Saying there's no other alternative, U.S. District Judge David Ezra today gave the state until December to correct problems at the Hawaii State Hospital and its mental health facilities -- or else he will appoint a special master to take over. Deadline set to improve
state hospital"Unless the state wants to lose control of an essential and important control of government running a mental health system, it needs to move forward," Ezra said.
Under a consent decree, Hawaii had until this past Jan. 3 to bring the state mental health system into compliance with federal laws.
U.S. Department of Justice officials surveyed the Hawaii State Hospital, Kahi Mohala, and Queen's Hospital's Family Treatment Center last month and noted improvements have been made and basic care needs are being met. However, problems still remain, said Verlin Deerinwater of the Department of Justice.
Some problem areas cited include the state facility's failure to coordinate services with other state agencies, lack of appropriate or individualized treatment plans for patients and failure to carry them out, and failure to evaluate the effectiveness of these plans.
Ezra ordered that by month's end, the state and Justice Department develop a compliance team to come up with a plan to address outstanding issues. The plan and corrective procedures must be in place by December, he said.
Six full-time journalism internships are available this summer from the Society of Professional Journalists, Hawaii chapter. Six internships available for
Hawaii studentsEach 10-week internship pays $2,700. In addition, a new $500 scholarship is offered by SPJ-Hawaii.
SPJ-sponsored internships are:
Honolulu Star-Bulletin (daily newspaper)
To be eligible, journalism students must be bona fide Hawaii residents and enrolled at college-level. Also, they must have finished their sophomore year or higher by June 1999 and be interested in a journalism career.
Applicants must provide a letter of application, samples of work and a college transcript. The letter must be postmarked by Feb. 16 and should list career goals and journalistic interests.
Mail letters to John M. Black, Internship Committee, Society of Professional Journalists-Hawaii Chapter, P.O. Box 3141, Honolulu 96802. Late applications will not be considered, and application materials will not be returned.
For further information, call John Black, (808) 521-8877. FAX (808) 521-8876. E-mail lublack@worldnet.att.net
State to pay $2 million in '95 Maui accident
WAILUKU -- State officials have agreed to pay $2 million as part of a settlement with a Pennsylvania woman who lost her left leg and suffered brain injury in a 1995 Maui traffic accident. The accident occurred at an upcountry intersection, where residents had been asking for traffic signals.In addition to the state's $2 million payout, the state's insurance carrier will pay $600,000, said James Krueger, attorney for plaintiff Tracey Ging Trendler.
Trendler was riding a motorcycle driven by her boyfriend down the Pukalani bypass when they collided with a pickup truck crossing Makawao Avenue. Trendler, now 33, lost her leg and suffered permanent brain injury.
Krueger said Trendler had been practicing law for about six years at the time. "Her main problem is the traumatic but mild form of brain damage that affects her ability to think," Krueger said. "It got to the point just to write a normal five to six page letter would take three to four days."
Krueger said there were 43 accidents recorded at the intersection before Trendler's accident. The state had planned to put in a signal light when building the intersection but never did so, he said.
Traffic lights are now there.
Move past the scandal, Salt Lake mayor says
Salt Lake City Mayor Deedee Corradini said the Olympic scandal has tarnished her city's image, but believes three years is enough time to investigate alleged bribery scandals and "get back to Olympic ideals about youth and peace.""Everyone feels terrible. It doesn't represent who we are," Corradini said here yesterday. "But I do believe we will get this behind us. It will take all of us at all levels to get to the bottom of this and make changes."
Corradini, president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, was attending the first China-U.S. Mayors Conference at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Salt Lake City has become mired in investigations that organizers allegedly bribed Olympic officials to win the bid as host city. The scandal has led to resignations and Corradini said reforms are needed.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffPOLICE/FIRE
Probe is opened in traffic death
Police yesterday opened a negligent homicide investigation into the death of a 65-year-old woman pedestrian who was struck by a car Jan. 9 in Wahiawa.Pedestrians have accounted for half of Oahu's six traffic fatalities in January.
The woman, identified by the medical examiner's office as Arlene Kiyota, died yesterday at 11:03 a.m. in Queen's Hospital.
Vehicular homicide investigators said Kiyota was struck by a Toyota Camry at 8:50 a.m. on California Avenue, 28 feet east of Makani Avenue, reportedly while crossing in a crosswalk.
Yesterday's death increased to three the number of traffic fatalities this year in Wahiawa. On Jan. 17, two 18-year-old Chaminade University students were killed in a vehicle collision on Wilikina Drive.
Cab driver hurt; 2 boys arrested
Two boys were arrested early yesterday in Kalihi for allegedly trying to rob a cab driver, who told police he was stabbed in the wrist while struggling with one of them.A pellet gun allegedly used to threaten the driver was recovered, police said.
The incident on Democrat Street was reported at 1:25 a.m.
11 are arrested at airport protest
Eleven people protesting the state's refusal to pay 20 percent of ceded land revenues to Native Hawaiians were arrested yesterday at Honolulu Airport.The demonstrators were arrested between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. and charged with violating airport administrative rules, a misdemeanor offense.
Nine of them posted $100 bail and were released. Two others were released on their own recognizance.
All are scheduled to appear at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at District Court.
Two are charged in graffiti case
Second-degree criminal property damage and trespass charges are pending against two Kailua youths suspected of graffiti activity in Iwilei.The youths, 17 and 18, were arrested at 2:30 a.m. Saturday in Iwilei on the Home Depot construction site after a security officer checked on suspicious activity in an area that recently sustained graffiti damage, police said.
The youths tried to flee but were arrested near their parked car. Evidence was recovered at the scene and from the car, police said.
Clothing store robbed on Maui
WAILUKU -- Maui police are investigating a robbery of a clothing store in Lahaina last night.Police Lt. Lenie Lawrence said a person wearing a ski mask and brandishing a revolver took two bags from the store's counter at 900 Front St. and fled on foot.
Lawrence said the robber, believed to be male, was about 5 feet 5 inches tall and wore dark-colored shirt and trousers.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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