Sunday - May 31, 2026
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Hawaii Newsletter for Saturday May 09, 2026 ( 16 items )  

2026 UH Hilo Spring Commencement is May 16
HONOLULU, Hawaii, May 9 -- The University of Hawaii issued the following news release: * * * 2026 UH Hilo Spring Commencement is May 16 The University of Hawaii at Hilo celebrates its graduates at the 2026 Spring Commencement Saturday, May 16, beginning at 9 a.m. at Edith Kanaka`ole Stadium. The ceremony is limited to invited guests and not open to the public. The ceremony may be viewed via livestream at: https://www.youtube.com/@UHatHilo/streams. Approximately 557 students have petitioned f  more

Arizona Western College: Small Business Development Center Earns Top SBA Awards for Supporting Local Businesses
YUMA, Arizona, May 8 -- Arizona Western College issued the following news: * * * Small Business Development Center earns top SBA awards for supporting local businesses For the second consecutive year, the Arizona Western Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has been named the SBA Arizona District Office's Center of Excellence. Building on that recognition, the SBDC also earned the SBA's Excellence and Innovation Award for the Pacific Region--which includes California, Arizona, Hawaii, and  more

CAP Praises Hawaii Passage of Bill To Undo Effects of Citizens United, Urges Governor To Sign It Into Law
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Center for American Progress issued the following news release on May 8, 2026: * * * CAP Praises Hawaii Passage of Bill To Undo Effects of Citizens United, Urges Governor To Sign It Into Law Today, the Hawaii State Legislature approved a historic measure that would effectively undo the corrosive effects of the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision. The bill now heads to Gov. Josh Green's (D) desk for his signature. The measure would redefine corporate law so   more

CBP Announces 37 Additional Partnerships for New and Expanded Services
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: * * * CBP Announces 37 Additional Partnerships for New and Expanded Services U.S. Customs and Border Protection made tentative selections for new Reimbursable Services Agreements that will promote cross-border trade and essential travel to the United States in late October. "The CBP Reimbursable Services Program is a crucial program that ensures trade and travel cont  more

Congressional Court Watcher - Circuit Splits From April 2026 Topic of White Paper From CRS
WASHINGTON, May 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11430) by deputy assistant director Michael John Garcia and legislative attorney Alexander H. Pepper: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Circuit Splits from April 2026 The U.S. Courts of Appeals for the thirteen "circuits" issue thousands of precedential decisions each year. Because relatively few of these decisions are ultimately reviewed by the Supreme Court, the U.S. Cou  more

DNI Gabbard Addresses Independent Women's Policy Summit: Speak Objective Truth, Lead with a Servant's Heart
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- The Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued the following news release: * * * DNI Gabbard Addresses Independent Women's Policy Summit: Speak Objective Truth, Lead with a Servant's Heart * WASHINGTON - On Thursday, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard delivered the keynote address at the 2026 Independent Women's Policy Summit, sharing lessons learned from her years of service in the Intelligence Community, the military, and Congress. She em  more

Following Disturbing Incident In Lahaina, Schatz Calls On NOAA To Strengthen Public Education Efforts To Protect Hawaiian Monk Seals
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: * * * Following Disturbing Incident In Lahaina, Schatz Calls On NOAA To Strengthen Public Education Efforts To Protect Hawaiian Monk Seals * HONOLULU - Following a disturbing incident involving an attack on a Hawaiian monk seal in Lahaina, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), a member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries, called on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric  more

Following Request From Schatz, Education Secretary Agrees To Avoid Cuts To Native Hawaiian Education Program, Keep Millions In Federal Funding Flowing For Hawai'i Kids
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: * * * Following Request From Schatz, Education Secretary Agrees To Avoid Cuts To Native Hawaiian Education Program, Keep Millions In Federal Funding Flowing For Hawai'i Kids * HONOLULU - U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today spoke with U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon and reiterated his request that the department avoid cuts t  more

HAWAII A.G. LOPEZ PROVIDES BIWEEKLY UPDATE ON PUBLIC CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION
HONOLULU, Hawaii, May 9 -- The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General issued the following news release on May 8, 2026: * * * ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ PROVIDES BIWEEKLY UPDATE ON PUBLIC CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION The Department of the Attorney General is providing its regular biweekly update regarding the ongoing criminal investigation into the previously federally disclosed transfer of approximately $35,000 in funds. Since the last update, the department's Special Investigation and Prosecuti  more

Heinrich, Lujan Demand Answers about U.S. and Israeli Military's Adherence to International Law in the Middle East
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Heinrich, Lujan Demand Answers about U.S. and Israeli Military's Adherence to International Law in the Middle East * A dozen Senate Dems ask U.S. Central Command whether American forces have provided support to Israel's forced displacement of 1,000,000 civilians in Lebanon New Mexico - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and n  more

Library of Congress Announces Awards for Federal Library Excellence
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- The Library of Congress issued the following news: * * * Library of Congress Announces Awards for Federal Library Excellence * The Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK) has announced the winners of its national awards for federal librarianship. These awards celebrate the innovative ways federal libraries, librarians, and library technicians serve with distinction and meet the information demands of the government, business and scholarly communities, and the A  more

Lujan, Markey, Schumer, Cantwell, Demand FCC Stop First Amendment Attacks on Disney, ABC
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Lujan, Markey, Schumer, Cantwell, Demand FCC Stop First Amendment Attacks on Disney, ABC * Senators call for FCC's order for early license renewals to Disney be rescinded Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Commerce Committ  more

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives Announces 2026 Programming
WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Smithsonian Institution Libraries and Archives issued the following news release: * * * Smithsonian Libraries and Archives Announces 2026 Programming Scholarly Panel, Book Talks and Two New Exhibits Opening Throughout the Year * Smithsonian Libraries and Archives will launch a dynamic lineup of exhibitions and public programming starting in May as part of the Smithsonian's Our Shared Future: 250 celebrations. Drawing from its extensive collection of rare books, arch  more

To Europe and the Far East - Pacific Area's over 175 years of history!
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Coast Guard issued the following commentary: * * * To Europe and the Far East -- Pacific Area's over 175 years of history! By William H. Thiesen, Ph.D., Atlantic Area Historian As the refrain of the Coast Guard marching song "Semper Paratus" indicates, the service has a global reach. Expansion into the Pacific area has taken shape over the past 175 years. With the founding of the United States under the Constitution, Coast Guard  more

University of Hawaii Manoa: $122K Awarded as Shidler Marks 65th Business Night Celebrating Students, Mentors
MANOA, Hawaii, May 9 -- The University of Hawaii Manoa campus issued the following news release: * * * $122K awarded as Shidler marks 65th Business Night celebrating students, mentors The Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii at Manoa hosted its 65th annual Business Night on May 7, at the Sheraton Waikiki. The signature event brought together more than 500 students and business professionals for an evening of mentorship, recognition and networking. With support from alumni   more

Van Hollen Joins Markey, Schumer, Cantwell, Lujan in Demanding FCC Stop First Amendment Attacks on Disney, ABC
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: * * * Van Hollen Joins Markey, Schumer, Cantwell, Lujan in Demanding FCC Stop First Amendment Attacks on Disney, ABC * Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Edward Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, along with Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Commerce Committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Senator Ben Ray Luja  more