Mayor Mufi Hannemann's likely bid to become governor picked up some early neighbor island support with yesterday's endorsement by the ILWU, but his Democratic opponent, former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, is urging Hannemann to stay put.

Mona Rodarte watched state authorities take away her third baby a few months ago, and the trauma was enough to motivate her to consider Project Prevention's offer to pay her $300 to get sterilized or start using long-term birth control.

Education officials say $70 million in budget cuts to the state Department of Education will result in an increase in class size and a reduction in school bus service.

Lacking support for a statewide ban on fireworks, state lawmakers may give counties the option of deciding the issue.

In Michigan, where many enterprises are struggling to survive, the renowned University of Michigan is in the midst of a construction boom and hiring spree. Michigan State University, on the other hand, plans to lay off faculty and cut programs, blaming state funding that is lower than it was a decade ago. Flagship universities in other states are also prospering, while their lesser-known counterparts suffer from vanishing state appropriations. 

So, why not change the arrangement and require big-name universities to take responsibility for their own financing, leaving more state money to support the other state schools? As legislatures face their toughest budget year since the recession began, the idea of giving a few universities autonomy to control their own finances has some appeal.