July 2, 2021

Schatz: Congress Needs To Stop 'Ignoring The Needs Of Native People'

The Hawaii senator says Democrats have a unique opportunity to address centuries of racism, in part through funneling more resources to Indigenous communities.


When Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz took the reins of the Indian Affairs Committee in February, he found out that its staffers were making less money than any other Senate committee.

The realization underscored how little clout the Indian Affairs Committee had in the Senate and the challenge of getting Congress to prioritize Indigenous issues. Schatz raised the salaries and hired more staff. But his ambitions are a lot bigger.

“The way I look at the work we’re doing is to try to understand all those injustices, where and how they occurred, what the scars are, and then to try to reverse them in a systematic way,” he said. “Because, remember, all the injustices were imposed in a terribly systematic and thoughtful and planful way.”

Schatz’s leadership of the Indian Affairs Committee comes at a critical time for Indigenous peoples in America. People in Native communities such as the Navajo Nation have disproportionately died from the coronavirus. The pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement have brought increased national attention to racial disparities and historic injustices against people of color.

Read more: https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/07/schatz-congress-needs-to-stop-ignoring-the-needs-of-native-people/

July 2, 2021

Ige signs bill outlawing 'ghost guns'

Gov. David Ige signed a trio of crime-related bills into law Thursday, including one outlawing a type of unregistered firearm that was used during a Hilo shooting incident in June.

The three bills ratified are aimed at defending the most vulnerable members of society, including children and the elderly, Ige said.

House Bill 490 lowers the age at which a crime is considered a crime against a senior from 62 to 60 years of age.

“We all know the number of crimes went down during the middle of the coronavirus, when people were staying at home,” said Pearl City Rep. Gregg Takayama, an introducer of the bill. “Well, now people are returning to work, students will be returning to school. That leaves our kupuna at home, oftentimes by themselves or going out shopping for their families by themselves. So we’re hoping this bill sends a strong message to those who might target them for crimes of opportunity or violence that they will not be tolerated.”

Read more: https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2021/07/02/hawaii-news/ige-signs-bill-outlawing-ghost-guns/

July 2, 2021

Guam Supreme Court upholds governor's quarantine power

The Supreme Court of Guam decided Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has sole authority over the regulation of quarantine, following an attempt by the Legislature to limit the governor's quarantine policy.

The decision comes after the governor filed a request for declaratory judgment to interpret her power to implement quarantine which was established in the Organic Act, according to a release sent by the Office of the Governor.

After an extensive briefing by the governor and multiple government agencies, the high court found any attempt to limit the Governor's quarantine policy was inorganic and void.

In its opinion, the Supreme Court concluded the Organic Act established a broad set of principles enacted to guide the governor and the Department of Public Health and Social Services as they promulgate quarantine policy and regulation. The high court added that quarantine orders may be challenged on constitutional grounds and must be neutrally and generally applicable.

Read more: https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2021/07/02/supreme-court-upholds-governors-quarantine-power/7838205002/
(Guam Pacific Daily News)

July 2, 2021

CNMI starts tourism 'travel bubble' with South Korea

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands launched a “travel bubble” Thursday for vaccinated tourists from South Korea, according to the Marianas Visitors Authority, which said it is South Korea’s first such travel agreement.

“Those who wish to travel between the two countries under the travel bubble agreement must complete vaccination against COVID 19 at least 14 days ahead of departure with vaccines approved and provided by their respective governments,” according to the Marianas Visitors Authority.

Visitors to the CNMI must take a COVID-19 test three days before returning to Korea.

Guam, which is a competing tourist destination, will ease travel quarantine requirements starting July 4, allowing visitors to skip quarantine if they test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of arriving here. Fully vaccinated travelers already are exempt from quarantine.

Read more: https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2021/07/01/cnmi-starts-tourism-travel-bubble-south-korea/7822029002/
(Guam Pacific Daily News)

July 2, 2021

Plaintiffs want over $5 million worth of IPI assets auctioned (Northern Marianas)

The seven construction workers who are suing Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC over labor violations and human trafficking have asked the U.S. District Court for the NMI to allow them to auction off IPI assets to satisfy a $5 million-plus judgment.

The plaintiffs, through New York-based lawyer Aaron Halegua, filed an application for writ of execution on IPI’s property in the amount of 5,430,595.58 last Wednesday.

The list of IPI assets include computer hardware, furniture and equipment, motor vehicles, casino gaming machines, and two of IPI’s crystal dragons.

In a declaration by Frances Mafnas, former IPI treasury director for IPI, dated Dec. 9, 2020, IPI’s computer hardware is estimated to be at around $692,404.47, its furniture and equipment is estimated at around $2,348,230.40, IPI’s motor vehicles hold a combined value of $1,347,547.03, and its casino gaming machines are valued at around $7,042,321.91.

Read more: https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/plaintiffs-want-over-5-million-worth-of-ipi-assets-auctioned/

July 2, 2021

Governor provides context on the July 1 wage hike for ASG (American Samoa)

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga is commending the public for their continued patience and support as the ASG workforce endured the recent rollback phase of the Cost Saving Measures of Personnel Actions.

In a press release issued yesterday, he addressed issues around the ASG General Wage increase, effective yesterday, July 1, 2021 — following a cabinet meeting this past Friday.

“Wage increases have been a long-standing goal for every Administration, and I wanted to make sure that a couple of issues were addressed during the planning stages. One, can we commit to this increase and secondly, is there a comprehensive plan to sustain such an increase. I believe it is time to recognize the service of our people, and in turn improve the service to the public.

“In order to implement these changes, we needed to efficiently and legally assess the personnel structure and ensure it is aligned with the Administration's overall goal of now raising the pay for most, if not all, ASG career service employees,” explained Governor Lemanu following Friday’s cabinet meeting where the pay increases were presented to the Administration.

Read more: https://www.samoanews.com/local-news/governor-provides-context-july-1-wage-hike-asg

July 2, 2021

Ex-Richardson mayor and developer husband on trial again for bribery after first was thrown out

Laura and Mark Jordan were found guilty of bribery by a federal jury in 2019 over his gifts to her, including sex. But a court security officer’s remark resulted in a new trial.


It was a novel approach for a political bribery case.

Prosecutors told jurors that one of the benefits a developer gave a former Richardson mayor in exchange for votes was sex.

Jurors agreed with the government and convicted the ex-mayor, Laura Jordan, and her lover-turned-husband, Mark Jordan, on nearly all counts after just a day and a half of deliberation. Nevertheless, the salacious details of their illicit romance and alleged corrupt plotting will once again be chronicled inside a Sherman courtroom.

That’s because of a court security officer’s careless remark to a distraught and undecided juror hours before the verdict. It resulted in the judge throwing out the 2019 conviction and ordering a new trial. The juror had been a holdout, and the defense argued she was improperly swayed by the officer.

U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant agreed and granted the defense motion for a new trial, a decision later upheld by the Fifth Circuit following an appeal by the government. Opening statements in the retrial of the Jordans, who married during the controversy, are scheduled to begin Tuesday.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2021/07/02/ex-richardson-mayor-and-developer-husband-on-trial-again-for-bribery-after-first-was-thrown-out/

July 2, 2021

Banners in downtown Dallas celebrate one-liners from Ann Richards

The public art display marks the 30th anniversary of Richards’ inauguration as Texas governor.


The late Ann Richards served as governor of Texas from 1991 to 1995, gracing us with multiple memorable one-liners. Heck, she was even the subject of a Broadway play — Ann, by Holland Taylor.

Now, downtown Dallas is paying tribute to the late, great Ann. No fewer than 60 “Ann Banners” have been installed along Main, Akard and Young streets, no farther than a bouffant and a can of hairspray from City Hall. The artwork shows 12 designs featuring photos and quotes from the one-of-a-kind Texas governor.

Here are some of our favorite Annisms as depicted on the banners:

“Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, she just did it backwards and in high heels.”

“Cherish your friends and family as if your life depended on it, because it does.”

“Teaching is the hardest work I have ever done, including being governor.”

“I get a lot of cracks about my hair, mostly from men who don’t have any.”

“You can put lipstick on a pig and call it Monique, but it is still a pig.”

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/visual-arts/2021/07/02/banners-in-downtown-dallas-celebrate-one-liners-from-ann-richards/

July 2, 2021

"Everything is on the table": Democrats mull options for special session, including another walkout

by Patrick Svitek and Cassandra Pollock, Texas Tribune


Outnumbered and virtually powerless to block conservative priorities they oppose, Democrats in the Texas Legislature say they are keeping their options open as they prepare for a special session that is expected to revive the GOP elections bill they killed last month.

The line coming from Democrats across the spectrum: “Everything is on the table.” That includes another walkout like the one that doomed Senate Bill 7 in the final hours of the regular legislative session when Democrats broke quorum. But this time, such a move could now imperil the pay of their staffers, since Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed the funding for the legislative branch while telling lawmakers they could restore it in the special session that starts in less than a week.

“From a caucus perspective, since we’re going into the unknown, we have to keep every option open, which includes denying quorum,” said Rep. Jessica González of Dallas, vice chair of the House Elections Committee. “I think a lot of folks want to see what would be in [the elections bill] before making a decision.”

She said House Democrats are “trying to get a sense of where the majority of our caucus is,” but that consensus is “to be determined.” Similarly, Rep. Nicole Collier of Fort Worth said during a Texas Tribune event Tuesday that “right now, there has not been any type of resolution or concerted efforts.”

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/01/texas-democrats-special-session-walkout/

July 2, 2021

2,100 state workers caught in the crosshairs of Gov. Greg Abbott's veto of Legislature funding

by Heidi Pérez-Moreno, Texas Tribune


When Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed funding for Texas’ legislative branch, he said he was taking the drastic action as retribution after more than 30 Democrats walked out of the regular session, killing a GOP priority voting bill.

But the veto of the Legislature’s funding reaches far beyond the $600 monthly stipend for the more than 30 House Democrats in Abbott’s crosshairs. It goes further than the 150 members of the House and the 31 members of the Senate. In fact, their salaries are constitutionally protected.

But the veto threatens the livelihoods of 2,165 legislative staffers and individuals working at legislative agencies, with a median salary of $52,000 per year, according to data from the state comptroller.

That includes staffers like Ted Raab, the legislative director for Rep. Mary González, D-Clint, who is worried about how he would financially support himself and his three daughters if he loses his income.

“If the funding isn't there, I'm not going to be there,” Raab said.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/02/greg-abbott-veto-legislature-staffers/