West Hawai‘i News
Remains Found Last Month in Kona Identified
Police had previously reported that the man, identified through medical x-rays as Lloyd Tiedeman, had died of natural causes.
Same-Sex Marriage Bill Moves Over to House
Expecting another marathon session of testimony, House leadership today indicated Thursday’s hearing will run until midnight, and may be continued Friday.
DOE Acknowledges Errors in Graduation Rates
Department of Education officials said the software error resulted in nearly all the actual rates being lower than those reported in August.
Keck Helps in Discovery of First Earth-Sized, Rocky Exoplanet
The planet located 400 light years from Earth is one of a group of “ultrashort period” planets which orbit extremely closely to their stars.
Hard Landing of Medivac Chopper in Kona Injures One
The FAA said the AS350 helicopter registered to a Utah-based company received substantial damage in the incident.
15 Big Island Species Declared Endangered
They include 13 plants, a picture-wing fly and an anchialine pool shrimp, which is the first of its kind to make the Endangered Species Act list.
Halloween Safety Tips Include Driving Sober
Police will be ramping up DUI checkpoints and roving patrols as keiki take to the streets this week.
Motorcycle Safety Course Offered After Six-Year Absence
The three-day course includes motorcycles and helmets for participants, and provides a waiver from the licensing skill test for those who complete it
UPDATE: Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passes Committee 5-2
Senate Bill 1 now goes before the full Senate for a vote; if approved, it will then go before a joint hearing of two House committees on Thursday.
New Vehicle Safety Inspections Start Friday
The computer-based system is designed to be more efficient in maintaining records and to combat fraud in the safety sticker program.
Senate Committee to Consider Gay-Marriage Bill Monday
The meeting will follow the convening of the special session of the Legislature requested by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
County Distributes Safety-First Trick-or-Treat Bags
The bags are reflective and imprinted with safety tips; the county also needs help identifying malfunctioning street lights.
UPDATE: Japan Quake Magnitude Reduced to 7.1
The large earthquake struck off the coast of Honshu, Japan this morning at 7:10 a.m., Hawaii time.
State Changes Location for New Kona Courthouse
Judiciary officials said the previous location had to be rejected because endangered native plants were found nearby.
Council Approves Discounted Six-Month Hele-On Bus Pass
The pilot program scheduled to begin in 2014 would offer unlimited rides at a cost of $175 for seniors, students and the disabled and $250 for others.
Lawsuit Challenging Leithead-Todd’s Qualifications Dismissed
Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra ruled that the director of the Department of Environmental Management had not been properly served with documents.
Astronomers Analyze Most Distant Galaxy Yet
The galaxy is being observed as it was 700 million years after the Big Bang, when the universe was only 5% of its current age.
Governor Proposes More Special Session Bills
The governor wants to add bills for health care and government workers’ contracts to the gay marriage legislation to be heard by lawmakers on Oct. 28.
UHH Telephone Numbers Change Today
The phone number for the University of Hawaii at Hilo switchboard has been changed to (808) 932-7000.
UHH-DOE Workshops Show Students Science
The federally funded program helps teachers demonstrate ties that science and mathematics have to real-world applications.
