Full Text: Hawaii Attorney General Maui Wildfire Report
After Failing to destroy Faa Samoa, Insular Case Activists Try Again
Six public forums scheduled for UH president’s search
Hawaii's Insurance Crisis as Premiums Nearly Quadruple
City’s DMV employees gearing up for LGBTQ+ sensitivity training
Lawsuit Exposing HPD Malfeasance in Kytana Ancog Murder: $250K settlement
HNN: … HPD Detective Maile Rego is getting $250,000 to settle a lawsuit against the Honolulu Police Department.
The city council approved the deal Wednesday.
In 2021, Rego said supervisors denied her promotions because she is a woman.
She also said command staff retaliated against her because she criticized the department’s response to the missing child investigation of 18-month-old Kytana Ancog….
CB: $250,000 Settlement Approved For Honolulu Police Detective
CB: Rego’s lawsuit also alleges that HPD prevented other law enforcement agencies from assisting in the investigation and attempted to cover up that Rodrigues was a confidential informant for the department’s narcotics division.
PDF: Maile Rego lawsuit against Honolulu Police Department - DocumentCloud
read … $250K settlement in HPD discrimination and harassment lawsuit
Miske Trial Focuses on Murder of Jonathan Fraser
HNN: … Wong was at the scene of the crash and testified that Caleb was the driver and Fraser was in the passenger seat.
However, she told prosecutors that Mike Miske thought Fraser was the driver and responsible for the accident.
Fraser and Miske did not communicate for months until Miske reached back out in April 2016.
Miske would go on to provide them a place to stay and transportation. Fraser then went missing in July 2016 and prosecutors believe Miske is responsible for Fraser’s murder….
CB: Fateful Car Wreck Takes Center Stage At Miske Trial As Alleged Murder Victim's Girlfriend Testifies
read … At trial, focus shifts to bond between Miske’s son and man who prosecutors say was murdered
Rail Chief's Latest Evaluation Raises Questions About Whether She Has A Future With Rail
CB: … The newly released annual evaluation of Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation CEO Lori Kahikina cites an array of shortcomings in her performance last year, including a complaint that she has “restricted the Board’s access to vital details required for oversight.”
The evaluation by the rail project’s board of directors also raises concerns about HART’s inability to hire new employees for key management positions during Kahikina’s tenure, a longstanding problem the board said has affected morale and retention of staff.
The board also noted that “questions about a perceived discrepancy between her official narrative and her staff’s facts and statements have been raised.”…
Kahikina’s highly critical evaluation was unanimously approved by all seven of the voting board members who were present on Feb. 27 when the document was adopted by the board. Only board Vice Chairman Kika Bukoski expressed reservations….
The board’s escalating concern with staffing in critical management slots burst into public view on Friday during a heated discussion about the sudden resignation of project director Nate Meddings, a top manager who was described by one board member as a “linchpin” of the rail project….
SA Off the news: Troubling unrest at the heart of HART
HNN: Rail says her staff was ‘distraught,’ outraged after clash with HART board
RELATED: Rail Project Director Flees State, “increases the risk of failure”
read … Rail Chief's Lastest Evaluation Raises Questions About Whether She Has A Future With Rail
Save family-owned businesses — reform Hawaii’s Estate Tax
PBN: … Hawaii is one of the last states that levies an estate tax on inheriting a family-owned business. A new bill seeks to change that but is meeting with opposition. Here, three Hawaii business leaders make the case for tax reform to help local, family-owned businesses survive….
GRIH: SB1035 would exempt Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE payments from the general excise tax
read … Op-ed: Save family-owned businesses — reform Hawaii’s Estate Tax
Sparklers, fountains to make a comeback? Honolulu City Council bill pushes to lift ban
KHON: … For the last 14 years, ground fireworks have been banned on Oahu. Meanwhile, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai Counties allow the purchase of sparklers and fountains without a permit. However, Oahu residents could soon join in on the celebrations as Honolulu City Councilmember Calvin Say introduced a bill to legalize ground fireworks. …
Under the bill, consumers would not need a permit to buy ground fireworks and instead sellers would need a permit. Community members in support see this as a compromise and industry experts think it’ll help reduce the use of illegal fireworks. …
read … Sparklers, fountains to make a comeback? Honolulu City Council bill pushes to lift ban
Waikiki crime is down due to Bum Removal Operations
KHON: … The statistics listed below show significant drops in various Waikiki crimes since Safe and Sound launched.
- Assault (-12.8%)
- Robbery (-27.6%)
- Burglary (-36.9%)
- Auto theft (-29.5%)
- Property damage (-29.5%)
- Drug/liquor offenses (-44.2%)
- Loitering/vagrancy (-16.9%)
- Disorderly Conduct (+44.8%)
KITV: City officials tout program to fight crime in Waikiki
SA: Safe & Sound Waikiki program sees major reduction in crime
HNN: HPD: Crime in Waikiki is down, but not just because of law enforcement (hawaiinewsnow.com)
read … Officials say Waikiki crime is down while business want more police presence
Only two people have bothered to expunge their criminal records
HPR: … The Hawaiʻi Criminal Justice Data Center says about 12,000 records could qualify for expungement. Over the last four years, only two people have been able to clear their criminal records….
The center is part of the state Department of the Attorney General. Its data also shows about 40,000 arrest records are potentially for possession of less than 3 grams of marijuana. While these people were not convicted, the arrest records remain.
The state has only been able to expunge about 50 of those records a year in the last four years….
MM: Hawaii: Despite Law, Few People Are Having Their Cannabis Convictions Expunged - NORML
read … Few people have successfully expunged their marijuana possession records
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