TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's Journal'Raise Hell' Delves Into The Life Of Brilliant, Outspoken Rabble-Rouser, Molly Ivins
Molly Ivins is a Texas icon. She was a “First Amendment warrior, she spoke truth to power, gave voice to those that didn’t have one,” says filmmaker Janice Engel. She covers it all in her documentary, “Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins.”
Engel says she was “knocked out” by what she learned about Ivins during her research.
“I’ve been climbing a mountain called ‘Molly’ for six-plus years,” Engel says.
What especially stood out was how Ivins promoted civic engagement through her work.
“Especially in school and getting education,” Engel says. “I think her voice … may be more relevant now than even when she was alive.”
Read more: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/raise-hell-delves-into-the-life-of-brilliant-outspoken-rabble-rouser-molly-ivins/
Cross-posted in the Movies Group.
'Raise Hell' Delves Into The Life Of Brilliant, Outspoken Rabble-Rouser, Molly Ivins
Molly Ivins is a Texas icon. She was a “First Amendment warrior, she spoke truth to power, gave voice to those that didn’t have one,” says filmmaker Janice Engel. She covers it all in her documentary, “Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins.”
Engel says she was “knocked out” by what she learned about Ivins during her research.
“I’ve been climbing a mountain called ‘Molly’ for six-plus years,” Engel says.
What especially stood out was how Ivins promoted civic engagement through her work.
“Especially in school and getting education,” Engel says. “I think her voice … may be more relevant now than even when she was alive.”
Read more: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/raise-hell-delves-into-the-life-of-brilliant-outspoken-rabble-rouser-molly-ivins/
Cross-posted in the Texas Group.
Rachel Bitecofer Prediction: Democrats could flip nine Texas districts in 2020
Texas could be a focal point for the 2020 elections — even if the state doesn’t support a Democrat over Republican President Donald Trump.
That’s the prediction of political scientist Rachel Bitecofer, whose analysis in 2018 was correct — that Democrats would flip significantly more congressional districts than others predicted. Especially since a lengthy interview with Salon.com in mid-August, her forecasting is gaining attention.
Bitecofer is the assistant director of the Judy Ford Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.
She has predicted the Democratic presidential candidate will get at least 278 electoral votes in 2020 — eight more than the 270 needed to win. And that’s without Texas’ 38 electoral votes.
Read more: https://www.news-journal.com/opinion/mcneely-prediction-democrats-could-flip-nine-texas-districts-in/article_90455e1a-c9f7-11e9-9153-6ba25f58705d.html
(Longview News-Journal)
The specific districts that could flip are listed at the link.
Monsanto Could Soon Be Facing Dozens Of Lawsuits in Hawaii Over Pesticide
Dozens of lawsuits potentially worth tens of millions of dollars in damages are in the works in Hawaii targeting Monsanto Co. and its weed-killer Roundup, lawyers who have filed two of the lawsuits said.
Michael Green, who filed a federal products liability suit earlier this month against Monsanto, said he expects to file at least six or seven more suits in the next several weeks alleging Roundup caused his clients to develop a form of cancer called non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Meanwhile, Brian Mackintosh, a former associate of Green’s who has filed a similar suit in state court, said he has an additional 35 clients lined up.
The Hawaii lawsuits come as Monsanto, which is now owned by the German chemical firm Bayer AG, faces thousands of similar actions across the U.S.
Read more: https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/08/monsanto-could-soon-be-facing-dozens-of-lawsuits-in-hawaii-over-pesticide/
Ex-Hawaii IBEW union boss and family plead not guilty to wire fraud, embezzlement scheme
Former union boss Brian Ahakuelo and family members were arraigned today in federal court on charges of criminal conspiracy and wire fraud for allegedly using union dues for personal expenses, and for rigging results of membership voting to hike union dues up to 4% from 1.5%.
Ahakuelo, his wife, Marilyn, and her sister Jennifer Estencion pleaded not guilty to the charges of a 70-count indictment filed Aug. 22, which also includes money laundering and embezzlement.
The three remain free on $50,000 bond.
Ahakuelo served as business manager and financial secretary for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260, which represents about 3,000 electrical workers in Hawaii and Guam.
He depleted the union’s surplus of more than $700,000 in 2010 to a net deficit of more than $700,000, the indictment alleges.
Read more: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/08/28/breaking-news/ex-hawaii-ibew-union-boss-and-family-plead-not-guilty-to-wire-fraud-embezzlement-scheme/
TMT VP says decision needed 'sooner' than two years
HILO — Although the deadline to begin construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope was pushed back until 2021, project authorities believe a decision about the project’s future will have to be made soon.
“I don’t know what ‘soon’ exactly means in this situation, but definitely sooner than two years,” said Gordon Squires, TMT’s vice president of external affairs.
Squires said Wednesday that the continued inaction on the project — which was scheduled to begin construction on Maunakea in July, but has since been impeded by demonstrators blocking the Maunakea Access Road — may cause some of the project’s partners to reconsider their involvement.
“All of our partners are concerned right now,” Squires said, explaining that the project’s six partners — including government agencies of Canada, Japan and India, the National Astronomy Observatory of China, and the University of California and Caltech — remain committed to building TMT, but have to justify the substantial amount of money they supply the project each year.
Read more: https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2019/08/29/hawaii-news/tmt-vp-says-decision-needed-sooner-than-two-years/
Cross-posted in the Hawaii Group.
TMT VP says decision needed 'sooner' than two years
HILO — Although the deadline to begin construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope was pushed back until 2021, project authorities believe a decision about the project’s future will have to be made soon.
“I don’t know what ‘soon’ exactly means in this situation, but definitely sooner than two years,” said Gordon Squires, TMT’s vice president of external affairs.
Squires said Wednesday that the continued inaction on the project — which was scheduled to begin construction on Maunakea in July, but has since been impeded by demonstrators blocking the Maunakea Access Road — may cause some of the project’s partners to reconsider their involvement.
“All of our partners are concerned right now,” Squires said, explaining that the project’s six partners — including government agencies of Canada, Japan and India, the National Astronomy Observatory of China, and the University of California and Caltech — remain committed to building TMT, but have to justify the substantial amount of money they supply the project each year.
Read more: https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2019/08/29/hawaii-news/tmt-vp-says-decision-needed-sooner-than-two-years/
Cross-posted in the Science Group.
USS Arizona Memorial reopens Sunday
HONOLULU — The USS Arizona Memorial will reopen Sunday.
The National Park Service, in coordination with the United States Navy and contractors, completed the final phase of construction this week. The reopening of the memorial will provide for a safe and enhanced visit to Pearl Harbor, allowing visitors to more closely understand the story and pay their respects to the men aboard the Arizona.
“The National Park Service is excited to welcome our visitors back to the USS Arizona Memorial very soon,” said Pearl Harbor National Memorial Acting Superintendent Steve Mietz. “It is a great honor to share the stories of the men of the USS Arizona, and all of those who served, suffered and sacrificed on Oahu on Dec. 7, 1941. That is the cornerstone of our mission here, and restoration of public access to this iconic place is critical as we continue to tell their stories and honor their memory,” Mietz said.
The $2.1 million project improves the dock’s anchoring system and addresses a critical infrastructure need at the park. Since May 2018, the NPS has completed multiple phases of the project to include analysis, contracting, design, environmental compliance, mobilization, unexploded ordnance screening, resource preservation and project execution. All of this was facilitated with much assistance from the NPS’s dedicated partners in the United States Navy and Department of Defense.
Read more: https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2019/08/29/hawaii-news/uss-arizona-memorial-reopens-sunday/
Propst: 'The people win'; IPI appeal denied
SAIPAN – The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has allowed the public disclosure of Imperial Pacific International’s income tax information.
Ninth Circuit Judges A. Wallace Tashima and Miland D. Smith signed the order on Aug. 26, denying IPI’s appeal of the District Court of the NMI’s Aug. 6 order denying the casino investor’s petition for a preliminary injunction against the Commonwealth Casino Commission.
In a statement on Tuesday morning, House Minority Leader Edwin Propst said:
“I am elated and most grateful to the Ninth Circuit for making the right decision. IPI lost their appeal with the Ninth Circuit and there can no longer be any delays in my (Open Government Act) request. The documents I requested...should be available for public inspection without any delay by the Commonwealth Casino Commission. I have emailed CCC Executive Director Ed Deleon Guerrero and CCC counsel Mike Ernest asking for access to all the documents I requested through my [Open Government Act] request. A huge thank you to [District Court for the NMI] Chief Judge Ramona Manglona, [Assistant Attorneys General] Mike Ernest, Ben Petersburg, and Chris Timmons, the CCC, and all who supported my [Open Government Act] request. The people win.”
In an interview, House Committee on Gaming Chairman Ralph Yumul said if IPI won the case, “there would be no point in having a gaming committee in the House.”
Read more: https://www.postguam.com/news/cnmi/propst-the-people-win-ipi-appeal-denied/article_cfb6b60e-c95a-11e9-bda1-abf552c65a34.html
USCIS: We're not in contempt and don't deserve sanctions
The federal government objects to a report and recommendation that would hold U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in contempt of a federal court order and impose sanctions.
In the latest filing with the District Court of Guam, the government argues that USCIS has complied with the permanent injunction order by adjudicating class members’ H-2B petitions based on the agency’s longstanding policy on temporariness in the H-2B visa program.
The defendants argue the judge “erroneously concluded” that USCIS failed to comply with the court’s preliminary injunction order and that plaintiffs are entitled to sanctions.
Judge: USCIS failed to comply with court orders
District Court Magistrate Judge Joaquin Manibusan Jr. issued a report and recommendation finding USCIS had not complied with the District Court order prohibiting the agency from denying H-2B visas for temporary foreign workers.
Read more: https://www.postguam.com/news/local/uscis-we-re-not-in-contempt-and-don-t-deserve/article_c636028a-c7be-11e9-91c6-c7dd8291bbdf.html
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