Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Chin apologizes for old anti-gay speech, bill criminalizes bogus service animals, committee chairmen refuse to televise meetings, Honolulu Police Commission chairman up for vote, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

By Pete Markham - originally posted to Flickr as Emmet Practices Opening a Power Door, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6828623
Service dog opens door PC: Pete Markham, Creative Commons
Bill targets growing problem of bogus service animals. Senate Bill 2461, introduced Jan. 19, would make the act of falsely claiming an animal to be a service animal a misdemeanor offense, punishable by a maximum penalty of up to six months in jail or up to $1,000 for the first offense. Tribune-Herald.

Jail time and fines for owners of ‘fake’ service animals? Hawaii Island Sen. Russell Ruderman told KHON2 a gray area in the Americans with Disabilities Act has allowed people to abuse this law. KHON2.

Lt. Gov. Doug Chin is apologizing for an anti-gay speech that he made more than 20 years ago in church. The angry address, which he delivered at the Oahu Church of Christ, is now being used against him in his race for Congress. Hawaii News Now.

The Only Three Legislative Committees You’ll Almost Never See On TV. Despite the difficulties of attending legislative hearings in person in Hawaii these House committee chairs have nixed televising their hearings. Civil Beat.

The Department of Human Services Wants Multigenerational Approach to Address Poverty. The state department with the largest operating budget is asking lawmakers to help make it more efficient. Hawaii Public Radio.

A state Senate bill calling for greater transparency in video game gambling systems is the subject of a public hearing today. Tribune-Herald.

Kamehameha Schools has acknowledged that the $80 million settlement its agreed to pay to victims in a decades-old sex abuse scandal could affect future educational programs or the planned expansion of existing ones. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Commission members could decide Wednesday whether to retain embattled Chairman Max Sword as their leader or to elect a new one. Star-Advertiser.

How Honolulu’s New Police Chief Is Shaking Up A Troubled Department. In her first four months, Chief Susan Ballard is disrupting old policies and practices with a new vision. Civil Beat.

Man’s troubles with law affect sons’ Punahou School enrollment. The case of a man accused of sexually molesting a girl and showing a pornographic video to another while they were at sleepovers at his home is sparking spirited debate about just how far Hawaii’s private schools can go to penalize a child for the alleged sins of a parent. Star-Advertiser.

The mother of a Punahou School first-grader has sued the private institution over its attempt to expel her son because of the disruption stemming from his father’s troubles with the law. Star-Advertiser.

A Kids Museum Struggles Amidst Homeless Squalor. But Loretta Yajima of the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center in Kakaako will not be deterred from fulfilling its mission. Civil Beat.

Neglect for an Ewa Beach park.  Is the Mayor of Honolulu playing favorite when it comes to funding parks around Oahu? KITV.

Whole Foods Market will open its largest Hawaii store by early summer in Kakaako after a dozen years of planning and setbacks. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii prepares to send another 'Lei of Aloha' to Florida after school shooting. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

A move to take County Council budget planning behind closed doors will be heard today by the council Finance Committee. West Hawaii Today.

Mohouli Senior Residences in Hilo completed Phase 2 of construction and is fully occupied. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council is donating contingency relief funds to purchase stealth cameras to monitor areas prone to criminal activity in Puna. Big Island Video News.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa’s months-long Mars simulation mission was suspended today — five days after it began — because of a medical incident. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Budget panel moves toward buying building. The property, once acquired, would be torn down to make way for the Wailuku civic complex development. Maui News.

An informational meeting on the permitting process and land entitlements will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the West Maui Senior Center. Maui News.

Yellow tubes aiding in ocean rescues in south Maui. The president of a group that installed rescue tube stations along south Maui beaches says while he is happy the tubes are working, he wishes they weren't necessary. Associated Press.

Kauai

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency says the total cost of a failed missile test off of Kauai was $130 million. Garden Island.

Two Kauai County officials are scheduled to give a presentation on housing at this week’s meeting of the Lihue Business Association. Garden Island.

Lei of Aloha for World Peace is activated again, this time engaging schools across the state to weave ti leaf leis to send to the families of the 17 students and teachers killed in Parkland, Fla., last week. Garden Island.

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