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Exploring China's Efforts to Spy in Hawaii
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‘It was biased’: Controversy over Hawaii public school lesson on presidential candidates
HNN: … The controversy is over a two page document that was handed out to classrooms at Kapolei Middle School.
It broke down where the U.S. presidential candidates -- Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump -- stand on the issues.
The state Department of Education confirms the document was put together by a group of teachers at the school who simplified the information in a candidate comparison article in the New York Times.
The material given out to students lists six issues.
Examples:
Crime:
Harris: “Gives money to police”
Trump: “Sends soldiers to cities”
Democracy:
Harris: “Wants to keep our country a democracy”
Trump: “Tried to overturn the 2020 election
Immigration:
Harris: “Hires more people to watch the border”
“Limits how many people can move to the U.S.
Trump: “Finds and catches people in the U.S. illegally”
“Takes children away from their parents”
The lesson is upsetting some parents like Angel Morales, who felt it was biased against the former president.
“Very upset,” Morales said. “I think teachers should do their job as teachers stick to education and not politics.” …
DM: Outrage as Hawaii public schools teach children anti-Trump propaganda ahead of 2024 election | Daily Mail Online
NYP: Hawaii school ripped for 'biased' anti-Trump lessons
read … ‘It was biased’: Controversy over Hawaii public school lesson on presidential candidates
Representative Diamond Garcia Denounces Biased Worksheet in Kapolei Middle School Classroom
Official Statement from the Office of Representative Diamond Garcia, Nov 4 2024
“I want to address the concerning worksheet given to a 6th-grade class at Kapolei Middle School, which was blatantly biased and disparaging to one side of the political aisle. Our public schools have a duty to remain neutral and should not be pushing political ideology from either side. When political topics are discussed, it should be strictly for educational purposes, providing accurate and balanced representations without steering students toward a particular political stance.
The worksheet, contrasting Vice President Kamala Harris with former President Donald Trump, crosses a line that should not be crossed in our educational system. I made it clear that this is unacceptable.
Earlier today, I spoke with the Kapolei Middle School principal, who assured me that this incident will not happen again. He confirmed that his faculty and staff were addressed this morning to ensure they uphold neutrality in the classroom. My office is also in direct communication with the Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area Superintendent, and we will be sending formal inquiries to the Department of Education this week.
To all the parents and concerned residents from across our state who reached out to my office – Mahalo. I hear you, and I’m committed to ensuring the DOE maintains political neutrality in our schools and does not push any form of political bias.”
### PAU ###
Navy water system upgrade under intense scrutiny
SA: … The Navy is upgrading and renovating its Oahu water system that serves 93,000 island residents, having demolished an old water storage tank with a replacement currently under construction — and with more planned upgrades along the way….
The Environmental Protection Agency released a report in October based on an inspection it conducted in June, which included findings of small traces of petroleum and other contaminants, and listed several maintenance problems. The report also said the Navy failed to produce several documents when requested.
After the EPA quietly posted the report online, the Navy sent out a news release and a link to the report. In the release, the Navy said that “the inspection, completed over the summer, determined the JBPHH (Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam) water remains safe for consumption.”…
In a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in response to a request for additional information, a Navy spokesman wrote that “most of the observations made by the EPA (in its report) have already been addressed. One storage tank, referred to as S-2 tank in the report, is being replaced. The old tank has been demolished and construction has started. The other storage tank has been identified to be replaced in the coming years (after the new S-2 tank goes into commission).”
When asked why the October report did not note that one of the facilities in question did not even exist anymore — and that the other is already slated for replacement — an EPA spokesman said that “once the Navy provides a formal response to the inspection report (in the next few days), they will be able to formally describe the status of the tanks.”…
read … Navy water system upgrade under intense scrutiny
Maui Health workers prepare for three-day strike with no agreement on patient-to-staff ratios
MN: … About 900 workers in the Maui Health System are ready to go on a three-day strike after their requests for guaranteed staff-to-patient ratios have been rejected by the Maui Health’s management team, according to union representatives….
Staff across Maui hospitals gather to make signs to prepare for strike
100s of Maui healthcare workers to strike Monday morning
read … Maui Health workers prepare for three-day strike with no agreement on patient-to-staff ratios
Maui Council May Double Down On Mayor's Tax Relief Proposal For Day Cares
CB: … Mayor Richard Bissen’s administration had proposed doubling the tax exemption for providers who own their facilities from $50,000 to $100,000 of assessed value, but last week the County Council’s Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee said it wanted to double down again, increasing the exemption to $200,000….
Bill 145, introduced by committee chair Yuki Lei Sugimura, originally proposed increasing the property tax exemption to $100,000. The exemption was created in 1997 and last amended in 2009….
read … Maui Council May Double Down On Mayor's Tax Relief Proposal For Day Cares
Trial delayed for 4 officers charged in Makaha crash case
SA: … A trial has been delayed for four Honolulu police officers accused of causing a car chase, crash and covering it up in September 2021.
It was postponed until an appeals court can rule on a claim by defense attorneys that the law the case hangs on is too vague.
Officers Joshua J.S. Nahulu, 37, Erik X.K. Smith, 25, and Jake R.T. Bartolome, 35, are free on bail after they were arrested nearly two years following the Sept. 12, 2021, incident that left a teenager partially paralyzed and a career criminal with a traumatic brain injury….
read … Trial delayed for 4 officers charged in Makaha crash case
Next President Will Shape The Future Of America's Largest Marine Monument
CB: … the race is on to ensure Papahanaumokuakea remains protected ….
read … Next President Will Shape The Future Of America's Largest Marine Monument -
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