Honolulu Advertiser

The Honolulu Police Commission is aiming to select a police chief at its meeting Wednesday, commission Chairwoman Christine Camp said yesterday. Seven people testified at a public hearing yesterday on the six finalists. The commission also received dozens of written comments. Full Story »

Momilani Elementary in Pearl City, Royal Elementary near Punchbowl and 'Ewa Beach Elementary were named Blue Ribbon Schools yesterday by the state Department of Education at the Hawaii Distinguished Schools awards. The three schools, chosen from among 13 public school nominees, will represent Hawai'i in the 2010 National No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Full Story »

MOANALUA — Students at Moanalua Middle School yesterday were the first in a clinic program for schools to get the H1N1 vaccine, the swine flu vaccine. The state program will vaccinate thousands of public and private school students. It went like a breeze. One line for the nasal spray version, another for an injection. Full Story »

HAWAII: If University of Hawai'i football coach Greg McMackin had a dollar for every time someone has questioned whether he should be the state's highest-paid employee, he might be making more than the $1,100,004 annually listed in his contract. Full Story »

The Lingle administration squashed the idea that $35 million in federal stimulus money might be used to reduce public school furlough days. For the past week, lawmakers and education officials have expressed interest in using the money to get rid of some of the 17 days cut from the school calendar this year to help close a budget deficit. Full Story »

HONOLULU — Three public-sector union leaders yesterday asked the state Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to cancel open enrollment in health care plans for government workers, claiming potential delays in processing applications could disrupt coverage for workers in January. Full Story »

HAU'ULA — The first major storm of the rainy season spared most residents but an unresolved problem from a flood last year has a Hau'ula home hanging over a washed out embankment and tilting toward disaster. Rumbling in Kaipapa'u Stream in Hau'ula woke Shon Ka'ana'ana at 3:30 a.m. yesterday as a flash flood rushed from the Ko'olau Range to the ocean. Full Story »

Hawaiian Telcom Inc. took a major step toward exiting bankruptcy after a federal judge approved the company's $460 million reorganization plan. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Lloyd King yesterday confirmed the management-led turnaround, which slashes more than $800 million of the company's debt. Full Story »

Another court challenge to the legality of state worker layoffs has been turned aside. Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto yesterday refused to grant an injunction that would block layoffs planned by Gov. Linda Lingle's administration. The injunction was sought by attorney Charles Khim on behalf of former Big Island correctional officers Gerald Kaleiki and Norman Lyman. Full Story »

A Kamehameha Schools teacher who had been accused of sexual misconduct with a student while working on the Mainland more than 20 years ago has resigned his position, the school announced yesterday. Thomas Gardipee began teaching at Kamehameha's Kapälama campus in 2002. Full Story »

It's time to call in the bookies as we "flASHback" on the week's news that amused and confused. Full Story »

American screen icon Clint Eastwood was made a commander in France's prestigious Legion of Honor yesterday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy presented the 79-year-old actor and director with the decoration, honoring his body of work, his longevity and his ability to delight audiences around the globe, according to the award citation. Full Story »

The body of a man was discovered about 7:30 a.m. yesterday on the grounds of the Kalanimoku Building at the corner of Beretania and Punchbowl streets. Police homicide investigators were dispatched. Police classified the case as an unattended death and said they do not suspect foul play. Full Story »

NEW YORK — You may want to check Facebook and Twitter before heading to the mall the day after Thanksgiving. Hundreds of deals already are being advertised for what's known as Black Friday by retailers as diverse as OfficeMax and Old Navy. Full Story »

The number of homeless people in shelters or served through outreach programs statewide increased in the last fiscal year — with about 520 more people going into shelters — in what advocates say is more evidence the economic downturn is hitting families hard. Full Story »

A flash flood watch was extended through this afternoon as the rainstorms predicted this week materialized on the Big Island and Maui yesterday. Parts of those islands were hit with 3 to 4 inches of rain per hour yesterday afternoon. The area of heavy rain was moving north at 15 mph, and while a band of showers passed across west O'ahu and lightning flashed in the sky, much of the island ... Full Story »

HONOLULU — Flu season is hitting Hawai'i earlier than usual and the state is working to protect people, but it's unclear how many residents are getting immunized because of lax reporting by the people giving the shots. Full Story »

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, in a telephone news conference yesterday, again scolded Hawai'i for its decision to furlough teachers for 17 school days and said the move could hinder the state's ability to garner competitive federal grant money. "There's got to be a better way," Duncan said. Full Story »

The Lingle administration announced yesterday that about 650 state workers will lose their jobs to help the state reduce labor costs and close a budget deficit, down from the 1,100 originally targeted for layoffs last summer. Full Story »

HONOLULU — Six career police officers each with more than two decades in law enforcement are the finalists for Honolulu police chief, according to biographical information released yesterday. Full Story »

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, who was arrested in a scuffle with a photographer, could be sent to jail if he's found to have violated probation from a 2007 drug case, officials said yesterday. Full Story »

Japanese submarine technology was so advanced at the end of World War II that Russian scientists wanted to get their hands on five seized boats, but a squadron of clandestine American submariners secretly sailed them out of Japan and brought them to Pearl Harbor. Full Story »

HAWAI'I KAI — Waves as high as 10 feet curled and crashed onto the shore along O'ahu's east shore yesterday, making it a busy day for lifeguards and a boon for surfers. Sandy Beach looked like a weekend day as tourists and local residents did drive-bys, cars double-parked and visitors sat on the beach in awe. Full Story »

State health officials yesterday called attention to a paid advertisement regarding the H1N1 flu vaccine that was published in Wednesday's Advertiser, saying the ad was misleading and could leave patients unprotected. Full Story »

HILO, Hawaii — A Keaau man convicted in 2007 of habitual drunken driving faces the same charge again. A Hilo grand jury indicted 47-year-old Michael Anthony Torres of habitual DUI, drinking while driving, and driving while his license was revoked or suspended. Full Story »