Good evening, Hawaii. Here are the main stories we've been following today:
Your Weather Planner
An upper-level low will move off to the northeast today as high pressure builds back over the region. This will create a more stable moderate to locally breezy trade wind pattern over the next couple of days. Look for low clouds and showers to favor the windward and Mauka areas. The trades will weaken briefly for the start of the weekend as a cold front tries to approach from the north.
Watch the latest news from across the country.
Today's Big Stories
1. HART issues notice to proceed on next phase of Skyline
Expansion of the Skyline rail system remains on schedule following the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s recent issuance of a notice to proceed to contractor Tutor Perini Corporation.
Tutor Perini was awarded the $1.66 billion contract in August to design and build the next section of the rail system, which will include six rail stations and about three miles of elevated rail guideway beginning just east of the Middle Street Transit Center Station and ending at the new Civic Center Station, which will be located just east of the intersection of Halekauwila Street and South Street.
“We are excited to partner with Tutor Perini to design and build the next segment of the Honolulu rail transit project, which will eventually take Skyline through the Downtown area and into Kakaako,” said HART executive director and CEO Lori Kahikina. “With strong experience in large transportation infrastructure projects, I’m looking forward to collaborating with them on the design phase of this segment.”
According to HART, project design will begin immediately while the start of construction is estimated in the second half of 2025. Construction of this segment will be completed in 2030 and transferred to the Department of Transportation Services in 2031.
2. State to receive restitution for Medicaid fraud
Hawaii will receive $101,416 in restitution from a national drug-testing laboratory accused of submitting false Medicaid claims.
The restitution is part of a $27 million settlement between Precision Toxicology LLC (doing business as Precision Diagnostics) and the United States, the District of Columbia and 43 states.
Precision is a national toxicology laboratory that provides urine drug testing, primarily for substance use disorder and pain management providers. The settlement resolves allegations that between Jan. 1, 2013 and Dec. 31, 2022, the company submitted Medicaid claims based on a policy it had developed of using “non-allowable” blanket orders for urine drug testing without any physician making an individualized determination that such testing was medically necessary or reasonable for each instance.
Over the same period, Precision allegedly provided free point-of-care UDT cups to physicians in exchange for UDT referrals, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b).
Hawaii’s share of the restitution is directly related to identified instances wherein Precision had double billed the Hawaiʻi Medicaid Program.
3. Hawaii football alum Jeff Ulbrich elevated to interim head coach of New York Jets after Saleh fired
Woody Johnson sensed his struggling New York Jets needed a change — and now.
So the owner made the stunning decision Tuesday to fire coach Robert Saleh just five games into his fourth season after the team's 2-3 start following a 23-17 loss to Minnesota in London on Sunday. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, a University of Hawaii alumnus, was elevated to interim head coach.”
Saleh was 20-36 as coach of the Jets, who are trying to snap the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 13 seasons. The move marks the first time in Johnson’s 25-year tenure that a head coach has been fired during the season.
Ulbrich will be in place for the rest of the season — with the Jets maintaining expectations to make the playoffs.
The Jets face the Buffalo Bills (3-2) on Monday night, when they have a chance to share the AFC East lead with a victory. But instead of Saleh, it will be the 47-year-old Ulbrich leading the team on the sideline.
“He’s going to add a spark of positivity," Johnson said of Ulbrich, a UH linebacker who was part of the turnaround from a winless 1998 season to nine wins under June Jones in 1999.
Ulbrich, who played linebacker for 10 seasons with San Francisco from 2000 to 2009, joined the Jets as part of Saleh's initial staff in 2021. Ulbrich was an assistant with Atlanta for six seasons before coming to New York.
In a Jets press conference, Ulbrich expressed a fondness for Saleh.
“Great gratitude for him bringing me here,” Ulbrich said. “Great gratitude for staying by me. ... Year 1, we didn’t play the level of defense necessary to win games. He stuck with me, had great belief in me. The success I have today, he’s a huge part of that.”
"Today's an exciting day for myself, from the standpoint of getting this opportunity, but at the same time, heavy in my heart for Robert."
4. Public input wanted on a study to designate Kaena Point a national heritage area
There is a possibility of Oahu’s Kaena Point becoming a national heritage area and the National Park Service requests the public to provide input on a study to determine its feasibility.
Authorized by the National Heritage Area Act of 2023, the Kaena Point National Heritage Area study directs the Secretary of the Interior through the National Park Service, to evaluate the area’s natural, historic, cultural, educational and recreational resources, according to a news release.
The study will document the rich environmental and natural resources, stories, heritage, history and Native Hawaiian cultural values of Kaena Point and, if designated by Congress, how a potential new national heritage area would be organized and managed by a local entity.
The study will also assess community support of the designation as demonstrated by the Native Hawaiian people, residents, nonprofit organizations, businesses and local, state and federal agencies.
The public can share comments via this link through Nov. 25. Visit the NPS Kaena Point webpage for more information on the study and for a link to a virtual meeting on Oct. 23 from noon to 1:30 p.m. HST to share your comments.
5. Milton restrengthens into a Category 5 as it moves toward Florida
Hurricane Milton continues to strengthen as it passes to the north of the Yucatan Peninsula toward Florida. It's a Category 5 hurricane again. It is expected to make landfall on Florida's west coast late Wednesday night or early Thursday.
Milton formed into a tropical storm in the Bay of Campeche on Saturday, Oct. 5. It became a hurricane on Saturday, Oct. 6, and just a day later it was already a Category 5 hurricane with max winds of 180 mph as it moved across the Gulf.
Your Notes for Tomorrow
Wednesday, Oct. 9
- U.S. Supreme Court hears Richard Glossip death penalty appeal.
- New York City Ballet Fall Fashion Gala
- Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes and economic forecast published
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs in court charged with racketeering and sex trafficking
In Case You Missed It
(Spectrum News/Michael Tsai)
Manoa Pool will remain closed for repair work until Spring 2025
The Manoa Pool will remain closed for repair work until Spring 2025.
The Department of Parks and Recreation originally closed the pool on Sept. 3 after an algae buildup required intensive chlorination. As park staff scrubbed off the algae, plaster chipped off the pool, creating sharp edges on the pool surface. Staff also discovered loose tiles along the pool’s underwater surfaces, according to a news release.
In mid-September, DPR announced the pool would be closed, but did not provide a timeline for reopening. Now, the county agency says the work will take several months to complete and they expect to reopen the pool in Spring 2025.
DPR’s Maintenance Support Services Division is currently recruiting workers from on-site park staff to help demolish the deteriorating surfaces. DPR said this work will start later this month. Afterwards, crews will begin the resurfacing work, which includes resealing and repainting the entire 50-meter pool.