Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire
Wednesday, October 7, 1998
Harris wants feds to 'empower' Oahu
WASHINGTON -- Mayor Jeremy Harris and his top aides delivered Honolulu's application to be named an "empowerment zone" to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today, touting it to HUD administrators as "an innovative proposal" with "a vast array of ideas.""Nothing has sparked more excitement, more hope, more enthusiasm in our city than this process," Harris said noting that more than 55,000 hours of volunteer work went into the proposal.
After seven years of recession, said Harris, "there is a great deal of need for the empowerment zone" in Hawaii.
Empowerment zones, as designated by HUD, are eligible for tens of millions of dollars in federal grants, as well as low-interest loans and tax-exempt bonds. Businesses in the areas are eligible for tax credits. HUD uses the designation to revitalize poor or run-down communities.
Honolulu, in its application, proposes using the money for a variety of projects, from increasing child-care for working parents to boosting commercial aquaculture.
HUD is expecting 125-150 applications for only 15 available designations.
Hawaiian Air offers curbside check-in
Hawaiian Airlines Inc. has opened curbside check-in outside its ticket counters on the second floor of the interisland terminal at Honolulu Airport.Hawaiian last month opened a covered drive-through, check-in facility on the ground level on the mauka side of the terminal.
Competitor Aloha Airlines started curbside check-in last month and also has a drive-through, check-in operation on the fourth floor of the interisland terminal.
The various operations allow interisland travelers with coupons or tickets to get checked in and hand over their baggage before they park.
Isle health group picks pharmacy benefits firm
University Health Alliance has signed a contract with RxAmerica LLC, based in Salt Lake City, to provide pharmacy benefits for UHA members in Hawaii. RxAmerica, a nationwide network of pharmacy programs, is owned by two leading drug-store companies, Longs Drug Stores Inc. and American Drug Stores Inc.UHA is a physician-directed health benefits provider open to public membership. It began at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii and about 200 of its physicians are part-time teachers at the medical school. UHA was expanded a year ago by the merger of several physicians' groups.
Liberty House wants more time to reorganize
Liberty House has asked for more time to put together a bankruptcy reorganization plan, earlier extended from July to November. Attorneys for the company on Friday asked for another extension, to Feb. 28, to file the plan with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Court filings say compliance with the current Nov. 13 deadline would distract from retail operations during the key holiday season. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Lloyd King is scheduled to hear the request on Nov. 2.Under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code, Liberty House is protected from its creditors until a business reorganization plan is approved by the court.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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