Prescription drug related deaths now outnumber those from heroin and cocaine combined, and drug overdose deaths exceed motor vehicle-related deaths....

• Senate: Continuing Appropriations Conference Request – Motion to Table
• House: Veterans Program Funds- Continuing Resolution
• House: Women’s and Children’s Nutrition Funds – Continuing Resolution

State Rep. Karen Awana is out as Democrat House majority leader....

The United States is overtaking Russia as the world's largest producer of oil and natural gas, a startling shift that is reshaping markets and eroding the clout of traditional energy-rich nations, says the Wall Street Journal....

The biggest problem with Obamacare is that there are going to be layers and layers of government bureaucracy that will try to tell me how to treat patients I’ve helped for over 25 years....

Last week’s partial shutdown of the federal government broke records on the airwaves of twitter and other social media with much of the criticism....

The Commission is an independent, bipartisan agency established by Congress....

Grassroot Institute has been spreading the word about the results of the Reason Foundation’s poll....

A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1B guided missile is launched from the USS Lake Erie, and successfully intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile target off the coast of Kauai....

Of that amount $166 million was for professional services and that was likely all for Parsons Brinckerhoff....

Do you feel rich? The Wall Street Journal claims you are, as a fiscal watchdog group says the opposite, citing crushing amounts of government debt....

The authors attribute the reduction in crime to two factors. The first is a lack of "concentration" allowing for less opportunity to engage in criminal activity, and the second is possibly increased monitoring by parents....

Ecological non-use benefits and the costs of eradication and control programs are often difficult to quantify....

Under their current small-business group coverage they are paying $810.56 per month.  Their new price effective July 1, 2014 will be $1,166.24 per month....

Past classes of Rose Fellows have tackled challenges including revitalization of Detroit’s Livernois Avenue....

The Insurance Commissioner will discuss concerns regarding new insurance requirements of the ACA and its impact on rates and populations groups ....

...reduced funding is likely just the beginning of a new reality of diminishing federal support for states and municipalities....

Forty-three percent of major roads in the Honolulu urban area are in poor condition, costing area drivers $598 each year....

About 10 percent of the utility's 30,000 customers have opted not to use the smart meters. KIUC estimates the cost of reading and servicing those 3,000 meters to be about $340,000 a year....

...the U.S. military lacks the resources necessary to implement such strategies....

The Connector logged 19,457 unique visits to the site, completed 1,181 applications, and received 1,257 calls connected at the contact center on the first day....

Several popular Jones Act notions circulating around Hawaii simply are not true....

The enrollment gains can be partly attributed to the large number of births in 2008 and more students staying in the state’s public schools....

Ritte and activist organizations have collected more than a million dollars from anti-GMO advocacy groups on the mainland....

...the furor over Washington furloughs will only take you so far in the rest of America....

The House has continually been reaching out to the Senate Democrats and President Obama to pass a resolution to ensure everyone receives equal treatment....

Attorney Jim Hochberg is Senator Sam Slom’s guest on the latest edition of “A Better Day” which airs on Olelo Public Access TV Channel 54....

State senators have, at last count, gotten 1,539 emails from residents about the spill and 272 emails from supporters of gay marriage; 602 in opposition....

Unregulated access to the marsh has already led to damage of archaeological sites. Trails will attract dog walkers....

Government funding isn’t the issue. It’s Obamacare....

Hawaii is the first sub-national government to sign onto the Majuro Declaration for Climate Leadership, presented Friday by the Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum to the United Nations Secretary General....

Nominations and self-nominations for task force members should be sent by email to president@Hawaii.edu....

Schatz’s own office has indicated that 25,000 federal workers throughout the state would be left without pay....

...thanks to a Christmas Tree Clause in 13-33, developers and wealthy individuals with 10 acres or more have been given an easy out for upzoned properties....

• Senate: Continuing Resolution
• House: Continuing Resolution – Medical Device Tax Repeal Amendment
• House: Continuing Resolution – Defunding of the Affordable Care Act Amendment

If policymakers are committed to reducing global carbon dioxide emissions, then they will have to get serious about promoting sources of electricity production that can compete with coal on price....

GMOs are likely saving tens of millions from starvation in underdeveloped countries....

Over the weekend, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to delay the unpopular law’s implementation by one year....

It is amazing how pages like this will have such vile, hateful commentary and then always end it with truth, love, peace, and unity!....

Last night I got a tweet from Christy Demuth, biotech opponent on Kauai.  She's always a delight.  She says that she's found the link between me and Monsanto....

Reps Hanabusa and Gabbard voted against funding the Federal Government....

Apparently when one is an elected official, one has to make sure that their concerns reflect the concerns of their constituency and obviously the concerns of seniors is right up there at the top of the list....

...we heard recently that they are recruiting candidates and working to elect a GOP Senator in Hawaii....