State roundup for October 20

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Man charged in beating death

Man charged in beating death

HONOLULU (AP) — A homeless man is facing murder charges in the beating death of another homeless person.

Authorities have charged 58-year-old Ronald Page with second-degree murder.

Honolulu police say Page assaulted 49-year-old Lynn Riley on Oct. 1 at Aala Park.

Riley was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to the medical examiner’s office, Riley died of bleeding within the skull caused by blunt force.

Police took Page into custody on Thursday at Tripler Army Medical Center.

Broadband data
sought by state

HONOLULU (AP) — Data collected from broadband speed tests will help Hawaii improve Internet access throughout the state.

The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs said Friday it recently launched a speed test campaign to gather information on how changes to Hawaii broadband services have affected residents.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie says that for a state as isolated as Hawaii, high-speed Internet can be transformative.

The Hawaii Broadband Initiative aims to improve connectivity around the state and provide affordable high-speed Internet access of up to a gigabit per second by 2018.

Broadband speeds can vary depending on a variety of factors. The state urges users to take the speed test several times on different days and at varying locations.

The speed test can be found at www.hibroadbandmap.org.Authorities seek escaped inmate

HONOLULU (AP) — Authorities say a 32-year-old inmate has escaped from Waiawa Correctional Facility.

State sheriffs and Honolulu police are searching for Raphael Hernandez after he went missing Saturday morning.

Officials say Hernandez was last seen during a 4 a.m. headcount but wasn’t present during a headcount two hours later. No details were given on how he escaped. He is a minimum security inmate serving five years for promotion of a dangerous drug. Officials describe him as being 6-foot-6, 190 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Hernandez, who is slated to be released in 2016, will likely now face escape charges when he’s captured, officials said.