July 11, 2009 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, July 11, 2009

July 11, 2009 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 6:53 AM :: 9245 Views

Dems admit Mufi's numbers were "largely based on terminology" (Well, OK we really WERE Pollyannas....)

(After weeks of torrential propaganda storms, this comedown is buried in paragraph five....)

In a separate development on the budget yesterday, staff of the state House Finance Committee said their estimate of the deficit is now roughly the same as Lingle's, ending a discrepancy that has existed for several weeks. (But don't worry, the false message has already been delivered to the public. Lie disseminated. Truth buried.)

The different estimates, which turned out were largely based on terminology, were used by some of Lingle's critics to suggest that the governor was exaggerating the size of the deficit to win concessions from public-sector labor unions. (It was all a word game.)

Mayor Mufi Hannemann on Thursday cited the different deficit estimates as an example of why all the parties need to meet together and negotiate. (That was 2 days ago, splashed all over Advertiser front page.)

Hawaii County may face budget crisis

(While Hannemann and Tavares were putting on their dog-n-pony show for the Advertiser, here's what Kenoi was doing back in Hilo.)

Having recently dodged a $17.4 million bullet, Hawaii County leaders are now bracing for another budget crisis by exploring possible tax increases, fee hikes and even employing fewer workers....

Nakakuni tapped for U.S. attorney

The federal prosecutor who sent former union leader Gary Rodrigues to prison for mail fraud, money laundering and embezzlement is in line to be the next U.S. attorney in Hawaii.

Kubo said he hand-picked Nakakuni to be his narcotics and organized-crime chief and that she has been one of his go-to prosecutors.

Nakakuni last appeared before Mollway in the successful prosecution of a former Honolulu police sergeant and his wife for extorting the operators of an illegal gambling and cockfighting operation.

Kamehameha Schools Kea`au teachers take union vote

One teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some teachers wanted to pursue union representation out of dissatisfaction with top-down decision-making and fears the school would move toward a merit pay system.

Records charges shield officials

Looking at just one month's worth of e-mails for six County Council members could cost you $2,300. One month's worth of e-mails for four administration officials would cost $1,675.

Kauai Burial Council vacancies cancel meeting

LIHU‘E — Help Wanted: Volunteers sought for thankless job, subject to harsh criticism, questioning of ethnicity and placement in countless no-win situations.

The nine-member Kaua‘i/Ni‘ihau Island Burial Council is down to seven members after the terms of John Kruse and Presley Wann ended June 30. Kruse said last week that without himself and Wann on the board, they would not have enough members to conduct meetings.

The scheduled July 2 meeting was canceled due to lack of a quorum, said Deborah Ward, DLNR spokesperson.

The July meeting was to include an agenda item, possibly the only item, on council action on a controversial burial treatment plan for Joseph Brescia’s oceanfront property in Ha‘ena, near the YMCA Camp Naue.

(endless harassment by OHA's sovereignty thugs)

New High For Marijuana Use Among Workers

More people have been getting prescriptions for medical marijuana. And on the Big Island last year, voters approved a new county code allowing adults to have 24 plants or 24 ounces of dried pot for personal use on private property. Irving points out it's also easier to find.
"The availability of it, the more social acceptance of it, the fact that its an alternate to having to do harsher drugs in a social environment," said Irving.
Every quarter, Diagnostic Laboratory Services says it tests between 5-thousand and 10-thousand employees statewide.

Schofield workers find phosgene-filled mortar

Army officials said the 4-inch mortar, found June 27, contained a liquid that was identified this week by chemical experts as phosgene. It was removed this week and will be stored until it can be destroyed. Phosgene is also used commercially to make plastics and pesticides.

(INCOMING! Prepare for anti-American-military propaganda barrage from the usual suspects.)

(Act 215/221) Hoku Scientific looks at options for survival

Polysilicon, the raw material used to make solar panels, was in great demand when Hoku announced in May 2006 that it was shifting its emphasis from being a fuel-cell technology developer and putting the majority of its resources into polysilicon. But the polysilicon spot price has fallen 70 percent over the last six months as the credit crunch has slowed the growth of the industry.

(Old boys too late chasing a wave with your ACT 215/221 money. Rinse, wash, repeat.)

Officials report second death in Hawaii linked to swine flu

However, it was not known what role swine flu played in the person's death, and if the person had other contributing health conditions.

"We did receive a laboratory confirmation today on an individual who was hospitalized and died, and that person was positive for H1N1," Department of Health spokeswoman Janice Okubo said today.

"We're still waiting to get the data and background on the case. We likely will not have any details or further information until Monday," Okubo said.

In the earlier case, a woman in her late 60s who died at Tripler Army Medical Center on June 19 also had swine flu, officials have said.

The H1N1 virus alone did not kill the woman, health officials emphasized, but it likely contributed to her death. The woman had other multiple, serious health problems, the Department of Health said.

She's taking back Kalihi Valley

So Pregil is on a mission to end drug dealing, illegal dumping and graffiti in Kalihi Valley — and she's enlisted dozens of her neighbors to help. Today, the group she founded last year to tackle problems in the valley, called Restore Our Community, will be out in force for its first major cleanup.

Volunteers in red shirts will paint over graffiti, pick up trash and clean sidewalks from 6 a.m. to noon along Kalihi Street in Kalihi Valley. Volunteers will also go door-to-door to pass out fliers to raise awareness of the group's goals.