Columbus Issue 5 starts civilian crisis-response rollout planning
Columbus voters approved Issue 5 on May 5, and the county’s official canvass posted May 21, pushing city leaders into staffing and funding work.
Law
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DOJ sues four states over undercover plates for federal agents
The Justice Department sued Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington over confidential plates for some federal agents, setting up a new legal clash.
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Seattle weighs emergency street-closure powers on Aurora Avenue N
Seattle WA – City leaders are weighing emergency street-closure powers on Aurora Avenue N while ordering temporary barrier changes and a two-week review.
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Franklin County board in Benton weighs animal-control fee increase
Benton, IL – Franklin County’s May 18 board agenda put an animal-control fee increase on the table, but no adopted rate change is posted yet.
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Reno says Lucky Motel is unsafe to occupy after unpermitted conversion
Reno NV – City officials say 21 households were relocated from the Lucky Motel after an unpermitted apartment conversion left it unsafe to occupy.
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Minford school officials warn Ohio tax bill could squeeze district funding
Minford OH – HB 420 drew opposition from Minford Local Schools at a May 20 hearing, with treasurer Claudia Zaler warning about future funding pressure.
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Burr Ridge joins DuPage suburbs pushing back on Illinois BUILD housing plan
Burr Ridge officials are joining a DuPage-area push against Illinois’ pending BUILD housing plan, warning it could weaken zoning and infrastructure control.
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Kill Devil Hills fraud probe leads to five arrests after May 15 report
Five Virginians were arrested in a Kill Devil Hills/Outer Banks fraud probe that started with a May 15 business complaint, police said.
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Tacoma starts transportation impact fees June 1 for new development
Tacoma will begin collecting one-time transportation impact fees on new homes and commercial projects June 1, shifting some growth costs to development.
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Colorado Springs council revisits Palmer High street closure
Colorado Springs City Council is reconsidering whether to vacate East Boulder Street by Palmer High School, a move tied to renovation timing and downtown access.
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Chandler council delays Flock camera vote, pushing privacy fight into July
Chandler delayed a Flock Safety vote until mid-July, keeping its license-plate reader cameras in place while privacy concerns stay in play.
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Supreme Court keeps mifepristone access in place for now
The Supreme Court’s latest order leaves mifepristone access unchanged for now while a Louisiana-led challenge continues in the courts.
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Scottsdale steps up short-term rental enforcement as citations rise
Scottsdale says short-term rental citations are rising as enforcement increases, while residents still have a complaint path and state law limits local control.
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Baltimore smoke-shop crackdown advances as zoning and enforcement split
Baltimore MD – City leaders are moving two smoke-shop measures forward: a zoning bill for new locations and a separate enforcement push for repeat violators.
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Kerr County’s proposed 7% short-term rental tax could fund Hill Country Youth Event Center repairs
Kerr County wants state approval for a 7% hotel occupancy tax on short-term rentals in unincorporated areas, with revenue aimed at event center repairs.
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Colorado Springs mayor signs new vehicle rules as council weighs tighter limits
Colorado Springs CO – A new city regulation tightens rules for vehicles and protective detail, while council members consider whether to go further.
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Lester Prairie employers are now in Minnesota Paid Leave’s first premium cycle
Minnesota Paid Leave’s first premium deadline has passed, and Lester Prairie employers now have to keep up with quarterly reporting and payroll setup.
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Walton posts one-year moratorium on new solar projects
Walton has posted a one-year solar moratorium while officials review land-use rules, a move that could delay permits, site plans and variances.
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Aurora growth hits a gas-service bottleneck east of E-470
Aurora CO – A utility ruling delay is complicating gas service for new homes and an Aurora Public Schools campus in the Jewell Avenue/E-470 corridor.
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Austin officials push for tougher Waymo oversight after delays
Austin leaders reviewed autonomous-vehicle incidents after a Waymo blocked an ambulance during the March 1 West Sixth Street shooting response.
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Wichita council moves toward repealing downtown back-in parking ban
Wichita City Council voted 5-2 to draft a repeal of the 2008 back-in parking ban, but the rule still stands until a June 2 vote.
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Seattle council heads into May 14 hearing on zoning changes for housing
Seattle City Council is set to take up Phase 2 of the One Seattle Plan on May 14, with zoning changes that could affect centers and transit routes.
