Across the USA

NEWS from every state

Alabama:

Sand Island — This island has opened to the public after a federal dredging project that pumped 1.4 million cubic yards of clean sand from the seafloor to create the new island. The 15-acre land mass sits about 3 miles south of the mouth of Mobile Bay. At its base there’s a 141-year-old lighthouse.

Alaska:

Anchorage — A small earthquake was felt in several communities north of Anchorage. The U.S. Geological Survey says the 4.0 temblor struck shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday, centered about 150 miles northeast of Anchorage. The Alaska Earthquake Information Center says it was felt in such places as Copper Center and Eagle River. There were no reports of damage.

Arizona:

Surprise — A juvenile who lives in Surprise was arrested after allegedly pointing a laser at a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office helicopter. Sheriff’s spokesman Jeffrey Sprong says the helicopter was returning from a rescue mission when the pilot was “flashed” with a laser four times. The pilot directed police to the home where the light was originating.

Arkansas:

Springdale — Game and Fish Commission program coordinator Wesley Wright says a plan to clear a portion of the Ozark National Forest in northwest Arkansas would benefit populations of elk, deer, bear and turkey. The U.S. Forest Service and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission want to remove overgrowth in a 62-squaremile section of the forest.

California:

Los Angeles — Los Angeles County paid more than $48 million to retiring employees for unused time off in 2010. According to the Los Angeles

Times, about a third of the compensation for unused time went to workers leaving the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Those workers, who made up 13% of the county’s retiring employees, collected $16 million.

Colorado:

Aspen — Sudden Aspen Decline, a malady that’s killed off nearly a fifth of the state’s aspens, may be due to drought in 2000-04, according to a study from Stanford University and the University of Utah. In a delayed reaction, the systems that carry water through aspen stands broke down.

Connecticut:

Stamford — The Metro-north commuter railroad plans to ban cellphone use in certain train cars on the New Haven line beginning this week. The Quiet Cars were introduced on the Port Jervis branch last year and have been expanded to the Hudson and Harlem lines.

Delaware:

Wilmington — City Councilman Michael Brown, the only Republican to announce he was running for mayor, dropped out of the race because of difficulty raising money for his campaign. He will instead seek re-election as an at-large councilman. A number of Democrats are vying to fill the seat being vacated by Mayor Jim Baker.

D.C.:

Harry Thomas Jr. will be sentenced May 3 after he pleaded guilty to two felonies: theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and fil- ing a false tax return. Thomas entered the plea 15 hours after resigning his City Council seat, The Washington Post reported. Federal prosecutors said Thomas embezzled $353,500 to purchase luxury items.

Florida:

West Palm Beach — Boaters are being cautioned to look out for manatees that may be congregating near power plants during the chilly weather. State Fish and Wildlife Conservation Capt. David Schaeffer said as the weather warms up, the mammals move away from the plants toward feeding areas. That’s when there’s the greatest danger of boat strikes.

Georgia:

Savannah — The Georgia History Festival kicks off Feb. 2 in this city, where the state began as the 13th British colony in 1733. Many events focus on the life of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low, who grew up here. On Feb. 5, museums and other historic sites will be open for free.

Hawaii:

Honolulu — U.S. military personnel who specialize in deciphering foreign intelligence are getting a new home at Pearl Harbor. The facility will be named for Joseph J. Rochefort, a U.S. Navy captain who led a team that deciphered Japanese military messages during World War II.

Idaho:

Coeur d’alene — The U.S. Forest Service plans public meetings to discuss a draft management plan for the Panhandle National Forests. The meetings are set for Tuesday in Coeur d’alene, Wednesday in St. Maries, Thursday in Smelterville, Jan. 17 in Bonners Ferry, Jan. 19 in Priest Lake, and Jan. 23 in Sandpoint.

Illinois:

Chicago — The Chicago Tri

bune reported that the number of traffic stops across the state has dropped by 6% and the number of ticketed motorists fell by 11%. The newspaper analyzed state data on traffic tickets from 2008 to 2010. Some of the biggest drops were reported by the Chicago Police Department, which stopped 38,000 fewer motorists, around 19% less, and ticketed 46,000, or 30%, fewer.

Indiana:

Evansville — New Police Chief Billy Bolin has ended a policy that banned officers living outside Vanderburgh County from taking home patrol cars. The policy allows 28 officers to take their patrol cars home and use them at their discretion while off-duty.

Iowa:

Council Bluffs — A weekend bomb threat at the Union Pacific rail yard was cleared after no device was found. Police searched the area for four hours before determining it was safe.

Kansas:

Manhattan — A freshman state House member confirmed she plans to take a job as director of the state’s Medicaid program. Republican Susan Mosier said she’s not sure when she’ll give up her House seat. However, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has said she’ll begin as Medicaid services director on March 1.

Kentucky:

Richmond — Since opening about 12 weeks ago, the Eastern Kentucky University Center for the Arts has hosted mostly sold-out shows, drawing 18,000 people, Executive Director Debra Hoskins said.

Louisiana:

Oak Grove — The annual Lamb Weston North Louisiana Sweet Potato Festival will be March 29-31 and will include a parade, an arts and crafts show and a classic car show.

Maine:

Millinocket — Campers can make reservations starting Jan. 17 for the 2012 season at Baxter State Park. People who show up at the headquarters can make up to two reservations for any time from May 15 to Oct. 15. The park will also begin its rolling reservation system on the same date allowing campers to use the park’s website to reserve lean-tos, tent sites and cabins up to 120 days in advance.

Maryland:

Rockville — Montgomery County police officer Edward Paden Jr. is to receive the Congressional Badge of Bravery Award in a ceremony today. Paden was off-duty on Sept. 1, 2010, when he learned about a gunman at the Discovery Communications building in Silver Spring. He went inside, allowing him to help the hostages and provide details to other officers at the scene. The gunman was shot by police before he could detonate explosives. Massachusetts:

Barnstable — Health Director Thomas Mckean said a local man diagnosed with the first confirmed case of human rabies in the state since 1935 remains hospitalized in Boston in critical but stable condition. The man, in his 60s, was infected several months ago from a bat bite he received in his home.

Michigan:

Lansing — State senators are considering a measure to put a system of colored flags at some public beaches to alert swimmers to lake water conditions. Eighty-seven people drowned in 2011 in the Great Lakes, up from 74 two years ago. Forty-four drowned last year in Lake Michigan.

Minnesota:

Minneapolis — Another high school hockey player was hospitalized after suffering a serious injury in a game, one week after a player was paralyzed by a check from behind. Jenna Privette, 18, of Lakeville, a senior at St. Croix Lutheran High School in West St. Paul, was in satisfactory condition at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Mississippi:

Holly Springs — The new police chief, James Dean, will take the helm of the department today. Dean, 53, has served as chief of police in two towns in Missouri and worked for sheriff’s departments in that state.

Missouri:

Kansas City — The University of Missouri hired a real estate business and two architecture firms to study the feasibility of a downtown arts campus. The firms will craft a preliminary cost estimate, look at potential downtown properties, develop site and concept plans and talk to the university and community.

Montana:

Helena — The executive director for the Montana Arts Council has been elected president of the board of directors for the national group for all state arts agencies. Arlynn “Arni” Fishbaugh recently attained the posi- tion with the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.

Nebraska:

Lincoln — Inscribed quilts will be telling stories at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum at the University of Nebraska. The exhibition, “What’s in a Name? Inscribed Quilts,” will open Friday and run through Dec. 2. Inscribed quilts emerged in the USA in the 1840s. They often were gifts for friends and neighbors, marking important events such as marriage or childbirth.

Nevada:

Carson City — One of the driest winters on record prompted an unusual January warning from Forester Peter Anderson. He said the lack of snow has resulted in flammable vegetation in both urban and rural areas. “I encourage all Nevadans to exercise extreme caution in areas with dry vegetation.”

New Hampshire:

Groveton — MOP Environmental Solutions of Bath was unable to meet the closing date of Dec. 20 on the former paper mill, because of an obstacle in financing. MOP still wants to buy the mill, which closed in 2007 and left hundreds out of work, and turn it into a manufacturing and research center.

New Jersey:

Trenton — Democrats in the Legislature are reintroducing a gay-marriage bill this week, two years after similar legislation was voted down. Gov. Christie, a Republican, has said he doesn’t support same-sex marriage. The state recognizes civil unions.

New Mexico:

Carlsbad — The state health department has confirmed that a dog was infected with rabies after being bitten by a skunk, and the family of its owners must receive a series of rabies vaccine injections. Department of Health Secretary Catherine Torres said the dog’s infection and the discovery of eight rabid skunks in the area represent a serious outbreak.

New York:

Yaphank — Police released a composite sketch of an unidentified woman whose partial remains were among 11 found along Ocean Parkway in April. Suffolk County police reported other remains of the same person were found on Blue Point Beach, Fire Island, in April 1996. Investigators believe a possible serial killer is responsible for 10 of the bodies.

North Carolina:

Asheville — The Western North Carolina Nature Center has welcomed a record number of visitors — 92,000 people. Director Chris Gentile said 2011 was the first time attendance surpassed 90,000 since the wildlife park opened in the mid-1970s. He said new otter and cougar exhibits may have contributed to the increase.

North Dakota:

Bismarck — A man was sentenced to two years of probation for placing an explosive device into a mailbox in 2009. Thomas Crawford was charged in federal court with unlawful making of a firearm, unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm and conspiracy to destroy a letter box. The device was made with an explosive mixture, soft-drink cans, sparklers and tape. Crawford pleaded guilty to one count in October. The other two counts were dropped.

Ohio:

Columbus — The state last week switched to an automated swipe-card system to track attendance and payments for its subsidized child care program. Parents swipe cards when children enter and exit day care, enabling the state to pay directly, instead of waiting for county Job and Family Services departments to compile and submit local billing records.

Oklahoma:

Midwest City — Authorities are searching for a man who robbed a Bank of Oklahoma branch. FBI Special Agent Clay Simmonds said the man handed a note to a teller at the branch inside a Crest store demanding $100, $50 and $20 bills. Simmonds said the teller gave the man an undisclosed amount of cash and no one was injured in the robbery.

Oregon:

Baker City — A mild winter may be causing the Elkhorn Mountains elk to shun state-provided hay. Eddie Miguez of the Department of Fish and Wildlife said there is scarce snow cover, so the elk can eat the grasses and forbs that constitute their normal diet The state set up bales of protein-rich alfalfa hay at feed sites in 1971 to keep elk from raiding ranchers’ haystacks.

Pennsylvania:

Quakertown — The Heritage Conservancy and volunteers are setting up amphibian-crossing signs at five sites where eight documented species of salamanders usually cross the road, along with frogs and toads. The first mild, rainy evening of late winter or early spring often sends hundreds of the lizard-like amphibians out onto rural roads.

Rhode Island:

Bristol — A legislative commission studying the state veterans’ home is scheduled to meet here today. The commission was created to study the facility and recommend long-term changes. An unannounced inspection by the Health Department two years ago found two examples of residents not receiving proper care. South Carolina:

Spartanburg — Clifton Mill No. 2, a 124-year-old textile mill, is set for demolition after years of legal and financial battles. Foreclosure was completed in 2009. Spartanburg County said the site may become a nature preserve with campsites.

South Dakota:

Pierre — More than 30,000 trees have been cut down in Custer State Park in a fight against the mountain pine beetle. State Forester Ray Sowers said workers want to cut down 142,000 infested trees.

Tennessee:

Knoxville — The University of Tennessee this week will open the $37.5 million Min H. Kao Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building to students, the first new engineering building on campus in almost 50 years. The environmentally friendly facility is named after the cofounder of Garmin, an alum who gave $12.5 million for the project.

Texas:

Houston — Demolition crews used explosives to implode the 20-story former Prudential Building that had been a landmark of the city’s medical district since 1952. Prudential Insurance of America built the 500,000square-foot skyscraper to serve as its southwest regional headquarters.

Utah:

Spanish Fork — A non-profit riding program for children with special needs seeks funding for its move to a new home. Without help, 30 specialized therapy horses in Hoofbeats to Healing will become homeless on Jan. 14, when a lease expires. The program has been offered a facility in Saratoga Springs, but founder Tammy Tanner says it needs $11,000 to get water to the barn and for necessary upgrades.

Vermont:

Montpelier — The popular pedestrian bridge over the Winooski River that connects Route 2 with State Street has been shut down because of safety concerns. The bridge was built in 1998 for $250,000. Public Works Director Todd Law said the city hopes to know in the coming weeks what it will take to make the bridge usable.

Virginia:

Alexandria — Virginia Railway Express no longer has firm plans to bring wireless Internet service to its commuter trains. CEO Dale Zehner wrote on VRE’S website that riders reported in a survey that they wouldn’t use it if it weren’t free. He also said he’s not sure that it would be possible to provide uninterrupted service.

Washington:

Yakima — A Portland State University study found Mount Adams’ 12 glaciers have shrunk by nearly half since 1904 and are receding faster than those of nearby sister volcanoes Mount Hood and Mount Rainier. Gradually warming temperatures could mean significant problems for the water-dependent Yakima Valley.

West Virginia:

Charleston — Highway Safety Director Bob Tipton said that 2011 produced about 1,000 more DUI arrests than 2010, about 8,600.

Wisconsin:

Madison — The state Transportation Finance and Policy Commission plans a session Thursday to gather ideas about long-range transportation needs and financing.

Wyoming:

Casper — Filmmaker R.J. Cutler is asking residents for footage or still pictures of Dick Cheney for a documentary. Cheney lived in the state as a teen and attended the University of Wyoming. He represented the state in Congress from 1979 to 1989. Ryan Gallagher at Actual Reality Pictures said the company is looking for images that government archives and stock film companies don’t have.

U.S. territory:

Guam — Monetary donations for victims of flooding and devastation caused by Tropical Storm Washi will be accepted until the end of the month at National Office Supply’s Harmon and Tamuning locations, the Philippine Consulate General's Office and Seaside Fishmart in Harmon.