The teachers union is again pushing for legislation to create a dedicated funding stream for public schools by taxing investment homes and visitor accommodations to pay for things like retaining teachers and expanding public preschool and after-school programs. Read more
As flu cases continue to rapidly escalate on the mainland, local health officials say it’s only a matter of time before the virus intensifies in the islands. Read more
The state Department of Health says it would cost the state an estimated $17 million to $24 million to erect a fence around the Hawaii State Hospital campus to satisfy a permit condition imposed by the Honolulu City Council that the facility be “fully secure.” Read more
Gov. David Ige on Monday defended his selection of the state’s deputy adjutant general to lead a probe of last week’s false missile alert and make recommendations for improvements, despite criticism from some lawmakers who contend the official is too close to the situation. Read more
Gov. David Ige was told last week’s missile alert was a false alarm just two minutes after the warning message was sent to cellphones across the state. Read more
Following a public legislative question-and-answer session today with Gov. David Ige and emergency management officials on Saturday’s false missile alert, some state lawmakers say they aren’t convinced the necessary controls are in place to prevent a similar error. Read more
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The controversy surrounding payments the campaign for the late U.S. Rep. Mark Takai made to a consulting firm run by the campaign’s treasurer intensified. Read more
A nonprofit campaign finance watchdog in Washington, D.C., has filed a formal complaint alleging that Dylan Beesley “illegally converted the late Congressman Mark Takai’s leftover campaign funds to personal use.” Read more
Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin is standing by the manager for his congressional campaign. Read more
The congressional campaign for the late U.S. Rep. Mark Takai has paid out nearly $90,000 for consulting services to a Honolulu firm run by the committee’s treasurer since Takai’s death. Read more
Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin, the state’s chief law enforcement officer, is seeking $2.5 million from the Legislature that he said would be used to respond to potential mass violence or civil disobedience events — and, possibly, demonstrations atop Mauna Kea. Read more
Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa officially launched her campaign for Hawaii governor Monday against Gov. David Ige, saying Hawaii needs new leadership at the top to tackle critical issues like lack of affordable housing and limited job opportunities for future generations. Read more
Economic experts in charge of forecasting Hawaii’s tax collections say the state’s revenue will grow at a slightly higher rate than expected, citing in part an anticipated stimulus effect from the Republicans’ federal tax cuts. Read more
A drawn-out legal battle over how much families are paid to care for foster children is headed to court, where attorneys say the dispute could end up costing the state significantly more than a multimillion-dollar settlement that was rejected last year by the Legislature. Read more
Some lawmakers are blasting a decision by the University of Hawaii to award $800,000 in pay raises and merit-based bonuses to university executives. Read more
The Hawaii Department of Education says it’s working with federal education officials to finalize the state’s plan for complying with new requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Read more
Legislators and Gov. David Ige fundamentally disagree on whether the use of legalized homeless camps known as safe zones are an effective way of helping the state’s massive homeless population. Read more
With construction of the city’s rail project working its way from West Oahu into urban Honolulu, rail officials say they may need to condemn portions of more than two dozen private properties from Iwilei through Kakaako to make way for the elevated transit system. Read more
The Hawaii State Ethics Commission has fined Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO George Szigeti and three other tourism officials more than $12,000 for allegedly violating the state’s Ethics Code when accepting and soliciting travel upgrades for business trips. Read more
State lawmakers plan to again consider imposing stricter regulations on so-called payday lenders issuing loans that can carry interest rates as high as 459 percent in Hawaii. Read more
Mike McCartney, Gov. David Ige’s chief of staff, has been moved into a lower-level position and salary — but gets to keep his old title — under what Ige describes as a reorganization of his office. Read more
