News Releases                                  Hawaii News: Investor and Business News Business The Honolulu Advertiser: Business Business Medical liability cap proposal survives So-called medical tort reform has gained new life in the state Legislature, with the head of the House Health Committee amending a Senate bill to include provisions to cap the amount of "non-economic" damages that could be paid in malpractice lawsuits. Blue Hawaii founder has big plans Michael Zhang was a nuclear physicist and owned a research and development technology company in Shanghai, China, when he moved to Hawai'i in 1990. Dole Food agrees to sell 2,000 acres on Oahu for $39 million Dole Food Co. has agreed to sell 2,000 acres of O'ahu land to an undisclosed buyer for $39 million several months after saying Hawai'i real estate might be part of a strategy to shed nonstrategic or underperforming assets around the world. Fed pours $200 billion into loan industries WASHINGTON — Staring at spreading financial dangers, the Federal Reserve announced a rescue package yesterday that pours as much as $200 billion into banks and investment houses and allows them to put up risky home-loan packages as collateral. Hard times and 'crazy' gold prices create a rush CHICAGO — A new kind of gold rush is unfolding at jewelry store and pawn shop counters — featuring not prospectors, but consumers. Entertainment The Honolulu Advertiser: Entertainment/TGIF Entertainment/TGIF No time for fear There are worse things than getting stood up by Melissa Etheridge. At least she said she'd call. That's more than most regular people could ever hope to get from a world-famous rock star. These days, Lea Salonga has a lot on her plate Lea Salonga, the actress-singer, is best known for creating the Tony Award-winning role of Kim in "Miss Saigon" in 1989 on Broadway at age 17. Bringing Rap Reiplinger's comedy back to life Actor Charles Timtim remembers sneaking a copy of Rap Reiplinger's "Poi Dog" album to pop into his father's phonograph — hey, this was pre-CD times; Timtim was attending Lincoln Elementary School. Come to the dark side — even if it's just on Saturday Rule No. 1 when talking about our friends in the gothic community: Resist the urge to call them freaks. After Hours: Nightspotting FIRST FRIDAY, gallery walk, self-guided tour and after-hours shopping at venues Downtown and in Chinatown. 5-9 p.m. today; free; 521-2903. Sports The Honolulu Advertiser: Sports Sports Rainbows snuff out Blazers, 4-3 Faster than your average catcher, Kevin Fujii dived into home plate as he scored the winning run from second base off a single to shortstop by Sean Montplaisir with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to rally Hawai'i by Alabama-Birmingham, 4-3, last night in the opener of a two-game non-conference series. He's their pride and joy The scene was so powerfully touching, it was enough to make a modern-day samurai cry. Pay back time for Rainbows When the Rainbow Wahine take the floor tonight at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M., they'll seek not just to advance to the second round of the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament for the first time under head coach Jim Bolla but to spit the bitter aftertaste of a blown 19-point lead on senior night against the homestanding New Mexico State Aggies. For Hawaii, it's about suite and sweat LAS CRUCES, N.M.—The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team is living the suite life this week. Silva on move after settling down University of Hawai'i football player Keanemana "Mana" Silva is willing to go the distance this semester. Local News The Honolulu Advertiser: Local News Local News Students rally for air conditioned classrooms The decades-long argument over air-conditioning Hawai'i's public schools took center stage at the state Capitol yesterday when more than 400 students from Campbell High School marched for cooler classrooms. Isle schools will offer new 'super diploma' Seeking to motivate high school kids, the Board of Education will soon offer students the option of a "College and Career Ready Diploma" in addition to the regular diploma. Killer won't be eligible for parole for 50 years A judge yesterday imposed a series of back-to-back prison sentences on John K. Lorenzo Jr., ensuring that the convicted killer of an off-duty sheriff's deputy won't be considered for parole for at least 50 years. Fallon resigns, cites rift over Iran News reports claiming Adm. William J. Fallon, the top U.S. commander for Iraq and Afghanistan, was at odds with President Bush over Middle East policy "became a distraction at a critical time," Fallon said yesterday in confirming he is resigning early from the position and retiring. Keone'ula school area may change 'EWA BEACH — A Department of Education plan to shift more students into the older 'Ewa Beach Elementary School and away from the much newer Keone'ula Elementary School drew strong reaction from more than 100 parents of the Ocean Pointe community at a public meeting last night. Related info: hawaii news hawaii business news hawaii investor news