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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff
and wire service
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2 boys rescued from fishing boat
The Coast Guard plucked two boys from a fishing boat adrift in rough seas some five miles west of Oahu yesterday, a Coast Guard news release said.
The vessel, Kayla H P, called for help at noon after losing power off Kaena Point.
A Coast Guard helicopter was on scene within an hour and hoisted up a 10-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy, taking them to Waianae Coast Comprehensive Medical Center.
Three crew members remained on the vessel, and a good Samaritan towed them to the Haleiwa small boat harbor. No one was injured.
Lingle to veto labor union bill
Gov. Linda Lingle announced yesterday that she will veto a bill that makes it easier for labor unions to organize workers.
House Bill 2974, approved by the House and Senate, would eliminate a secret ballot vote by employees and replace it with a sign-up list by a majority of employees.
"I support the rights of workers to form or join labor organizations and have collective bargaining representation, but this bill would deny workers their privacy and right to a confidential vote when making that decision," Lingle said in a news release.
Majority Leader Kirk Caldwell (D, Manoa) said yesterday the legislation is "an effort to try to bring greater balance to the issue of organizing workplaces for unions." He said the leadership will discuss whether to override Lingle's veto.
The Legislature has 10 session days to override Lingle's veto with a two-thirds majority.
Hawaii is the third most unionized state in the country, with 23.4 percent of workers belonging to a union in 2007, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nationally, 12.1 percent of workers were unionized.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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Fire crews answer 3 rescue calls
Rescues around Oahu kept firefighters busy yesterday.
At 10:23 a.m. a 69-year-old visitor complained of dizziness about 90 minutes into his hike up Diamond Head trail, said fire Capt. Robert Main. Paramedics reached the man first and gave him medical attention.
Firefighters, unable to use a helicopter because of high winds, walked the man down and transferred him to an ambulance, Main said.
At 11:38 a.m. a couple fell out of a kayak off Bellows Field Beach Park and ran into trouble in the windy conditions and large waves, Main said. Surfers kept them afloat until rescuers arrived, he said.
At about 5 p.m. a woman broke her ankle while hiking on a trail from Friendship Garden off Kokokahi Place near Kaneohe. Fire crews hiked a half-mile up the trail and carried the woman out, Main said. She was transferred to paramedics for treatment.
Candle sparks costly house fire
A candle started a Wahiawa house fire yesterday that caused $120,000 in damage, a fire official said.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the living room and a couple of bedrooms of the single-story, three-bedroom home at 1119 Neal Ave., said fire Capt. Robert Main.
A neighbor heard the fire alarm at 11:12 a.m. and notified a woman living at the house, who was outside at the time, Main said. No one else was home and no one was injured.
Three adults and two children were staying with relatives in Mililani and received assistance from the American Red Cross, Main said.
EAST OAHU
Truck accident injures driver, 53
A 53-year-old man was critically injured yesterday in a single-vehicle accident in Hawaii Kai that might be linked to a medical condition, police said.
The Waimanalo man failed to make a left turn while exiting the Hawaii Kai Towne Center parking lot onto Keahole Street at 10:13 a.m., police said. The man's 2007 Chevrolet pickup truck sideswiped a traffic pole and came to a stop.
Firefighters performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived, said Honolulu fire Capt. Robert Main. Rescue crews took him to Straub Clinic & Hospital.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Police seek clues in Puna burglaries
Big Island police are asking for the public's help in finding the suspects and items taken during several Puna burglaries.
Police said the burglaries occurred in the Hawaiian Beaches and Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivisions during the first half of March. Items stolen include flat-screen televisions and other electronics, as well as Persian rugs, an ivory tusk, silverware and jewelry.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective James Gusman at 961-2289 or police at 935-3311. Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 962-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
