Politics

The state legislature has only one day left to settle House and Senate differences on all money-related bills for final passage next week. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka is following one measure that has broad-based community support.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday in Hawai’i’s challenge to President Trump’s latest travel ban. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.  

A new law was signed today that will drive public electric companies in Hawai’i to consider their customers first. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports. 

A bill to create restricted pesticide-free buffer zones around Hawai’i schools is currently stalled at the legislature. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

The Honolulu City Council is attempting to close loopholes in some of the city’s ordinances. And, they’re targeting sidewalk vendors and golfers. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

Local efforts to mandate more timely upgrades for the Navy’s Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility on O’ahu failed in the Legislature this session. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

The State Budget is in a joint conference committee this week to work out Senate and House differences.  One state agency has been on the short end of the appropriations stick for decades.  HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.   

The House Health and Human Services Committee is trying to pass a bill to put illegal care homes out of business. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

Hundreds of bills at the State Legislature passed critical floor votes in the House and Senate today.  But the work is far from over as lawmakers head into the last 14 days of the 2018 session. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

The “Death with Dignity” legislation was signed into law in Hawai’i today. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

State lawmakers are on the verge of passing legislation for paid family leave in Hawai’i. If passed by the House and Senate, the governor is expected to sign the measure into law. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka has this update on what it could mean for Hawai’i workers.

Hawai’i’s hotel industry hosted an emergency preparedness workshop today as a follow-up to the state’s false missile alert earlier this year. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

The latest proposal to increase affordable housing on O’ahu advanced today at the Honolulu City Council. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee reviewed the Mayor’s nearly 3.5 billion dollar operating and construction budget for 2019 today.  One request from the Mayor was for $44-million in financing for the Honolulu Rail Transit project.  Budget Committee chair, Trevor Ozawa, asked HART chief financial officer, Robert Yu, if the funding was required.

Some of Hawai’i’s major labor unions are gearing up for a tough year ahead. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustees met today in closed session to deliberate about the future of their only employee. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka has this update.

The State Ethics Commission announced a settlement in the sexual harassment investigation of Hawai’i’s most senior lawmaker. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

State lawmakers are considering legislation to direct the U.S. Navy to build safeguards at its Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

The Honolulu City Council voted in new leadership today. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka has this update.

The State Department of Health unveiled its latest report, Hawai’i’s Tobacco Landscape, to announce the achievement of a major milestone in its prevention efforts. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

The State Legislative Auditor briefed a Senate Committee on the results of an audit of the Public Utilities Commission completed in February. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.

The Honolulu City Council is scheduled to reorganize and appoint members to key leadership positions next week. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka has this update.

A temporary ban on over-sized homes on O’ahu was formally implemented today. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports. 

There are more than 12-hundred bills still alive at the State Legislature, half-way through the session. But, as HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, not all of the measures are sweeping, high-impact legislation.

The Pacific Operational Science and Technology Conference in Honolulu featured an Oceanit presentation, “Can Machines Think?” HPR's Wayne Yoshioka reports. 

The Hawai’i Tourism Authority hosted its Spring Marketing Update today.   As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, the tourism industry does not appear to be slowing down.   

The State Legislature is nearing the halfway point when bills must clear the first hurdle in that process. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.  

Renew-Rebuild Hawai’i hosted a panel discussion today on energy resilience and development. HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports.