Scottsdale Says ‘No’ to Satan; Ruffalo ‘Hulks Out’ Over Pennsylvania Fracking

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
SATANISM | “Hail Satan.” Those were among the final words in an invocation planned for a July 6 City Council meeting. But Scottsdale officials said Monday they’ve told the Arizona Chapter of the Satanic Temple, based in Tucson, that its members will not be able to lead the prayer. Stu de Haan, a Satanic Temple spokesman, said the city has twice "pulled the rug out from under us," with plans for a prayer on April 5 also scuttled. After the group moved to give an invocation at a Phoenix City Council meeting earlier this year, council members there replaced spoken prayers at the meetings with silent ones. The temple sees itself as a “the next generation” of satanists and is seeking greater community involvement, according to de Haan. Rather than literal devil-worship, he described the group as focused on rebelling against tyranny and authoritarianism. [The Arizona Republic]

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
FRACKING | Actor Mark Ruffalo is “hulking out” over fracking, urging Gov. Tom Wolf in a letter to take action where water contamination is reported. The star of “Spotlight” and “The Avengers,” in which he plays Hulk, wants the state to ban hydraulic fracturing outright, whereas the current administration only advocates for stronger oil and gas regulations and enacted a moratorium on new drilling. "Many affected Pennsylvania residents have reached out to you asking you to visit their homes and see the damage first-hand," Ruffalo wrote. "Respectfully, it's far past time that you do so." Ruffalo’s missive comes on the heels of the state environmental secretary’s expletive-laden dispatch to environmentalists, after the legislature rejected increased regulation, and subsequent resignation. “Where the **** were you people yesterday?” John Quigley’s email begins. [Penn Live]

SEATAC, WASHINGTON
RELIGIOUS PROFILING | According to an outside investigation, Donny Payne, the former interim City Manager for SeaTac, requested that a “tactical map” be made that indicated where Muslim residents lived—out of concern about terrorism. “Mr. Payne stated an interest in knowing with a great deal of specificity (to the neighborhood, house, and even person) where Sunni and Shiite Muslim residents lived,” according to the report issued to the city.  The plan was never undertaken, in part, because religious information isn’t collected by the census. [The Seattle Times]

MIAMI, FLORIDA
INVASIVE SPECIES | Forget the Burmese python. Animal control in the Sunshine State may soon have their hands full with another, even scarier invasive species—the Nile crocodile. Three crocodiles were captured near Miami, and it’s possible that even more may still be in the wild. The animals, which were captured in 2009, 2011 and 2014, have undergone DNA testing that proves that they’re Nile crocs, rather than the less-aggressive American crocodile, although what is less clear is how they came to be in Florida. Male Nile crocs can grow to over 16 feet long and may weigh upward of 1,600 pounds. [WTVJ]

HONOLULU, HAWAII
GUN CONTROL | Hawaii may become the first state to put gun owners in the FBI’s “Rap Back” database, usually reserved for people in “positions of trust” like teachers. Legislation introduced in the state Senate would make it so local law enforcement are immediately notified if resident gun owners in the database are arrested anywhere in the U.S. Challenges are expected should the bill become law, but legal experts tend to agree it would hold up in court. Gun owners in Hawaii only undergo background checks when they register a gun, and police aren’t currently alerted if they do anything to disqualify themselves from ownership unless they attempt to register another firearm. “We were only discovering things by accident,” said a major with Honolulu’s police department—about a 20-times-per-year occurrence. [The Associated Press via The Columbus Dispatch]

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
DERAILMENT | A streetcar that opened earlier this month derailed slightly on Monday, shutting down service on the line for about five and a half hours Thursday afternoon and evening. Several wheels on streetcar 804 popped off the rails, possibly due to a switch malfunction. No one was injured in the incident. A tow truck was used to help get the streetcar, which did not appear to be badly damaged, realigned on the tracks. The 2.2-mile streetcar line cost about $100 million. It began operating on May 6. [The Kansas City Star]

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO
LAWSUIT | Responding to a plume of contamination that was accidently released into the Animas River headwaters in southwestern Colorado last year, the Land of Enchantment is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the owners of the gold mine where it originated. The Animas River ran mustard yellow, after several million gallons of wastewater spilled at the Gold King Mine last August. A U.S. Department of Interior report later indicated that missteps by the EPA triggered the spill. The lawsuit does not specify monetary damages, but state attorneys believe New Mexico should be compensated for expenses communities have faced in responding to the accident. They also estimated that the state incurred about $140 million in economic harm. [The Denver Post]

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
PUBLIC INTEGRITY | Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s campaign contributions and personal finances have been under federal investigation for more than a year, though prosecutors are unsure if the probe will result in charges. The reasons for the investigation are unknown, though a $120,000 contribution from Chinese businessman Wang Wenliang through his U.S. holdings is of particular interest. McAuliffe was an unpaid director for the Clinton Foundation until being elected governor, also part of the inquiry, though Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is not a target. The U.S. Attorney’s Office conducting at least part of the investigation last year won a public corruption conviction against former Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, though the U.S. Supreme Court may overturn it—fearing criminalizing everyday interactions between politicians and supporters. McAuliffe earned $9.5 million in 2012. “Neither the Governor nor his former campaign has knowledge of this matter, but as reported, contributions to the campaign from Mr. Wang were completely lawful,” said the governor’s attorney. [The Washington Post]

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
PARKS | On sunny weekends, as many as 50,000 people may claim spots on the grassy hill that makes up Dolores Park. The trash they leave behind has been a $750,000 problem for the city’s Recreation and Parks Department. In response, the department is now piloting a picnic reservations program. A permit for a picnic in the park would range from $33 for nonprofit and school grounds under 50 people to a minimum of $1,300 for a for-profit “special event.” Making such a reservation requires filling out an application and paying a $200 security deposit. According to the department website, permits and fees were required before the park's recent extensive renovation, but the process was suspended during construction. [San Francisco Chronicle]

BOISE, IDAHO
COMPOSTING | Some longtime composters here are miffed over a new city plan. Boise’s Public Works Department is looking to roll out a citywide composting program, which would involve charging a $3.40-per-month fee. But the catch is that everyone would have to pay, even people who have been composting waste on their own for decades. “I’m tired of being the responsible person who gets extra bills whether I need them or not,” said one resident, who has composted in his backyard on Boise’s South Hilton Street for about 40 years. “I’m not looking forward to paying for a bin that I’m not even going to use.” [Idaho Statesman]