Across the USA

News from every state

Alabama: Montgomery — A jury awarded more than $ 1million to three women who sued Alabama State University in federal court, saying the school had allowed them to be racially and sexually harassed by a female administrator. Alabama State spokesman Kenneth Mullinax released a statement indicating university officials would consider an appeal.

Alaska: Anchorage— The Alaska Volcano Observatory has raised the alert level for a volcano in the remote Aleutian Islands about 1,200 miles southwest of Anchorage. Scientists on Saturday said possible explosive activity and a likely ash cloud indicate unrest at Kanaga Volcano and raised the volcano alert level from normal to advisory.

Arizona: Phoenix — Two boys and a man were killed in a house fire on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, The Arizona Republic reported. The boys were 5 and 7 years old; the man, 50. Allwere members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. The fire’s cause is unknown.

Arkansas: Blytheville — The city is asking residents to approve a sales tax proposal March 13 that would help cover about $ 3 million in unpaid payroll taxes and penalties owed to the IRS. The IRS has placed liens on city property. The 1% sales tax for 15 months would raise about $ 3.5 million. Mayor James Sanders said the city is paying $ 10,000 amonth on the debt.

California: Fremont — The city is seeking help in putting an end to copper wire thefts that have cost nearly half amillion dollars. In the past seven months, thieves have stolen about $ 460,000 worth of copperwiring from city streetlights. The problem has become so bad that some streets have no operating lights. Police are asking residents to call authorities if they see work crews that appear suspicious.

Colorado: Denver — After seven years of decline, state coal production rose 10.4% in 2011 to nearly 28 million tons as companies found markets abroad. The state Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety says employment at 10 mines rose 12% to 2,363 in the first nine months of 2011. There are plans for four new mines and eight expansions of existing mines.

Connecticut: Groton— Acommittee planning the Southeastern Connecticut Submarine Force Birthday Ball is staging a contest at the MGM Grand Hotel at Foxwoods Resort in March to find the best singer to perform the national anthem. The winner will sing at the group’s112th birthday ballapril14.

Delaware: Dover — The state Board of Education approved five- year extensions for two charter schools: Prestige Academy in Wilmington and Academy of Dover.

D. C.:

The police department’s closure rate on homicides in 2011was 94%. But

The Washington Post reported that the department achieved that rate by including about 40 cases dating from 1989 that were closed in 2011. The city had 108 homicides in 2011; 62 were solved, for a true closure rate of 57%.

Florida: Fort Lauderdale Beach — Researchers transplanted 28 laboratory-raised corals into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast. The stag-horn coral specimens have been raised over the last 18 months in 400- gallon tanks at the National Coral Reef Institute at Nova Southeastern University. Staghorn coral is a threatened species.

Georgia: Folkston — The National Park Service reported that rangers have seen no smoke in three weeks from a wild fire that had burned underground for months at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. That means the camp sites at Coffee Bay, Canal Run and Mixons Hammock will open March 1. And the suwanee river Sill, an earthen dam used for driving, hiking and bicycling, will open on Tuesday.

Hawaii: Honolulu — Mixed martial arts could be redefined as a full contact sport where the objective is to physically damage the opponent. State lawmakers are considering the change so other disciplines that use striking can be held to the same safety requirements as mixed martial arts. Under the current law, there are no safety regulations for kick boxing, pankration, muay tai and extreme martial arts matches. A state House panel will consider the change on Wednesday.

Idaho: Pocatello— A struggling solar industry manufacturer has reached an agreement with Idaho Power, substantially reducing its energy bill after the manufacturer complained it was being overcharged. Hoku Materials will see its monthly minimum energy charge reduced from about $ 2 million to about $ 800,000. The deal is retroactive to Jan. 1 and continues through June 30, 2013.

Illinois: The

Chicago — Field Museum’s rare display of mummies from its collection runs through April 22. Many haven’t been seen by the public since the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. Opening the Vaults: Mummies features more than 20 mummies from Egypt and Peru, including complete humans and animals.

Indiana: Weddleville — Carr High School, one of the oldest surviving high school buildings in the state, is newly listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The one- room schoolhouse built in1857 is being restored by theweddleville Cemetery Association.

Iowa: Decorah — The online world is flocking to see the newest egg laid by a famous eagle family that has gained international attention due to an Internet nest- cam set up by the Raptor Resource Project. The website has been viewed nearly 217 million times.

Kansas: Overland Park — The owners of a12- year- old Labrador with crippling arthritis are hoping stem cells will relieve his pain. The dog, Jake, is one of the firstdogs inthe region to undergo the procedure, which was done at the Stanley Veterinary Clinic. Stem cells were taken from body fat and injected into his joints in hopes they will regeneratemissing cartilage.

Kentucky: Mammoth Cave — A National Park Service study reported that Mammoth Cave National Park pumps $ 62 million a year into south central Kentucky’s economy. The study based

its finding on an average of 500,000 visitors a year.

Louisiana: Lake Charles— The documentary film T- Galop: a Louisiana

Horse Story will premiere on March 15 at the Central School Arts and Humanities Center. T- Galop, filmed by Conni Castille, features Creole cowboys, Cajun jockeys and Carnival revelers talking about the role of horses in their culture.

Maine: Augusta— Starting March1, a new state law goes into effect requiring motorcycle owners to place their inspection stickers on the upper left corner of their license plates. Previously, inspection stickers didn’t have to be displayed. The new rule will be phased in over the coming year.

Maryland: Baltimore— State regulators have approved Exelon’s proposed $ 7.9 billion takeover of Constellation Energy. The deal is still awaiting approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Massachusetts: Boston— Transportation Secretary Richard Davey said subway, bus and rail commuters should brace for steep fare increases, but big cuts in service are less likely. The massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is nearing a deadline to erase a projected $ 161million deficit.

Michigan: University Center— Saginaw Valley State University will attempt to set a world record for a Zumba class Wednesday at the Ryder Center. The record is 2,012 dancers. Students, faculty, staff and the public are asked to join in as part of National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day.

Minnesota: Hamburg — A 42- yearold Minneapolis woman was uninjured when she was forced to land a plane in a plowed field near Hamburg on Saturday. Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson said she was the only person on the Piper 28whenits instrument panel lost power. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.

Mississippi: Moss Point — Police Chief Keith Davis said Stephen Martinez, 59, of Moss Point allegedly pulled a gun on his veterinarian because he felt he had to wait too long to pick up his dog. Martinez remained jailed Sunday on an aggravated assault charge after he aimed the gun at a veterinarian at the Animal Clinic in Escatawpa and pulled the trigger Thursday. The gun did not fire, Davis said.

Missouri: Springfield — A survey by the Missouri State High School Activities Association shows that state students reported 871 suspected concussions during the 2011 fall semester. Football players reported the most: 653. Next highest were male soccer players, with 81. The survey, mandated last year by the Legislature, is designed to see how measures put in place to address the problem are working.

Montana: Bozeman — Rescue helicopters plucked six hikers out of the Bridger Mountains on sunday morning after they had been trapped overnight by a snowstorm. The Gallatin County Sheriff’s office says the hikers on a wildlife photography outing called for help Saturday afternoon after being caught in a stormonthe east side of Sacajawea Peak.

Nebraska: Auburn — The Weeping Water superintendent school board with decided two drunkendriving to hire a strength convictions of his professional because record of and the some extenuating circumstances. Ken Heinz will start the $ 110,000- a- year job July 1. School board President Alan Horn said the board was impressed with what Heinz accomplished when leading other districts to balanced budgets and improved test scores.

Nevada: Las Vegas — The main debt holder of Hooters hotel- casino will become the resort’s new owner after a bankruptcy auction drew no outside bidders. Canpartners Realty Holding Co. IV will buy the 696- room property under a court- approved sale. Plans call for operations as usual during the transition, and for all Hooters creditors to be paid in full.

New Hampshire: Concord — The House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday will decide its recommendation for a new gambling bill that would allow up to four casinos. Even if the bill passes the House, it would need a twothirds majority to override Democratic Gov. Lynch’s promised veto.

New Jersey: Woodbridge — Turnpike Authority Executive Director Veronique Hakim said 372 employees retired last year as lawmakers began examining ways to end or reduce the payouts for unused sick days and vacation by public agencies. That’s about nine times more employees than would retire in a normal year, and it represented 17% of the authority’s workforce.

New Mexico: Santa Fe —

Voters will be asked whether the city can borrow $ 5 million to build a fire station and make improvements to police headquarters when they go to the polls on March 6. If the measure is approved, the city can borrow the money and repay it through property taxes on homes and businesses. The new station would cover territory added in planned annexations next year.

New York:

Poughkeepsie — A study found that The Walkway Over the Hudson resulted in 383 new jobs and $ 9.4 million in new wages. The former railroad bridge was turned into a scenic recreational trail and opened as a state park in October 2009. Almost 500,000 people visit it annually.

North Carolina:

Raleigh — After a four- month suspension, the Division of Motor Vehicles is issuing “Friends of the Smokies” special license plates, with the familiar image of a black bear and green mountains. Last year, the General Assembly required that the plate be redesigned to ensure that the numbers can be read by the human eye and by cameras installed as part of new toll roads.

North Dakota:

Fargo — The Fargo Jet Center is offering shuttle flights to Williston, Minot and Dickinson. Sameday, round- trip airfare ranges from $ 675 to $ 875 per passenger. Spokesman Darren Hall says the demand for flights to the western oil patch has increased over the past year.

Ohio:

Columbus — Franklin County Commissioners allotted $ 89,000 when Sheriff Zach Scott requested funds for a management study after a Columbus

Dispatch analysis showed his office paid $ 3.8 million in overtime in 2011 and that deputies received 62,000 hours of comp time. Scott predicts a study will show he needs more deputies.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma city— Videoconferences are helping the Variety Care group of clinics expand mental health care to rural areas such as Fort Cobb, Tipton and Grandfield. “It’s not the perfect solution but it’s better than providing little or nothing,” David Howlett, director of behavioral health and special projects, said. The American Psychological Association’s Center for Workforce Studies, tracking the “tele-psychology” trend, found that email use with clients more than tripled among practicing psychologists from 2000 to 2008, and videoconferencing with clients rose by 2% to10%.

Oregon: Portland — A Portland man

who stabbed his pregnant wife because she threatened to leave him over his drug use has been sentenced to seven- and- a- half years in prison. Brian Nickel had been using the animal tranquilizer ketamine when he slashed Elaine Winn, who was three months’ pregnant, in the neck, arms, legs and abdomen. She later divorced him and

gave birth to a healthy baby, The Oregonian reports.

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia — The Centennial Bell is chiming the hours after an 18- month rehabilitation project on the tower of Independence Hall, which houses the bell. The work repaired the tower’s exterior and structural framing, restoring it to the original1828 appearance.

Rhode Island: West Warwick — Cranston resident David Bettencourt, 37, is preparing a documentary film about The Station nightclub fire that killed 100 people in 2003. Bettencourt said the documentary is to be released in time for the 10th anniversary of the fire on Feb. 20, 2013.

South Carolina: Myrtle Beach — Consultant Tom Hiles said it’s unlikely the former Freestyle Music Park will reopen this summer. Time is running short to find a new owner who can rebrand the park and get it open for the tourist season. The park has been closed 2 ½ years.

South Dakota: Aberdeen — The Brown County Planning Commission on Tuesday will consider whether to dissolve the county drainage board, made up of county commissioners. Commission Chairman Duane Sutton says if the drainage board is dissolved, drainage disputes would have to be resolved in court.

Tennessee: Memphis — Police are cracking down on outstanding parking tickets. City Clerk Thomas Long said 194 vehicles were towed for unpaid tickets from Jan. 2 to Feb. 8, resulting in more than $ 33,500 paid in tickets and fines. Officers are using a new scanner that lets thempick out cars with an excessive number of unpaid tickets.

Texas: Dallas — In the first 16 days since abandoning his presidential campaign, Republican Gov. Perry has been to his office just three times and stayed no longer than three hours each

time, The Dallas Morning News reports.

Perry spokeswoman Lucy Nashed says that, even though absent in body, Perry is tending to state business.

Utah: Price — A woman has pleaded guilty to hitting and killing a man while driving under the influence of drugs. The Deseret News said Jamie Mercurio entered the plea to a thirddegree felony count of automobile homicide in the Aug. 4 death of Aaron Simms. Sentencing was set for April 2.

Vermont: Burlington— Colleges and universities are seeing their fundraising figures go up or hold steady. Middlebury College took in just under $ 42 million, the most of any school in the state. The University of vermont raised $ 29 million, a school record. Norwich University’s $ 6.7 million was down slightly fromthe previous year, after an effort that raise d $ 82 million by 2009.

Virginia: Richmond— The welcome Home Foundation is planning a parade to honor Iraq War veterans May 19. Spokesman Michael Wallace said planning is still underway.

Washington:

Seattle — The University of Washington raked in more private money last year than ever, thanks in part to an anonymous donation for need- based scholarships. Contributions touwhit $ 334 million, a jumpof 17% over the previous fiscal year, The

Seattle Times reports. That tally ranked 14th in the nation— less than Stanford, Harvard or Yale universities, but more than Cornell or the University of CaliforniaBerkeley.

West Virginia:

Gilbert — The Marshall University School of Medicine will provide specialty health care in town as part of a statewide initiative in themost rural areas. Melissa Lester, an interventional cardiologist, will begin seeing patients on Friday at the Larry Joe Harless Community and Health Center. Marshall will also send an endocrinologist each month.

Wisconsin:

Madison — Wisconsin Lottery says a Mega Millions ticket worth $ 1 million was sold Friday in Marshfield. It’s the second million- dollar winner in the state in less than a week, coming six days after Christy Stanczak of West Allis won a $ 1 million Powerball prize.

Wyoming:

Casper — The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has given nearly $ 4million to Wind River Reservation tribes: More than $ 1.5 million went to the Eastern Shoshone Housing Authority, and about $ 2 million went to the Northern Arapaho Housing Authority. The grants will help improve housing conditions. They can also be used for crime prevention and safety.

U. S. territory:

Puerto Rico — Economic Development Secretary Jose PerezRiera says the Carnival Valor will become the largest- ever cruise ship to use the island as its home base. It will move from Miami next year and could generate more than $ 630,000 in revenuefor Puerto Rico each time it departs the island, he said.