Crash inquiry could take a year

LIHUE » National Transportation Safety Board investigators say it could take up to a year to determine the cause of a hang glider crash off Kauai last February in which two people died.

A NTSB spokesman said Wednesday that investigation of the crash that killed pilot Jim Gaither and passenger Kim Buer­gel of Spokane, Wash., would likely take 12 months. The powered glider showed substantial damage when it hit the water off Kauai’s south shore, according to a preliminary report.

Senate OKs 2 department directors

The state Senate unanimously confirmed Loretta Fuddy yesterday as director of the state Department of Health and Sunshine Topping as director of the state Department of Human Resources Development.

Fuddy has been acting director since Dr. Neal Pala­fox, Gov. Neil Aber­crom­bie’s original choice for director, withdrew his nomination at Aber­crom­bie’s request in January. Fuddy was also chief of the department’s Family Health Serv­ices Division. Topping has been a human resources manager, mostly in high-technology businesses.

Science at the center

More than 650 students in grades 6-12 from public, private and home schools will participate Tuesday and Wednesday in the 54th State Science & Engineering Fair at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Some winners will advance to the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair in San Jose, Calif. For more information, including how to volunteer, go to www.hawaiissef.org or call 956-7930.