State Labor Director; House Finance Outlook; Reality Check: Remote Learning Initiative; Outrigger Hotels
State Labor Director
The State Labor Department says it has largely been able to tackle the initial number of unemployment claims filed during the pandemic, but the new CARES Act funding comes with additional restrictions. Those safeguards though, may mean those who are receiving checks may see a delay based on what fund those claims are paid from. Last year fraudsters targeted states across the nation and millions were paid out without adequate safeguards. Federal investigators have sent out subpoenas as part of their probe, including to offices here in Hawaii. We talked to State Labor Director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio about the investigators’ efforts to make sure only those eligible for funds, get the money - and in cases where people have been overpaid - that those accounts are adjusted. It’s all part of making sure federal money is properly spent.
House Finance Outlook
All this week, the money chairs at the state legislature have been holding budget briefings as they prepare for the new session to begin next Wednesday.
We talked to Rep. Sylvia Luke earlier this week about the economic outlook. She is preparing that our recovery will now stretch out through 2024.
Reality Check: Remote Learning Initiative
For our Reality Check with our partners at Honolulu Civil Beat, education reporter Suevon Lee has been focused on stories about remote learning and how to help our teachers and students.
Outrigger Hotels
It’s no secret: 2020 was a terrible year for Hawaii tourism.
The 14-day travel quarantine effectively shut down tourism for most of the year, but the pre-travel testing program that started in October has brought more visitors.
Sean Dee is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer with Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. He spoke with The Conversation’s Jason Ubay about how the company’s Hawaii properties have fared during the past year.
