Donald Trump Is Not Dangerous — By Himself, That Is
It dawned on me yesterday, watching the Sunday shows like ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” – something that had been wandering about unformed in my thoughts for quite a while. It’s not...
View ArticleIan Lind: Tightening The Rules For Lobbyists
Efforts by special interest groups to shape legislation in their own interests is definitely big business in Hawaii, according to reports on expenditures for lobbying filed with the State Ethics...
View ArticleHawaii Stands Ready To Challenge Trump’s Promised New Order
In response to mounting legal challenges, President Donald Trump has announced that he will rescind his now-stalled travel ban and replace it with a new executive order “sometime next week.” “We will...
View ArticleCaldwell Vows ‘Laser-Like’ Focus on Affordable Housing
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell called Thursday for cooperation from other governments, the private sector, unions and nonprofits to help the city “turn the corner” on its affordable housing shortage. “If...
View ArticleThe Projector: Awash In Murals
The post The Projector: Awash In Murals appeared first on Civil Beat News.
View ArticleBipartisan Support For VA Chief, But Can He Help Hawaii Vets?
WASHINGTON — Something unusual happened inside the U.S. Capitol this week. A cabinet officer was nominated by a divisive president to head a troubled government agency that has created politically...
View ArticleTom Yamachika: Honolulu Rail Bill Morphs Into A Monster
We’re a month into the legislative session, and the sheer number of bills related to taxes or public finance is staggering. It’s much more frenetic this year than in any other year I’ve been in this...
View ArticlePod Squad: Debate Over Honolulu Rail Rolls Into Capitol Auditorium
Civil discourse on controversial topics may be out of style in Washington, D.C., but it’s exactly what organizers of the Capitol Debate series strive for here in the islands. On Friday at 5:30 p.m. in...
View ArticleHow Hawaii Is Saving Whales From Fishermen And Tourists
COAST GUARD STATION MAUI — Life is getting better for the thousands of humpback whales that make the trip from Alaska each winter to breed in Hawaii’s warm waters, but state and federal scientists,...
View ArticleReader Rep: Journalists Are Dropping The Ball On Some Stories
Journalists seem to be rallying amid a Watergate-like swell of enthusiasm for the craft of truth-pursuit. Yet readers need to keep pressure on our media sources, especially local journalists, to not...
View ArticleState Needs To Step Up On Tax Reform
In my 50 years as a tax professional, I have never met anyone who wanted to pay taxes, nor anyone who thought they had enough money. I understand that. I also understand, however, that for some, the...
View ArticleThe Health Risks Of Depleted Uranium In Hawaii
Depleted uranium, or DU, is a serious threat to health in Hawaii, where it was introduced through military activity. During escalating tensions of the Cold War in the 1960s, the U.S. Army tested some...
View ArticleLawmaker: Housing Bill Strikes A Blow For The Middle Class
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has spent years and thousands of dollars of taxpayer money coming up with an affordable housing requirement for all large developments on Oahu. The Democrat highlighted his...
View ArticleDenby Fawcett: Protect Albatrosses Like We Protect Dogs And Cats
We hiked out to Kaena Point recently to take pictures of the newly hatched albatross chicks. Bird watchers at the refuge and scientists doing research there said they were grateful for a bill in the...
View ArticleCeiling Tiles Fall At Hawaii Capitol
State officials believe falling exterior ceiling tiles at the Hawaii State Capitol are the result of strong winds on Monday and this past weekend. The area has been closed off to the public, according...
View ArticleCongress: How Vulnerable Is Hawaii To Missile Attack?
WASHINGTON — At the request of Congress, the federal Missile Defense Agency is evaluating the threat to Hawaii from ballistic missiles and possible defenses against them. The little-noticed provision...
View ArticleWith EPA Under Siege, Hawaii Must Protect Its Own Environment
Scott Pruitt has centered his career on opposing the efforts of the federal Environmental Protection Agency. As of Friday, he’s in charge of it — after the Senate voted 52-46 to confirm his appointment...
View ArticleIan Lind: Count On Hawaii To Ignore Logical Prison Report
A preliminary report from a task force created by the Legislature last year to propose ways to improve the correctional system suggests it may be possible to dramatically reduce our prison and jail...
View ArticleHow A Kakaako Mural Festival Took Hawaii’s Art Scene Global
How did an art exhibit in an abandoned Hong Kong restaurant turn into an international mural festival based in Kakaako? The evolution of POW! WOW! Hawaii, an event known to contemporary artists around...
View ArticleHawaii Lawmaker Accepted Junket From Turkish Opposition Group
The watchdog Center for Public Integrity reported earlier this month that dozens of state legislators from throughout the country took trips to Turkey subsidized by a Turkish leader in exile in the...
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