Nebraska’s Rules That Limit Movie Megaplexes; Tucson’s Gun Buyback Program Under Fire
Connecting state and local government leaders
Also in our State and Local Weekend News Digest: Opioid epidemic’s newest killer drug; Minnesota municipalities facing shortage of candidates for public office; and King tides swamp low-lying areas of South Florida.
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
STATE LAWS | Lincoln currently limits regional shopping center movie theaters to six screens, effectively banning megaplexes. Councilman Roy Christensen wants to lift that 1984 limit in 2022 and also allow single-screen theaters in smaller shopping centers, so as to create dinner theaters. But a local market analysis by national consulting firm Economic and Planning Systems Inc. found the current policy has preserved the competitiveness of existing venues. Changing things would only hurt regional, or else downtown, theaters, per the firm’s report. “Maybe no one closes,” Christensen said. “Maybe someone does.” [Lincoln Journal-Star]
TUCSON, ARIZONA
GUN CONTROL | Republican Rep. Mark Finchem wants the state attorney general to decide if Tucson is breaking a 2013 law requiring the sale of legal guns—because it’s destroying them through a buyback program. Finchem obtained documents through a public records request he said show the city even scrapped a $10,000 collectable gun that should’ve been auctioned. If found in violation, Tucson would lose out on state-shared revenue, totaling $172 million last year, if it doesn’t stop. [Arizona Daily Star]
Other state and local government news stories that caught our eye this weekend ...
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
MEDICAID | “State Seeks Medicaid Waiver to Treat Mental Illness, Addiction” [Herald & Review]
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC HEALTH | “The Opioid Epidemic’s Newest Killer Is 10,000 Times Stronger Than Morphine” [The Boston Globe]
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
PROJECT MANAGEMENT | “Opening of $555 Million San Diego Courthouse Delayed” [San Diego Union Tribune]
ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA
ELECTED OFFICIALS | “Board Chair Floats Trial Balloon on Pay Raise for Lawmakers” [The Washington Post
MINNETONKA BEACH, MINNESOTA
PUBLIC SERVICE | “Help Wanted at City Hall: Hundreds of Local Offices Have Nobody Running for Them” [Star Tribune]
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA
RESILIENCY | “King Tide Reigns Over the Flooded Streets” [The Miami Herald]
BRADLEY COUNTY, TENNESSEE
CORRECTIONS | “Jail Given More Time to Fix Problems” [Times Free Press]
MISSOULA, MONTANA
WILDLIFE PROTECTION | “Anti-Poaching Program Uses Trophy Stats to Boost Enforcement” [Missoulian]
NEXT STORY: In California, a Public Engagement Manual for Cities