Hawaii urges mumps shots, native rite causes Kauai brushfire, Gabbard banned from Azerbaijan, Big Island HR chief resigns following critical audit, who's selecting Honolulu police chief, infant contracts rat lungworm, Akaka supports Thirty Meter Telescope, judge halts Maui sand-mining, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mumps symptoms, Hawaii Department of Health

State health officials, continuing to investigate the growing number of mumps infections statewide, are urging most Hawaii residents to get an extra mumps vaccination. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii among 8 states questioned on Medicaid spending surge. Federal data shows Hawaii’s spending on new Medicaid enrollees increased by almost 76 percent in one year, and the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs wants to know why. Star-Advertiser.

Are Hawaii’s Nursing and Senior Care Homes Prepared For Disasters? Recent tragedies elsewhere raise questions about preparedness here, which can vary dramatically depending on the size of the facility. Civil Beat.

Open-government advocates are slamming a proposal that would triple the fees to access public information, saying a draft of rules unveiled this month add vague terms that could make it harder to obtain public documents from state and county agencies. Civil Beat.

U. S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been banned from entering Azerbaijan, a formerly Soviet country in the South Caucasus region, adjacent to Russia, Iran and Armenia. Gabbard went to the conflict-ridden region last week on what was billed as a fact-finding trip with a congressional delegation. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The closely watched search for a police chief enters its final phase when the Honolulu Police Commission gathers today to come up with a list of finalists from a semifinalist roster of nine. Star-Advertiser.

Former HPD chief among those narrowing the candidates for that job. The panel includes former HPD chief Lee Donahue and former United States Attorney Flo Nakakuni.  Also assessing the nine finalists at a Waikiki hotel, is former Honolulu Managing Director Bob Fishman and one time Assistant Chief for HPD, Mark Nakagawa. Hawaii News Now.

State to examine regulations around Red Hill storage tanks. An environmental court judge says he'll decide next month whether to require new state rules for underground fuel tanks. Hawaii News Now.

After years of complaints, the city is dramatically changing a busy Kailua intersection. A roundabout is coming to the triangular intersection of South Kalaheo Avenue and Kailua Road. Hawaii News Now.

Some Mililani residents are upset and confused as to why the city would remove crosswalks at a busy intersection. KHON2.

Planning officials OK Maunawili Valley rezoning request. Former Kamehameha Schools trustee Oswald Stender resides on four acres zoned for agriculture and wants to add more homes to his family estate through rezoning. Star-Advertiser.

Some Oahu charities say they're scrambling to ensure services for seniors are not impacted by a delay in federal funding -- and they blame the city for not stepping in. Hawaii News Now.

A federal fire captain is facing a handful of charges after being accused of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 14. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

County Human Resources Director Sharon Toriano resigned suddenly Wednesday, following a critical audit that showed “questionable hiring practices,” and a West Hawaii Today article Monday indicating preferential treatment of job applicants through her use of sticky notes on official hiring documents. West Hawaii Today.

Former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka has endorsed the construction of the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope in his new autobiography, saying the cutting-edge observatory will generate “huge” educational opportunities and jobs for the Hawaiian community. Star-Advertiser.

The latest victim of rat lungworm disease in the state is a Pahoa infant thought to have eaten a slug or snail. Tribune-Herald.

The tenth laboratory-confirmed case of rat lungworm disease contracted on Hawaii Island this year, and the 17th in the state, has been contracted by an infant from the Puna District. Big Island Video News.

The state has confirmed that an infant in the Puna district of the Big Island has contracted the rat lungworm disease. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii County warned residents Wednesday of the possibility of being cut off from the water supply temporarily after tank levels declined in the past few days. West Hawaii Today.

As the Emergency Water Restriction remains in effect for North Kona, officials have started to see a decline in the water level in some tanks. Big Island Video News.

Helicopter Noise On The Big Island Has Residents Buzzing. Protesters decry “dirty tourism” during a demonstration outside the Hilo airport. “It’s never been this bad,” said a County Council member. Civil Beat.

Fewer Hawaii Island charter school students met state testing standards last year, though leaders at some of those schools said results aren’t the best indicator of their students’ progress. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A 2nd Circuit Judge ordered Maui Lani Partners to halt earthmoving work at its Phase IX site in Kahului, saying that the facts show “at least preliminarily” that the company did not follow a state-approved archaeological monitoring plan. Maui News.

A judge ordered a preliminary injunction Wednesday to protect Valley Isle sand dunes from being mined for export and construction, but allows some work at Maui Lani to continue if properly supervised. KHON2.

A “skill-based” video game arcade with cash returns quietly opened over the weekend at Maui Harbor Shops in Maalaea, but it has caused residents and law enforcement to question if it is gambling, a county official said Tuesday. Maui News.

The County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development announced it won the Gold Excellence in Economic Development Award for its 2017 Made in Maui County Festival. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai Island Utility cooperative is moving ahead with a renewable energy project on the Garden Isle's west side. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative's board of directors on Tuesday approved expenditures of up to $350,000 to conduct preliminary work for a project on the island's west side. Pacific Business News.

No seabirds were grounded during the first night football game during fledgling season in seven years on Kauai. Garden Island.

A fire-throwing ceremony on Makana mountain on Monday was being blamed for sparking the wildland fire still burning along the cliffs on the North Shore. Garden Island.

A wildland fire that closed large portions of Kauai's North Shore on Tuesday is believed to have been accidentally ignited during an ancient Hawaiian fire-throwing ceremony, according to a state Department of Land and Natural Resources spokesperson. Hawaii News Now.

Some residents are asking what Kauai’s General Plan can achieve. Tuesday, they received some possible answers. Garden Island.