Stories by John Burnett

Mayor Roth the victim of online prank

Mayor Mitch Roth said Thursday he felt “a little bit of frustration” after learning an anonymous email has been circulating that invites individuals experiencing homelessness to stay at a certain address in Hilo.

Battle over evidence in Ireland murder case heads to high court

Hilo Circuit Judge Peter Kubota on Thursday told the Hawaii Supreme Court his decision to release new information about the Christmas Eve 1991 abduction, rape and murder of Dana Ireland to lawyers representing two men wrongly convicted two decades ago trumps the desire of the Hawaii Police Department to keep the evidence confidential.

Handling of school bus crisis blasted

A family advocacy group is suggesting that parents affected by the public school bus driver shortage go to the state Board of Education to voice their frustrations and concerns.

Three council incumbents retain seats in W. Hawaii

Of the four Hawaii County Council Primary Election races in West Hawaii, three incumbents won their seats outright Saturday night, while a fourth race will go to a General Election runoff on Nov. 5.

Runoff in mayor’s race: Roth, Alameda to face off in November

CORRECTIONS: The final tallies, which came out after the paper’s deadline were: Mitch Roth, 18,399 votes or 37.99%; Kimo Alameda, 13,419 votes or 27.56%; Breeani Kobayashi, 9,872 votes or 20.27%; and Jr. Tupa‘i, 5,868 votes or 12.05%. The other three candidates Yumi Kawano, Daniel Cunningham and Kavin Kahikina, received 458, 351 and 3.19 votes, respectively, all less than 1%.

Judge frees 3 of 4 suspects in burglary

A Hilo judge, over prosecutors’ objections, freed three of four suspects arrested Sunday in connection with the theft of a Worthington heavy-duty compressor and an accompanying trailer from a Makalika Street property in the Panaewa neighborhood of Hilo.

Sides spar in case to decide whether Schweitzers deserve compensation

A hearing Tuesday to determine if Albert “Ian” Schweitzer and his brother, Shawn Schweitzer — whose convictions for abducting, raping and killing Dana Ireland on Christmas Eve 1991 were vacated last year by a judge — are “actually innocent,” turned out to be a contentious affair.

DNA helps solve mystery in 1991 Dana Ireland murder

Hawaii Police Department Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz said Monday that his department didn’t have probable cause to arrest the former “Unknown Male No. 1” for the Christmas Eve 1991 murder of Dana Ireland in lower Puna.