
Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii has announced that the number of missing people after the devastating wildfires in Maui has dropped to 66, a startling decrease from the list released last week. The state is providing mental health services to survivors and families of victims, and is encouraging families to share information about any missing loved ones in the hopes of finding more people safe.
Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson have launched the People's Fund of Maui to provide financial support to those affected by the devastating wildfires in Maui, Hawaii. The fund will provide $1200 per month to every adult resident who lives in the affected area and was displaced by the wildfires. Applications are being accepted from anyone 18 or older who lives in the affected area and has been displaced by the wildfires. The fund is being supported by an esteemed advisory board and the local community.
Kaleo Manuel, a former member of the Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management, is under scrutiny for his role in the delay of additional water resources during the deadly Maui wildfire. West Maui Land Company, Inc. has accused the commission of not acting quickly enough, and the state government is currently investigating the role of the commission in the delay. Manuel's advocates have questioned the facts and motives behind the company's claim.
Maui County, Hawaii has filed a lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) alleging that their failure to shut off power despite warnings of high winds and dry conditions was responsible for the devastating fires that destroyed Lahaina earlier this month. The lawsuit seeks damages and “just compensation” for the destruction of public property and infrastructure, as well as natural resources. HECO has not yet responded to the lawsuit, but is working to improve its emergency response protocols and has implemented additional safety measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.