Charlottesville Attack Was Domestic Terrorism
DLNR Sea Level Rise Adaptation Meeting Set for Hilo, Kona
Broken Trust Published 20 Years Ago
Rep Tupola Backs Forensic Audit for HART
Special Session to be Cancelled?
KHON: A special session on how to pay for the rest of Honolulu’s rail project may be in jeopardy.
State lawmakers told us they were committed to holding one, but now things are up in the air.
On Monday, lawmakers held an informational briefing, and grilled Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation officials for hours.
They used words like “crisis,” “uncertainty,” and “disappointing” when describing the troubled rail project. Some weren’t satisfied with the answers rail officials provided. One even told rail officials: “You should have done better.”
After an entire day’s worth of grilling, lawmakers still haven’t decided whether the state will help….
“Four years ago, we were told that a certain amount was sufficient funds. Two years ago, we were told a certain amount was sufficient funds,” said Sen. Laura Thielen, D, Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawaii Kai.
Lawmakers threw out ideas like extending or raising the GET or hotel taxes, or a combination of both.
“I want to be clear with the people of the state that either plan, raises taxes on them. it means they will be paying. whether through you, us, or both of us,” said Rep. Matthew LoPresti, D, Ewa Beach, West Loch Estates.
The line of questioning was harsh with many expressing their disappointment to HART officials over the way the project is being handled.
Either way, we’re told taxes must be raised to save the rail.
“It’s no longer your decision. It’s our decision to figure this out for you and I just don’t know why reasonable, intelligent people cannot figure this thing out,” Rep. Sylvia Luke, D, finance committee chair, told HART officials. “What you need is more money and front-loading right away to close the gap in revenues so we can save tax dollars in the long run. I just don’t know why you don’t get it.”
The city expressed its urgency on getting funding, saying the FTA needs to hear back from the city by Sept. 15 on how it’s going to come up with the money to finish the rail.
A special session in the Legislature must occur to get that money.
Lawmakers need to come up with a solution to fund rail. If both the House and Senate agree on the solution, then they can go into special session, which is tentatively scheduled for two weeks.
So far, nothing is set in stone.
read … Lawmakers grill rail officials on funding: ‘I just don’t know why you don’t get it’
Apo voices support for TMT
HNN: …While there are many that have voiced their concerns and disapproval, there is also what seems to be a silent majority in favor of the new telescope being built.
Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Peter Apo is one of the few who have spoken in favor of the TMT. He came on Sunrise to explain why he thinks the new telescope would help benefit not only Hawaiians, but the rest of the world….
read … Apo voices support for TMT
Definition of ‘Renewable Energy’ is Political
IM: What is renewable energy? Everywhere, it is nothing more than a political question. Politicians and bureaucrats define renewable energy. The definition varies by place and by year.
In Hawaii, burn anything in a garbage-to-energy, or biomass incinerator, and it is renewable energy.
In Hawaii, create biofuel using any fuel source and any conversion method, and it is renewable energy.
In Hawaii, destroy the entire Amazon rainforest to monocrop genetically engineered palm oil, and it is renewable energy.
Many other places around the U.S. and the world have carve-outs…..
read … In Hawaii, energy is black or white
DoH Bureaucratic Bottleneck Keeps 100lbs of Weed off Streets
CB: Hawaii dispensaries are frustrated that the health department hasn’t been more open with the certification status of marijuana testing labs….
Christopher Cole, director of product management for Maui Grown Therapies, said another batch of marijuana has been cleared by Hawaii’s only testing lab and that it should be on the shelf by Wednesday.
Tai Cheng, Aloha Green’s chief operating officer, said Aloha Green sold about 15 to 20 pounds of marijuana in the three days it was open and has roughly 100 pounds ready to be sold Wednesday.
Cheng isn’t worried about having the doors closed again. Aloha Green is about to open a new facility capable of making seven times the product the dispensary has been making so far.
Though the law allows the purchase of four ounces of marijuana every 15 days, customers have been buying smaller amounts to test out what strains work best to alleviate their symptoms resell on the street so they can get money to buy more.
It wasn’t until the last minute that the dispensaries learned Oahu-based Steep Hill Hawaii was only granted a provisional certification for testing dried marijuana flowers, not concentrates, like oils, or other products.
Dana Ciccone, CEO of Steep Hill Hawaii, said he expects the DOH to fully certify the lab in two weeks. Steep Hill can be testing much more marijuana than it’s currently getting.
“We feel that it’s a disservice to the patients that we’re forcing them to smoke and we would like to see the dispensaries offer other forms of ingestion,” Ciccone said….
SA: Pot dispensaries and state shift blame over rapid sellout
read … Dealers Moving Heavy Volume
Guam on Edge as Norks Chicken Out
QUICK HITS: