Across the USA

NEWS from every state

Alabama:

Montgomery — State Rep. Alvin Holmes, a Democrat, said changing the name of the Rosa Parks Avenue Branch Library in honor of the city’s first black librarian at a public library would send the wrong message to the world. Holmes said if the City Council changes the name to the Bertha Pleasant Williams Branch Library, he will block all city and county legislation.

Alaska:

Kodiak — A Shell Oil drilling vessel slipped its anchorage over the weekend and got within 500 feet of an island near Dutch Harbor in Unalaska Bay before crews were about to re-anchor the 571-foot vessel, the Coast Guard said.

Arizona:

Mesa — Vacant storefronts in metro Phoenix’s eastern suburbs are filling up. Real estate brokerage CBRE says about 549,000 square feet of retail space was absorbed across those suburbs in the first half of 2012. The MesaChandler-Gilbert submarket saw the biggest jump in new stores.

Arkansas:

Ash Flat — About 5,000 people have signed petitions calling for a vote on a proposal to allow the sale of alcohol in Sharp Count. About 4,100 signatures of registered voters are needed to get the proposal on the ballot. Save Energy Reap Taxes members say they believe that allowing alcohol sales will benefit the economy.

California:

Fresno — Sewage sludge from dozens of Southern California cities will be heading to the San Joaquin Valley as part of the region’s latest mega-composting project. Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County — which serves 78 cities — has purchased about 4,500 acres of farmland in Kings County. Up to 500,000 tons a year of the waste will be trucked to the site, where it will be turned into compost.

Colorado:

Limon — The Colorado State Patrol said a 16-year-old boy from Sulphur, La., was driving a tractor-trailer that struck and killed two Texas women who were changing a tire on I-70 near Limon. A 37-year-old man who was with the teen initially claimed to have been driving.

Connecticut:

Old Saybrook — Police are investigating the death of a Middletown man while crabbing in Old Saybrook, but said it appears it was accidental. Emergency workers were notified Saturday that Donnie Perry, 51, had fallen into the Connecticut River. Police said Perry had been underwater for more than an hour.

Delaware:

New Castle — State Police said a man was killed early Sunday after he turned his car into the path of a tractor-trailer. Police said William Spencer, 37, of New Castle, was attempting to make a left turn when the tractor-trailer crashed into his car. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was not injured.

D.C.:

D.C. Superior Court Judge Herbert Dixon has signed an order exonerating a man who spent 22 years in prison for a 1981 rape and robbery he didn’t commit. Kirk Odom was cleared of the crime after new DNA testing. Odom completed his prison term in 2003, but the order frees him from having to register as a sex offender and allows him to seek compensation from the government.

Florida:

Miami — A Miami police officer shot and killed a knife-wielding man after police responded to a 911 call regarding a fight and a large crowd early Sunday. One man was suffering a stab wound. Police said an officer fatally shot Timmie Williams, 36, after he attempted to stab another person.

Georgia:

Augusta — St. Paul’s Episcopal Church called in master beekeeper Bill Owens to move a honeybee colony found in the historic parish house. Owens and an assistant removed the building’s siding around the colony and carefully collected the bees with a portable shop vacuum fitted with a wire basket inside instead of a dust bag. He relocated the bees.

Hawaii:

Lihue — A judge said a Hawaii attorney convicted of harassment is a “dirty old man” for licking a client’s ear. A former client of Lawrence McCreery, 64, testified that while discussing her child custody case last year, he licked the back of her ear. Per Diem Fifth Circuit District Court Judge Frank Rothschild ruled there’s no evidence the woman made up the story.

Idaho:

Idaho Falls — Officials at the Idaho National Laboratory say a final recommendation is being made to mandate that explosives arrive for inspection in non-peak hours. Auditors recommended the change because of the potential danger a single incident posed. INL spokesman Ethan Huffman said the facility has never had an incident with deliveries of explosives.

Illinois: Chicago — The city paid $18 million last year to 347 police officers on disability, including some who moved out of state, pursued college degrees and started new careers, according to a Chicago Sun-Times report. The newspaper found that some officers never return to their jobs because of devastating injuries, such as paralysis, but others avoid returning in order to sidestep desk work.

Indiana:

Fort Wayne — A 21-year-old man has been hospitalized in a burn unit after his home exploded Saturday. Caleb Hoffman was listed in critical condition Sunday with burns over 70% of his body, said another resident of the home, China White. Fort Wayne Fire Chief Amy Biggs said it wasn’t immediately clear what caused the explosion.

Iowa:

Fort Madison — Nick Ludwick, warden of a new Iowa prison, said the facility will be one of the nation’s most secure once the project is finished. The Iowa State Penitentiary will house more than 275 convicted killers. Work on the 800-bed facility is on pace to be completed in January.

Kansas:

Topeka — Shawnee County Commission candidate Bob Archer is offering a reward for the return of 250 campaign signs. The signs are worth about $1,000. The current Topeka City Council member noted in a statement that in many yards where his signs were stolen, signs for candidates in other races remained in place. Kentucky: Owensboro — A vision for an International Bluegrass Music Center is coming closer to reality. City commissioners say they favor a plan to contribute $3 million toward revamping a former state office building for the project — as long as the International Bluegrass Museum comes up with $7 million more. Louisiana: Bogalusa — Fall enrollment at Northside Tech is expected to double to nearly 400 students, forcing Bogalusa City Schools officials to order four modular buildings for the site, Superintendent Louise Smith said. The increase is being buoyed by the school board’s decision to open enrollment to all middle school students. Maine: Gray — The state-run Maine Wildlife Park is home to 30 different species but is seeing a lot more humans. Officials count 45,000-plus visitors so far this year, a 20% increase over last year. The park is a permanent home for injured, orphaned or abandoned animals, including bald eagles, black bears, bobcats and moose. Maryland: Annapolis — Democratic Gov. O’Malley is planning to meet with Prince George’s County, Montgomery County and Baltimore officials this week to talk about expanding gambling in the state. They are facing an Aug. 20 deadline to pass legislation to get a proposal on the fall ballot. Massachusetts: Boston — Federal agriculture officials are surveying about 350 state cranberry growers for this year’s official crop forecast. Massachusetts is the second-largest cranberry producer in the nation, behind Wisconsin. Bay State farmers produced about 2.3 million barrels in 2011. Michigan: Park Township — A weather buoy equipped with sensors to measure air and water temperature, wind speed and wave height will be launched into Lake Michigan today. The data will go to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids to improve forecasts, alert swimmers and boaters, and aid search-and-rescue operations. Minnesota: Madison Lake — Cynthia Frederick is gathering several hundred women to march in the community’s July 28 Paddlefish Days parade. The Mankato tanning salon owner envisions her World’s Largest Bikini Parade as a fundraiser for breast cancer prevention and raising public awareness of vitamin D benefits. Mississippi: Jackson — Three men are charged with stealing or possessing guns and other equipment taken from an FBI agent’s government car while it was parked in front of his house. Court records say Cameron Eatmon, 19, broke into the car in Hattiesburg on June 6 and took a submachine gun, an assault rifle and other equipment. The FBI said it has recovered everything. Missouri: Edgerton — Authorities said they are speaking with a person of interest in the disappearance of two sisters. The Platte County Sheriff’s De- partment said Sunday that authorities also have executed two search warrants. Britny Haarup, 19, and Ashley Key, 22, disappeared Friday from a home, leaving Haarup’s two young children alone. Their family said there was blood on the couch. Montana: Billings — The Indian Health Board of Billings has announced two new programs at its clinic that are intended to help two vulnerable populations. Starting Thursday, the clinic will offer free rapid HIV tests on a walk-in basis. Next week, the clinic plans to begin a campaign to help pregnant Native American teenagers. Nebraska: Omaha — Authorities said they collected 47 firearms, 900 pounds of ammunition and 800 pounds of fireworks during a weekend amnesty event. The Omaha Police Department reported that people also turned in two grenades and a Soviet-made semiautomatic rifle. Nevada: Reno — The Reno Air Racing Association remains about $1 million short of what it needs to cover its insurance premium, which jumped to $1.7 million this year after the Sept. 16 crash that killed pilot Jimmy Leeward and 10 people on the ground. Race director Mike Houghton said the remainder needs to be raised by Sept. 1, or the event will be canceled.

New Hampshire: Concord — James Bassett will be sworn in as the newest state Supreme Court justice on Thursday. Bassett, 55, specializes in complex litigation, legal ethics and First Amendment law. He succeeds senior justice James Duggan, who retired in January. New Jersey: Monroe Township — Three men face charges after they allegedly fired explosive devices at a neighbor’s home Saturday, setting it on fire. Middlesex County prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said Matthew Debski, 20, and brothers Johnathan and Michael Cavallo, ages 18 and 22, each face 21 counts, including arson and aggravated assault. No injuries were reported. New Mexico: Farmington — San Juan County authorities said two men were injured when the truck they were traveling in took a 200-foot plunge off a cliff into a river bank. The Farmington Daily Times reported that Jared Jacquez and driver Timothy Maes remain hospitalized. Authorities are investigating the crash. New York: Tahawus — A preservation group is restoring a 19th-century stone iron works at the headwaters of the Hudson River, as well as the nearby house where Teddy Roosevelt was staying before his dramatic midnight ride to the presidency. “This is the world’s best example of a 19th-century iron ore furnace,” said Katie Stone of the Open Space Institute. North Carolina: Buxton — Restrictions on beach driving along the Outer Banks are saving protected birds and turtles but putting local businesses on edge. The (Raleigh) News & Observer reports that the rules that took effect in February ban off-road vehicles from miles of beaches. Beach drivers argue that most of the beaches are hard to reach on foot and are fighting restrictions with lawsuits and legislation. North Dakota: Fargo — Nearly 2,000 fans braved 90-degree heat Saturday for the reopening of the North Dakota Horse Park, the Forum reports. Races at the state-sponsored track were put on hold after the track’s seventh season in 2009 because of financial problems. Ohio: Cleveland — A bug specialist is organizing a praying mantis collection from coast to coast to kick off a groundbreaking research project. Gavin Svenson with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History tells The Plain Dealer that the collection is coming from museums around the country. Oklahoma: Tulsa — Two men died after being shot at a Best Buy on Saturday afternoon. Police Sgt. Mike Williams said Scott Norman, 34, was shot eight times near the store’s entrance, and police believe the shooting was gang-related. Graydon Brown, 58, who was inside the store, was struck by an errant bullet, Williams said. Police said there have been no arrests. Oregon: Vale — Fire officials returned Sunday to fighting the Bonita Complex Fire in Malheur County after lightning knocked out communications Saturday. The 28-square-mile fire was 75% contained as of Sunday morning. The Long Draw Fire, the state’s largest wildfire, had grown to more than 937square miles and was 80% contained. Pennsylvania: Philadelphia — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia said a priest involved in online money-making promotions and suspended after federal agents seized a computer from his rectory has been barred from public ministry. The Rev. Geraldo Pinero, who called himself “Jerry from Philly” online, is also prohibited from wearing clerical garb. Rhode Island: Providence — Thirtyseven people have filed to run for the General Assembly in this fall’s elections as independents. The number is higher than in past elections and underscores a trend in this traditionally Democratic state, where unaffiliated voters now outnumber registered Democrats and Republicans. South Carolina: West Ashley — One man is dead and another clinging to life after a Sunday argument escalated into a gunbattle at a Waffle House. The Post and Courier of Charleston reports that a gunman outside the restaurant traded shots with people inside. The shooting is under investigation. South Dakota: Rapid City — City schools will begin dismissing students early on Wednesdays to give teachers extra time to work one-on-one with students and plan their curriculum. Superintendent Tim Mitchell tells KOTA television that the model has proven successful elsewhere. Tennessee: Bean Station — State officials have given a marina where two boys died after apparently being electrocuted 30 days to correct issues with its electrical system. The action comes after Noah Winstead, 10, died July 4 and his 11-year-old friend, Nate Lyman, died the next day. Authorities have said both boys were shocked while swimming near two houseboats at the German Creek Marina. Texas: Austin — Ten people were injured after a deck at an Austin home collapsed during a party Saturday evening. About 20 people fell 18 feet into a canyon hillside below. Fire department spokesman Palmer Buck said most of the injuries were minor. City building inspectors are investigating the cause of the collapse. Utah: Logan — A St. George man remains behind bars after police in Logan charged him with his third DUI in three days. Assistant Police Chief Jeff Curtis said Daniel Kropf, 41, was arrested most recently July 10. Vermont: Burlington — The University of Vermont is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the winning of an Olympic gold medal by the alumnus for whom the school’s hockey rink house is named. UVM track and field standout Albert Gutterson of the class of 1912 took first in the broad jump at the Stockholm Games in 1912. Virginia: Williamsburg — Colonial Williamsburg has purchased two antique chairs used in the Colonial Capitol prior to the American Revolution. Officials say the back stools are likely from a set of 12 ordered from England about 1750. Washington: Patterson — A mudslide has closed 66 miles of State Route 14 along the Columbia River in Klickitat and Benton counties. The Yakima Herald-Republic reports the mudslide was caused by heavy rains Saturday night. West Virginia: Institute — About 100 high school students from across the state are participating in a weeklong crime-solving camp at West Virginia State University that started Sunday. Participants will view a mock murder scene, interview suspects and search for clues. Wisconsin: Madison — Democrats plan to officially take control of the state Senate on Tuesday after a recall victory handed them a one-seat majority. Democrat John Lehman ousted Republican Sen. Van Wanggaard in Racine County in the June 5 election. Wyoming: Casper — The Farm Service Agency announced that farmers and ranchers in Albany and Laramie counties are eligible for federal disaster assistance for losses stemming from wildfires in nearby northern Colorado. U.S. territory: Guam — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will meet with Guam dignitaries and law enforcement during a brief visit today. The Pacific Daily News says Holder is the first attorney general to visit the island.