Soldier numbers to stay the same HONOLULU (AP) — Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno says the Army will keep two brigades and a combat aviation brigade in Hawaii. ADVERTISING He says having soldiers in Hawaii enables the Army
Soldier numbers to stay the same
HONOLULU (AP) — Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno says the Army will keep two brigades and a combat aviation brigade in Hawaii.
He says having soldiers in Hawaii enables the Army to keep “forces forward to station.”
More broadly speaking, Odierno says the number of soldiers assigned to the Pacific will generally stay the same. He says mainland-based soldiers may also support operations in the region.
Odierno spoke in Hawaii while on the first stop of an Asia-Pacific tour.
The Army said Tuesday the general also met senior leaders from U.S. Army Pacific and Pacific Command to discuss future strategies and the Army’s role in the Pacific.
Gov. endorses justice proposals
HONOLULU (AP) — Gov. Neil Abercrombie has endorsed recommendations for improving Hawaii’s criminal justice system prepared by a working group that has studied the issue.
Abercrombie said Tuesday the plan will help the state bring Hawaii’s inmates back to the islands from private prisons on the mainland.
The Justice Reinvestment Initiative Working Group’s recommendations include mandating supervision for all felons after they’re released from prison. About 40 percent of people who max out their prison sentence are high risk for re-offense.
Abercrombie and legislative leaders established the working group last year.
Old Navy craft stuck on beach
KIHEI, Maui (AP) — An old Navy landing craft is stuck on a Maui beach.
It broke loose from its mooring line and washed onto Sugar Beach in north Kihei Tuesday. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says strong winds and currents prevented the company that owns the vessel from moving it Wednesday.
Vessel owner Maui Fresh Fish, LLC is expected to again attempt to pull it off the beach at the next high tide early today.
A company representative met with the Coast Guard and determined there was no leaking oil or fuel.
Oahu deals with two waste spills
HONOLULU (AP) — State officials are dealing with two separate wastewater spills on Oahu.
The state Department of Health says a manhole overflowed because of grease blockage and about 110 gallons entered a storm drain late Tuesday. About 75 gallons entered Kalihi Stream in Honolulu.
City officials say that on Wednesday morning, a broken valve caused an estimated 5,000 gallons of wastewater to spill in Windward Oahu. The raw wastewater spilled onto the ground along a stretch of Kahekili Highway. Workers cleaned, disinfected and deodorized the area. The state has been notified.
