All-mail voting to start next year, Hawaii's Gabbard on national stage, Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants picket, 220 mayors coming to Waikiki conference, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Voting at the polls ©2019 All Hawaii News

Ige Signs All-Mail Voting, Automatic Recount Bills. The two voting reform measures were a top priority for the Legislature this year. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Opts for Voting by Mail. Hawaii becomes the fourth state to move to all-mail balloting in an effort to improve turnout. U.S. News & World Report.

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Law adds third gender option for Hawaii driver’s licenses. Hawaii residents will be able to choose a nonbinary gender designation — neither exclusively male nor exclusively female — for their driver’s license starting July 2020. Star-Advertiser.

New state law allows third gender designation on driver’s licenses, IDs. Gov. David Ige on Wednesday signed House Bill 1165, legislation that expands the gender options beyond “male” or “female” on the state-issued IDs. Tribune-Herald.

New Law Will Cover All Teachers’ License Fees. Act 116 provides $1.3 million in annual funding to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, the licensing entity for Hawaii educators. Civil Beat.

Measure requires restaurants to offer healthy drink options as default choice for keiki meals. Among three health-related bills Gov. David Ige signed Tuesday was Senate Bill 549, which requires restaurants to offer healthy beverages as a default choice for drinks automatically included as part of a children’s meal. Tribune-Herald.

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In debate, Gabbard again keys on anti-war message. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard again issued her dire warning of a new war looming in the Middle East during her first national prime-time debate with nine of the other Democratic presidential candidates on Wednesday, and her campaign issued a bulletin criticizing the format of the forum even before it was over. Star-Advertiser.

Gabbard Sticks To Her Talking Points In First Presidential Debate. On a crowded podium with nine other Democratic candidates, the Hawaii congresswoman got a limited amount of speaking time. Civil Beat.

How did Hawaii’s Tulsi Gabbard hold up during the debate? These numbers gave a glimpse. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard took to the national stage Wednesday in a live televised debate against half of the leading democratic candidates for president. Hawaii News Now.

1st Democratic Debate: Live Analysis Of Night 1. Twenty candidates have made it to the first round of Democratic primary debates. Hawaii Public Radio.

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220 mayors to attend conference in Waikiki. More than 220 mayors from across the United States will gather at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort this weekend to share ideas about how to make their cities better. Star-Advertiser.

Mainland Mayors Face Backlash For Business Trip To Honolulu. The criticism highlights a longstanding perception problem Hawaii has in attracting conferences and conventions. Civil Beat.

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Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants hold first major union protest in 20 years. At least a couple of hundred Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants on Wednesday held their first major Hawaii labor demonstration in nearly 20 years to protest protracted negotiations over a new contract. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants hit the picket lines at HNL. The flight attendants have been in contract negotiations with the airlines for over two years now. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants picket at HNL airport. According to Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants, if they don't get a raise soon, their company can expect a strike. KITV.

Hawaii’s Longliners Could Soon Be Allowed To Catch 18 Million Pounds Of Tuna. Federal fishery managers recommended significantly increasing the amount of ahi that the fleet can catch. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Jury starts deliberations in Kealoha corruption case. After listening to 16 days of testimony from 71 witnesses and three days of closing and rebuttal arguments by the lawyers, the 12-person jury in one of the largest public corruption cases in the state’s history began deliberations Wednesday afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

Kealoha Conspiracy Trial Is Now In The Hands Of The Jury. Closing arguments in one of the most highly-publicized criminal trials in Hawaii history concluded Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Jury Begins Deliberating In Hawaii's Biggest Corruption Case. A Hawaii corruption case alleging a former police chief and his wife conspired to frame a man is now in the hands of a jury. Associated Press.

With closing arguments complete, jurors in Kealoha ‘mailbox trial’ begin deliberations. Closing arguments in the closely-watched public corruption case against the Kealohas wrapped up Wednesday, and the case is now in the hands of jurors. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii Supreme Court: Boards Must Prove Privacy Interest To Close Meetings. The court ruled in favor of the Civil Beat Law Center on a case involving the Honolulu Police Commission’s actions. Civil Beat.

Hawaii AG: Rehab Center Ignored Promised Reforms For 2 Years. The director of Sand Island Treatment Center reportedly did not pay back part of his excessive salary for two years because he was “distracted.” Civil Beat.

Lawsuit alleges child abuse, cover-up at Kroc Center in Kapolei. The parents of a former preschool student on Oahu have sued the Kroc Center and at least one former teacher at the institution over allegations of child neglect and physical abuse. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu spa suspected of promoting prostitution raided. A massage parlor suspected of promoting prostitution was raided Wednesday morning. Hawaii News Now.

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Beth Chapman, one half of world-famous bounty hunting duo, dies in Honolulu. Hawaii News Now.

Beth Chapman, reality TV star and Hawaii bounty hunter, dies after long battle with cancer. Star-Advertiser.


“You can fight to have a little extra time,” Beth Chapman, 51, passes after battle with cancer. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

TMT NPDES Permit Hearing In Kona. All testifiers spoke in opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope storm water discharge permit renewal and requested a contested case hearing. Big Island Video News.

UH says it reached out to protesters before ahu were removed at TMT site. The rapid removal of two ahu at the Thirty Meter Telescope site on Maunakea last week came after years of failed attempts at communication between the University of Hawaii and TMT protesters. Tribune-Herald.

Future Of Hilo Landfill Site Discussed. The process of closing the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill and monitoring it for decades after was talked about at a public meeting on June 26. Big Island Video News.

EA contract signed for Kealakehe Regional Park. County Department of Parks and Recreation deputy director Maurice Messina said on Wednesday that a $195,300 contract with PBR Hawaii and Associates has been inked, although he didn’t have a timeline for the preparation of the assessment itself. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Provides Update on Maui Housing, Puts Illegal Short Term Rentals “On Notice”. Maui Mayor Michael Victorino is holding a press conference this morning to discuss housing efforts being carried out by the County of Maui. Maui Now.

Maui Mayor plans to crackdown on illegal vacation rentals. KHON2.

Housing panel concerned with a lack of water. Facing questions about the lack of water in Launiupoko, consultants for two proposed housing projects said Tuesday that recent shortages are due to the ongoing transition from surface to groundwater, and that wells in the area would be enough to cover the needs of the new communities. Maui News.

Maui News switching to 6-day newspaper. Saturday, July 6, marks a new chapter for The Maui News as readers will experience a brand-new edition called The Weekender. Maui News.

Kauai

Hope for Courtyards at Waipouli. The County Council heard emotional public testimony from two residents of the Courtyards at Waipouli Apartments about a resolution by the council supporting efforts towards preserving the affordability restrictions and the potential acquisition of the 82-unit property before Aug. 19, when a 10-year affordability contract with the county expires. Garden Island.

KIUC to issue patronage capital credits. Kauai Island Utility Cooperative will begin issuing $2.5 million in 2018 patronage capital retirement bill credits to cooperative members this month. Garden Island.