Latest news with #Fee
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tourists Will Be Charged $2.25 Per Day to Surf in Hawaii
In a landmark piece of legislation, Hawaii has become the first state to enact a 'green fee' – or a tax on tourists, aimed at fighting future climatological disasters – set to go into effect January 1st, 2026. The tax, specifically, will apply to travelers staying in hotels, short-term rental homes, and cruise ships. And how much exactly? The transient accommodations tax (TAT) will be increased by 0.75 percent – translation: a nightly rate of $300 in a hotel will have an extra $2.25 per night added to the bill. Senate Bill 1396 was signed by Hawaii Governor Josh Green earlier this week, enacting what they are calling the 'Green Fee,' the first-of-its-kind for any state, going into effect next year. Governor Green said via press release: 'Today Hawaiʻi ushers in the first Green Fee in the nation. Once again, Hawaiʻi is at the forefront of protecting our natural resources, recognizing their fundamental role in sustaining the ecological, cultural and economic health of Hawaiʻi. As an island chain, Hawaiʻi cannot wait for the next disaster to hit before taking action. We must build resiliency now, and the Green Fee will provide the necessary financing to ensure resources are available for our future.'Of course, Hawaii is one of the world's most trafficked hubs for tourism. And all those people take a toll on the historic, and culturally significant island chain. So, this tax is an attempt to get ahead of future environmental impacts the islands may experience – a reserve, of sorts, for future disasters. 'I mahalo the tourism industry for stepping up and collaborating on this initiative, which will preserve Hawaiʻi for kamaʻāina and visitors alike,' continued Governor Green. 'The fee will restore and remediate our beaches and shorelines and harden infrastructure critical to the health and safety of all who call Hawaiʻi home, whether for a few days or a lifetime.' If you're traveling to Hawaii, and you're staying in a hotel or short-term vacation rental, starting in 2026, it's gonna cost you an extra $2.25 per day to surf. But, instead of an extra fee, consider it an investment in the natural beauty and the future prosperity of this sacred Will Be Charged $2.25 Per Day to Surf in Hawaii first appeared on Surfer on May 30, 2025
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
What is Green Fee? Hawaii introduces first-of-its-kind tourist tax
In a landmark move, Hawaii has become the first U.S. state to implement a climate impact fee, introducing a new tax on tourists to support environmental initiatives. Announced on Tuesday, the fee is designed to fund climate change resiliency efforts and preserve the islands' natural resources. Also Read: Who are Varun Navani and Amanda Soll? Meet Indian couple whose baraat shut down Wall Street According to a press release by Governor Josh Green's office, the nation's first 'Green Fee,' Hawaii's Act 96, will increase the state's transient accommodations tax (TAT) by 0.75%, bringing the total to 11% on nightly lodging rates. Set to take effect on January 1, 2026, the added revenue will directly support climate resiliency and environmental protection efforts across the islands. The fee will apply to the travellers who will stay in hotels, short-term accommodations, and, for the first time, cruise ships. Previously exempt from the TAT, cruise ship passengers will now be included under the new law, which aims to promote 'equity across the tourism industry.' For travelers, the added cost on a $300 nightly hotel stay, the new 0.75% Green Fee amounts to just $2.25 per night, as reported by USA Today. The new Green Fee is designed to generate funding for climate change mitigation, environmental stewardship, hazard mitigation, sustainable tourism, invasive species control, wildlife conservation, beach management and restoration, and a green jobs youth corps. In a statement, Green said, 'As an island chain, Hawaii cannot wait for the next disaster to hit before taking action. We must build resiliency now, and the Green Fee will provide the necessary financing to ensure resources are available for our future." Also Read: Who is Robert Armstrong, columnist who coined the term Trump Always Chickens Out (TACO)? The new Green Fee tax is projected to generate around $100 million each year. While specific projects will be finalized in the next legislative session, the funds are slated to support a wide range of initiatives, including environmental stewardship, climate and hazard resiliency, and sustainable tourism across the Hawaiian Islands.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
CBI: Missing Center teen was not returned to parents
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is looking for a teen from Center, Colorado, in the San Luis Valley, who was not returned to her parents. According to CBI, 12-year-old Abiegail Fee is believed to be with 45-year-old Kristen Smith Keeton, who had not returned Fee to her custodial parents. Fee was last seen on Monday, May 19. Keeton was last seen in a blue 2008 GMC Yukon with Georgia license plate RVR4193. The Yukon was last seen in Colorado Springs around Kelly Johnson and North Academy Boulevards on Wednesday, May 21. Fee is described as a white girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, 5'8″ and 140 lbs. Keeton is described as a white woman with red hair and blue eyes, 5'4″, and 240 lbs. If you see Fee, you are encouraged to call 911 or the Center Police Department at (719) 655-2525. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
'Can we have a threesome?' TRACEY COX reveals how to ask risky sex questions (without losing your partner)
Want to try something new sexually and it's not 'Honey can we have sex with the lights on'? A lot of people struggle to ask the most innocent sex questions, let alone drop a potential relationship bomb into conversation. Here, I tackle four of the most common risky sex questions people ask me advice on. Read on – but tread VERY carefully. I WANT A THREESOME You sure? If you're a man asking the question, think twice if it's a two women/one man combo. The pressure to perform is overwhelming and lots of men are unable to get an erection. Women generally really enjoy the experience of being with another woman and often leave the man out. Just saying! What's your age and stage? Threesomes have the least fallout with couples who can separate sex from love and are used to doing sexually 'risky' things together. If you're already visited sex club and watched others have sex in front of you, you've dipped a toe in and will probably survive with good communication and set rules. Who with and how often? Is it a one-off? Something you'd like to do once a year as a 'treat'? Or is it something you'd like to happen regularly? Your partner agreeing to a one-off is a lot more likely than welcoming a third person into your bed every Saturday. Are you planning on asking friends, using an app, hiring a sex worker or going to a sex club that facilities threesomes? All will have a bearing in the answer you get. (The worst idea you've ever had was inviting friends; the best is using an app like Feeld). How to word it: 'I love our sex life and love how adventurous we are. There's one thing I'd love us to try but tell me if it's a bit too out there for you. How do you feel about a threesome – a one-off, not something we'd do all the time'. They're furious? 'I completely understand why you don't want to and respect your decision. Let's role-play it instead. I'm sure that will be just as much fun.' I WANT AN OPEN RELATIONSHIP Define exactly what you mean by an open or polyamorous relationship. You want to have sex with other people but only have a love relationship with each other? Under what circumstances and with what rules? Because there must be rules for this to work well. High danger alert! Simply asking the question can be a deal breaker for your relationship. The younger you both are, the more receptive your partner is likely to be (polyamory is much more common now than it was) but if your partner is a monogamist through to the core, they will find even the suggestion extremely upsetting. For lots of people, love means only wanting one person and not needing or wanting others. They should be special enough to satisfy all your needs. If your partner is traditional, conservative and romantic, presume the answer will be no and think about what you will do if that is the case. Start with reassurance. The first thing your partner will assume is that this is an exit route. Say: 'I love you and want us to be together. But I wanted to talk with you about changing an aspect of the relationship.' Explain what you want clearly. There's no easy way in for this one, so be upfront. 'Sexually, I feel I'm not done experimenting. I wondered if you were open to both of us being able to have sex with other people? I know this will come as a shock and you'll have lots of questions and will want to think this through, but I wanted to start a conversation.' Show you've thought it through. Present the positives and the negatives. The obvious upside for both of you is you get the excitement of sleeping with new people and the security of an established relationship. The downside: jealousy and insecurity aren't the only things to contend with. As well as setting rules for safe sex, you need to set emotional boundaries. Discuss the rules. Who is allowed as a potential partner, who isn't? Who will you tell? Do you want to know about these encounters or not? How often and how much time will you spend with others? Are you allowed repeat encounters with the same person? Having a long, in-depth discussion to set the rules will give you vital clues as to how well each of you would handle it. You'll know it's going well if your partner is able to talk logically about all these scenarios and doesn't feel rattled or threatened. This might be something that suits them. If they're looking like they're feeling sick to your stomach at the very thought, back off. No-one should feel coerced into agreeing. Is it a deal breaker? Personally, I wouldn't ask this question unless it was a dealbreaker. Don't say it's a dealbreaker to start with, let your partner think it through and come back with questions. But if they ask outright, answer honestly. They're devastated? As I said at the start, once it's out there, it's out there. Your partner may never forgive you for suggesting this. All you can do is apologise and hope time heals or walk away and find a partner with similar desires. I WANT TO WATCH PORN TOGETHER Most couples can make a pretty good guess on how their partner will react to this. If you both watch porn solo, it's not a huge stretch to suggest doing it together. If your partner hates you watching porn, they're certainly not open to a shared experience. If you aren't sure or don't know each other well, bring it up as a general topic first. Ask, 'Hey, what are your thoughts on porn?'. Frame it as an intellectual discussion and if you get an adamant anti-porn response, you can easily say, 'That's interesting. I agree with some of your points'. No point in taking this any further if that's the case. Quote a statistic. Say you read that 45 per cent of couples watch porn together. (It's true.) Then simply say, 'Would you like to give it a try?'. Studies suggest this can be a healthy way to bond and explore sexual preferences. For younger couples though, it can have a negative impact. Offer up female-friendly solutions. Most mainstream porn is heavily skewed towards heterosexual men. Plenty of women hate regular porn but are open to ethical sites like Lust Cinema, Make Love Not Porn or Dipsea. Damage control. A common reaction is for your partner to ask, 'Why aren't I enough? So, you don't enjoy the sex we're having?' or 'You want to sleep with the girl/guy on screen, is that it?'. Load on reassurance: 'For me, watching porn is just a way to add excitement to a monogamous relationship. It's fantasy, that's all. It doesn't mean I want you to look like the person or do what the person is doing. It's pure escapism. If it upsets you, I'm fine with not doing it.' I WANT SEX BUT NOT A RELATIONSHIP If it's a one-nighter, you don't need to say anything – unless they want to see you again. But if it's someone you've seen a few times and you're about to have sex, you do need to make it clear. Say, 'Before this goes further, I want to flag up that I'm not looking for a relationship right now. Just wanted to make that clear'. Don't then act like their girlfriend or boyfriend. Actions speak louder than words and if you've met their family, love their friends and spend five days a week at their house, they're going to assume you've changed your mind. If you haven't, stop with the mixed messaging: you can't have it both ways. They fell in love anyway and you didn't. If you're guilty of the above, look deeper to question why you only want sex. It might be you're scared of commitment rather than making a lifestyle choice. Still sure sex is all you want? Remind them of your initial conversation. 'I know things are going really well but I'm still not up for a serious/long-term/commitment to be exclusive. Are you still cool with that?'.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ACLU files First Amendment lawsuit against Rutherford school board for book bans
This developing story has been updated with new information. The Rutherford County Board of Education faces a federal First Amendment Lawsuit for banning books, a press release announced Wednesday. The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee along with attorney Kerry Knox filed the lawsuit on behalf of three Rutherford County families and PEN America in response to the banning and restriction of more than 145 books from school libraries in the county. The three families, who are anonymous, include two rising freshmen and a rising senior who will attend Rutherford County schools next year. PEN America, a national free expression organization, joined the lawsuit on behalf of its author members, 32 of whom have had a total of 53 books banned or restricted by the Rutherford County school board. 'The First Amendment is a crucial pillar of our country's democracy,' said ACLU-TN Legal Director Stella Yarbrough. 'A vocal minority of people are attempting to speak for Rutherford County parents by banning books – particularly those that address LGBTQ+ rights, race and racism – as part of a coordinated attack on inclusive education. As these baseless bans continued to escalate, we had no choice but to go to court to defend authors' free speech and students' freedom to learn.' Yarbrough told the Rutherford County Library Alliance book-freedom advocates in March to expect the lawsuit soon. The alliance formed in summer 2023 to advocate against book banning that started after the Murfreesboro City Council approved a community decency standards ordinance, said Tiffany Fee, the first president of the organization. The council by late 2023 agreed to rescind the community decency standards ordinance as part of reaching a $500,000 lawsuit settlement by February in a federal lawsuit filed by the ACLU and organizers of the annual BoroPride LGBTQ+ festival. Fee's organization is not a party to the lawsuit against the school board, but supports the efforts of the ACLU and plaintiffs in the case. "The Rutherford County Library Alliance is grateful to the parties involved for filing the lawsuit and taking on the injustice that is happening in the Rutherford County schools by our school board," Fee said. Fee in 2024 ran as a Democrat against winning Republican incumbent Caleb Tidwell, who has recommended many of the books to be removed from the school libraries. "As taxpayers and the parents of public-school students in the county, we are saddened that it had to get to this point for the book removals to cease," Fee said. "The cost to our public schools is unfortunate and was completely avoidable." TN ACLU attorney: Lawsuit coming soon for Rutherford Schools 'appetite for banning books' Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@ To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription. This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Tennessee book bans: ACLU files suit against Rutherford school board
