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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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At-risk students get new classes
The state is spending $375,000 to build portable classrooms for at-risk high school students on the Big Island.
The money, appropriated by the Legislature and released by the Governor's Office this week, is earmarked for two classrooms and restrooms at the Lanakila Learning Center, which serves public school students from the Hilo-Laupahoehoe-Waiakea complex area.
The program is housed in Hilo High School's Hilo Annex Building D, which is intended for office use and is needed by other district programs, according to the state.
Completion is expected by July 2009.
Seniors are warned of scams
The Social Security Administration is warning retirees to be especially cautious about giving information over the telephone and through e-mail during this holiday season.
The agency has received reports of telephone scams in which seniors are told they would lose Social Security benefits unless they verified information on their record.
Other scams offer bonuses. The scammers then ask for personal information including Social Security numbers or bank information.
Scams artists also conduct the scams electronically by using e-mails that look like they come from government, while others conduct them in person, knocking on doors and claiming to be from the agency or Medicare.
The Social Security Administration says it does not send e-mails asking for personal information. Personal visits, if necessary, are preceded by prior notification by mail or telephone. The agency urges retirees to call (800) 772-1213 if they receive calls or visits they are not expecting.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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HONOLULU
Actor to give plea in February
Actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa will enter a plea Feb. 12 in Honolulu Family Court on a misdemeanor charge of abusing his girlfriend.
Attorney David Hayakawa waived his client's presence yesterday and indicated the matter would be settled on the pending court date.
"Mr. Tagawa deeply regrets this incident and intends to take full responsibility for his actions," he said yesterday.
Tagawa was arrested Nov. 15 following an incident with his girlfriend. Police noted visible injuries on her, but she did not require medical attention.
Alleged copper thieves charged
Two men charged with copper theft made an initial appearance yesterday in District Court.
The two were detained Saturday by military police at Fort Shafter, who allegedly found them inside an abandoned building with numerous coils of copper wire stripped from the building and environs.
Richard Wallace Malone of Honolulu and Matthew Pacopac of Kalihi were charged with first-degree burglary and theft of copper. Malone also was charged with third-degree possession of dangerous drugs after military police allegedly found a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue in his pants pocket.
Both are being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.
WAIKIKI
Shove at bus stop leads to arrest
Police arrested a 47-year-old man Sunday after he allegedly shoved another man who was helping a woman in a wheelchair get onto a city bus in Waikiki.
According to police, a 44-year-old man was helping the woman when another man shoved him at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Kalia Road and Paoa Place near the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Several passengers detained the man, who has no local address, until police arrived. He was arrested on suspicion of interference with the operator of a public transit vehicle.
EAST OAHU
Man is arrested in alleged knifing
Police arrested a 36-year-old man Sunday who allegedly cut another man with a kitchen knife at his home in Hawaii Kai.
The man was arguing with the other man, 33, at about 11:30 p.m. when he allegedly cut the victim's left hand and chest. The victim was treated by emergency personnel at the scene but refused to be transported to a hospital.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault.