Vote on DHHL head delayed

HPD chief targets gun law loopholes
In the wake of the deadly rampage in Diamond Head, Honolulu’s Police Chief, Susan Ballard says she wants to tighten loopholes in Hawaiʻi’s already tough gun laws. There are now 38 gun proposals moving through the Legislature ― and more than a dozen were introduced since the weekend shooting. Hawaii News Now.

Guns found at Hibiscus Drive not registered to homeowner or late husband, Ballard says Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard said today that multiple firearms have been recovered from the debris at 3015 Hibiscus Drive, but checks of the names of people who lived at the Diamond Head home showed that the weapons were not registered to the homeowner or her late husband. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. KHON2. KITV4.
Posession of guns key to potential lawsuits Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Bill package addresses wind energy projects near residential areas in Hawaiʻi
Gil Riviere (D, Heeia-Laie-Waialua) introduced seven bills, which range from providing preferential electricity rates for those who live near the power plants to giving the governor the authority to terminate the Na Pua Makani wind project on the North Shore. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

DOH warns sellers of cartridge e-cigs to stop
The state Health Department is warning local companies that make, distribute or sell flavored cartridge or pod-based e-cigarettes to stop, or risk enforcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These hi-tech e-cigarettes are popular with middle and high school students. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

New alert system requires sign up
The Hawai‘i Department of Public Safety is transitioning to a new public notification system called AlertSense, effective Feb. 1, 2020. All alerts that were on the Nixle Alert system will end Jan. 31. Big Island Now.

With rail work running late, city considers hiring new contractor
Critically important utility work in the city center segment of the Honolulu rail line is still running behind schedule, and the rail authority is preparing to hire a second contractor to ensure the work is finished on time and does not delay construction of the last portion of the 20-mile rail system. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Prosecutor’s office arresting witnesses, victims with warrants ahead of testifying
Grace Pineda was beaten with a hammer in 2018 allegedly by her boyfriend, Kristopher Kalani. Pineda, then 31 years old, had broken bones in her face and a head injury. But earlier this week, she was arrested by the Honolulu prosecutor’s office with the help of deputy sheriffs for a traffic warrant that was issued six months ago. Hawaii News Now.

Ewa is tops in people surveyed wanting to move elsewhere
85% of the people in the Ewa area who plan to move over the next few years say they want to relocate to a different part of the island. That’s the word from the latest statewide survey on housing conducted for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. and the state’s four counties for use in planning for future housing needs. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

‘Point in Time’ survey tallies homeless
Outreach workers fanned out across Oʻahu on Thursday — starting at 4 a.m. — to survey the island’s homeless population in a one-day, compressed census as part of the nationwide Point in Time Count. Honolulu Star-Advertiser.