Jobless rate falls to 4.3% ADVERTISING Jobless rate falls to 4.3% HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.3 percent last month. The last time the unemployment rate was
Jobless rate falls to 4.3%
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.3 percent last month.
The last time the unemployment rate was this low was six years ago, when it stood at 4.4 percent in Aug. 2008.
The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said Friday the services and construction industries added workers during August. The financial and educational and health sectors lost jobs.
Nationally, the unemployment rate declined to 6.1 percent from 6.2 percent.
Doctor charged with fondling
HONOLULU (AP) — A 73-year-old longtime family practice doctor in Honolulu has been charged with the sexual assault of three female patients, including a girl under 14.
Dr. Donald Nicol is charged with 10 counts ranging from first-degree to fourth-degree sexual assault.
Prosecutors charge that Nicol fondled two women ages 21 and 19 and a girl under 14 years old. The most serious of the alleged crimes took place late last year and earlier this year.
Nicol was arrested at his office in Kahaluu on Wednesday. He’s scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
Police chief defends probe
HONOLULU (AP) — Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha is defending the department’s investigation into whether a sergeant assaulted his girlfriend inside a restaurant after surveillance video emerged showing an altercation.
Kealoha held a news conference Thursday in response to a group of female lawmakers raising concern about how police handle domestic violence cases. The Hawaii Women’s Legislative Caucus said that Kealoha canceled a meeting with them. Kealoha says he wants to postpone the meeting to after a Sept. 30 informational domestic violence hearing at the state Capitol.
Police began an investigation after receiving the video last week showing the officer punching his girlfriend at a Waipahu restaurant. Others in the restaurant are seen going to the woman’s aid. Police are also investigating why responding officers didn’t file a report. A second video later emerged showing the girlfriend jumping on the officer and appearing to try to punch him as they both land on the ground, KITV reported.
Kealoha told reporters that he won’t crumble under pressure to make an arrest based on a video.
He said those who are criticizing the department for not making an arrest would be the same people who would sue the department for making an arrest without enough evidence.
