BEING
THERE
The community in
photos | Page A6
Monday, February 12, 2018
In the crosshairs
Bills target video games with rewards for a price
It might be game over for certain
video games in Hawaii after
state lawmakers introduced legislation
to limit the implementation
of electronic gambling systems
within the popular pastime.
A quartet of proposed bills
introduced last month target
exploitative monetization
techniques in video games
Photos: LAURA RUMINSKI/West Hawaii Today TRUMP
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Index
Being There A6
Big Isle history B4
Classified B6
Comics B5
Issue No. 43
16 Pages in
2 Sections
Today’s
weather
Page A2
Commentary A4
Crossword B4
Cruise listings A7
Cryptoquote B4
Dear Abby B4
Horoscope B4
Nation A3
Scoreboard B3
Sports B1
Stocks A2
Surf report A2
World A3
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that some fear might psychologically
condition players to
become addicted to gambling.
The bills highlight a common
mechanism referred to as
“loot boxes,” wherein players
can use real money to purchase
an in-game “box” of
items. The contents of the box
are randomized, with some
items being much rarer than
others, and cannot be revealed
until the box is purchased.
One pair of bills, House
Bill 2686 and Senate Bill
3024, would prohibit the sale
of any game featuring a system
wherein players can purchase
a randomized reward
using real money to anyone
younger than 21 years old.
The other two bills, House
Immigration
debate opens
in Congress
President’s support vital if
lawmakers hope to compromise
WASHINGTON — The Senate begins a
rare, open-ended debate on immigration and
the fate of the “Dreamer” immigrants today,
and Republican senators say
they’ll introduce President Donald
Trump’s plan. Though his proposal
has no chance of passage,
Trump may be the most influential
voice in the conversation.
If the aim is to pass a legislative
solution, Trump will be a
crucial and, at times, complicating
player. His day-to-day turnabouts on the issues
have confounded Democrats and Republicans
and led some to urge the White House to
minimize his role in the debate for fear he’ll
say something that undermines the effort.
Yet his ultimate support will be vital
if Congress is to overcome election-year
pressures against compromise. No Senate
deal is likely to see the light of day in
the more conservative House without the
president’s blessing and promise to sell
compromise to his hard-line base.
Trump, thus far, has balked on that front.
“The Tuesday Trump versus the Thursday
Trump, after the base gets to him,” is how
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a proponent of
compromise, describes the president and the
impact conservative voters and his hard-right
advisers have on him. “I don’t know how far
he’ll go, but I do think he’d like to fix it.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell,
R-Ky., scheduled an initial procedural vote
for tonight to commence debate. It is expected
to succeed easily, and then the Senate will
sort through proposals, perhaps for weeks.
Democrats and some Republicans say they
want to help the “Dreamers,” young immigrants
Hawaii County Fire Department firefighters watch a brush fire approaching Highway 190 Saturday night.
Brush re continues
Highway 190 in West Hawaii remains
closed this morning because of the
brush fire north of Puuanahulu, and
will likely remain so for a while.
Road closures are at Makalei in Kailua-
Kona and the entrance to Daniel K. Inouye
Highway in South Kohala. Residents are being
allowed access, however, all other motorists
must use Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
“The road will be closed for the foreseeable
future, as there’s still smoke coming
across the highway,” said Hawaii Fire
Department battalion chief Ian Smith.
The decision as to when the highway
will reopen will be made by the
DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife,
Smith said, as the fire is on state land.
“They’re the lead agency on this; everyone
is just supporting them,” he added.
According to an aerial survey Sunday
morning, Smith said, the fire has burned
an estimated 900 to 930 acres.
A Hawaii County Fire Department helicopter makes a
water drop on a fire in North Kona Saturday afternoon.
By ALAN FRAM
Associated Press
See CONGRESS Page A7
By MICHAEL BRESTOVANSKY
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
See GAMES Page A7
WEST HAWAII TODAY
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