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The dozens of independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan news organizations that make up the Rural News Network are developing the broadest news alliance reporting on rural America. These newsrooms are pursuing coverage that provides a more complete picture of what it means to live and work in these communities.
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LATEST NEWS FROM THE NETWORK
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Deadly Devastation From The Lahaina Fire Was ‘Years In The Making’
September 13, 2024
State, county and community inaction including years of ignoring the dangers posed by wildfire made the Aug. 8, 2023 fire that destroyed Lahaina worse than it should have been.
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Hawaii Has Done Little To Shore Up Neighborhoods Against Fire. Some Are Doing It Themselves
August 22, 2024
Residents aware of the dangers can take some steps to protect their communities, but they’re still looking to government to enforce stricter codes for all.
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Hawaii, Maui County, HECO And Others Agree To Pay $4 Billion To Wildfire Victims
August 02, 2024
The proposed settlement still needs to be approved by a judge. And insurers that have paid out billions in claims have not agreed to terms.
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There Are So Few Doctors In Maui County That Even Medical Workers Struggle To Get Care
August 01, 2024
The issues are worse on the rural islands of Lanai and Molokai, which are still reeling from the loss of two primary care providers in 2022.
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Is Growing Your Own Food Considered Agriculture? Hawaii County Says No
July 21, 2024
Subsistence farmers on the Big Island say recent changes to county agricultural laws threaten their ability to keep farming.
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Short-Handed Kona Public Defender’s Office Won’t Accept New Drunken Driving Cases
July 10, 2024
Former Big Island Judge Robert Kim says DUI cases are starting to back up in Kona – a seaside town – and he worries it could affect public safety. Officials are exploring the idea of a program to provide limited license waivers to lawyers from the mainland who want to take government jobs in Hawaii to allow them to practice there.
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Honolulu Bill To Rein In Fake Farms Threatens Real Ag Enterprises
July 05, 2024
Beekeepers, kennels and livestock owners say a proposed change to Honolulu’s land use ordinance would drive them out of business.
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Hawaii’s Opioid Settlement Fund Is Growing And, After Delays, Starting To Be Spent
May 28, 2024
The funding formula gives the state power over funding, even for activities originating on the local level.
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Hawaii Lawmakers Had Big Ideas For How To Prevent Another Lahaina. Few Became Law
May 13, 2024
A House working group found a long list of things Hawaii needs to do to protect itself from fire, but many of those recommendations will fall to the new state fire marshal to implement.
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Volunteer Firefighters Are Big On The Mainland. Not So Much In Hawaii
May 02, 2024
The ability of fire departments to muster extra help during major wildfires is a critical issue for the state as it grapples with how to prevent another disaster like Lahaina.
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1,100 Pieces Of Testimony Against A Bill Went Missing For Days. The Bill Passed And Then The Opponents’ Letters Showed Up
April 10, 2024
Hundreds of Lahaina fire victims came out strongly against a bill that could allow HECO to impose a new fee on customers to help prevent wildfires.
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Hawaii Governor Will Take ‘Unilateral Action’ To Restore Historic Wetland In Lahaina
April 02, 2024
With legislative efforts dead this session, Native Hawaiian leaders remain encouraged by what they’re hearing from elected officials and seeing on the ground.
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Most Wildfires Are Put Out Quickly. But That’s Causing More Severe Fires
March 26, 2024
With conventional fire suppression, the average fire size will increase faster as the planet warms.
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Industrial Fishing Poses A Greater Threat To Turtles, Sharks And Seals Than Previously Thought
March 19, 2024
Risk calculations likely underestimate the impact of undetected fishing vessels operating in key ocean habitats.
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Mokulele Airlines Seeks Federal Aid To Stabilize ‘Unprofitable’ Lanai Service
March 15, 2024
The last surviving public airline servicing Lanai has put the federal government on notice: It wants rural airport subsidies to sustain its money-losing flights.
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