State roundup for August 1

Car insurance is third cheapest

HONOLULU (AP) — An online car insurance shopping site ranks Hawaii as having the third cheapest rates in the nation.

According to CarInsuranceQuotes.com, motorists in the state pay a median annual car insurance policy cost of $1,244. That’s 1.634 percent of household income. The cheapest on the list was in Massachusetts, where policyholders pay just 1.434 percent of household income.

FBI intensifies hunt for couple

HONOLULU (AP) — The FBI is intensifying its hunt for a Hawaii husband and wife who pleaded guilty in a fraud scheme targeting distressed homeowners.

The agency is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the capture of John and Julieanne Dimitrion.

In April 2009, the couple pleaded guilty to operating a fraud scheme to convince distressed homeowners to relinquish their homes. The FBI says the couple promised to invest the proceeds of home sales to help the victims but instead funded their own lavish lifestyles.

They didn’t show up for a July 6, 2010, sentencing in federal court in Honolulu. They were seen four days earlier at church services in Mililani. They were last known to be hiding in Alabama.

Poll: Gov. gains in job approval

HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaii poll puts Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s job approval at 43 percent, up from 39 percent five months ago.

The poll was conducted by Ward Research Inc. The telephone survey of 756 likely voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

Fifty-one percent of Democrats approve of Abercrombie’s performance, up from 47 percent in a February poll. The survey shows the Democrat has started to win back some of the Democrats who were divided over his performance after his first year in office.

Thirty-seven percent who live in union households approve of Abercrombie’s work, up from 35 percent.