Trial of Oregon Occupiers Begins; N.C. Gov. Doesn't Get Bathroom Law Outrage
![In this June 21, 20, ... ]](https://cdn.route-fifty.com/media/img/cd/2016/09/08/oregon/860x394.jpeg?1627526261)
In this June 21, 20, ... ] Andrew Selsky / AP Photo
Connecting state and local government leaders
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: Georgia law enforcement gets a big raise; a Minneapolis Parks and Rec meeting gets rowdy; and New York schools must test water for lead.
PORTLAND, OREGON
TRIALS | A federal trial began Wednesday for seven of those involved in the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge earlier this year. Prosecutors say the defendants in the case conspired to impede federal workers from doing their jobs at the refuge by using force, intimidation and threats. The first day of court proceedings focused on jury selection. At one point, U.S. District Court Judge Anna Brown justified heavy security at the courthouse saying: “our lives have been threatened.” Neil Wampler is a defendant on pretrial release. “At the end of this affair, I think the federal government is going to wish they never dragged us into court,” he said on his way into the courtroom. “They can’t win, and we can’t lose. We got ‘em right where we want them now.” [Oregon Public Broadcasting]
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
CAMPAIGN ADS | Gov. Pat McCrory has released a new campaign ad criticizing the public outrage over North Carolina’s controversial HB2 bathroom law. The law requires people to use public restrooms according to the gender listed on their birth certificate and limits local anti-discrimination measures. "You know, when we were raising average teacher pay, creating new jobs and cutting taxes,” McCrory begins, “other folks were actually pushing to make our schools allow boys to use the girls' locker rooms and showers." Then, a mystified-seeming McCrory continues with, “are we really talking about this?” The answer appears to be yes, and the issue is proving to be a talking point on the campaign trail. McCrory’s opponent, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, has been outspoken against the law and has even refused to defend it in court. [WUNC]
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
RAISES | Gov. Nathan Deal announced a 20 percent pay raise for more than 3,300 state law enforcement officers, in addition to new training and certification programs. The raise goes into effect Jan. 1. Deal cited increased demands of the job for the pay hike, as well as a need to retain top talent. [The Associated Press via WRDW 12]
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
PUBLIC MEETINGS | Police ejected ten people from a Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board meeting Wednesday night. Activists have been pressing board members to address complaints about hiring, promotion and disciplinary standards that some see as discriminatory. Chanting by protesters has led to five temporary meeting recesses in the past 12 weeks. Over 100 attendees turned out for Wednesday’s meeting. In addition to critics of the park system’s personnel practices, there were supporters of a proposed welcome center for cross-country skiing and mountain biking at a park and members of Local 363, a union group that opposes the outsourcing of grooming and snowmaking on ski trails. [Star Tribune]
ALBANY, NEW YORK
WATER | Schools must test drinking water for lead contamination, per a new law signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “These rigorous new protections for New York’s children include the toughest lead contamination testing standards in the nation, and provide clear guidance to schools on when and how they should test their water,” Cuomo said. Remediation plans must be made if testing shows elevated levels of lead. [Livingston County News]
NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DELAWARE
HIGHWAYS | It wasn’t a lucky day for drivers passing through Delaware on I-95. A truck full of blank pennies on its way to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia lost control, hit the median, caught fire, and subsequently dumped its entire cargo all over the road. State police were forced to shut down all lanes of the northbound highway. Commuters weren’t allowed back on the road until 9 a.m. this morning. [Penn Live]
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