Newswatch

Humane Society receives small ball python

An unidentified man dropped off an illegal baby ball python Sunday afternoon at the Hawaiian Humane Society, which promptly turned it over to the state Department of Agriculture. It is the 14th illegal reptile to be taken in by state officials in the past month.

The snake, which measured about 11⁄2 feet long, was turned in under the state’s amnesty program, which provides immunity from prosecution for owning or transporting an illegal animal.

Keoni Vaughn, Hawaiian Humane Society director of operations, said he is happy that people are taking advantage of the amnesty program to turn in illegal animals.

Another ball python was turned in Friday.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

UH-Hilo gears up to unveil $25M SciTech building

The University of Hawaii at Hilo is preparing to open its new $25 million Science and Technology Building.

Construction of the three-story, 42,000-square-foot facility began in February 2009 and finished last fall.

West Hawaii Today reports that UH-Hilo has spent the past several months outfitting the building with $2 million in equipment. Planning and design cost an additional $3 million.

UH-Hilo’s newest addition will provide the campus with "a signature building that will enhance student learning," said Gerald De Mello, director of university relations.

The SciTech building will accommodate about 1,700 or more students a day, he said, with classrooms for the chemistry, physics, biology, math, geography, history and communication departments. It also features a lecture hall that can hold 148 students.