Schoolchildren offered free flu shots

Flu vaccines will be available to elementary and middle school students through the state Department of Health’s "Stop Flu at School" program.

To sign up for the free vaccinations, parents or guardians must return signed consent forms to schools by Sept. 6. Vaccination clinics will be held in October and November.

Health Director Loretta Fuddy said that vaccinating children helps protect communities against the flu. The program vaccinates more than 65,000 students statewide each year.

Fuddy said that with cuts to federal funding, the Health Department has partnered with school administrators, health care providers, pediatric associations and health insurers to continue the vaccination program.

Raise in fees for dog licenses clears panel

A bill the Kauai County Council Finance Committee passed 3-2 Wednesday raises dog license fees from $2 to $15 for spayed or neutered animals and from $6 to $50 for those that aren’t, the Garden Island newspaper reported.

Bill 2490, which would provide more funds to the Kauai Humane Society, now goes to the full Council for a final reading next week.

For hunters, who usually own several dogs, the bill sets fees at $15 for the first and $7 for the others, regardless of whether they are spayed or neutered.

Council spurns bingo proposal

KAILUA-KONA » The Hawaii County Council rejected a measure to allow high-stakes bingo after opponents said the game would lead to an increase in crime and other problems.

The council voted 7-2 Wednesday at a meeting in Kailua-Kona to strike the bingo resolution from a list of proposals to the Hawaii State Association of Counties for presentation to the state Legislature, West Hawaii Today reported.

"I don’t think it’s right for our county," said Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha.

Brenda Ford, South Kona-Kau councilwoman, said studies show the government ends up paying more to counter crime, homelessness and other societal problems than the revenue that would be generated from gambling.

The resolution was favored by Hilo Councilman Dennis Onishi and Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille. Wille said bingo pots generally don’t go higher than $2,500 and that the activity centers on socializing.