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National Democrats support Schatz
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has contributed $25,000 to U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz to help with the senator’s final get-out-the-vote push against U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in the Democratic primary for Senate.
The DSCC, which helps elect Democrats to the U.S. Senate, has supported Schatz, but there had been some question about whether the group would devote financial resources to Hawaii given the larger goal of keeping the Senate in Democratic control.
The winner of the Democratic primary on Saturday is likely to prevail in the November general election against Cam Cavasso, a former state lawmaker and the likely Republican nominee.
Senate leaders, including U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., chairman of the DSCC, and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., have backed Schatz over Hanabusa in the primary.
Deedy jurors sent home as courts close
The judge in the Christopher Deedy murder retrial sent the jurors home for the weekend at noon Thursday ahead of the closing of the courthouse Friday and told them to call the court by 8:30 a.m. Tuesday for further instructions.
The state Judiciary announced Thursday the closing of all of its courthouses and offices on Oahu and Kauai because of the impending arrival of two hurricanes, Iselle and Julio.
It had already closed its courthouses and offices in Hawaii and Maui counties for Thursday and Friday.
State courthouses and all other Judiciary offices are expected to reopen Monday.
Woman at shooting charged with crime
Police have charged with a misdemeanor a 42-year-old Halawa woman who was a passenger in a stolen car driven by a 52-year-old man shot and killed by police Wednesday in Pacific Palisades.
Evette Hilongo was arrested at the scene of the 2:40 a.m. shooting in the 2100 block of Komo Mai Drive for second-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
Her bail was set at $500.
Talks will offer seniors fraud safety advice
Hawaii County will hold four presentations to assist and educate seniors and others on how to prevent becoming victims of fraud, prescription drug misuse and crime.
The Kupuna Alert Partners program Tuesday and Wednesday will focus on medical identity theft and Medicare fraud prevention; preventing prescription drug misuse; investor fraud prevention; and burglary prevention tips.
After each one-hour presentation, the Department of Public Safety’s Narcotics Enforcement Division will conduct a prescription drug take-back program. Participants are asked to bring their unused or expired medications for safe, anonymous disposal.
The presentations will be:
» Tuesday: Kona, West Hawaii Civic Center, County Council Room, 10:30-11:30 a.m.; and Waimea, Hawaiian Homes Hall, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
» Wednesday: Hilo, Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale, 10-11 a.m.; and Puna, Keaau Community Center, 2-3 p.m.
"Because our kupuna are particularly vulnerable and oftentimes targeted as victims of property crimes, the Hawaii Police Department has established partnerships with these state and county agencies in order to reach out and educate our kupuna about awareness and prevention," said Police Chief Harry Kubojiri.
Hawaii County conducts the program in partnership with a number of offices ranging from the attorney general to the Department of Health. Other agencies involved include the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Office of the Securities Commissioner and the Department of Public Safety, Narcotics Enforcement Division.