Straub will discontinue home care services
Straub Clinic & Hospital will discontinue home services May 8 for about 150 patients.Gordon Yenokida, Straub chief operating officer, said the hospital has been helping patients find other home health services to assure that they receive uninterrupted care.
"Decreases in the federal Medicare payments to providers for home health services and increases in federal regulatory requirements have led hundreds of home health agencies across the nation to discontinue services," Yenokida said.
He said positions will be eliminated for 34 employees, who are encouraged to apply for other openings in the hospital.
"Our discontinuation of home health services in no way affects other services Straub may be providing to our home health patients," Yenokida said, adding that they can still be seen by Straub physicians.
Navy OKs use of Kauai base for test site
BARKING SANDS, Kauai -- The Navy has given the green light to use of the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the west tip of Kauai as the testing site for its Theater Ballistic Missile Defense system.Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy Duncan Holaday signed the document Tuesday.
The Theater Ballistic Missile Defense program is aimed at developing missiles that can protect ships and ground forces from hostile rockets.
The program means a complete upgrade of the missile range's radar, communications and telemetry equipment. For Kauai, it means large numbers of scientists and technicians coming to the island to work.
UPDATE
The Honolulu Police Department has been short-staffed ever since 205 officers took advantage of an early retirement plan offered in 1994. HPD's shortage
By Jaymes K. Song, Star-BulletinHPD also was affected when officers moved to take jobs in the Pacific Northwest that have a higher pay scale and a lower cost of living.
As of March 31, the department still is 160 officers short of its 1,929 allocation.
The police academy is also 30 recruits short of its allocated 199.
Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffPOLICE/FIRE
Woman allegedly stabs husband, flees house
Police last night arrested a woman for allegedly stabbing her husband with a kitchen knife at their Pearl Ridge home.The woman, 30, reportedly stabbed her husband, 30, and ran from the Kilinoe Street house at 9:35 p.m., police said. The man was taken to Tripler Army Hospital.
The woman was arrested when she returned home about 20 minutes later.
Man admits stealing from Neiman Marcus restaurant
A 43-year-old man was arrested for allegedly "skimming" up to $5,000 from Neiman Marcus.The man, who works at Mariposa Restaurant in the department store, allegedly took money at least seven times, police said.
Store security installed hidden cameras when witnesses alerted them about what was happening.
He was filmed taking money on seven occasions since March 31, but later admitted to taking money since December, police said.
Tourist says arguing man pointed a gun at him
HILO -- A Waipio Valley man who pointed a shotgun at a tourist while arguing with his girlfriend yesterday is being held on charges of having a firearm in an illegal place, terroristic threatening and abuse of a household member, police said.Mario Flores Trigueros, 21, was charged after the tourist reported the incident in which Trigueros allegedly noticed the man watching him, went to the back of his pickup truck for the gun and pointed it at him.
COURTS
Teacher indicted on sex charges
An Oahu grand jury yesterday indicted an elementary school art teacher for allegedly having sexual contact with students.Brian Ibaan, 40, was indicted on 13 counts of third-degree assault, and one count of continuous sexual assault of a minor under 14.
Police this week charged Ibaan, a contract-hire teacher, with having sexual contact with nine students, ages 9 to 11.
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