Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Ige seeks budget boost, Obama enjoying Hawaii holiday, condo poor door scrapped, 2.5% electric increase for Oahu, rat lungworm found in 94% of Hilo rats, Kauai mulls cut in vehicle tax, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

screenshot of news conference
Gov. Ige proposes budget, screen shot of news conference
Gov. David Ige presented his latest budget proposal Monday, announcing a package that increases state spending next year by $85.5 million to a total of nearly $14.4 billion. Star-Advertiser.

Ige Seeks $1.5 Billion Budget Hike For Infrastructure, Capital Improvements. The Legislature will consider approving the governor’s supplemental spending request when lawmakers reconvene next year. Civil Beat.

Ige asks Legislature for $1.5B increase to CIP budget as part of supplemental budget proposal. Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Monday unveiled his supplemental budget proposal for fiscal year 2019 in which he's asking the state Legislature for increases of $85.5 million to the general operating budget and close to $1.5 billion to the capital improvement project budget in comparison to the biennium budget. Pacific Business News.

Education, homelessness among governor’s priorities for next fiscal year. KHON2.

VIDEO: Governor Ige Presents Hawaii’s Supplemental Budget. Big Island Video News.

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Hawaii among worst states for economic freedom, study says. While Hawaii has seen a slight improvement, the state is still among one of the worst when it comes to economic freedom, according to a new report by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Commercial real estate owners in Hawaii could 'hit the jackpot' with tax bill. The tax deduction for businesses structured as limited-liability companies and other pass-through companies contained in the tax bill is expected to be a substantial benefit for some commercial real estate owners in Hawaii and the rest of the nation. Pacific Business News.

Reminiscent of previous holiday vacations, Obama spotted in Hawaii again. Just like when he was president, Barack Obama is in Hawaii for the holidays. Hawaii News Now.

The state Health Department has started its first statewide media campaign to prevent rat lungworm disease, following the most recent case involving a Hilo resident who contracted the virus after drinking from a water hose. There have been 18 laboratory-­confirmed cases statewide this year. The Big Island has seen the most cases at 11, followed by Maui at six — including two tourists — and Oahu at one. Star-Advertiser.

Why Vocational Education Is Back In Vogue in Some Hawaii Schools. With only about half of Hawaii’s high school graduates going to college, schools are placing more emphasis on career and technical training. Civil Beat.

Hawaii legislator proposes solution to preserve net neutrality protections. One Hawaii legislator has come up with a novel concept to sidestep the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to repeal net neutrality protections — that Hawaii create a broadband network of its own and go into business for itself. West Hawaii Today.

State Representative Kaniela Saito Ing will propose legislation to explore the feasibility of public or community-owned, high-speed broadband in Hawaii. Maui Now.

Scoot’s first Singapore-Honolulu flight arrives today. Scoot, a low-cost airline out of Singapore, is scheduled to touch down this morning with the first direct flight out of that country to Honolulu in 25 years. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Residential tower’s plan for ‘poor door’ scrapped. The design for a planned residential tower near Walmart’s urban Honolulu store no longer has a front door for market-priced condominium buyers and a side door for moderate-income renters. Star-Advertiser.

Ala Moana High Rise Developer Removes ‘Poor Door’ From Proposal. The plan to create separate entrances for low-income residents was opposed by affordable housing advocates. Civil Beat.

Concerns over cost continue to delay vote on fire sprinkler bill. About 100 people packed Honolulu Hale Monday night to once again, voice their concerns over a bill mandating fire sprinklers in older high rise buildings. Hawaii News Now.

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HECO gets approval to raise customer fees by 2.5%. The state Public Utilities Commission has approved an interim base-rate increase by Hawaiian Electric Co. that will raise the typical monthly electrical bill for Oahu customers by about $2.82. Star-Advertiser.

State regulators approve first Hawaiian Electric rate increase in 6 years. Pacific Business News.

Approved HECO rate increase far lower than what utility asked for. Hawaii News Now.

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Many prefer homelessness to living in a no-pets shelter. The Hawaiian Humane Society wants to find out how many pets are living among Oahu’s nearly 5,000 homeless people — and how their love of animals might be preventing them from getting housed. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless H4 Project: Hygiene, Healthcare, Housing and Humanitarian Services. Emergency medical care for Honolulu’s homeless cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year. Hawaii Public Radio.

What To Do If You’re About To Be Homeless In Honolulu. Here are some suggestions about who to call for help. Civil Beat.

A&B confirms Pali Lanes site in Kailua to be redeveloped. Alexander & Baldwin plans to redevelop the Pali Lanes bowling alley site in Kailua into a central gathering place for the Windward Oahu town that will become the site for the Kailua farmers market, concerts and other community events. Pacific Business News.

City surpasses road repair goals, but acknowledges there's more to do. Hawaii News Now.

Ex-UH professor gets 6-plus years for child porn. A former University of Hawaii mechanical engineering professor who disseminated child pornography over the internet using a file-sharing program is going to prison for more than six years. Star-Advertiser.

Vandals break into mausoleum, scatter bones at cemetery.  Hawaii News Now.

A clogged sewer line at Sand Island Beach Park caused a large sewage spill at the popular multi-use park over the weekend. Hawaii News Now.

Kaneohe home sales jump, Hawaii Kai prices rise in November. Sales of single-family homes in Kaneohe jumped by 44 percent in November, compared to last year, while sales of condominiums in Waikiki grew by 46 percent in November, according to the local market update from the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

KITV’s Cruz moves to Hawaii Public Radio. Veteran TV news reporter Catherine Cruz has joined Hawaii Public Radio as co-host of its weekday talk program. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Kona’s airport is the Big Island winner in a proposed supplemental budget announced Monday by Gov. David Ige. The governor’s statewide approximately $14 billion operating budget is an $85.5 million increase, or about one-half percent more. In addition, $1.5 billion — a full 215 percent hike — is recommended for capital improvement projects statewide. West Hawaii Today.

Study sheds light on rat lungworm prevalence. New research released Monday shows that almost 94 percent of rats in the Hilo region are infested with Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the parasitic nematode that causes rat lungworm disease in humans. Tribune-Herald.

Hu Honua project faces delays after B&B owner sues Hawaii County over biomass plant. Hu Honua, the biomass power plant currently under construction on Hawaii’s Big Island, is facing yet another challenge. Pacific Business News.

Dozens denied entry to commencement. The University of Hawaii at Hilo might move next year’s fall commencement to a larger location after dozens of people were denied entry this year because Vulcan Gym was filled to capacity. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Ige’s budget includes airport, forest land money. Funds for Kahului Airport’s new tram, Maui County public hospitals, forest land and a lifeguard contract were the Maui County highlights in Gov. David Ige’s supplemental budget proposal unveiled Monday. Maui News.

Affordable housing in Lokahi project blessed. Nonprofit housing developer Lokahi Pacific held a blessing Monday for its new Mokuhau Affordable Subdivision, a cul-de-sac of 16 single-family homes that will go to first-time buyers. Maui News.

Iiwi Making Appearance in Lower Elevations. The endangered Iiwi, also known as the scarlet honeycreeper, have been making a rare appearance in residential areas Upcountry. Maui Now.

Kauai

Vehicle tax decreases proposed. A proposal to lower the county fuel tax and motor vehicle weight tax rates is on the agenda for Wednesday’s County Council meeting, set for 8:30 a.m. at the Historic County Building. Garden Island.

Kauai police responded to a report of a possible unexploded ordnance found at Kealia Beach on Monday. KITV.

2 comments:

  1. Receiving a budget is my favorite part of the year. It tells me what's coming to me the next year, and how I will have to manage it. Last year when the budget came out, I started providing part-time essay help in London along with my job. Let’s see what happens this year hahahah!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. USA Digitizer said...
    wow, thanks for this information and obama are going to nice place for holidays this is very beautiful place.

    ReplyDelete