Schatz promotes Social Security legislation Schatz promotes Social Security legislation ADVERTISING HONOLULU — U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii is promoting legislation he’s co-sponsoring with fellow Democratic Sens. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Mark Begich of Alaska. Schatz told reporters
Schatz promotes Social Security legislation
HONOLULU — U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii is promoting legislation he’s co-sponsoring with fellow Democratic Sens. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Mark Begich of Alaska.
Schatz told reporters Thursday the bill would keep Social Security solvent through 2049 and increase benefits by about $65 a month.
He said it would also change the way cost of living adjustments are calculated to more accurately reflect the costs seniors face. Schatz said the bill would tax all wages, instead of just capping the income taxed for Social Security at nearly $114,000.
Harkin introduced the bill in March. Schatz signed on as a co-sponsor on July 15, Begich on July 22.
Inouye to be honored
with Medal of Freedom
HONOLULU — The late Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii is one of 16 people President Barack Obama will honor later this year with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The White House announced the list Thursday.
Inouye is among musicians, scientists and activists to receive the honor. Others include former President Bill Clinton, former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee, women’s rights activist Gloria Steinem, country music legend Loretta Lynn and broadcaster Oprah Winfrey.
Three including Inouye are receiving the award posthumously. The two others are astronaut Sally Ride and civil rights activist Bayard Rustin.
The president decides on the list of medal recipients after reviewing an advisory board’s recommendations of individuals who have contributed to America’s cultural, security and other public interests.
Defense rests in agent’s Honolulu murder trial
HONOLULU — A federal agent has rested his defense case in his Honolulu murder trial.
The defense rested Thursday after a retired Honolulu police lieutenant testified about a previous disorderly conduct conviction of the man who was shot and killed at a Waikiki McDonald’s in 2011.
State Department Special Agent Christopher Deedy testified over three days in his defense. The 29-year-old agent from Arlington, Va. said he was acting in self-defense and protecting others when he shot Kollin Elderts.
Defense attorney Karl Blanke said Elderts’ 2008 conviction shows jurors Elderts had a history of aggression.
The end of the defense’s case marks the 20th day of the trial. Prosecutors have been trying to show the Deedy was intoxicated and inexperienced when he shot and killed Elderts during a physical altercation.
Ruling allows Hawaii dam break lawsuits to advance
LIHUE — A state appeals court ruling has cleared the way for stalled lawsuits involving a deadly 2006 Kauai dam breach to move forward.
The state Intermediate Court of Appeals on Wednesday sent the case back to circuit court, vacating the lower court’s ruling letting 17 insurance companies out of a Ka Loko dam suit, the Garden Island reported.
The 5th Circuit was wrong to rule that insurers had no duty to defend against “continuous, incremental and indivisible” property damage, the ruling states.
Lawsuits were filed after the dam break killed seven people. Retired car dealer and landowner James Pflueger pleaded no contest last month in the criminal case. He accepted a deal to plead no contest to reckless endangering in exchange for dropping seven manslaughter counts. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 23.
His company, Pacific 808 Properties LLC, pleaded no contest to seven manslaughter charges.
The victims were killed after the century-old Ka Loko dam broke on Pflueger’s property, sending hundreds of millions of gallons of water downstream.
Pflueger’s plea agreement calls for five years’ probation. At the sentencing, prosecutors can argue for additional conditions such as community service, a fine, and up to a year imprisonment. His company will pay a $350,000 fine that will go toward a dam inspection and safety program.
Trial begins for man charged with stabbing mother
HONOLULU — A trial is underway for a Honolulu man charged with stabbing and killing his adoptive mother.
Prosecutor Darrell Wong in opening statements Wednesday says no one except Charly Hernane knows why the 29-year-old man stabbed Teresita Dumalan Hernane in the neck and face on May 11, 2011, in the home they shared with other relatives.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Hernane is charged with second-degree murder.
Wong said relatives describe Hernane as an introverted loner with no job or interests who would spend entire days in his room.
Defense lawyer Alan Komagome said jurors will have to determine whether Hernane intended to kill. He said injuries to Teresita Hernane were not consistent with someone intending to cause a death.
By wire sources
