Gov. Ben Cayetano has signed into law bills that grant retroactive pay raises for state workers and that establish so-called "new century" charter schools. Bills signed for pay raises,
charter schoolsMore than $166 million in general funds for fiscal years 1999 to 2001 will be going to state workers who are members of the Hawaii Government Employees Association and United Public Workers unions. Plus, about $54 million in federal, special and other funds also will be used for the pay raises.
"Now that I have approved the appropriation bill (HB1038, HD1, SD2, CD1), most of our state employees can expect to receive their retroactive pay raises in their July 20 paychecks," Cayetano said yesterday. "Our state employees have earned this raise by working hard every day to make government more productive and efficient."
The charter schools legislation (SB1501, SD3, HD1, SD1) designates Waialae and Lanikai elementary schools, which already had a certain degree of autonomy as student-centered schools, as new century schools.
That allows them to operate their own curriculum and to be governed by their own trustees instead of the Board of Education.
The law, which went into effect immediately, also allows as many as 25 schools to be established as new century schools that must undergo annual self-evaluations.
Cayetano also signed into law a bill (HB988, SD2, CD1) that appropriates $1.04 million in general funds for the state's efforts to conquer any problems that may arise with year 2000 computer mishaps, the so-called Y2K problem.
The funds will be used for computer testing and modifications to ensure that the state's system is year 2000 compliant.
Navy says pair must take anthrax shots
The Navy has rejected waivers requested by two Pearl Harbor petty officers who believe the Pentagon's mandatory anthrax vaccinations are not safe.In April, Petty Officer Elsie Polak, 31, a 121/2 year veteran; and Petty Officer James Marttila, 23, who has been in the Navy for 51/2 years, sought a waiver from the Navy's Bureau of Medicine.
Polak is a 1985 graduate of Hilo High School and a computer technician.
Lt. Cmdr. Rod Gibbons, Pearl Harbor spokesman, today said the requests of the two sailors assigned to the USS Frederick -- a tank landing craft -- was disapproved last week.
Pvt. Roman Lezo, a helicopter mechanic, will become the first service member in Hawaii to face a court-martial -- it begins next week -- for refusing to participate in the mandatory anthrax inoculation program.
Earlier this year a Pearl Harbor sailor was discharged for refusing to participate in the program. Two others refused and were given administrative punishments.
From the late 1700s to about 1830, the sandalwood trade brought the sweet smell of business success to Hawaii. Hooray for sandalwood
In the late 18th century, Hawaii had become a provisioning stop for New England traders carrying furs from North America's west coast to China. About 1800, when the fur trade started dying, traders took the fragrant sandalwood from Hawaii to sell in China. One such merchant was Capt. James Hunnewell, who in 1826 began trading in sandalwood, starting what later became Hawaii business giant C. Brewer & Co.
The fragrant heartwood of the sandalwood, or iliahi, tree was traditionally used for scents and medicines, says the "Atlas of Hawaii" by Sonia and James Juvik. But when aggressive trade with China began in the late 1700s, the lower trunk and rootwood also became popular for items like furniture, incense and other fine items.
To the Chinese, Hawaii forever became known as "tan heung san," or "the sandalwood mountains," full of mystique and emigrant lure.
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Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffLovisa Rauch, the Waialua teen who shot her 62-year-old neighbor in a family dispute, pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter today in a deal with the state. Teen pleads guilty in slaying
Wanting to put the ordeal behind her, Rauch, 17, agreed to a sentence that could land her in jail for up to eight years. She left Circuit Judge Wendell Huddy's courtroom crying, surrounded by her family.
"I think it was a fair resolution," said Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Ching. "It was a complicated altercation" between the Rauch family and the victim, Julia Alameida.
Rauch was charged with second-degree murder for firing a shot with a .22-caliber rifle that killed Alameida on Aug. 13, 1998. Alameida was trying to break up a fight involving her son and Rauch's family.
Due to the seriousness of the charge, Rauch, a juvenile, was waived from Family Court to adult court.
"A lot of people were at the scene, and the defense could have argued Rauch was defending herself and her family," Ching said. "But we had somebody die."
The difference between murder and manslaughter is state of mind.
To prove murder, the state would have had to prove Rauch intended to cause or knowingly caused Alameida's death.
Army wife charged with scalding son
Federal agents charged the wife of an Army man with beating and scalding their 9-year-old son May 24.Allysha Lynne Hamber beat her son, Dorrian Lonell Jones, with an electrical cord, then placed him in a tub of scalding water, the FBI said.
In other news
Police arrested a 44-year-old man and are looking for three other men in connection with a rape near the Honolulu Zoo.A woman reported she was sexually assaulted yesterday at 1 a.m. A Palolo Valley man was arrested on eight counts of first-degree sexual assault, one count of second-degree sexual assault and two counts of third-degree sexual assault.
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