Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
'Baby drop-off' bill making good headway
A mother unable to cope with raising a newborn could anonymously drop the infant off at a hospital within 72 hours of birth and not face criminal prosecution under a bill moving through the Legislature.Hawaii appears ready to join a growing list of states that have adopted so-called "baby drop-off" or "safe haven" laws, intended to make the protection of the child a priority over bringing child-abandonment charges against the mother.
Lawmakers acknowledge that child abandonment in Hawaii is rare, but say creating a system of anonymity, confidentiality and freedom from prosecution for parents may encourage them to leave a newborn infant safely, and thus save its life.
For immunity, there would have to be no evidence of injury to a child's physical or psychological health or welfare. Also, while the hospital couldn't inquire about the identity of the person leaving the newborn, it could ask about the medical history of the mother and baby.
HECO uses chopper to replace fallen poles
Hawaiian Electric Co. used helicopters yesterday to replace three utility poles in Palolo Valley that went down Saturday, knocking out power to about 1,300 customers.The poles were behind the Pukele substation, which carries 18 percent of Oahu's electrical load, HECO spokesman Fred Kobashikawa said.
HECO said customers lost power for one to two hours.
Work is expected to be completed by the end of the week.
EPA grant earmarked for water-quality tests
Hawaii is receiving $322,897 from the Environmental Protection Agency to improve water-quality monitoring at beaches and notify the public of beach warnings or closings.The grant is part of $10 million made available nationally for safer, cleaner water, said Catherine Kuhlman, EPA's water division director for the Pacific Southwest.
|
>> In the 24th annual Pele Awards Saturday, Laird Christianson Harris Advertising was awarded the Best of Show in Advertising for its KFC commercial titled "Experiment." The video it prepared for the opening of the 23rd annual Pele Awards received a special judges' award; a story on Page E3 Sunday said incorrectly that it received a Best of Show award. 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 Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
LEEWARD OAHU
12-year-old boy held in alleged sex assault
Police arrested a 12-year-old boy for allegedly sexually assaulting his 5-year-old cousin.Police said the victim was sexually assaulted at her Pearl City home on March 15. The suspect's guardian turned him in to police Friday, police said.
CENTRAL OAHU
Schofield soldier ID'd as H-2 crash victim
The Honolulu Medical Examiner has identified Marquel Roberts, 23, a Schofield Barracks soldier, as the victim who died in a single-car crash on the H-2 Freeway Saturday night.Roberts, 23, was ejected from a white Lincoln that went out of control, climbed an embankment and flipped over near the Ka Uka Boulevard overpass. Roberts was taken in critical condition to Queen's Medical Center where he died later.
Man arrested for trying to steal cans of SPAM
A 29-year-old man was arrested for second-degree robbery investigation yesterday after he allegedly stole 24 cans of Spam from Wal-Mart Mililani and shoved a security guard who tried to stop him.Police said store security saw a man put the canned meat into his backpack about 11:30 a.m. then waited for him outside. The suspect shoved a guard who was trying to stop him, but a manager stepped in and helped detain the suspect.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Kailua-Kona man dies in hit-and-run accident
KAILUA-KONA >> A 43-year-old motorist died yesterday after suffering head injuries in a hit-and-run accident on Queen Kaahumanu Highway.Lester Macadangdang, of Kailua-Kona, was driving north about 2:50 p.m. when he tried to pass a car but was struck by a red sports sedan from behind that also was trying to pass it, police said.
Macadandang lost control and crashed into lava rocks, police said. He was taken to Queen's Medical Center where he died.
Police are seeking the driver of the red sports sedan. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 326-4277.
Bicyclist killed Friday was from Colorado
Big Island police have identified Debra Kelly, 50, of Pagosa, Colo., as the bicyclist who was fatally struck Friday by a car in North Kohala.Kelly was riding on Akoni Pule Highway with her husband about 4:30 p.m. when she was struck. Kelly's husband, who was ahead of her, was not hit. No one in the car was injured.
Police arrest driver in death of pedestrian
Police are investigating if speeding and alcohol use were factors in the death of a pedestrian who was struck by a 1996 Honda Civic in Hilo last week.A 26-year-old Hilo man was arrested but released, pending investigation.
Police said the victim, Steven Estevan Vargas, 57, of Hilo, was struck about 9 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Kinoole and Kukuau streets. He died the following day.
Several witnesses reported that the Honda was speeding, police said. The victim was not in a crosswalk, police said.
Public asked to help solve theft of $3,000
Big Island police want help solving the theft of $3,000 from the Kohala Middle School in Halaula.The money -- in bills of $20 and $50 -- was stolen between Dec. 26 and Jan. 9, police said. It was for the school yearbook and other activities and kept in a manila envelope in a safe in the clerk's office.
Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Lawrence Kobayashi at 889-6540, the police department at 933-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
BACK TO TOP |
[The Courts]
Man pleads not guilty in death at Ala Wai
A Waikiki man accused of causing the death of former Star-Bulletin sportswriter Jack Wyatt pleaded not guilty before Circuit Judge Dan Kochi yesterday.Circuit Judge Reynaldo Graulty ruled that Cline Kahue was fit to stand trial on second-degree murder and assault charges stemming from alleged attacks at the Ala Wai Canal last June.
He is at the Hawaii State Hospital and has been talking antipsychotic and mood-stabilizing medication.
His trial is set for the second week of June.
Medical records draw focus in cop's shooting
A lawyer representing Shane Mark, accused of killing plainclothes police officer Glen Gaspar last month, is expected to file a motion to try to prevent prosecutors from seeing Mark's medical records.Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter said the Prosecutor's Office had issued a subpoena to St. Francis-West Medical Center to "have a complete picture of his physical, mental and emotional condition on the day of the shooting of officer Gaspar."
Mark was taken to St. Francis for observation after the shooting.
He is charged with first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder.
Van Marter said Deputy Public Defender Debra Loy objected to handing over the medical records to the Prosecutor's Office.
Loy declined comment.
Gaspar was shot at the Baskin-Robbins ice cream store in Kapolei Shopping Center on March 4 after he and other officers tried to arrest Mark on seven outstanding warrants.
Mark's medical records were turned over to Circuit Court and sealed.
