By local and wire sources
Marine jets to train at PTA
The first of 12 F/A-18 Hornet jets arrived Wednesday at Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, and will support infantry ground training on the Big Island starting Monday.
Residents may notice an increase in noise levels between Sunday and Jan. 18 as pilots fly missions in support of the infantrymen of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, who are conducting Exercise Lava Viper at the Pohakuloa Training Area as part of their predeployment training. Flight operations are expected to be primarily during daylight and early evening hours, with some occasional late night training support flights. Some maintenance flights may be required today and Jan. 15, in order for Marines to properly check and service their aircraft.
The aircraft are from Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121 based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., and are flying across the Pacific Ocean to Japan with a stop in Hawaii.
The last time F/A-18 Hornets participated in training in Hawaii was in support of the Rim of the Pacific Exercise in the summer of 2010.
Lane closures around the island
Alternating lane closures in both directions will be in effect on Mamalahoa Highway in the between Old Kona Village and Huehue Ranch roads, in the vicinity of mile marker 27 and miler marker 31, for guardrail installation and pavement striping, according to the state Department of Transportation.
The department also said 24-hour alternating lane closures in both directions are planned this week on Hawaii Belt Road between Kapuna Road and Pikake Streets in Honokaa for road reconstruction work. According to the department, a temporary traffic signal will be placed in the area to control traffic flow around the work site.
Crews will be working from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted. Road work is weather permitting.
Farmers to meet in Honolulu
HONOLULU — The American Farm Bureau Federation will be holding its annual convention in Honolulu.
The federation’s 93rd annual meeting will be held at the Hawaii Convention Center today through Wednesday.
Convention center officials expect more than 6,000 people to attend.
Among the topics to be discussed are policy issues and a crop and livestock outlook for 2012.
Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist Dave Barry will deliver the meeting’s keynote address on Monday.
Honolulu begins enforcing property in public ban
HONOLULU — Honolulu has started to enforce a new city law that allows officials to remove personal property stored in public areas.
Mayor Peter Carlisle said Friday the city began enforcing the law late last month in response to complaints.
The city notified several property owners in Mililani that basketball hoop structures placed on sidewalks violated the ordinance. The city says the owners promptly removed the structures.
Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, say the law could unfairly target Oahu’s homeless. Many homeless keep belongings in parks and on sidewalks.
The city hopes people will voluntarily comply with the law.
The city will tag property left in public areas for more than 24 hours. Owners will have a day to remove the items. They may reclaim impounded property within 30 days.
State: Gov’t, teachers near end of dispute
HONOLULU — State officials say they’ve reached an “agreement in principle” with public school teachers in a labor dispute.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s spokeswoman said the state and the Hawaii State Teachers Association “came together to agree on moving forward.”
A news release late Friday from Donalyn Dela Cruz did not provide details of the tentative accord.
The announcement could signal the approaching end to a months-long dispute that has put Hawaii’s $75 million Race to the Top grant at risk.
The dispute stems from the state’s decision to unilaterally implement a “last, best and final” contract offer for teachers July 1.
The dispute has been blamed in part, for the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to place the grant on “high-risk” status. The DOE said if progress wasn’t made, the state’s $75 million Race grant could be lost.
Military dedicates new facility for code work
HONOLULU — U.S. military personnel who specialize in deciphering foreign intelligence have a new home at Pearl Harbor.
Federal officials held a dedication ceremony Friday for a new building for soldiers who work in breaking codes of foreign adversaries.
The facility will be named for Joseph J. Rochefort, a U.S. Navy captain who led a team that deciphered Japanese military messages during World War II.
Sen. Daniel Akaka, Rep. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa were among the dignitaries present.
By local and wire sources