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Oahu bus drivers rejected a proposed three-year labor contract last night that their union leaders recommended they accept. But a strike isn't likely anytime soon. Bus drivers reject
3-year labor pactReportedly, nearly 60 percent of the 996 employees voting turned down the proposal.
James Cowen, Oahu Transit president and chief executive officer, said today that standard procedure would be to return to the bargaining table if the union agrees.
Officials with the Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996, which represents 1,300 drivers and other employees of TheBus, were unavailable for comment.
Union leadership on July 1 recommended ratification of the three-year agreement after the company withdrew an initial proposal for a four-year contract that called for no pay increases or pension during the first year. Details of the rejected contract were not released.
Entry-level bus drivers have been earning $13 an hour, while senior drivers earn about $19 an hour.
Man pleads guilty in sports-betting case
A "6-5" sports-betting ring operating during 1994-95 and 1995-96 college and professional football seasons led to a guilty plea yesterday by its suspected leader.Francis "Moody" Kahoohalahala, 55, entered the plea to counts of conspiring to conduct an illegal gambling business and failure to pay the wagering occupational tax.
He and six others were charged in a July 21, 1999, federal indictment. They were accused of conducting a bookmaking operation on Maui.
Co-defendants Alan "Mango" Murakami, 47; Kenneth "Beep Beep" Ogata, 66; Gordon Carl "Kuni" Cockett, 69; and William "Billy" Bettis, 54, entered guilty pleas to identical charges earlier. Kahoohalahala will be sentenced Dec. 4.
Fasi criticizes mayor for 'propaganda piece'
Former Mayor Frank Fasi said a 32-page newspaper insert describing how the city deals with Oahu's garbage is a "political propaganda piece" for Mayor Jeremy Harris' re-election campaign.The insert, which cost the city $56,000, appears in this week's Midweek magazine.
Kenn Sprague, the city's environmental services director, said the advertisement is part of a mandate by the City Council to educate the public about waste disposal and is the culmination of a year's work.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest9 a.m.: Graduation ceremony for the first class of HPD's Youth Citizens Police Academy, Alapai Headquarters, Second Floor.
Corrections
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Arson probe seeks to link UH Campus Center fires
Police are investigating whether a fire Sunday at the University of Hawaii Campus Center is connected to an unsolved arson case three years ago at the same place.The fire in April 1997 caused more than $1.5 million in damages to the center's cafeteria, the Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. No suspects were ever identified.
Investigators are also asking for the public's help to find out who set Sunday's fire. The suspect or suspects broke into the Taco Bell and Pizza Hut by drilling through the door. The intentionally set fire caused $160,000 in damages. Insurance fraud was ruled out because the deductible was larger than the cost of the damages, police said.
Officials said the restaurant will be out of commission for about eight months while repairs are done.
Anyone with information about either case can call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Schoolboy, 13, arrested in attack on teacher
A 13-year-old boy at Highlands Intermediate School was arrested yesterday for reportedly attacking his teacher.The alleged attack happened on Wednesday morning, but the teacher did not report the incident until yesterday.
The boy assaulted the teacher, a 38-year-old woman, after she told him to turn down a radio, police said.
The woman also reported the boy made threats against other students in the class.
Man, 23, allegedly tried to run over moped rider
Police arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with trying to drive over another man in Waikiki last week.The suspect was arrested at his Kunawai Lane home Wednesday. He is accused of trying to run over a 24-year-old man on a moped near Kuhio Avenue on July 21.
$100,000 Wailuku home fire under investigation
WAILUKU -- Fire officials are investigating a blaze that caused an estimated $100,000 in damage to a home in Wailuku.Assistant Fire Chief Donald Moniz said the fire yesterday at 2126 Kahookele St. began in the kitchen and laundry area.
Firefighters took about 14 minutes to control the blaze after receiving the alarm at 8:43 a.m. They extinguished it by 10:56 a.m.
No one was injured.
Big Isle man and son found after public plea
HILO -- A Big Island man and his son were located after a public plea was issued to try and find them.Jonathan Masutani, 34, and his son Akeno, 3, were found to be safe and living on the Big Island. The case apparently resulted from a family misunderstanding.
In other news ...
