HIV increasing in state, Lingle paves way for fireworks bans, Abercrombie fined for late campaign spending report, EIS opens door to scale insect release, more state news

More and more young people in Hawaii are testing positive for the HIV virus, according to the Life Foundation, the state’s largest anti-AIDS organization. KITV

Governor Lingle has signed a bill into law that allows the counties to enact their own laws regarding fireworks, as long as they're tougher than the state law. KHON2.

You'll have less time this year to get a fireworks permit before July Fourth. Not only does the holiday fall on a Sunday, but City and County offices will be closed on July 2 for furlough Friday. so the deadline is Thursday, July 1.. Hawaii News Now.

State lawmakers said Tuesday they are seriously considering a veto override if Gov. Linda Lingle (R) vetoes a bill calling for a cost-benefit audit of a privately run Arizona prison. KITV

The state is once again seeking approval to release a Brazilian scale insect into Hawaii forests to control the spread of the popular but environmentally needy strawberry guava tree. Star-Advertiser.

High salt levels in a South Kona well system have prompted health advisories from the county Department of Water Supply. West Hawaii Today.

 Neil Aber- crombie's gub- ernatorial campaign was recently fined by the Hawaii Campaign Spending Com- mission over late notice about a mainland fundraiser. KHON2

The June 14 release of the project's Final  Environmental Impact Statement  offers the most up-to-date list of homes and businesses that will have to move to make way for the train. Civil Beat.

The city is spending $400,000 in federal stimulus money on a mural and flowering trellises at two new transit centers. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii County Public Works employee is under investigation for allegedly hitting a Kona bicyclist Thursday morning while driving a county vehicle with a suspended license. West Hawaii Today.

New refuse carts are in preparation for Kauai County’s move toward automated refuse collection which is scheduled to start July 1. Garden Island.

University of Hawaii Maui College officials dedicated an array of photovoltaic panels Monday, saying the school is expanding its educational curriculum while installing renewable energy systems to reduce the college's energy costs. Maui News.


Geologists with the Hawaii Volcano Observatory flew over the Big Island's Pu'u O'o Crater Monday, getting good views of a new gas vent on the crater's east wall. KHON2.

A deal between the Kaua‘i County Council and developers of a South Shore project was supposed to offer its workers and the community 75 affordable houses in exchange for an approval to build 1,500 high-end units in Kukui‘ula, plus a golf course and shopping center. Garden Island.

Islanders going to bed late Friday or rising before dawn Saturday might see a partial eclipse of the moon if clouds don't obscure it. Star-Advertiser.

With less than a month left until the election filing deadline, 21 Big Island residents have entered County Council and state Legislature races, while 28 others have shown interest in joining them. Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

Citing “a desperate need to reduce county regulation that is currently strangling small businesses and holding back literally thousands of jobs,” Paul Laub is running for the West Maui seat on the County Council. Lahaina News.


Although poor first semester grades in Molokai High School’s (MHS) online courses prompted school officials to further examine the e-school program, second semester grades revealed significant improvement among students. Molokai Dispatch.