Trump signs stimulus bill
Homelessness: Hawaii Ranks #2 Per Capita
Public support for unions is a hard sell when so many in the private sector are hurting--so here’s how to manipulate a Billion Dollar tax Hike
Cataluna: … In early December, Ige announced that he was imposing furloughs of two days per month for all unionized state workers starting in January….
But then, the governor said that a federal COVID-19 stimulus bill could stave off furloughs until the summer. Yay. But then President Trump made noise like he would veto the measure. Whiplash.
In any case, a postponement is not a reprieve, and uncertainty brings no relief.
This hanging threat does have a small advantage for state workers that other workers didn’t get: the gift of time to prepare…
Reality: $1 billion tax hike ahead
SA Editorial: Take scalpel, not axe, to Hawaii’s budget (Translation: Raise taxes)
read … Public support for unions is a hard sell when so many in the private sector are hurting
Next shipment of COVID-19 vaccines to arrive in Hawaii this week
HNN: … More than 9,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have already been administered to Hawaii residents, mostly to healthcare workers and frontline workers, and state officials say they’re preparing for the arrival of thousands more doses early this week.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health says they are expecting about 12,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and roughly 11,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine in the latest shipment.
The state is currently on track to receive just more than 61,000 doses of the vaccine by the end of the year, or about 24% fewer doses than the 82,000 that were originally expected.
Those doses are still expected to make it to Hawaii eventually, but Health Department officials say their arrival has been delayed.
The distribution of doses across the state is continuing to widen; Adventist Health Castle started immunizing staff members last week, delivering about 555 doses within the first 48 hours.
Hospital officials say they plan to administer shots to the public using a drive-through system when the vaccine is more widely made available….
read … Next shipment of COVID-19 vaccines to arrive in Hawaii this week
Are Open-Book Tests Making It Too Easy To Become A Honolulu Police Officer?
CB: … HPD says the change emphasizes critical thinking, but others argue police must know some things by heart. ….
The transition to open book comes as the department is bracing for a wave of retirements, according to several officers. The department is authorized to have 2,143 sworn positions. As of Dec. 14, it had 1,864 officers and 279 vacancies.
(Reality: Ballard is encouraging Kealoha loyalists to retire by letting them rack up OT so they get their ‘top three.’)
Koanui and other officers said they interpret the change to open book as a way to fill those vacancies. If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be the first time HPD lowered standards during an officer shortage.
In 2019, Koanui got a $550,000 payout from the city after she sued HPD for changing academy test scores – turning failing tests into passing ones – and then retaliating against her when she expressed concern. In a deposition for the lawsuit, originally filed in 2009, Susan Ballard, now HPD’s chief, said that she authorized the changing of scores in 2008 when she was a police major. The department was struggling with vacancies at the time….
(Reality: Ballard reversed the mass-dismissal of all female recruits, probably saving the HPD from a sex-discrimination suit.)
read … Are Open-Book Tests Making It Too Easy To Become A Honolulu Police Officer?
Thousands turn out for The Food Basket’s 100th ‘food drop’ since April
HTH: … The Hawaii Food Basket celebrated its 100th Ohana Food Drop last Wednesday in Honokaa after serving nearly 175,000 people across Hawaii County since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic….
The largest drop was earlier this year in Kailua-Kona when The Food Basket served nearly 4,000 people, followed by Hilo with 3,800 people served.
As proven on Wednesday in Honokaa, The Food Basket and its volunteers can serve 2,500 people in about an hour and a half….
read … Thousands turn out for The Food Basket’s 100th ‘food drop’ since April
COVID disinformation is dangerous to society
SA: … In the past, disinformation would have been called propaganda, and it is a significant feature of Russian propaganda today….disinformation related to this pandemic viral disease has seriously increased the damage to our physical and financial health…
We all desire to live in a safe environment and feel in control. These tendencies are taken advantage of by those soft- pedaling food fears. These fears come in many different wrappings, from exaggerating so-called superfoods to demonizing nutrient-rich animal foods….propaganda messages about “good” and “bad” foods….
read … COVID disinformation is dangerous to society
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