February 27, 2010 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, February 27, 2010

February 27, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 12:16 PM :: 8457 Views

LINK>>>Chile Earthquake: Tsunami estimated arrival in Hawaii 11AM NOAA warning “High Severity”

LINK>>>Djou, Aiona, Lingle joined by Karl Rove to rally 1000 at Hawaii Lincoln Day dinner

Printing plant key to Advertiser purchase

The Honolulu Advertiser’s $80 million printing facility in Kapolei is likely the key element in the purchase of the newspaper by Honolulu Star-Bulletin owner David Black.

Black, who also owns the Midweek weekly newspaper, revealed Thursday his plans to buy the Star-Bulletin’s crosstown rival from the Gannett Co. and attempt to sell the smaller Star-Bulletin or combine operations with the Advertiser if no buyer is found.

The purchase includes the Advertiser’s Web site, nondaily publications and Gannett’s interest in Hawaii.com. Gannett will continue to own the Advertiser’s headquarters at 605 Kapiolani Blvd., which it bought for $10 million in 1993.

ADV: Honolulu newspaper merger would mean name change, layoffs (how about “Democrat Advertiser Bulletin”)

ADV: Acquisition plans began in 2009 after big losses

SB: State likely will sit out as newspaper deal moves , Q&A with Star-Bulletin owner David Black

Senate Cttes agree to cuts in business tax increase

The proposal shrinks the average unemployment tax businesses would pay this year, from $1,070 to $630 per employee. But that's still the largest such tax hike in the nation -- a 600 percent increase from the $90 per employee that businesses pay now.

"Small businesses really need help now. We don't need shackles," Jason Princenthal, president of Honolulu-based Aircare Environmental Services, told senators on the committee. "Small businesses can't really tolerate the stress of any undue expenses."

Hawaii is burning through its unemployment funds at a rate of $30 million per month.

SB: Don't divert tobacco fund

As it is, just 6.5 percent of tobacco settlement money now goes into the Hawaii Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund: That's $3.2 million this year, down from $10 million yearly from 1999 through 2001. The Legislature diverts heftier chunks of the fund to other purposes, such as 28 percent to the University of Hawaii's new medical school and 25.5 percent to the state general fund through 2015. Despite overwhelming public testimony, House Bill 2887 moving through this Legislature aims to totally raid the tobacco-control portion through 2015 to boost the anemic general fund.

(The State needs to sell more tobacco now that it is the senior partner in the tobacco business)

UPW, Isles close to terms

Gov. Linda Lingle has signed a memorandum of agreement reached this week between the union and the four county mayors, said Marie Laderta, the state's chief labor negotiator.

The document still must be signed by Laderta and state Budget Director Georgina Kawamura before it can go to the Unit 1 membership for a ratification vote.

That should be done by "early next week," Laderta said yesterday. "It's being routed around right now and the intention is for us to sign it."

Aid to Hawaii high-risk children faces cuts

To save about 20 percent of an $18 million annual budget, the Health Department is proposing to change the eligibility requirements for its early intervention program, also known as the Part C program….

For example, a child with mild to moderate speech-language delays and behavioral issues with an autism spectrum diagnosis might no longer qualify for the program.

Under the new parameters, the at-risk children who were borderline would be excluded and their parents would have to seek out private early intervention service providers and pay thousands of dollars out of pocket.

State projects give contractors hope

Honolulu saw a 14.1 percent drop in construction jobs last year, but economists are expecting jobs to fall only by 7 percent this year.

The director also pointed to a number of freeway projects to improve traffic, including a $75 million P.M. contra-flow lane with median barrier for the H-1 freeway in the Pearl City viaduct, and a $100 million expansion at the Middle Street merge.

"With $130 million in federal funds annually, that tells you what we're doing in terms of sacrificing," said Morioka, adding that smaller neighbor island projects will be delayed as a result.

Jo Bautista, who does business development for Ace Land Surveying LLC, said she was encouraged by the number of projects planned, and that spending large chunks of federal money for bigger projects would be good for the economy.

"That means a lot of jobs for the construction industry," said Bautista. "On top of that, our roads need it. ... I think it's going to be good for the state."

Choke: HECO vows to address ‘green’ energy issues

Hawaiian Electric Co. told the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Friday that it would address concerns over the reliability of its service on Maui and the Big Island while continuing to accept more renewable electricity from photovoltaic systems without interruption.

HECO’s initial filing sought PUC approval to “temporarily defer” adding green power sources on those islands. It was unwelcome news to many in the renewable-energy industry, especially Neighbor Island solar companies that say they could be forced to shut down if the PUC approves the move.

ADV: Utility withdraws request for moratorium on some new power installations

Snobs demand property forfeiture for illegal fireworks: House Judiciary Passes Out Illegal Fireworks Bill

House bill 1987 would establish a cause of action to abate as a nuisance the illegal importing, transfer and sale of aerial devices, display fireworks or articles pyrotechnic. In addition, the measure would allow court ordered forfeiture of any place used in violation of the fireworks law.

ADV: Proposed Hawaii fireworks ban fizzling out in Legislature

Activists denied role in Army process: Depleted uranium handling license sought

"In short, Mr. Albertini fails to show either that the Army's licensing action involves a significant source of radioactivity, that the radioactivity produces an obvious potential for off-site consequences, or that his home -- which is 25 miles from Pohakuloa -- is sufficiently close to the site to be presumptively affected by an off-site consequence," the judges said in the order.

There were similar conclusions about the other plaintiffs.

Harden said she was somewhat encouraged the NRC agreed there may be more depleted uranium than the Army claims and the NRC wants a ban on high-explosive munitions in DU areas written into the license.

Bananas More Radioactive than Depleted Uranium

Depleted Uranium: Radioactive Propaganda

The Depleted Uranium Scam

Council denounces depleted uranium

RCP: The Return of ObamaCare--The Political Context (Abercrombie)

-Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii's 1st Congressional District will resign at the end of this month. The special election to replace him will be held May 22. Thanks to the peculiar election rules, Republicans actually stand a chance of replacing him.