Police yesterday arrested a 22-year-old man for allegedly stabbing one man and slashing another in separate confrontations in Kalihi late Tuesday night.

The first victim, 25, was taken in stable condition to The Queen's Medical Center after being stabbed at 11:40 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Middle and Rose streets.

A 20-year-old man who was slashed was also taken to Queen's.

Police said the two incidents occurred at separate locations about 10 minutes apart.

In the first incident, a verbal argument turned violent when a man took out a knife and stabbed the victim, who was among a group of other men. The attacker ran up the street and into a carport, where he encountered and confronted another group of men.

He allegedly slashed one of those men and fled.

The suspect was arrested fronting 1452 Kamehameha IV Road for investigation of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and first-degree terroristic threatening. He was being held last night at the main police station cellblock pending charges.

FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR MEMORIALS

Gov. Linda Lingle has ordered that state flags be flown at half-staff today and on Sunday to coincide with memorial services for former state legislator Bertha Leong and Kaua'i County Mayor Bryan Baptiste.

Leong, who represented House District 18 (Kuli'ou'ou, Niu Valley, 'Aina Haina) from 1998 to 2004, died June 16 of natural causes. A private memorial service for Leong will be held today.

Baptiste died at his home June 22, nine days after heart bypass surgery. He was 52.

Memorial services for Baptiste will be held Sunday at the Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. A celebration of his life will follow in the Convention Hall auditorium.

NEW LAW SHIELDS REPORTERS' SOURCES

Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday signed into law a bill that protects journalists from having to disclose sources and notes in state courts.

A shield law was sought by the news media, including The Advertiser, to provide some legal protection to the newsgathering process.

The Hawai'i Supreme Court had ruled in 1961 that reporters had no First Amendment or state right to refuse to disclose sources of information.

The new law does allow courts to force disclosure from reporters in felony cases or defamation civil cases, if prosecutors or defense attorneys meet a three-part test. It requires that attorneys show substantial evidence that the information sought is not available from alternative sources, is noncumulative, and is necessary to the investigation or defense.

Bloggers and citizen journalists are also shielded if their work is materially similar to that of traditional journalists and is in the public interest.

The law expires in three years to ensure a legislative review.

Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia have journalism shield laws. A federal shield law is pending before the U.S. Congress.

BIG ISLAND POLICE PROMOTE 9 OFFICERS

Nine Hawai'i County police officers have been promoted from the rank of sergeant/detective to lieutenant, Chief Lawrence K. Mahuna announced.

The newly promoted lieutenants and their assignments are: Miles Chong, Vice Section Area II; Jeremie C.O. Evangelista, Gilbert Gaspar, Darren Horio and Harold L. Sumaoang, all of Kona Patrol; Samuel Kawamoto, Special Response Team; Richard Sherlock, Vice Section Area I; Burt Shimabukuro, South Hilo Patrol; and Aimee Wana, Communications Section.

LYCHEE HEIST CAUGHT IN PHOTO

Hawai'i County police are seeking two Puna men as suspects in the theft of lychees from a Kea'au farm on June 21.

Nester Mamuad Balicoco, 44, and James Tinao, 52, were identified from photos taken at the scene by a farm employee. The pair were seen carrying lychees and equipment used to pick them, said police Criminal Investigations Section Lt. Mitchell Kanehailua.

Police remind vendors at open markets that it is a crime to sell stolen fruit, and that receipts are required identifying their suppliers and the location of their suppliers' crops.

Anyone with suspect information can call Officer James Waiamau at 966-5838, the police department's nonemergency line at 935-331, or Big Island CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

30 DAYS IN JAIL FOR ASSAULTING OFFICER

A 30-day jail term has been ordered for a Wailuku man who was found guilty of assaulting a police officer responding to a domestic dispute at a Kihei home last year, the Maui News reported.

In court Tuesday, Angel Carranco, 25, said he is innocent.

"If I did do it, I would gladly do the 30 days," he said. "I did not do anything."

Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza also placed Carranco on one year of probation but delayed the start of the sentence while Carranco appeals.