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Big Island resident Deborah Goodwin says she had no choice but to speak to a reporter and file a lawsuit about her case because the confidential system had treated her unfairly. It backfired.

An appeals court found that parents in three cases should have had court-appointed lawyers throughout. How many other parents were denied this right?

Legislative amendments would introduce new requirements for the land swap.

Public outcry over the disappearance of Isabella Kalua and concerns about CWS’ role in the case of a Big Island fifth grader raised concerns about the agency.

But there is a need for some “labor savings,” although the governor declined to be more specific.

Some lawmakers questioned the project, with one calling the maintenance costs a “nightmare.”

Ige’s chief of staff also suggests upping the “barrel tax” on fossil fuels to help balance the budget.

Craig Hirai stressed that nothing is settled but dropped some hints about possible tax increases in a House Finance Committee hearing.

The Ige administration budget would also “eviscerate” state enforcement of anti-discrimination laws.

The proposed spending cuts may result in the first state government layoffs in more than a decade.