Grand jury seated in Georgia’s 2020 election investigation
ATLANTA — A grand jury that was sworn in Tuesday in Atlanta will likely consider whether criminal charges are appropriate for former President Donald Trump or his Republican allies for their efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia.
State road saftey bills signed into law
LIHU‘E — A slate of bills aimed at increasing safety on local and state roads was ushered into law during a signing ceremony at the Hawai‘i Capitol in Honolulu.
Congress faces deep partisanship, competing voting bills
ATLANTA — Congress in the coming weeks will consider shoring up voting and election laws — efforts that will reflect the vast gulf between Democrats and Republicans on protecting a foundation of American democracy.
County of Kaua‘i Managing Director Dahilig leaving for federal post
County of Kaua‘i’s Managing Director Michael Dahilig will leave his role next month to take a position as senior policy counsel for U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i.
Biden heading to Europe, king, war are on agenda
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden leaves on Sunday for Europe, where he will spend time in three nations tending to alliances that have been tested by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Josh goes Green — Hawai‘i governor signs several bills into law
HONOLULU — Governor Josh Green signed several environmental bills into law in a push to both combat climate change and guide the state toward its goal of reaching zero-emission, 100 percent clean energy by 2045.
U.S. will provide cluster bombs to Ukraine
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden on Friday defended what he said was a “difficult decision” to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine, a move the administration said was key to the fight and buttressed by Ukraine’s promise to use the controversial bombs carefully.
In Iowa, Trump says DeSantis ‘despises’ the state’s ethanol
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Campaigning in Iowa, former President Donald Trump attacked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as an enemy of corn-based ethanol in his largest campaign event in the leadoff caucus state in nearly four months.
Biden takes aim at insurance, vowing to save consumers money
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden on Friday rolled out a new set of initiatives to reduce health care costs: a crackdown on what he called “junk” insurance plans that play consumers as ‘suckers,’ new guidance to prevent surprise medical bills and an effort to reduce medical debt tied to credit cards.
Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green signs agriculture bills into law
HONOLULU — Governor Josh Green on Wednesday signed several agricultural bills into law, ranging from expanding land leases to protecting crops against invasive species.
Supreme Court gay rights case raises ethical, legal flags
A Christian graphic artist who the Supreme Court said can refuse to make wedding websites for gay couples pointed during her lawsuit to a request from a man named “Stewart” and his husband-to-be. The twist? Stewart says it never happened.
Hawai‘i State Capitol to get metal detectors
HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i State Capitol will have metal detectors installed at three entrances starting July 10, state agencies said Monday.
Supreme Court conservatives dash decades of precedents
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Overturning Roe v. Wade and eliminating affirmative action in higher education had been leading goals of the conservative legal movement for decades.
Trump returns to campaign rallies ahead of July 4
PICKENS, S.C. — Former President Donald Trump on Saturday marked a return to the large-scale rallies of his previous presidential campaigns, speaking to thousands gathered in the streets of a small South Carolina city on a blazing day ahead of the July 4 holiday.
LGBT group: DeSantis’ anti-Trump video ‘homophobic’
NEW YORK — A prominent group that represents LGBT conservatives says a video shared by Ron DeSantis ′ presidential campaign that slams rival Donald Trump for his past support of gay and transgender people “ventured into homophobic territory.”
Kaua‘i County Council recognizes IT department for online platform
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i County Council members presented county IT employees with a certificate for implementing Land Information Management Systems (LIMS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the county’s public portal and data hub at meeting on Wednesday.
The Supreme Court rejects student loan debt plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A sharply divided Supreme Court on Friday effectively killed President Joe Biden’s $400 billion plan to cancel or reduce federal student loan debts for millions of Americans. But he declared, “This fight is not over.”
The Supreme Court rules for a conservative web designer
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a defeat for gay rights, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority ruled on Friday that a Christian graphic artist who wants to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples.
Trump and DeSantis court Moms for Liberty
PHILADELPHIA — The two leading contenders for the Republican presidential nomination courted conservative women at the Moms for Liberty conference in Philadelphia on Friday, elevating a group that has gained substantial influence within the GOP with its fierce opposition to instruction related to race and gender identity in the nation’s classrooms.
Affirmative action ruling met with disappointment
LIHU‘E — A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to strike down affirmative action in college admissions was met with disappointment and disdain from educators and lawmakers in Hawai‘i.