Lack of Solar: Rolling Blackouts for Oahu
$600M: Saiki Announces Act 279 DHHL Working Group
Mizuno News: Dems send Green Three Nominees for HD29 Vacancy
Top Three Slush Fund Surges for Wave of Retirees
CB: … A new report by the Department of Human Resources Development traces the increase in vacant positions within state agencies over the past four years, showing the vacancy rate has climbed from 18% in 2019 shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic to 27% last month.
The report also shows another 30% of existing state civil service employees will be eligible to retire within five years. That suggests the staff shortages in state departments ranging from the state Department of Defense to the Department of Human Services could get even worse….
(REALITY: With so many retirees on horizon, the demand for ‘top three’ overtime is going thru the roof, hence the need for numerous ‘vacant positions’ which are a payroll slush fund to cover overtime.)
read … Last Month 27% Of State Government Civil Service Positions Were Vacant
Hawaii To Get $250M More In Tax Collections Than Expected
CB: … Six months into the fiscal year, tax collections are running more than 7% ahead of last year's pace….
SA: Panel sees jump in Hawaii tax revenue
read … Hawaii To Get $250M More In Tax Collections Than Expected
Miske Trial Day 1
ILind: … These are the court minutes reflecting what took place on Monday, January 8, the first day of the trial of Mike Miske, John Stancil, and Delia Fabro-Miske.
Jurors are coming into court in groups of 10 to be questioned by attorneys and the judge.
This first day of jury selection resulted in 11 of the first 19 prospective jurors being dismissed….
CB: Potential Jurors Quizzed On Possible Bias As Miske Looks On In 1st Day Of Trial - Honolulu Civil Beat
read … Miske trial Day 1
Corrections head: Screenings, x-rays failed to prevent fatal jail overdose
HNN: … The fentanyl that killed Delgado appears to have been smuggled in by a man who apparently managed to hide the drugs inside his body — despite several searches, including with x-rays….
His cellmates both overdosed on fentanyl and Delgado died.
Hawaii Corrections and Rehabilitation Director Tommy Johnson spoke to state senators about the incident in a briefing Monday. “I think there were a couple of breakdowns,” Johnson said.
Court records say Shields was identified as a possible drug suspect by police Dec. 29 at Kona airport. Police got a warrant and an x-ray at Kona Hospital spotted a condom of drugs in his anus.
Shields’ girlfriend, 37-year-old Moriah Goulette, also had a condom of fentanyl in her mouth at the jail that had escaped detection by police or prison staff, Johnson said.
“The cellblock should have been searched at the courthouse before they came,” he said. “When they came to us after the first incident, then we discovered a white powdery substance in the van. The van was supposed to be searched before every transport and immediately after the transport.”
That was removed, but six days later at Hilo jail, authorities say he still had enough of the drug to give his cellmates some of the drugs….
Johnson said after the overdose, Shields was x-rayed again at Hilo Hospital.
“The hospital was supposed to conduct the x-rays, they conducted x-rays, they brought the person back to the facility. Unfortunately, they didn’t detect it,” Johnson said.
Johnson said Shields finally got sick and threw up the contraband….
read … Corrections head: Screenings, x-rays failed to prevent fatal jail overdose
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