Latest news with #Kailani
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Meet the first monk seal pup of the 2025 season
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Oahu residents celebrated the sweetest bundle of joy on the North Shore, welcoming the first Hawaiian monk seal pup of the 2025 season. The Hawaii Marine Animal Response introduced Kailani, named by the 5th-grade class at Kahuku Elementary, on its social media page. Safeguarding Hawaii's monk seals: Safe distances and pet owner tips HMAR said the pup's name reflects 'the deep connection between Hawaii's land, sea and sky — and how special the pup truly is.' The first part of his name, Kai, means 'sea' and the second part, Lani, means 'sky' to 'symbolize the beauty and wonder he brings to the islands.'If you see Kailani wandering North Shore's beaches, officials said beachgoers should remain cautious as monk seal mothers are known to be highly protective and may become aggressive if someone gets too close. Beachgoers are also advised to maintain a 150-foot distance or more from seals to prevent the pups from becoming accustomed to human interaction. Pet owners should also keep their dogs on leashes at the beach. Check out more news from around Hawaii If you are interested in volunteering with HMAR to help protect Hawaiian monk seals like Kailani, visit their website or follow them on Facebook and Instagram to learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Longtime Newport News treasurer will not seek reelection; 3 candidates enter race
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Longtime Newport News treasurer Marty Eubank will not seek reelection this year. Eubank told 10 On Your Side in an exclusive interview he started working at the treasurer's office in May 1984. After several years with the office, Eubank was elected as the treasurer in November 1997, winning the last six general elections with no opponent. 'I'm just proud of everything I've done over my 41 years [with the treasurer's office] — 28 years as a Newport News citizens' treasurer,' Eubank said. 'I have great pride in everything that we've accomplished. I've raised the bar in this office in the 28 years [I've been in this role] over and over again with all the technology innovation I put into place.' For nearly three decades, he has worked to ensure that funds are collected, invested and spent properly. 'I created the easy pay program,' he said. 'That allowed taxpayers to sign up, pay and budget their taxes, and pay in advance. … It would allow them to get on a monthly payment program. I wrote that database. I remember staying up, working on my computer in my kitchen until four in the morning for two weeks to write that program. It's been 28 years, and we just now replaced that database. 'Another one, it seems like yesterday, it was 27 years ago that I stood beside the late great Mayor [Joe] Frank and our former commissioner Charles Crowson. We cut the ribbon opening the Denbigh satellite office. That has been such a huge blessing and service opportunity for our Denbigh residents.' In March 2015, WAVY reported that Eubank partnered with the Newport News Sheriff's Office to use cameras to catch people who haven't paid their property taxes. At the time, $3.9 million was owed to the city of Newport News from people who were not paying their personal property taxes. 'The camera alerts the deputy, then we put a big sticker on the windshield, a big orange sticker, and we seize the license plate,' Eubank said. 'All they have to do now is come to me, pay the taxes, I'll return the plates. That was a big story several years ago. Now I realize it was the first time any treasurer had used law enforcement to help enforce the payment of taxes.' In recent years, the treasurer established the COVID-19 payment arrangements — and now there is an artificial intelligence virtual assistant on the website. 'I'm the first government office in Virginia, whether it's treasurer or any other government office, that hired a generative AI employee,' Eubank said. 'I have Kailani, who's my website assistant. We went live with Kailani Feb. 5, 2024. She has answered over 3,300 questions off our website from the taxpayers. She works 24/7. If you can't get to or call the office by 5 p.m., you can go to our website and you can talk to Kailani. She's bilingual. She speaks Spanish for our Hispanic community. It's been very successful.' It's technology advancements like this that he is looking forward to in the future. 'Our workload has tripled over the years, tripled,' Eubank said. 'We're still have been able to maintain the same staffing level and keep our costs down for the taxpayers through innovation and technology. I'm very proud of that. But now it's time for a new face, new energy and new leadership to come into the treasurer's office. I've done my job.' Eubank will likely pursue a consulting career after serving as treasurer. Eubank went on to endorse Sanu Dieng-Cooper, one of three people running to replace him as Newport News treasurer. 'I'm happy to announce to Newport News that I am proud to endorse this Sanu Cooper as our next treasurer of Newport News,' Eubank said. 'She has the qualifications. She has the integrity. She has what it takes — the background. She is solid. I'm backing her 110%. I'm fully behind her. She's going to do a great job for the citizens.' The Newport News Department of Voter Registration confirms the Democratic candidates for treasurer are Sanu Dieng-Cooper and Derek Reason. There are no Republican candidates for treasurer. An Independent candidate for treasurer is Justin Kennedy. The Democratic primary for the Treasurer race will take place June 17. The general election will be held Nov. 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
