NEWS FLASH

New Hawaiian Senator To Be Named On Wednesday | Hawaii will get a new senator on Wednesday to replace Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI), who passed away last week. Inouye, 88, was the longest serving member of the Senate and third in line for the presidency. Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) announced on Christmas Eve that he would appoint a replacement for Inouye’s seat, after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) pressed him to act quickly before the so-called fiscal cliff negotiations. Once Inouye’s seat is filled, Democrats will have a 53 vote majority in the Senate. Inouye’s replacement will serve a two-year term as the state’s senior senator. Hawaii will also send Senator-Elect Mazie Hirono (D) to Congress in January, the nation’s first Buddhist senator.