Hurricane Matthew Preparation Starts in Southeast; Okla. Supreme Court Overturns Abortion Law

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
HURRICANE MATTHEW | State and local governments and emergency management agencies in the Southeastern U.S. are preparing for the potential impacts of Hurricane Matthew, a powerful storm that’s forecasted to move up the East Coast in the coming days after tearing through Haiti and eastern Cuba. In North Carolina, where central and eastern portions of the state have seen major flooding, Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency, covering 66 counties. In Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for the entire state “due to the severity and magnitude of the storm,” Scott wrote in his executive order. State and local emergency management agencies have urged residents up and down the coast to review procedures for evacuation, should there been an order. In the city of Isle of Palms, which sits on a barrier island near Charleston, South Carolina, the municipal government reminded residents that they must have an island reentry sticker, should there be a mandatory evacuation.

[N.C. Department of Emergency Management; Fla. Gov. Rick Scott; City of Isle of Palms]

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | The Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled that Senate Bill 642—which would have made it a felony for a person to help a minor get an abortion without parental consent—is unconstitutional due to a requirement for legislation to cover a single subject. The bill, which was signed by Gov. Mary Fallin in June 2015, granted the state Board of Health the authority to create new policies and procedures for licensing abortion facilities. The court found that these restrictions, and others within the bill placed “undue burdens on access to abortion under the guise of protecting the health of women.” [The Oklahoman; Tulsa World]

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
BODY CAMERAS | New York City’s body camera initiative began promisingly with a pilot program in 2013. But now, three years later, not a single one of the 35,800 officers in the department is equipped with a body-worn camera. The pilot program, which ended in March but only involved 54 officers, did teach the department one clear lesson: “We needed better policy guidance and training for officers on body cameras,” said J. Peter Donald, an NYPD spokesman. On Monday, it was announced that a vendor had been chosen to supply cameras to 5,000 officers over the next five years. A contract, however, has yet to be signed, so the rollout won’t begin for several months. [The New York Times]

WEST YORK, PENNSYLVANIA
MEMES | Republican Mayor Charles Wasko’s antagonistic political memes have drawn the ire of his community, yet he refuses to resign. One of his admittedly racist Facebook posts likened the first family to orangutans, while others jab at Muslims. On Monday, the Borough Council voted to censure the mayor, and officials are ready to draft articles of impeachment. A petition to remove Wasko on MoveOn.org as more than 1,450 signatures, but Pennsylvania law makes it difficult to impeach any official who hasn’t committed a crime. A super-majority within the Pennsylvania legislature could do it, but there’s no indication that’s being considered. “I think the age of Trump has given a license for this kind of activity,” one resident said. [The Washington Post]

MORTON COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA
PROTESTERS | Dakota Access Pipeline protesters, many from out of state, living in camps want to vote in Morton County. State law allows anyone residing in North Dakota for 30 days prior to Election Day to vote, but verifying eligibility inside the camps is another story. "These are people that are smart, intelligent and informed," said Joye Braun, protest organizer, who hails from South Dakota. "This could potentially be a large voter bloc." Anyone looking to vote will need an ID indicating North Dakota as their place of residence, per state law, but affidavits are available for those who lack proper identification. North Dakota is all too familiar with pop-up man camps from the height of its oil boom. A system must be devised so protesters can list where they live, given they lack addresses. [The Bismarck Tribune]

BOULDER, COLORADO
HOUSING | A tense debate here about the future of cooperative housing is expected to continue Tuesday night in Boulder’s City Council chambers. City lawmakers are set to discuss a draft ordinance that would limit the number of newly licensed co-op residences to 15 per year, while also setting six-person minimums and 12 person maximums for the number of allowed occupants. Supporters of co-op housing believe it provides an affordable, sustainable option that can help build community. Some critics worry that people will end up packed into homes in residential areas, eroding neighborhood character. "This one is complex and has a lot of community interest," said City Attorney Tom Carr. "I think there's a sense that council would like to finish this year, but they also want to get it right." [Boulder Daily Camera]

AUGUSTA, MAINE
STATE AND CITY RELATIONS | With his next state budget proposal due in January, Maine Gov. Paul LePage suggested Tuesday that he wants to push the cost of paying school superintendents down to the local level. “If a school district wants to have a principal and a superintendent, the locals will have to pay for it,” he said. “The problem is not the education system. The problem is our attitude here in Maine. We believe in home rule. If you believe, then be willing to pay for it. Not the state. It should not be the state’s burden.” [Bangor Daily News]