BOE OKs cuts to public libraries

The Board of Education approved a 10 percent funding cut to the public libraries' 2009-11 budget last night and changed an administrative rule that could lead to higher meal prices.

The reduction of nearly $3 million from the state's 51 public libraries is expected to result in fewer books on shelves, with funds being eliminated for best-sellers, children and young adult favorites, as well as foreign language, audio, digital and visual materials.

It also would freeze hiring to fill 57 vacancies, and cut back on outreach programs and storytelling sessions, officials said. Gov. Linda Lingle's administration has asked all state departments - including the $30 million general fund library system - to prepare for budget cuts of up to 20 percent because of the slow economy.

Education officials say a budget cut higher than 10 percent could force libraries to close.

Also yesterday, the school board adopted a rule change allowing the Department of Education to raise the price of breakfast, which is set at 35 cents, up to half of the department's cost. It is unknown what that figure could be.

The reduced-priced breakfast and lunch, each fixed at 20 cents, could reach 30 cents and 40 cents, respectively, if education officials decide to raise prices.

'Dog' stars sue former managers

The stars of the cable television show “;Dog the Bounty Hunter”; are suing their former publicist and manager for allegedly selling stories about them to the tabloids and making side deals with the show's producers without their knowledge.

In a lawsuit filed in Circuit Court yesterday, Duane “;Dog”; Chapman and his wife, Beth Chapman, say public relations company Vertex Communications through its founder and president, Maureen Kedes Krutonog, fabricated stories and sold confidential information about them to the National Enquirer after they ended their relationship with the company.

In another lawsuit filed yesterday, Tim Chapman (no relation) and Duane Chapman's sons Leland and Duane Lee Chapman II say their manager and de facto talent agent, Boris Krutonog, through his company, Pivot Point Entertainment, made secret agreements for Krutonog to get paid more than them, even for doing no work at all.

Companies cited over pollution

The state Department of Health has cited four companies for air pollution and paperwork violations.

The department fined Earthworks Pacific Inc. $6,500 for not taking reasonable precautions to prevent dust from becoming airborne at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club construction site on Rice Street in Lihue.

Tesoro Hawaii Corp. failed to perform a sulfur dioxide test in the third quarter of 2007, which was discovered Feb. 8 during a records review of the Kapolei oil refinery. The company was fined and paid $2,300.

Goodfellow Brothers Inc. was cited for late submittal of its semiannual report form for the first half of 2007. The violation was uncovered while reviewing records of the stone processing plant in Kihei, Maui. The company paid a penalty of $2,400.

Meadow Gold Dairies paid a $2,400 penalty for submitting late its semiannual report form for July through December 2007.

IRS trying to deliver checks

The Internal Revenue Service is looking for Hawaii taxpayers who are missing their economic stimulus checks as well as their regular refund checks.

The IRS has more than 2,000 economic stimulus checks totaling more than $1.2 million and 747 regular refund checks totaling more than $900,000 for state taxpayers that were returned by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable due to mailing address errors.

Economic stimulus checks for Hawaii taxpayers average $633, while regular refund checks average $1,217.

Taxpayers are urged to update their addresses by Nov. 28 so checks can be resent. By law, economic stimulus checks must be sent by Dec. 31.

Taxpayers who want to check the status of their check and receive instructions on how to update their address can go to IRS.gov. Taxpayers who do not have access to the Internet can call (866) 234-2942.

Officials encourage taxpayers to choose direct deposit when they file their returns because it prevents lost, stolen or undeliverable checks. Refunds can be received directly into personal checking or savings accounts.