BUSINESS BRIEFS
UH cancer researchers win award
Advertiser Staff
A team of researchers led by Dr. Michele Carbone, director of the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii Thoracic Oncology Program and chair of pathology at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, has won the inaugural Landon Foundation-AACR Innovator Award for International Collaboration in Cancer Research.
The team discovered a unique mesothelioma epidemic in three Turkish villages was caused by a genetic predisposition to mineral fiber carcinogenesis. The researchers will apply the $100,000 grant to identifying the predisposing gene or genes for mesothelioma among this cultural group and map the genetic risk factors by genetic linkage studies.
Carbone's researchers include those from the University of Hawai'i, universities on the Mainland and the Hacettepe University School of Medicine in Ankara, Turkey.
FITCH GIVES WASTEWATER BONDS 'A+'
Fitch Ratings gave an "A+" rating to the City and County of Honolulu's upcoming $113.9 million wastewater system revenue bonds that will be used to refund its auction-rate bonds that have reset at higher interest rates.
Fitch said the ratings reflect the strong financial position of the wastewater system, stable residential customer base and community support for a program replacing aging infrastructure.
Fitch gave all of the wastewater system's bonds a negative outlook because of the recent rapid escalation in its capital improvements program and the potential for the Environmental Protection Agency to require additional improvements.
STATE, MILITARY LAUNCH JOB TRAINING
State and military leaders yesterday launched a new job training partnership for skilled workers.
Partnership for Youth Success provides the U.S. Army with Internet access to the state's job requirements in civil service positions so personnel may undergo training while in the Army.
The program also will be used as a recruiting tool for the U.S. Army to attract soldiers, who would be familiar with the state's job duties and requirements and receive training prior to completion of their military service obligations.
Active Army soldiers who enlist in the program will complete three to six years of active duty with honorable discharge before seeking employment with the state of Hawai'i; Army Reserve soldiers will be available in six to 18 months.
CREDIT UNION OPENING IN HONOKA'A
The Hawai'i Community Federal Credit Union will hold a grand opening of its newest branch in the Honoka'a Texeira Shopping Center on Saturday.
The public is invited to a blessing and celebration from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The event will feature entertainment and prizes.
This is HCFCU's fifth full-service branch on the Big Island. Its operating hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday. Claire Fujishige is the branch supervisor and will oversee daily operations.
TESORO SHARES DOWNGRADED
Shares of Tesoro Corp., the Texas-based refiner that operates Hawai'i's largest refinery, have been downgraded to "underperform" from "market perform" by analyst Chi Chow of Tristone Capital.
Chow noted Tesoro is facing an increasingly difficult operating environment on the West Coast, where refining margins have weakened.
Tesoro shares closed down 50 cents at $26.39 yesterday on the New York Stock Exchange.
