Lawsuit Challenges Honolulu Concealed-Carry Rules
22% of Hawaii 8th graders proficient in math
SA: … According to the report, 35% of Hawaii fourth graders were at or above reading proficiency in 2022, a small change from 34% in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, 22% of eighth graders were at or above proficient in math, a significant drop from 28% in 2019.
Nationally, Hawaii ranked eighth in reading proficiency, compared with 28th in 2019, and 38th in math proficiency, compared with 42nd in 2019 — both improvements in ranking due to average proficiency rankings worsening nationally.
The link between student readiness and lifetime economic stability is also apparent, with many of the fastest-growing occupations requiring high-level reading and math skills “that we are not ensuring our children possess,” the study read ….
The report also found that 39% of Hawaii’s students were “chronically absent” — meaning they missed 10% or more days of school in the academic year — in 2022, a jump from 18.5% in 2019. This statistic ranks Hawaii among the worst 10 states in the country for rates of chronically absent students. Additionally, 59% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students were reported to be chronically absent in 2022, aligning with data indicating students of color experienced higher rates of chronic absence….
the ranking still categorized Hawaii among the “worse” category of states.
The ranking in the bottom third of states in this domain was heavily affected by Hawaii’s ranking of 47th in the housing cost burden indicator. According to the report, in 2022 almost 38% of Hawaii’s keiki lived in households that spent over 30% of their income on housing. In that same time, 28% of children in the state lived in families where no parent had full-time, year-round employment….
CB: Jonathan Okamura: Alarming New Report On Hawaii Public Schools Is One More Sign Of Legislative Failure
KHON: As Hawaii’s keiki struggle, there are ways to help
LINK: 2024-KCDB-profile-HI.pdf (aecf.org)
LINK: 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book - The Annie E. Casey Foundation (aecf.org)
read … Fewer than half of Hawaii’s keiki proficient in reading and math
HD43 Rep Souza Rejected by Court in Bid to Silence Opponent
SA: … State Rep. Kanani Souza, an attorney representing Kapolei and Makakilo, in complaints filed with the Honolulu Police Department on April 28, May 16, and June 9, is accusing challenger Sheila Medeiros, a 55- year-old retired U.S. Army veteran, of harassing her….
(TRANSLATION: After literally abandoning the Republican caucus to join with the transsexuals, Souza is terrified she is going to lose.)
Medeiros said Souza is “weaponizing” the criminal justice system to silence her. …
“The recurrence of such complaints does not come as a surprise. It is a strategy aimed at stifling questions from me as her constituent and political opponent in exposing her public record during the campaign. As an elected official, Souza must recognize that I fulfill the dual roles of being both a constituent and a contender,” said Medeiros. “Representative Souza seems to have taken it upon herself to decide which positions she believes are subject to her filing baseless harassment allegations against me. This approach is a consistent pattern in her behavior.”
Souza has tried twice to get an Oahu Circuit Court judge to issue a temporary restraining order but both petitions were denied.
In her second attempt, filed May 23, Souza accused Medeiros of showing up in the state House gallery on April 25 and May 3….
(IQ Test: Are you laughing?)
“The House gallery is open to the public, but I should feel safe while on the House floor fulfilling my official duties, and on these two days, I felt unsafe, alarmed and threatened with her staring down at me aggressively,” wrote Souza. “When I would look up in the gallery, I saw Medeiros staring at me in an aggressive manner, which made me feel extremely uncomfortable and threatened.”
(IQ Test: Are you laughing harder?)
Despite failing twice, Souza told the Star-Advertiser she intends to file a third petition for a protective order.
“The primary reason I think she is filing these harassment complaints is we are in a Republican Primary only. The winner of this primary takes the seat,” said Medeiros, who accused Souza of dodging debates. “I believe she doesn’t want to participate in a forum or debate because it is a Republican primary and her voting record goes against most conservative values and the approved Republican platform. If she participates she must address to the Republicans why she voted against their platform and values. I don’t think she is prepared to face the constituents’ questions.”…
Related: Crooks and Cronies on the Move in Primary Races
read … Republican primary producing complaints to HPD
Law enforcement witnesses called to testify as Miske defense team seeks to sow doubt
HNN: … Five witnesses took the stand Wednesday in the racketeering, kidnapping and murder-for-hire case against Honolulu businessman and alleged crime boss Michael Miske as his defense team began presenting its case.
Lori Kaneshiro, a fingerprint examiner for the state, told jurors she found prints on evidence that belonged to an unknown person during the investigation of missing man Jonathan Fraser….
Trial continues on Thursday. The defense said they could take up to 20 days to present their case but would likely rest before the July Fourth holiday….
CB: Miske Defense Hints At Alternate Theories For Alleged Murder Victim's Disappearance
ILind: Government objections mark start of the Miske defense “case in chief”
ILind: No basis for attacks on Judge Derrick Watson after his dismissal of two charges against Mike Miske
read … Law enforcement witnesses called to testify as Miske defense team seeks to sow doubt
EPA To Disband Sierra Club Controlled Red Hill Oversight Group
CB: … The Red Hill Community Representation Initiative, or CRI, was formed last year by an agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Navy and the Defense Logistics Agency. The aim was to give residents an open line of communication with the military after fuel from Red Hill tainted Pearl Harbor’s drinking water in 2021, sickening thousands of people.
But relations have devolved, with the military wanting to take charge of the meetings and community members declining to let them. On Wednesday, the EPA told CRI members it will be eliminating the forum altogether by signing a new agreement with the military that doesn’t include them.
After a meeting in December turned contentious, the Navy skipped the following meeting. Since then, the military has tried to wrest control of meetings from the community members, proposing several specific changes.
Instead of Marti Townsend, an environmental justice (Sierra Club) attorney, running the meetings, the agencies would hire a facilitator of the Navy’s choosing, according to a copy of the military’s proposal. The military – not the CRI – would set the agenda, and the military would choose the meeting locations….
(CLUE: Hawaii Sierra Club too radical for the Biden Admin EPA.)
read … EPA To Disband Red Hill Oversight Group Amid Navy Complaints
Lee Loy candidacy challenged: Petitioners claim her main residence is in a different district
HTH: … An objection has been filed over Hawaii County Council member Sue Lee Loy’s candidacy for the state House District 2 seat and her registration to vote in the district.
The six petitioners — three of whom are her sisters-in-law — contend that Lee Loy still lives in a Panaewa Hawaiian House and Farm Lots residence at 498 Auwae Road, which is in District 3.
According to county tax records, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands lessee for the property is Lee Loy’s estranged husband, retired Hawaii Police Department Detective Ian Lee Loy, who filed for divorce in February ….
UPDATE: Lee Loy responds to election challenge (Says she has a lease in the district.)
FLASHBACK: Police Corruption Scandals Revenge for Gambling Prosecutions?
read … Lee Loy candidacy challenged: Petitioners claim her main residence is in a different district
Family of Hilo teen fatally struck by police officer claims investigators lied in official report
HNN: … the family’s suit claims the lighting and visibility were fine, he was wearing white shoes, his pants had reflective material, and he was riding in the bicycle lane heading away from the officer….
read … Family of Hilo teen fatally struck by police officer claims investigators lied in official report
Black Sand, Kobayashi First to be Subsidized by ‘Affordable’ Housing Program
CB: … The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. is offering low-interest loans of $103,300 each for up to 23 people looking to buy homes in Kuilei Place, a 43-story, 1,005-unit luxury complex planned for a stretch of Kapiolani Boulevard now occupied by low-rise walk up apartments. It’s a total of almost $2.4 million for Kuilei Place (CLUE: Black Sand, Kobayashi) out of $10 million allocated for the pilot loan program.
(Pilot Program: As soon as Black Sand and Kobayashi get theirs, the program will end.)
The loans, bearing 1% interest, will be available to individuals earning up to $136,500 annually, or four-person households with income up to $194,250. So far two people have gotten loans under the program, which Gov. Josh Green signed into law in 2023 as part of a sweeping package of bills to address the state’s housing shortage…
(TRANSLATION: Without the low-interest rates, Kobayashi and Black Sand would have a harder time selling these units.)
read … Home-Buying Subsidy At New Kapiolani High Rise Targets Doctors, Teachers And Police Officers - Honolulu Civil Beat
City expands homeless services with new Le'ahi Behavioral & Medical Respite facility
KITV: … The program will reportedly help supply everything from health care to critical paperwork that's needed. It's largely funded through a grant from the state and Department of Human Services.
The building is located at the corner of Pokole Street and Maunalei Avenue and can house nearly two dozen individuals. More locations are reportedly planned for the near future….
SA: Honolulu expands homeless services at Diamond Head facility | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (staradvertiser.com)
HNN: Mayor: New homeless services facility designed to support hardest to house
read … City expands homeless services with new Le'ahi Behavioral & Medical Respite facility
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