Judiciary leaders want action on preventing sexual misconduct in courts

The leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee want to know how the agency overseeing the operation of federal courts is addressing sexual misconduct and harassment in the judiciary. Chairman Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, and top Democrat Dianne Feinstein of California wrote in a letter to the head of the federal courts' administrative agency that they were "deeply troubled" by news reports and allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate workplace behavior in the court system.

Hawaii Ballistic Missile False Alarm: ‘Someone Pressed the Wrong Button’

The threat of a North Korean missile hitting hitting Hawaii is dangerously real, as President Donald Trump 's "button" tweets stoke dangerous tensions between the United States and the North Korean dictatorship. The threat felt very real on Saturday morning in Hawaii after an emergency alert was sent out to TV, radio, and cell phones about an inbound ballistic missile.

Dems say Trumpa s tweets about Gillibrand sexist, crude

By NANCY BENAC and JONATHAN LEMIRE, Associated Press WASHINGTON - Plowing into the sexual harassment debate in a big way, President Donald Trump laced into Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Tuesday, tweeting that the New York Democrat would come to his office to get them.

Bill introduced allowing Hawaii’s foreign fishermen onshore

A group representing Hawaii commercial fishermen has fi... HONOLULU - Hundreds of foreign fishermen currently confined to vessels in Honolulu for years at a time would be allowed to come ashore when they dock under legislation introduced Thursday in Congress. The Sustainable Fishing Workforce Protection Act offers workplace protections a year after an Associated Press investigation found that Hawaii's commercial fishing fleet is crewed by about 700 men who are never allowed off their boats, even when they come into the Honolulu Harbor to unload their catch.

Puna community gets nearly $3M to improve drinking water system

Nearly $3 million has been funded to a community association for a subdivision in Puna to improve its community drinking water system. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding nearly $3 million in funding to a community association for a subdivision in Puna to improve its community drinking water system.

Hawaii awarded $715,000 to protect state’s coral reefs

Those who study Hawaii's coral reefs are hoping a recent $715,000 federal grant awarded to the state of Hawaii will amp up both the education and conservation of the underwater ecosystems. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded the grant to the state of Hawaii as part of a cooperative agreement between the organization and Hawaii's Division of Aquatic Resources, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono announced Thursday.

RNC’s false talking point about Comey came from “alt-right” trolls

The Republican National Committee pushed a false talking point that originated from the "alt-right"/fake news ecosystem to try to discredit former FBI Director James Comey's June 8 testimony to the Senate intelligence committee. During his testimony, Comey said that he believed President Donald Trump fired him due to the FBI's Russia probe, saying, "I know I was fired because of something about the way I was conducting the Russia investigation was in some way putting pressure on him, in some way irritating him, and he decided to fire me because of that."

Official says Justice will aggressively pursue hate crimes

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is committed to prosecuting those who commit religious hate crimes, a Justice Department official said Tuesday as Democratic senators questioned whether the Trump administration's rhetoric and policies have contributed to a spike in such offenses. Eric Treene, the department's special counsel for religious discrimination, offered no theories for what has caused a recent rise in religious hate crimes, but said Sessions has urged the nation's federal prosecutors to pursue those cases as part of his tough-on-crime agenda.

Elizabeth Warren and Democratic senators demand Steve Bannon…

A group of Democratic senators, including Massachusetts' Elizabeth Warren, want to know whether Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump's chief strategist and former Breitbart News chairman, violated government ethics rules when he communicated with Breitbart about the site's coverage of the White House. In a Thursday letter to Bannon , the senators pointed to news reports, including one published by Business Insider , that said Bannon instructed Breitbart editors to stop publishing stories critical of chief of staff Reince Priebus.

Hawaii lawmakers criticize Sessions’ island judge remarks

Hawaii's Democratic lawmakers on Thursday criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions after he expressed amazement on a radio show that a "judge sitting on an island in the Pacific" could stop the president's travel ban. U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono responded by trying to give Sessions a civics lesson on Twitter, saying Hawaii has been a U.S. state for 58 years.

Top Senate Dem opposes Supreme Court pick, vows filibuster

Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch listens as he is asked a question by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 22, 2017, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. less Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch listens as he is asked a question by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 22, 2017, during his confirmation hearing before the ... more Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 22, 2017, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Day One of the Neil Gorsuch Hearings Was Not about Neil Gorsuch

Those who tuned into C-SPAN today for hot-and-heavy questioning of President Donald Trump 's Supreme Court nominee were sorely disappointed. The first day isn't actually about the nominee, but just a chance for senators on the Judiciary Committee to make opening statements.

US: Senate Democrats introduce bill to block Trump Muslim registry

On January 5, 2017, nine Democratic senators filed a bill blocking the executive branch from registering people based on religion, race, gender, age, national origin or nationality. "Contrary to the President-elect's beliefs, America's diversity is not a threat - it is, in fact, our greatest strength," Sen. Jeff Merkley was quoted by The Hill as saying.

Split Hawaii delegation ready for ‘good’ debate

Tim Vandeveer, candidate for the State Party Chair, speaks to the members at the Democratic Party of Hawaii 2016 Convention at the Sheraton Waikiki, Sunday, May 29, 2016. U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono is a lifelong Democrat who has achieved her share of political "firsts."