Staff shortages plague jail visit schedules

The Department of Public Safety canceled regularly scheduled Saturday visitation to Oahu Community Correctional Center and Waiawa Correctional Facility on Oahu and Kulani Correctional Center and the Punahele, Komohana and Waianuenue facilities on Hawaii island. Such cancellations have become a frequent occurrence at some state correctional facilities this year due to chronic staffing shortages, especially on days with major sporting events.

Daylight saving time ends on mainland

Hawaii is again two hours behind the West Coast and five behind the East Coast with the end of daylight saving time on the mainland. The transition happened at 2 a.m. Sunday.

Hawaii and Arizona are the only states that do not jump ahead an hour in March and fall back in November.

Quake holds no tsunami threat for Hawaii

A magnitude-7.1 earthquake rattled the distant South Pacific early Saturday, but generated no tsunami threat for Hawaii, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The quake struck nearly 200 miles northwest of Tonga, and 270 miles southeast of Fuji, just before 8 a.m. Sunday local time, or 9 a.m. Saturday Hawaii time.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

2 councilmen propose repeal of GMO law

LIHUE, Kauai >> Two Kauai County councilmen are proposing legislation to repeal a new law regulating pesticides and genetically modified crops.

Councilman Ross Kagawa told The Garden Island newspaper the county should stop spending money on the case because a federal judge has ruled against the law.

He said if the law is repealed the county won’t have to spend any more money appealing the case to the federal appeals court.

Kagawa and Mel Rapozo proposed repealing the law. The two also cast dissenting votes against the law’s approval last year.

"For us, we’re saying, ‘We lost in court, so let’s stop the bleeding already — stop spending money on it,’" said Kagawa.

The council will bring up their measure for a first reading on Wednesday.

Councilman Gary Hooser questioned the proposal’s timing, immediately after the general election. He said the bill smacks of political gamesmanship.

Associated Press