Get the latest news coverage of politics including Honolulu city and county government, Hawaii legislative issues, U.S. Congress and the White House.
A top Honolulu official defended the actions taken by Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration to site the next municipal solid waste landfill on an active pineapple field in Central Oahu, directly above the island’s freshwater aquifer. Read more
“We’re asking for the ability to be able to try rationally to resolve this issue so TikTok does not go dark,” Democratic Senator Ed Markey said today. Read more
Former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin, speaking at his Senate confirmation hearing, said a 2007 decision by the Supreme Court gave the agency statutory authority to regulate the heat-trapping greenhouse gas but did not obligate the EPA to take action. Read more
Biden opened his speech with a familiar message — asking Americans to join together — but quickly warned about a dangerous concentration of wealth in the United States. Read more
Trump’s choice for attorney general, Pam Bondi, and CIA director, John Ratcliffe faced Senate committees five days before Trump — who has spoken of seeking retribution against his perceived enemies — is sworn back in on Monday. Read more
A Honolulu City Council resolution meant to uphold a more than 20-year-old city policy over solid waste landfills and their proximity to Oahu’s drinking water supply has advanced. Read more
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, is one of the most controversial figures ever nominated to be Secretary of Defense and any vote to confirm him is expected to be very close. Read more
The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting today is expected to perform the second major upgrade to its electronic plans review software called ePlans. Read more
The report, obtained by The New York Times, amounted to an extraordinary rebuke of a president-elect. Read more
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The judge, Aileen M. Cannon, ruled that prosecutors and defense lawyers would have to appear before her in court Friday to argue over whether the Justice Department could release to members of Congress the part of Smith’s report dealing with the case she oversaw: the one in which Trump was accused of refusing to return classified documents after he left office. Read more
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration says it’s begun negotiations with the owner of the Queen Theater regarding the Kaimuki landmark’s possible eminent domain as well as its future use. Read more
Biden’s administration has been negotiating with the Taliban since at least July about a U.S. proposal to release the three Americans — Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi - in exchange for Muhammad Rahim al-Afghani, a high-profile prisoner held in Guantanamo Bay, Reuters reported last week, citing a source familiar with the discussions. Read more
Legislators are expected to introduce — or reintroduce — bills aimed at intercepting shipments of illegal fireworks coming into Hawaii harbors and perhaps increasing penalties. Read more
House Speaker Nadine Nakamura, in a statement, called the alliance between the 42 House Democrats and nine Republicans “a monumental moment.” Read more
In his citation for Francis, Biden lauded the religious leader’s life of service to “the voiceless and vulnerable across Argentina” and his lifetime of service to the poor. Read more
The justices signaled through their questions during the arguments that they were inclined to uphold the law, although some expressed serious concerns about its First Amendment implications. Read more
Smith led federal cases against Donald Trump related to his 2020 election defeat and alleged mishandling of classified documents. Read more
On Dec. 10, Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration announced its intent to site the city’s next dump on active agricultural land owned by Dole Food Co. Hawaii near Wahiawa. Read more
Justice Juan Merchan’s sentencing of Trump, 78, to unconditional discharge places a judgment of guilt on his record and closes a case that had loomed over Trump’s bid to retake the White House. Read more
The benefits and drawbacks of having Honolulu’s next solid waste landfill located in Central Oahu were highlighted at the state Capitol this week. Read more
A coalition of local community organizations pushing for reform at the Hawaii Legislature has some new backing inside the state Capitol. Read more
