Ariz. Gov. Fires All State Contract Lobbyists; Ky. Probes Radioactive Fracking Waste From W.Va.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA
LOBBYISTS | Republican Gov. Doug Ducey fired all state contract lobbyists, about 10 individuals and firms, via executive order. The lobbyists contracted with state boards and commissions, like the State Board of Nursing and State Board of Education, for more than $1 million since FY 2015. Ducey ordered the Department of Administration to nullify the contracts and revoke state government entities authority to hire lobbyists with public funds—the judicial branch and other statewide officials being immune. That department will now approve requests to hire lobbyists. Critics argue the move is meant to weaken boards’ and commissions’ power to rebuff future changes Ducey wants to make. “For too long, too many government entities have used public dollars to protect their own interests at the expense of taxpayers, small-business people and regular citizens who can’t afford their own lobbyist,” Ducey said in a statement. “Under this old system of cronyism, lobbyists get richer, special interests thrive and citizens foot the bill.” [The Arizona Republic]

ESTILL COUNTY, KENTUCKY
PUBLIC HEALTH | Following the illegal dumping of about 2,000 tons of radioactive waste at a county landfill, a citizens group has formed to hold the state accountable. Concerned Citizens of Estill County, a nonprofit, will monitor the threat posed by disposal of low-level radioactive waste from West Virginia fracking operations. Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear’s office is investigating the dumping and and could bring criminal charges. The group is also interested in developing long-term remediation measures. [Lexington Herald-Leader]

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA
HEDGES | A 25-foot ficus hedge has cost this small, affluent desert city near Palm Springs $283,000 in three lawsuits with the owners over five years. When couple Doug Lawellin and Steven Rohlin wouldn’t trim their “living wall” at their neighbors’ request, the city passed an ordinance limiting hedge height to nine feet. That’s when Indian Wells’ legal troubles began.The city sued the couple twice in Riverside County court when they wouldn’t comply, and Lawellin and Rohlin have responded with a federal discrimination suit of their own. A deal was struck between neighbors back in 2012 to trim the hedge to 14 feet, but City Council rejected it—arguing it would undermine their new ordinance, which isn’t enforced unless they receive a complaint. “They didn’t like that we didn’t jump into lockstep and chop down our hedge the first time they asked,” Rohlin said. “And they can afford to be bullies because it’s not their money they are spending.” [The Desert Sun]

TOPEKA, KANSAS
MEDICAID | Gov. Sam Brownback says he’s frustrated by recent revelations that the number of unprocessed Medicaid applications in the state was substantially underreported. Backlogged applications were believed to total about 3,500 until earlier this month, when state officials acknowledged the true figure was upwards of 15,000. Now the state of Kansas and a contractor, Accenture, are trading blame over who was responsible for the erroneously low-balled number. “It is frustrating,” Brownback said of the backlog. He added: “We’re getting the number down, but it’s not as fast as it needs to go.” [The Topeka Capital-Journal]

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
POLICE | Pennsylvania’s latest budget proposal includes almost $36 billion for recruitment and training of three state police cadet classes, 180 new troopers, but their union says that isn’t enough. Within three years, 2,000 members of the department are expected to become retirement eligible. "It's not a question of if they can find the money, they have to find the money," said Joe Kovel, Pennsylvania State Troopers Association president. "Because Pennsylvanians have to be protected." [NewsWorks]

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
CORRECTIONS | Rikers Island corrections officers accused of offenses like beating inmates, smuggling drugs into jails and falsifying records have continued to receive full pay and benefits, even as their disciplinary cases drag on for years in some instances. A total of 80 officers are said to have been placed on so-called modified duty. More than two dozen of them, barred from interacting with inmates, report to a windowless room at Rikers where they do next to nothing. “I sleep all day,” one of the officers told the New York Daily News. “I sleep eight hours. Not because I want to, but that’s the only thing I can do.” At least one officer has remained on modified duty for six years. While the costs the sidelined officers create for taxpayers is not entirely certain, it’s estimated to be at least $5 million annually with some officers earning salaries pegged at $85,312 and $93,138. [New York Daily News]

HOLLAND, MICHIGAN
BUDGET | A $38.8 billion budget was signed by Gov. Rick Snyder covering all services not education related. Snyder chose Holland State Park for the event because of investments in conservation and a new competition combatting invasive species. The 2016-17 budget begins Oct. 1. An additional $165 million will go to the public health crisis in Flint. [Detroit Free Press]

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
ALGAE | Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in Martin and St. Lucie counties, after a growing algal bloom forced the closure of beaches along Florida’s Treasure Coast. Scott requested the federal government speed up permit approval for the state’s dispersed water management program, and a hotline is being developed for citizens who spot a new bloom. "Florida's waterways, wildlife and families have been severely impacted by the inaction and negligence of the federal government not making the needed repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike and Florida can no longer afford to wait,” Scott said. [AL.com]