Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Tuesday, October 30, 2001

State lifts enrollment cap on QUEST health plan

Some Hawaii residents who were recently denied health coverage under the state's QUEST program may be eligible for benefits and are encouraged to contact the state.

Many applicants were rejected because of an enrollment cap. But the state Department of Human Services' Med-QUEST Division temporarily suspended the enrollment cap.

Hawaii QUEST is a program that provides health coverage for eligible low-income Hawaii residents. Currently, the enrollment exceeds the maximum level of 125,000.

The suspension, effective Sept., 1, may continue into the beginning of next year.

Due to the economic downturn since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, many Hawaii residents are unemployed or have had their work hours reduced.

A person whose application for QUEST coverage was denied due to the enrollment cap on or after Sept. 1 and meets the requirements should contact the Med-QUEST Division eligibility office by Nov. 30 to have their application reconsidered.

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien and a Hawaii resident. They must provide a Social Security number and have assets not exceeding the limit of $2,000 for one, $3,000 for two and $250 for each additional household member. Monthly income cannot exceed the federal poverty level.

For instance, $825 for a one-person household, $1,403 for a three-person household and $1,981 for a five-person household.

To request an application or have an application reconsidered, contact your nearest Med-QUEST Division Eligibility Office.

Nominations open for women's leadership prize

Nominations are now being accepted for the 25th Annual LeaderLuncheon honorees, Hawaii's largest event honoring women for their leadership, achievement and community service as well as organizations that support the advancement of women in Hawaii.

Nomination forms are available at the YWCA of Oahu Laniakea Center at 1040 Richards St., online at www.ywcaoahu.org or by calling 538-7061, extension 234. Deadline for nominations is Oct. 31.

Corrections and clarifications

>> The number to call to register for "Violence on the Job: Prediction, Prevention and Intervention" -- a workplace violence conference at the Hawaii Convention Center on Friday -- is (808) 885-9800 (Big Island). A story yesterday omitted the area code.

>> Qantas is the airline assisting the Hawai'i International Film Festival. A story in yesterday's Today section incorrectly spelled the airline's name as Quantas.

>> American Savings Bank will not have its free five-minute phone cards available until tomorrow. The cards are meant to spur residents to call the mainland to encourage people to visit Hawaii. A Hawaii Inc. story Wednesday gave the impression the cards were already available.

Corrections and clarifications The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Publisher and Editor in Chief John Flanagan at 529-4748 or email him at jflanagan@starbulletin.com.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

LEEWARD OAHU

Witnesses sought in Pearl City death

Honolulu police are looking for witnesses in connection with the death of a 20-year-old Pearl City man whose injured body was discovered on Kamehameha Highway last night.

Police said the man was found on the roadway at the corner of Kamehameha Highway and Hekaha Street in Waimalu about 11:30 p.m. He was taken to Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi where he later died. Police said several witnesses gave conflicting information as to how the man was injured. The injuries, police said, are not consistent with having been hit by a car.

HONOLULU

Former cop allegedly carries gun onto plane

FBI agents arrested a former Honolulu police officer yesterday after she allegedly brought a firearm on board an airplane.

Police said security at Honolulu International Airport discovered the weapon while the suspect's bags passed through an X-ray machine Sunday.

Police said the suspect, a 29-year-old female, identified herself as an officer with the narcotics-vice division of HPD and provided a police firearms qualification card as well as a Hawaii driver's license as identification.

A state Narcotics Enforcement agent also vouched for the suspect's identity, and she was allowed to board an American Airlines flight to Los Angeles. It was later discovered that the suspect had resigned from the department on Oct. 16. The FBI arrested the woman for impersonating a police officer, a misdemeanor offense. She was released and allowed her to keep her gun, which was not an HPD firearm.

An HPD spokeswoman said the woman had been with the department for less than a year.

4 men who allegedly stole couple's van in custody

Honolulu police arrested four men who allegedly stole a van from a Salt Lake couple last weekend.

Police said the couple was trying to sell the van to the suspects on Sunday when one suspect punched a male victim in the face and flashed a gun while another suspect forced them into the van then drove the victims to their home on Ala Napuaa Place.

Police spotted the van yesterday in Aiea at Kamehameha Highway and Kaonohi Street. The four suspects inside were arrested for robbery and car theft.

CENTRAL OAHU

Suspect in Wahiawa bank robbery in custody

A 23-year-old Wahiawa man turned himself in to police last night in connection with the robbery of the Bank of Hawaii's Wahiawa branch yesterday morning.

Police said the man's family recognized him in a surveillance picture of the robber on the television news and convinced the man to turn himself in. He surrendered at the Wahiawa Police Station about 8 p.m. and was arrested for second-degree robbery.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Kauai police nab suspect in homeless man's death

LIHUE >> Kauai police have arrested a man on a charge of second degree murder in the death of Brent Kerr, 44, whose body was found Friday afternoon in Wailua.

Detectives refused to give the identity of the suspect, who was booked at the Kauai Community Correctional Center, or provide any details of Kerr's death. Kerr was described as a homeless person who frequented the Nawiliwili Harbor area.