State roundup for July 17

Navy sinks old ship off Kauai

HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. Navy sank a decommissioned ship off Kauai as part of a live-fire exercise.

The Navy says the former USS Niagara Falls was sent to a watery grave 63 miles southwest of Kauai on Saturday.

It’s the first time since 2010 the Navy used target practice to dispose of an old ship. The practice is known as Sinkex, short for sinking exercise. The exercise using old warships for target practice and sinking them in U.S. coastal waters resumed after a nearly two-year moratorium spurred by environmental and cost concerns.

Two other inactive vessels will be sunk by torpedoes, bombs and other ordnance this month during the Rim of the Pacific naval exercises, or RIMPAC.

The Navy says it observes strict environmental compliance during sinking exercises.

F-22 problem was mechanical

HONOLULU (AP) — The Air Combat Command says an oxygen deficit involving an F-22 stealth fighter in Hawaii was a mechanical failure and not the malfunctions other pilots experienced last year.

The July 6 incident was the first time a Hawaii F-22 pilot experienced hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation. The nation’s F-22 fighter jets were grounded for four months last year after pilots complained of experiencing a lack of oxygen that can cause dizziness and blackouts.

The command, based in Langley, Va., says the recent onboard oxygen generating system failure also is not specific to the F-22 aircraft.

A probe is under way and the aircraft hasn’t been returned to service.

Man falls to death off bridge

NAHIKU, Hawaii (AP) — An 18-year-old visiting from Arizona is dead after falling off a 40-foot cliff at a Maui bridge.

Maui police say Mathew Cote of Mesa, Ariz., suddenly lost his footing Sunday at Makapipi Bridge off the scenic Hana Highway.

Cote’s father saw his son go over the guard rail to take a photo when he slipped and fell over the edge, onto some rocks and into a pond.