Page 4 - aruba-today-20170722

A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 22 July 2017

Hawaii prepares for ‘unlikely’ North Korea missile threat Kentucky told to
pay attorney fees
By JENNIFER KELLEHER about the new siren sound lic are simple: “Get inside, tegic outpost for the U.S. in same-sex case
Associated Press and provide preparedness stay inside and stay tuned,” military. The island of Oahu
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii is guidance. said Vern Miyagi, agency is home to the U.S. Pacific By ADAM BEAM
the first state to prepare the “If they’re not educated, administrator. “You will not Command, the military’s Associated Press
public for the possibility of a headquarters for the Asia- FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A
ballistic missile strike from Pacific region. It also hosts federal judge has ordered
North Korea. dozens of ships at Pearl Kentucky taxpayers to pay
The state’s Emergency Harbor and is a key base more than $220,000 in le-
Management Agency on for the Air Force, Army and gal fees because a county
Friday announced a pub- Marine Corps. clerk refused to issue mar-
lic education campaign The Hawaii Tourism Authori- riage licenses to same-sex
about what to do. ty supports preparing for di- couples in 2015.
Hawaii lawmakers have sasters, but it is concerned U.S. District Judge David
been urging emergency that misinformation about Bunning on Friday ordered
management officials to bracing for a North Korea the state to pay $222,695
update Cold War-era plans attack could scare travel- in fees to the attorneys of
for coping with a nuclear ers from visiting the islands, two same-sex couples and
attack as North Korea de- spokeswoman Charlene others who sued Rowan
velops nuclear weapons Chan said in a statement: County Clerk Kim Davis
and ballistic missiles that “The effect of such a down- for refusing to give them
can reach the islands. town would ultimately be marriage licenses. He also
Starting in November, Ha- felt by residents who rely on awarded $2,008.08 in oth-
waii will begin monthly tests Toby Clairmont, the Hawaii Emergency Management tourism’s success for their er costs. Bunning said the
Agency’s executive officer, shows new informational materials
of an “attack-warning” si- to a reporter in Honolulu on Friday, July 21, 2017. Hawaii livelihood.” county and Davis herself
ren the state hasn’t heard announced a new public education campaign to prepare for With that in mind, Miyagi did not have to pay.
since the end of the Cold the possibility of a ballistic missile strike from North Korea. reiterated, “Hawaii is still “Davis represented the
War in the 1980s. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher) safe.” Commonwealth of Ken-
The wailing siren will be Hawaii residents, who al- tucky when she refused
tested on the first working they could actually be have time to pick up your ready face hazards includ- to issue marriage licenses
day of each month, after a frightened by it,” agency family and go to a shelter ing from tsunami and hur- to legally eligible couples.
test of an “attention-alert” Executive Director Toby and all that kind of stuff. ... It ricanes, are familiar with The buck stops there,” Bun-
steady tone siren with Clairmont said of needing has to be automatic.” disaster preparedness. ning wrote.
which residents are already several months to intro- He stressed that his agen- Because it’s currently hur- But Davis’ attorney said
familiar. duce the new siren. cy is simply trying to stay ricane season, residents she will appeal the ruling
Informational brochures, Because it would take a ahead of a “very unlikely” should already have an anyway. The judge ruled
along with TV, radio and in- missile 15 minutes — may- scenario, but it’s a possibili- emergency kit that in- Davis lost the case.
ternet announcements will be 20 minutes — to arrive, ty that Hawaii can’t ignore. cludes 14-days of food and Attorney Mat Staver said
help educate the public the instructions to the pub- Hawaii is an important stra- water.q they did not lose. He said
the case was dismissed as
moot after the state legis-
lature changed the law in
2016 to remove the names
of county clerks from mar-
riage licenses.
If the appeal succeeds,
Staver said, state taxpay-
ers would not have to
pay legal fees because
that money can only be
awarded to a “prevailing
party.” William Sharp, le-
gal director for the ACLU
of Kentucky, said he hopes
the ruling reminds Ken-
tucky officials that “willful
violations of individuals’
civil liberties ... will not only
be challenged but will also
prove costly.”
“It is unfortunate that Ken-
tucky taxpayers will likely
bear the financial burden
of the unlawful actions
and litigation strategies
of an elected official, but
those same voters are free
to take that information
into account at the ballot
box,” Sharp said.
While Davis plans to ap-
peal, state officials have
not decided. q