As the effects of the storm continue with "epic" flooding being reported in Vermont, pundits and politicians alike are already calculating its implications on government policy....

The Battleship Missouri Memorial will commemorate the 66th anniversary of the end of World War II with a free ceremony on Friday, Sept. 2, 2011, from 8 to 9 a.m., on the Mighty Mo’s forward main deck. 

Nearly one of every 10 midsized or big employers expects to stop offering health coverage to workers after insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014 as part of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul....

A religious-discrimination lawsuit involving the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is taking a giant step forward this week, with a federal judge demanding a response from the Obama administration....

“The only place you’ve gone is to the Labor Board and you’ve put in one motion after another to even keep the Labor Board from being able to make a decision.” (said Abercrombie)…

One quick fix being touted by the administration to create the jobs America needs and so desperately wants is a continuance of the employment tax holiday....

Informational briefings will be held on Friday and Monday. A ratification vote is scheduled for next Thursday.

Cheating on tests is paying off big for the Hawaii Department of Education. The DoE has admitted--touted even--its effort to organize a cadre of part-time teachers to provide test answers to students statewide.

“the key driver of increasing state and local expenditures is health-care costs, especially Medicaid and subsidies for health-insurance exchanges under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009.”

How conservative are Hawaii’s Senators and Congresswomen?

Four endangered waterbirds, the Hawaiian moorhen, Hawaiian duck, Hawaiian coot, and Hawaiian stilt are known to exist in wetland locations adjacent to the proposed project site, and they are at risk of ... collisions with wind turbine generators....mitigation will include the development and testing of a self-resetting cat trap....

Corrected version of UH News Release....

“We have a comprehensive housing policy in Hawai'i that includes repairing and building public housing units where people feel safe in their community and proud of their home,” Governor Abercrombie said.

Washington, D.C., led the nation in economic confidence during the first half of 2011 with the only positive Economic Confidence Index score (+11) in the U.S....

A new report from the Department of Energy ... shows that "renewable" energy firms are heavily dependent on government support....

Myths about the dire effects of genetically modified foods on health and the environment abound, but they have not held up to scientific scrutiny. These crop modification methods are not dangerous.

The energy from hydrofracking can transform the U.S. energy outlook for a century. Let's not allow groundless fears to destroy our future....

"What’s All the Fuss About International Building Codes?” will be the topic of the August meeting of the Conservative Forum for Hawaii. The public is invited to the free forum on Sunday, 28 August, 2:00pm at the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort’s Polynesian Room, Banyan Dr, Hilo.

...Americans' confidence in the economy is sitting at its lowest point since March 2009, and in every state in the country, a vast majority of Americans see the economy as getting worse. Meanwhile, the number of people claiming new jobless benefits rose again last week....

...the Honolulu Star-Advertiser filed a Complaint asking the circuit court to order the Governor to publicly release the list of judicial nominees presented to him by the Judicial Selection Commission, now that the Hawaii Senate has consented to the Governor's appointment of Justice McKenna....

Perkins allegedly entered the home three times between August 11 and August 16, 2011. He is accused of verbally threatening the man once and leaving behind a threatening note on another occasion.

the U.S. Senate presents an unusual opportunity ... This decision is ... not a sacrifice....

...this is an opportune time for me to announce my decision to transition out of my role as chancellor during July 2012, to allow sufficient time to complete a search for a new chancellor....

Just 25% of Hawaii employers are adding jobs, another 15% are laying off ....

Military programs...have already been targeted for a minimum of $350 billion in cuts over 10 years, with the possibility of $600 billion more if the Super Committee fails to agree on other areas to cut — a strong possibility given Washington’s well-known gridlock.

...the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is becoming distracted by responding to routine natural disasters instead of preparing for catastrophic natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions....

Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of terrorist Hamas founder and leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef, will be speaking at Calvary Chapel Honolulu, 98-1016 Komo Mai Drive, Aiea -- Wednesday at 630PM.

As the only qualified offeror, SCOA’s decision not to appeal should in no way be interpreted as loss of interest. To the contrary, SCOA will remain ready to fulfill its commitments should the City not be able to proceed with Ansaldo due to any problems that might prevent them from fulfilling their offer.

Abercrombie today issued an Executive Memorandum on the Hawai'i Broadband Initiative and directed DCCA and DBEDT to lead the effort....

Horizon Lines Inc. (HRZ), the shipper negotiating a debt restructuring with its lenders, missed an Aug. 15 interest payment on its $330 million of convertible notes....

On Friday, the NY Times printed a harsh assessment of the state of the "green" economy—including a conclusion that the President's promise to create five million green jobs over 10 years has proven to be nothing more than "a pipe dream"....

Abercrombie last week appointed* Barry T. Mizuno to fill the Hawai'i County seat on the Board of Regents of the University of Hawai'i (UH).

Janney Capital Markets analyst Tony Wible is concerned that Disney's losing its magical touch with a Hawaiian timeshare resort where projected operating costs are spiraling out of control....

Last week the developer and the County of Hawaii filed their joint Brief in Opposition in C & J Coupe Family Limited Partnership v. County of Hawaii....

Attached is an Excel file with school-by-school results for the 2011 Hawaii State Assessment Program....

Palin's campaign would mark the first serious national effort by any conservative to come back from a post-modern Gramscian deconstruction attack. If successful, a Palin victory would signify a serious weakening to the ablilty of Gramscians to control the popular mind.

The Administration’s short-sighted effort to score a quick and easy military victory over Qadhafi’s regime failed to end the threat to civilians in “days not weeks,” as President Barack Obama promised. The administration now must scramble to develop and implement a long term strategy for a post-Qadhafi Libya.

Americans in Hawaii continued to set the national standard in wellbeing in the first half of 2011, followed closely by North Dakota....

What does a worn out and debunked fraud scheme do when it has exhausted its welcome around the world? It comes to Hawaii, of course.

Ghaddafi is/was the fourth-largest shareholder of Honolulu Rail contractor Ansaldo.  It appears that Ghaddafi's Libyan Investment Authority is undergoing a change in management ....

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – Death hovered behind a car window packed with figurines and Teddy Bears on a tract of Iraqi road with no name....

 It will now be up to the “super” commission to come up with a strategy or game plan that will set a course for the financial affairs of the nation.

She voted against a...proposal to mandate he inscription of a religious message at the Capitol Visitor Center....  A non-practicing Buddhist, Mazie would be the first non-theist to serve in the Senate.

One losing bidder in the procurement process advocated building the rail cars here- creating 150 local jobs on Oahu instead of in California. The losing bidder could also build and maintain the rail cars for $250 million less than what Ansaldo proposed. 

...as NASA sends its shuttles to museums, China is making great strides in its space program—with preparations under way for the launch of a Chinese spacelab in the next few weeks....

After being a territory for so long, achieving statehood represented a “coming of age” for Hawaii to many. To others, statehood also represented less positive aspects.

The states most dependent on federal spending could also see their credit ratings fall in the wake of a major deficit reduction deal if they fail to adapt accordingly.