West
Kidnapping, intimidation, murder: Accusations against Honolulu man provide glimpse into Hawaii's underworld
A U.S. prosecutor revealed a possible glimpse into Hawaii’s underworld on Monday as he outlined the crimes a Honolulu businessman is accused of orchestrating: the kidnapping of a 72-year-old accountant who owed a debt, the release of a toxic chemical into a rival’s nightclubs and the killing of his late son’s best friend, among them.
Michael Miske Jr. was arrested in 2020, along with seven people whom prosecutors described as associates. But following a series of guilty pleas by the others — including a plea deal signed by his half-brother on Saturday — the trial opened with Miske as the lone defendant.
“The defendant used fear, violence and intimidation to get what he wanted,” Assistant U.S. Attorney William Akina said in his opening statement. “What he wanted was money, control and revenge.”
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Miske’s attorney, Michael Kennedy, painted a completely different picture of his client.
Miske, 49, wasn’t a crime lord, but rather a “self-made man” who, despite growing up “on the wrong side of the tracks,” successfully built a family business called Kamaʻaina Termite and Pest Control, Kennedy said in his opening statement.
The company saved iconic Hawaii structures and “cultural treasures,” including outdoor theater Waikiki Shell, ʻIolani Palace and the Polynesian Cultural Center, Kennedy said. Miske even fumigated a Honolulu concert hall for free after the city couldn’t afford the $200,000 estimate, Kennedy said.
Seen here is a sign for the Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Federal Building and Courthouse on Jan. 22, 2024, in Honolulu. The ongoing trial of Michael Miske Jr. could provide a peek into Hawaii’s criminal underworld. (AP Photo/Jennifer Kelleher)
Akina alleged that Miske also owned several nightclubs where disputes over bar tabs would be met with physical assault from his “thugs.” In addition, he made millions selling illegal commercial-grade aerial fireworks on the black market, Akina said.
The businessman also groomed people from his Waimanalo neighborhood to violently rob drug dealers and carry out other orders, the prosecutor said.
Akina said Miske ordered hits on people, and though many were never carried out, at least one was: the 2016 killing of Johnathan Fraser, best friend to Miske’s only son, Caleb. Miske had long thought Fraser was a bad influence on Caleb, and blamed Fraser when the friends got into a car crash in 2015 that led to Caleb’s death, Akina said.
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“There could be only one price to pay for the death of the defendant’s son,” Akina said. “A life for a life.”
An indictment alleges that Miske purchased a boat to dump Fraser’s body into the ocean, though the body has never been found.
Kennedy told jurors on Monday that Miske didn’t blame Fraser for the crash and had nothing to do with his disappearance.
The people who will be testifying against Miske have something to gain from authorities, Kennedy said, referring to plea deals made by his alleged associates.
“Lies are going to rain down into this courtroom from that stand,” he said.
Testimony is scheduled to begin Tuesday.
Opening statements proceeded despite a motion filed Sunday night by Miske’s defense team. His attorneys argued that a new jury should be selected because Miske’s half-brother John Stancil pleaded guilty after a jury had been assembled and sworn and Miske’s daughter-in-law Delia Fabro Miske pleaded guilty after four days of jury selection.
Defense attorney Lynn Panagakos noted that Stancil pleaded guilty early Monday before the courthouse was even open to the public.
U.S. District Chief Judge Derrick Watson denied the motion.
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West
California Post ushers in new era of journalism with ‘the DNA of the New York Post’
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A new era of news consumption arrived when the California Post officially launched on Monday.
The California Post will operate as a separate entity under the New York Post Media Group but will strive to use the familiar “plain-spoken journalism” as its corporate sibling. The paper aims to bring accountability to the Golden State with seven-days-a-week digital and print offerings.
“We are bringing the DNA of the New York Post and that is journalism that is really, really plugged into the audience… it is the DNA of the New York Post, which is plain-spoken commonsense wit, and having a laser-like focus on what is of interest to this audience. That’s always what made the New York Post successful,” California Post editor-in-chief Nick Papps told Fox News Digital.
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The California Post, a sister publication to the New York Post, officially launched on January 26. (California Post)
Papps said the California Post will look similar to the New York Post with its “iconic” daily frontpage featuring the story of the day. The key difference is the audience, as the paper will be true to the values of Californians.
“It’s a big audience. We’ve got 39 million people here in this state, the fourth-largest economy in the world,” Papps said, noting that homelessness, affordability and crime are critical issues for California residents.
Much like the New York Post, Papps said the West Coast paper will have “the best” coverage of hard news, along with sports and entertainment. There is a Page Six Hollywood, offering celebrity news and gossip while covering the businesses of Hollywood, and the back cover will focus on the immensely popular California sports scene.
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The California Post offers content that will appear across multiple platforms and formats, including mobile and desktop sites, video, audio, social media and a daily print edition. (New York Post)
“We’re not writing for other journalists, we’re not writing to get a Pulitzer Prize, we’re writing to serve the people of California, and do all we can to celebrate life here in California, shine a light in those dark corners that haven’t had a light shine in them and to have some fun along the way,” Papps said.
“So, when we put together our digital and printed offering, our focus is to make sure we are the place that people in California go to for everything they want to know,” Papps continued. “That we are the place that everyone wants to go first as they get up in the morning, check in during the day and see us before they go to sleep.”
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The California Post will operate as a separate entity under the New York Post Media Group but will strive to use the familiar “plain-spoken journalism” as its corporate sibling. (New York Post)
The California Post will offer content that will appear across multiple platforms and formats, including mobile and desktop sites, video, audio, social media and a daily print edition.
“California is obviously a massive state, so we’re going to pick the stories that have resonance with our readers but also play a significant role in leading the debate here in California and Los Angeles. You know, setting the agenda. What are the issues that matter? What do we think of the policies that the powerful are putting out? Hold them to account and make sure everything we do is for our audience,” Papps said.
Visit the California Post here.
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San Francisco, CA
Super Bowl Experience coming to San Francisco
Super Bowl Experience coming to San Francisco
The countdown is on for the big game. While it’s over 40 miles south of San Francisco, the city will still be bustling when it comes to all things Super Bowl 60. In fact, much of the work is well underway or completed, likely making streets difficult to navigate.
SAN FRANCISCO – Super Bowl LX Is still more than a week away, but work is underway to prepare for the big game and the crowds it will draw to San Francisco.
Football fan frenzy
Inside San Francisco’s Moscone Center, an army of workers is transforming the convention center into a fan center. Just about everywhere you look, crews are hard at work creating the venue for the Super Bowl Experience, a fan-focused experience.
“Not everybody is lucky enough to go to Levi’s Stadium on February 8th, but this is your opportunity to get into the game,” said Nicki Ewell, who is the VP of Events for NFL.
Plenty to do
Among the activities, crews are building an indoor football field that will host international competition from 14 countries, a girls’ high school flag football showcase and the Pro-Bowl game bringing together some of the biggest names in the NFL for a flag football showdown.
“It’s about 500,000 square feet of activities,” Ewell said. “Fans come down, they stay for 4 hours. Kids 12 and under are free every day, no ticket required. It’s really an opportunity to get in the game, see our players with their helmets off, which is an awesome opportunity for autographs and photos and meet and greets.”
Fans will also get a chance to see how they stack up against virtual NFL players in a 40-yard-dash, try kicking an extra point, and see what if they’ve got the rushing skills to catch a punt and weave through defenders to the end zone.
Organizers say they’re working to make sure the experience for fans is unforgettable. “You can stay three to four hours, there’s amazing content, amazing games, amazing shopping,” Ewell said. “So, we’re excited, something for everybody.”
Sports memorabilia
Fans will also have a chance to check out Super Bowl rings and the Vince Lombardi Trophy, which will be on display as well.
All the fun for the Super Bowl experience gets underway here starting Tuesday. Organizers say tickets are available online for $40 for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, prices go up as the week progresses. Kids 12 and under get in for free.
Denver, CO
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