LOCAL

» The state charged a former Waipahu High School business manager Thursday with stealing nearly $500,000 from the school over five years. Officials said Warren S. Harada, 61, would order expensive equipment from a New York company, return it and cash the refund checks.

» Hawaii’s two largest health insurers, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii and Hawaii Medical Service Association, said they are asking state regulators to approve premium increases of 8.8 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively. The rate hikes would follow double-digit increases by both companies in each of the past two years.

» Service to country by more than 33,000 Japanese-Americans who fought in World War II with the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Team and Military Intelligence Service was recognized at a ceremony Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol in which the units were presented with the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal.

» A kitchen fire in Ala Moana Center’s food court Thursday morning closed the Makai Market eateries and about 20 stores for much of the day.

» Former City Councilman Rod Tam was ordered Tuesday to serve 48 hours in jail and perform more than 300 hours of community service for 34 criminal counts of overcharging the city for restaurant meals and falsifying documents.

» Much of Ala Moana Beach Park will be closed and access will be restricted to areas of Kapiolani Park and three other city parks as the city announced Wednesday more restrictions related to this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Waikiki and Kapolei.

» Hawaii students continued to improve their scores on a key nationally standardized test, but still rank in the bottom third among states, according to results released Tuesday.

MAINLAND

» The number of overdose deaths from painkillers more than tripled over a decade, the government reported Tuesday — a trend that a health official called an epidemic, but one that can be stopped. Prescription painkillers led to the deaths of almost 15,000 people in 2008.

» Arizona authorities have disrupted a Mexican drug cartel’s distribution network, arresting dozens of smugglers in dismantling a ring responsible for carrying more than $33 million worth of drugs through the state’s western desert every month, officials said Monday.

» GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain faced more accusations of sexual harassment last week, complicating the former pizza magnate’s determined bid to lay the politically explosive controversy to rest.

WORLD

» Greek leader George Papandreou survived a crucial confidence vote in the country’s parliament early Saturday, a vote that signaled approval of the compre- hensive deal reached by European leaders last week to stabilize the euro and help Greece avoid defaulting on its debt. Papandreou pledged to form a unity government with a broader consensus.

» Feeling claustrophobic? You’re not alone. According to United Nations demographers, 6,999,999,999 other Earthlings potentially felt the same way Monday when the world’s population topped 7 billion. But if you’d rather go by the U.S. Census Bureau’s projections, you’ve got some breathing room. The bureau estimates that even with the world’s population increasing by 215,120 a day, it won’t reach 7 billion for more than four months.

» The global output of heat-trapping carbon dioxide jumped by the biggest amount on record, the U.S. Department of Energy calculated, a sign of how feeble the world’s efforts are at slowing man-made global warming.

THIS WEEK, NOV. 6-12

LOCAL

» Tuesday: The Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Landfill Site Selection will meet to hear and discuss an analysis from a consultant on potential landfill sites, 9 a.m., mayor’s third floor conference room, Hono­lulu Hale.

» Tuesday, Wednesday: The Army will hold meetings to receive public comment on plans to build an Infantry Platoon Battle Area at Pohakuloa Training Area, Tuesday at Aunty Sally’s Kaleohano’s Luau Hale, 799 Piilani St., Hilo; and Wednesday at Waimea Elementary School cafeteria. Both sessions are 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

» Thursday: The City Council Reapportionment Commission will meet to discuss public comments on proposed drafts of new City Council districts, 4 p.m., Honolulu Hale.

MAINLAND

» Tuesday: Mississippi voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to declare that life begins at conception.

» Wednesday: GOP presidential hopefuls will debate in Michigan.

» Friday: The nation marks Veterans Day, with bond markets closed.