Special Correspondent

Bob Porterfield

Bob Porterfield is a veteran journalist and has worked as a reporter for the Boston Globe, Newsday, the Associated Press and was a special correspondent for the Huffington Post.
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Honolulu Is Short $1.4 Billion To Cover Retirees’ Pension Benefits PF Bentley/Civil Beat

Honolulu Is Short $1.4 Billion To Cover Retirees’ Pension Benefits

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New accounting rules force the city to acknowledge a growing debt it largely has avoided addressing until now.
‘Final’ Price Tag For Rail Not Expected Until Next Year Cory Lum/Civil Beat

‘Final’ Price Tag For Rail Not Expected Until Next Year

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HART and city officials anxiously await bid results to know just how much the estimated $6.6 billion project will actually cost.
HART Continues Its Assault On Audit That Criticizes Rail Project Cory Lum/Civil Beat

HART Continues Its Assault On Audit That Criticizes Rail Project

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A final version of the audit released Friday is nearly identical to the draft leaked Thursday, except it now contains an 85-page response from the agency.
Grabauskas: Honolulu Rail Audit ‘A Mess’ Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Grabauskas: Honolulu Rail Audit ‘A Mess’

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UPDATED: A draft copy says HART contributed to cost overruns with poor management. HART's head says it's flawed by political motivations.
Untested Rape Kits: Hawaii Isn’t The Only State Struggling With A Backlog Flickr.com/Tex Texin

Untested Rape Kits: Hawaii Isn’t The Only State Struggling With A Backlog

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Hawaii has contributed more than 30,000 offender profiles to a federal DNA database.
Five Unanswered Questions About Honolulu’s $6.6 Billion Rail Project Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Five Unanswered Questions About Honolulu’s $6.6 Billion Rail Project

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Even as City Council members decide whether to keep the cash flowing, uncertainty looms over Hawaii's biggest public works endeavor.
When Half A Train Is Better Than None Cory Lum/Civil Beat

When Half A Train Is Better Than None

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Starting rail in sections would help some riders, but cost more in the long run.
Under The Microscope: Honolulu Included In Federal Rail Audit Cory Lum/CIvil Beat

Under The Microscope: Honolulu Included In Federal Rail Audit

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Lots of money is being spent in the western U.S. to build rail lines. From Denver to LA to Honolulu, federal officials want to know whether the FTA is doing a good job overseeing those projects.
Is Honolulu Rail Project’s Future At Stake In Dispute Over Council’s Budget Role? Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Is Honolulu Rail Project’s Future At Stake In Dispute Over Council’s Budget Role?

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Cost overruns and a need for more money give City Council members leverage to exert more influence over the $6.6 billion rail project.