Texas Lt. Gov.’s ‘Unfortunate’ Orlando Posts; Backyard Chickens Spread Salmonella in 35 States
Orlando Police officers direct family members away from a shooting involving multiple fatalities at the Pulse Orlando nightclub on Sunday. Phelan M. Ebenhack
Connecting state and local government leaders
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: New Mexico fights endangered wolf releases; Pompton Lakes’ unusable, new dog park; and water testing up among Flint residents.
AUSTIN, TEXAS
SOCIAL MEDIA | Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick faced blowback over social media posts that went live in the hours after the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday. A Bible verse shared by Patrick on Facebook and Twitter read: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." The posts had been taken down by around 11 a.m. on Sunday, and representatives for Patrick said they had been pre-scheduled. "We regret the unfortunate timing of these posts and ask everyone to join us in praying for the people of Orlando in this awful time," a spokesman for Patrick said. [Texas Tribune]
GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO
PUBLIC HEALTH | Salmonella has broken out in several states and been traced to flocks of backyard chickens. The Mesa County Health Department warned of the dangers of handling the birds as seven outbreaks infected 324 people across 35 states. “It’s just one thing that we want to remind folks that, yes, chickens are sweet and cute, but even if you’re not touching them, we want people to be really good about washing their hands,” said one county data analyst. [Grand Junction Sentinel]
WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PUERTO RICO | The Supreme Court ruled Monday that Puerto Rico can’t restructure the debt of its public utilities. Federal bankruptcy rules supercede a 2014 local law to restructure the island’s $20 billion in debt, the court decided. Only debt-relief legislation passed by Congress can alleviate Puerto Rico’s financial burden now. [U.S. Supreme Court; The New York Times]
LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO
ENDANGERED WOLVES | Biologists in New Mexico recently placed two captive-born, endangered Mexican wolf pups into a litter of wild wolves—no thanks to state officials. Its Department of Game and Fish has gone to court to prevent such releases in New Mexico, framing the issue as one of state’s rights. But conservationists accuse the department, the commission overseeing it and Republican Gov. Susana Martinez of bringing the lawsuit to delay releases—even if they won’t win the case—to hinder genetic diversity and hasten extinction. [Las Cruces Sun-News]
POMPTON LAKES, NEW JERSEY
DOG PARKS | A new dog park recently opened in Hershfeld Park in this North Jersey borough after members of the community requested one. But there’s a problem: It’s against local code to bring dogs inside local parks. A local councilman was stopped by a police office when he tried to bring his dog inside the park. "Yeah, I’m sure there’s some silly ordinance still on our books that says you can’t leave horses tied to a railing in front of certain buildings," said to the mayor. [Bergen Record]
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
AUTO BURGLARIES | San Francisco saw more “smash-and-grabs” than any other U.S. city last year. The Auto Glass Now across from the city’s main jail averages more than a dozen customers a day with theft-related broken windows. Police and the district attorney’s office have begun playing the blame game, with Mayor Ed Lee recently weighing in and asking local judges to take a harsher stance on auto burglaries. [East Bay Times]
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
HOUSING | The Baltimore Housing Authority cut down a curbside rose and lilac garden outside the Perkins Homes public housing project while residents simultaneously were criticizing Housing Commissioner Paul Graziano for the complex’s poor conditions. A Housing Authority spokeswoman said the bushes were mistaken for weeds and will be replaced. “So much for urban greening and providing a nice setting for those who live in public housing,” said the citizen who planted the roses as part of a beautification process. [Baltimore Brew]
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
TATTOOS | A 5-inch tattoo of a bus on a Metro Transit bus driver’s forearm has proven to be a conversation starter. “It's been a hit,” said Angi Stevens, 29, of Minneapolis. “Some people think I'm crazy. Others think it's cool. Many people talk about it. I look down at this and say this is what I do and I'm really good at it.” Stevens’ tattoo is of a Gillig Phantom, the bus she piloted during her training to become a driver for Metro Transit. [Minneapolis Star Tribune]
PORTLAND, OREGON
LEAD | In the wake of the water contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan, and the discovery last month of lead in the drinking water at a Portland Public Schools’ buildings, the number of people in Portland seeking to test their water for lead has surged. The Portland Water Bureau, in an average year, distributes about 3,000 kits that enable people to test for lead. But the bureau received 1,500 requests for test kits in the first nine days of June. Between January and May the agency sent out 2,900 of the kits. [Oregon Public Broadcasting]
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