New flow starts up at Kilauea

Scientists say a new lava flow has broken out at Kilauea Volcano, which has been continuously erupting for nearly three decades.

The flow is within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and poses no hazard to residents.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said Wednesday that lava flared up at 2:20 p.m.

The location was less than a half-mile from the Kamoamoa fissure that erupted in March.

Volcanologist Janet Babb said it’s the first time lava has broken out at the volcano since March, aside from some that spilled out at the Puu Oo crater last week. The lava is moving down Kilauea’s south flank.

Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It has been constantly erupting since Jan. 2, 1983.

Comments sought on refuge

Staff from Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on Kauai’s north shore will have an open house next week to answer questions and take comments on ideas for managing the refuge.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday at the Kilauea Elementary School cafeteria.

Staff members have created an initial set of draft alternatives for managing the refuge based on comments received during meetings with community and neighborhood groups, government agencies and interested individuals.

The refuge was created in 1985 when the Coast Guard transferred land and a historic lighthouse to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Makeshift ‘inn’ razed, was site of criminal activity

Kauai police tore down an illegal structure in Nawiliwili known as "Pine Tree Inn" early Wednesday morning because of chronic criminal activity there.

Officers conducted more than 40 investigations at the site during the past three years, Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry said in a news release.

"These investigations involved illegal drugs, illegal gambling, nuisance complaints, harassment, family abuse, delinquent minors and crimes of violence related to assaults and fights which resulted in the arrest of 11 people," Perry said.

The structure was a makeshift wooden roof slung between trees at the beach near Nawiliwili Bay.

Appeals court clears search that found pornography

A federal appeals court has ruled a 2008 screening at Hilo Airport that led to the discovery of photos in a child pornography case was within the permissible scope of administrative searches.

The ruling came after the government appealed U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright’s 2009 order suppressing items found in the bag, which included photos of nude children, children’s underwear advertisements and notes describing molestation of children.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals opinion filed Wednesday vacates the suppression order but sends the case back to District Court to determine whether the materials found can be used and whether there was probable cause for the arrest of suspect Simon McCarty.