Ige issues proclamation to begin reopening businesses and malls, but Oahu and Maui delayed
Gov. David Ige clarified tonight that Maui and Oahu will not be reopening their malls and retail outlets just yet. Read more
Gov. David Ige clarified tonight that Maui and Oahu will not be reopening their malls and retail outlets just yet. Read more
Auditors from the national labor organization American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees have suggested that the UPW executive board might seek repayment from four staff members of the union. Read more
Most Hawaii businesses remain closed and the stay-home orders have not yet been lifted, but plans are already in the works to begin marketing the state to tourists as “the safest place on earth.” Read more
Gov. David Ige’s announcement Wednesday that he approved requests by the counties to allow some low-contact businesses to reopen means Hawaii is cautiously joining the other states with the lowest COVID-19 infection rates as they begin a step-by-step process to restart their local economies. Read more
A video system set up to let the public watch meetings of the Honolulu rail authority’s board of directors failed Tuesday for the second time this month, but rail board members proceeded with their meetings anyway and voted to approve nearly $40 million in new rail project change orders and contracts. Read more
Hawaii is in line to receive close to $7 billion in various kinds of federal assistance to help it survive the coronavirus pandemic and to help with what is expected to be a long slog to an economic recovery, according to U.S. Rep. Ed Case. Read more
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Case told the House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness this morning that Hawaii individuals, businesses and other organizations have already received an estimated $4.5 billion. Read more
That remark drew a sharp rebuke from state Senate President Ron Kouchi. Read more
After nearly a month of stay-at-home orders, policymakers are considering the first steps to carefully begin to reopen the state, state Health Director Bruce Anderson said Wednesday. Read more
The head of the state’s largest public worker union is urging Gov. David Ige to borrow money from the federal government if necessary to avoid deep pay cuts for public workers, and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said Tuesday he also wants to explore the borrowing option to help close a $1.5 billion state budget shortfall caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
The number of identified coronavirus cases in Hawaii inched upward to 586 Tuesday based on two new positive test results, while the number of COVID-19 deaths in the state reached 12. Read more
An “irate” citizen reported one of the visitors was posting on Instagram, showing her being out of her hotel room in violation of the state’s self-quarantine mandate. Read more
The IRS payments are generally $1,200 per adult and $500 per child, although some adults who are listed as dependents on their parents’ or others’ tax returns are excluded and will receive no payments. Read more
The state is poised to send out the first of many thousands of weekly $600 “plus-up” unemployment payments to laid-off workers, according to Scott Murakami, director of the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Read more
Gov. David Ige said Monday that Hawaii’s stay-at-home order probably will be extended past April 30, but said the state is looking at loosening some local restrictions on specific activities such as delays in elective surgeries. Read more
Ige said he has been consulting with the four county mayors, and expects to make an announcement by the end of the week. Read more
Rail officials are proposing a complex change order worth $70 million to $100 million that would expand the amount of work to be done by contractor Shimmick/Traylor/Granite JV, which is now building the rail guideway and stations through the airport area. Read more
Gov. David Ige’s plan to impose 20% pay cuts for teachers and many other public workers quickly encountered resistance Wednesday from both the public worker unions and some leading state lawmakers. Read more
The Ige proposal would impose actual pay cuts for the first time since the “furlough Fridays” of the Great Recession. Read more
The state hopes to start distributing by April 22 the first of many thousands of checks that will include the extra $600 per week in unemployment benefits that has been promised by the federal government, according to Scott Murakami, state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations director. Read more
Despite the discouraging stream of announcements of new coronavirus cases that have been detected in Hawaii, data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows that as of Monday this state had the third- lowest per capita infection rate of any state. Read more