New Mexico school cited for overusing Maui condos
Albuquerque, N.M. >> A University of New Mexico audit has raised questions about Maui condominiums leased by UNM near a research center once run by the school.UNM officials say instances cited in the audit suggest abuses were rare, compared with the size and cost of the research program.
Alleged abuses occurred during the eight years UNM managed the Maui High Performance Computing Center.
The audit said the center lodged UNM employees and other visitors in the condos on days they apparently performed no work and also paid to lodge visitors in more expensive hotels while its condos were vacant.
UNM purchasing director Bruce Cherrin said the center leased the condo units as a cost-cutting measure because it was cheaper than housing visitors in Maui hotels.
SAFETY FIRST
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHONOLULU Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Woman injured in crash New Year's Eve dies
A 60-year-old Oregon woman who was involved in a two-car accident on New Year's Eve died Friday night at Queen's Medical Center.The sport utility vehicle she was riding in struck another car, hit the median and overturned shortly after 10 p.m. on the H-1 freeway near the Punahou Street overpass.
The victim was the only one involved in the accident who was not wearing a seatbelt. A 6-month-old girl in a car seat was unharmed, and the driver of the SUV, a 32-year-old Honolulu woman, received cuts to her foot. The two people in the other car also were not hurt.
Police have said that speed and alcohol did not appear to be factors in the collision.
2 more suspects arrested in New Year's shootings
Two more suspects have been arrested in connection with the New Year's Eve shootings that scarred two Kalihi Valley homes with bullet holes.Police arrested two men, 21 and 27, who allegedly fired rounds from a .357 revolver into a neighboring house on Nihi Street.
Both men were released Friday pending investigation.
No one was injured in the shooting that occurred between 6:30 p.m. Monday and 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, police said.
Two brothers, age 33 and 40, previously were arrested on four counts of reckless endangerment in connection with the shootings. They also were released pending further investigation.
WINDWARD OAHU
2 caught, 1 sought in attack on city bus driver
Unruly behavior on a city bus led to the arrest of two of three suspects who were apparently intoxicated, police said.Police said at about 6:45 p.m. Friday, three men got on TheBus at Windward City Shopping Center and attacked the driver after an argument over opening the emergency exit while the bus was operational.
A passenger helped the driver get the suspects off the bus, but one of the suspects re-entered the bus and threw an object at the driver, just missing him. Another threw a rubbish can at the bus twice, causing minor damage.
Two men, both 18, were arrested on suspicion of interfering with the operator of a public transit vehicle, attempted assault and criminal property damage. Police were looking for the third suspect.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Construction prompts warning on Big Isle road
Big Island police are asking motorists to drive with caution along the Keeau-Pahoa Road, which is undergoing construction.Several accidents have occurred along Route 130 in Puna mostly because of speeding and inattention, police said.
Road construction is taking place in several areas between Paradise Drive and Pahoa and is expected to continue at least until the end of the year, police said.
