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This is a bit of a special edition of our usual wrap-up of stories from the previous week. For one thing, we’re starting our summary with last Saturday instead of the usual Monday because the entire Civil Beat staff worked through the weekend to bring you in-depth and comprehensive coverage of the Dalai Lama’s three-day visit to Hawaii.

This also marks the first week in nearly two years that John Temple isn’t listed on our masthead as Editor. He rarely missed a week writing this column but did leave us with this final farewell piece that’s required reading for Civil Beat followers. John’s off to the Washington Post to continue his remarkable career in the news business and, as he points out, this column is just one thing that has changed hands.

But before he left, John directed our Dalai Lama coverage which clearly lands in the must-read category. And don’t miss the follow up piece that penciled out how much it cost to bring the Dalai Lama to the state and put on the public events and other appearances.

And that was just the beginning of a week filled with political intrigue and public policy debates as the Legislature edges closer to adjournment in two weeks and the 2012 election campaigns ramp up.

Here are 10 other Civil Beat stories that you shouldn’t miss:

• Hirono Won’t Debate Case on Top TV Networks

• Honolulu’s Next Landfill Could Be In Kailua

• It’s Your Money: Council Spends on Travel and TVs

• Taken For A Ride: Hawaii School Bus Cuts Imminent

• Senate Democrats Help Each Other Raise Campaign Cash

• Single Use Bag Bill in Political Death Throes

• It’s Your Money: Hawaii Owes $3 Million for Hazardous Scenic Lookout

• Off The Beat: Ducking TV Debates Doesn’t Serve Hawaii Public

• Hawaii Ed Board Embraces ‘Opportunity’ to Pass Teacher Evaluations

• Water Commmission Nominees Confirmed Amid Growing Outcry