Despite gains made under Justice Department oversight, care of mentally ill prisoners has slipped to troubling levels in recent years.

A state “vision report” says “Mom and Pop stores would thrive and gentrification would be mitigated.” It just doesn’t say how.

After a federal court overturned a national limit on the price of the calls, activists turn to state and local governments.

The deaths of eight inmates, including five suicides, at local correction facilities during the last 18 months have spurred calls for changes.

A bill decriminalizing the possession or sale of pipes, bongs and other drug paraphernalia is cruising through the Legislature, despite strong opposition from prosecutors.

A proposal to reduce the use of and length of inmate isolation is headed for a vote of the full Hawaii Senate.

In the rush to build a new prison, the Legislature is likely to shunt aside the work of a task force it created just last year.