Carlisle Skips Salt Lake Forum: “Something about demographics”
Meanwhile, forum organizers said former prosecutor Carlisle's staff called with bad news five hours before the forum.
“He was not going to make it,” moderator Steve Glanstein announced. He told the audience Carlisle’s staff told them the reason was “something about demographics. Everyone is very upset about this.”
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Democratic gov candidates off to an uninspiring start
The anticipated first showdown this week between Democrats Mufi Hannemann and Neil Abercrombie turned out to be neither illuminating nor interesting.
The candidates for governor were hosted by the Hawaii Publishers Association in what was expected to be the match that would light the fire in this sparkless campaign.
Much of the campaign has been about when Hannemann would declare his candidacy and whether this was good or bad. The rest of the campaign has been about how much the two old political rivals would savage each other and whether that would help the campaign of leading GOP candidate Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona.
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Massive failure hidden in DoE’s recent test score improvements
Despite making steady improvement in overall test scores, most Hawaii public schools continue to see a sizable group of students who are "well below" proficiency levels in reading and math, school-by-school results released yesterday show.
At 221 of the state's 286 public and charter schools, the percentage of students in one or more grade levels who tested "well below" proficiency in math in the Hawaii State Assessment reached or exceeded 25 percent.
Reading proficiency was better. Even so, in 117 schools at least a quarter of students in one or more grade levels tested "well below" proficiency.
The results come as schools face proficiency goals that go up another notch under No Child Left Behind this year, and also begin major curriculum shifts to align with national standards.
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Hannemann still dogged by Pittsburgh fundraiser
Honolulu attorney John McLaren, who has targeted Hannemann with other complaints, is asking U.S. Attorney Florence Nakakuni, state Attorney General Mark Bennett and acting City Prosecutor Douglas Chin to investigate the legality of Hannemann’s Pittsburgh fundraiser hosted by Paul Overby, a former executive of Bombardier, a potential bidder for the $230 million contract to provide the rail cars for the city’s transit system.
If any of the the law enforcers take up the investigation my interest level will rise considerably, but the complaint appears scattershot and speculative at this point.
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Another Hannemann Lie: “I Alone Went to Public Schools”
In this case, it appears, based on what his spokeswoman told Civil Beat, that he's using education as another way to emphasize that he's a man of the people. But that's where the problem arises. Abercrombie did attend at least one public school….
Hannemann … earned a scholarship to Iolani, one of Hawaii's most prestigious private schools. He graduated Cum Laude and earned the Headmaster's Award, according to his website's personal bio, was accepted to some of the best private colleges in the country — Brown, Cornell, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale — and attended Harvard. As a Fulbright Scholar, he went back to public school — Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand.
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Floating nuclear plant stirs interest and apprehension
"The nuclear plant can be an offshore floating platform, other places have done it," said Prevedouros who knew talk of a floating nuclear plant would stir interest and apprehension. "Obviously every time you raise nuclear energy it's a show stopper."
"Blue Planet Foundation definitely appreciates out of the box thinking but we think there are cheaper, cleaner and safer ways to power our future on this island," said Jeff Mikulina of Blue Planet Foundation. (Enviros are against nuclear because if nuclear was allowed, all of their green energy $cheme$ would be shorn of their CO2 excuse.)
Despite criticism Prevedouros maintains his position and says 15 nuclear submarines already call Pearl Harbor home.
(In other words, we already have floating nukes, they just aren’t being used to produce electricity for the civilian market.)
Prevedouros: Clarification on energy priorities
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State bar's evaluation process for judges is inherently unfair
By William C. McCorriston and Robert G. Klein
Confidentiality is not the issue. Bar members should be free to express candidly their opinions without the prospect of retribution. The unfairness derives from two sources: (1) The HSBA's published criteria for qualifications do not appear to be followed; and (2) Neither the nominee, the public nor even HSBA members are informed of the reason(s) a nominee is found to be unqualified.
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Officials To Move Kakaako Homeless: Illegal Campers On The Move Again
On Monday Aug. 16, work crews will begin grading and paving several empty lots where many homeless campsites have sprung up.
The Hawaii Community Development Authority which oversees Kaakako, said it gave the campers notice of the work planned for the area.
“We warned them that on Aug. 1 we would be mobilizing and that Aug. 16 is likely the final day they would see the construction activity will take place,” said HCDA executive director Anthony Ching.
On Thursday police and work crews moved in to pressure wash the sidewalks around the lots. (Excellent move! Keep them uncomfortable until they accept shelter spaces.)
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Enviros try to force Bunda off the Ballot
Michael Howden, who works in acupuncture(#1) and lives in Kula(#2), today asked the state Office of Elections for a declaratory ruling on whether former state Sen. Robert Bunda’s nomination papers for lieutenant governor are invalid….
Howden, who unsuccessfully ran for Maui County Council two years ago, said he was told about the potential problem with Bunda’s resignation from a political associate whom he would not identify.
http://michaelhowden.org/ (Endorsed by Sierra Club, natch.)
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Election Season on Kauai: Bynum and Asing trade barbs over unfairness and half-truths
Council Vice Chair Jay Furfaro intervened, trying to stop personal discussion.
“I don’t want to know about you guys’ ukana (personal possessions or baggage),” said Furfaro, adding he would support putting the items on the agenda.
Bynum proceeded to give yet another explanation.
“I met with the chair,” he said, before being abruptly interrupted by Asing.
“Oh, now he’s saying ‘I met with the chair,’” said Asing, mocking Bynum.
Bynum told Asing to “please, calm down,” and tried to explain himself, but Furfaro asked for a recess, apparently trying to cool off the emotions, which only seemed to further frustrate Bynum.
“Excuse me, I have the floor, man. I’d like to continue,” Bynum told Furfaro.
Asing then slammed the gavel, ending the morning session.
“Recess. We’re going to break for lunch. Be back at 1:30,” he said.
(Aren’t these Democrats majestic?)
Maui: Councilor expressing frustration over inquiry (Another Hawaii Democrat.)
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VIDEO: Kohala Middle School rallies against consolidation
DOE Interim Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi amended her initial recommendation made to the BOE, which at first urged the continued exploration of the school merger. Now, she “says no consolidation should take place at this time” according to newspaper reports….
The BOE is likely to make its decision at an August 19th meeting in Hilo.
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Hawaii video game industry added $23M to economy
How dare they! Which brave and heroic Legislator will step up to announce a big whopping tax on video game design companies?
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FBI agents bust 14 in mortgage fraud
It is the largest alleged mortgage fraud scheme so far uncovered in Hawaii.
Fourteen people are facing charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and making false statements on loan applications involving 46 residential properties on Oahu.
(The system is slipping. They apparently did all of this without any sovereignty activists involved.)
UNRELATED: Naming names: Who are the alleged Sovereignty-mortgage scammers
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Foreclosures finally drop in Hawaii
HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaii has broken its streak of more than three years of rising real estate foreclosure filings.
Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac reports that there were 930 foreclosure actions statewide in July, a 6 percent decline from the 990 in the same month last year.
It was the first year-over-year drop for any month since May 2007, a string of 37 straight months.
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Justice delayed for military voters: Department ignores states' likely refusal to comply with ballot rules
The Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE Act), which was passed in 2009, was the most significant voter reform in 25 years. At its core, the law requires states to mail absentee ballots at least 45 days before an election and requires states to use electronic delivery mechanisms to expedite the delivery of absentee ballots to military members.
Now, 10 months after its passage, nearly one-third of the states have failed to implement one or more of the key provisions of the MOVE Act. At least 11 states (Hawaii, New York, Delaware, Alaska, Washington, Maryland, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Colorado) and the District of Columbia have not implemented the 45-day deadline for mailing absentee ballots.
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