West
Hawaii crime boss dies of overdose in federal custody: medical examiner
A prominent Hawaii businessman who headed a sprawling criminal conspiracy, funneling drug money through shell businesses and ordering the torture and death of his late son’s best friend, died in federal custody from an opioid overdose, Honolulu’s medical examiner said Tuesday.
Michael Miske, 50, died of “toxicity of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl,” the medical examiner’s office said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press. The death appears to have been accidental, but the case is still under investigation, the news agency added, and an autopsy report will likely take at least another 30 days.
Miske was found unresponsive at the Honolulu Federal Detention Center on Dec. 1. Efforts by staff and emergency medical responders failed to save him, the Bureau of Prisons said, according to the AP.
The Hawaiian crime boss was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and 11 other felony charges on July 18, a July 24 Justice Department press release said. Although his sentencing was originally scheduled for this November, the AP reports it was set to happen on Jan. 30.
HAWAII BUSINESSMAN ACCUSED OF RUNNING DRUG TRADE, ORDERING MURDERS AS UNDERWORLD BOSS
Michael Miske Jr. was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, murder and 11 other felony charges on July 18. (Honolulu Police Department)
It is unclear how the mastermind of the “Miske Enterprise” from the late 1990s until his July 2020 arrest in the kidnapping and murder of 21-year-old Jonathan Fraser came into possession of fentanyl or para-fluorofentanyl, a synthetic opioid that appears in illicit drugs and is more potent than fentanyl.
Fraser was best friends with Miske’s late son, Caleb Miske, Bloomberg reported. The pair, who loved cars and racing, were in a high-speed crash together in November 2015 – Caleb Miske succumbed to his injuries. Although a police report indicated that Caleb had been driving, according to the outlet, Miske insisted that Fraser was responsible for the death of his only son.
2 PILOTS DIE IN FIERY SMALL PLANE CRASH INTO VACANT BUILDING NEAR HONOLULU AIRPORT
The body of Jonathan Fraser, pictured, has never been found. His friends and relatives say that Miske held Fraser responsible for his son’s 2015 car crash death. (FBI Handout)
Pictured is the headquarters for Kama’aina Pest Control, one of Miske’s businesses that served as a headquarters for his criminal enterprise in Honolulu. (Google Maps)
Miske’s conviction entitled the government to take control of up to $28 million in assets, including boats, houses and artwork.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
Fox News’ Christina Coulter and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
Hawaii
Car drives into Sunshine Market in Honolulu
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A car rammed into Sunshine Market, off Lusitana Street, around 5:45 a.m., on Thursday, according to the Honolulu Fire Department.
Responding firefighters and police officers secured the area, helped the tow truck service remove the blue vehicle, and provided stabilization to the building.
HFD says the building owner requested the building to be sealed.
The scene was cleared by 9:46 a.m., and no one was injured.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Idaho
Obituary for Eugene Merland Ricks – East Idaho News
Eugene Merland Ricks, 82, of Idaho Falls, passed away Thursday, July 2, 2026, at his home. He was under the care of Brio Hospice.
Eugene was born July 7, 1943, to Eugene Felix Ricks and Minnie Clements Ricks in Idaho Falls. He grew up in Idaho Falls and graduated from Idaho Falls High School.
On January 2, 1970, he married Paula Ivie in Idaho Falls. Merland started Ricks Electric Motor Service in 1976 and continued to operate the business until 2022. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He coached YMCA youth basketball and soccer and was the Scout leader for Troop 127. He was a craftsman, gardener, mechanic, and painter. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and woodcraft.
He was dedicated to getting the job, done right and wasn’t willing to cut corners (Merland’s way). He was a dedicated family man who ensured no family event went unrecorded.
Merland is survived by his wife, Paula Ricks of Idaho Falls; his daughter, Barbara (Rob)Trolson of Mountain Home; his sons: Terry (Roxanne) Ricks of Ririe, Larry (Manuela) White of Menan, Travis Ricks of Idaho Falls, Jared (Christie) Ricks of Idaho Falls, and Christopher (Melissa McConnell) Ricks of Idaho Falls; his brothers: Alfred (Vicki) High of Shelley, Carl (Irene) High of Idaho Falls; his sister, Gloria (Wayne) Gardner of Idaho Falls; 15 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Minnie High, his father, Eugene Ricks, and his brother Danny High.
No services will be held. Cremation is under the care of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.coltrinmortuary.com.
Montana
Montana inspectors stop mussel-fouled Minnesota boat headed to Georgetown Lake
ANACONDA, Mont. — A wake boat headed for Georgetown Lake was stopped at the Anaconda boat check station earlier this week after inspectors found it was carrying hundreds of invasive zebra mussels, preventing the species from potentially being introduced into Montana waters.
Inspectors found some of the mussels attached directly to the boat, while others were attached to pieces of Eurasian watermilfoil on the trailer. Eurasian watermilfoil is also an invasive species.
The boat was coming from Minnesota and had ballast tanks, which never completely drain. That can make them a good environment for transporting mussels.
The following was sent out by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks:
The exceptional skills of inspectors at the Anaconda boat check station stopped an invasive mussel fouled wake boat from Minnesota earlier this week from potentially introducing zebra mussels into Montana waters.
The boat, which was on its way to Georgetown Lake, was transporting hundreds of zebra mussels, some attached to the boat and some attached to pieces of Eurasian watermilfoil, another invasive species, on the trailer. The boat also had ballast tanks, which never completely drain, making them a good environment for transporting mussels.
Because the boat had only been out of the water for four days, inspectors suspected that the mussels were still viable. Mussels can survive up to 30 days out of the water.
“Boats like this can ruin Montana’s waters forever,” said Tom Woolf, FWP’s aquatic invasive species (AIS) bureau chief. “This is the boat that would introduce mussels.”
The boater was unaware that he was transporting mussels. After the inspectors decontaminated the boat, it was locked to the trailer and FWP wardens responded to ensure it would not launch.
As a reminder, all watercraft entering Montana are required to be inspected for aquatic invasive species. You must obtain an inspection before launching on Montana waters. Stop at all open inspections stations you encounter. Find inspections stations here
Boats with a ballast or bladder, such as wakeboard or wake-surfing boats, that intend to launch on Montana waters must be decontaminated before launching.
While planning your trip to Montana, if you find you will not encounter a watercraft inspection station on your way to your destination, Idaho, Wyoming, and Alberta inspection stations fulfill the before-launch requirements of Montana.
Stop at ALL open inspection stations you encounter in Montana where your watercraft may be re-inspected.
-
Connecticut7 minutes agoConnecticut 250, 251, 252, 253 . . . – New Haven Independent
-
Delaware10 minutes agoWilmington fire displaces 20, damages 6 homes on Clayton Road; cause under investigation
-
Florida15 minutes agoUSF Health brings emergency pregnancy training to rural Florida without maternal care
-
Georgia22 minutes agoMiddle Georgia looks to see a scorcher for the Fourth of July
-
Hawaii25 minutes agoCar drives into Sunshine Market in Honolulu
-
Idaho30 minutes agoObituary for Eugene Merland Ricks – East Idaho News
-
Illinois37 minutes agoTwo charged after severed arm with Packers tattoo found in Illinois lake, police say
-
Indiana40 minutes ago
Warden resigns from Indiana prison housing hundreds of ICE detainees