Entries for February 2020

...Cameras can catch cars that run red lights, but that doesn’t make streets safer....

...the District Court had awarded nominal compensation ($1), after the jury concluded that the State of Hawaii took Aina Lea's property....

...Hawaii annual per capita tax collections are $6,640....

...The Circuit Court of the Third Circuit (Hawaii island) is seeking applications for independent grand jury counsel for Hilo and Kona....

...said state Sen. Mike Gabbard (D-Kapolei-Makakilo), who introduced the measure, “This is the right thing to do!”....

...House cuts funding for TMT enforcement from state budget—Ige Wanted $65M to Not Enforce Law on Mauna Kea....

...House Bill 1902 to ban most standard capacity magazines is now eligible for a floor vote in the House at any time....

...Analysis of the vaping industry in Hawaii, including economic data, state health department findings on vaping-related lung illnesses, youth e-cigarette use, tobacco retail compliance checks, and state funding dedicated to tobacco control programs....

...The biggest issue is concern over privacy. VMTs could allow the government to track drivers....

...Hawaii Population lost: -7,047 -- Population decrease: -0.50%....

...Public debate falls into two schools of thought as to why housing costs are so high....

...Whenever we as gun owners object to yet another second amendment infringing law, we hear the same old line, "well, we have to do something," but year after year, law after law is passed, and it changes nothing....

...Diamond Garcia's own journey from hardship to hope is reflective of the challenges many face in his hometown of Nanakuli....

...the state is staring at a looming major debt crisis, projected at the moment to total $88 billion over the next 30 years....

...Thursday, February 27, 6:30–8:30 p.m. in room 125, on the Waiʻanae Moku campus of LCC....

...As Threats Increase, Annual Assessment Finds Hawaii's Level of Readiness for Health Emergencies dropping....

...The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) permits students to transfer to another public school but only if their current public school meets the state definition of a “persistently dangerous” school....

...the current system preys on innocent property owners....

...without mentioning Omidyar, the New York Times reports ‘Protect Democracy’ is the nonprofit behind a recent letter signed by over 1,100 former US DoJ officials calling upon US Attorney General William Barr to resign....

...the bill would grant Jones Act exemptions to any state or territory not served by at least three Jones Act ocean carriers....

...The new member would replace Associate Justice Richard Pollack, who will be required to step down when he reaches age 70 in July 2020....

...This year’s Legislature has produced some unique proposed solutions to deal with our housing crisis....

...Votes in Congress and Bills introduced from GovTrack.us....

...the equivalent of a 16% property tax hike on the residential rate....

...What's alive after first lateral?....

...Volunteers helped pull invasive plants around the Visitors Information Station, while also learning to identify seedlings of native species sprouting near the parking lot....

...Kia’i protestors Wong and Perez were quoted as saying in the Tribune-Herald that, “dirty tactics” were being used. Well now that’s rich coming from the protestors....

...The position has been vacant since the retirement of Circuit Judge Greg K. Nakamura in November 2019....

...Assisted Suicide: 3 modified safeguards now only 2....

...“If OHA has nothing to hide, it should be willing to open its records to the state auditor”. -- Trustee Keli'i Akina ....

...the tax on gasoline would begin at $8.22 per barrel in 2021 and top out at $23.16 per barrel in 2030....

...In 2019, Hawaii’s legislature nearly enacted a resolution establishing Meatless Mondays in Hawaii’s public schools....

...HHFDC to decide how many units go to OHA and/or DHHL.... 

...More mandates and government red tape won’t build houses....

...Will 2020 be the year of an Hawaii Airport Corporation?....

... Hawaii is currently “short” by approximately 820 physicians ....

...Giffords Center recommends legislators, "...direct funding to evidence-based, community-driven violence intervention strategies...."

...Waipahu is the least Spanish-speaking place in the USA....

...measures of quality of life and community well-being for 42 communities throughout the state....

...CLUE: 28.4% RPS does not equal 28.4% of electricity coming from so-called renewables.  It means that the nameplate capacity of renewable producers is equal to 28.4% of electricity production.  They hope you don’t know this but now you do....

...SB2140 relating to taxation, extending the period in which a county may adopt a surcharge on state GE Tax ... to June 30, 2021....

...Federal aid is allocated to states for a variety of purposes, primarily to supplement state funding for programs or projects deemed to be of national interest, such as Medicaid payments, education funding assistance, infrastructure assistance, and more....

...Hawaii individual income tax tops out at 11%....

...provide greater clarity to various provisions of the State Ethics Code, HRS chapter 84 (including but not limited to the gifts law, gifts reporting law, fair treatment law, and conflicts of interests law); and various provisions of the Lobbyists law, HRS chapter 97 (including but not limited to reporting and registration requirements for lobbyists)....

...establishing a remote legislative access program that would allow individuals to present oral testimony at legislative committee hearings....

...Senator Brian Schatz February 4, 2020, tweeted, “Is there any solid reason to be against ranked choice voting? I’m honestly asking.”  OK.  We’re honestly answering....

...Dillingham Airfield Can be Better off Without Airports Division....

...Hui Chen is a member of the Complex Litigation, Fraud, and Compliance Unit, and will be tasked with investigating, reviewing, and consulting on compliance issues within state government....

...The Hawaii State Senate today confirmed William J. Aila to be Chair of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, Department of Hawaiian Homelands and Tyler I. Gomes to be Deputy....