Land activists protest gov's 'betrayal'
The environmental community is dismayed by reports that Gov. Ben Cayetano may not reappoint Michael Wilson as chairman of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, according to the Sierra Club's Hawaii chapter."If the governor fails to reappoint Mike Wilson, it would be a betrayal of the governor's promised environmental legacy," said David Kimo Frankel, the chapter's outgoing director.
The chapter in a release said the Coalition of Conservation Voters also is expressing disappointment with the prospect of Wilson's dismissal.
Wilson "restored balance within the Land Department, and his departure would place our resources at risk," said Steve Montgomery of the coalition.
Both the coalition and Sierra Club endorsed Cayetano in his successful re-election bid this year.
Council in February will visit Windward side
The City Council is going on the road again -- this time, holding its regular February meeting on the Windward side.Presentation of honorary certificates will begin at 9:15 a.m. Feb. 24 at the Pali Golf Course clubhouse. Formal business will begin at 10 a.m.
Council Chairman Mufi Hannemann said holding a meeting in Windward Oahu makes sense since the Council already has a tradition of going to Kapolei each August.
A successful meeting in February could lead to scheduling an annual Windward visit, Hannemann said.
Maui Electric increases billing rate by about $7
WAILUKU -- Maui, Molokai and Lanai residents will be paying an average of about $7 more a household in monthly electrical bills.The interim rate increase, effective yesterday, was approved by the state Public Utilities Commission.
Maui Electric Co. said this week that the increase will help pay for major capital projects, including a new 20-megawatt combustion turbine generating unit at Maalaea.
The company is seeking a total increase of $16.4 million, or 11.9 percent.
The interim increase totals $11.7 million, or 8.52 percent.
Tripler gains device to improve cancer fight
Tripler Hospital has a new cancer fighter: a linear accelerator.The instrument is used to kill cancer cells by accelerating electrons to the speed of light, medical officials said.
The beam's shape conforms to the tumor, and cancer cells cannot regenerate after being killed off, they said.
"We are going to be able to treat patients more efficiently and effectively (with the new machine)," said Col. Merle Sprague, chief of Tripler's radiation therapy service.
He said the accelerator will make treatment much more comfortable for patients.
"Bodies don't come in rectangles, and tumors certainly don't come in rectangles," he said. "This machine is much more elegant in treating cancer and not harming healthy tissue."
ZipLane to close earlier for Aiea overpass work
The ZipLane will close a half-hour earlier than usual starting Jan. 11, the state Transportation Department said.The change will give workers extra time to work on the Aiea Heights Drive Overpass widening project, according to the department.
When the shortened schedule goes into effect, the lane will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Mondays through Fridays. It is closed on weekends and state holidays.
Workers will be replacing ZipLane signs next week.
The change will be in effect for the duration of the overpass work.
Promise Keepers father will speak on Friday
"Straight Talk" -- the Hawaiian Islands Ministries' monthly breakfast -- next week will feature Bill McCartney, former University of Colorado head football coach and founder of Promise Keepers.The event will be 8:15 a.m. Friday at DeRussy Hall in the Hale Koa Hotel.
Cost is $15 a person, which includes breakfast. Parking is $2 at the Hale Koa parking structure.
Reservations are required. Call 988-9777.
Disability access talks to include U.S. officials
The 1999 Conference on Disability Access will be held May 11-12 at the Ala Moana Hotel.The conference, sponsored by the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, will focus on a wide range of disability-related laws.
It will highlight facility access, communication access, employment, housing and other civil rights issues.
Speakers will include representatives from the U.S. Justice Department, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Access Board.
For more information, call the Commission on Persons with Disabilities at (808) 586-8121 (Voice/TTY).
Deadline for preregistration is April 15.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffLeilehua break-in reported; 3 arrested
Police early this morning arrested a man and two women for allegedly breaking into Leilehua High School in Wahiawa.nearby resident reported seeing the three suspects crawl through a window at the school at 12:45 a.m., police said.
The suspects were located a short time later and arrested for second-degree burglary.
Waikiki hotel visitor scares off attacker
A 44-year-old woman yesterday reported being sexually assaulted in her Waikiki hotel room.The woman was sleeping when she was awakened by a unknown man sexually assaulting her at about 2:30 a.m., police said. When she started yelling, the man ran away.
No suspect has been arrested.
Three face charges in downtown robbery
Two men, 42 and 44, and a woman, 21, were arrested yesterday in connection with robbing and assaulting three patrons of a downtown business.The suspects reportedly attacked the three people at a Hotel Street game room at about 5:20 a.m., police said. The suspects demanded money and drugs.
One victim reported being sexually assaulted as well.
The suspects were booked for second-degree robbery, fourth-degree sexual assault and third-degree assault.
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