Inmate dies at Federal Detention Center in Honolulu ADVERTISING Inmate dies at Federal Detention Center in Honolulu HONOLULU (AP) — The Federal Bureau of Prisons said a 38-year-old inmate at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu died during the weekend.
Inmate dies at Federal Detention Center in Honolulu
HONOLULU (AP) — The Federal Bureau of Prisons said a 38-year-old inmate at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu died during the weekend.
The agency said Gavin Galacia was found unresponsive in his cell at 1:30 a.m. Saturday. Staff called for help and attempted to resuscitate him. An ambulance took him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
No information was released about the cause of death.
The agency said Monday the FBI is investigating, which is standard for inmate deaths at federal prisons.
Galacia was serving a six-year sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Conservationists work to save rare Hawaii plants
HONOLULU (AP) — State officials are leading efforts to save Hawaii’s native and rare plants.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife is operating several nurseries where rare plant species are grown on the Big Island, Maui, Oahu and Kauai.
Oahu botanist Laura Reynolds said more than 30 percent of Hawaii’s 1,400 native plant species are considered threatened and endangered.
Ongoing efforts to identify vulnerable plant populations, collect seeds and grow plants in state-managed facilities are progressing well, Reynolds said.
The state and its partners use state-propagated native plants to help restore natural areas on a large scale in the Nakula Natural Area Reserve and Kahikinui Forest Reserve on Maui.
Several important native Hawaiian tree species and native species of shrubs, vines, and herbaceous plants have been successfully propagated and planted at several different restoration sites. Reforesting these areas also will foster the recovery of other native species, such as birds and snails.
Interim utilities commissioner will get to keep seat
HONOLULU (AP) — An appointed public utilities commissioner will keep his seat based on a judge’s ruling.
The Public Utilities Commission’s former chairwoman and some state senators questioned whether Gov. David Ige legally appointed interim member Thomas Gorak.
A judge ruled Friday that the appointment was valid.
An appeal could be filed within 30 days.
Gorak needs to be confirmed by the state Senate to stay on the commission beyond the end of his appointment in May 2017.
State Attorney General Doug Chin issued a formal opinion in July saying the state constitution gives Ige the authority to appoint interim members.
