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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Medical school breaks $20m mark
Federal research funding at the John A. Burns School of Medicine climbed to $20 million in the past fiscal year from $1.9 million in 1998-99, the school announced in a news release.
The increase in National Institutes of Health funding has lifted the University of Hawaii-Manoa medical school to 91st place out of 123 in national rankings for research funding.
$4 million acquired to improve bus service
Hawaii, Maui and Kauai counties are expected to receive nearly $4 million in federal funds to expand and increase the frequency of the bus service across the neighbor islands, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said earlier this month.
The funds may also be used to construct bus shelters and transit benches, and to reach compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Inouye said. The funds are from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
"I am proud to have secured these funds, which will help to ensure steady and reliable public bus transportation in our rural neighborhood islands," Inouye said.
Workshop explains how to get Leeward grants
Free grant-writing workshops specifically for applying for grants from a $2 million city benefits package to improve the Leeward area will be held on upcoming Fridays at Leeward Community College Waianae.
Three grant-writing workshops will be held in room one of the campus, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The classes will be held on Friday, Oct. 6 and Oct. 13. Registration is not necessary.
Deadline to apply for grants from the city is Oct. 27.
The Department of Community Services will disperse $1 million from the benefits package to fund projects that address problems and concerns of Leeward residents.
The remaining $1 million will fund the Department of Parks and Recreation for parks on the Leeward side.
For more information, contact Lucy Gay from Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 696-6378, ext. 101.
SHINING STARS
Harvard University lauds Hawaii students
Mayor Mufi Hannemann, a Harvard University graduate, presented the annual Harvard Book Prize to Iolani School senior
Kevin Otsuka. Other winners include
Amanda Tanchalcun of Aiea High School,
Ihilani Haru of Castle High School,
Jordan Cabras of Farrington High School,
Kelsey Anderson of Kailua High School,
Vivian Lin of Kaiser High School,
Lorifel Nabong of Kapolei High School,
Hilary Nakasone of Leilehua High School,
Carolyn Pearce of Mid-Pacific Institute,
Jolana Gollero of Pearl City High School and
Chelsea Tejada of Waipahu High School.
The Honorable Kathleen N.A. Watanabe, a 5th Circuit Court judge in Lihue, completed the General Jurisdiction course at the national Judicial College in Reno, Nev.
Helping Hands Hawaii received a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, the highest level of certification by the organization.
Brian Niiya, a former staff member at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles and the University of California-Los Angeles, is resource director at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. He started Aug. 1.
Niiya is a writer, historian, curator and editor with a vast knowledge of the community, according to Dean Hirata, JCCH board chairman.
"Shining Stars" runs Monday through Thursday.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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HONOLULU
Cross-dressing man robs bank on Keeaumoku Street
Police are looking for a man who robbed the Keeaumoku Street branch of Central Pacific Bank on Friday afternoon dressed as a woman.
Police said the man is believed to have robbed 13 other banks and a service station wearing various disguises.
At about 4:20 p.m. Friday, the man, wearing a black dress, approached the teller and demanded money and fled on foot in an unknown direction, police said.
The man is described as between 30 and 40 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing about 180 pounds with a medium complexion, heavy makeup, and was wearing a black dress with red flowers, dark sunglasses and a black neck-length wig, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone.
Man masquerading as officer is nabbed
Police arrested one of two men who allegedly robbed a Honolulu business early Sunday while pretending to be police officers.
Police said the men forced their way into the business at about 7:45 a.m., identified themselves as police officers and ordered everyone inside to get on the ground.
One of the suspects approached a 49-year-old man, pushed him to the ground, searched him and stole personal property, police said.
The second suspect searched the business office, found money and took it, police said. Both suspects then fled on foot. Police later found the suspect who allegedly searched the office. The 25-year-old man was arrested for investigation of second-degree robbery and second-degree impersonating a police officer.
Woman, 37, missing since Thursday sought
Police are searching for a 37-year-old woman who was last seen near Date Street and Kapiolani Boulevard. She has been missing since Thursday.
Verena Ragaza, also known as "Vere," was wearing a gray T-shirt, slacks, rubber slippers and a green backpack. She has silver braces on her teeth.
She is 5 feet tall, weighs 100 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. Ragaza suffers from schizophrenia and mental disabilities and might be disoriented. Ragaza's sister, Vera Cabais, searches for her daily and asks volunteers to reach her at 232-4235. Anyone with information can call 911 or Detective Jill Kaui at 529-3852.
WINDWARD OAHU
Injuries from accident are fatal for driver, 54
A 54-year-old man died from injuries received in an accident when his car struck a light post in Waimanalo Sunday night.
The Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as Solomon H. Moses of Waimanalo. He died of multiple internal injuries in the accident.
Police said speed appeared to be a factor in the accident and that the road was wet.
The accident occurred at 10:48 p.m. Sunday on Hihimanu Street near Mokulama Street.
Police said Moses was driving south on Hihimanu when he failed to negotiate a turn. His car drifted to the left side of the road and hit a wooden light post.
It was Oahu's 69th traffic fatality this year, compared with 58 at the same time last year.
Man in custody breaks window, police allege
Police charged a 37-year-old man for allegedly shattering a police vehicle's window while he was being taken to the Kailua substation.
Police arrested Warren P. Wong of Kaneohe at about 1:45 p.m. Friday for outstanding warrants. On the way to the police station, Wong got out of his restraints and kicked out the left rear passenger window, police said.
Wong also reached over and smashed in the driver's window, police said.
Wong was charged Saturday with first-degree criminal property damage. His bail was set at $25,000.
WAIKIKI
Woman is assaulted in her own apartment
Police arrested a 30-year-old man after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 21-year-old woman in Waikiki.
Police said that at about 11 p.m. Friday, the victim was asleep in her bedroom when the suspect entered her apartment through an unlocked front door and sexually assaulted her.
The 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of two counts of second-degree sexual assault, burglary in the first degree and kidnapping.
Unresponsive visitor pulled from water dies
An 82-year-old San Francisco man, pulled unresponsive from waters of Kuhio Beach Friday afternoon, died Saturday.
Candido Badua was taken to Straub Hospital where he died Saturday afternoon due to a lack of oxygen to the brain from near drowning, the Medical Examiner's Office said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Isle police warn of fundraising scam
Big Island police are warning residents against donating money to what the Police Department calls "a questionable fundraiser."
Police said a Big Island resident received a request for a donation to the Hawaii campaign of the Police Officers Safety Association Inc. The request asked that payment be made to a Honolulu address, police said.
Police later determined that the Police Officers Safety Association does not have an office in Honolulu.