Clean out those old medications

Now’s the time to look in the medicine cabinet for expired prescription medications. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration is collecting such capsules and tablets — no liquids, syringes or illegal substances, please — around the state today, no questions asked. 

Properly disposing of expired medication reduces the risk of drug abuse and accidental poisoning, and prevents improperly-trashed drugs from entering the water supply or harming aquatic life, the DEA says.

About 1,330 pounds of pills were collected here the last time around, so there’s obviously a need. Drop-off sites will be open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. today; see http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback.

Better get moving on Coco Palms redo

More than 20 years after Hurricane Iniki devastated Kauai, the iconic Coco Palms Resort remains in disrepair. This, despite the county’s “Iniki Ordinance,” which expedites permits to rebuild structures destroyed by Iniki in 1992. Now come calls to repeal the ordinance.

The investment group that now plans to buy and restore the Coco Palms best hurry. It might be reasonable to keep the ordinance for a bit longer, but not indefinitely.