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| NEWS FLASH - BREAKING NEWS FROM MAUI COUNTY |
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NEWS FLASH - July 24, 2008 11:20 p.m. HST Haleakala Ending Lottery System for Wilderness Cabin Reservations HALEAKA - Starting with September, Haleakala National Park will no longer use a lottery system to select cabin users. All reservations will be taken over the phone on a first come bases. Calls for reservations will only be accepted during the hours of 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, seven days a week. All reservations require a credit card, and the park has instituted a cancellation fee for all reservations. Early reservations may be made three months out from the day of the call. Reservations may be made by calling 808-572-4400 between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM Hawaii Time. The park is working with a local vendor to develop an on-line cabin reservation system. Ending the lottery and converting to a credit card based system, is the first step in that transition. The new on-line system, with access through the park website, is expected sometime this fall. (Report Provided by The National park Service) NEWS FLASH - July 24, 2008 6:10 a.m. HST Hotels Appeal to HTA to Help Boost Sagging Visitor Industry HONOLULU - With some Hawai'i hotel bookings for the fall estimated at 10 percent to 30 percent below last year's, a number of hoteliers plan to ask the Hawai'i Tourism Authority board at its Tuesday meeting to help boost the sagging visitor industry. HTA president and CEO Rex Johnson said the board wants to hear suggestions on how to help and welcomes the industry expertise but is already aware of the importance of responding to the declines. "I think everybody believes that it's serious," he said. Earlier this year, the board shifted $3 million to more marketing to try to boost summer and early fall business after the sudden closing of two major airlines operating here — Aloha and ATA. Johnson said the advertising appears to have helped. A new proposal with specifics on how much money should be spent in a new campaign has yet to be put forth. "We've already reallocated some money," Johnson said. "Do we need to reallocate next year's budget money?" he asked. "What are the solutions?" He said tourist destinations around the world are struggling to figure out how to stay attractive in a market where people are reconsidering how to spend vacation money or even whether to take a vacation this year. Johnson said there's no obvious solution. "How can you fix stuff that's broken by mortgage lending, by the price of oil, by the bad stock market?" he said. David Carey, president and CEO of Outrigger Enterprises Group, said there is growing sentiment among most businesses dependent on tourism. "We need to wave our arms and say, 'Hey gang, we need some aggressive action,' " he said. Take a California family of four who could have paid $1,400 last year for round-trip airfare to Hawai'i if they found a good deal. That price tag has doubled and gasoline bills have gone up by a third or so, which can cut into a vacation budget. "I'm pretty spooked about it personally," Carey said. "We're not going to change that tomorrow." Carey said he's heard estimates of fall bookings down "anywhere from 10 to 30 percent." He said there's substantial concern at hotels "that the fall is going to be very difficult," especially on the Neighbor Islands. Maui had been seeing high occupancy, and high hotel rates to match, but has been dropping recently. Carey said O'ahu has been up, in part because of the boost from the Rim of the Pacific (Rimpac) military exercises, held here every two years. He thinks Hawai'i needs to work at maintaining a fair share of the vacation money out there. "There's going to be a new normal and we're going to have to work through that," he said. Murray Towill, president of the Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association, said industry people are talking about ways to help ease the decline. The general sentiment, he said, is "we need to take some action. We need to do something." Between fuel prices, airfares, the economy and some seasonal dips expected in the fall, Towill said, there are reasons for concern. He also said the earlier shift of $3 million seems to have helped. "It looks like it's having some positive effect," he said. Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - July 23, 2008 7:10 a.m. HST 6.8 Quake Rumbles Off Japan Coast, No Tsunami TOKYO — Japan's weather agency says a strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 struck off the northern Japanese coast. The Meteorological Agency says there was no danger of a tsunami, or seismic waves, from the 12:26 a.m. (5:26 a.m. HST) quake, which occurred about 75 miles below the ocean's surface off the coast of Iwate. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - July 22, 2008 6 p.m. HST Maui County Responds to Health Department Order on Moloka'i Water WAILUKU, HI – The County of Maui presented its arguments today before a DOH Hearings Officer in Honolulu in response to State Department of Health’s orders that were issued yesterday requiring the County of Maui to assess and prepare to take over the water and wastewater systems privately owned and operated by Molokai Ranch. County Deputy Corporation Counsel Jane E. Lovell maintained during the hearing that the DOH orders are flawed and that the state department has no legal authority to require that the County bail out a private utility company, particularly one whose parent company seeks to retain all of its assets while passing on its liabilities onto the County’s taxpayers. The County sought to have the orders rescinded, and DOH’s case against the County dismissed. Representatives of Molokai Ranch and the Attorney General’s office present at today’s hearing requested additional time, citing inadequate time was made available to prepare since the DOH orders were issued less than 24 hours prior. In reaction to the absence of evidence provided at the hearing by the Attorney General’s office and Molokai Ranch, the County demanded that the case be dismissed. The DOH Hearings Officer continued the hearing to July 30. “We are hopeful that the Hearings Officer will rule on that date”, said Lovell. “We have established through the testimonies of Department of Health witnesses that the County is not in violation of state law and so therefore the orders against the County should be dismissed.” In another development today, the County Council’s Policy Committee chaired by Molokai Council Member and Council Vice-Chair Danny Mateo, voted unanimously to recommend the hiring of former State Attorney General Marjorie Bronster for matters relating to the threat of terminated water and wastewater services and possible legal claims arising from the situation. The committee’s recommendation will proceed to full council for final action. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - July 22, 2008 5:35 p.m. HST Governor Orders State and U.S. Flags Lowered to Honor Fallen Hawai'i Soldier HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has ordered the United States and Hawai‘i state flags at state, county and federal buildings throughout Hawai‘i to fly at half-staff on Thursday, July 24, 2008, from sunrise to sunset, in honor of Army 1st Lt. Jonathan P. Brostrom of ‘Aiea who was killed on July 13, along with eight other U.S. soldiers in an attack by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Funeral services for Brostrom will be held on Thursday in Kane‘ohe. Brostrom, a Damien Memorial School and University of Hawai'i graduate, and the eight other soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based in Vicenza, Italy. “Our hearts are saddened by the loss of one of Hawai‘i’s brave sons,” said Governor Lingle. “1st Lt. Brostrom earned the respect and trust of his platoon. He was a true patriot who fought with honor to defend our country and our freedom. Our state and our nation are grateful for his service, his leadership and his sacrifice, and our condolences go out to his family and friends.” “We will forever remember Jonathan for giving his life to the cause of freedom,” said Lt. Governor Aiona. “We join the people of Hawai‘i in offering our thoughts and prayers to Jonathan’s family and friends.” H.R. 692 authorizes the governor of a state to order the U.S. flag to be flown at half staff following the death of a member of the Armed Forces who dies while serving on active duty. Based on this law, which was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Bush in June 2007, Governor Lingle, in consultation with State Adjutant General Major General Robert Lee, established a state policy of lowering the national flag to honor an Armed Forces service member killed in action whose “home of record” is Hawai‘i. A copy of the Governor’s proclamation to lower the flag in honor of 1st Lt. Brostrom is attached. (Report Provided by the Office of Governor Linda Lingle) NEWS FLASH - July 22, 2008 3:35 p.m. HST State Returns Record $6 Million in Previously Unclaimed Property to Residents Another $140 Million Remains in Assets. Residents Encouraged to Check Registry HONOLULU – The state Department of Budget and Finance returned a record $5,937,936 in previously unclaimed property to their rightful owners in fiscal year 2008. Between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008, the state paid 9,748 claims to individuals and businesses, the highest number of claims in one year, thanks to an increased outreach effort to reunite the funds with their owners or heirs. Over the past six fiscal years, the state returned $24,690,614 in previously unclaimed property to 35,393 claimants. The state currently holds in safekeeping more than $140 million in abandoned or unclaimed property such as dormant savings and checking accounts, unclaimed inheritances, shares of stock, uncashed payroll checks, deposits held by utilities, insurance and medical refunds, that in most cases have remained inactive for a period of at least five years. “As more residents struggle to cope with the rising cost of living, doing a simple search for unclaimed property could help put extra dollars in their pockets,” said Budget and Finance Director Georgina Kawamura. “The Lingle-Aiona Administration will continue to find innovative ways to reach out to the community to help them determine if they have money or other valuables owed to them.” The department attributes the record amount of returned property to increased public outreach efforts as well as the use of an advanced database search service that allows staff to assist claimants in verifying information to prove that they are the correct owners of the property. Using the database, the staff can input a claimant’s social security number to verify past addresses going back 15 years. Previously, if the claimant could not provide documentation for an old address, the state could not pay the claim. The Department of Budget and Finance’s outreach effort to raise the public’s awareness of this program and return funds to their owners includes a free online search database on the Internet, as well as publishing notices of unclaimed property in daily newspapers statewide. In addition, the Unclaimed Property Program staff travel to various locations and events around the state to provide residents with the ability to immediately determine if there are possible unclaimed funds due to them. Staff have set up mobile property search computers at shopping centers as well as community events statewide such as senior fairs, community festivals, and county fairs to raise public awareness about the program and to assist individuals and businesses in determining if they have unclaimed property owed to them. The service is provided free of charge. The next community outreach will take place at Rediscover Makiki! Sunset in the Park on Saturday, July 26, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., at Makiki District Park, 1527 Ke‘eaumoku Street. Any interested parties can conduct a free online search through the Internet at www.unclaimedproperty.hawaii.gov or by calling the Unclaimed Property Program at 586-1589. From the Neighbor Islands, the toll-free voice access numbers for each island for those with touch-tone phones are as follows: Hawai‘i
– 974-4000 After dialing the local number, listen for a voice prompt and dial 6-1589. The
Unclaimed Property Program is located at: (Report Provided by the State of Hawai'i, Department of Budget and Finance) NEWS FLASH - July 22, 2008 8:45 a.m. HST Hawai'i Taxpayers Warned of e-Mail Phishing Scheme The State Department of Taxation is warning Hawai'i taxpayers of a new e-mail scam. Taxpayers are being sent a fraudulent e-mail that claims to be from the State of Hawai'i Department of Taxation informing them they are due a tax refund. If you receive this e-mail, do not reply. The State Department of Taxation doesn't send taxpayers e-mails regarding tax refunds. While the state Web site allows taxpayers to check on the status of their refunds, it doesn't ask for debit card information. The fraudulent e-mail requires the recipient to go to a Web site that is nearly identical to the Tax Department's official site to submit specific confidential information regarding their social security number, debit card number, PIN number, and card security code. Anyone receiving such an email should report it immediately to the State Department of Taxation at 808-587-1540. (Report Provided by The State of Hawai'i, Department of Taxation) NEWS FLASH - July 22, 2008 6 a.m. HST High Wind Advisory Posted for Slopes of Haleakala 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a WIND ADVISORY for HALEAKALA SUMMIT effective FROM 9:00 A.M. THIS MORNING UNTIL 6:00 A.M. WEDNESDAY. A Wind Advisory means that winds of 30 mph are expected. 2. EFFECTS: Winds on the summit of Haleakala are expected to increase from late this morning through tonight due to strengthening high pressure north of the Islands. Sustained winds are expected to increase to 20 to 30 MPH by late this morning, and to 30 to 35 MPH by tonight. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION. SECURE ANY LOOSE OBJECTS THAT MAY BECOME AIRBORNE OR MOVE THEM INDOORS. 4. INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio for any updates. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts can be reached by calling the following numbers: for Maui 871-6706, for Molokai 552-2477, and for Lanai 565-6033. The NOAA Weather internet service can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl. Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same informati on is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by Maui County Civil Defense) NEWS FLASH - July 22, 2008 5:50 a.m. HST County Issues High Surf Advisory for East Shores of Maui, Moloka'i 1. EVENTS: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a HIGH SURF ADVISORY for EAST FACING SHORES of MAUI and MOLOKAI effective from 6:00 p.m. this evening to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday. A High Surf Advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area producing rip currents and localized beach erosion. 2. EFFECTS: Increasing trade winds will cause surf to build along most east facing shores of the Hawaiian Islands later today and tonight. Surf will increase to heights of 6 to 8 feet tonight. A high tide of approximately 2.5 feet is expec! ted between 5:05 p.m. and 6:23 p.m. this evening. The next high tide of approximately 1.5 feet is expected between 5:42 a.m and 7:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. Forecast surf heights are estimates of the height of the face or front of waves. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER AND WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORE BREAK DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS WAVE ACTION AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS. 4. INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio for any updates. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts can be reached by calling the following numbers: for Maui 871-6706, for Molokai 552-2477, and for Lanai 565-6033. The NOAA Weather internet service can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl. Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same informati on is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by Maui County Civil Defense) NEWS FLASH - July 21, 2008 6:55 p.m. HST Mayor Charmaine Tavares Responds to Health Department Order on Moloka'i Water (Editor's Note: Following is the response by Maui County Mayor Charmaine Tavares on the order today by the Hawai'i State Department of Health requiring utilities operated by Moloka'i Properties to continue providing water and sewer treatment services to their Moloka'i customers for at least the next 90 days. Click here to read the order.) “I am pleased that the Department of Health has finally taken action and issued an order to the utilities requiring Molokai Ranch to continue to provide water and sewer service to its approximately 1,200 customers. "Out of growing concerns for Molokai, I had requested 5 weeks ago through a letter to the Department of Health, that measures be taken to investigate the status and operation of the utilities with regard to their operation of three wastewater treatment plants on Molokai. Maybe now we will be able to receive information and records that were not made available to us these past few months. "We do object to the DOH order directing the County to conduct a physical and staff assessment of these subsidiary companies that belong to Molokai Properties and make preparations to take over operations if the company walks away. It is puzzling that the DOH would treat the County as the violator in this case. Molokai Ranch is clearly the violator. "We would have liked to have partnered with the state in holding Molokai Ranch accountable and protecting the rights of the consumer. In fact, the County itself is a consumer. "It
is a system owned and operated by a private company and one that
we believe has been mismanaged. Over the many years, there have
been various state agencies responsible for monitoring and advocating
on behalf of consumers, so it is strange that while it started out
as a private company with a state license to operate, when it no
longer is profitable to the company – the county is required to
take it over. "Despite receiving less than 24 hours of notice, our County attorneys will travel to Honolulu to raise concerns at the hearing tomorrow. The Department of Health’s order that would require the County of Maui to step in when Molokai Ranch abandons its services is disappointing. We continue to be concerned with what each county in the state would face should private companies that own and operate water and sewer systems choose to abandon their paying customers. Our communities should not be treated this way.” (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - July 21, 2008 3:40 p.m. HST Health Department Orders Moloka'i Properties to Keep Water Flowing HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) today issued Notices of Findings and Emergency Orders to Moloka‘i Properties, Limited requiring the company and its three subsidiary utilities to continue drinking water and wastewater services. The DOH also issued Notices of Findings and Emergency Orders to Maui County to assess what is needed to provide drinking water and wastewater services, and to prepare to operate the drinking water and wastewater systems if the companies cease operations of the systems. Moloka‘i Properties is ordered to continue operation of water and wastewater utilities on Moloka‘i for at least the next 90 days. A hearing on the orders is scheduled for tomorrow. “The Department of Health is exercising its authority to order immediate action to protect the public health from an imminent and substantial danger if the services are stopped,” said Laurence Lau, DOH deputy director for environmental health. “The emergency orders also afford the County of Maui time to assess needs and prepare to provide these essential services to the people of Moloka‘i if the companies cease operations of these vital systems.” Under one order, Moloka‘i Properties and its drinking water utility subsidiaries Wai‘ola O Moloka‘i, Inc. and Moloka‘i Public Utilities, Inc. are required to continue to operate, using certified distribution system operators and certified water treatment plant operators, the Kaluakoi-Maunaloa, Kualapu‘u, and Kipu public drinking water systems as well as the surface water treatment plant for the Maunaloa-Kaluakoi water systems at Pu‘u Nana. A second order to Moloka‘i Properties requires the company and its wastewater utility Mosco, Inc., to continue to operate the Kaluakoi, Maunaloa, and Kualapu‘u wastewater systems with certified wastewater treatment plant operators. The company and its utility subsidiaries are also required to submit a written report to the DOH every seven days on the status of their operations of the public water systems and the wastewater systems. Under two separate orders issued to Maui County, the county is required to assess what is needed to provide drinking water and wastewater services, and to prepare to operate the drinking water and wastewater systems if Moloka‘i Properties and its subsidiaries cease operations of the systems. One order requires Maui County to immediately assess what is needed to provide sufficient safe drinking water, including the potential to operate the Maunaloa-Kaluakoi, Kualapu‘u and Kipu public water systems. A second order requires the county to assess what is needed to provide adequate wastewater services as well as to operate the Kaluakoi, Maunaloa, and Kualapu‘u wastewater systems. The needs assessment may include a physical assessment, determination of staffing needs (including certified water or wastewater treatment plant operators), training and preparing staff to perform all necessary functions, and all other steps that are reasonable and necessary to perform all required functions if the companies no longer provide service. The orders also require the county to take all actions required to be prepared to provide adequate drinking water services and provide sufficient supplies of safe drinking water and prepare to operate the wastewater systems if Moloka‘i Properties and its subsidiaries no longer provide service. The county must submit initial written assessments, including the status of its preparedness, to the DOH within seven days and a written update every seven days thereafter. “Our priority is to ensure uninterrupted water and wastewater service for the health and safety of the people of Moloka‘i,” said Governor Lingle. “While the county has the primary responsibility to operate and maintain public utilities, the State is prepared to assist the county.” Hearings are scheduled for the companies and county on July 22 at 9:00 a.m. at 919 Ala Moana Boulevard in the 5th floor DOH Environmental Management Division conference room to address the issues raised by the orders in these cases. DOH may review the status of the emergency orders after 90 days and determine whether the respondents need to continue to provide wastewater services beyond the ninety day period, or what other action may be appropriate. The DOH issued the orders using its authority under Hawai‘i’s Safe Drinking Water Law, Hawai‘i Law for Mandatory Certification of Public Water System Operators, and Hawai‘i Water Pollution Law, as well as various administrative rules relating to emergency plans for safe drinking water, potable water systems, certification of public water system operators, and wastewater systems. (Report Provided by the State of Hawai'i, Department of Health) NEWS FLASH - July 21, 2008 2:30 p.m. HST Valve Leak Shuts Down 50-Meter Upcountry Pool WAILUKU, MAUI - A valve leak discovered late Sunday afternoon has led to the closure of the 50-meter pool at the Upcountry Pool complex today, Parks and Recreation officials announced today. The main pool has been closed for repairs and maintenance and is expected to reopen Thursday; the keiki and training pools at the complex will remain open throughout the course of the repairs. In Kahului, Kokua Pool is closed due to circulation problems. Pumps are being tested tonight, and while pool staff expect to reopen the pool either tomorrow or Wednesday, the results of tonight's tests will help determine a more accurate reopening date. For up-to-date recorded information on pool hours and openings, call the Maui Pools Info. Hotline at 270-8208. The hotline is updated daily by 9 a.m. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - July 21, 2008 6:50 a.m. HST Maui County Road Projects Expected to Cause Delays Scrap Metal Removal Places Large Trucks on Hana Highway HANA, MAUI - Drivers are urged to exercise caution on the road while a scrap metal removal project takes place, the Department of Environmental Management advised today. Large trucks will be transporting loads along Hana Highway; the removal is expected to begin July 21 and continue on weekdays for approximately six months. SOS Metals Island Recycling was awarded the contract to haul the materials from the Hana Landfill to its facility in Puunene for processing before shipping it to recycling facilities. The approximately 4,000 tons of accumulated materials include derelict vehicles, broken appliances, used propane tanks, old batteries and worn tires, among other miscellaneous scrap metal pieces. For more information, please contact the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management at 270-7872. Honoapi'ilani Highway Nighttime Work Planned for This Week KAHULUI - The state Department of Transportation advises Maui motorists of a single lane closure on Honoapiilani Highway in the Lahaina-bound direction from the Olowalu Tunnel (Mile Point 10), to the end of the Pali (Mile Point 11) on Sunday night, July 20, through Friday morning, July 25, from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., nightly, for fiber optic cable installations (contractor permit work). During this closure, traffic will be contraflowed through the area in the remaining open lane. Motorists are also advised to use caution while driving through the work area and to allow for extra travel time. Roadwork is weather-permitting. Haleakala Highway Paving Restricts Traffic Flow KAHULUI - The state Department of Transportation advises Maui motorists of multiple single lane closures on Haleakala Highway in the westbound direction between Mile Point 1, near the Halemaile Road intersection, and Mile Point 5.25, near the Hana Highway Intersection, on Monday, July 21, through Friday, July 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., daily, for pavement reconstruction. Kahului-bound traffic will be contra-flowed using one eastbound lane. Motorists are also advised to use caution while driving through the work area and to allow for extra travel time. Roadwork is weather-permitting. Maunaloa Highway Resurfacing Restricts Traffic Flow on Moloka'i KAHULUI
- The state Department of Transportation advises Molokai motorists
of single lane closures in both directions on Maunaloa Highway between
Mile Post 0 and Mile Post 5.5, on Monday, July 21, through Friday,
July 25, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., daily, for pavement resurfacing. (Information Provided by Maui County Office of Information and the Hawai'i State Department of Transportation) NEWS FLASH - July 20, 2008 7:50 a.m. HST Hawai'i Leads Nation in Cancer Survival Hawaii not only has enviable weather but it has the best survival rate for cancer in the United States, as well as in many other countries, an international study reveals. Data on cancer survival was compared within regions of 31 countries and 16 states and metropolitan areas in the United States in the CONCORD study, published in the July 17 online edition of The Lancet Oncology. "The good news for us is Hawaii is the best performing in all areas studied except rectal cancer in men (Idaho was better) and prostate (Seattle was better)," said Marc Goodman, head of the Hawaii Tumor Registry in the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii. He said he did a spot check of all the statistics and "on the ones I checked, we had the highest survival overall. People in Hawaii are doing fairly well." Why this is so isn't clear, Goodman said. Physicians may attribute the high survival rates to good medical care, "which could well be," he said. "It must have something to do with living in Hawaii," he added, suggesting diet, exercise and fewer stresses as possible factors. It couldn't be ethnic differences because the study compared white women in Hawaii to white women everywhere, he said. Incidence rates for white women with breast cancer in Hawaii were the highest in the United States "but they don't necessarily die from it," he said. Whatever the reason for Hawaii's high cancer survivorship, he said, "It's just real nice." More than 100 scientists, including Goodman, participated in the study, led by Michael Coleman, an epidemiology professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in Great Britain. They collected data on nearly two million cancer patients from registries in every country and compared five-year survival rates for breast, colon, rectum and prostate cancers. Patients were diagnosed from 1990 to 1994 and followed to the end of 1999. Cancer survivor rates appear linked to the country or state where a person lives and whether a patient is black or white. U.S. survival rates favor whites. Coleman, in an online HealthDay report, said he believes differences among countries and within regions are related directly to access to health care. "This is not a question of the competence of doctors in any particular country," he said. "This is an issue of the overall effectiveness of health services." The U.S. had the highest survival rates for breast and prostate cancers; Japan has the highest rates for colon and rectal cancers among men, and France has the highest rates for female colon and rectal cancer, the study found. Jackie Young, a cancer survivor and Hawaii American Cancer Society, Hawaii Pacific Division, Inc., officer, said the state's high survival rates are reflected in the organization's Relay for Life events. "We're seeing more survivors willing to come out to show they're surviving. Now we're looking at disparities among native Hawaiians, Filipinos, Hispanics and Latinos. We're working to decrease mortality rates in those groups," Young said. The cancer society last year got 35 state representatives and 15 senators to sign a "Cancer Promise," a commitment to support legislation to fight cancer, she said. The Legislature also appropriated $150,000 for a breast and cervical cancer screening program for the uninsured and underinsured, she said. Darlena Chadwick, vice president for patient care at the Queen's Medical Center, which has 48 percent of Hawaii's adult oncology cases, believes advances in screening to detect cancers earlier and new technology for treatment are contributing to Hawaii's high survival rates. She pointed to the Queen's Medical Center's two "da Vinci" robots used for prostate cancer. "Clinically, we're doing a really good job," she said. Queen's cancer center last year had more than 2,300 cancer cases, with breast cancer comprising the highest volume followed by prostate, she said. The American Cancer Society estimates Hawaii this year will have 6,310 new cancer cases, she said. Hawaii has the lowest death rate in the nation for women for all cancers, according to the cancer society, Chadwick said. Hawaii's cancer death rate is 10 percent below the national rate for men and 26 percent below the national rate for women, she said. Reach Helen Altonn at haltonn@starbulletin.com (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Bulletin) NEWS FLASH - July 19, 2008 7:50 a.m. HST O'ahu Stabbing Victim Identified as Maui Man The victim of a fatal stabbing in Makiki has been identified as 35-year-old Jason Namauu from Maui, who has a history of charges including prostitution. The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office, which identified Namauu, said he died at 7:14 p.m. of a stab wound to the chest, at the Queen's Medical Center. Police responded to a 6:30 p.m. call of a stabbing and arrested a 63-year-old man on suspicion of second-degree murder. He was being held at the police cellblock last night awaiting charges. Witnesses said Namauu had been wearing women's clothing. Namauu's criminal record includes nine convictions, including on a charge of prostitution in April. A homeless man who declined to give his name told the Star-Bulletin yesterday that he saw the victim stabbed repeatedly. The man said that before the stabbing he saw the couple sitting in a gold-colored car for about 90 minutes in the Cartwright Neighborhood Park parking lot beneath the overpass. He thought they were resting. He went to use the restroom and, upon returning to the lot, saw the man in the driver's seat punching someone who looked like a woman sitting next to him. Then he saw blood and a silver knife. "The blood was all over the place," he said. "It was flying all over. It was on him." The victim was reclining in the passenger seat, kicking and screaming, he said. The suspect continued to stab the victim. "I panicked and I went across the street," the witness said. He approached a van and asked a woman inside to call police. Then he saw two men approach the driver's side door of the suspect's car as the suspect tried to drive off. The suspect instead got out and fled, pursued by a witness who eventually flagged down an officer and pointed out the suspect. Police arrested him at 7:10 p.m. at 1299 S. Beretania St. in the parking lot for Times Super Market. Police also recovered a knife at the crime scene. Reach Rob Shikina at rshikina@starbulletin.com (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Bulletin) NEWS FLASH - July 19, 2008 7:10 a.m. HST Horizon Lines Raising Fuel Surcharge - Again Rising fuel costs have pushed Hawai'i's No. 2 ocean cargo carrier, Horizon Lines LLC, to charge customers more for shipments to and from the Mainland just a month after its last fuel surcharge increase. The company yesterday said it will raise its fuel surcharge by 4.5 percentage points to 42.75 percent effective Aug. 17. The move follows a 4.5 percentage-point increase that took effect Monday. The hike announced yesterday is Horizon's fourth this year that collectively have added 14.25 percentage points to the surcharge since January. Until yesterday, however, the increases had been spaced about three months apart. In a letter to customers, Horizon said continuing unprecedented escalation of the cost of bunker fuel resulted in the latest surcharge adjustment. "Horizon Lines understands that this adjustment impacts your cost of doing business, just as these fuel cost increases have affected our cost of providing service," the company said in the letter. Kelvin Shigemura, vice president of local produce supplier Armstrong Produce Ltd., said the relatively rapid succession of Horizon's surcharge was not unexpected, in part because airlines have been increasing their fuel surcharges every two weeks. "It's not surprising," he said. "Oil has been going up and up and up. We kind of had a feeling the shipping rates would follow. We're just waiting until oil settles down. If it comes down, we hope (cargo carriers) follow suit and bring surcharges down." Matson Navigation Co., Horizon's larger rival in Hawai'i, as of yesterday had not announced a fuel surcharge increase. The last Matson fuel surcharge adjustment took effect Sunday and was identical to Horizon's previous increase to 38.25 percent. Typically, Horizon matches Matson surcharge adjustments, but not always. In January, Matson announced an increase a week after Horizon for a surcharge that had the same effective date and percentage point rise as Horizon's surcharge. The fuel surcharges have become a focal point in several lawsuits filed against Matson, contending it and Horizon conspired to raise prices for container shipments between the Mainland and Hawai'i. One lawsuit filed in Seattle by Aloha Agricultural Consultants Inc., a company that does business as Nui Nursery, alleges that the two ocean cargo transportation firms on more than 25 occasions have raised fuel surcharges by the same amount and within days of each other since the surcharges began in October 1999 at 1.75 percent. Matson has previously said it will defend against the complaints. Horizon yesterday said it closely monitors fuel costs and will adjust its surcharge as trends warrant. Horizon also said fuel surcharges for shipments between Guam or Micronesia and the Mainland will rise by 4.5 percentage points to 44.25 percent. Those increases take effect Aug. 17 for Guam and Aug. 21 for Micronesia. Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - July 18, 2008 3:20 p.m. HST Water Department Issues Urgent Plea to West Maui Customers Due to a control system failure at the Mahinahina Water Treatment Facility, the Department of Water Supply is requesting customers in West Maui to conserve water today, tomorrow, and Sunday. The Mahinahina facility normally provides approximately 25 percent of the water supply in West Maui. It shut down this morning and DWS personnel are working to restore the electrical and computer controls. With the facility out of service, the DWS cannot maintain safe water levels in the storage tanks. Customers are asked to use water only as needed for health and safety purposes in order to extend the supply available in the storage tanks until the water can be restored to safe levels. The Department of Water Supply does not provide water service to Kapalua or Kaanapali. These areas are not affected. (Report Provided by The Maui County Department of Water Supply) NEWS FLASH - July 18, 2008 3 p.m. HST High Wind Advisory Posted for Slopes of Haleakala 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a WIND ADVISORY for HALEAKALA SUMMIT effective UNTIL 4:00 A.M. SATURDAY. A Wind Advisory means that winds of 30 mph are expected. 2. EFFECTS: Winds across the higher elevations of Haleakala have increased due to the strong high far north of the islands. Easterly winds of 20 to 30 mph will continue through tonight. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION. SECURE ANY LOOSE OBJECTS THAT MAY BECOME AIRBORNE OR MOVE THEM INDOORS. 4. INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio for any updates. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts can be reached by calling the following numbers: for Maui 871-6706, for Molokai 552-2477, and for Lanai 565-6033. The NOAA Weather internet service can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl. Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same informati on is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by Maui County Civil Defense) NEWS FLASH - July 18, 2008 7:20 a.m. HST Starbucks at Kahului Borders One of 600 to Close Starbucks Corp. will be closing five of its Hawai'i locations as part of the company's plans to shutter 600 company-owned stores. The company, which operated 84 stores here at the end of June, said it will close three sites in Honolulu and one each on Maui and the Big Island. The Honolulu stores on Sand Island Access road, at the Hokua residential condominium at 1200 Ala Moana, and one of the three Starbucks at Ward Centers will shut down. On Maui, the Starbucks at the Maui Marketplace at 270 Dairy Road is also being closed, as is a location at Hilo's Waiakea Center. Starbucks this month announced it would terminate operations at 600 stores over the next year as it looked to cut costs at underperforming locations. The company is closing stores that aren't profitable and aren't projected to be profitable in the near future. About 70 percent of those slated for closure opened after the beginning of 2006. Yesterday, Starbucks posted a notice on its Web site listing the affected stores. It said the closures would start this month and that affected employees have been notified. The coffee chain has been in Hawai'i for more than a decade, first appearing here in 1977 under a licensing agreement with a local company affiliated with the MacNaugton Group development firm. More than 50 of the stores were opened here before Starbucks bought back the stores in 2006. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - July 18, 2008 6:50 a.m. HST Alaska Airlines Begins Direct Daily Seattle-Kahului Route Alaska Airlines yesterday began daily direct service between Seattle and Kahului, Maui, the airline said. The flights depart at 8:20 a.m. Seattle time and arrive on Maui at 11:35 a.m. The service is operated with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft that seats 157 passengers. In addition to the Maui flight, Alaska Airlines announced it will start three weekly flights between Anchorage and Maui from Oct. 31 through April 25, 2009. Also, year-round service between Seattle and Kona will begin Nov. 17. "Our customers have welcomed our new Hawai'i service with open arms," said Gregg Saretsky, executive vice president of flight and marketing for the airlines. The Seattle-based airline began direct flights to Hawai'i last October. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - July 17, 2008 2:30 p.m. HST Maui VA Clinic Fully Staffed Again KAHULUI — The Department of Veterans Affairs has hired a doctor and a physician's assistant for the Maui Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Kahului, bringing the facility to full staffing, according to The Maui News. The hiring of Dr. James Lockyer and physician's assistant Norman Mallory comes after a full-time doctor was dismissed from the clinic in early May and Maui veterans staged sign-waving protests late that month and in June. The clinic has had problems with retaining and recruiting doctors. Replacing one doctor who left the clinic earlier took several months. Mallory began work last week, and Lockyer started seeing patients early this week. Rogelio "Roger" Evangelista, a disabled Vietnam veteran and president of the Maui County Veterans Council, said Maui veterans are pleased to have a second physician, but they're worried that this doctor, like others before him, won't stay for long, and they question how the physician's assistant will fit in. "It's good that they finally got a full staff here on Maui," he said yesterday. Veterans still believe the Maui clinic is busy enough to have a third full-time doctor, he added. Mitch Skaggerberg, president of the Vietnam Veterans of Maui County, said he went to the Maui clinic for an appointment on Tuesday and had an opportunity to observe it fully staffed and with improved morale. "They're feeling very good that it's fully staffed," he said Wednesday. "I had a sense that there was some relief." Skaggerberg said he was relieved that recruiting a new doctor took only a couple of months, rather than the several months it took last time the clinic had to replace a physician. "They moved real quickly in getting a doctor here," he said. "They really realized they had to replace the doctor, and they did it. Hats off to the VA management for doing that." Skaggerberg said he was seen by a physician's assistant and found him to be "well qualified, very knowledgeable." "I felt I was handled real well by him," he said. Regarding the new doctor, "it will take a while for the new doctor to get to know us," he said. Fred Ballard, public affairs officer with the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, said that with the Maui clinic now fully staffed, it will be possible for registered nurse practitioner Kate Harper-Schmidt to begin providing home-based primary care. "She actually makes house calls," Ballard said. Evangelista was enthusiastic about veterans receiving care at home. He said Maui veterans learned last year during a hearing with U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka that Kauai veterans were getting home care. "We've been trying to get this house-call thing ever since we had this hearing with Senator Akaka," he said. The clinic now has two primary-care physicians, Dr. William Michaels and Lockyer; Harper-Schmidt in the nurse practitioner position; and Mallory, the physician assistant. Lockyer is a board-certified internist with 20 years of experience. He has practiced on Kauai for many years, and his experience includes working to improve medical care to homeless and rural populations. Mallory has more than nine years of experience, most recently at the VA Medical Center in Togus, Maine. In his spare time, he's an avid ocean kayaker. Maui veterans have been critical of Veterans Affairs officials, saying more should have been done to retain the doctor who left in May. Ballard earlier said she was let go because she didn't fully meet employment requirements during her probationary period. Veterans say they've seen at least three full-time doctors leave the clinic on Hoohana Street in about seven years. Dr. James Hastings, director of the VA Pacific Island Health Care System, said last month that a doctor was flown in from Oahu twice a week to help the Maui clinic staff. The workload was redistributed, but scheduled patients were seen, he said. Both Evangelista and Skaggerberg credited Akaka, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye and Rep. Mazie Hirono for urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to take quick action. Brian Perry can be reached at bperry@mauinews.com. (Report Provided by The Maui News) NEWS FLASH - July 17, 2008 11:10 a.m. HST Moloka'i Robotics Friday Workshop Focuses on Problem Solving WHO:
- Moloka‘i elementary, middle and high school students WHAT: Robotics Workshop for Moloka‘i Students WHEN: Friday, July 18, 2008, 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. WHERE: Kulana ‘Oiwi Halau DETAILS: Moloka‘i students who are participating in a summer leadership program will learn how they can apply their innovative talents and knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to solve real-world problems, while having fun, through robotics. The workshop will introduce students to six major student robotics programs: FIRST Robotics, FIRST LEGO League, Botball, Underwater Remote Operating Vehicle, VEX Robotics and Micro Robotics. The students will learn about the different component parts used to build a robot and have an opportunity to test drive robots and compete in a mock tournament. Organizers will also provide students with information on how to start a robotics program in their schools. Robotics is a critical component of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative because it engages students in science, technology, engineering and math education and provides them with the teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need to continue their education and succeed in the global economy. Additional information is available at www.robotics.hawaii.gov. SCHEDULE:
(Information Provided by the Office of Governor Linda Lingle) NEWS FLASH - July 17, 2008 8:10 a.m. HST Tobacco Sales to Minors Up on O'ahu, Disappear on Maui HONOLULU - An annual survey reported the fourth consecutive increase in illegal sales of tobacco to minors in Hawai'i and the largest increase since the state began recording such data in 1996. While sales were up in Honolulu, there were no tobacco sales to minors in Maui County. Statewide, 11.2 percent of 304 stores surveyed sold tobacco to those under age 18 in violation of state law, according to results released yesterday by the Health Department's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona. That compares to 8.7 percent in 2007. But Honolulu was the only county out of the four surveyed to actually show an increase. Illegal sales in all other counties declined, with the survey finding no violations in Maui and Kaua'i counties. This year's 2.5 percentage point increase brings the state above the national average of 10.5 percent. Aiona, speaking at a press conference yesterday at the state Capitol, called the results "troubling." He said stores have developed a lax attitude toward checking for IDs and asking customers for their ages. "This is not acceptable," Aiona said. "We, as a state, need to be more vigilant and make sure that we are not selling cigarettes to our underage minors. But more importantly, we have to be committed to this policy." Of the clerks who did not ask for age or ID, nearly 90 percent sold tobacco to minors, according to the survey. Aiona called on store clerks and merchants to ask anyone who looks younger than 30 for their ID. The survey, conducted jointly with the University of Hawai'i Cancer Research Center, involved teams of volunteers ages 15 to 17, and adult observers who visited randomly selected stores statewide during a two-week period in April. The program requires the teens to carry valid ID, be honest and be under the supervision of an undercover police officer. "We need to strategize within the department to see how we're going to address that (the increase) in a more aggressive and effective way," said Keith Yamamoto, chief of the state Department of Health's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, who noted the department's concern about the general health of children in Hawai'i and the dangers of smoking tobacco. State law allows for any clerk selling tobacco to a minor to be fined $500, and as much as $2,000 for subsequent violations, Aiona said, adding that state officials may consider tougher sanctions against store owners. Meanwhile, a separate survey found that the rate of smoking among students in grades nine through 12 continues to decline in Hawai'i. The state's teen smoking rate is among the lowest in the nation, with 12.8 percent of high school students reporting they had smoked a cigarette within the last 30 days. The national average is 20 percent. Report highlights:
For the full report, visit http://hawaii.gov/health/substance-abuse/prevention-treatment/survey/synar2008.pdf. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - July 17, 2008 6:50 a.m. HST New Report Blames Overfishing for Critical Decline in Hawai'i Reef Fish HONOLULU - Unregulated fishing practices have left 75 percent of reef fishes depleted or in critical condition around the main Hawaiian Islands, according to new data on the condition of Hawai'i's reefs. The declining fish stock also is disrupting the ecological balance of many reefs, which rely on herbivorous fish to keep algal growth in check, researchers say. "We have a significant fishing problem in Hawai'i," said Alan Friedlander, fisheries ecologist with the Oceanic Institute. "Many species have been depleted, and there are things that need to be done in different areas to ensure the sustainability of our reefs." Friedlander, along with marine ecologist Eric Brown of the Kalaupapa National Historical Park, presented the findings of a report titled "The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the Main Hawaiian Islands" yesterday at the Waikiki Aquarium. According to the report, overfishing is just one of a growing list of pressures Hawai'i's coral reefs currently face, including rising sea temperatures, coastal development, pollution and invasive species. Nonetheless, Hawai'i's reefs are still relatively healthy compared to reefs in the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Coral cover has been stable or improving in places such as Kaua'i's north shore and off Moloka'i, but is declining in more populated areas such as Kane'ohe Bay and Pupukea, Brown said. The report, part of a larger effort by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to study the state of reefs in the United States and various Pacific regions, draws attention to Hawai'i's declining populations of targeted species of fish such as ulua, kumu, 'o'io and moi. A separate study on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands finds a relatively untouched environment, home to growing and stable populations of reef fish, green sea turtles and seabirds. Despite problems with marine debris and a declining Hawaiian monk seal population, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is still a good model of a natural and healthy ecosystem, Brown said. Researchers examined population trends for 55 reef fish species in the main Hawaiian Islands compared to the virtually unfished Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which served as a baseline for the study. They found that 42 percent of these species were in critical condition and 33 percent were depleted. Another 11 percent were below desired population levels, while just 2 percent were present in hyper-abundant levels. The lack of local management, poor enforcement of existing regulations and harmful fishing methods such as gill nets have all contributed to smaller fish populations, according to the report. In addition, researchers cited improved technology and an increase in the noncommercial catch of reef species by recreational and subsistence fishermen as factors affecting the declining fish stock. "Some of these species are highly important as native food fishes," said Friedlander. They also play critical roles within Hawai'i's unique reef ecosystems, he said. Without herbivorous fish grazing on reef algae, high levels of algae could smother and kill corals. In addition, many of these species cannot be replaced, should they become depleted. "Some of these species are found here and nowhere else in the world. That's something that is very important to consider," Brown said. Of the more than 7,000 marine plants and animals that inhabit Hawai'i's reefs, about 25 percent are found only in the Islands. The state has taken efforts in recent years to protect Hawai'i's reef fish populations. In 2006, Gov. Linda Lingle approved regulations that required lay net registration and prohibited their use in some areas. In addition, there are 34 state-managed Marine Protected Areas within the main Hawaiian Islands where fishing activities are limited. Still, 89.5 percent of nearshore waters — waters less than 60 feet deep — are open to public fishing activity. About 3.6 percent of nearshore waters constitute partially protected MPAs, where some fishing is allowed. Although protected areas are designed to conserve and replenish marine life, data from the new study show that partially protected MPAs have similar levels of fish populations as unrestricted areas. Fish populations in closed or no-take areas were comparable to those in community managed areas. "This shows that centralized management doesn't work," said Friedlander, who believes that reefs should be locally managed. Community-based initiatives offer a solution to sustaining fish populations, he said. "There is a lot of knowledge from people in the community that is untapped," he said. "The solution is bottom up as well as top down. Everyone's got a stake in this." (Report Provided by The Honolulu Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - July 17, 2008 6:40 a.m. HST Hawai'i Senators Back $48 Billion World Health Plan WASHINGTON — The Senate voted yesterday to triple spending for a much-acclaimed program that has treated and protected millions in Africa and elsewhere from the scourges of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The 80-16 vote committed the United States to spending up to $48 billion over the next five years for the most ambitious foreign public health program ever launched by the United States. Hawai'i's two senators, Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel Akaka, both Democrats, both voted for the program. The legislation would replace and expand the current $15 billion act that President Bush championed in a State of the Union address and Congress passed in 2003. That act expires at the end of September. In a statement, Bush said that when the program was launched in 2003, about 50,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa were receiving anti-retroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS. Today, the program supports lifesaving anti-retroviral treatment for more than 1.7 million people around the world, he said. It also has supported treatment and prevention programs that have helped HIV-positive women give birth to nearly 200,000 infants who are HIV-free. "Traveling in Africa earlier this year, Laura and I had our most recent opportunity to witness the effectiveness of this program," he said. "We were honored to see the doctors, nurses and caregivers of all faiths working to save the lives of their fellow citizens. And we met the patients, including many children, who understand and appreciate America's generosity." The Democratic-led Senate, rarely in agreement with the White House, gave Bush credit for initiating the program. Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a chief negotiator in crafting the bill, said the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, is "the single most significant thing the president has done." The global AIDS program will save tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of lives, Biden said, "and the president deserves our recognition for that." Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, and co-negotiator with Biden, said the program "has helped to prevent instability and societal collapse in a number of at-risk countries." He added that it has "facilitated deep partnerships with a new generation of African leaders, and it has improved attitudes toward the United States in Africa and other regions." Biden said he had been coordinating with House leaders and was confident they could come up with a final version "within a matter of days." The bill passed by the House in April approved $50 billion, including $5 billion for malaria, $4 billion for tuberculosis and $41 billion for AIDS. Of the AIDS money, a proportion — $2 billion next year — would go to the international Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Actual spending levels still have to be approved in annual appropriations bills. Earlier today, the Senate, acceding to arguments that Congress must also address humanitarian issues closer to home, agreed to set aside $2 billion of the $50 billion for American Indian water, health and law enforcement projects. "We don't have to go off of our shore to find third world conditions," said Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., sponsor of the amendment with Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and others. Biden said House negotiators had indicated they would accept the change. The Senate vote came after months of negotiations with Senate conservatives wanting assurances that the new AIDS bill would continue to include programs promoting abstinence and fidelity and would not discriminate against religious groups in allotting funding. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., saying he wanted to prevent money from being diverted to irrelevant development programs, secured language that more | |||
