Rick Blangiardi has been named Hawaii’s Distinguished Citizen for 2015 by the Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council. The award will be presented at the 35th annual Hawaii’s Distinguished Citizen event on Aug. 27 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.

Blangiardi is general manager of Hawaii News Now (KGMB and KHNL). He has also held that title at KHON. Prior to starting his career in broadcast television, Blangiardi, who has a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Hawaii, spent eight years as a college football coach, including six for UH. Blangiardi left the coaching ranks as a defensive coordinator and associate head football coach. He has been an executive in the television industry for more than 38 years.

Blangiardi said in a news release, "It is truly an honor to be recognized by this organization that teaches our youth the importance of character, leadership and service."

Average rate on 30-year mortgage slips to 3.84 percent

WASHINGTON » Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates edged slightly lower this week after rising for three straight weeks. Mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage ticked down to 3.84 percent this week from 3.85 percent a week earlier. The rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages slipped to 3.05 percent from 3.07 percent.

Last week both rates reached their highest level since mid-March, rising along with the yield on 10-year Treasury notes — reflecting some signs of improvement in the U.S. economy. The unemployment rate dropped last month to 5.4 percent, the lowest since May 2008.

Still, mortgage rates remain low by historic standards. A year ago, the 30-year rate was 4.14 percent and the 15-year was 3.25 percent.

Feds seek to manage Takata air bag recall

DETROIT » Exploding air bags made by Takata Corp. are so dangerous that U.S. safety regulators want to manage a massive recall so cars can be fixed faster.

On Tuesday, Takata doubled the size of its recall to 33.8 million air bags, making it the largest recall in U.S. history. The air bags can inflate with too much force, sending metal shrapnel into drivers and passengers. So far the problem has caused six deaths, including five in the United States.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in paperwork posted Thursday, said the recall involving 11 manufacturers has created a patchwork of solutions that might not fix the problem quickly enough. For the first time in its history, the agency has started the legal process asking for input on how it can control production, delivery and installation of replacement air bag inflators.

Deal bolsters CVS specialty drug business

CVS Health will pay more than $10 billion for pharmaceutical distributor Omnicare in a deal primed to feed its fast-growing specialty drug business and tap a lucrative and growing market: care for the elderly.

The acquisition announced Thursday will give one of the biggest U.S. pharmacy benefits managers national reach in dispensing prescription drugs to assisted living and skilled nursing homes, long-term care facilities, hospitals and other care providers.

Upheaval worsens Mideast unemployment

KITTEH, Jordan » Fawziyeh Sharif and dozens of other young women who make jeans for the U.S. market in a factory in this village in northern Jordan consider themselves lucky — even though they spend 48 hours a week bent over sewing machines for minimum wage.

Sharif, 24, landed her first job when the Ivory Garments Factory opened last year and created employment in an area where options had largely been limited to men joining the army and women staying home. Sharif said the job boosted her confidence and that she hopes to work her way up to section supervisor.

Yet for millions of young people in the Middle East and North Africa, jobs remain out of reach and the problem has only worsened in the post-Arab Spring turmoil. Regional youth unemployment stands at 29.5 percent, the world’s highest rate.

Cheap housing luring whites to Detroit

DETROIT » Whites are moving back to the American city that came to epitomize white flight, even as blacks continue to leave for the suburbs and the city’s overall population shrinks. Cheap housing and incentive programs are credited with partly fueling the regrowth of the Motor City’s white population.

On the Move

» Assets School has named Lynne Wooddell as its capital campaign director. She was previously a principal gifts officer at Kapiolani Health Foundation and secured millions to support Kapiolani Medical Center’s programs.

» Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties has announced that two real estate associates have joined the Kahala office:

— Ericka Agdinaoay has joined the office as a sales and marketing coordinator. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a resort host at Andaz Maui in Wailea.

— Anki C. Mukai has joined the firm as an independent agent. She previously served as a real estate associate at Tre Kronor Private Client Services.

» Hawaii Wealth Management has announced that senior vice presidents Keith Chock and KaNoi Lam have joined the firm’s Honolulu office. Both are certified financial planners assisting clients with financial planning and investment management. Previously, Chock and Lam worked for UBS Financial Services.

Ship Ahoy!

Friday’s ship arrivals and departures: