Jobless rate drops to 6.5% Jobless rate drops to 6.5% ADVERTISING HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s unemployment rate declined slightly to a seasonally adjusted 6.5 percent in January from 6.6 percent a month earlier. The state Department of Labor and Industrial
Jobless rate drops to 6.5%
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s unemployment rate declined slightly to a seasonally adjusted 6.5 percent in January from 6.6 percent a month earlier.
The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations says the tourism and hospitality industry added the most jobs, followed by the professional and business services sector.
Department Director Dwight Takamine said Monday tourism is fueling the state’s economic recovery.
State will give protester $100K
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii will pay $100,000 to settle a lawsuit by a protester who was dragged out of the state Senate when he objected to a prayer.
Mitchell Kahle is founder of the Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church.His friend Kevin Hughes videotaped Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Ben Villaflor pulling on Kahle’s arm in April 2010 after he objected to an opening prayer. Kahle was then hustled outside and seen on the ground with Villaflor and three uniformed deputies on top of him.
He was later acquitted at trial of disorderly conduct. Hughes claims sergeant-at-arms employees attacked him and broke his camera.
Federal aid is
likely after rains
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Civil Defense officials are still compiling damage totals from recent days of wild weather, but preliminary figures show the state will likely qualify for federal disaster assistance.
Heavy rains flooded roads, caused sewage spills and other problems. Parts of the islands saw thunderstorms and hail. A tornado touched down Friday in Kailua.
State Civil Defense Plans and Operations Officer Vic Gustafson said, according to unofficial numbers, state damage has exceeded the threshold for assistance at about $2.6 million. Kauai County alone suffered more than $1 million. He says private homeowners can’t qualify until the state has confirmed at least 173 homes suffered major damage.
