Justice: Three-strikes law nets killer at least 30 years
Lee imposed the 30-year minimum because Tunoa agreed to be sentenced as a habitual violent offender under the state's three-strikes sentencing law....Carlisle points out that without a court-ordered mandatory minimum, a murder convict can ask for a reduction in the minimum imposed by the Hawaii Paroling Authority after serving one-third of it -- or 18 years of the average parole board minimum.
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Lingle's budget approach criticised by Democrats desperate to begin intra-caucus faction fighting
Lingle, in a meeting with reporters yesterday, said "it would not be rational" to come up with a new financial plan until she sees whether the council will again lower the state's tax collection estimates when it meets in early March. "To develop a budget based on a projection that you know is not going to hold is really not a constructive process," Lingle said.
Kim (D, Kalihi Valley-Halawa) shot back that Lingle's suggestion was not realistic: "Does she think we can go behind closed door, cut a deal and come out holding hands and sing 'Kumbaya'?"
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Ink Shrink: Star-Bulletin to be tabloid, joins Advertiser in job cuts
The newspaper said it would eliminate its three neighbor island bureaus and indicated that an undetermined number of job cuts will be made in other areas of the company.
The Star-Bulletin will be similar to MidWeek in size, with a different look because of the redesign. At the competing Honolulu Advertiser, some 150 positions have been cut since negotiations on a new tentative contract agreement began. The old contract expired in June of 2007. Workers will vote tomorrow on the tentative settlement, which includes a 10 percent pay cut.
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Lawmakers propose bills to keep their big pay raise by suspending their little one
Legislators do not want voters to think they are lining their own pockets at the same time that they have to cut programs and services because the state is out of money.
In the midst of the biggest financial crisis in decades, their pay shot up by a third to more than $48,000 a year Jan. 1. Measures pending before lawmakers this year call for the governor, department heads, judges and legislators to pass up already scheduled future pay raises....
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Court upholds ruling keeping Kauai Council minutes secret
The decision about a 2005 closed-door County Council meeting held to discuss launching an investigation into the Kauai Police Department was one of a half-dozen lawsuits filed relating to the removal of Kauai Police Chief K.C. Lum.
Fascinating book: KPD Blue
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