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Erma Serrao and her husband Norbert watch Tuesday as an eScan electronic tabulating machine accepts her ballot, completing the absentee voting process for the Pahoa couple at the Hawaii County Building's Hamakua Conference Room. Temporary voting clerk Katherine Tirrell stands by to assist if needed. Absentee voting continues in Hilo Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sept. 13. For information about four other Big Island walk-in absentee voting sites visit http://www.hawaii.gov/elections/

Mayor Billy Kenoi has reached into a related department to fill the vacancy created by the resignation earlier this summer of Environmental Management Director Lono Tyson.

Mayor Billy Kenoi in May announced the county wasn't going ahead with its plans to sell large tracts of land in the Hamakua District.

State Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, second from left, chats with guests Tuesday on the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus after giving the keynote speech celebrating the 20th anniversary of the UHH Women's Center. Hanabusa spoke about the rewards and challenges of her 12 years in the state senate, culminating in her election as state senate president in 2006, the first woman to lead either house in the Hawaii legislature. Others pictured are: Cassandra Wylie, past Women's Center director; UHH Counselor Barbara Heintz; Ruth Robison, International Student Services director; Trina Nahm-Mijo, Hawaii Community College professor of women's studies; and Ginger Hamilton, UHH Minority Access and Achievement Program director.

3 arrested in burglary case Police say a burglary investigation in Kona has led to three arrests.

The former Kulani prison could become a training base for a 150-soldier company to learn how to detect roadside bombs, perform emergency aerial evacuations and make forced entries into buildings.