50 States
ALABAMA Montgomery: Twelve sets of twins walk the halls this year at Peter Crump Elementary School, a “highly unusual” number that spurred the Crump PTA to do something special for them. On Thursday night, eight of the 12 pairs were able to ride the city’s historic Rosa Parks bus and to see the Harlem Globetrotters play at Garrett Coliseum.
ALASKA Juneau: Another mass of warmer-than-normal water is slowly re-emerging in the Gulf of Alaska, scientists say. The new “blob” could affect weather and fisheries.
ARIZONA Mesa: Families in the Valley have to be a bit more creative when it comes to Christmas trees. Firs and pines are hard to find in the desert, so one Mesa family improvised with what Arizona could give them: dead cactuses. It took the Lancasters four years, but their “Phoenix Christmas tree” – made entirely from Cholla cactus skeletons – is complete.
ARKANSAS Little Rock: Agriculture experts say Arkansas soybean farmers have lost at least $77 million this year after heavy rainfall interrupted harvest season and damaged crops.
CALIFORNIA Palm Springs: Kyuss might be the most significant rock band ever to come out of the desert. But they broke up more than 20 years ago, so an opportunity to hear their music live is noteworthy. Members John Garcia and Nick Oliveri are playing the intimate Palm Canyon Roadhouse on Saturday and Sunday.
COLORADO Fort Collins: Wednesday is Winter Bike to Work Day, and – just in time – the final section of the Fossil Creek Trail opened Monday, completing the “missing link” in the city’s trail system.
CONNECTICUT Norwich: Travis Grillo developed a pickle business based on a family recipe. Over the past decade, it has grown into a thriving national brand. Now, Grillo’s Pickles is making another significant move: It’s available in Target stores.
DELAWARE Dover: The lineup for the Firefly summer music festival next June was announced Monday, topped with headliners Panic! At The Disco, Travis Scott and Post Malone.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washing
ton: Melania Trump sorted toys and made Christmas cards Tuesday for an annual Toys for Tots drive held by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
FLORIDA Key Largo: Over 400 marine scientists and specialists are gathered in the Florida Keys to compare notes and examine solutions to preserve coral reefs around the world. Reef Futures 2018 began Monday and will run through Friday.
GEORGIA Crawfordville: A poultry producer is expanding with a new facility planned for the state’s smallest county. Harrison Poultry Inc. recently began construction on a $70 million feed mill and hatchery in Taliaferro County, population 1,700.
HAWAII Honolulu: The 2016 Disney film “Moana” re-recorded in the Hawaiian language will be given to every accredited school in the state.
IDAHO Gooding: The Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind put in a request two years ago to the state’s Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council seeking money for security upgrades on campus, plus remodels to the cottages where about half the student body lives, The Times-News reports. It has been approved.
ILLINOIS Chicago: At least he fessed up. A former personal injury lawyer who created a cape-wearing character to drum up business has pleaded guilty to keeping settlements he’d reached secret from clients and keeping the money for himself. Jordan Margolis advertised his services by donning a shiny blue bodysuit, orange skullcap and cape, and purple bandit mask. Calling himself “Excuseman,” he skewered people who “mess up and don’t fess up.”
INDIANA Avon: Bumper cars are a real riot skidding across the ice. The Avon Ice Rink in Washington Township Park is offering bumper-car battles for the first time this year.
IOWA Altoona: Thrill-seekers have a new roller coaster to look forward to at Adventureland Park. A spinning coaster called “The Phoenix” will open in June.
KANSAS Topeka: A divided Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that police can rely exclusively on their sense of smell to provide probable cause to make a preliminary search of a home for drugs.
KENTUCKY Louisville: A controversial statue of George Dennison Prentice, an anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic figure, was removed Tuesday from the grounds of the Louisville Free Public Library.
LOUISIANA Lafayette: “The Creole Nutcracker” was unveiled Sunday at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The production highlights many dance styles and cultural influences, including zydeco.
MAINE Portland: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says it wants to cut the annual catch limit for herring next year.
MARYLAND Sharpsburg: History buffs will soon have to dig deeper into their pockets to visit the Antietam National Battlefield. National Park Service officials are increasing entrance fees Jan. 1.
MASSACHUSETTS Salem: At long last, you can do all your witchcraftand weed-related shopping in the same town. The state’s third retail marijuana shop is set to open in Salem as soon as this weekend.
MICHIGAN Grand Rapids: Signature French fries are getting a name change at gastropub Hopcat’s 17 locations. “While the name Crack Fries was intended to be tongue-incheek, drug addiction is not a joke,” says Mark Gray, CEO of BarFly Ventures, HopCat’s parent company.
tailed MINNESOTA hawk spotted Minneapolis: with an A arrow redlodged despite in efforts one of to its save legs its has life. died
rammed MISSISSIPPI vehicles Gulfport: because A man he who thought was sentenced zombies to were 15 years chasing in prison. him
asking MISSOURI the Lebanon: city to comply A resident with a is 1999 statute and change a street name back to Route 66.
MONTANA Billings: State wildlife commissioners adopted a grizzly bear conservation plan that would maintain the largest population of the bruins in the Lower 48 at roughly current numbers even if the species loses federal protections.
NEBRASKA Lincoln: The Pioneers Park Nature Center is arranging trips next year for people to view sandhill cranes, greater prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse.
NEVADA Reno: As winter settles over Reno, most LimeBikes are going to hibernate. The bike-share company plans to pull about 700 bikes off Reno-Sparks streets.
NEW HAMPSHIRE Moultonborough: A group that looks out for loons in the state is asking the public to watch out for those in danger of becoming trapped as lakes freeze.
NEW JERSEY Monmouth Beach: In 2004, Paige Woodie, 12, found $3 on the street and, being the ultimate Girl Scout, turned the money over to the police. Fourteen years later, the police have given it back to her.
NEW MEXICO Belen: The mayor says he will donate a year of his salary to help open a museum in town dedicated to a feminist artist. KRQE-TV reports Jerah Cordova announced he would give about $10,000 toward an effort to erect a museum celebrating Judy Chicago.
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RHODE ISLAND Cranston: The school system has hired a collection agency to chase down unpaid lunch tabs.
SOUTH CAROLINA Greenville: Relentless Church recently gave permission for people there to take what they need from the offering baskets.
SOUTH DAKOTA Rapid City: City officials will consider writing off more than $1.7 million worth of unpaid ambulance bills.
TENNESSEE Nashville: A Metro councilwoman has proposed renaming the Nashville International Airport after Oprah Winfrey, who got her start in television in Music City.
TEXAS Houston: A three-story house built in 1927 and long rumored to have been home to actor Clark Gable has been demolished.
VERMONT Montpelier: A new federal farm bill ensures maple syrup and honey producers won’t have to label pure products as containing added sugars, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had once proposed.
VIRGINIA Newport News: Students at Christopher Newport University are pushing the school’s leaders to provide free menstrual products.
WASHINGTON Olympia: A judge has halted plans for Olympia’s first citysanctioned homeless camp – but the dozens of campers already there can stay, at least for now.
WEST VIRGINIA Charleston: A state audit says West Virginia’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management didn’t comply with federal regulations, forcing localities to pay for disaster relief.
WISCONSIN Kenosha: The comet streaking past Earth this week and next has a Wisconsin connection. Named after Carl Wirtanen, the Kenosha astronomer who first glimpsed it, Comet 46P/Wirtanen is the brightest comet seen on Earth this year.
WYOMING Yellowstone National Park: Steamboat Geyser has erupted for the 30th time this year, a record.