Hawaii wins Race to the Top money, Maui aquarium collecting law expected today, Bar Association likes Recktenwald, Aiona trails in polls, more state news

The U.S. Education Department said Tuesday that nine states and the District of Columbia will get money to reform schools in the second round of the $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" grant competition. Associated Press.

The U.S. Education Department says Hawaii is among nine states and the District of Columbia will receive money in the second round of the $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" school reform grant competition. Star-Advertiser.

The latest unemployment figures show Hawaii is experiencing steady improvement, state Director of Labor and Industrial Relations Pearl Imada Iboshi said. KITV.

Residents of Hawaii had to work for 231 days to pay off their share of the burden of government in 2010. Hawaii Reporter.

A federal court lawsuit aims to help legal migrants from Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau regain benefits lost under a new state health plan. Associated Press.

New cuts to medical benefits for low-income residents based on nationality amount to discrimination, according to a federal class action lawsuit filed Monday against the state of Hawaii on behalf of disabled Micronesians. Civil Beat.

Last week, Native Hawaiians of the Friendly Isle gave thanks and heard about the future of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) during its annual “Share Mana`o: OHA in Your Neighborhood” community meeting. Molokai Dispatch.

A speaker at a meeting of the Conservative Forum for Hawaii riled supporters of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, although he never actually shared his thoughts or research on the subject. Tribune-Herald.

The Army says a wildfire has burned 2,000 acres at Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island. Star-Advertiser.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mufi Hannemann yesterday slammed scathing criticism from former U.S. Rep. Ed Case, who endorsed Hannemann's chief rival, Neil Abercrombie, over the weekend. Star-Advertiser.

Former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann might be knotted in the Democratic primary for governor, but both Democrats hold double-digit advantages over Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, the leading Republican, in hypothetical matchups for the November general election, a new Hawaii Poll has found. Star-Advertiser.

Be they Democratic, Republican or independent voters, Peter Carlisle appears to have support from all three camps heading into the final weeks of the special election for Honolulu mayor. Star-Advertiser.

Even the president of the League of Women Voters of Hawaii isn't sure where her polling place is this year. Associated Press.

The Hawaii State Bar Association board of directors voted yesterday to find Associate Justice Mark Recktenwald qualified to be the next state chief justice. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu on Monday agreed to dispose of 20,000 tons worth of gigantic piles of shrink-wrapped garbage that have been moldering in the heat of a Hawaii industrial park where it had been waiting for more than five months for a possible shipment to Washington state. Associated Press.

The city has scrapped its plan to ship trash to the mainland, and bales of plastic-wrapped garbage once destined to take a 2,600-mile boat ride to Washington state will now be trucked less than a mile to the HPOWER incinerator. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County is poised to pass an ordinance today that would make it the first Hawaii county to require permits and reports for the capture of aquarium fish from local reefs. Civil Beat.

The spirit of volunteerism, generosity and a can-do attitude was evident Sunday at Old Kona Airport Park and Kohanaiki, where roughly 45 soldiers from Schofield Barracks participated in various community service projects. West Hawaii Today.

What was first built as a sanitarium for tuberculosis patients has over a century evolved into a country hospital with a tightknit staff that cares for Maui's elderly on the quiet hillsides of Haleakala. Maui News.

Every year the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair grows a little bigger. Garden Island.

The State Department of Agriculture's Plant Pest Control Branch has been studying the Madagascar Ragwort, also known as fireweed, for years. KHON2.

University of Hawaii scientists have joined colleagues at the Smithsonian Institution in creating the first frozen bank for Hawaiian corals in an attempt to protect them from extinction. Star-Advertiser.

Seven projects have been approved for Legacy Land Conservation Program funding. Associated Press.

The federal government is seeking comments from the public on its management of the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge. Associated Press.

Plans are in the works to help the Oahu homeowners whose property taxes recently quadrupled because of zoning changes. KHON2.

Craig Smallwood says NCSoft was negligent because it knew the game Lineage II would cause addiction. KHON2.