Prison oversight panel takes shape, Kaneshiro impeachment setback, herbicide ban vetoed, car towing for DUIs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bunks at Hilo jail, Hawaii's most crowded ©2019 All Hawaii News

Critics: New Hawaii Prison Commissioners Too Connected To Long-Troubled System. The new state commission is supposed to bring a new vision for prisons. But it’s made up of people who have been part of the problem. Civil Beat.

Case Takes His Time To Make A Historic Decision On Impeachment, The Hawaii congressman says he wants to see if President Donald Trump has a “plausible explanation” for his conduct before making up his mind. Civil Beat.

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Judge Rules American Samoans Are US Citizens. A federal judge in Utah ruled denying birthright citizenship to people born in American Samoa is unconstitutional. Civil Beat.

US should recognize American Samoans as citizens, judge says. People born in the territory of American Samoa should be recognized as U.S. citizens, a federal judge in Utah decided Thursday in a case filed amid more than a century of legal limbo but whose eventual impact remains to be seen. Associated Press.

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DOH: Hawaii Needs To Remain On Guard Against Measles. Hawaii is unlikely to see a measles outbreak at the scale of what Samoa has experienced, but its location in the Pacific heightens the risk for imported cases. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Kaneshiro impeachment effort suffers setback. The effort to remove Keith Kaneshiro as city prosecutor suffered a small setback Thursday when the Hawaii Supreme Court rejected a request to require a lower court judge to reopen the impeachment case that he dismissed. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu businesses have until the end of the month to switch from using plastic bags. Businesses in Honolulu have until the end of the month to stop using plastic or non-biodegradable bags. KITV.

HPD adding more detectives to combat rash of violent crimes. Authorities are asking the elderly to travel in groups after a huge spike in purse snatchings lately. Hawaii News Now.

Ewa Wind Farm Seeking Community Input. The large project is awaiting word from Hawaiian Electric. Civil Beat.

Homeless seniors check out city-backed apartments. Ten low-income, homeless seniors — most of whom are living in transitional shelters — got their first glimpse of their new studio apartments Thursday and proclaimed them “beautiful” and “nice.” Star-Advertiser.

Volunteers help patch up Waikiki walkways. Crumbling, cracked and lifted sidewalks in Waikiki are a hazard for pedestrians and contribute to Hawaii’s ranking by the National Complete Streets Coalition as No. 1 in the nation for fatalities among pedestrians age 65 and older. Star-Advertiser.

What To Know About Oahu Real Property Assessments Coming To Mailboxes Soon. The city plans to send out real property assessment notices for the 2020-2021 tax year by Dec. 15. Hawaii Public Radio.

Waipahu High incorrectly announced there was an active shooter on campus. Waipahu High School caused some panic Thursday when they incorrectly announced there was an active shooter on campus while police were searching for armed suspects in the area. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Kim vetoes herbicide bill. Mayor Harry Kim on Thursday exercised his first veto of this term, sending a ban on county herbicide use back to the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Public gets information about draft waste management plan. Environmentally minded residents had mixed feelings about the county’s proposed new solid waste management plan during a public information meeting Wednesday evening. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Bill to Tow Drunken Drivers Passes First Reading. A new bill that would allow police to tow the vehicles of drunken drivers upon arrest passed its first reading before the Maui County Council on Thursday. Maui Now.

Drunken drivers may get towed. Bill would allow police to remove vehicles after DUI arrestsThose who get arrested for drunken driving may have their vehicles towed on the spot, according to a bill up for first reading before the Maui County Council. Maui News.

Olowalu project includes 59 units. A new affordable housing proposal for undeveloped West Maui land is on the horizon, and landowner Peter Martin will be asking to fast-track the project early next year if all goes according to plan, the project manager said Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Police finances under investigation. The Hawaii State attorney general’s office is investigating the Kauai Police Department’s finances. Garden Island.