Inouye seeks spending report

Despite some early stumbles due to the over- whelming scope and scale of the federal stimulus project, Hawaii government officials reported mostly positive news when U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye came to Honolulu asking for a status report.

Gov. Linda Lingle, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and other local officials testified on Monday at the state Capitol before Sen. Dan Inouye and the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.

Shrinkage in Hawai'i's economy this year may not be as bad as previously thought, according to a revised state forecast released yesterday.

Hawaii's economic recovery will be a gradual one with modest growth returning by 2011, according to the State Department of Business and Economic Development.

State employee Raymond Catania now finds himself in the uncomfortable position of potentially having to put a fellow state worker out of work.

Tropical Storm Hilda is expected to intensify and become a hurricane late tomorrow or early Thursday as it approaches the state.