Across the USA

NEWS from every state

Alabama: state officials Montgomery are trying to — determine City and the railroad possibility line between of creating Birmingham, a passenger Montgomery and Mobile. In 2009, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community and Community Affairs received a $200,000 matching grant from the Federal Railroad Administration for the study.

Alaska: Fairbanks — The comment period on a draft plan for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska has been extended. The Bureau of Land Management will take comments on the plan and an accompanying environmental impact statement until June 15. Under consideration are four alternatives for management of all lands within NPR-A, which covers most of the western half of the North Slope.

Arizona: Flagstaff — The state Department of Transportation announced that crews will continue work on several interstate projects that were forced to shut down due to cold temperatures. ADOT expects new and continuing projects in counties including Coconino, Yavapai, Apache and Navajo to total nearly $250 million.

Arkansas: Jonesboro — Arkansas State University has been awarded a $350,000 grant for some of the work it is doing to restore the Dyess Colony Administration Building. The grant is the third the university has received from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council for the project. The Dyess Colony is perhaps best known as the home of Johnny Cash.

California: Los Angeles — A ban on medical marijuana dispensaries has been approved by the City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee, which voted to end storefront pot shops and allow small groups of patients and caregivers to grow marijuana. The proposal will be considered by the council’s Public Safety Committee, then the full council.

Colorado: Estes Park — A 60-yearold woman was trampled by a cow elk outside her apartment in Estes Park near Rocky Mountain National Park. Town spokeswoman Kate Rusch said Robin Pattishall was taken to a hospital. Rusch said Pattishall was leaving her apartment and encountered the elk, which was protecting her calf.

Connecticut: New London — Organizers of the OpSail2012 tall ships festival have commitments from five more vessels. The schooner Amistad will be joined by the Ticonderoga, Tyrone, New Horizons and the sea scallop harvester Regulus. The July 6-9 festival is part of a national commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

Delaware: Newark — The City Council unanimously approved a $160,000 project to build skateboarding spots at Norma B. Handloff Park and Phillips Park. The areas would be about the size of tennis courts, and Councilman David Athey said they will have rails and ramps for skateboarders to ride on.

D.C.: The two-day Potomac Snakehead anglers Tournament to catch this all the weekend snakeheads allows they sive want, species help and rid maybe the river win of an $1,500. invaTeams of up to six can fish by boat or from the shore and use either rod and reel or bowfish.

Florida: Tallahassee — The Florida Education Association was to challenge a proposed state rule on teacher evaluations at a hearing planned for Wednesday. The union contends the Department of Education’s proposal, which includes teacher evaluation requirements based heavily on student testing, does not conform to state law.

Georgia: Athens — The iconic Holmes-Hunter Academic Building on the University of Georgia campus is getting a face lift, including a new paint scheme and upgrades of its columns. Workmen were dismantling the exterior of the columns and will install historically accurate replicas.

Hawaii: Honolulu — A zip line tower collapsed because of weak soil, sending a worker plunging 200 feet to his death, concluded an investigation by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Ted Callaway, 36, died Sept. 21 while test-riding a zip line being built along the Big Island’s Honolii Stream. His co-worker Curtis Wright, was critically injured.

Idaho: Boise — Another Idaho solar energy project has fallen victim to sliding prices and industry turbulence. Nampa-based Transform Solar is calling it quits. The partnership between Micron Technology and Origin, an Australian energy company, plans to end its Idaho operations and lay off 250 workers over the next three months.

Illinois: Chicago — More than 24 gay and lesbian couples have filed lawsuits in an effort to legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois. The two lawsuits filed Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and advocacy group Lambda Legal challenge Illinois’ law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The state approved same-sex civil unions last year.

Indiana: Gary — Nearly 170 teachers in the Gary Community Schools have been told they are facing layoffs. District superintendent Myrtle Campbell said the district needs to cut $11 million from its budget and personnel is the biggest part of its spending.

Iowa: Cedar Falls — A retired University of Northern Iowa professor who died in January has left the university $1.5 million to benefit students who want to become math teachers. The school announced the gift from the estate of Bonnie Litwiller, which will create a mathematics teacher scholarship in her name.

Kansas: Fort Riley — From serving with the Navy off the coast of Vietnam in 1969 to counseling soldiers as an Amy chaplain in Iraq, Col. Edwin Ahl has seen a lot in his military career. Now he’s retiring from active duty as garrison chaplain at Fort Riley. He’ll be honored today at the post. Kentucky: Frankfort — Nursing home chain Extendicare Health Services is leaving Kentucky. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that firm cited increased litigation against its facilities and the failure of lawmakers to make it more difficult to sue nursing homes as reasons for its exit. The company said it will lease its 21 facilities to a long-term care operator in Texas. Louisiana: Monroe — The Monroe City School Board approved Neville High School, Excellence Academy and Vision Learning Academy as charter schools. The schools now must finalize contracts and be approved by the federal court who oversees the district’s order to desegregate. Maine: Portland — The Maine Island Trail Association has added three islands to its coastal waterway, giving it 200 in its “water trail” that links uninhabited islands and mainland sites on a 375-mile ocean trail from the New Hampshire border to Canada. Maryland: Salisbury — The City Council defeated a measure to contribute $5,000 to the Red, White and Boom fireworks display on July Fourth. Mike Dunn, who is spearheading a volunteer-driven effort for the display, said about $30,000 has been raised so far. Massachusetts: Boston — Ridership on the MBTA is up for the 15th consecutive month, the transit system’s longest period of growth. The T had a weekday average of 1.371 million passenger trips last month, a 4.4% increase over April 2011. The jump was fueled by bus ridership, which topped 400,000 for the average weekday in consecutive months for the first time. Michigan: Mackinac Island — An analysis by the Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group said the University of Michigan, Michigan State and Wayne State have spent more than $300 million on automobile-related research the past five years and are turning out graduates with science and technical degrees that prepare them for jobs in the industry. Minnesota: St. Paul — A man was hospitalized in critical condition after surgery to remove a fireworks explosive from his chest. Regions Hospital spokeswoman Annelise Searle said the police bomb squad was called to the operating room as surgeons worked on Nick Beheng. Doctors found an unexploded fireworks device lodged in his chest. Beheng, 31, suffered massive chest injuries when he used a handheld metal mortar tube to launch two rockets. One of them blew out the bottom of the tube and injured Beheng. Mississippi: Jackson — The Court of Appeals upheld an award of $500,000 to a teenager who was sexually abused by workers at facilities operated by the Department of Human Services in Starkville and Ackerman. Missouri: St. Louis — Two members of the nationwide Wheels of Soul mo- torcycle gang were sentenced to prison. A federal judge sentenced Carlyle “Thundercat” Fleming, 33, of Chicago to 11 years behind bars and Lawrence “Pac” Pinkston, 42, to more than five years. Fleming got the longer sentence because of his involvement in a shooting and the near-scalping of another man. Montana: Helena — The secretary of state is reminding voters that absentee ballots must be received by the close of the June 5 primary. Linda McCulloch says voters need to be mindful of mail delivery times when returning absentee ballots. Voters can also personally return absentee ballots to local election officials. McCulloch says voters also still have time to register to vote. Nebraska: Louisville — Authorities ended the evacuation of Louisville State Recreation Area. An emergency call was made about a possible leak from a rail car passing by the park. Several campers reported smelling a strong odor in the area, and some reported headaches and nausea. Medical officials checked six people and found no signs of injury or contamination. Nevada: Reno — The Nevada Air National Guard will host an open house at its base in Reno on June 9. More than a dozen types of aircraft will be on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., including the Nevada Guard’s own C-130 cargo aircraft and MQ-1 Predator. New Hampshire: Concord — Tuition at the state’s seven community colleges will not increase for the 20122013 academic year. This is the third year since 2006 the community colleges have not raised tuition. The board of trustees’ decision comes despite last year’s nearly 20% cut in state funding. New Jersey: Newark — Essex County Riverfront Park has opened in the city’s Ironbound district. The $15 million, 12acre park on a former industrial site along the Passaic River features parking, a walkway and recreation fields. New Mexico: Albuquerque — Mayor Richard Berry said Albuquerque Sunport will get more solar panels to power elevators, lights and offices at the airport. The final phase of a solar project for the airport consists of five arrays that will provide power directly to the terminal. Eight existing arrays provide power to the parking structure. A grant from the Federal Aviation Administration helps with the cost. New York: Niagara Falls — People who want to watch daredevil Nik Wallenda’s June 15 tightrope walk across Niagara Falls from the Terrapin Point area of Goat Island must pre-order tickets through walkthefalls.com beginning at 9 a.m. Friday. North Carolina: Charlotte — The city is giving permission to the Coalition to March on Wall Street South for a massive protest Sept. 2, before the start of the Democratic National Convention being held here Sept. 4-6. North Dakota: Wahpeton — A woman who was stabbed by her neighbor as she smoked a cigarette outside their apartment building said she wishes his sentence was longer. Trista Martin, 26, said she was stabbed 20 times. The left side of her face is partially paralyzed, some of her vocal cords are damaged and her left arm has nerve damage. Patrick Wolfgram pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the October attack and was sentenced Tuesday to serve 15 years in prison. Ohio: Columbus — The State Highway Patrol reported 11 people died in crashes around the state during the Memorial Day weekend. There were 14 traffic fatalities during the comparable period in 2011 and 13 deaths over the holiday weekend in 2010. Drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol were involved in at least three of the fatal crashes between Friday and Monday. Oklahoma: Oklahoma City — State Treasurer Ken Miller urges students to keep learning as the summer break approaches. Miller backs the Think Big! Save for College! Sweepstakes, a partnership between the Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan and the Department of Libraries. Participants can win a $2,529 college savings account while continuing to learn during the break. Oregon: Salem — A driver struck a blind man in a crosswalk. Children’s book author John Dashney, 70, was in critical condition at Salem Hospital after the accident a few blocks from his home. A 58-year-old woman was jailed on drunken driving and assault charges in the incident. Pennsylvania: Harrisburg — The State Police is spending $11.5 million for a VHF backup radio system because of reception problems with a statewide radio network that has already cost taxpayers some $400 million. Rhode Island: Woonsocket — The state has taken over the city’s finances with the appointment of a budget commission, as the school department is facing a $10 million deficit and the city is quickly running out of cash. The state has previously taken over Central Falls and East Providence. South Carolina: Cayce — South Carolina Electric & Gas will close six of its coal-fired power generators by the end of 2018. The units are 45 to 57 years old. Some units will be shut down , and others will be converted to natural gas. South Dakota: Crazy Horse — Crazy Horse Memorial is kicking off a series of free programs June 7 featuring Native American groups or individuals. The lectures and performances begin at 6 p.m. every Thursday. The programs will last through Aug. 30. The first featured lecture is by Lakota author Ed “Eagle Man” McGaa. Tennessee: Memphis — The mosquito-borne virus that causes West Nile Disease has been detected in seven Shelby County ZIP codes. The Health Department is spraying insecticide to kill adult mosquitoes. Residents are urged not to let stagnant water collect on their property. There have been no confirmed human cases of West Nile. Texas: El Paso — Longtime U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes lost the Democratic nomination race to retain his congressional seat. Reyes lost to former city councilman Beto O’Rourke, 39, who says he favors legalizing marijuana but wouldn’t push for it in Congress. Utah: Murray — The Highway Patrol is investigating a fiery crash that left one person dead on Interstate 215. Troopers aren’t sure if the driver was a man or a woman, but the vehicle was registered to a woman in Rock Springs, Wyo. The eastbound car veered into the median, traveling between the barriers and crashing into a concrete pillar supporting TRAX commuter train rails. Vermont: Rutland — Rutland Regional Medical Center officials are considering closing the hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation unit, one of only three in Vermont. Officials say closing it will save $3.5 million a year, helping to close a $7 million budget shortfall. Virginia: Richmond — The state has created a new identification card for veterans to help them take advantage of special discount programs at stores, state parks and other businesses. The DMV 2 Go mobile customer service center will be available to process applications for the new cards. Washington: Seattle — A 3-year-old boy refused to use his seat belt when he and his father boarded an Alaska Airlines flight. The pilot returned to the gate at Sea-Tac Airport and asked the father and the boy to get off. West Virginia: Charleston — The Hatfield-McCoy Trail System is working toward construction of a park for Jeep- and Humvee-type users south of Charleston. Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority Executive Director Jeffrey Lusk said the $200,000 project near U.S. Route 119 along the Lincoln-Kanawha county borders is under environmental review. Wisconsin: Madison — About 19,000 gypsy moth traps are being set to monitor the insect. Trappers from the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection began setting the traps this month and plan to have them in place in 50 counties by July. Wyoming: Cheyenne — Saturday is free fishing day for residents and nonresidents. Free fishing day means anglers may fish without buying a state license. Licenses are still required to fish in Yellowstone National Park and on the Wind River Indian Reservation. U.S. territory: Puerto Rico — A federal grand jury indicted 74 people on charges of running a multimillion-dollar drug-trafficking ring on the north coast. The suspects face charges of conspiracy to possess heroin, cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute them through public housing projects.