HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

Three bills moving through City Council could reshape the way accessory dwelling units or ADU's - are built, and inhabited, in Honolulu.

Two of the bills deal with zoning, and making ADU's more achievable for homeowners and renters alike. The third bill cracks down on illegal vacation rentals.

"Cottages, garage additions, additions on your family rooms, that type stuff" said City TOD Administrator Harrison Rue.

It's a way for homeowners help ease the affordable housing crunch - building accessory dwelling units on their properties for long term rentals. Bills 20 and 21 aim to accomplish that by altering current zoning regulations to encourage construction.

"We're making it a little simpler so you only need to require one parking space for a basic ADU, and if you're within one half mile within a rail station, no parking required" said Rue.

Bill 20 is Mayor Kirk Caldwell's. 21 was introduced by Councilman Ron Menor.

There are differences between the two. Rue says either bill will be a benefit to consumers, though he leans towards the mayor's.

"It has a potential for really solving the rental housing problem for a lot of people, providing affordable housing, providing extra income for homeowners and I think for small builders opens up a market opportunity as well".

Bill 22 cracks down on illegal vacation rentals. Pre-existing units would be allowed to continue to operate - provided they obtain proper certification and meet certain criteria.

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Bills address accessory dwelling units

Floors with Flair in Hillsboro offers a selection of wholesale flooring for great values. We offer first-rate services that you can count on. Have you always dreamed of having classic hardwood in your house? Do you want to know more about what laminate has to offer? Whether you have your heart set on a specific type of home flooring or you need some direction, we can find it for you. Call 971-313-8049 to speak with a representative!

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Shares of Lumber Liquidators, America's largest specialty hardwood retailer, jumped on Thursday after the company hosted a call to address concerns about its Chinese-manufactured laminate flooring.

The company didn't take any questions on this call. It said folks could submit questions afterward that would be addressed on another call.

Lumber Liquidators' stock was last trading up about 14% after being halted earlier.

Shares of Lumber Liquidators had collapsed about 36% since a damning "60 Minutes" report aired.

On March 1, a "60 Minutes" investigation found that Lumber Liquidatorsappearedto be selling laminate flooring from China with levels of formaldehyde higher than what is permitted under California law. High levels of formaldehyde have been tied to numerous health concerns.

During the conference call, Lumber Liquidators discussed its forecasts.The one important detail that emerged is that management said sales would have to fall 27% before the trouble starts:

Using our conservative estimate of cash on hand at March 31st, reasonable inventory levels and the low end of our capital expenditures outlook, we believe net sales would have to fall 27.0% below 2014, before we would seek liquidity from either our revolving facility or our asset base. As a further reference, this sales level would be 24.0% below 2013, and even 6.4% below 2012.

"Though our trends are only over a short 9-day period of time and therefore subject to change, we do not currently see evidence that would indicate a sustained drop in net sales as severe as 27% below 2014."

The broadcast has affected the business. Lumber Liquidators said its net sales had fallen 7.5% from the same period last year:

Our total net sales in the 9 days following the broadcast are down approximately 7.5% to the same period in 2014, with comparable store net sales down approximately 12.7%. Our open orders remain higher than last year, currently up 12.6% to $45.9 million, and include approximately $5.3 million, or 11.5%, of laminate orders.

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LUMBER LIQUIDATORS: Sales would have to crash 27% before we would need more cash (LL)

Mr Hardwood Inc (770) 318-8880
Mr Hardwood Inc Address: 3790 Hwy 92 #160, Acworth, GA, 30102 Phone: (770) 318-8880 Mr Hardwood Inc gives your home an elegant edge with superior hardwood flooring in Acworth, GA. We offer.

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Mr Hardwood Inc (770) 318-8880 - Video

Check out weekend events provided by: the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau and Des Moines Area Sports Commission.

Event: Iowa High School Boys State Basketball Tournament Date: Thursday, March 12 Saturday, March 14 Time: 10:30 a.m. 8:15 p.m. Thu; 10 a.m. 8:05 p.m. F; Noon 8:05 p.m. Sat Location: Wells Fargo Arena Admission: $10 Description: Catch the best boys hoops action on the hardwood as the top teams in Iowa meet at The Well! Root for your favorite teams as they face competition from all corners of the state!

Event: Black Maria Film Festival Date: Thursday, March 12 & Sunday, March 15 Time: 6:30 p.m. Thu; 1:30 p.m. Sun Location: Des Moines Art Center Admission: Free Description: The Art Center continues to bring cutting-edge, independent films to the region by hosting the Black Maria International Film and Video Festival. The annual festival draws hundreds of entries from around the world in the categories of documentary, experimental, animation and narrative works. Fifty award-winning films are named and included in the Festivals annual tour which travels to more than 60 host institutions across the country and abroad. The films are selected with an adult audience in mind; the films on Thursday and Sunday are uniqueno film is shown twice! Reservations suggested.

Event: Smart Talk Lisa Myers Date: Thursday, March 12 Time: 7 p.m. Location: Hoyt Sherman Place Admission: Starting at $64 Description: Catch Emmy award-winning journalist Lisa Myers as she delivers her lecture Politics and Women: Why Should We Care? As a Senior Investigative Correspondent for NBC News, Myers is responsible for a number of groundbreaking reports, including pieces on the financial meltdown and Obamacare.

Event: Reverend Horton Heat Date: Thursday, March 12 Time: Doors 7 p.m.; Show 8 p.m. Location: Woolys Admission: $18-$20 Description: The Church of Rock is in session when Reverend Horton Heat rolls through Woolys! This is a transformative experience. Flames come off the guitars. Heat singes your skin. Theres nothing like the primal tribal rock & roll transfiguration of a Reverend Horton Heat show!

Event: Murder for Two Date: Thursday, March 12 Sunday, March 15 Time: Thu - F 7:30 p.m.; Sat 5 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sun 3 p.m. Location: The Temple For Performing Arts Admission: $26 - $40 Description: Check out the perfect blend of music, mayhem and murder, a combination that The New York Times calls, INGENIOUS! A dazzling 90 minutes featuring two performers in 13 roles! A witty, winking nod to old-fashioned murder mysteries.

Event: Spring Break at the State Historical Museum Date: Friday, March 13 Friday, March 20 Time: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-Sat; Noon - 4:30 p.m. Sun Location: State Historical Museum of Iowa Admission: Free Description: Opening tomorrow, Friday March 13, catch the Battle Flag Hall. Filled with stories behind a dozen battle flags from the Museum's collection, including flags from the Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I. Plus, the Wall of Iowans also opens tomorrow, displaying biographies from nearly 30 Iowans including Peggy Whitson and Meredith Willson. Then throughout spring break, catch matinees at the museum, hands-on art activities, museum vault tours and more!

Event: Home & Remodeling Show Date: Friday, March 13 Sunday, March 15 Time: 1-8 p.m. F; 9 a.m. 7 p.m. Sat; 11 a.m. 5 p.m. Sun Location: Iowa State Fairgrounds - William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building Admission: $5; Children 5 & under free Description: Catch three days of innovative exhibitions, educational seminars and questions answered by qualified trade professionals. Connect with local experts offering inspiration, products and services to meet all your home and remodeling needs. New this year: an entire house built indoors by Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity.

Event: Jazz Happy Hour Date: Friday, March 13 Time: 5:30 7: 30 p.m. Location: Des Moines Social Club Admission: Free Description: Catch smooth tunes as free jazz swings by one of Des Moines coolest new spots, the Basement Bar at the Des Moines Social Club!

Event: The Somewhat True Tales of Robin Hood (Last week!) Date: Friday, March 13 Sunday, March 15 Time: 7 p.m. F; 1 p.m. Sat & Sun Location: Des Moines Community Playhouse Admission: $13 and up Description: Have all the fun at this frantically funny chronicle of Robin Hood! Follow the charming, but egotistical, Robin Hood as he leads his band of merry men and Maid Marian through the Sherwood Forest, in a Monty Python-esque journey you wont soon forget!

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Weekend Events

Welcome

Welcome to Plumstead Electrical Lighting Showroom, leading supplier of top quality indoor and outdoor light fittings. Keeping up with international trends, we stock a wide range of light fixtures, chandeliers, bathroom lights, LED's, floodlights, downlights and garden lights, to name a few.

Our home lifestyle products include energy saving devices, heated towel rails, intercom systems, and quality switches, plus home automation. Offering both style and functionality, we are proud to be affiliated with leading local and international brands.

Located conveniently on Plumstead Main Road in Cape Town's Southern Suburbs, our showroom has become a well-known and respected landmark in the area.

This coming Friday and Saturday, 27 and 28 February, Okavango Lighting will be hosting a clearance sale on selected lighting products with up to 70% off. Products discounted include a wide range of indoor and outdoor light fittings and accessories.

Clearance sale opening and closing hours are as follows: Friday 27 February: 8am-4pm Saturday 28 February: 8am-1pm

Please note that there is a s...

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Plumstead Lighting Showroom | indoor outdoor light ...

Cabinet Refacing Toledo - Toll Free (855) 696-5751
Call (855) 696-5751 to schedule your FREE in-home estimate on Cabinet Refacing in Toledo. http://www.DiscountCabinetRefacing.com Nationwide network of cabinet refacing professionals. Cabinet...

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Cabinet Refacing Toledo - Toll Free (855) 696-5751 - Video

Pier Solar and the Great Architects #20 (HD) - Auf in den Wilden Westen - Lets Play German / DE
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Pier Solar and the Great Architects #20 (HD) - Auf in den Wilden Westen - Lets Play German / DE - Video

Gao Architects Creates Colorful Tiny 484 Sq.Ft. Apartment
This compact, bold apartment was designed by: http://www.gao-arhitekti.com/ Beautiful design with bold accents are featured throughout this very tiny apartment, proving you can have big design...

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Gao Architects Creates Colorful Tiny 484 Sq.Ft. Apartment - Video

Architect Michael Graves brought good design to the masses with his product line for Target, helped lead the postmodernist revolt against steel-and-glass boxes, and designed products for disabled people after a spinal cord infection left him in a wheelchair.

Mr. Graves, 80, a winner of the American Institute of Architects' Gold Medal, the highest honor the organization bestows upon an individual, died of natural causes Thursday, March 12, in his hometown of Princeton, N.J., a spokeswoman told The Associated Press.

In the 1980s, reacting to the strictures of sober postwar modernism, Mr. Graves was one of the postmodern architects who reintroduced color, whimsy and decoration to building design. He did so in commissions ranging from a still-controversial municipal office building in Portland, Ore., to an earth-toned Disney hotel festooned with giant sculptures of swans in Florida.

What really put Mr. Graves on the pop culture map was his angular stainless steel teakettle for Alessi, which quickly became a best-seller after its 1985 debut. He scored big again with his 1999 product line for Minneapolis-based Target, which came to encompass more than 2,000 products, including the "Spinning Whistle Teakettle," a simpler and less expensive version of the legendary Alessi teapot.

Through such work, the architect achieved the dream of the German Bauhaus modernists of the early 20th century, spreading the gospel of good design to people of modest means.

"He was the one who popularized it," Chicago architect Stanley Tigerman said Thursday of postmodern design. "He was immensely talented."

Born in Indianapolis, Mr. Graves first achieved notoriety in the 1970s as a member of the "New York Five," a group of architects influenced by the white, modernist buildings of the Swiss-born architect Le Corbusier.

He remained a relatively obscure Princeton University professor until 1980, when he won a design competition for the Portland municipal office building. The squat, midrise structure opened in 1982 with a full complement of decoration, from ersatz ribbons to a large sculpture of the female figure Portlandia.

Critics of a modernist bent derided the design as mere packaging. But the barbs did not stop Mr. Graves from winning other high-profile commissions, such as the Humana corporate headquarters in Louisville, Ky., and a proposed addition to New York's Whitney Museum of Art that was never built.

Mr. Graves got a career-changing break in the late 1990s when Target commissioned him to design scaffolding for the restoration of the Washington Monument.

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Michael Graves, architect and designer, dies at 80