LOCAL

» Hawaii State Teachers Association members overwhelmingly voted down Thursday a proposed six-year contract that would have tied wage increases to performance starting in July 2013. About 67 percent of teachers voted against the proposed deal, inflicting a major blow on state education officials, who had hoped an end to the months-long labor dispute would help convince federal authorities they could make good on big education reform pledges.

» Former Gov. Ben Cayetano formally announced his run for Honolulu mayor as a candidate opposed to the city’s multibillion-dollar rail project. Cayetano’s entry creates a three-way race among major candidates, pitting him against incumbent Mayor Peter Carlisle and former city managing director Kirk Caldwell, both supporters of the rail project.

» Six Hawaii Marines were killed in the crash of a U.S. helicopter in Afghanistan. The CH-53D helicopter crashed Thursday in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province. The Marine unit, known as the Lucky Red Lions, deployed in August. A Pentagon official said there was no sign the helicopter was hit by enemy fire.

» On opening day at the Legislature, State House and Senate leaders pledged to avoid new taxes and major spending increases but said they might invest in bond-financed construction projects to upgrade Hawaii’s aging infrastructure and hopefully create jobs.

» The Army’s chief of staff, Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, said force levels will be kept about the same in Asia and the Pacific as the service looks to make cuts elsewhere. Odierno made the comment Tuesday during a stop in Hawaii.

» A Hawaii island man, Ezekiel Wakinekona, was charged last week with manslaughter in the death of his 3-year-old niece, Marley Makanani.

MAINLAND

» In a politically fraught decision Wednesday, President Barack Obama rejected plans for a massive oil pipeline through the heart of the United States, ruling there was not enough time for a fair review before a looming deadline.

» A Pacific Northwest storm that brought snow, ice and powerful winds left a mess of fallen trees and power lines Friday as tens of thousands of residents without power faced the prospect of a cold, dark weekend and flooding became a top regionwide concern.

» Democrats trying to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker filed more than 1 million signatures Tuesday, setting up a historic recall election against him later this year. It would mark the first gubernatorial recall election in Wisconsin history and only the third in U.S. history.

WORLD

» The huge cruise ship grounded off the Italian coast shifted again on its rocky perch late last week, temporarily suspending search operations for those still missing and raising concerns about an environmental catastrophe.

» French President Nicolas Sarkozy suspended military training and assistance for Afghan forces on Friday and said he would consider an early withdrawal from Afghani- stan after an Afghan soldier shot and killed four French soldiers on an eastern base.

THIS WEEK, JAN. 22-28

LOCAL

» Monday: Gov. Neil Abercrombie will deliver the State of the State address at 10 a.m. in the House chambers at the state Capitol.

» Wednesday: Legislators will discuss the status of Hawaii’s Race to the Top program with the Department of Education, including grant assurances, progress being made on issues raised by the U.S. Department of Education, and next steps to ensure Hawaii maintains its grantee status. The briefing will begin at 2 p.m. in Conference Room 309 at the Capitol.

» Friday: The Department of Education will present to the state Legislature its report on home-to-school transportation costs and two-year targets for reducing bus transportation costs. The informational briefing begins at 2 p.m. at the Capitol in Conference Room 309.

MAINLAND

» Monday: An anti-abortion march marking the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade will be held in Washington.

» Tuesday: President Barack Obama will deliver the annual State of the Union address.

» Wednesday: Obama heads to Iowa and Arizona.