Study confirms sewage leaks in Keaukaha
Sewage in Keaukaha is leaching into groundwater 10 times faster than previously believed, according to a study by University of Hawaii scientists.
Journalists blast bill proposing regulations
A bill introduced in the Hawaii Legislature would establish a state-sanctioned journalistic code of ethics and create a Journalistic Ethics Commission and Journalism Review Board that could fine journalists and ban them from covering state government.
First climate fee bills pass initial hearing, with concerns
Musk’s DOGE granted access to US Medicare and Medicaid systems
WASHINGTON — Representatives of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have been working at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services where they were granted access to agency systems and technology, CMS said on Wednesday.
Council blamed for funding loss: Money for Puna alternate route study lapsed last year
A study to investigate possible alternate traffic routes into Puna apparently died more than six months ago, despite assurances by Hawaii County officials the project was still on track.
Bill would create statewide policy for police car chases
A bill that would establish a statewide policy for police motor vehicle pursuits will be heard at 10 a.m. Thursday by the House Transportation Committee.
Gabbard passes Senate panel vote as wavering Republicans back her
WASHINGTON — The Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday approved Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to become the next director of national intelligence, setting the stage for a floor vote for one of President Donald Trump’s most contentious Cabinet choices.
Council members question effectiveness of homeless-related grants
Hawaii County on Friday awarded more than $10 million to various Big Island nonprofits to fight homelessness, but not without hours of debate before the County Council.
Hawaii astronomers monitor potentially dangerous asteroid
Hawaii astronomers late last year discovered an asteroid that has a slim likelihood of striking the Earth in about seven years, and a telescope on Maunakea will be used to help track the object’s orbit.
Bills would lower legal threshold for drunken driving
For the fifth consecutive year, bills have been introduced in the state Legislature to reduce the blood-alcohol content threshold for a drunken driving charge from 0.08% to 0.05%.
Trump directives stir confusion, fear for workers, nonprofits
Trump tariffs threaten to upend global economic order
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s move this weekend to slap sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China is threatening to fracture the global trading system and a world economic order that once revolved around a U.S. economy that prized open investment and free markets.
Lawmakers try again to legalize recreational pot
A state bill that would legalize adult personal use of marijuana — as well as regulate recreational cannabis, medical cannabis and hemp within a single office — will get its first committee hearing this week.
What’s next for Banyan Drive? Mayor, state legislators mull future of Waiakea Peninsula
While the state grapples with a pair of troublesome Banyan Drive properties, Hawaii County and state officials have big plans for the future of the Waiakea Peninsula.
Trump signs orders imposing steep tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Saturday followed through with his threat to impose stiff tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, setting the stage for a destabilizing trade war with the United States’ largest trading partners.
Questions raised about DEM pick, but ultimately Segawa is approved by council
Hawaii County has a new Department of Environmental Management director, although not without some controversy.
Washington crash renews concerns about air safety lapses
Clues emerging from the moments before the deadly collision Wednesday night between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet suggest that multiple layers of the country’s aviation safety apparatus failed, according to flight recordings, a preliminary internal report from the Federal Aviation Administration, interviews with current and former air traffic controllers and others briefed on the matter.
Immigrant communities in hiding: ‘People think ICE is everywhere’
At a barbershop in Los Angeles, only one of the 10 chairs was occupied on what would ordinarily be a busy evening. In San Francisco, a middle school student’s erroneous information about seeing an immigration officer on a city bus prompted the school district to send parents a warning.
Trump will hit Mexico, Canada and China with tariffs
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump plans to impose stiff tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China today, a move aimed at pressuring America’s largest trading partners into accepting more migrants and halting the flow of migrants and drugs into the United States.
Trump administration plans to scrutinize FBI agents for possible purge
The Trump administration plans to scrutinize thousands of FBI agents involved in Jan. 6 investigations, setting the stage for a possible purge that goes far beyond the bureau’s leaders to target rank-and-file agents, according to internal documents and people familiar with the matter.