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Hawaii News

This Week in Review: Legislature, mayoral debate, Afghan trip

Local

» State lawmakers wrapped up the legislative session Thursday, giving final approval to an $11.2 billion budget and a $3.2 billion outlay for construction projects.

» The Hawaii Supreme Court struck down Friday a restriction by the state Land Use Commission prohibiting the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill from accepting municipal solid waste after July 31.

» Andy Ganigan, aworld lightweight boxing champion in the 1980s from Waipahu, died Wednesday in Las Vegas at age 59. He had been debilitated by an assault in Waipahu in March 2010.

» The state teachers union said Wednesday it will hold a revote on a proposed contract that teachers rejected in January. But Gov. Neil Abercrombie said the offer no longer has legal standing, and called for continued negotiations.

» A former school secretary, Williamina Muranaka, pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing $14,818 from Fern Elementary in Kalihi. She is the fourth Hawaii public school employee convicted of embezzlement in the past two years.

» The three candidates for Hono­lulu mayor engaged in their first debate Wednesday, with Mayor Peter Carlisle and challengers Kirk Caldwell and Ben Cayetano detailing their positions on the $5.27 billion rail transit project.

» A state jury on Monday acquitted Vito John Talo, who was charged in the 2009 death of a man beaten so badly that his daughter, a doctor, did not recognize him when he was taken to the Queen’s Medical Center.

Mainland

» Federal authorities charged 107 doctors, nurses and social workers in seven cities with Medicare fraud Tuesday in a nationwide crackdown on unrelated scams that allegedly bilked the taxpayer-funded program of $452 million.

» Former NFL star Junior Seau committed suicide Wednesday, stunning his family, friends and the entire city of Oceanside, Calif., and saddening former teammates who recalled the linebacker’s ferocious tackles and habit of calling everybody around him "Buddy."

World

» On a secretive trip to the war zone, President Barack Obama declared Tuesday night that after years of sacrifice the U.S. combat role in Af­ghani­stan is winding down just as it has already ended in Iraq. He spoke after signing an agreement with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to cover the decade after the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops in 2014.

» With a series of choreographed steps, the U.S. and China outlined a tentative deal Friday to send blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng to America for study and bring an end to a delicate diplomatic crisis.

THIS WEEK

Local

>> Wednesday: The City Council will take final votes on tax rates for horse stables, a “Complete Streets” policy and other items, 10 a.m., Pali Golf Course banquet room.

>> Friday: The state Board of Land and Natural Resources will discuss boulder removal above Kula Kolea Place in Kalihi Valley and other items, 9 a.m., 1151 Punchbowl St., room 132.

>> Friday: The state High Technology Development Corporation will discuss the Small Business Innovation Research grant program, 9:30 a.m., Manoa Innovation Center board room.

>> Saturday: Hundreds of people are expected to take part in the 34th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk on Maui, Kauai and Hawaii island. The Oahu walk is May 19.

Mainland

>> Monday: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will speak at the dedication of the Beaver Dam Wash and Red Cliffs national conservation areas in Ivins, Utah.

>> Tuesday: George Zimmerman will be arraigned in the Trayvon Martin shooting case in Sanford, Fla.

>> Wednesday: President Barack Obama and wife Michelle host a White House concert honoring songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

>> Thursday: Actor George Clooney will host a fundraiser for President Barack Obama in Los Angeles.

World

>> Today: Voters in France and Greece go to the polls in elections that could bring sweeping change.

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