Federal monitoring of the women's prison in Kailua will be lifted after 12 years, but the court will still supervise the operations of the Oahu Community Correctional Center in Kalihi. Monitoring of Kailua
women's prison endsThe agreement was announced before U.S. District Judge Samuel King yesterday at a 20-minute hearing to discuss dismissing a 1985 consent decree imposed upon the state to improve conditions at the Women's Community Correctional Center and OCCC on Dillingham Boulevard.
Deputy Attorney General Susan Barr requested the dismissal based on negotiations with the American Civil Liberties Union, which had initiated the class-action lawsuit.
It is based on the state Department of Public Safety's planned completion of a 64-bed facility at the 110-bed women's prison in August, which should alleviate overcrowding.
"Present conditions are in compliance," said Alvin Bronstein, Washington, D.C.-based director emeritus of the ACLU's National Prison Project.
He said the agreement covers only the Kailua facility and not the 118 women housed at OCCC or the 64 women transferred to Crystal City Correctional Center, located 100 miles southwest of San Antonio, Texas.
Fire inspectors this year gave passing grades to 95 percent of schools tested statewide, the highest number of Hawaii public schools since annual fire checks began in 1990. 95 percent of schools
pass state fire checksBut the number of violations doubled to 92 from last year, boosted by 75 violations at two schools: 19 from Waiakea High on the Big Island, and 56 from Molokai High and Intermediate.
Although the 95 percent pass rate -- 232 of 245 schools -- is excellent, the Education Department is working toward achieving 100 percent, said state Schools Superintendent Herman Aizawa, of the annual report released yesterday.
"Parents and the community need to feel that when students are in school for six-plus hours, they're in a safe environment," he said.
Aizawa attributed this year's success rate to greater understanding of the fire safety requirements by school personnel and the department's efforts to work with the state Fire Council and county fire departments.
Last year, 90 percent of schools passed, with 82 percent in 1994-95, 69 percent in 1993-94, and 25 percent in 1992-93.
Got the El Nino jitters? Hurricane advice free
from Hawaiian ElectricHawaiian Electric Co. is offering a free handbook to help residents prepare for hurricanes and other natural disasters.
"Handbook for Emergency Preparedness" is available at Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric Co. and Hawaii Electric Light Co. customer service offices.
They also are at all state libraries and Civil Defense offices and, on Oahu, at satellite city halls, City Mill, Costco, Foodland, Sack 'n Save, military housing offices and the American Red Cross.
A coalition of environmental groups and scientists is asking Gov. Ben Cayetano to veto a bill that would make broad changes to the state's endangered-species law. Endangered-species
bill deemed 'flawed'Opponents say the bill, which the Legislature approved this past session, fails to protect Hawaii's rarest species, lacks enforcement provisions and does not allow enough public participation in habitat recovery plans developed between the state and landowners.
The bill is intended to give private landowners more incentives to work with the state on plans to conserve and rehabilitate rare and endangered species and their habitats. It allows landowners or developers to "take" plants and animals under certain conditions.
But conservationists say that just isn't acceptable, especially without public comment. "Landowners shouldn't be allowed to get permits to kill endangered species because these are part of our national trust," said Steven Montgomery of the Conservation Council for Hawaii. "They belong to all of us, and the public should have a say in what happens to them."
Under the bill, however, any agreements between the state and landowners will be kept confidential until notice is posted 60 days before the state Board of Land and Natural Resources approves such plans.
"We are most concerned about the secrecy factor, as independent scientific review and citizen oversight at several stages of the HCP (habitat conservation plans) is crucial for environmental progress," Montgomery said.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.
Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffA 22-year-old man is in critical condition after his vehicle hit a concrete barrier on the H-1 Freeway last night. Driver critical
after H-1 accidentPolice said alcohol and speed may have contributed to the accident, which closed the freeway shortly before midnight.
Traffic investigators closed a portion of the west-
bound freeway after the Pali offramp for approximately four hours.
The man's two-door 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier was the only car involved in the crash.
Police arrested a 31-year-old man yesterday in connection with the robbery of a taxicab driver. Cab driver robbed;
parolee arrestedPolice said the suspect, a recent parolee, hailed a taxi in Waikiki to ride downtown. The driver told police that the suspect ordered him to take illegal turns and drive the wrong way on one-way streets.
At Ward Avenue and Halekauwila Street, the suspect got out of the cab without paying.
The taxi driver followed him, and the suspect turned around and punched the driver.
Police arrested a 31-year-old man last night for robbing his ex-girlfriend. Woman robbed
by ex-boyfriendPolice said on Saturday a 27-year-old woman reported to police that her ex-boyfriend forced his way into her apartment on Kalaloa Street in Halawa and grabbed money from her wallet.
When she tried to stop him, police said, the man threw her against the wall, injuring her forearm and elbow.
Other Police/Fire headlines
in today’s Star-Bulletin:
- Maui woman dead after auto wreck
- California man nailed for cocaine
- 'Coffee shack' destroyed by fire
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.
