Hawaii on Friday July 03, 2009

HI: State wins OK for $129 million in federal funds for education
By Gary T. Kubota, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Some $129 million in federal money has been approved for public education in Hawaii under President Obama's national economic stimulus plan.
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HI: Rethink furloughs, Hawaii state Senate president urges
By Derrick DePledge, The Honolulu Advertiser
State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa has urged Gov. Linda Lingle to consider alternatives to her furlough plans, including a 5 percent across-the-board pay cut for state workers or one furlough day a month for the next two years, instead of three days.
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Stimulus eases community college troubles
By Kimberly Leonard, Special to Stateline.org
States are digging into their federal stimulus money to help finance community colleges, where rising tuition, soaring enrollment and budget cuts threaten to shut students out of the system.
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Weekly wrap: Report questions states' use of stimulus road funds
By John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writer
States are spending too much stimulus money on new road construction and not enough on public transit projects, a national advocacy group claims in a report issued Monday (June 29). Meanwhile, Michigan and California consider teaming up to solve their prison problems and North Carolina and Rhode Island face off with Amazon.com over taxes.
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HI: Drivers mindful of law on 1st day of phone ban
By Katie Urbaszewski, The Honolulu Advertiser
Brandi Crab said she was about to call work yesterday morning to say she was running late, but stopped short when she remembered the city's new cell phone ban had just taken effect.
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HI: Gov. Lingle, unions have date in court
By Richard Borreca, Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Gov. Linda Lingle's power to furlough state workers will be tested today before Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto.
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HI: Study says Hawaii's road-related crash costs among nation's highest
By Staff Writers, The Honolulu Advertiser
A study released yesterday that says deficient roadway conditions contribute to more than half of U.S. highway fatalities — a substantially more lethal factor than drunk driving, speeding or non-use of seatbelts — lists Hawaii as among the states with the highest road-related crash costs.
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HI: Hawaii libraries brace for 20% cut in budget, may close branches
By Loren Moreno, The Honolulu Advertiser
Hawai'i's state library system is facing budget cuts of more than $5.7 million, nearly 20 percent of current spending, which could lead to the closing of branches and cutting of hours.
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HI: Veto of Hawaii excise tax on online retailers likely to stand
By Derrick DePledge, The Honolulu Advertiser
Gov. Linda Lingle's veto yesterday of a bill that would apply the state's general excise tax to Mainland retailers with Internet links to Hawai'i will likely stand, after state lawmakers said they will not attempt an override because of a technical flaw.
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US: Coming to 25 states -- higher taxes
By Mark Trumbull, The Christian Science Monitor
More than half of US states are responding to budget challenges with an answer that's often unpopular with their residents: tax hikes.
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US: Mississippi tops obesity rankings; Colorado is leanest state
By The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal
WASHINGTON -- Mississippi remains at the top of the list in this year's national annual obesity rankings, with Alabama coming in second. Outside of fairly lean Colorado, there's little good news.
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