Lingle resigns GOP post to begin run for governor
Linda Lingle stepped down as Hawaii Republican Party chairwoman yesterday to start her campaign for governor.The GOP executive committee selected GOP executive director Micah Kane as both director and party chairman.
"We have built a real party, a party that has made a difference, that has enough elected officials, supporters and voters to change Hawaii for the better," Lingle said.
GOP dissident Rep. Bob McDermott criticized the selection of Kane, saying it was unusual to have Kane as both the appointed chairman and also a paid employee as executive director.
McDermott said that he has also asked the state Attorney General to investigate his charges that Kane violated state law by asking for campaign donations during a GOP House caucus meeting. Attorney General Earl Anzai has declined to comment on McDermott's allegations.
TRG insurance probe stretches across 40 states
GREENWOOD, Ind. >> Insurance regulators are investigating an Indiana-based health insurance provider they say has left clients in more than 40 states, including Hawaii, with unpaid medical bills that could run into millions of dollars.The investigation targets TRG Companies and its subsidiaries TRG Marketing and TRG Administration, which are registered with the Indiana secretary of state as limited liability corporations.
Florida's insurance commissioners on Monday suspended the licenses of two independent agents who sold policies for TRG.
The company also has been forced to stop marketing insurance in Louisiana, Hawaii and Kentucky, and regulators across the country are sharing information about TRG.
TRG said it ended the plan in November under pressure from regulators and was working to process and pay thousands of outstanding claims.
"TRG is committed to funding each and every eligible claim that was incurred while the associates were covered under the plan," the statement said. "It was never TRG's intention to deceive anyone or leave anyone without coverage."
Regulators contend TRG was not licensed in any state to offer health insurance and has not demonstrated that its premiums or cash reserves were sufficient to cover claims.
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>> Public performances of Honolulu Theatre for Youth's "Othello" will take place 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. March 9, 16 and 23 at Tenney Theatre. A story in Friday's Weekend section said incorrectly that the show opened Feb. 16. For information, call 839-9885. Corrections and clarifications
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
HONOLULU
Man arrested after trying to run wife off road
A 46-year-old Kaneohe man allegedly rammed his estranged wife's car from behind and tried to force her off the road yesterday.Police said a 43-year-old woman was traveling west on Nimitz Highway about 4:45 p.m. yesterday with a male co-worker when her husband bumped her car from behind. He then tried to force her off the road by hitting her car from the side, police said.
The woman said she was able to flee to the Kalihi Police Station. Police located the suspect at his Kaneohe home and arrested him.
Police nab man who tried to run over 2 officers
A suspect fleeing from police allegedly tried to run over two police officers and hit multiple vehicles during the pursuit.The 31-year-old suspect was arrested for two counts of attempted first-degree murder on Amana Street after he got out of his vehicle and fled on foot.
Police said the incident occurred at about 6:50 p.m. in the Keeaumoku Street area.
The man was also arrested on drug charges after police recovered large quantities of drugs from the man's vehicle.
3 hikers are rescued from Palolo Valley trail
Honolulu firefighters rescued three hikers in upper Palolo Valley yesterday.Fire officials said a 17-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl from Rhode Island, along with a 25-year-old Oahu man, were hiking on the Kaau Crater Trail, located off Waiomao Road, when the girl had difficulty breathing at about 3:42 p.m.
Fire rescue crews airlifted two firefighters to the scene with oxygen to assist the victim. All three hikers were airlifted off the trail by helicopter.
The girl was reported in stable condition at the scene, but was taken Kapiolani Medical Center as a precaution.
WAIKIKI
Vandal caught on tape setting fire to van
Arson is suspected in a fire in the parking garage of the Outrigger West hotel this morning that burned a van and three other vehicles.Fire Capt. Richard Soo said security cameras recorded pictures of a suspect with a flammable liquid setting fire to the van.
Sprinklers in the garage helped keep the fire from spreading.
But the fire still caused an estimated $22,000 damage to the vehicles.
Guests at the hotel did not have to be evacuated.
The fire was reported at 5:10 a.m. and fire crews were able to return to the station at about 8 this morning.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Search to continue today for missing opihi picker
WAILUKU >> Maui fire crews resumed a search today for an opihi picker whose car was found at Maliko Bay.Assistant Fire Chief Greg Chong Kee said the 35-year-old Haiku man was last seen leaving home by his brother at 8:30 a.m. Monday and was reported missing at 10 a.m. yesterday.
Chong Kee said a pile of opihi was found on a rock at Maliko Bay along with an opihi knife believed to belong to the missing man.
The man, 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 175 pounds, was last seen wearing swim shorts with a flower design and no shirt.
Firefighters assisted by Maui lifeguards yesterday conducted underwater, land and helicopter searches for the missing man.
Chong Kee declined to release the man's identity.
Colorado man disappears during concert on Maui
Friends of a Colorado man reported him missing to Maui police after they said he disappeared during a rock concert in Lahaina.Torey Newlin, 23, of Fort Collins, Colo., was last seen at the Lahaina Civic Center on Saturday when friends said he walked off in nothing but his shorts.
Friends told police that Newlin had taken LSD before he disappeared. Newlin is described as 6-feet-1-inch tall, 170 pounds, with brown eyes, brown hair and a pierced tongue.
Anyone with any information on this case is asked to call Maui police.
WINDWARD OAHU
Crews search for woman missing since Sunday
Honolulu police and fire crews were to resume a search for a missing woman in Kaneohe this morning after discovering her van parked outside a Pookela Place chapel. Police said Marlene McCallum was last seen Sunday at her Kaneohe home.HPD canine crews and fire rescue officials searched the hiking trails near Hope Chapel, while police and fire helicopters searched by air.
Police said McCallum was reported to be despondent when last seen.
LEEWARD OAHU
Maili woman receives box with grenade inside
The Honolulu Police Department's Specialized Services Division was called out to investigate a military grenade that was discovered in Maili Monday night.A 35-year-old woman called police at about 11:30 p.m. and told them that she was walking along Farrington Highway when a group of juvenile males handed her a box.
When she opened the box she recognized what she thought was an explosive device, police said. SSD members disposed of the grenade.
