Judge allows travel ban lawsuit to move forward ADVERTISING Judge allows travel ban lawsuit to move forward HONOLULU (AP) — A federal judge in Honolulu allowed Hawaii’s amended lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban to move forward. U.S.
Judge allows travel ban lawsuit to move forward
HONOLULU (AP) — A federal judge in Honolulu allowed Hawaii’s amended lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban to move forward.
U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson on Wednesday granted the state’s request to continue with the case and set a hearing for March 15 — the day before Trump’s revised ban is set to go into effect.
Hawaii filed the amended federal suit Tuesday night. The lawsuit says the state is suing to protect its residents, businesses and schools, as well as its “sovereignty against illegal actions of President Donald J. Trump and the federal government.”
The state’s previous suit was on hold while a nationwide injunction on the initial ban remained in place. Watson granted the state’s request to lift the stay so it could file the amended lawsuit.
State clears Meadow Gold
2 percent milk
HONOLULU (AP) — Meadow Gold Dairies again can sell its 2 percent reduced-fat milk from its Honolulu plant as the state lifted a suspension on the product after it was found to have exceeded limits for bacteria.
The state Department of Health sent a cease-and-desist order to Meadow Gold, a brand of Dallas-based Dean Foods Co., on Feb. 27 after samples of the milk processed at a Honolulu plant contained high levels of coliform bacteria.
The DOH tests of the 2 percent milk on Jan. 19 and Feb. 6 and 22 showed coliform counts of nearly 15 times the maximum 10 per milliliter allowed.
The DOH said Tuesday that tests conducted March 1, 2 and 6 found the milk in compliance with coliform counts.
Meadow Gold spokeswoman Reace Smith said the company fixed an equipment problem that led to earlier results.
Smith said the milk was never recalled or pulled from the market.
“We were able to continue supplying our neighbors with additional milk from our plants on the Big Island and the mainland,” she said in an email.
Officials struggle to keep visitors out of closed parks
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — Though hazardous conditions caused by flooding resulted in the closure of two parks on Maui, many tourists continue to attempt to visit them.
Park officials and residents say they have to turn visitors away from Kepaniwai Park and Iao Valley State Monument every day despite signage and notices denoting the parks’ closures.
“We put up signs and people walk right past,” said Larry Pacheco, Maui district superintendent of state parks for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
DLNR officials say work began last week to stabilize the bank alongside the Iao Valley parking lot. With heavy equipment present, hikers could be injured or delay work.
Heavy rains and flooding in September damaged homes and portions of both parks, which have been closed and under repair since. Officials say Kepaniwai is three to six weeks away from reopening. Iao Valley is slated to reopen in June.
Maui County has tried to spread the word that the parks are closed through the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association, but those who aren’t staying in the major resorts might not get the message.
Catholic Church sets up $1M abuse settlement fund
HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — The Roman Catholic Church of Guam established a $1 million settlement fund for victims of child sexual abuse.
During a news conference with his nine-member archdiocese finance council, Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes said the funds will become available as soon as the archdiocese puts in place an administrator who will be supported by an independent third party. After these are in place, Byrnes said victims can contact the administrator directly. He added victims’ confidentiality will be respected.
To date, 24 alleged victims filed a lawsuit for clergy child sexual abuse against the archdiocese of Agana in Guam.
Byrnes said the archdiocese took steps to revamp its sexual abuse policy.
“We will show no tolerance to abusers,” Byrnes said.
Archdiocesan Finance Council President Richard Untalan said the procedures for the settlement fund are being worked out and that legal issues have not been resolved.
The archdiocese will have no influence over how claims are processed or determined, Untalan said.
