News from across the USA

ALABAMA Montgomery: An old bowling alley in Montgomery will soon be transformed into a call center. The Montgomery Advertiser reports that a $ 2 million makeover is underway at the Brunswick Woodmere Lanes. ALASKA Fairbanks: The Fairbanks mayor’s office says former police chief Randall Aragon had a conflict of interest that barred him from the job. The Fairbanks Daily News- Miner reports that Aragon, who resigned in October, was accused of using his position to promote his personal securitysurvey business. Aragon says no city rules barred such activity. ARIZONA Phoenix: The parents of an Arizona teen killed in an I- 10 crash are urging passage of legislation requiring drug or alcohol tests for drivers involved in fatal collisions. Records show that the semi- truck driver in the crash that killed Steve and Tana Smith’s son said he was tired, but no tests were requested. ARKANSAS Little Rock: A study at a hog farm near the Buffalo River found no evidence of a manure leak. The Arkansas Democrat- Gazette reports that concerns were raised by the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance.

CALIFORNIA Glendale: Police in Glendale hope to reduce the time it takes to find missing people diagnosed with dementia by providing patients with tracking devices. The Los Angeles Times reports that the devices could help police find someone within minutes instead of hours.

COLORADO Boulder: After a century of apparent absence, river otters seem to be rebounding in Colorado’s Boulder County. The first confirmed sighting came about four years ago, and they’re now seen at many places, The

Daily Camera reports. CONNECTICUT Waterbury: A children’s triathlon program created by the Connecticut family of a Sandy Hook shooting victim is expanding. A ceremony is set for Thursday in Waterbury to sign a formal agreement that will allow 20 Race4Chase Youth triathlon programs next summer. DELAWARE Dover: A Delaware judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by UPS shareholders who said the company illegally shipped untaxed cigarettes. The judge said the plaintiffs failed to show bad faith or personal liability. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: A District of Columbia charity is collecting Washington Metro SmarTrip cards from out- oftowners who attended, or protested, President Trump’s inauguration. Martha’s Table will distribute the leftover cards to people who come in for its nocost clothing and food programs. FLORIDA Kissimmee: Some 1,400 homes and businesses lost power when a metallic balloon left at a gravesite broke free and struck a utility line. Authorities say the balloon covered in red hearts was left with a floral arrangement at Rose Hill Cemetery in Kissimmee, The Orlando Sentinel reports. GEORGIA Valdosta: Valdosta is installing cameras along with new traffic lights at several busy intersections. But WALB- TV reports that city traffic manager Larry Ogden says the cameras will be used to improve traffic flow, not to issue tickets. HAWAII Honolulu: Residents of a homeless camp on Oahu had to do some rebuilding last weekend after severe weather damaged their shelters. Wind gusts reached up to 67 mph, bringing down several plastic tarp shelters, Hawaii News Now reports. IDAHO Pocatello: Idaho State University researchers have programmed drones to identify a potato- infecting virus. The Cap

ital Press reports that spectral imaging provides about a 90% accuracy rate on finding plants with PVY.

ILLINOIS Peoria: A measure backed by the Illinois treasurer could raise insurance payouts to policy beneficiaries. The ( Peoria)

Journal Star reports that a proposal would require insurers to examine 20 years of distribution records. A treasurer’s office review found about $ 500 million in unpaid life insurance benefits.

INDIANA Indianapolis: A trucker lost his marbles in the Indianapolis area last weekend. State police tell WXIN- TV that a truck carrying 38,000 pounds of marbles lost its trailer on southbound Interstate 465. No one was hurt.

IOWA Iowa City: Some Iowa City restaurant owners are concerned about the possibility of food trucks operating downtown. KCRG- TV reports that the City Council is considering a pilot program that would allow the vendors during limited hours.

KANSAS Topeka: Higher education leaders say Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s challenge to create a $ 15,000 bachelor’s degree is a stretch but they’re willing to try. Brownback says the first school to come up with a program will get $ 1 million for scholarships.

KENTUCKY Lexington: The director of a Kentucky Horse Park museum is working on a permanent exhibit about black jockeys, The Lexington Herald

Leader reports. “Black Horsemen of the Kentucky Turf” is scheduled to open in 2018.

LOUISIANA Gretna: Gretna’s five City Council incumbents and police chief were automatically re- elected last week after no one filed to run against them. But The

Advocate reports that first- term Mayor Belinda Constant has an opponent: high school senior William Boartfield Jr., 18.

MAINE Portland: A rail advocacy group that was instrumental in the restoration of passenger train service between Portland and Boston has hired its first executive director. TrainRiders Northeast’s George O’Keefe Jr. says balanced transportation is needed. MARYLAND Baltimore: Gov. Larry Hogan’s decision to slash toll rates meant Maryland collected just $ 5.1 million less from tolls in 2016 than it did the previous year, The Baltimore Sun reports.

MASSACHUSETTS Boston: State environmental officials predict another higher- than- usual gypsy moth problem this year. Egg mass surveys by Massachusetts foresters indicate the likelihood of a big caterpillar hatch this spring.

MICHIGAN Evart: A tiny solar house built by University of Michigan students is moving to northern Michigan after a decade in Ann Arbor. Lisa and Matt Gunneson of Grand Rapids bought the house, known as “Miso,” at auction, The Grand Rapids Press reports. MINNESOTA Minneapolis: The head of a Muslim civil rights group is asking non- Muslims to take part in a new approach to countering hateful messages. Jaylani Hussein of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American- Islamic Relations says social media can help spread positive experiences with Muslims. MISSISSIPPI Jackson: Interim Jackson State University President Rod Paige says his priority is to get the university’s finances in order. Expenses exceed income at the approximately 9,000- student school, Paige tells The ClarionLedger Editorial Board. MISSOURI Columbia: A University of Missouri professor hopes his mug that keeps coffee warm longer will mean hot sales. The Columbia Missourian reports that Hongbin Ma’s company and the school have a patent pending for Lexo mug. MONTANA

Butte: Residents say the deaths of more than 3,000 snow geese should be a wake- up call about the danger of a former open pit mine filled with 50 billion gallons of acidic, metal- laden water. The birds died last fall. NEBRASKA Bellevue: A conference Feb. 9 at Bellevue University will offer an overview of Nebraska laws applicable to charities and their assets. NEVADA Jean: A police officer fatally shot a knife- wielding naked man when he charged the officer after chasing two hotel workers. The incident last weekend occurred about 30 miles south of Las Vegas. NEW HAMPSHIRE Concord: The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department offers free ice fishing classes for beginners. They include a hands- on indoor classroom session. Students then head to a pond or lake to test their skill.

NEW JERSEY Bay Head: Oceanfront homeowners in a wealthy New Jersey enclave spent $ 5 million of their own money on boulders between their homes and the ocean. The owners want exemption from Gov. Chris Christie’s plan to erect protective sand dunes to combat ocean storms.

NEW MEXICO Santa Fe: A gun safety group ranks as New Mexico’s top spender on lobbying. The

Santa Fe New Mexican reports that New York- based Everytown for Gun Safety spent nearly $ 220,000 in 2016.

NEW YORK Albany: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to spend $ 2 billion to address water contamination and the state’s aging, leaky pipes. But that’s only a fraction of the $ 80 billion the state’s experts say will be needed in coming years.

NORTH CAROLINA Raleigh: A law giving Board of Education powers to North Carolina’s elected state superintendent will stay blocked until summer. WRAL- TV reports that a June 29 trial is set over its constitutionality. NORTH DAKOTA Bismarck: Hundreds of buffalo are under quarantine in the Dakotas after an illegal poison was used to kill prairie dogs. An Environmental Protection Agency investigation found that 40,000 pounds of Rozol was distributed across 5,400 acres, The Bismarck Tribune reports. OHIO Toledo: The board of Ohio’s largest public pension fund has voted to stay invested in hedge funds, despite higher fees and recent poor returns. The Blade reports that the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System board will keep the pension plan’s exposure to hedge funds at 8%. OKLAHOMA Tulsa: More than $ 56 million worth of school bond issues will be on Tulsa- area ballots Feb. 14. The Tulsa World reports that none of the proposed bond packages would increase taxes. OREGON Eugene: An art installation at the Eugene Airport that depicts local people in flying poses will return after it was moved for construction. The

Register- Guard reports that airport officials hadn’t intended to bring back the “Flight Patterns” exhibit but changed their minds after a public outcry. PENNSYLVANIA Pittsburgh: Officials hope the reopening of a Pennsylvania ski resort that was closed for more than a decade will pay benefits. Laurel Mountain Ski and Snowboard Area in Westmoreland County underwent a $ 6.5 million overhaul. RHODE ISLAND Providence: Johnson & Wales University is permanently closing its culinary arts museum to the public. The closure will take effect Feb. 27. SOUTH CAROLINA Fort Mill: Construction has begun on new rides at the County Fair section of the Carowinds amusement park. The Charlotte Observer reports that the County Fair section is adding several “classic family rides.” SOUTH DAKOTA Rapid City: A federal jury convicted a Rapid City postal worker of mail embezzlement and theft. Daniel Newman was found guilty on seven counts of stealing mail containing U. S. currency, gift cards and other items of value between January and March 2015. He faces up to five years in prison and a $ 250,000 fine. TENNESSEE Memphis: Representatives of Lane College and LeMoyne- Owen have expressed disappointment following a brawl last week during the schools’ Division II basketball game in Memphis. The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference suspended 15 players and fined the schools and their coaches. TEXAS Austin: The Travis County sheriff’s decision to scale back cooperation with federal immigration agents prompted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to say his office will cut county funding, The Austin American- Statesman reports. UTAH Salt Lake City: Utah lawmakers returned this week for their 45- day annual session. The agenda includes a proposal lowering the blood- alcohol limit for drivers to .05%. VERMONT East Arlington: People in this Vermont town that once was home to iconic American artist Norman Rockwell are being told to lock their doors after an elderly woman was stabbed to death. VIRGINIA Charlottesville: University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan says she’ll retire in July 2018, when her contract expires. WASHINGTON Yakima: A longvacant Washington state lumber mill may get a new life. The Yakima Herald- Republic reports that the state Department of Ecology and the owners of the Boise Cascade Mill are working to rehabilitate the property. WEST VIRGINIA Charleston: The Charleston Gazette- Mail reports that the number of fatal overdoses involving gabapentin, a prescription drug used to treat nerve pain, rose from 3 in 2010 to 109 in 2015. WISCONSIN Wauwatosa: Officials are investigating a skull and bone fragments found during an excavation in Wauwatosa. The Journal Sentinel reports that a medical examiner says the findings appear to be human. WYOMING Casper: For the second year in a row, no coal miners died in Wyoming in 2016, The Casper Star- Tribune reports. But more than 500 miners lost their jobs in the state last year.