Drugs in socks, Taco John’s, Captain Marvel: News from around our 50 states

From staff and wire reports

LGBTQ members of Native community powwow in Arizona, symphony musicians on strike in Illinois, and more

Beauregard
After tornadoes swept through the state, killing 23 people, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians reached out to see how they could help. After talking to Lee County Coroner Bill Harris, they agreed to donate $50,000 to help with the funerals. Then they called back. They wanted to know how much it would cost to cover funerals for all 23 victims. “I gave them a figure and they graciously made it happen,” Harris said in a statement. In the end, the Poarch Band agreed to donate $184,000. Harris said that money will be deposited with the East Alabama Medical Center Foundation to be dispersed to the funeral homes. “I am so thankful for them to step up in this manner and help the families of this tragedy,” he said. The tribe regularly donates to community causes.

Anchorage
Pet licenses in the city can now come with digital codes aimed at more rapidly reuniting lost pets with owners and freeing up shelter space, officials say. The Anchorage Animal Care and Control Center started offering digital pet licenses this year. A company called Pethub produces the tags, which come with a digital quick response code, or QR code. Scanning the tag with a smartphone pulls up a webpage with a profile for the pet, which can include multiple contact numbers, health information and eating preferences. Shelter communications director Laura Atwood’s husky, Whisper, has a digital tag and a page. The page lists five phone numbers, along with Whisper’s birthday, his microchip ID and a physical description that includes a notch missing from his tongue. “He is not food motivated so coaxing him with food may not work unless it’s real chicken or turkey,” the page says. “Or pizza.”

Phoenix
The state’s first Two Spirit Powwow was held over the weekend at South Mountain Community College, highlighting the traditional acceptance by Native American cultures of what is now commonly called the LGBTQ community. John Sneezy, who grew up on the San Carlos Apache reservation, says he’s traveled out of state to participate in other two spirit powwows and came to the Arizona dance “because so many other people left this earth who could not dance, who could not express themselves.” He wore a blue cloth dress with rainbow-colored ribbon trim for the event, hosted by Native PFLAG, South Mountain Community College and the Phoenix Pride Grants Program. About 30 dancers participated. Hundreds showed up to see the powwow, including families, elders and youth from various Native communities.

Gentry
The Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari in northwestern Arkansas has agreed to pay a $75,000 fine so it can reopen following a U.S. Department of Agriculture complaint that it violated the Animal Welfare Act. The law regulates the treatment of animals in research and exhibition. The USDA filed the complaint in January 2017 accusing the safari in Gentry of violating regulations from 2012 to 2016. It alleges the safari failed to provide sufficient veterinarian care and kept animals in dirty or otherwise insufficient conditions. The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports the department subsequently suspended the 400-acre safari’s Animal Welfare Act license for 60 days beginning Jan. 1. The safari’s manager says it has passed the required inspections, and the facility should reopen this weekend.

Los Angeles
Even in a state full of perfect vacation spots, American workers don’t seem to be taking the time off they’re due. An analysis has found an increasing number of California state workers are retiring with massive payouts for unused vacation and other leave. The Los Angeles Times reports that its review shows the state paid employees nearly $300 million for banked time off last year. And, as of 2017, state workers had $3.5 billion in unused leave. Vacation balances for most employees are supposed to be capped at 640 hours. But the analysis found that sporadic enforcement and an increase in retirements have led to a 60 percent rise in the number of six-figure payouts since 2012. The data do not include legislative employees or institutions such as public universities, meaning the cost is higher.

Broomfield
Frustrated residents of this Denver suburb say state law is forcing them to participate in an oil and gas drilling project against their wishes, so they’ve launched legal challenges with potentially significant consequences for the industry. They have a chance this week to ask state regulators to block multiple wells planned near homes in Broomfield. A group called the Wildgrass Oil and Gas Committee says the wells are dangerously close to their homes, although they would be beyond the setback required by state regulators. They also argue that state laws are forcing residents who own the mineral rights under their property to lease or sell them through a process called forced pooling. They’ve asked a judge to rule the law unconstitutional.

Mystic
The Mystic Seaport Museum says it is working toward eliminating all single-use plastics on its site including utensils, straws and plastic bags. The maritime museum on the Mystic River says it is working on the initiative with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in Maryland. Museum President Steve White says both museums have heightened responsibility to be stewards of the environment because they are located on estuaries. The Connecticut museum already has made several changes including switching to-go containers from plastic or foam to paper and using wooden utensils at catered events. The museum in Mystic was founded in 1929 and houses a collection of more than 2 million artifacts, including more than 500 vessels.

Bethany Beach
The town is looking for solutions to wetland erosion in its Loop Canal, which officials say will likely require dredging and added bulkheads. The possible project, which the town has yet to finalize, would tackle wetland erosion that has built up sediment at the bottom of the canal. “It’s a project of conservation,” says Bethany Beach’s assistant town manager, John Apple. “This is for the public to access the waterways and to conserve our natural habitats and wetlands.” Residents and visitors use the area for small boats, but officials warn that continued buildup could create an unnavigable waterway. Deposited sediment from wetland erosion has caused parts of the area to become too shallow, officials say. They hope to dredge the canal to continue its recreational use.

Washington
The mayor and city council have been subpoenaed as part of a federal investigation into a councilman who used his position to solicit business from lobbyists. News outlets report the investigation focuses on Councilman Jack Evans and legislation he promoted in 2016 that would’ve benefited a digital sign company. The council’s legal team ordered it to save records related to proposed digital sign legislation and communications related to several companies and individuals. The office of Mayor Muriel Bowser was asked to give the FBI similar documents. Email records show Evans also has pitched himself to lobbying firms, arguing they should employ him because of his relationships and influence as the District of Columbia’s longest-serving lawmaker and area transit board chair.

Orlando
The state’s orange crop is holding steady, while the grapefruit crop dipped month to month. Recently released new estimates show that Florida’s orange crop for the 2018-2019 season remained unchanged from the previous month at 77 million boxes. Estimates for Florida’s grapefruit crop dipped by 600,000 boxes to an estimated 5.4 million boxes for the season. Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus, says the drop in the number of estimated grapefruit boxes reflects the ongoing impact of Hurricane Irma from 2017 on Florida’s signature crops. The hurricane was blamed for a significant dip in crops last season, when Florida produced only 44.9 million boxes of oranges and 3.8 million boxes of grapefruit.

Augusta
One of the state’s medical schools hopes to embark on a plan that could put dozens of new doctors in rural regions. The Augusta Chronicle reports that Medical College of Georgia wants a program that would help pay tuition for doctors who serve in rural areas, where there’s a need for more physicians. Under the proposal, the Augusta institution would also expand by 50 students and shorten medical school to three years. Medical College of Georgia Dean David Hess called the initiative “the biggest thing we’ve done since 1828,” the year the school was founded. School leaders have taken the idea to some state lawmakers and hope legislation allowing the changes could be passed either this legislative session or the next one.

Honolulu
State officials say it will be at least another five months before an Oahu highway is fixed and reopened following a landslide last month. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that repairs to the Honolulu-bound side of the Pali Highway, a critical route between Honolulu and the windward side of the island, are expected to be completed in August. Ed Sniffen, deputy director of the state Highways Division, says crews are installing a mesh barrier on the slope above the highway to catch falling debris. Workers will also extend a tunnel about 80 feet to shield motorists from rocks that make it past the barrier. Some commuters can still access the route during morning and afternoon rush hours. The entire highway is closed the rest of the day and all weekend.

Nampa
Four brothers who grew up in this community are building a youth sports complex in their hometown. The Idaho Statesman reports the $3 million center in Nampa, to be called Mettle Sports, will open later this year. The Keller brothers say it will grow a greater sense of community and unity. Klint and Kim Keller own dental offices in Nampa. Troy Keller is an attorney in Salt Lake City. Brett Keller is CEO of Priceline.com. Three of the four brothers spoke Friday at a groundbreaking ceremony. The 33,000-square-foot complex will feature four full-sized basketball courts, a dance studio, and a speed and agility center. Mettle Sports will be the new home of Crash the Boards Basketball Tournaments, which host 24 weekend tournaments each year.

Chicago
Striking musicians at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra are grabbing picket signs instead of piccolos after a lack of progress in contract talks. The musicians picketed Monday in front of Orchestra Hall, a day after announcing they were going on strike. They say management is trying to reduce their pension benefits after nearly a year of negotiations. The previous contract expired last September and had been extended to last weekend. Jeff Alexander, president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, says management is disappointed by the strike. The orchestra says in a statement that musicians are making demands that are “unreasonable and detrimental.” The orchestra acknowledges that retirement benefits are at the center of the dispute. The average annual salary is $187,000.

Bunker Hill
Grissom Air Reserve Base is ramping up efforts to recruit pilots as a national shortage has military and commercial airlines struggling to fill positions. Col. Brian Hollis, the 434th Operations Group commander at the Air Force base, tells The Kokomo Tribune officials seek to increase combat pilots by 20 percent. While not specifying how many pilots the base wants to recruit, Hollis says they would fly planes that are mainly used on refueling missions. A study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office released in June says the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard have seen major staffing issues since 2013. Hollis says the Grissom is doing better than most military units, but pilots still have more work and more deployments.

Des Moines
Drivers, rejoice. The city will triple its pothole-repair efforts this week after receiving more than 1,000 complaints about roads in the past month. Jonathan Gano, the city’s Public Works Department director, says the excess winter weather combined with the already poor condition of some streets has led to a “plague” of potholes. “This remarkable winter has done a remarkable amount of damage to our streets,” he says. Potholes form when water makes its way into cracks in the streets – then expands when it freezes. A moving vehicle can then dislodge the chunk of pavement. This particular winter – with excess precipitation and temperatures fluctuating above and below freezing – has coupled with Des Moines’ already old roads to wreak havoc.

Topeka
Members of the state’s delegation to Congress say former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole should be promoted from captain to colonel in the Army. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the U.S. Senate last week passed legislation that would promote the 95-year-old Dole, who was badly wounded in World War II. Sen. Pat Roberts, Sen. Jerry Moran and Rep. Roger Marshall are promoting the honor in Congress. Dole says he’s humbled that the Kansas delegation is trying to honor him. He says the legislation is an honor he shares with many others who fought in the Army, especially those who died in World War II. Dole was an infantry lieutenant in 1945 when he was wounded by German machine gun fire, which left him with limited mobility in his right arm.

Owensboro
Crews have begun installing signs that say Interstate 165 along the Natcher Parkway in western Kentucky. The Messenger-Inquirer reports that means 72 miles of the four-lane highway between Owensboro and Bowling Green is now an interstate, even though upgrades are continuing. Crews started posting signs last week, and officials say it will take about two weeks to finish. The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce has been pushing for the designation since December 2004. Chamber President Candance Brake says the interstate will “create boundless economic opportunities and tourism opportunities” for the area. The organization has argued that out-of-state business and industry doesn’t understand how similar parkways are to interstates.

Baton Rouge
Researchers are getting $1 million for research on a plant that helps hold wetlands in place. The LSU AgCenter says the money will go to study roseau cane and threats that include rising water and an insect called the roseau cane scale. LSU AgCenter entomologist Rodrigo Diaz says in a news release that by understanding how stresses affect the cane, researchers hope to develop restoration plans tailored to specific regions in the delta. Diaz and other AgCenter researchers have found that roseau cane health varies around the delta. They think one reason could be that some varieties are resistant to the cane scale. The money is in the federal appropriations bill passed in February.

Rockport
The state’s scallop harvest declined by about a third in 2018, marking the first time in several years that the valuable fishery has taken a step back. The Pine Tree State’s scallop harvest is a drop in the bucket within the worldwide scallop industry, but the state’s scallops are prized in the seafood world because of their size and value. Maine scallops are also a conservation success story, as the industry declined to less than 34,000 pounds of meat before conservative management brought it back to good health. State data say the harvest fell from more than 800,000 pounds to less than 564,000 pounds from 2017 to 2018. But officials say they aren’t worried. The state uses a rotational system to control the harvest, and regulators entered last season expecting a drop.

Salisbury
An investigation that found more than 20 percent of tested seafood is mislabeled in the United States found an even higher number in the Delmarva peninsula. The investigation by Oceana found more than 30 percent of tested seafood from the peninsula was mislabeled. The international ocean conservation advocacy group says eight of 26 seafood samples from Delmarva were mislabeled. It was found in restaurants, groceries and markets in Ocean City, Maryland; Lewes, Delaware; and Onancock, Virginia. Examples include Alaska plaice sold as summer flounder and channel catfish as Chesapeake Bay catfish. Oceana doesn’t identify the specific places where it bought the seafood.

Boston
After falling short last year, supporters of rolling back a rule denying welfare benefits to children born into Massachusetts families already receiving public assistance are hoping for a victory in the new legislative session. The state Senate on Thursday approved a spending bill that includes language repealing the rule often called the “family cap,” or “cap on kids.” Many Democrats have long decried it as an outdated and unjust measure that hurts thousands of low-income children. The language must still be adopted by the House before it goes to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker (above), who killed the measure with a pocket veto last year but says he supports the concept of lifting the cap. Baker has, however, insisted on pairing the cap’s elimination with other welfare reforms.

Detroit
The Detroit Land Bank Authority has demolished a log cabin just outside the city that archaeologists recently discovered and believe may have been built before the Civil War. The Detroit News reports that the authority tore down the cabin in Hamtramck on Feb. 22. Greg Kowalski (above), chairman of the Hamtramck Historical Museum, says he’d hoped to relocate the cabin to a park in front of City Hall. He says the piece of history was “treated like a piece of garbage.” Land bank spokeswoman Alyssa Strickland says the authority was following procedure. She says the preservationists’ plans for the cabin were incomplete, and the authority was protecting taxpayer investments. Strickland says the property could’ve been removed from the demolition list if preservationists had reached out sooner.

St. Paul
The latest survey finds the moose population in northeastern Minnesota remains low but stable for the eighth consecutive year. The Department of Natural Resources released results of the 2019 moose survey Monday. The results estimate northeastern Minnesota’s moose population at 4,180, statistically unchanged from the 2018 estimate of 3,030. DNR moose project leader Glenn DelGiudice says officials are encouraged that the moose population is not in the steep decline it was. He says while moose likely will keep being seen in northeastern Minnesota in the short to medium term, their long-term survival in the state remains uncertain. The last significant decline in the moose population happened between 2009 and 2012.

Tupelo
Friends and relatives of inmates in a northeast Mississippi jail can no longer bring them clothing after drugs were found hidden in some clothes. Local news outlets report Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson changed the policy after finding narcotics sewn into socks. Officials are charging a woman, Emily Yingling, 22, of Blue Springs, with introducing contraband into a jail. Two inmates also face charges: James Eaton, 27, of Saltillo, and Randell Button, 38, of Blue Springs. It’s unclear if any of the three has a lawyer. Johnson says inmates now must buy underwear, socks and T-shirts from the commissary. The sheriff says the jail previously allowed people to bring Bibles to inmates but stopped that, too, after finding a weapon hidden in one and cocaine sewn into another.

St. Louis
The state plans to license more than 300 medical marijuana-related businesses this year, and if that’s not enough, the program director says more will be approved. Missouri medical marijuana program director Lyndall Fraker told the hundreds of people attending a St. Louis conference Monday that the state will do what’s necessary to meet patient demand. Many of those at the conference are among the 450 potential licensees who have already applied to grow, manufacture, dispense or test medical marijuana. Voters in November overwhelmingly approved a state constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana and marijuana-infused products for patients who suffer from serious illnesses. Missouri is now among 33 states approving medical marijuana.

Helena
The state Department of Environmental Quality has issued an environmental analysis of a proposed copper mine that says the $250 million project won’t harm the Smith River but requires additional steps by the developer to prevent harm to water resources. The Black Butte Copper Mine is planned 17 miles north of White Sulphur Springs in Meagher County near the 34-mile Sheep Creek, 19 river miles above its confluence with the Smith River. Conservation and angling groups have organized a campaign against the project arguing it’s a threat to pollute the Smith River, one of the state’s most popular recreation destinations. The river, a blue-ribbon trout fishery, is so popular with boaters that it is the only river where a permit is required for a three- or four-day float.

Kearney
The lingering snow and bitter winter in the state have put a damper on the annual sandhill crane migration this year. March is typically the prime time to see the roughly 500,000 sandhill cranes that stop along the Platte River as part of their annual migration. But this year the crane numbers have been much lower because of the tough conditions. Andrew Caven with the Crane Trust nature center tells the Omaha World-Herald the number of migrating birds may not take off until sometime between mid-March and mid-April. But once it begins, the cranes may gather in impressive numbers. Every year, about 80 percent of the world’s sandhill crane population visits Nebraska to forage for food before continuing north to their breeding grounds.

Reno
Getting pizza, Slurpees or even life-saving defibrillators by drone just got one step closer. Reno-based drone delivery startup Flirtey says it has received federal approval for its pilots to fly drones beyond their visual line of sight. CEO Matt Sweeny calls the development “a game changer” for the company. Prior to the approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, Flirtey pilots were required to maintain visual contact with drones at all times, limiting the range they could travel during test flights. Sweeny credits Flirtey’s inclusion in the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program last year for the approval. As part of its application, Flirtey proposed a pilot program to deliver automated external defibrillators by air in partnership with ambulance provider Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority. The city of Reno was a partner in the project as well.

Bretton Woods
The Mount Washington Cog Railway is celebrating 150 years of operation this year. The Cog kicked off its season with a tour of Peppersass, a special 153-year-old train, over the weekend in Philadelphia. The 4-ton train has been completely restored, painted in the same bright colors as it was at the turn of the 20th century. It was retired in 1929. The Cog Railway begins rides April 6. A 150th anniversary gala is planned for June 22. Festivities for the railway’s July 3 birthday will include Victorian lawn games and fireworks. A Railway to the Moon festival is set for Aug. 17-18. Every 150th rider on the railway will pay the same ticket rate as in 1869, the year it opened: $3.

Clifton
Brie Larson, the star of “Captain Marvel,” made a surprise appearance at a local movie theater Saturday, stunning fans who had come out to see the latest blockbuster film in the Marvel franchise. Social media posts show Larson dressed in a Captain Marvel sweatsuit walking around the AMC theater in Clifton Commons to greet the crowd on her film’s opening weekend. “I just heard I was on the cups of popcorn, and I wanted to see for myself,” she said to a theater full of screaming fans. Larson appeared to go unnoticed at least for part of her time at the movie theater as she walked around the hallways and lobby. But fans eventually took notice. Larson went behind the concession counter to hand out popcorn and posed for pictures.

Santa Fe
A proposal to legalize the sale and consumption of recreational marijuana through state-run stores is advancing in the Legislature. A Senate panel on Saturday endorsed the House-approved bill that would allow possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana for recreational use by people 21 and over, while applying taxes of up to 17 percent on sales. Bill supporters include advocacy groups for criminal justice reform including defense attorneys and the ACLU. Businesses associations and medical marijuana businesses are worried about state involvement in sales and a potential plunge in marijuana prices. Bipartisan sponsors say their bill establishes a tightly regulated marijuana market that guards against childhood use and helps identify impaired drivers.

New York
There’ll be no mystery meat – or any other meat – on Mondays at the city’s public schools. The Big Apple is expanding its “Meatless Mondays” program in the fall. The initiative will provide the system’s million students with all-vegetarian breakfast and lunch menus every Monday. Advocates say it promotes healthy, environmentally friendly meal options. A pilot program started in 15 Brooklyn schools last spring. The city says the expansion will be cost-neutral. School nutrition experts will get students’ feedback before the menus are finalized. In January, New York City started promoting “Meatless Mondays” options at its 11 public health system hospitals. The program also encourages patients to continue the practice after their discharge.

Greensboro
A legislator has filed a bill that would allow breweries with taprooms to determine whether they’ll allow dogs inside their businesses. The News & Record reports Rep. Jon Hardister of Guilford County is co-sponsoring the legislation that changes state health laws to allow breweries that have taprooms to allow pets in their tasting rooms. State law already gives that choice to wineries. County health inspectors recently determined that a Greensboro brewery called Joymongers was violating law by allowing pets inside their business. Hardister says he worked with the Guilford County Health Department, state health officials and the Craft Brewers Guild to write the bill. He says a taproom that doesn’t prepare foods shouldn’t have to meet the same standards as a restaurant.

Bismarck
The state’s Senate doesn’t believe the aesthetics of a sports car are ruined by a front license plate. The Senate killed a House bill 30-15 on Monday that would have exempted such vehicles from displaying a front license plate. The bill defines a “sports car” as an “aerodynamically designed motor vehicle built to seat no more than two individuals.” Proponents say that some sports cars aren’t designed for a front license plate. They argue North Dakota should join the approximately 20 other states don’t require them.

Columbus
Student employees at Ohio Dominican University’s Computer Helpdesk are putting away the electronics to knit hats and scarves they plan to hand out to homeless men and women. Their goal is to have 500 items to donate by Thanksgiving and Christmas. They may work in technology, but whenever they have some downtime, the student employees happily put away the electronics. Instead of idly scrolling through their phones in between service calls, they pick up a round loom and some yarn and start knitting. “You’re not just playing on your phone,” says Lorelei Theve, a freshman marketing and public relations major at the small Catholic university on the Northeast Side. “You’re actually making something.” Already they have about 80 hats, scarves and other warm items of various hues and patterns.

Norman
A judge has denied a request by 13 pharmaceutical companies to delay the state’s lawsuit accusing them of fraudulently marketing drugs that have fueled the opioid crisis. The Oklahoman reports that Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman rejected the motion Friday and says that “the wheels of justice will continue to turn unimpeded,” with a trial to start May 28. Attorneys for the drug companies say they need more time to prepare and may appeal to the state Supreme Court. Purdue Pharma spokesman Bob Josephson told the newspaper all options are being considered, but no decision has been made. State Attorney General Mike Hunter praised the ruling and says it “keeps the case on track.”

Brooks
Electricity produced by burning garbage at the Covanta Marion incinerator would be considered renewable energy under a bill in the Legislature. Senate Bill 451 would allow the Brooks incinerator to be certified under Oregon’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, which requires 50 percent of the electricity Oregonians use to come from renewable sources by 2040. That means the incinerator could earn credits for producing renewable energy, which it could then sell to other energy companies needing to offset fossil fuel production. But opponents are gearing up for a fight, saying the garbage, much of which is plastic, is not a renewable resource. “In no sense is Covanta Marion either clean or renewable,” leaders of the climate action group 350 Salem wrote to lawmakers.

Hampden Township
Visiting an incarcerated parent can be an uneasy situation for a kid. In an attempt to make that experience less straining, Chad Lassiter, executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Committee, suggested that arts and crafts be incorporated into visiting rooms, according to a news release. As a result, every Department of Corrections state prison has supplies available for inmates when their children come to visit. From coloring books to markers, all inmates will be able to interact with their children. The materials will be stored in a secure location, and a visiting room officer will monitor the use of the supplies during visitation. Incarcerated parents will be able to take the craft to their cell right after visitation.

Providence
A state task force to support the fishing industry has been re-established. Democratic state Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said Friday that he re-established the Senate Task Force on Fisheries, and Democratic Sen. Susan Sosnowski will lead it. Sosnowski, of South Kingstown, says the task force in its previous iteration was effective at addressing barriers and assisting the local industry. She says reconstituting it will help support the industry as its members navigate complex regulations. The task force is charged with tracking the status and trends of the state’s fishing industries, understanding the legal and regulatory mandates imposed on industry, and proposing legislative and regulatory recommendations. It also will provide a forum for the fishing community to discuss ideas and challenges.

Greenville
The state Forestry Commission is encouraging people who own vacant, wooded land to cut down every Bradford pear tree on their property, while asking folks in town to stop planting the prolific pear trees in yards. Bradford pear trees are growing like weeds, spreading into forests and crowding out native trees in some places, the commission says. When these trees grow in natural forests, they create dense thickets, replete with sharp thorns, that make walking through the woods difficult. The thorns are so sharp and sturdy that they can puncture tractor tires. More importantly, Bradford pears threaten native species and the quality of wood that might be harvested for paper and wood production, according to the Forestry Commission.

Pierre
The Legislature is sending a bill legalizing industrial hemp to Gov. Kristi Noem for a decision after she has spent weeks telling the Legislature to hold off on the bill. The House concurred in a 58-8 vote on the Senate’s amendments added to House Bill 1191, which would legalize industrial hemp and its products. Noem now has five days to decide whether to sign or veto the bill. Although she has opposed legalizing industrial hemp this year, she hasn’t specified whether she’ll veto the bill. The Senate amended the industrial hemp bill last week to include most of an amendment proposed by Noem. However, the Legislature left the legalization of CBD oil in the bill because it’s legal in the 2018 Farm Bill, says bill sponsor Rep. Oren Lesmeister, D-Parade.

Nashville
The state veterinarian is warning horse owners to take precautions after the equine influenza virus was diagnosed in several horses returning from out-of-state events. According to the state Agriculture Department, equine influenza is highly contagious. The virus is spread by contaminated stable equipment and infected, coughing horses. Interim State Veterinarian Doug Balthaser says in news release that “it is much easier for horse owners to take preventive measures than to provide treatment.” Balthaser recommends maintaining good hygiene with stable equipment and vaccinating horses. He also recommends isolating newly introduced horses or those returning from events for two weeks. Sick horses cannot directly infect people with equine influenza.

Austin
A racial profiling report released by city police shows that black and Hispanic drivers pulled over in traffic stops were more than twice as likely to be searched as their white counterparts. The report, reflecting data for 2018, shows officers searched 6 percent of white drivers but 17 percent of black motorists and 14 percent of Hispanic ones. The report says black and Hispanic drivers were only slightly more likely to have contraband than white motorists. The Austin American-Statesman reports that the figures are similar to those recorded in previous years.

Salt Lake City
A bill that calls for the state’s required high school financial and economic literacy course to include units on socialism and communism has won final passage in the state Senate. The Deseret News reports the bill passed Friday after its Senate floor sponsor, Sen. Todd Weiler (above), R-Woods Cross, said the state needs to teach students about political and economic systems that have repeatedly failed. The bill’s House floor sponsor, Rep. Jefferson Moss, R-Saratoga Springs, says it is critical that Utah students have a better understanding of various economic systems. Moss thanks Gov. Gary Herbert, who in his State of the State address in January said he wants Utah students to better understand free market economics.

Burlington
Two legendary names in the music world have been added to the lineup for this year’s Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. Bobby McFerrin, the vocalist who recorded the smash hit/earworm “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” and helped popularize beatboxing, opens the festival at the Flynn Center on May 31. The festival has also booked Patti LaBelle (above), the soul/disco/jazz queen known for hits such as “Lady Marmalade,” for the Flynn Center on June 2. The annual event runs through June 9.

Gloucester
More than 600 acres of land located near the home of Pocahontas and her father will be dedicated as a state park and serve as a gateway to the Indian site. The Daily Press reports the unnamed park will be about 10 miles from the former village of Werowocomoco (above), which was led by Chief Powhatan, Pocahontas’ father, when English colonists arrived and had likely been inhabited by Native Americans for hundreds or even thousands of years before that. Officials scattered the first pieces of dirt on the land in Gloucester on Friday. Officials say one priority for the park is to tell the story of Virginia Indians. The state will fund its eventual purchase of the land and part of the park’s development with $25 million from Dominion Energy. The utility gave that money to mitigate the effects of a transmission line installation.

Seattle
Young salmon could see improved conditions this year off the Washington and Oregon coasts. The Seattle Times reports scientists in a conference call with reporters say the ocean is more hospitable for salmon entering the ocean, several years after an unusually warm water event. A marine heat wave dubbed “The Blob” disrupted the ocean food chain. Research biologist Chris Harvey of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says scientists are seeing several signs of recovery. Research surveys in 2018 confirmed that tiny animals stoking the food web are healthy and fat. Researchers report that important forage fish, anchovies, are increasing in number and that fish-eating sea birds are doing well. But they say subsurface sea temperatures remain warmer than average in some areas.

Charleston
Corrections officials say full-body scanners are now being used on inmates entering the state’s regional jail system to reduce the infiltration of contraband. The Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety says in a news release that inmates entering nine regional jails must now pass through a scanner similar to those at airports and courthouses. Last month the scanners recorded 36 positive hits. The scanners also are prompting contraband to be ditched in booking areas and outside law enforcement vehicles that bring inmates to jail. More than a dozen such instances occurred in February, including discarded drugs, syringes and cellphones.

Green Bay
The city is getting a new music festival this summer. Rock the Dock Green Bay will take over downtown’s CityDeck on July 13 with three stages along the Fox River. Bands from Wisconsin will perform from 4 to 10:30 p.m. The lineup has not yet been announced, but it will be a mix of genres, including rock, reggae and funk. The first-time event for Compassionate Home Health Care Inc. will be a fundraiser for the Appleton-based nonprofit organization’s Holiday Giving Campaign, which provides shampoo, soap, toilet paper, laundry detergent, garbage bags and other basic essentials to those in need in Brown, Outagamie, Winnebago and Calumet counties. Admission to the festival will be free, with all proceeds going to the Holiday Giving Campaign.

Cheyenne
A fast-food chain based in the state is acknowledging its roots for its 50th anniversary. Taco John’s has grown to nearly 400 locations in 26 states since two businessmen bought the franchise rights to a food-trailer business in 1969. The “West-Mex” fast-food chain is still based in Cheyenne. For its 50th anniversary, Taco John’s plans to renovate one of its Cheyenne locations. New menu options, including a bigger burrito and enchiladas for dinner, are in the works, along with new logos and packaging. CEO Jim Creel tells the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle the company also will introduce a food truck. Taco John’s got started as a taco trailer at Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1968. The company employs about 250 people in Cheyenne.