UH enrollment sets record at 56,716

Spring enrollment in the University of Hawaii system has increased for the fourth consecutive year, pushing the total number of students to a record 56,716.

Initial figures this semester show an increase of 955 students, or 1.7 percent more than spring 2010.

While enrollment at the flagship Manoa campus decreased slightly with a loss of 44 students or 0.2 percent for a total of 19,242 students, enrollment at seven of the remaining nine campuses increased: UH-West Oahu, 9.8 percent; Hawaii Community College, 9.3 percent; Windward, 6.9 percent; UH Maui College, 5.2 percent; Leeward, 2.6 percent; UH-Hilo, 2.5 percent; and Kapiolani, 1.1 percent. Enrollment decreases were recorded at two community colleges: Honolulu, 3.6 percent; and Kauai, 1.2 percent.

Senate terminates earmarked bills

The U.S. Senate’s second-ranking Democrat is saying the practice of individual senators designating — or earmarking — federal spending for their states is at an end.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois told The Hill newspaper yesterday that the Republican-led House will not pass spending bills containing earmarks. In the State of the Union address Tuesday, President Barack Obama also warned he will veto measures with earmarks.

That would imperil a cherished practice of Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye, who once called himself the "No. 1 earmarks guy" in Congress.

Urchins head for sea

More than 1,000 juvenile sea urchins will be released into Kaneohe Bay on Saturday, part of an effort by the state Department of Natural Resources to keep the reef clean. The urchins, raised in a hatchery on Sand Island, will be released by boats and by canoes operated by teen volunteers. The urchins keep the reef clear of alien algae. The Nature Conservancy also is involved in the test program.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Trial in April for suspect in fatal shooting

A trial has been set for a Kauai man facing charges stemming from a Dec. 17 shooting that left one man dead.

Vicente "Vinnie" Hilario, 24, of Anahola was arraigned Tuesday on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, retaliating against a witness, intimidating a witness and bribery of a witness.

Hilario pleaded not guilty. His trial is set to begin April 25.

The shooting near Anahola Beach Park left 34-year-old Aureo Arick Moore dead, and prompted the murder counts and the charges of retaliating against and intimidating a witness.

Prosecutors say the witness bribery charge is related to Hilario’s alleged interactions with Angienora Crawford, who allegedly drove Moore to the crime scene.

E-mail scam targeting the elderly

Big Island police are warning the public about an e-mail scam targeting elderly residents.

Someone apparently hacked into the e-mail account of a member of the National Veterans Network, sending e-mails under the member’s name to Big Island residents planning to attend a Medal of Honor ceremony for 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team veterans.

The bogus e-mail claims that the message sender had her bag stolen in London and needed to borrow money to pay her bills. It asks the recipient to respond by e-mail or call one of two telephone numbers.

Police advise anyone who may have received the bogus e-mail not to reply to it or call the telephone numbers given.