News from across the USA

ALABAMA Montgomery: Alabama Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn says the risk in the state’s crowded prisons is growing each day. Dunn addressed a panel of state lawmakers last week in an effort to build support for an $ 800 million prison construction bond issue. Gov. Robert Bentley has proposed three new mega- prisons.

ALASKA Juneau: Sarah Palin’s political action committee is shutting down. Sarah PAC has no cash left and no debts.

ARIZONA Phoenix: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is getting the green light to allow concessionaires to operate food trucks at 11 possible locations around the 3,000- acre airport to serve thousands of employees and customers who don’t have access to terminal service.

ARKANSAS Clarksville: An Arkansas judge was arrested after police say he drove through a DWI checkpoint in Johnson County and had to be chased down. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Judge William Pearson was pursued about a mile and a half. CALIFORNIA San Francisco: Inspectors say the sinking Millennium Tower in San Francisco is safe to occupy, despite strain on its foundation and electrical systems. The San Francisco Chronicle reports no evidence of “life- safety concerns.” COLORADO Denver: The Veterans Affairs Department says President Trump’s hiring freeze won’t apply to a new VA medical center under construction outside Denver, The Denver Post reports. CONNECTICUT Windsor Locks: Ultra- low- cost Spirit Airlines will operate routes starting in April to Florida from Bradley International Airport. Gov. Dannel Malloy and officials from the Connecticut Airport Authority last week announced nonstop service to several destinations. DELAWARE Wilmington: The Anti- Defamation League is creating a law enforcement award in memory of former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, The News Journal of Wilmington reports. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: An electrical contractor at the Trump International Hotel in Washington has sued a company owned by President Trump for more than $ 2 million. AES Electrical says it wasn’t fully paid. FLORIDA Tallahassee: Gov. Rick Scott is threatening that Florida ports could lose state money if they do business with Cuba. Scott said via Twitter that he’ll propose restricting money for ports that trade with Havana. GEORGIA Atlanta: Supporters of casino gambling hope a new approach will legalize the industry in Georgia. Two facilities dubbed “resort destinations” are proposed in state legislation. The state would tax 20% of gambling revenue. HAWAII Lihue: Kauai’s first stand- alone post office building that opened nearly 80 years ago is facing closure, The Garden Island reports. IDAHO Idaho: The director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game says the agency’s financial situation remains difficult. License, tag and permit fees haven’t increased in roughly 13 years. ILLINOIS Champaign: Two Cham- paign high schools created archery programs after the success of the sport at Jefferson Middle School, The News- Gazette reports.

INDIANA Cayuga: A windwhipped fire destroyed the grandstands at the Vermillion County Fairgrounds in Cayuga. No one was hurt, WTHI- TV reports.

IOWA Fort Madison: The PAW Animal Shelter in Fort Madison is trying to protect 37 unvaccinated dogs from an outbreak of parvovirus. The Hawk Eye reports that the unvaccinated dogs were brought in after their owner died.

KANSAS Hutchinson: The Cosmosphere museum in Hutchinson has opened an exhibit to honor the 50th anniversary of the fatal Apollo 1 test mission that killed three astronauts, The Hutchinson News reports.

KENTUCKY Lexington: The Kentucky Horse Park is planning a year- long celebration to observe the 100th birthday of the great thoroughbred Man o’ War. An exhibit will open at the Lexington attraction March 29. Man ‘ o War is considered one of the greatest racehorses of all time, winning 20 of 21 races.

LOUISIANA Pointe-a- la-Hache: A groundbreaking ceremony was held last week for a new government complex in Plaquemines Parish. The old courthouse was burned down in 2002 by a man trying to destroy evidence in pending criminal cases. MAINE Waterville: Police say a dozen Colby College students received summonses last week after officers responded to a report of people smashing beer bottles on a Waterville street, The Morning Sentinel reports. MARYLAND Annapolis: Maryland lawmakers may allow terminally ill patients to end their lives by self- ingesting prescribed drugs. Under proposed legislation, a primary physician would prescribe only after a consulting physician confirms that the ill person has six months or fewer to live, among other conditions. MASSACHUSETTS Cambridge: The agency that oversees Harvard University’s largest- inthe- nation $ 36 billion endowment is cutting half its staff as it tries to boost lagging investment returns. MICHIGAN Lansing: A bar opening in Lansing will be named for an elephant that was gunned down 53 years ago. The

Lansing State Journal reports that Rajjee was killed by police after getting spooked during a circus performance.

MINNESOTA St. Paul: Minnesota poultry farmers are cautiously watching the spread of bird flu in Europe and Asia. Minnesota Public Radio reports that spring waterfowl migration could bring it here.

MISSISSIPPI Jackson: Mississippi lawmakers are considering ways to stop pokey drivers from clogging the left lane. Proposed legislation would set a fine of $ 5 to $ 50 for people who impede other traffic.

MISSOURI Maryville: A federal lawsuit says Maryville police punched and electroshocked an autistic man after he stopped in a yard to tie his shoe. The Kansas City Star reports that Christopher Kramer was tackled by local officers when he ran after the homeowner called out to him. Kramer was later released and not charged.

MONTANA Helena: Montana’s publicly run psychiatric hospital in Warm Springs was close to losing an agreement with Medicare and Medicaid because of serious staff shortages and the facility’s physical environment, but federal officials changed their minds after the problems were addressed. NEBRASKA Norfolk: A natural resources district has provided final approval to a plan to stabilize the banks of the Elkhorn River at Norfolk. The project has an estimated $ 750,000 cost. NEVADA Las Vegas: A state legislator will introduce a bill this session that would give local governments the authority to issue public marijuana- use permits for carnivals, bars, or even designated pot- friendly streets or sidewalks, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Possession was legalized in November but the drug can be used only inside private homes. NEW HAMPSHIRE Epping: A Burger King manager and employee in New Hampshire were arrested on drug charges after authorities were tipped off that drive- thru customers asked for “Nasty Boy” and extra crispy fries to get marijuana with their meal. NH1 reports that the arrests came in a sting operation by Epping police. NEW JERSEY Pennsauken: National rowing regattas will return to the Cooper River fol- lowing a $ 12 million dredging project. The course has been dormant since 2015 because of sediment buildup. NEW MEXICO Las Cruces: A Feb. 10 groundbreaking is scheduled for a Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic, The Las Cruces Sun- News reports.

NEW YORK Rochester: An ex- convict with a history of mental illness was sentenced to 20 years in prison for plotting a New Year’s Eve machete attack at a New York restaurant in the name of the Islamic State group. Emanuel Lutchman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide support to a terrorist organization. NORTH CAROLINA Newport: The Carteret County Sheriff’s Office says a woman narrowly escaped being carjacked one night after spotting what she thought was a child sitting in the road. It turned out to be a dummy dressed like a child. NORTH DAKOTA Bismarck: A man has to pay $ 3,000 restitution and a $ 500 fine after federal prosecutors say he illegally killed two elk in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. OHIO Akron: Another lawsuit seeks damages in the deadly 2015 crash of a corporate jet into an Ohio apartment building. The Akron Beacon Journal reports that investigators say pilot error caused the crash. OKLAHOMA Oklahoma City: Officials say construction of the American Indian Cultural Center & Museum in Oklahoma City may resume as soon as this fall. The Oklahoman reports that work came to a halt five years ago due to insufficient funding. OREGON Salem: U. S. Forest Service money that rural counties used to keep services afloat after environmental rules curtailed logging nearly 30 years ago is drying up. Oregon’s payments will be cut 90%, The Salem Statesman Journal reports. PENNSYLVANIA Harrisburg: The operations of Pennsylvania’s 14 state- owned universities are under review in light of falling enrollment and financial challenges. The review could result in the merger or closure of some campuses. RHODE ISLAND Providence: A Rhode Island court has ordered a scrapyard to remove remnants of a Russian submarine that rests in the Providence River. The sub was used in the 2002 Harrison Ford movie “K- 19: The Wid- owmaker.” It sank during a nor’ easter in 2007.

SOUTH CAROLINA York: A Confederate flag and portraits of two Confederate generals won’t return to the York County courtroom when renovations are completed soon, clerk David Hamilton tells The Herald of Rock Hill. Hamilton says the flag and portraits of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson may be donated to a museum. SOUTH DAKOTA Spearfish: Opposition to a proposed state park in Spearfish Canyon remains strong even after South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard said no entrance fees would be charged. Most opponents objected to the land swap that would make the park possible, The Rapid City Journal reports. TENNESSEE Knoxville: Two dozen volunteer fire departments that fought deadly wildfires in the Gatlinburg area have received $ 98,000 in grants. The East Tennessee Foundation says the Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund accepts gifts from citizens who want to help the region in times of disaster. The Nov. 28 fire killed 14 people. TEXAS Austin: A University of Texas study estimates that the state has some 313,000 victims of human trafficking who’ve been forced into prostitution or labor. Authorities say Texas is a hub for human trafficking in the United States. UTAH Provo: An Air Force ROTC detachment at Brigham Young University may move several miles away to state- run Utah Valley University because the unit’s non- Mormon commander isn’t willing to abide by BYU’s honor code, which includes prohibitions against alcohol, drugs, coffee and other activities.

VERMONT Burlington: A good Samaritan left hand- knit scarves at a Burlington park for those in need. The scarves have tags stating, “I am not lost. I was handmade for you. If you are cold and need me, please take me,” The Burlington Free Press reports.

VIRGINIA Richmond: Virginia lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow home- schooled students to participate in high school sports. The Virginia High School League prohibits homeschoolers from participating after the eighth grade. Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed previous bills to allow home- schoolers to play.

WASHINGTON Olympia: Tina Podlodowski was elected the next chair of Washington’s Democratic Party. The former Seattle City Council member ousted Jaxon Ravens, who was criticized by some in the party for lackluster results last November. WEST VIRGINIA Huntington: The city of Huntington has laid off nearly 7% of its workforce. Mayor Steve Williams says budget cuts total $ 2.6 million. Those laid off include 11 police officers and seven firefighters, nearly all of whom were recently hired. Williams also ordered a hiring freeze. WISCONSIN Madison: New federal data shows that union membership in Wisconsin has declined nearly 40% since legislation was passed that gutted collective bargaining for public workers. In 2016, 219,000 public and private workers were union members. That’s down by 136,000 members since 2010. WYOMING Cheyenne: Wyoming’s congressional delegation is seeking to expand water storage at Fontenelle Reservoir, saying that would benefit farmers and ranchers and help boost the local economy.