Texas cities adjust landscaping rules to fit drought
Cities in drought-stricken North Texas are changing their landscaping rules to encourage water conservation. The changes range from exempting some ornamental and native grasses from ...
Atlanta, nation sees rise in violent crime
Like many other U.S. cities, Atlanta saw an increase in violent crime during the first six months of 2006. A U.S. Justice Department study shows a 4.5 percent increase over the first half ...
New York plans office to aid the poor
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is planning to open a new city office that will help lower income residents help themselves. The Center for Economic Opportunity would distribute ...
Oregon farm family challenge city’s condemnation of farmland
A farm family in Forest Grove, Ore., is taking the city to court over its condemnation of 140 acres that the farmers recently purchased. The Haworth family thinks the city should pay more ...
Zoning change forces homeless shelter to face public resistance
When the Central Union Mission proprietors bought property for a new 170-bed homeless shelter in Northwest Washington, they believed zoning laws would allow them to build without a variance...
Massachusetts healthcare plan may become national model
Healthcare reform is reemerging as an issue in national politics, and several states may look to Massachusetts’ plan as a model. The state’s plan requires residents to obtain healthcare, penalizes ...
Hawaii County Council chairman denies power shift from East to West
The new chairman of the Hawaii County Council denies that, with his appointment to lead the council, the balance of power has shifted from the east side of the island to the ...
San Francisco Bay Area housing may not keep up with growth
A report from the Association of Bay Area Governments suggests that cities around San Francisco Bay are going to have to plan for higher density. According to the report...
Former Erie, Pa., mayor wants city insurer to cover costs from corruption trial
Former Erie, Pa., Mayor Rick Filippi is trying to force a city insurer to cover more than $300,000 in attorney’s fees incurred during Filippi’s successful fight against corruption charges...
Montana town advised to improve infrastructure
Billings, Mont., needs to improve its infrastructure to keep pace with rapid growth, according to a University of Montana economist. Larry Swanson, director of the O’Conner Center ...
Massachusetts governor-elect criticized for inaugural ball plans
A political watchdog group is urging Massachusetts Governor-elect Deval Patrick to change his plans to solicit corporate donations to fund his $1 million-plus inauguration. The group, Common Cause...
Chicago to consider making restaurants post their food’s calories, fat
Chicago’s restaurant patrons may soon know more than they would like about the food they are buying. The city council is considering a proposed ordinance that would require fast food ...
Vermont town conducts survey on sewer options
Shaftsbury, Vt., is gathering public opinion through a survey on the possibility of constructing a $3 million sewer system for the town. The survey is a follow-up to a feasibility study on the project that ...
Mississippi Power wants help from county, state in funding $1.88 billion plant
Mississippi Power is asking the state and Kemper County to contribute money to the construction of a $1.88 billion coal plant the company says is needed to meet future growth. The plant would generate enough ...
Federal investigation shows Dallas jail in dangerous condition
A federal investigation has found that mismanagement at Dallas County Jail has put inmates’ lives in danger. The jail has failed four recent state inspections in a row, and the report from the U.S. Department of Justice ...
Illinois town wants to turn landfill into lookout point
Before the new year begins, historic Settler’s Hill Landfill in Geneva, Ill., will begin its transformation from dump to recreational center. The 150-foot summit of the landfill, which began ...
New York water bill errors deprive city of millions of dollars
New York’s failure to maintain proper water bill records appears to be costing the city millions of dollars. An investigation by The New York Times shows that thousands of ...
Sea-Tac gets its trees back
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s holiday trees have been reinstalled following an outcry over their removal. The Seattle Port Authority had removed the trees over the weekend ...
Seattle-Tacoma Airport removes ‘holiday trees’
Officials at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, under threat of a federal civil rights lawsuit, have removed several aging “holiday trees” from public areas. A rabbi with the Central ...
Long-time Michigan mayor dies from cancer
Dearborn, Mich., Mayor and U.S. Conference of Mayors President Michael Guido was buried Saturday after submitting to cancer last week. Guido, 52, was diagnosed with the disease ...
Alaska legislator indicted on corruption charges
A federal grand jury has indicted an Alaska state legislator on charges that he solicited bribes from a consulting company. Rep. Thomas Anderson, R-Anchorage, was arrested ...
Missouri town officials learn lessons from heavy snow
Recent record-setting snowstorms have taught officials and employees of Hannibal, Mo., several lessons about how to react to future storms. The city’s Street Department will ...
New Georgia city wants to join fight against adult video store
Johns Creek, Ga., wants to join the battle against an adult video store that is already embroiled in a court battle with surrounding Fulton County. Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker says...
New Orleans recovery chief optimistic about city’s future
New Orleans’ newly appointed Recovery Chief Edward Blakely, comparing the storm-ravaged city to Dreden and Berlin after World War II, says he is certain he can rebuild it...
Colorado in top three for tobacco use prevention
Colorado, Maine and Delaware spend more than any other state on preventing children from smoking, according to a report by a coalition of health organizations. The report...
