Hawaii Congressional Delegation How They Voted March 8, 2020
Forest Service, DLNR Sign 'Shared Stewardship' Agreement
Crossover: Republican Legislative Update
Elderly man who recently traveled to Washington state becomes Hawaii’s second coronavirus case
SA: … The man began showing symptoms while in Washington state earlier this month, they said. More than 60 people in Washington have tested positive for the virus.
The man, who was not identified, returned to Hawaii March 4 and visited an urgent care facility, where he was tested for the virus after informing medical personnel he had been to Washington, Park said.
The man returned home after his clinic visit and remained there until March 7, when an ambulance was called because he had become seriously ill. He is now in isolation (at Kaiser Moanalua), Park said.
Anderson said the man is in “serious condition” but did not offer additional details.
There have not been any reports of the virus originating from within the state, Ige said. “We have no evidence of community spread of the virus,” he said….
However, unlike the first case, the second patient was showing symptoms when he boarded his flight back to Honolulu, when it was more likely that could infect others, Anderson said.
Anderson and Park said the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is heading the investigation into the new Hawaii case, including attempts to identify and assess people the man came into contact with during his return flight from Washington and after his arrival in Hawaii.
Officials are trying to identify who sat next to the patient, as well as the two rows in front and behind him, state epidemiologist Sarah Park said.….
Kaiser Permanente confirmed that its Moanalua medical facility “has one coronavirus patient in isolation and as previously reported, is also overseeing the care of a patient who is home in self-isolation.”…
SA: Patient in his 90s ‘very ill’ with coronavirus after returning from Washington state
read … Elderly man who recently traveled to Washington state becomes Hawaii’s second coronavirus case
Rail a heavy lift designed to force next mayor to raise property taxes
SA Editorial: … Caldwell’s budget calls for $71 million to be used for train system operation and maintenance during its first six months. Given Oahu’s relatively flat property tax picture — along with expected economic hits related to the coronavirus outbreak — it’s unsettlingly unclear where the city will find additional funding.
The proposed fiscal 2021 operating budget, which tops 2020’s by 5%, includes some price hikes in fees, such as for golfing on municipal courses, and for city permits. But there’s no proposed increase in a major source of revenue: property tax levies.
Among possible budget cuts should be a further scaling back — or postponing — of envisioned improvements at aging Blaisdell Center. Amid financial uncertainty over the $9.2 billion rail line — and with a new Aloha Stadium complex in the works — Caldwell announced last month that much of a planned Blaisdell makeover would be on hold. Yet, his budget request for capital improvement projects inexplicably includes $43.6 million in the coming year for the center’s concert hall.
Caldwell leaves office in January — and five of nine City Council seats are up for grabs in this year’s elections. If mayoral and Council candidates intend to hold steady on the city’s reluctance to raise property taxes, they must also explain how they intend to cover future annual costs for rail operations and other proposals tethered to hefty price tags….
read … Rail a heavy lift for city budget
Three Legal Snags for Na Pua Makani -- Kahuku Wind Farm
IM: … There are three unresolved legal issues which we hope will affect the industrial turbine project’s ability to operate in Kahuku. The challenge to the inadequate habitat conservation plan that does not meet the requirements of the endangered species act is in the intermediate court of appeals, the Life of the Land’s Motion for Relief, which seeks to invalidate the power purchase agreement between HECO and the Na Pua Makani wind project as it did not meet the legal requirements in that process and most recently the Keep the North Shore Country petition with the Honolulu Zoning Board of Appeals, as they wrongfully permitted Na Pua Makani turbines to be located closer to homes and schools than legally allowed under the Land Use Ordinance….
read … Three Legal Snags for Na Pua Makani -- Kahuku Wind Farm
Judge clears courtroom on opening day of Abigail Kawananakoa hearing
SA: … A three-day hearing to determine whether a conservator will be named to handle the financial affairs of Abigail Kawananakoa opened in First Circuit Court this morning.
Following a brief opening session, however, Judge James Ashford cleared members of the public from the courtroom, citing an earlier ruling to protect the medical and financial affairs of the 93-year-old Campbell Estate heiress….
Related: Kawananakoa Estate: Sex, Drugs, and Inequality
read … Judge clears courtroom on opening day of Abigail Kawananakoa hearing
Bill would protect school newspapers’ rights
SA: … House Bill 1529, which crossed over to the Senate for further consideration, would allow public high school journalists to exercise freedom of speech and freedom of the press without censorship or the risk of disciplinary action by the school administration, although libelous or obscene material would be excluded from the protections offered by the bill.
A public hearing on the bill is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. Wednesday in Conference Room 229 at the Capitol.
The measure protects student media advisers from being dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred or retaliated against for allowing students to exercise their rights as student journalists.
Under the bill, which has been dubbed the Hawaii Student Free Expression Act, school officials would have the burden of promptly justifying any limits they place on publication of the students’ journalism. The bill was introduced last year but did not receive a hearing in 2019….
read … Bill would protect school newspapers’ rights
Aviation groups want Dillingham Airfield to keep flying
SA: … The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, representing the general aviation interests of over 1,000 members in Hawaii, said in a letter to Gov. David Ige dated March 2 that it was asking for at least a 14-month postponement of the termination to provide sufficient time to identify a new sponsor for the airport and figure out new management for the community water system.
AOPA and members of the state Legislature “are ready to work with your administration and with the U.S. Army” to find a solution, Melissa McCaffrey, with AOPA’s Western Pacific Region, wrote to the governor, but DOT Airports “has not been willing to hear from the impacted stakeholders and put effort into a solution which would avoid the loss of hundreds of jobs.”
The United States Parachute Association, meanwhile, said in a letter to the FAA, also dated March 2, that it was imploring the federal agency to not release DOT Airports from its grant obligations.
“Dillingham Airfield is a thriving civil airport with 11 aviation business that employ some 133 people,” Executive Director Edward Scott said. Businesses there attract some 55,000 visitors each year, according to USPA.
Dillingham Airfield “is the very picture of the success of a general aviation airport in receipt of FAA funds,” Scott said.
Tom Sanders, who has run Paradise Air Hawaii at Dillingham for 17 years, is threatening legal action if the state follows through on its plan.
“On July 1 I’m homeless. So we’re not going to take this lying down,” said the owner of the powered hang glider flight school….
read … Aviation groups want Dillingham Airfield to keep flying
Cult Member Annoys Family
CB: … No one in Charessa Fryc’s family believes in cutting back on carbon emissions: not her family in the Philippines, on the mainland or here in Hawaii. She struggles to even casually bring up the subject at the dinner table.
“It gets really hard because it is emotional for me,” the University of Hawaii student said. “But even if you have the facts and figures as soon as you get emotional … you lose.”
If she wants her family to use less plastic, it’s up to her to supply the reusable flatware. The responsibility also falls on her to collect and wash the plates, cups and silverware after the meal.
“Sometimes they’ll be like ‘Why do you even bring that stuff?’ which makes me sad because it’s important to me to use my green kit and yet I still feel like I’m being made fun of,” she said….
The latest episode of “Are We Doomed? And Other Burning Environmental Questions” addresses how to talk about climate change without losing friends or offending family….
As Explained: Crichton: Environmentalism is a religion
read … How Do You Talk To People About Climate Change Without Freaking Them Out?
Charles Djou: Why I’m Not Running For Honolulu Mayor
CB: … The 2016 candidate and veteran lawmaker is taking up a residency at the U.S. Army War College…..
read … Charles Djou: Why I’m Not Running For Honolulu Mayor
Legislative News:
Corona Virus news:
QUICK HITS: