State briefs for June 28

Lightning strikes injure 3 during heavy storm

HONOLULU (AP) — Three people were injured by lightning strikes during heavy storms in Hawaii, a report said.

A 10-year-old boy and two men sustained serious injuries in two separate lightning strikes on Oahu Tuesday.

The injured child and his father were traveling in a pickup truck around 9 a.m. Tuesday when lightning struck an electric transformer and sent sparks onto the boy’s right arm, said Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Scot Seguirant.

It is unclear whether the child was hit by lightning, although his injuries would likely be more significant if he suffered a direct strike, Seguirant said.

Around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, two men aged 46 and 32 sustained arm injuries while touching an airplane struck by lightning at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, fire officials said.

The men were contract employees working for vendors, said an American Airlines spokesman.

None of the injuries were reported as life-threatening.

Hawaii set to include gender X on licenses

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii will soon provide drivers the option to select “X” as their gender on licenses.

Democratic Gov. David Ige was expected to sign the bill aimed at reducing discrimination against transgender and gender fluid people.

The gender X option is for drivers who prefer not to identify as male or female, officials said.

Hawaii will be the ninth state to offer the gender X option on driver’s licenses.

The bill also protects residents from being forced to provide documentation such as a birth certificate or other means of proof when selecting gender X, officials said.
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald