Mink questions Bush's homeland security plan
Congresswoman Patsy Mink says she supports the creation of a cabinet-level secretary and department to be in charge of homeland security, but has "grave reservations" about some aspects of President Bush's proposal.She cited moving the entire Immigration and Naturalization Service into the new department as an example for her concerns.
"You certainly don't want to give the world the impression that all immigrants are security risks," she said.
Mink said she has concerns how her constituents, who may want to travel regularly to the Philippines, Japan and other countries, may be impacted by moving the issuance of visas into the new department.
She also has concerns about moving the entire Federal Emergency Management Agency into the new department and how that would affect the agency's ability to respond to natural disasters like hurricanes.
"To take all of FEMA out and put it under homeland security creates a bureaucracy that might make it very difficult for the priorities for natural disaster to be maintained."
U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka had no immediate comment on the president's proposal, a spokesman for Akaka said.
But the spokesman said Akaka is chairman of the Governmental Affairs subcommittee on international security, proliferation and federal services. The committee passed a Senate bill last month to create a cabinet department similar to what the president has proposed.
Senator Daniel Inouye and Congressman Neil Abercrombie were not available for comment this morning.
Hauula homes lose electricity from crash
Hawaiian Electric Co. turned off the power to about 1,800 customers in Hauula and Punaluu last night so crews could fix a utility pole guy wire.Acting Honolulu Fire Capt. Art Leong of the Kaaawa station said a car hit the utility pole around 6:30 p.m. along Kamehameha Highway near Huamalani Street.
HECO crew members turned off the power around 8:16 p.m., said spokesman Fred Kobashikawa.
Officials expected to restore power last night by routing it through an alternate circuit, but they could not say how the long that would take.
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>> Big Island lawyer Brian De Lima did not make a comment about a legal delay by lawyer Stanton Oshiro in a double murder case. A story on Page A1 yesterday incorrectly reported that De Lima said Oshiro had no basis for asking for a delay. Corrections and clarifications
>> Friends of Hawaii Charities did not give grants to the American Red Cross, Hawaii Chapter; the Bobby Benson Center; and the Boy Scouts of America, Aloha Council. An article on Page A4 of Saturday's paper said incorrectly that those organizations were awarded grants.
>> Sick and injured feral cats sent to the Hawaiian Humane Society are only immediately euthanized to "relieve their suffering," the society's spokeswoman, Eve Holt, said. She clarified her statement in a Monday article on Page A3 on the issue of stray-animal policies on naval bases.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
HONOLULU
Police seek suspect, 67, in sex assault of girl, 12
Police this morning were looking for a 67-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl his wife brought to their home to do housework yesterday.The girl told police she went to an apartment at 60 N. Beretania St. about noon with an acquaintance to do housework. While she was there, the acquaintance's husband sexually assaulted her.
Motorists warned about possible carjacking scam
Police are warning the public of a scam where motorists are fooled into stopping, possibly for the purpose of carjacking.A woman reported to police that she left Fort Shafter's main gate Wednesday and was confronted by a man in another vehicle yelling at her.
She said the man indicated that there was a large dent in her car and advised her to pull over so he could show it to her. She said the man also suggested he could fix it.
The woman told police there were two other men, all in their mid- to late-20s, in the car and that they tried to push her to the side of the road.
Police advise motorists not to stop, and to take down the vehicle license plate number of anyone who tries to get them to pull over.
Another fugitive caught after shown in MidWeek
Police have arrested a 42-year-old fugitive convicted of kidnapping and robbery, following tips to CrimeStoppers.Eric Kevin Dorotich is the third fugitive featured on the latest cover of the weekly newspaper MidWeek to be arrested this week. He was arrested Wednesday night in Foster Village.
Dorotich was convicted of five counts of first-degree robbery and two counts of kidnapping. He was wanted on a parole revocation warrant.
Since Monday, CrimeStoppers has received more than 28 tips about the fugitives featured in MidWeek.
Anyone with information about other fugitives is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Hitchhiker claims driver robbed him at knifepoint
Kauai police have charged a 35-year-old Princeville man with robbery for allegedly robbing a hitchhiker at knifepoint.Police identified the suspect as Oscar A. Mantejo II.
The victim told police he was hitchhiking in Kapaa Tuesday afternoon when the suspect picked him up.
The hitchhiker was driven to a secluded area where the suspect brandished a knife, police said.
Police said the victim was unharmed.
LEEWARD OAHU
Woman, 38, suspected of setting her house afire
A 38-year-old Waianae woman was taken to Queen's Medical Center this morning for a mental-health evaluation after she set fire to her Waianae home.Honolulu firefighters, responding to a 12:21 a.m. alarm, found the house on Alta Street engulfed in flames. They brought the fire under control in nine minutes but the house was gutted.
No one was injured, and damage was estimated at $130,000.
Neighbors reported that the woman admitted to starting the fire, and they said she has a history of mental illness.
Police said the woman also admitted to them that she set the fire.
Police said they do not plan to arrest her for criminal property damage because the arson damaged her home and not someone else's property.
EAST HONOLULU
Woman visitor drowns at Hanauma Bay
A 58-year-old woman visitor who was found lifeless yesterday at Hanauma Bay apparently drowned, officials said.Lifeguards found the visitor about 11:25 a.m. in waters about 4 feet deep.
She was taken by ambulance to Queen's Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Her name was not released.
CENTRAL OAHU
Boy allegedly tries to pass a photocopy of a $5 bill
A 15-year-old boy was arrested for forgery yesterday after he allegedly tried to buy soda with a photocopy of a $5 bill.Police said the boy tried to use the fake bill at the Longs Drugs Mililani Market Place Store about 5 p.m. to pay for two bottles of Pepsi. The cashier noticed that it was a poor photocopy of a $5 bill and called police.
