State settles dispute with Election Systems
Election Systems & Software -- the company that provided equipment, ballots and technical staff for Hawaii's primary and general elections last year -- will pay a $250,000 settlement to end a contract dispute with the state."The contract dispute centered on the fact that we bargained for a system that would ensure the integrity of our elections," said state Attorney General Earl Anzai.
However, "the state acknowledges that after the malfunctions were discovered the ultimate outcomes were nevertheless correct," he said, noting that ES&S volunteered in good faith to pay the $280,000 cost of an audit.
"The contractor will end up paying over a half-million dollars for the problems we encountered," Anzai said.
"The settlement allows the parties to get beyond this unfortunate experience and the state can now focus its efforts on ensuring the integrity of the upcoming election."
The results of last year's elections were questioned following reports of malfunctioning vote-counting machines. ES&S used new technology to replace the punch-card system that had been used for decades.
The recount in March of more than 412,000 votes verified all the elections.
Update
Dog poisonings
By Susan Kreifels, Star-Bulletin Although CrimeStoppers has put out a call for information on recent dog poisonings, no suspects have come to light.The good news, though, is no new poisonings have been reported, the Hawaiian Humane Society said.
Eve Holt, spokeswoman for the Humane Society, said one call was made to CrimeStoppers but the lead didn't pan out.
"At this point we're at a standstill," Holt said.
Holt said the Humane Society has committed itself to paying any expenses connected to leads.
The Humane Society and Honolulu Police Department are investigating the deaths of four St. Louis Heights dogs and one Manoa dog in May and June.
Paraquat poisoning is suspected. Meat thrown into two St. Louis Heights yards and samples from a dead golden retriever tested positive for the deadly herbicide.
All the dogs walked in the Waahila Ridge State Recreation Area atop St. Louis, or along the trails that run from the park down to Dole Street.
Paraquat is a controlled substance, and only about 150-200 Oahu people are certified to use the poison, which is deadly to humans as well.
The poison attacks the respiratory system and causes an agonizing death that can't be treated.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or the Humane Society at 946-2187.
Corrections
A photo caption in Thursday's editions incorrectly reported that a truck driven by Dennis Ramos of Texeira Trucking struck several vehicles after losing its brakes. Police officer Ermie Barroga says Ramos was able to avoid major collisions because of his driving skills.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Army sergeant awaits charges in wife's death
A 33-year-old Schofield Barracks sergeant this morning remained confined at a Ford Island Navy brig, awaiting charges in the fatal stabbing death of his pregnant wife.According to an Army spokesman, the 26-year-old woman was in the "latter stages of pregnancy."
The woman was stabbed Thursday evening at the couple's Helemano Military Reservation home.
The husband reported the incident and surrendered to military police that night.
The identity of the woman is expected to be released later today.
Meanwhile, state Child Protective Services has taken custody of the couple's 2-year-old son while the Army continues to investigate.
Unlike the state, the military system does not require a suspect to be charged or released within 48 hours.
Two on Big Island die in separate accidents
HILO -- Two men died in separate motor vehicle incidents reported within about 30 minutes of each other this morning, Big Island police said.Both victims were Big Island residents.
Their names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
A 27-year-old Kailua-Kona man died in a single-car crash at about 2:15 a.m. along Queen Kaahumanu Highway at the 94-mile marker in North Kona, police Sgt. Daniel Mlakar said.
Then at about 2:40 a.m., police received a call that a 36-year-old man had driven his pickup truck off the Kailua-Kona pier, he said.
The causes of the traffic incidents are under investigation, Mlakar said.
Fire destroys home in South Kohala
HILO -- Fire destroyed a single-story South Kohala home early this morning, Big Island fire officials said.The fire at 16 Puako Beach Drive was reported at 12:52 a.m., and the first unit was on the scene within minutes, they said.
However, the 1,300-square-foot structure already was engulfed in flames.
Damage to the home, occupied by Cathy Anderson and Ned Rhines, was estimated at $120,000.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Boys, 9 and 11, critical after pulled from pond
Two boys who nearly drowned yesterday in Waikakalaua Stream between Wahiawa and Mililani Mauka remained in critical condition today in Kapiolani Hospital.The boys, aged 9 and 11, were transferred to Kapiolani after initially going by ambulance to Wahiawa Hospital.
Mililani firefighters at about 6:30 p.m. responded to a swimmers-in-distress call at 95-065 Waikalani Drive near the stream, said fire Capt. Richard Soo.
Children regularly swim at the spot, where the stream broadens into a pond, and often dive 10 feet or more from a sheer, high bank, he said.
It was not known whether the two boys had been diving, Soo said.
Other swimmers pulled one boy from the pond by the time firefighters arrived and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started.
Later, firefighters found a second boy underwater and began CPR with him.
Using a net, a Fire Department helicopter brought both boys out to Waikalani Drive. Ambulance personnel assessed the victims and took them to Wahiawa General Hospital.
Fire damages two-story Halawa Heights home
A Halawa Heights fire yesterday caused an estimated $110,000 damage to a two-story home at 99-242 Kekoa Place.The Hawaii Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting five adults from three families displaced by the 9:39 a.m. fire.
Firefighters had the blaze under control at 9:56 a.m.
One firefighter was hospitalized for heat exhaustion.
