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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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State gets extra education funds
The state Department of Education is getting an additional $4.9 million in federal funding this year to help educate the children of military or federally employed parents.
The money will add to the $43.3 million in so-called Federal Impact Aid funds going to Hawaii's Education Department.
The program covers some of the state's cost of educating students whose parents work for the federal government.
State Rep. Mark Takai (D, Newtown-Pearl City) and military housing officials helped the Education Department secure the extra funding this year by identifying 1,436 military students who were living off base because of repairs to housing units.
The Education Department has secured $27.8 million in the past five years by identifying students displaced because of renovations to military installations.
Also, the state will spend $6 million to build temporary classrooms at seven overcrowded public schools on Oahu and the Big Island, Gov. Linda Lingle's office announced.
The Oahu schools include Campbell and Farrington high schools, Ewa Elementary and Olomana School. On the Big Island, they are Kealakehe, Holualoa and Waikoloa elementary schools.
The extra classrooms should be ready in July 2009, the state said.
UH science studies on display
The public is invited to an open house Saturday to learn about the latest research and applications at the University of Hawaii-Manoa Physics & Astronomy Department.
Department Chairman Michael Peters will open the event at 8:30 a.m. in the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics Auditorium with an overview.
Group visits to various sites will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Visitors can join the groups or go to the sites informally from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Presenters, topics and locations are as follows:
» Gareth Wynn-Williams, astronomy, Watanabe Hall 112
» Thomas Browder, antimatter, Watanabe 214
» Luis Elias, THz free electron laser, Watanabe 316
» Klaus Sattler, nanophysics, Watanabe 317
» Xerxes Tata, "Particle Physics and Origins of Our Universe," Watanabe 420
» Patrick Allison, cosmic ray physics, Krauss Annex
» John Learned, geo-neutrinos, Watanabe 217
» Eric Szarmes and John Madey, free electron laser, site to be announced
» Joseph Laszlo, "Physics & Toys," Watanabe 415
» Pui Lam and Michael Nassir, Society of Physics Students, physics demonstrations, Watanabe 412
» Peter Gorham, high-altitude neutrino detection balloon project, Watanabe 322
» Karen Meech and Norbert Schorghofer, astrobiology, Physical Science 211
For more information and the schedule, visit www. phys.hawaii.edu.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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Downed utility pole cuts power
Police shut down Kamehameha Highway near Waimea Bay shortly after a minor one-car traffic accident knocked down a utility pole, blocking traffic in both directions at 6:47 last night, police said.
Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman Darren Pai said the accident on the Haleiwa side of Waimea Bay knocked out power to 280 customers.
Power had been restored to most of them by 8:33 p.m., Pai said. HECO was attempting to restore power to 34 remaining customers last night.
Another HECO crew was on its way to remove the pole, which was blocking the roadway.
HONOLULU
Hit-and-run victim dies; driver sought
A 36-year-old man struck Saturday morning by a hit-and-run driver on Nimitz Highway died Sunday.
The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as John Jackson of Honolulu.
At 3:42 a.m. Saturday, Jackson and an 18-year-old man from Hickam Air Force Base were attaching a motorcycle trailer to the back of a 1996 Ford Mustang on the Ewa-bound side of Nimitz Highway when a 2002 Chevy van hit them and rear-ended the trailer and the Mustang.
The 18-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, who was in the passenger seat of the Mustang, were hospitalized in serious condition.
Police said the van veered off the roadway and into a highway sign.
Police are still looking for the driver of the van, who fled on foot.
This incident is the fifth hit-and-run crash on Oahu involving injuries since the beginning of October.
Gunman takes teenager's mo-ped
A male gunman robbed a 17-year-old boy of his mo-ped in Honolulu on Sunday night.
The robbery occurred at 8:06 p.m. when the man approached the boy, who was stopped at a stop sign, and allegedly placed a handgun to his head. The boy got off his mo-ped, and the suspect got on and rode off, police said.
Police could not find the suspect or the mo-ped.
Laie man arrested in home break-ins
A 21-year-old Laie man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of breaking into two units at a Piikoi apartment building.
At about 5:30 a.m. a 31-year-old woman in a third-floor apartment at 1402 Piikoi St. awoke to a light in her living room and a man in her bedroom, police said. The man looked in her purse and checked her clothes on a chair, then left via the lanai, climbing over the railing, police said. The woman could not find an iPod and her wallet, and called police.
Five minutes later the man climbed to the lanai and entered the apartment above the woman's unit, police said. A 19-year-old woman inside woke up, saw the man standing beside her bed and screamed, police said.
The suspect allegedly opened the front door, and the woman pushed him out, locking the door.
Police found the man in a third-floor apartment and arrested him on suspicion of two counts of first-degree burglary. He was released Sunday pending investigation.
WAIKIKI
Man is accused of punching officer
Police charged a 29-year-old Honolulu man this weekend who allegedly punched a Waikiki police officer.
On Friday a 32-year-old officer approached Antone Toutaiolepo of 1316 Piikoi St. because he was causing a disturbance, but Toutaiolepo turned and punched the officer in the face, police said.
Police subdued and arrested him at the intersection of Seaside and Kuhio avenues at about 10 p.m.
He was charged with first-degree assault on a police officer, third-degree criminal property damage and harassment. His bail was set at $11,000.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Fire ousts guests at Maui resort
WAILUKU » Guests were evacuated and $75,000 in damage occurred as a result of a fire at the Kaanapali Beach Club Resort, formerly known as Embassy Vacation Resort Kaanapali.
The fire occurred after a fire at a dishwashing machine set off the alarm at 11:29 p.m. Sunday.
The fire was confined to a dishwashing area and brought under control at 11:52 p.m., Maui County spokeswoman Mahina Martin said.
No injuries were reported, but the fire resulted in $75,000 in damage to the dishwasher and sprinkler system, Martin said.
WEST OAHU
Man allegedly robs woman of purse
Police arrested a 20-year-old Waikele man Sunday on suspicion of felony robbery of his ex-girlfriend in Aiea.
Police said the man and the 18-year-old woman got into an argument when the man allegedly robbed the woman of her purse and fled at about 8:20 p.m. Sunday.
Police, responding to the call of an argument, found the suspect at 9:50 p.m. at his home where he was arrested for investigation of second-degree robbery.