Hawaii lawmakers may ease access to marijuana
Obama Finally Gets Around to Declaring Iselle Disaster
JSC Lists Nominees for First, Third Circuit Courts
Tuna Monument: Faleomavaega out in the Cold Again
The New Post-Inouye/Abercrombie Era in Hawaii Politics
UH president faces First-Ever censure over controversial firing of Manoa leader
SA: The Manoa Faculty Senate is expected to vote next week on a proposed resolution to censure University of Hawaii President David Lassner over his "precipitous" firing of Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple.
The move, if passed, would be a first for any UH administrator, according to longtime Manoa researcher and associate professor Bob Cooney, who is vice chairman of the Senate Executive Committee.
The committee unanimously approved bringing the resolution to the full Senate at a meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
"To my knowledge it's never been done before at UH. I don't know of a previous motion to censure even coming to the Senate," Cooney said.
Background: Apple Unredacted: Did Attack on Carbone's $300K 'Assistant' Precipitate Removal of UHM Chancellor?
read ... Lassner is #1
HMSA Plans Medicare Advantage Rate Hikes
PBN: The Hawaii Medical Service Association, the state's largest medical care insurer, is closing its current line of Medicare plans, called Akamai Advantage, and will restart them as new plans with higher premiums due to loss of revenue from underwriting miscalculations and smaller reimbursement rates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, sources told PBN.
An HMSA employee, who asked to remain anonymous, told PBN the change was necessary after the company began seeing financial losses from its Medicare program.
HMSA Medicare members will be notified of service closures by the end of September. The company plans to reintroduce new plans with higher premiums soon after; open enrollment starts on Oct. 15.
"CMS regulations prevent us from making any statements about our Medicare plans prior to October," Elisa Yadao, senior vice president of consumer experience at HMSA, said in a statement.
read ... Thanks, Obama
Sand Island Homeless Center to be in Fabric Building?
KITV: Expect to see a structure, courtesy of Honolulu firefighters, to be used as canopy or shelter for homeless families at Sand Island.
"The fire department owns a large tent which they use to cover their fire trucks and we will be borrowing their tent," said City Managing Director Ember Shinn.
City officials provided new details Friday as the state land board gave the nod to a three-year lease, despite objections by some community members over the plan.
read ... Not a Tent City?
HPD chief meets with lawmakers over assault video
KHON: Chief Louis Kealoha met with Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell Friday afternoon behind closed doors. They discussed concerns over Monday’s incident at a Waipahu restaurant.
Kealoha will also soon meet with the Hawaii Women’s State Legislative Caucus.
Lawmakers want answers about how this incident was and is being handled. They’re also looking for change and punishment for those involved.
“When I saw that video I was nauseated and furious,” said Sen. Laura Thielen, (D) Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawaii Kai.
“It was shocking,” said Rep. Della Au Belatti, (D) Makiki, Tantalus, Manoa.
“I was pretty horrified,” said Marci Lopes, executive director of the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Lawmakers and support groups are outraged over the actions of an HPD sergeant, and are calling for accountability. Chief Kealoha has agreed to meet with the Hawaii Women’s Legislative Caucus and City Council members in private on Thursday.
In two weeks, a public informational briefing will be held at the State Capitol.
read ... Assault Video
Hawaii Ranks #1 in Senior Pedestrian Fatalities
SA: For senior residents, crossing the street is especially hazardous, according to a recent report by Smart Growth America. Hawaii's per-capita fatality rate is the highest in the nation for older pedestrians: The report puts Hawaii's incidence at with 6.81 deaths per 100,000 adults 65 and older from 2003 to 2010.
The state — and Honolulu in particular — have been clued in on such unenviable statistics for some time.
read ... Beware of more uses, hazards on Oahu roads
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