State briefs for August 19

Phone-controlled car rental service eyed for Honolulu

HONOLULU (AP) — A smartphone-controlled car rental service is coming to Honolulu.

Servco Pacific Inc. and Toyota partnered to launch the service. The plan is to station 20 Toyota Prius vehicles throughout Kakaako, the companies stated.

Users would never have to interact with a person to register, reserve and use a vehicle. Registration and background checks would be handled through the app, and the smartphone’s Bluetooth connection to the vehicle will start the cars with a digital key.

Users will rent and return the vehicle at the same location. The date cars will be rolled out depends on when Servco finishes testing the technology.

Officials oppose show by singer facing drug charges

HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — The leadership of Guam’s Roman Catholic Church is protesting plans by one of its schools to proceed with a concert by singer Yvonne Elliman-Alexander after she was arrested and charged with drug possession.

The Archdiocese of Agana said a performer who was just arrested for possession of drugs should not participate in an event sponsored by a Catholic school.

Mike Phillips, chairman of the Mount Carmel Alumni Foundation and Elliman-Alexander’s lawyer, said the school and foundation respect the archdiocese’s position, but don’t want to miss out on money that will benefit students.

Contract awarded for future Marine base on Guam

HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — The U.S. Navy awarded a contract Friday for utility construction and site improvements for a future Marine Corps base on Guam.

The Navy said the $164.9 million Japanese-funded contract was awarded in support of an international agreement between the U.S. and Japan. The relocation of Marines to the island has been in the works for more than a decade.