Entries for November 2012

...proposal to list 66 species of corals under the Endangered Species Act....

This review has found the entire student transportation services program to be in need of systemic change.

• Honorable Harry P. Freitas as District Court Judge, Third Circuit-term expires on May 31, 2013
• Honorable Lloyd X. Van De Car as District Family Court Judge, Third Circuit-term expires on May 31, 2013
• Honorable Rhonda A. Nishimura as Circuit Court Judge, First Circuit-term expires on June 19, 2013

Governor Abercrombie has 30 days from his receipt of the list today to make his appointment.

The White House’s proposal? $1.6 trillion in tax increases, $50 billion in new stimulus spending, and a change that would make it easier to raise the debt limit....

Among the 50 states, the top 10 least competitive commercial health insurance markets are in: 1. Alabama, 2. Hawaii, 3. Michigan....

 ... $3.7 million for capital improvement projects (CIPs) at Hilo Medical Center ....

...this action should not be taken as a sign that the Supreme Court is reconsidering the merits of the claims it addressed in NFIB....

The U.S. Supreme Court decides next week whether to hear challenges to laws defining marriage as the conjugal union of a man and a woman....

Census Bureau Reports More Adults Living in Shared Households, More Receiving Food Stamps, Public Assistance Unchanged....

Starting on Monday, the 193 member states of the ITU will meet in Dubai to update the 1988 International Telecommunications Regulations.  The ITU is looking to transform itself into a “global Internet rule maker” ....

Matson estimates the combined increase of the rate adjustment and terminal handling charge will result in shipping costs rising by an average of 5.6 percent.

A Quality Teacher in Every Classroom was approved by Leeward HSTA to be shared with the HSTA board on Saturday....

Hawaii has completed more than 90 percent of its RTTT grant deliverables in the past 24 months....

The Executive Office on Early Learning released new research-based standards, which identify the expectations of knowledge and behavior for children from birth up through kindergarten entry....

Survey of four-bedroom, two-bathroom homes covers 72,000 properties in 2,500 U.S. Markets....

The Hospital Safety Score is an A, B, C, D, or F letter grade reflecting how safe hospitals are for patients.

...and HSTA members at over 36 schools plan 'Work to Rule' protests for Thursday....

International treaties sound like a good idea, especially when they claim to protect vulnerable people.

Services will be held at Waialae Baptist Church on Sat., Dec. 15....

...Abercrombie today announced the release of more than $44 million for various capital improvement projects (CIPs) statewide, including public schools, health facilities, transportation infrastructure and more....

Chief Justice Recktenwald has 30 days from his receipt of the list today to make his appointment.

Archer told commissioners that if the commission steps up, the lawsuit may not be necessary.

...providing safe and reliable utility service at a reasonable cost, through the development of Resource Plans and Scenarios....

...the Honolulu City Council will be voting this Thursday to accept or not the federal grant allotment for the rail system....

...HSUS did not provide grants to any Hawaii shelters and rescues in 2011 to support pet sheltering....

...Matson is planning to acquire, within the next five years, two new mainline ships for the extravagant price of U.S. $400 million.... 

Operation Outreach Afghanistan, a group of volunteers including both military and civilians who are spend their time helping improve the lives of Afghanistan's children....

... rankings of the fifty U.S. states according to average monthly mortgage payment and provides the average monthly mortgage payment ....

"The ultrarich, including me, will forever pursue investment opportunities."

“This January, I will be proposing as part of my legislative package a measure to move our state toward 100 percent mail-in voting."

Hawaii’s Director of Natural Resources should not be an aquarium collector. Nor should reef species be sacrificed to support any amusement industry, including sales of tanks, stands, lights, tickets, or decorative trinkets. 

" ...we need to focus on how much funding is flowing.... "

Egypt remains in turmoil after its president decreed last Thursday that he was no longer subject to the laws of his country—giving himself power over the judiciary and other branches of government.

Hounded by Luddites, the Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai County Councils have voted to demand GMO food labeling but in California the forces of ignorance and superstition were beaten back as Prop 37 GMO labeling was defeated 53-47% on the November ballot....

Now that everyone is talking about the fiscal cliff that looms as the new year approaches, some are asking what sort of changes will occur on the tax landscape.

I am humbled to try and get everyone access to healthcare in a fair and timely way in Hawaii and that is all my letter to the city of Honolulu was about....

...Honolulu Council Committee on Legislative Matters hearing this Monday, November 26 at 10 a.m. at Honolulu Hale....

...defer action on pending rules while public concerns about the agency are fully considered....

I want to make it clear that while I fully support Mayor-Elect Caldwell, I won my own election as the State Representative for District 46 – Wahiawa, Whitmore Village, Launani Valley, and my intention at this time is to stay in the House....

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It is the aerial slaughter of sheep, goats, and pigs that prompted the referendum....

There are plenty of things to be thankful for this week, and this year as well....

UHCC was recognized for demonstrating sustained improvement and accomplishments on key student achievement indicators, including student persistence and completion....

Happy Thanksgiving from The Heritage Foundation! As we celebrate and give thanks today, we invite you to read President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation below....

...she has not read a Senate Special Committee on Accountability report that was released on Monday, because she has been traveling to the neighbor islands for community meetings....

The nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $159,605,567 in annual economic activity in the State of Hawaii – supporting 4,426 full-time equivalent jobs and generating $17,494,000 in local and state government revenues

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has unveiled a new priority list for the $8.9 million in grant money that community organizations across the state can now apply for through January 2013....

...recommendations to strengthen the County’s energy program and realize more than $3.9 million in taxpayer saving....

...today NOAA Fisheries announced two actions to protect false killer whales in the Pacific Islands....