Local

» A panel of federal judges said Tuesday that Hawaii elections can proceed as planned, rejecting a challenge that new district boundaries are unconstitutional because they exclude "nonpermanent" residents such as military members and college students from out of state.

» A Maui police officer fatally shot a suspected car thief at a Kihei hotel parking lot Tuesday after the suspect allegedly pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the officer. Police said Friday the "gun" was an air soft pellet gun made to look like a Glock pistol.

» Honolulu drivers endured 58 hours stuck in traffic in 2011, the worst traffic congestion among U.S. cities in a study released Tuesday by INRIX Inc.

» The Hawaii Medical Service Association will raise rates by 2.6 percent for about 9,500 small businesses on July 1, state regulators said Wednesday.

» Hawaii public school teachers approved a contract offer they had rejected in January, the Hawaii State Teachers Association announced Wednesday. The governor’s office said it wants teachers to resume contract negotiations.

» Experts predict two to four tropical cyclones for Hawaii this hurricane season, June 1 to Nov. 30, down from the typical four to five, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said Wednesday.

» NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday that New Orleans and Honolulu are the two sites under consideration for the 2013 Pro Bowl, but it hasn’t been decided if the game will even be played.

» Flu season in Hawaii appears to be peaking now, several months later than normal, physicians and the state Health Department said Monday.

Mainland

» A former Rutgers University student who used a webcam to spy on his gay roommate, who later committed suicide, was sentenced Monday to 30 days in jail. Dharun Ravi, 20, could have received 10 years behind bars.

» Arizona’s secretary of state said Wednesday that Hawaii’s official verification of President Barack Obama’s birth records meets necessary requirements, meaning the president’s name will appear on Arizona’s ballot in the fall.

World

» Meeting Monday in Chicago, NATO leaders adopted President Barack Obama’s exit strategy from Afghanistan, cementing an "irreversible" pullout of foreign troops that will leave Afghan security forces with the leading role in combat operations by summer 2013.

» High above northwestern Australia, a robotic arm on the International Space Station grabbed onto a cargo capsule Friday, allowing SpaceX to make history as the first private company to send a spacecraft to the station.

» Millions in Asia and the western United States watched last Sunday and Monday as a rare "ring of fire" eclipse crossed their skies.

» Egyptians voted last week in landmark presidential elections, with the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate and a veteran of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak’s autocratic regime likely moving on to a runoff election next month.

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THIS WEEK

Local

>> Today: The Friends of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium will hold a Memorial Day service, 10 a.m. at the natatorium.
>> Monday: Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony, led by Mayor Peter Carlisle, retired Army Gen. David Bramlett and Army chaplain Lt. Col. Ken Bellinger, 8:30 a.m., National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Free parking at Fasi Civic Center garage; catch 15 Punchbowl bus from Alapai Transit Center (regular fares apply). Additional observances at Schofield Barracks, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery.
>> Monday: Shinnyo-en Hawaii Lantern Floating Hawaii ceremony, Magic Island. Lantern request tent open at 10 a.m.; lanterns distributed at 1 p.m.; entertainment at 6 p.m.; lantern floating at sunset. Free parking at Hawai‘i Convention Center from 9 a.m. to midnight, with free shuttle to Magic Island.
>> Thursday: The Hawaii Tourism Authority will discuss the tourism strategic plan, assessments of major market areas and other items, 9:30 a.m., Hawai‘i Convention Center Executive Board Room A.