Chicago State University Close to Shutting Down; Florida’s Heroin Crisis Epicenter

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
HIGHER EDUCATION | The impacts of the state budget standoff in Illinois are intensifying with Chicago State University, which like all state institutions of higher education, hasn’t received any appropriations from Springfield in 10 months. Chicago State, on the city’s South Side, doesn’t have money to meet payroll and is facing massive layoffs at the end of April. Employees have been asked to turn in keys to university buildings and offices starting next week. [Chicago Tribune]

MANATEE COUNTY, FLORIDA
DRUG ABUSE | This “citrus scented” county near Tampa has the dubious distinction of being at the center of Florida’s heroin crisis. Last year, Manatee County recorded the highest number of heroin overdoses in the entire state. Just like in other places dealing with a surge of opioid abuse, heroin overdoses surged following authorities cracking down on prescription drugs like oxycodone. But the problem here is multi-faceted and complex. The big question: What comes next? [Tampa Bay Times]

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
LEADERSHIP | Two U.S. governors and one U.S. mayor made Fortune magazine’s list of 19 of the world’s most disappointing leaders. While there’s no shortage of state and local leaders who could be considered disappointing—e.g., the mayor of Hebron, Illinois, who was arrested this month after “drinking alcohol and smoking crack cocaine throughout the night," according to a police report. Fortune has some bigger targets on its list: Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. [Fortune; Chicago Tribune]

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
FINANCE | Legislation proposed by Mayor Luke Bronin that would establish an oversight panel to review Hartford’s troubled finances faces opposition from the city’s treasurer and several members of the city council. Members testifying against the measure called the bill a “power grab” by the mayor, and a “huge social experiment.” While council members in favor of the oversight panel applauded the mayor’s “forthrightness with the residents of Hartford regarding the city’s longstanding structural deficit … ” Hartford is facing a budget deficit of about $9 million this year, and a projected shortfall of $48.5 million next year. [Hartford Courant]

DENVER, COLORADO
SEXTING | A Colorado teen sexting bill would make it a Class 2 misdemeanor for a juvenile to possess or circulate explicit images of children, including themselves, but critics say the legislation fails to protect victims and ignores consensual exchange. Proponents argue it offers the chance at rehabilitation without destroying someone’s future by labeling the crime a felony. "This bill has strayed far from this goal to simply create a means for law enforcement to charge every juvenile involved in the creating of an image with a crime, even if it's a petty offense," said Jennifer Eyl, with the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center, during testimony. [The Denver Post]

FRANKFORT, MICHIGAN
PUBLIC SAFETY | This small Lake Michigan harbor town in the northern Lower Peninsula is upset that the U.S. Coast Guard is planning to cut back its rescue operations in Frankfort to part-time, leaving a Coast Guard station in Manistee, about 35 miles down the coast, with the nearest year-round station. Under the Coast Guard’s plan, the Frankfort station would be staffed from Memorial Day to Labor Day. "There's no boat in the world that can get from Manistee to our area efficiently and there are situations where helicopters are not effective," Frankfort’s city superintendent said. [MLive.com]

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
HIGHER EDUCATION | According to a state audit, the University of California system has decreased admissions standards for out-of-state students, and “failed to put the needs of residents first.” By the 2014-15 school year, out-of-state enrollment had increased by 82 percent compared with 2010-11, due in part to a 2011 policy change that altered standardized test score requirements for out-of-state students–who pay triple the fees of their Californian counterparts. The cash-strapped UC system has said that state funding, not space, determines how many in-state students the universities can afford to educate. [Mercury News]

LUBBOCK, TEXAS
GUNS | Under a new set of regulations governing guns on campus, Texas Tech University will prohibit guns in a recreation center, chapel and some residence halls, but those with concealed handgun licenses will be allowed to carry guns in classrooms. "I am confident we have submitted a set of recommendations that respects the spirit of the law while reflecting input from our community," the university’s president said. [Texas Tribune]

MANVILLE, NEW JERSEY
FLOODING | Residents and officials of Manville weren’t pleased to hear from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that proposed flood control measures don’t meet the federal funding cost-benefit standard of saving $1 in damage for every one spent. That means projects from building levees to dredging rivers won’t be covered by the Corps, even though the city anticipates serious future flooding. One resident felt the Corps was essentially saying "it's going to flood, but we're not going to help you." [MyCentralJersey.com]

HONOLULU, HAWAII
VANDALISM | If somebody enters a restroom in a city park after hours when they’re officially closed, they will be greeted by cameras and “a loud electronic verbal warning to tell the person to get out of the park.” Vandalism has been a big problem in Honolulu’s parks. Earlier this week, a public restroom at the Keehi Lagoon Park was trashed and set on fire. [Honolulu Civil Beat]