GE Tax Takes $200M Bite out of Health Care
2023 State Business Tax Climate Index--Hawaii Ranks 43rd
Voter Service Centers Open
The Miske Files: Feds Say Phony Documents Built A Well-Known Pest Control Company Out Of Thin Air
CB: … Newly unsealed documents show the federal prosecutor’s story of how a then 26-year-old convicted felon created an $8 million enterprise….Kamaaina Termite’s gross revenues grew from approximately $5.2 million in 2015 to $8.2 million in 2017 and 2018….federal prosecutors allege that while the company did provide some legitimate termite and pest control services, it “also served as a headquarters for the planning of criminal activities, the laundering of illicit proceeds, and the fraudulent ‘employment’ of individuals whose ‘work’ consisted of engaging in acts of violence or fraud on behalf of the Miske Enterprise.”…a cooperating witness who worked for Kamaaina Termite for about a dozen years told investigators that in or around 2003, Miske disclosed he had started the company using money made by dealing cocaine….Another person who said they had been involved in drug dealing on Oahu with Miske in the 1990s told investigators Miske, at that time, would purchase half kilograms of cocaine for redistribution….A person identified in the MacPherson affidavit only as “CW-7” told investigators Miske and others “would falsely misrepresent the ownership status of several of Miske’s businesses in order to receive loans.”…
ILind: Government alleges Kamaaina Termite engaged in long-term fraud
read … The Miske Files: Feds Say Phony Documents Built A Well-Known Pest Control Company Out Of Thin Air
In-person voting begins as election doubters organize to stake out drop boxes
HNN: … Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Aiona was among the first to cast a ballot at Honolulu Hale. Meanwhile, a group a group called “Audit the Vote Hawaii” is organizing election doubters to stake out ballot drop boxes….
Aiona added that he’s never seen any evidence in Hawaii of fraudulent voting with mail ballots, but Tuesday after voting in person he repeated doubts of others.
“I’ve heard people say that they’ve received several ballots in the mail. I‘ve also heard people received that they have received ballots for people who no longer live there,” Aiona told reporters….
when Aiona was pressed in an earlier interview on whether fraud was part of President Trump’s defeat, Aiona did not rule it out….
“I saw what happened in Georgia, I was like, Yeah, I’m not sure if you go to bed at night, and Donald Trump’s up by 100,000 vote and then you wake up the next morning, or at least for me, when I saw Trump lost by like by 100,000. I’m like, wow, how did that happen?” Aiona told Hawaii News Now’s Mahealani Richardson.
That kind of rhetoric has inspired sometimes intimidating election box watchers in other states and locally.
“Audit the vote Hawaii” is asking people to sign up to monitor ballot drop boxes around the state.
“I don’t think it’s intimidating people,” Aiona said. “I’m not concerned about it.
“As long as it’s done orderly, it’s done legally. And of course, you don’t interfere with the process of people voting. So, you know, other than that, that’s their ... individual rights as individual freedom to monitor the voting process.”
Elections officials have seen the monitors, but said so far they’ve seen no sign of intimidation. It’s also illegal to hang out within 200 feet of the boxes, according to Honolulu City Clerk Glen Takahashi.
“So if anyone sees person loitering around the box they feel intimidated call law enforcement, don’t call us we are not law enforcement, call law enforcement about that,” Takahashi said, adding that police are aware of the law….
SA: Volunteers vouch for Hawaii’s election security
read … In-person voting begins as election doubters organize to stake out drop boxes
Tackling government inefficiencies: Cost of Government Commission makes recommendations
HTH: … Streamlining the building permit process, cracking down on unpermitted structures, renegotiating the county’s composting contract, exploring public-private partnerships for wastewater processing and beefing up the Information Technology Department are the top recommendations of the Cost of Government Commission.
The commission, in its 87-page report scheduled to be presented to the County Council in mid-November, also listed as secondary and tertiary focus areas the county’s fleet vehicle program, water system efficiency, open space land buying expenditures, roads and transportation and optimizing the number of commissions and boards….
read … Tackling government inefficiencies: Cost of Government Commission makes recommendations
Judge asks parents to ‘hang in there’ as dispute between state, preschool is hammered out
HNN: … Five days after a court forced an unlicensed preschool on Hawaii Island to shut down, Judge Peter Kubota said he wants to see the facility get its license.
On Tuesday morning, he ordered the state and the executive director of Kalamapii Play School to work together. giving both parties a week to try and make it happen.
A retired judge was appointed to mediate the application process.
“Because we have so many students here who are getting services and can’t wait months and months more, what I want to do is have the parties try to work on something to see how the state can help get you qualified,” Kubota said….
As Tuesday morning’s proceeding wrapped up, Kubota urged parents and kids to “just hang in there. This is a good thing. The state is going to use it’s best efforts to help Ms. Pierce get in line with all the requirements of the law.”
For now, the school will remain closed through at least next Monday.
That’s when both sides will report to the judge and share what progress has been made….
read … Judge asks parents to ‘hang in there’ as dispute between state, preschool is hammered out
Hawaii’s Nonprofits Are Still Waiting For Millions Of Dollars In Needed Grants
CB: … The Legislature changed the Grant-In-Aid process this year and that’s keeping money from getting to the organizations that need it….
read … Hawaii’s Nonprofits Are Still Waiting For Millions Of Dollars In Needed Grants
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