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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Construction snarls H-1 traffic
Motorists may see traffic delays today on the H-1 freeway because of ongoing construction.
Traffic backed up yesterday to Kaimuki in the Waianae-bound lanes of the freeway because of a lane closure.
One right lane of H-1 was closed yesterday from the Pali Highway offramp to the School Street onramp so crews could take soil samples in preparation to replace a freeway retaining wall, said Scott Ishikawa, state Department of Transportation spokesman.
The right lane will be closed today from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
At the same time, the H-1 onramp from School Street will also be closed, along with the left lane on School Street between Aala Street and Kapua Lane.
Several lanes on Ala Moana Boulevard will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting tonight through Friday morning in both directions from Punchbowl Street to Ward Avenue for construction.
On Nimitz Highway, a work project will close several lanes in both directions nightly between 8:30 p.m. and 3:30 a.m. starting tonight until Friday morning from Kukahi Street and Alakawa Street.
Kids send aid to soldiers
Middle school students at the Word of Life Academy sent 28 care packages recently to support soldiers serving in Iraq.
Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade girls wanted to "bless and honor" local servicemembers, many of whom are parents of the students, said Wendy Ikeno, leader of the project.
"I am happy to give back a little something for what they do for us," said Cara Tsuha, a sixth-grader.
By late June, the care packages were mailed to deployed units in Iraq, but they were not addressed to specific individuals. Each box contained assorted snacks, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other supplies.
Initially, the care packages were meant as Christmas presents, but then the idea blossomed into something that could be supported year-round, Ikeno said. The project started after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks with the elementary schoolchildren before evolving into participation on this project by the middle school students, according to Ikeno.
Maui cats corralled at airport
KAHULUI » Two pet cats that broke free from their owners going through airport security were recently returned.
Maria and Larry Fischer learned the hard way that they have to keep control of their scaredy-cats in the airport.
The cats, on their way from Maui to California, jumped out of their owners' arms June 7 when a metal detector was set off by another passenger at Kahului Airport.
The cats had been rescued as strays just a few days earlier, and the owners paid $100 each to transport them in under-seat carriers to Northern California. But they had to be taken out of the carriers to go through security.
One cat, a female, was returned to the couple three days later, after being caught by state officials.
But the other cat, Alex, remained on the loose at the airport for two and a half weeks before being captured June 24 by volunteers from 9th Life Hawaii, which describes itself as a "no-kill cat shelter." Alex was then shipped to the Fischers.
Phyllis Tavares, 9th Life executive director, and Alisha Jensen spent many hours during six nights sitting or lying on the asphalt of the airport employee parking lot before finally capturing the second cat with a drop trap.
Tavares suggested securing cats with a tight harness attached to a leash threaded through an opening in the carrier so the leash can be held while the security inspection is performed.
Isles' life expectancy tops nation
Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the nation, at 81.3 years, according to a new study.
Minnesota is second-highest at 80.3 years; followed by Connecticut, 79.9; North Dakota, 79.9; and Vermont, 79.6, the study showed.
New York residents had the biggest gain in longevity from 1991 to 2004, and one reason was access to new medications, according to a Manhattan Institute for Policy Research report.
New York's 4.3-year increase pushed a resident's life expectancy at birth to 79.2 years. California was second, gaining 3.4 years from 1991 to 2004, followed by New Jersey, Illinois and Connecticut, the study showed.
States that had quicker growth in access to new drugs for Medicare and Medicaid patients were more likely to see longevity increases that exceeded the average U.S. gain of 2.33 years, according to the report.
"What I've found out is that medical innovation is responsible for most longevity increases in the U.S.," said Frank Lichtenberg, the study's author.
Obesity, smoking and AIDS slowed longevity increases, the report showed. Also, as state incomes rose, gains in life expectancy lessened.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Three arrested as getaway goes awry
Big Island police had to break a car window to arrest three suspected drug dealers after they locked themselves in their vehicle rather than give up.
Police said they got a tip about drug dealing out of a gold Dodge Stratus parked at the Waiakea Shell station.
When police approached the vehicle at 4:30 p.m. Monday the suspects tried to get away, police said. The driver reversed the car over a curb and down an embankment, crashing into a utility pole. The damage prevented them from driving away, police said. The suspects locked themselves in the car, forcing officers to break the window with a baton.
Police got a search warrant for the car and found 120.4 grams of cocaine, 2.8 grams of ice and 1.5 grams of marijuana, according to a news release.
Leslie Dabis, 32, of Honolulu, Chadwick Ceno, 37, of Wahiawa and Maria Coyaso, 20, of Hilo were charged Wednesday with promoting a dangerous drug, meth trafficking and other drug-related violations Dabis' bail was set at $175,000, Ceno's at $50,000 and Coyaso's at $15,050.
HONOLULU
Suspect allegedly attacks officer
A 34-year-old man allegedly assaulted a police officer after his arrest, police said.
Police first arrested him at about 5:10 p.m. Friday on Punchbowl Street on suspicion of fourth-degree criminal property damage. As an officer was bringing him for treatment for prior injuries, the suspect allegedly assaulted the officer, police said. The suspect was then arrested on suspicion of assault on a law enforcement officer.
WINDWARD OAHU
Man arrested on gun charge
Police arrested a 19-year-old man at a Kailua bar after he allegedly pulled a gun on another man.
At 10:56 Thursday night, the suspect and a 29-year-old man got into an argument at the bar, police said. They stepped outside to fight, and the suspect pulled a handgun from his waistband and threatened the victim, police said. The victim fled and called police.
Police returned with the victim, and arrested the suspect on suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening.