November 14, 2009 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, November 14, 2009

November 14, 2009 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 1:31 PM :: 8161 Views

SSgt Patrick Zeigler, Radford HS Grad shot at Ft Hood, needs your support

This website http://www.healpatrickzeigler.com/ provides information and a link to a trust fund that has been established to benefit Staff Sergeant Patrick Zeigler and his immediate family towards the medical rehabilitation and related medical expenses. SSgt. Zeigler was a victim of the November 5, 2009 shootings at Fort Hood.

The Zeigler family appreciates all of the prayers and support during this difficult time.

SSG Zeigler, Patrick Trust Account
American National Bank of Texas
5809 Wesley St.
Greenville,TX 75402
(903) 455-7592

SB: Radford grad is shot 4 times but survives Texas tragedy

HFP: Heroes of Ft Hood -- and Obama's frightening insensitivity following shooting

Court rejects UPW suit to stop state layoffs

In court yesterday, Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto said Gov. Linda Lingle is within her rights to fire workers to balance the budget.

Union attorney Charles Khim represented two United Public Worker members who lost their job at a Big Island prison Lingle closed to save money. Khim argued that "there is no great economic downturn. ... The governor said that because the HGEA (Hawaii Government Employees Association) gave in to furloughs, we got enough money."

Lisa Ginoza, first deputy attorney general, told Sakamoto, "Mr. Khim does not have any facts; there are a lot of inaccuracies."

Sakamoto replied, "I agree."

Although Sakamoto allowed the case to continue as a class-action lawsuit, he denied Khim's request for a preliminary injunction, saying that "the state has a constitutional obligation to balance the budget, maintain fiscal responsibility."

ADV: Move to block layoffs denied

Manufactured Chaos: Union bosses, Advertiser, Legislators step up to help HMSA fleece members

The Advertiser's HMSA flacks include... The leaders of the Hawai'i Government Employees Association, the University of Hawai'i Professional Assembly and the United Public Workers said such disruptions would be "unacceptable" and urged that existing health care plans be continued for six months while problems are resolved....and...State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Nanakuli, Makaha), and several other lawmakers have urged the EUTF to suspend open enrollment because of potential confusion about the instructions....and..."For many years, EUTF enrollees have never been automatically defaulted to another carrier," wrote state Rep. Ryan Yamane, D-37th (Waipahu, Mililani), the chairman of the House Health Committee....

But EUTF, and HMSA's competitors at HMA, claim the state's largest health insurer has created the confusion by alarming government workers.

Harris Nakamoto, HMA vice president and general manager, said HMSA made a blunder by choosing to administer the new health care option with the 80 percent to 20 percent co-payment and is now trying to undo its mistake.

HMA stands to gain new customers by default through the open enrollment process.

Nakamoto said HMSA made a similar tactical mistake earlier this year and ended up being temporarily dropped by the Hawai'i State Teachers Association in favor of HMA.

"It's typical of a big gorilla going ahead and trying to unravel something," he said. "They're trying to blame people for their own mistake."

MORE: HMSA e-mail riles benefits trust fund

Kamehameha teacher, accused of sexual misconduct in 1992, resigns because of allegation 'distractions'

SB: Chun, who made the announcement yesterday, said criminal background checks conducted by an outside firm prior to the hiring of Gardipee in 2002 did not uncover any criminal convictions. "We confirmed that all charges in the criminal suit brought against him in Wisconsin were dismissed," Chun said. (So KS knew of the allegations when KS hired him???)

(Now lets get rid of the CONVICTED child molester in the Legislature.)

The OTHER molester: Child molester back at work at Hawaii Legislature

Lingle won't use $35M stimulus to ease Hawaii school furloughs

Smith reiterated that the governor intends to spend the money on education improvements required under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and that it will be split between the University of Hawai'i and the state Department of Education.

Earlier this week, Charter Schools Executive Director Maunalei Love indicated that charters were promised $24 million of the $35 million. But Smith said it is premature to say exactly how much charters will receive.

"We know that the charter schools have done an excellent job of putting together a plan that would have them spending up to $24 million. It is a little too early to say whether that is the total that they will receive," Smith said.

University of Hawaii coach's $1.1M salary raising grumbles

He is worth every penny because he teaches competition and success. If they take this $1.1M they will use it to keep "American Studies" open. "American Studies" should be closed because it serves no academic purpose and instead is dedicated to the spread of Gramscian propaganda.

RELATED: Antonio Gramsci Reading List

"The fix is in": Who's the top cop?

The Honolulu Police Commission could select a new police chief Wednesday.... The commission was blasted about the hiring process after two candidates were added to a short list created by a selection committee. Two committee members resigned last week after the decision was made.

ADV: Public gets say in chief search

Hawaiian Telcom's $460M reorganization gets OK (Al Hee won't be listening in on the party line)

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Lloyd King yesterday confirmed the management-led turnaround, which slashes more than $800 million of the company's debt.

King picked the stand-alone plan ahead of a competing, $400 million offer by rural telecommunications provider Sandwich Isles Communications Inc. (so sad)

Congressional report nails Sandwich Isles Communications: One of worst ten abusers , Sandwich Isles Communications: Political Connections Pay Off

Hawaii County sues over water tank

HILO -- A dispute that's been bubbling below the surface for five years has finally erupted in a lawsuit over the county's defective and unusable $1.9 million water tank.

The delay in addressing the problem is due in large part to a lack of penalty or performance clauses in the contract. But the contract does contain an indemnification clause, which the county claims puts the onus on Hilo project consulting firm Wesley R. Segawa & Associates to make the project right.

LINK: Hawaii's 2010 election schedule violates new federal law