Honolulu Budget Showdown: The Honolulu City Council approved a nearly $5B budget in a 6-3 vote, but the fight is already spilling into the mayor’s office, with Mayor Rick Blangiardi signaling he intends to veto parts—especially cuts tied to the Office of Economic Revitalization. Waste & Landfill Pressure: Council also approved the budget without funding for a proposed new West Oahu landfill at Makaiwa Hills, effectively putting the plan on hold and pushing leaders toward longer-term waste alternatives. Medicaid Fraud Crackdown: The federal government decertified Hawaii for Medicaid fraud control performance and is cutting about $3M a year, raising the stakes for Gov. Josh Green’s new Medicaid Fraud Strike Force. Local Housing Build Model: In Nanakuli, leaders broke ground on an 87-lot “self-help” affordable housing subdivision where low-income families build their own homes with technical support, aiming for $496,000 fee-simple homes. Tourism & Jobs: Hawaii dive businesses are pitching scuba travel to mainland divers at the Long Beach Scuba Show, betting on higher-spending dive visitors to support local hotels, restaurants, and tours. Food Safety Restart: Grace’s Inn LSY in Honolulu was allowed to reopen under a conditional yellow placard after inspectors said a sewage-related hazard was fixed, though other critical violations remain. Workforce Pipeline: Hawaiʻi Community College and UH Maui College launched a one-year onsite wastewater treatment specialist certificate to help eliminate cesspools by 2050. Scam Warning for Islanders: The FBI says AI is making scams harder to spot, and Hawaii is seeing sharp fraud losses as scammers use chatbots and voice-cloning to impersonate loved ones. Business Expansion: L&L Hawaiian Barbecue opened its 10th Texas location, marking continued growth beyond the islands. Energy & Infrastructure Context: NOAA issued a strong geomagnetic storm watch, while Hawaii’s gas prices remain volatile—Maui County’s lowest reported premium hit $5.39 in the week ending May 30.