Weekend mornings are special. They provide an opportunity to take a bit more time, stop and talk to neighbors as we make our way to the beach and back at dawn, take a few more photos, and then dawdle over the newspapers and several cups of coffee before getting started on the affairs of the day. Today’s chores are mundane. Clean the house, do the laundry, fuss a bit in the yard, then dinner with friends. All things to look forward to.

The Advertiser’s Derrick DePledge has an update today on the legislature’s consideration of bills that would loosen restrictions on private meetings of public agencies.

The Washington State Supreme Court ruled this week that random drug testing of student athletes is unconstitutional because it violates that state’s constitutional right to privacy. Click here to read the court’s majority opinion.

The Washington constitution provides: “No person shall be disturbed in his private affairs, or his home invaded, without authority of law.”

Sound familiar? Here’s Article 1, Section 6 of the Hawaii State Constitution: ” The right of the people to privacy is recognized and shall not be infringed without the showing of a compelling state interest. The legislature shall take affirmative steps to implement this right.”

Both state constitutions are considered to provide greater protection of personal privacy than the U.S. Constitution, so the Washington case is perhaps an indication of where Hawaii’s high court may go in future cases involving random drug testing, although it has upheld such testing policies as applied to public safety personnel such as police and fire fighters.

Former islander Karen Waygood reports that she was at home when the tornado hit downtown Atlanta and the CNN building over the weekend.

She writes:

It was my Saturday, so I was home, keeping an eye on the weather updates. The (now confirmed) tornado went right over the Georgia World Congress Center, hit the Georgia Dome, and CNN Center. The windows on the north side of the Omni Hotel were blown out and debris is scattered all over Marietta Street and Centennial Olympic Park.

One of my colleagues told me it lasted about 8 seconds and sounded like a “roar.” There is damage to the part of the newsroom that faces the atrium. CNN.com’s newsroom is right on Marietta Street. Their glass walls — and a computer — were blown out!

The Georgia Dome and Phillips Arena were filled with people at the time it happened. It could have been much, much worse.

I was watching local coverage until 2:30 this mornng. My weather alert radio woke me up before 6:30 with yet another tornado warning for my area! We had a break, but now a third round of heavy weather is moving in. With all the shards of glass still hanging in downtown Atlanta highrise windows, it’s a very dangerous place to be now.

Here’s a question from Maui concerning payments due to the State from the Hawaii Superferry, which is obligated to reimburse the state for harbor improvements via regular payments.

Why is not anyone asking the question “how much money has hsf paid the state so far?” if you recall in trial they admitted to NOT buying business interruption insurance because it was too costly. They should not be exempt from paying the State. They chose not to get the necessary insurance, but it does not preclude them from their repayment obligations to the State DOT. $40m ‘loaned’ with zero repayments to date no doubt.

I can’t answer the “have payments been made?” question, but I’m sure the answer will surface soon.

For your Sunday reading (or listening), here’s Democracy Now! on this week’s Winter Soldier hearings in which veterans testified about actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.