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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Taro task force OK'd, funds nixed
A new law sets up a group to protect taro, but it won't be funded.
Gov. Linda Lingle signed a bill last week that creates the nine-member Taro Security and Purity Task Force, but she used her line-item veto power to eliminate its $325,000 cost.
The task force is responsible for developing guidelines and policies for taro research, creating incentives for taro farmers to enhance taro purity, and focusing on efforts to eradicate the apple snail that has devastated taro crops statewide.
The task force will also develop programs for commercial growing of the plant and grants for taro farmers.
Lingle says she deleted the bill's appropriation because the money wasn't included in the state's six-year balanced financial plan.
Marine killed in Iraq is buried
SYRACUSE, N.Y. » A Marine captain killed in a suicide bombing in Iraq was laid to rest yesterday near his birthplace in central New York.
Capt. Philip J. Dykeman, 38, was one of three U.S. Marines based in Hawaii who were among more than 20 people killed in a suicide attack on June 26 in Anbar province west of Baghdad.
Dykeman grew up in Bernhards Bay on the north shore of Oneida Lake. His body was returned Wednesday to the nearby town of Central Square north of Syracuse, where he attended high school.
Dykeman leaves behind a wife, 7-year-old twin daughters and a 10-year-old son.
HPD hosts education program
Applications are being accepted for the Honolulu Police Department's Citizens Police Academy.
Established in 1994, the academy is a 12-week program designed to educate the public about police policies and operations, the criminal justice system and ways to reduce crime.
Classes are held Wednesday evenings at police headquarters at 801 S. Beretania St. The next session begins Aug. 13. For more information, call 529-3351.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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HONOLULU
Man is charged in Kaimuki stabbing
Prosecutors charged a 27-year-old man with second- degree attempted murder in connection with a stabbing in Kaimuki.
Jonathan Dael, of Kaimuki, was being held yesterday at the Honolulu police cellblock in lieu of $30,000 bail.
Police said Dael stabbed the 22-year-old man in an alley near 2nd and Waialae avenues at about 1:20 a.m. Tuesday.
The victim was visiting a woman who lived with Dael. Dael and the victim argued before the stabbing, police said.
The victim left and was walking to the street when Dael allegedly stabbed him numerous times.
He fled to a nearby convenience store for help.
Police found Dael in his 2nd Avenue residence with a deep cut on his right arm.
He was taken to the hospital and arrested the following day at home.
CENTRAL OAHU
Crash downs pole and closes road
A man was in serious condition after a single-vehicle accident yesterday morning near the S-turn on Kaukonahua Road in Waialua.
The man's vehicle hit a utility pole at 3:03 a.m. near 65-802 Kaukonahua Road, police said.
He was taken in serious condition to Wahiawa General Hospital.
The crash closed Kaukonahua Road for about an hour and a half while crews fixed the downed pole and removed wires blocking the roadway.
EAST OAHU
Pedestrian hit by van dies
A 27-year-old pedestrian hit by a van Friday night in Kailua died yesterday morning at the Queen's Medical Center, police said.
The Hilo man, whose name was not released, died at 10:25 a.m.
Police said he was crossing Kailua Road in a crosswalk near Uluoa Street when he hit by a white Ford van driven by an 87-year-old man at 9:09 p.m.
The man had head, leg, and torso injuries and was taken to Queen's in critical condition.
Police have ruled out speed, alcohol and drugs on the part of the driver, but it is not yet known whether the pedestrian was under the influence. The driver was not injured.
The victim was the 25th traffic fatality on Oahu this year, compared with 38 at this time last year.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Car crash kills man on Maui
A 24-year-old Waikapu man died after a single-car crash in Maui Friday night.
About 11:25 p.m. Friday, a 2003 Toyota pickup truck was traveling on Old Makena Road, four miles south of Kaukahi Street. Maui police said the driver somehow lost control and crashed.
James R. Sanchez died at the scene. A 28-year-old Haiku man was injured, and was treated and released at the Maui Memorial Medical Center. Police are looking for a third person who reportedly left the scene. It is not known who the driver was.
Police are investigating whether speed, drugs or alcohol were factors. This is the 12th fatality for 2008 in Maui, compared with 14 at this same last year.