Clinton administration opposes Pacific N-dump
WASHINGTON -- The Clinton Administration has reaffirmed its opposition to building a nuclear waste dump in the Pacific, throwing cold water on a plan to build such a facility on Wake Island."I am concerned whether any Pacific island would be an acceptable site for a project of this kind, given widespread concerns about burdening the Pacific environment and the history of nuclear contamination in that region," Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said in a letter to Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka released today.
Akaka had registered opposition to a proposal by private developers to build the Wake Island facility. The proposal followed a failed attempt by the same developers to build a nuclear waste storage facility on Palmyra Atoll two years ago.
Akaka said he would oppose building a nuclear dump on any Pacific island.
Federal suit seeks to save sea turtles
A lawsuit to halt killing of endangered sea turtles by long-line fishing was filed yesterday in federal court.The Center for Marine Conservation and the Sea Turtle Restoration Project represented by Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund filed the suit.
Defendants include the National Marine Fisheries Service, which is responsible for conserving ocean resources and managing fisheries.
The suit says more than 100 vessels fish waters near Hawaii for swordfish or tuna with lines 20 or 30 miles long that carry up to 2,000 baited hooks.
Most of these came to Hawaii within the past decade, after stocks of swordfish in the Atlantic became depleted from overfishing, the lawsuit says.
Turtles become hooked by the lines, along with sea birds and marine mammals, it adds.
Suspect is charged in woman's death
HILO -- Police yesterday charged Jefferson Solomon Kauilani Pau with second-degree murder and other offenses in the stabbing death of Itsuko Ito, 72, of Keaau.Pau, 23, of no permanent address, had been held at the Hilo police station since his arrest Monday.
He continues to be held without bail.
Ito was found in her home south of Hilo on the Keaau-Pahoa Highway Feb. 16 after a relative called police asking them to check on her.
An autopsy confirmed that she died of multiple stab wounds in her chest and neck.
Police gave no motive for the slaying, but one of the charges against Pau is first-degree robbery.
Pau was also charged with first-degree burglary and stealing Ito's car.
Road work will cause 6-week detour on H-2
A detour on the H-2 freeway at Mililani began today and will continue for about six weeks while lane construction work is under way.
CORRECTIONS
In a poll graphic yesterday about fireworks, one question should have read: "Do you think the counties should be allowed to regulate the use of fireworks?" An incorrect word was used in place of "regulate."
The documents the cartoon was based on named a number of companies as defendants in the suit, including Ralph Lauren and Liz Claiborne. However, those two companies were, in fact, dropped from the list before the suit was filed.
Garry Trudeau issued this statement: "The information I was given was inaccurate. Liz Claiborne and Ralph Lauren were not included in the suit. I deeply regret this mistake and would like to apologize to both companies."
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Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffPOLICE/FIRE
Police look for two suspects in robbery and stabbing case
Police are searching for two suspects who robbed and stabbed a 25-year-old man late last night.The man was walking on Kona Street when he was approached by two men at about 11:45 p.m., police said.
The first suspect grabbed the man's backpack.
When the man didn't let go of the bag, he was slashed on the arm and stabbed in the stomach with a knife.
The suspects then ran away.
In other news...
The USS Frederick responded to a Coast Guard call for assistance at 6:45 p.m. after the small boat lost a mast in high winds and seas. The rescued men were treated for minor injuries.
This was the second rescue in three days for the Frederick crew. Sunday morning they rescued 14 people who were tossed into the water from their double-hulled catamaran five miles out from the Big Island's Kawaihae Harbor.
Dino Lopez, a seventh grader at Nanakuli Intermediate and High School, was presented with his Civilian Medal of Valor by Chief Lee Donohue at the Waianae police station.
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