Third federal judge assigned to hear reapportionment case

U.S. Circuit Judge M. Margaret McKeown of San Diego has been appointed to join U.S. District Judges J. Michael Seabright and Leslie E. Kobayashi to hear a lawsuit challenging the state’s final reapportionment plan.

McKeown was appointed by Judge Alex Kozinski, chief judge of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The suit was filed by six voters, including state Rep. K. Mark Takai (D, Newtown-Pearl City), and contends that nonresident military members, their dependents and nonresident students were denied their constitutional right to equal protection because the plan was based on a population count that excluded about 108,000 so-called "nonpermanent" residents.

Members of the state Reapportionment Commission have said they did the best they could with the data at hand with the limited time they had after the state Supreme Court invalidated the first plan approved last year because it included those nonpermanent residents.

A hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction was rescheduled for May 18, a week later than originally planned.

Petition rejects coffee measure

KAILUA-KONA » The Kona Coffee Farmers Association continues to fight a bill that would eliminate mandatory coffee inspections and grading.

Fearing the bill will pass, the association presented the governor with a petition with more than 300 signatures opposing the bill.

The association is concerned that the proposed changes will degrade the reputation of world-famous Kona coffee. Coffee processors support the measure, as does the state Department of Agriculture.

Hawaii Coffee Co. President Jim Wayman told West Hawaii Today the association’s opposition is "self-serving" by requiring processors and farms that transport green coffee beans to wait for a state inspector.

Robber steals woman’s purse

Hawaii County police are investigating a purse snatching during which an 86-year-old woman was slightly injured in downtown Hilo on Tuesday.

Police said the Hilo woman had been walking along Haili Street near a movie theater at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday when an unknown male pushed her from behind — causing her to fall — and stole her purse. The victim suffered minor injuries but declined treatment.

The suspect is described as about 5 feet tall, about 130 pounds with a medium build and short black hair. He was wearing a tan shirt with orange rectangular designs, and possibly blue jeans.

Police ask that anyone with information on the case contact either Detective Grant Todd at 961-2385 or gtodd@co.hawaii.hi.us, or Detective Joel Field at 961-2381 or jfield@co.hawaii.hi.us.