Across the USA

News from every state

Alabama: Auburn — Si02 Medical Products was to break ground Monday for a plant that is expected to create about 250 jobs next year. The company, set to begin operating next spring, will produce medical products including prefilled syringes and vials.

Alaska: Juneau — The trial of a man charged with killing his girlfriend 15 years ago at a Yakutat lodge has been delayed from May to November. Robert Kowalski’s attorney, Eric Hedland, calls files in the cold case “massive.” Kowalski is charged with killing Sandra Perry on July 21, 1996, while vacationing from Washington.

Arizona: Prescott — Hassayampa Golf Club is filing for bankruptcy protection. President Larry Stanek says the filing allows the club, which owes about 50 creditors, to remain open and pay its bills. He says the filing is part of a plan to get finances in shape and help close a deal with Arnold Palmer Golf Management to take over the club.

Arkansas: Helena-west Helena — A massive replica of a Union fort that occupied Helena-west Helena during the Civil War will be dedicated at a ceremony May 11. The block-long reproduction of Fort Curtis is at the corner of York and Columbia streets. Phillips County hopes to draw in Civil War buffs and tourists as the area marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

California: San Diego — Schools may have to pull $1.3 million from reserves to cover a program that provides services to low-income families. More than 5,000 students are served by the program, which provides preschool and other services for the poor and teen students with child care needs.

Colorado: Aspen — The late singer John Denver is among 20 nominees being considered this year for induction to the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum Hall of Fame. Denver, who was killed in a plane crash in 1997, was known for songs such as I Guess He’d Rather Be in Colorado and Rocky Mountain High. He also organized and promoted skiing with a series of televised skiing events featuring celebrities filmed in Aspen and Lake Tahoe.

Connecticut: Hartford — Superior Court Judge Jonathan Silbert on Monday rejected requests to seal the file and close the courtroom in the case of a teen girl who is suing several boys she accuses of group sexual assault. Silbert ruled that the girl and the seven boys can use pseudonyms, but their interests don’t outweigh the public’s interest in open courts.

Delaware: Newark — The city planned to roll out three hybrids to be used in the Parks and Recreation Department and the Electric Department. The Toyota Camry sedans were paid for in part through grants from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a multistate initiative to reduce pollutants linked to climate change.

D.C.: Walmart is extending its timeline to open six stores, and now plans to open the first one at the end of 2013, most likely at the corner of Georgia and Missouri avenues. Company spokesman Steven Restivo said it will use the extra time to further engage with the neighborhoods surrounding the stores.

Florida: West Palm Beach — The Palm Beach Zoo on Monday announced the birth of five fennec foxes. They were born last month but had been underground until last week. The zoo now has 13 fennec foxes, which are native to the deserts of North Africa and the Sinai and Arabian peninsulas.

Georgia: Athens — Ten University of Georgia architecture students met with the Friends of Brooklyn Cemetery, a group that has been working to clean up the site, which was established in 1882, to discuss how to make it a black heritage destination. UGA professor Katherine Melcher hopes students will work on plans over the summer and bring future classes back to help.

Hawaii: Joint Base Pearl HarborHickam — The Navy is warning Oahu residents about possible increased traffic around Joint Base Pearl HarborHickam on Oahu and at Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai during a fourday exercise this week. Navy Region Hawaii says Exercise Citadel Pacific 2012 will last through Thursday. Residents may also experience delays getting on to the bases, see increased security, and hear loud noises.

Idaho: Lewiston — Officials are closer to a decision on expanding the container dock at the Port of Lewiston. The hope is to begin the project in July 2013. But Port Manager David Doeringsfeld says there are still some hurdles before construction can begin. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking public comments on its report that found the project would have no significant impact on the environment.

Illinois: Sycamore — Opening statements begin today in the 50-year-old case of Jack Mccullough, who is charged with rape and indecent liberties with a child in the alleged abuse of a 14-year-old Sycamore girl in 1961 and 1962. Mccullough, 72, also faces separate kidnapping and murder charges in the 1957 death of Maria Ridulph, 7, also of Sycamore.

Indiana: Indianapolis — Data from the American Association of University Professors show Indiana University professors have moved back ahead of their Purdue University counterparts. The Indianapolis Business Journal reported full professors at Indiana University earn an average of $128,400. Full professors at Purdue earn an average of $125,100.

Iowa: Mapleton — More than $374,000 in donations were made to the Mapleton Tornado Relief Fund after the April 9 tornado last year. The fund awarded more than $239,000. The remaining money is being turned over to a non-profit group called Mapleton Build and Recovery.

Kansas: Dodge City — The city will celebrate its history as a motorcycle racing site in May with an exhibit and series of programs at the Carnegie Center for the Arts. From 1914 to 1916, the area was home of The Dodge City 300, considered the race of the year by motorcycle enthusiasts. Items on display will include a several vintage motorcycles, including a 1929 Harley.

Kentucky: Morehead — Morehead State University has launched Students Empowering Exceptional Individuals to mentor students with disabilities. The program pairs disabled MSU students with middle and high school students who have the same disability. Stacy Timberlake, the group’s president, said notices are being sent to school districts seeking students to join the program.

Louisiana: Morgan City — Oceaneering International, an offshore engineering firm known for robots that can work in deep water, will spend $5 million to expand its facility, creating 200 new jobs. The company said 120 of the new workers will produce remotely operated vehicles used to perform offshore petroleum tasks and inspections.

Maine: Augusta — The Better Transportation Association has launched the 3rd Annual Worst Road in Maine Contest. Entries are due by midnight May 15. Association Executive Director Ma- ria Fuentes said a study shows the average driver pays $250 a year in vehicle maintenance costs due to bad roads.

Maryland: Hagerstown — The C&O Canal Association is seeking volunteers to be trained in removing garlic mustard from areas including Swain’s Lock, Carderock, Edwards Ferry, Antietam Creek and Brunswick. The weed threatens to crowd out native flower- ing plants in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.

Massachusetts: Boston — As part of its package of fare increases and service cuts to deal with a deficit, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is doing away with its popular 12ride commuter rail pass. As of July 1 the 12-ride will be replaced by a new pass that allows 10 rides over 30 days.

Michigan: Honor — The Cherry Bowl Drive-in Theatre opens for its 59th season April 27. But owner Harry Clark, known for announcing birthdays and first-time patrons, is still hospitalized after he was struck by a tree while clearing damage caused by a storm. A fundraiser for Clark is set for June.

Minnesota: St. Paul — Gov. Dayton, a Democrat, said he’ll do whatever he can to urge voters to reject the voter ID constitutional amendment that will appear on the ballot in November. Dayton said the amendment would cripple the state’s election system by curbing same-day voter registration, absentee balloting and mail-in voting.

Mississippi: Jackson — A body found near Butts Park may be that of a man missing since April 1. Police spokeswoman Colendula Green said a pedestrian found the body. Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-stewart said DNA will be used to identify it.

Missouri: Ferguson — Authorities are looking for police impersonators who kicked down the door of a home, showed shotguns, then got away with two televisions, a purse and car keys. Three men wearing bulletproof vests and police badges yelled “Police!” and said they had search warrants. The men wore bandanas over their faces.

Montana: Helena — A Polson artist couple will be named as the next “treasured Montana artists.” Secretary of State Linda Mcculloch says the honor is being given to Matt and Heather Holmes. The couple create ceramics, mixed media art and oil paintings showcasing a variety of subjects. An exhibit will be on display through July at the Secretary of State’s Office.

Nebraska: Lincoln — Tom Winter finished a lecture on passive and pasttense Latin verbs, pulled his skateboard from the desk and rolled into a cool spring afternoon. The University of Nebraska classics and religious studies professor became an Internet sensation last week when a photo of him skateboarding across campus became the top item on the social media website Reddit.com.

Nevada: Reno — Washoe County School Superintendent Heath Morrison is one of three finalists for superintendent of Charlotte-mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina. He will interview Wednesday and Thursday.

New Hampshire:

Hampton — Officials here and in Seabrook are concerned about the state Department of Transportation’s cost-cutting plan to turn off dozens of street lights along beach areas, mostly concentrated on Ocean Boulevard and the Ocean Boulevard Bridge.

New Jersey: Newark — The city is working with Rutgers University to launch the 2012 Year of Newark Literacy. Reading promotion events are planned, including a multicultural literary festival themed Let Us Read. The Harlem Book Fair will be staged here for the first time, April 27-28 at the campus.

New Mexico: Santa Fe — A candidate for Santa Fe County treasurer faces six misdemeanor fraud charges for allegedly using fake vouchers for car washes. Deputy treasurer Oliver Garcia and his daughter, Felicia, are accused of using reproductions of prepaid car wash tickets. When a city police officer asked the Democratic candidate about the washes, Garcia initially said he had no knowledge of the issue, but later told the officer his daughter had bought the coupons from a man in the carwash lot.

New York: Albany — Gov. Cuomo, a Democrat, and the Legislature agreed to devote $1 million to change the way buses are inspected following a bloody year on the road. Instead of inspecting every bus several times a year, the state will switch to a system in which companies with the worst safety records will be inspected more. All companies will get at least two inspections.

North Carolina: Greensboro — Guilford College’s Community Senate has proposed the school raise activity fees by $100 over the next two years and use the revenue to bolster the financial aid program. The board of trustees will consider the proposal in June.

North Dakota: Fargo — A female peregrine falcon named Miracle that has nested on a downtown bank building since 2008 has returned, but her mate, Dakota Ace, has not. Dakota Ace has come here in the spring since 2000, and falcon enthusiast Wickham Corwin said the bird still might show up. Corwin said that if Dakota Ace doesn’t arrive, it’s possible another male will fly in to mate with Miracle.

Ohio: Piketon — The U.S. Department of Energy is offering public tours for the first time in 60 years of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, a Cold War-era nuclear weapons facility, which produced enriched uranium until 2001. The site is being decontaminated and decommissioned.

Oklahoma: Davis — About 600 campers were evacuated from Turner Falls Park after heavy rain inundated the area. Davis Emergency Management Deputy Director Darryl Mccurtain said some of the evacuated campers contacted family members who were en route to pick them up.

Oregon: Hillsboro — A woman trying to relight some charcoal briquettes at a family cookout at Aloha squirted on some high-octane fuel used in remotecontrol toy cars and airplanes. The bar- becue and fuel can exploded, injuring her 6-year-old son.

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh — The city is paying the Santa Cruz, Calif.based Responsible Hospitality Institute $100,000 to study its nightlife, in hopes of reducing problems including public urination in areas with high concentrations of bars. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said the study will focus on the South Side, downtown and Lawrenceville.

Rhode Island: Providence — The big blue termite atop New England Pest Control will have a new look as the 77year-old company rebrands itself as Big Blue Bug Solutions. The bug, known as Nibbles Woodaway, is on the list of quirky tourist attractions compiled by Roadside America and had a cameo in the movie Dumb and Dumber.

South Carolina: Hilton Head Island — The town staff is recommending that cellphone towers be allowed on non-residential property with a simple change in land-use plans, reducing the approval time from nine months to as little as two months. Tree cover, flat terrain and low elevation combine to make cell coverage spotty.

South Dakota: Brookings — Police arrested and charged a woman for allegedly entering another woman’s home and attempting to breast-feed the other woman’s 2-month-old child. Police Lt. Derrick Powers said a woman called 911 to report the incident.

Tennessee: Nashville — Volkswagen is conducting a search to fill some of the 1,000 new jobs at its Chattanooga plant. The automaker is using a national print and online ad campaign to fill specialty positions. Volkswagen began building Passat sedans at the plant a year ago. The additional workers will bring total employment to more than 3,500 by the end of the year.

Texas: Dallas — A 19-year-old from Garland whose mother identified him to the FBI was sentenced to almost five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to three counts of bank robbery. Anthony Blue pleaded guilty in January. U.S. Attorney Sarah Saldana said Blue was sentenced to four years and 11 months in prison.

Utah: Cedar City — A scenic state highway closed by a landslide in October is scheduled to reopen with limited access June 1 and full access by July 4. Crews have worked to remove dirt, rock and debris from state Route 14, about 8 miles east of Cedar City. About 1.5 million cubic yards of material slid down a ravine Oct. 8, destroying nearly a quarter mile of the highway.

Vermont: Montpelier — The Senate Agriculture Committee has set a hearing Wednesday to discuss a projected decline in milk prices, as well as changes to federal farm programs. The hearing will address the steps dairy cooperatives are taking to ensure that Vermont farmers receive the highest price possible for their milk.

Virginia: Hampton — The Guinness Book of World Records notes that Hardy W. Cash holds the record for the longest career as a civil servant — 63 years and 210 days. Cash, 84, was 19 when he began working in city government on July 1, 1947. He retired Jan. 28, 2011.

Washington: Port Angeles — A man on the lam found time to update his Facebook page. Travis Nicolaysen, 26, escaped from officers in two foot chases and a dragnet that included a police dog tracking him through a residential neighborhood. One friend posted to his account, “cops all over you.” Nicolaysen responded the next day, “got away thanks bro.” He was wanted by the state Department of Corrections for allegedly failing to check in with his parole officer since January.

West Virginia: Morgantown — The Star City Volunteer Fire Department is getting more than $44,000 in a federal funding. The grant from a Department of Homeland Security program can be used to make health and safety improvements to facilities and to buy training and personal protective equipment.

Wisconsin: Appleton — An art exhibit featuring about 500 paintings by Winston Churchill is set to open this week at the Trout Museum of Art. Churchill is best known as Great Britain’s no-nonsense prime minister during World War II, but he was also an accomplished painter who picked up the hobby at age 40.

Wyoming: Moose — A backcountry skier rescued in Granite Canyon over the weekend is recovering from his injuries. Josh Tatman, 31, of Jackson was released from St. John’s Medical Center. Tatman fell about 300 feet Saturday from the top of the Endless Couloir, just outside the boundary of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

U.S. territory: Guam — After a search for a new superintendent that lasted almost a year, the Education Board chose someone all the board members support. The board’s choice for superintendent, Jon Fernandez, has job experience in the Washington area and educational achievements that include a master’s from Harvard University.