A public charter school in Kakaako has sued the state for failing to provide the funding it needs to operate, jeopardizing its ability to educate students. Kakaako charter school sues
over state's funding allocationVoyager filed suit in Circuit Court yesterday alleging that the way the state auditor determines the per-pupil allocation violates the charter school statute.
The state auditor is mandated to set allocations for charter schools by law, which changed in 2000.
The changes include setting caps on the amount each school receives.
The suit said the state auditor's calculations assume the Department of Education, which is responsible for paying the funds and providing services to charter schools, will provide services in lieu of funds.
The Department of Education has failed to pay the funds or provide services in lieu of payment, the suit contends.
The auditor's allocations to Voyager in October were about $134,000 less than the amount it received in June, the suit said.
Voyager seeks injunctive relief, including a court order that prevents the state from paying out allocations in a manner that violates the charter school statute.
Jury selected today for Clyde Arakawa trial
Twelve jurors and four alternates were selected today to hear evidence in the criminal trial of retired police officer Clyde Arakawa.Opening statements are expected to begin Tuesday.
Arakawa is charged with manslaughter for recklessly causing the death of 19-year-old Dana Ambrose in a car collision in October 2000 while intoxicated. Arakawa acknowledges he drank that night but claims he was not drunk.
If convicted, Arakawa faces 20 years in prison. Trial in a civil suit filed by Ambrose's family is expected to begin in April.
4 dengue fever cases confirmed by officials
State health officials confirmed four more cases of dengue fever yesterday.So far, the number of confirmed dengue fever cases increased to 102 from 98 from Jan. 9 to yesterday.
Three confirmed cases occurred in a Hana home where residents suffered symptoms of dengue fever in December.
One confirmed case also occurred in Haleiwa in September.
The virus is spread from an infected mosquito to a human being but cannot be spread directly from one human to another. Symptoms include fever, headache and a rash.
Officer pleads not guilty in the slaying of his wife
HILO >> Big Island police Detective Albert Pacheco has pleaded not guilty to murder in the Jan. 4 shooting death of his wife.Pacheco also pleaded not guilty yesterday to criminal property damage, terroristic threatening and use of a firearm in a felony.
Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura set trial for May 13.
In a previous hearing in District Court, a witness said Pacheco, 45, fired up to eight shots at his wife, Cathalene, 42, as she sat in her car on a Waikoloa street.
Pacheco then returned to his own car, possibly to reload his gun, then went back to his wife's car and fired up to 10 more shots, the witness said.
Pacheco continues to be held at Oahu Community Correctional Center without bail, pending a bail hearing now set for Feb. 15. Pacheco tried to commit suicide after being taken into custody and remains under a suicide watch, Udovic said.
Rock singer's blood level 3 times above legal limit
The former lead singer of the 1980s Scottish rock band Big Country had a blood-alcohol level of 0.279 percent when he hanged himself last month in a hotel room near Honolulu Airport. The legal limit is 0.08.The Honolulu medical examiner ruled the death of 43-year-old Stuart Adamson a suicide.
A maid at the Plaza Hotel at 3253 Nimitz Hwy. called hotel security on Dec. 16 when she found Adamson in the same position she saw him in the day before.
Adamson's estranged wife reported the singer missing from his Nashville home Nov. 26.
Big Country's 1980s hits included "In a Big Country" and "Fields of Fire."
The band split in 2000 and Adamson formed another group.
Medicare will now cover annual glaucoma tests
Medicare now will cover an annual dilated-eye examination for beneficiaries at high risk for glaucoma, the National Eye Institute reports.A leading cause of blindness, glaucoma affects about 3 million Americans. Half do not know they have the eye disease, the institute says.
High-risk people are defined as those with a family history of glaucoma and African Americans age 50 and older.
The National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, professional eye care organizations and consumer groups recommended the new Medicare coverage, which was effective Jan. 1.
Glaucoma most often is found during an eye examination through dilated pupils. Drops put into the eyes enlarge the pupils so more of the inside of the eye can be seen to check for signs of glaucoma.
New funding will help isle community medicine
The Hawaii Primary Care Association's Medicine Bank, which provides medicines to community health clinics for uninsured patients, has received $150,000 from the Hawaii Community Foundation.The money was part of $1 million in emergency funding by the foundation to various nonprofit organizations to meet critical community needs spurred by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Also in the health area, the Aloha Medical Mission received $50,000 to help start a free dental clinic for people without dental insurance.
The medicine bank's funds will be used to buy medicines to distribute to community health care facilities for uninsured and underinsured patients.
Efforts also will be expanded to encourage donated pharmaceuticals from doctors and companies. Fewer than 10 percent of doctors now participate.
Comedy event to help isle kids with leukemia
A comedy show to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will be held March 7 at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel.The showcase will feature Paul Ogata, a local comedian and radio personality, and Susan Rice and Joe Vezpaziani, who have appeared in comedy clubs throughout the United States and Canada.
Cocktails and a silent auction will take place at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Also, the 2002 Alii Awards will be held, where they will announce their Patch Adams Hawaii Award.
Each table will be dedicated to a local child battling leukemia. Tickets are $100 per person.
For more information or to order tickets, call the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Honolulu at 534-1222.
Tickets may also be purchased at www.aliiawards.com.
Multiple sclerosis walk aims to help find a cure
The Hawaii Division of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society urges residents to join in the 2002 MS Walk on April 6 to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis.Registration has begun for the scenic 3-mile walk, starting at 7:30 a.m. in the McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Beach Park.
All money raised by walkers in pledges will remain in Hawaii to provide programs and services for more than 600 residents with the disease.
The walk also contributes funds to the society's national research and support programs to help Americans with MS.
To register, call the Hawaii Division of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 532-0811. For more information, call 800-FIGHT-MS, e-mail hih@nmss.org or visit www.nationalmssociety.org.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNORTH SHORE Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Waialua motorcyclist dies after being hit by truck
A 48-year-old Waialua man died last night when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a pickup truck.Police said the man was traveling west on Waialua Beach Road when a pickup truck made a left turn from Haleiwa Road to Waialua Beach Road and struck him at about 10:45 p.m.
The man was taken to Wahiawa General Hospital where he later died. He was not wearing a helmet.
The driver of the pickup truck, a 31-year-old Wahiawa man, was not injured. He was arrested for investigation of driving while intoxicated but was released after a breathalyzer test at the Wahiawa Police Station showed no sign of alcohol in his system.
LEEWARD OAHU
Injured baby sparks police investigation
Police have opened a second-degree assault investigation in connection with a broken arm suffered by a 10-month-old Waipahu boy.The boy's parents took the infant to Kapiolani Medical Center for treatment on Tuesday. X-rays revealed the boy had a fracture to the upper arm. There were no other injuries.
Police have made no arrests.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Police seek William -- or Racquel -- for contempt
HILO >> Police are asking for the public's help in locating William A. Delatorre Jr., wanted on five bench warrants under the name Racquel Lisa Delatorre.
Delatorre, 42, is wanted for three counts of contempt of court and two counts of revocation of probation, police said.
Delatorre is known to frequent the downtown Hilo area after dark, police said.
He is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, 120 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, and a tattoo on his left hand.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.
