Mental Illness: Hawaii has Lowest Rate of Involuntary Commitment in USA
UH Manoa offering sexuality studies courses on ‘oceanic gender’ and ‘queer dance’
Hawaii’s bold tax cuts and its impact on residents
HNN: … Hawaii recently enacted the most significant tax cuts in its history, which promise to impact residents positively.
Joe Kent, Executive Vice President of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, a non-profit, non-partisan public policy think tank, joined HNN’s Sunrise to explain how the tax reform program can help dissuade residents from moving to the U.S. continent and positively impact the state’s budget in the long term. He talked about benefits to middle income families, the surplus in state reserves, and the reasons behind Governor Josh Green’s $74 million budget cuts.
“This tax cut is major, but it starts small,” Kent explained. “This year, a family of four making $100,000 per year will get a tax break of $348. But the following year, it will get $1,600. And the year after that, $2,100. And so on.” ….
Kent said Governor Green made $74 million in spending cuts, a move that raised concerns among some lawmakers and residents. Kent believes the cuts are not a cause for concern.
“You should never worry about trimming back on government spending. In the grand scheme of things, these cuts amount to less than 1% of the budget,” Kent noted. “The budget is still growing by leaps and bounds. Since 2022, the budget has grown by 26%.”
Many of the cuts made by Governor Green were due to technical errors in the Legislature, where too much money was inadvertently allocated in certain areas….
HNN: Joe Kent joins HNN Sunrise about the Hawaii Legislature passing the biggest tax cuts in the history
read … Hawaii’s bold tax cuts and its impact on residents
Condos' High-Rising Insurance Premiums Are A Top Issue In These Legislative Races
CB: … Jillian Anderson was planning to make fighting crime in Waikiki the top issue in her campaign for a seat in the Hawaii House of Representatives. Then came the letter from her condo association announcing a 300% increase in insurance premiums, which would be passed on to owners through an assessment.
That amounts to approximately $2,000 for Anderson, she said. Now, she added, critical issues facing condo owners in Waikiki and the rest of Hawaii — especially spiking insurance costs — top her agenda.
“Before my No. 1 issue was public safety,” says Anderson, a 27-year-old Republican office manager for Rep. Gene Ward. “In terms of immediate needs and having to find immediate solutions, this has risen to the top of the list.” ….
read … Condos' High-Rising Insurance Premiums Are A Top Issue In These Legislative Races
Miske Trial: “On most trial days, the row of seats reserved for news media has been empty”
ILind: … The 6-month racketeering trial of former Honolulu businessman Michael J. Miske Jr. concluded Friday afternoon after his lead attorney, Reno-based Michael Kennedy, completed his closing statement and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Inciong followed with a brief rebuttal. All that remains is the verdict. The jury will begin deliberations tomorrow.
For the second day in a row, the courtroom was again almost full as the defense began its summation, unlike most days over the past six months when there were few spectators, apart from the defendant’s mother and a few family members. On most trial days, the row of seats reserved for news media has been empty….
ILind: Miske jurors make first request to the judge
Flashback July 15,2020: Oahu businessman Mike Miske Jr. indicted in kidnapping and murder of Hawaii Kai man
read … Miske defense attempts to plant seeds of doubt
Maui Still Isn't Releasing That Big ATF Report On The Lahaina Fire. Here's What They're Saying Now
CB: … Maui County still hasn’t released the long-awaited federal investigative report on the cause and origin of the deadly Aug. 8 Lahaina fire.
Why?
It needs “additional formatting,” the county said last week.
We’re sure you’re wondering, as we are, just what the heck that means. Margins added? Double spaced instead of single?
You’re probably thinking, as The Sunshine Blog is, that this is really just good old-fashioned stalling.
Could it, The Blog wonders, have anything to do with a rumored about-to-break multibillion-dollar settlement in the zillion lawsuits against Maui County, Hawaiian Electric Co. and a bunch of other defendants? Hmmmm …
July 10, 2024: Maui Fire, ATF officials 'clarify' process for ATF cause and origin report on Lahaina wildfire
read … The Sunshine Blog: Maui Still Isn't Releasing That Big ATF Report On The Lahaina Fire. Here's What They're Saying Now
State law extends reporting time for child sex abuse
SA: … A new law would extend the time period to initiate civil actions for childhood sexual abuse committed on or after July 1, recognizing the cognitive and emotional barriers that often delay disclosure.
Gov. Josh Green signed Senate Bill 2601 into law last week, extending the reporting period for childhood sexual abuse from the previous limit of 26 years old to 50 years old….
read … State law extends reporting time for child sex abuse
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