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Now that the Powerball winners have been announced, it seems like the nation’s attention is focusing on a sobering fiscal future prompted by the massive federal budget cuts that are set to kick in automatically in January if Congress fails to put a better plan in place.

But 5,000 miles away from Washington, D.C. … not so much it seems.

By most accounts, Hawaii could get clobbered if defense spending and domestic programs are cut. It’s slated now for roughly the same amount from each category. Hawaii gets more federal money per capita than just about any other state, and obviously the military is a big deal here in the islands.

But state officials don’t seem too worried about going over the so-called fiscal cliff. Hawaii’s budget director told us this week the state could see $40 million less in federal revenue if the automatic cuts known as sequestration take place. But the budget request he plans to submit to the Legislature in a couple weeks presumes all will have been resolved between the polarized political leadership in Congress and the White House.

FactCheck.org has put together a of what’s ahead minus the political handwringing. It’s a good way to follow this important public policy debate.

We’ll also be reporting on how this is all playing out in Hawaii, especially as the Legislature gears up for its next session, which is set to begin Jan. 16.

Meanwhile, our own Washington, D.C., office will be going dark for awhile. Michael Levine is leaving Civil Beat for a job with the American Cities Project, a collaboration between the Pew Center on the States and the Philadelphia Research Initiative that is aimed at helping municipal governments in the 30 largest metropolitan areas. And yes, we plan to replace him and continue what’s been a strong reporting effort on our congressional delegation and the issues that are important to Hawaii.

You can read some of that effort as well as catch up on other stories you might have missed here:

• Hawaii Gov’t Not Planning For Worst On Federal Fiscal Cliff Talks

• Hawaii Tsunami Warning Buoys Face $1 Million Cut

• Abercrombie Will Ask Legislature To Consider All-Mail Voting

• It’s Your Money: Feds Spend Thousands on Fish Management Book

• Could Hawaii’s Utility Be Doing More To Reduce Electricity Costs?

• Hawaii Gas CEO Looks To Washington For Political Support For LNG

• Hawaii Set to Spend Millions of Dollars to Boost Local Farming

• Elections Commission Demands Answers for Ballot Shortages

• Hawaii Ethics Commission Sets Sights On Charter School Employee

• FOCUS: Meet Innocenta Sound, The Community Navigator