Entries for April 2020

...HHC approved the establishment of the DHHL COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program....

...tax revenue declines that could easily top 15-20% will almost certainly require reductions in some public programs....

...Honolulu City and County set record levels for low amounts of annual particle pollution....

...two new cases, 14 released....

...Do you remember to panic?  Media will try to remind you....

...WalletHub compared the 50 states across six key metrics. Each metric measures the percentage point increase or decrease in visits to various types of places due to coronavirus....

...suit against the Board of Education for holding a secret, closed door meeting last February, that resulted in denying her petition for rulemaking, violating the state Sunshine Law....

...the results indicate a lower risk of death among those with infection than was previously thought....

"...We also considered factors like how large and how crowded homes are in the state...."

...this is the smallest number of new cases in 2 months.... 

...Hawaiian Electric employees continue planning the renewable energy transformation....

...Only 6 new cases from 813 tests....

...Unless you like the idea of having doctors in rural areas being scarcer than toilet paper....

...Shelter-in-place Compliance Remains Low, UMD Research Finds....

...we have still not received a response to the question posed as to whether employees who are redeployed are still eligible to benefit entitlements provided by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act....

...After unions notified their members of the salary reduction idea Tuesday night, state officials informed union leaders the implementation date of the salary cuts has been delayed by at least one month, to June 1 instead of May 1.... 

"...We want to reassure you that the Governor has no legal authority, right, or privilege to unilaterally negate or disregard our current Unit 7 contract...."

...2.3% -- 21 of the 919 tests -- came back positive.  Another day with zero deaths....

...postponed to a date after May 29, 2020 or the termination of Gov. David Ige’s state of emergency, whichever is sooner....

...the Institute for Health and Metrics Evaluation model makes projections for when each state can safely begin relaxing social-distancing guidelines....

...Hawai‘i should emulate regional governments like South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and New Zealand, which have at least initially contained the virus through aggressive public health responses....

...Violations of these orders could result in a misdemeanor with fines of up to $5,000 and/or up to one year in prison or both....

...Feeling cooped up by the curfews and quarantines?....

...and Zero Deaths....

...Nelson’s scholarship focuses on the intersection of critical race theory and cultural studies....

...The rare species, which are now required to receive protection no later than Feb. 29, 2024, include 12 plants, one anchialine pool shrimp and a picture-wing fly....

...How many people will be willing to use a mode of transportation where others breathe, sneeze and cough 2-3 feet from their face....

...The Hawaiʻi Police Department three week combined total enforcement stands at 162 individual offenses (40 arrests, 115 citations issued, and 7 additional cases)....

...rather than handing out taxpayer dollars to these firms....

...11 new cases, 15 released, and zero deaths....

...Hawaii pension plan only 55% funded ranks 43rd among states....

...The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on many of America’s “non-essential” industries....

...Meetings will be conducted remotely, and all testimony must be written and sent to the respective commission 24 hours before each meeting.... 

...HDOT Airports Division has notified tenants of Dillingham Airfield the termination of their permit at the facility has been rescinded due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic....

...Representative Case says money from the CARES Act should be used for covering revenue losses....

...six of our nursing home residents were potentially exposed to COVID-19 during their stay at MMMC prior to being admitted to Hale Makua.  One of them has tested positive....

...Monday, April 20, 2020 5:30pm – 6:30pm....

...The lawsuit seeks Declaratory Judgment that the DOE has denied eligible students a free appropriate public education or FAPE....

...City and County of Honolulu to commemorate essential public transportation workers....

...and another day with zero deaths....

...Suspension, deferment of general excise tax collections....

...some specific steps to re-open sectors of our local economy at specific dates given the tiny rate of infections and hospitalizations in Hawaii....

...April 11, 2020,  Maui Mayor Michael Victorino rescinds exemption for King’s Cathedral’s drive-thru Easter service....

...An owner or operator of an Essential Business may refuse admission or service to an individual who fails to wear face coverings....

...We have closed our Kona Commons and McDonald’s of Walmart Kona locations for deep cleaning....

...Reached Agreement in Principle with an Interested Party for the Sale of Dean Foods’ Hilo Facility and Related Assets on the Big Island, Kauai and Maui as an Ongoing Business--Operations of Honolulu Facility Set to Close By April 30, 2020....

... Department of Labor and Industrial Relations seem to have dropped the ball ....

...Peter K. Kubota confirmed as Third Circuit Judge after Senate review.  Modified confirmation procedure used due to COVID-19 closures....

...Their plan includes a two-step process of first reopening the local economy, safely allowing businesses to operate and workers to return to their jobs, followed by the measured return of tourism.... 

...Paul Brewbaker shares his COVID-19 analysis and forecast with a joint meeting of three boards of REALTORS®....