The state Department of Human Services this morning will present more than $14 million in federal money to 17 public and private hospitals to help cover the costs of treating uninsured patients.

This is the third year in a row in which the department has been able to obtain additional federal money to help hospitals with charity care. The state had not received extra federal money for charity care during the previous decade, according to the department.

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona and Lillian Koller, the department's director, will present the checks this morning to hospital executives at a news conference at the Healthcare Association of Hawai'i offices.

20 YEARS POSSIBLE FOR ATTACK ON MPS

A 36-year-old Waipahu man convicted Thursday by a federal jury of assaulting and threatening two military police officers March 9 at Mokule'ia Beach could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge David Ezra will sentence Rex T. Harrison on March 24, 2008.

The officers were patrolling the Army section of Mokule'ia Beach across from Dillingham Air Field when the incident took place.