Pipeline protest victory, fireworks fallout, world’s tallest horse dies: News from around our 50 states

Alabama

Montgomery: About one-third of the state’s counties, including most of its heavily populated areas, are at very high risk for COVID-19 as vaccination rates continue to lag, state statistics showed Monday. While overall caseloads and hospitalizations remain far below levels when the pandemic was at its worst early this year, the potential for infection remains elevated in areas including Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and much of two regions, the Wiregrass of southeast Alabama and the Tennessee Valley in the north. Of the state’s most populated areas, only Mobile County on the coast is considered as being at low risk for the illness caused by the coronavirus, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. Nearly three dozen rural counties with sparse populations also are at low risk. The statistics don’t include the July 4 holiday period, so health officials will look to see whether holiday gatherings contribute to a rise in infections later this month. With only about 30% of residents fully vaccinated, Alabama trails every state but Mississippi. Statistics from the Alabama Hospital Association show 94% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 haven’t been vaccinated. The illness has killed more than 11,350 people statewide.

Alaska

Juneau: A state marijuana education program manager has been added to the board that regulates Alaska’s legal cannabis industry. Eliza Muse’s appointment to the Marijuana Control Board’s public health seat was effective June 25, said Corey Allen Young, a spokesperson for Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Muse replaces Loren Jones, who had held the seat since the board’s inception in 2015. The move allows Muse to serve until the Legislature next considers appointments, which will likely be sometime next year. In her public health work, Muse “has been extensively involved in marijuana education and addressing public health challenges associated with legalization,” Young said by email. Muse said she sees herself as “trying to ensure that we can find sort of a sweet spot as it pertains to ensuring that public health is preserved, safety is preserved, in this new space of a marijuana marketplace and just ensure that our regulations are always considerate of public health.” Muse, who runs a marijuana education program within the state health department, said she isn’t stepping into her role as a board member “with any sort of preconceived notion or bias” toward existing rules. She said she wants to ensure policy stays in line with research and science, “which we know to date has been lagging due to federal regulations.”

Arizona

Phoenix: The state is moving to ban the use of trail cameras to take video or photos to aid hunting, with regulators saying the widespread practice runs counter to a doctrine that prey animals should have a chance to get away and that hunters should rely on their skills, not technology. The state Game and Fish Commission unanimously approved the ban during a June 11 meeting in Payson and plans to start implementing it as early as next January. Achieving the Jan. 1 target date depends on education and training, commission Chairman Kurt Davis said. Under the prohibition, cameras could no longer be placed at or near watering holes or other locations to help hunters by locating wildlife. The cameras are often triggered by motion and store pictures or videos to be viewed later. The ban wouldn’t affect cameras used for non-hunting purposes, such as viewing wildlife or protecting property. Trying to balance the use of technology while respecting wildlife is “the million-dollar responsibility of this commission,” Davis said. “That balance is the essential part of being on the commission and setting the rules that govern how we pursue wildlife.” The ban will “ensure that we protect the quality of the experience, that we protect the wildlife itself and that they are being pursued under Fair Chase Doctrine,” Davis said.

Arkansas

Little Rock: The state ended the fiscal year with a surplus of nearly $1 billion, more than double its previous record, finance officials said Friday. The Department of Finance and Administration said the state ended the fiscal year June 30 with a surplus of $945.7 million. Arkansas’ net available revenue for the fiscal year totaled more than $6.8 billion. The state’s previous record was the $409.3 million surplus accumulated in the 2007 fiscal year, the department said. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said this year’s surplus allowed Arkansas to grow its reserves to more than $1.2 billion and add to its Medicaid trust fund. The Republican governor noted that the state’s individual income tax collections increased over the previous year and beat the state forecast despite a tax cut that took effect this year. Hutchinson has said he plans to call a special session to take up additional tax cuts this fall. The state’s sales and corporate income tax collections also came in above the previous year and state forecasts. “This showcases the fact that a growing economy along with conservative management of our resources allows us to fund education at a high level and other state services and to cut taxes at the same time,” Hutchinson said in a statement.

California

Los Angeles: Air quality advisories were in effect Monday across a swath of Southern California due to hours of fireworks blasts and a wildfire north of the city. The South Coast Air Quality District said poor air quality was likely through the afternoon because fireworks emit high levels of particulate matter. The smell of smoke infused the overnight intrusion of damp marine air over the region. “June Gloom continues its tight grip on Southern California early this morning despite the turn of the calendar,” the National Weather Service said. July 4 and 5 are typically the worst days of the year for levels of fine particulate matter in the South Coast Air Basin. Breathing particulates can lead to a wide variety of cardiovascular and respiratory health effects. A smoke advisory was also in effect due to the Tumbleweed Fire burning in mountains near Interstate 5 and the community of Gorman about 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Areas adjacent to the fire were expected to experience the highest concentrations of pollutants.

Colorado

Denver: Gov. Jared Polis has signed off on the creation of a new taxing district to coordinate the creation of a Front Range passenger railway up and down the Interstate 25 corridor. But while the state may have a powerful likely partner in Amtrak, the first trains won’t be ready to roll for at least a couple of years, The Denver Post reports. And the regional rail line faces potential political and cost hurdles. The new Front Range Passenger Rail District will take shape early next year and cover all or parts of 13 counties near I-25 between the Wyoming and New Mexico state lines, including all of metro Denver. The district and its appointed board will begin formalizing plans for the first stretches of the railway. It’s likely to include a route north of Denver that goes through Boulder. Money will be scarce at first, however, since the district will need to seek approval from voters within its boundaries to collect any new sales tax. Still, Polis’ signing of the legislation into law Wednesday marked a big milestone. “A dedicated railroad connecting communities from New Mexico to Colorado to Wyoming isn’t just great for our environment but, as our history shows, it will spur innovation and move people, ideas and businesses,” the Democratic governor said in a statement.

Connecticut

Hartford: Representatives of home care, hospice and home health agencies called on state officials Thursday to provide them with more funding, including a share of the state’s remaining federal COVID-19 relief money, warning they’re facing dire financial and staffing challenges. The Connecticut Association for Healthcare at Home, whose member agencies provide services to nearly 20,000 state-funded residents, including the elderly and medically fragile children and adults, contends the home-based sector of the health care industry has been forgotten as state policymakers focused more attention on the nursing homes and group homes. Unionized workers at those facilities had threatened to strike unless they received greater wages, benefits and protections. “We made our strong case to the Legislature,” said Tracy Wodatch, president and CEO of the association. “Yet the (state) budget fell sorely short, failing to support us through additional Medicaid funding while choosing to invest significant dollars in nursing homes and group homes.” In a statement, Wodatch said the two-year, $46.3 billion budget “sent a strong negative message that home care is not a priority” even though the sector saved the state $508.4 million in fiscal year 2019 by helping people stay out of costly institutional settings.

Delaware

Smyrna: Officials are set to conduct a routine quarterly test of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations emergency notification system. Delaware Emergency Management Agency and Delaware State Police will run the test Tuesday, with the sirens sounding about 7:20 p.m., Delaware State News reports. The 37 sirens located within 10 miles of the plants just over the Delaware border in New Jersey will be activated for three to five minutes, the newspaper reports. The siren tests will be followed by a test message of the Emergency Alert System on local radio stations.

District of Columbia

Washington: A man has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon and destruction of government property after crashing a vehicle on the Washington Monument grounds Saturday evening, WUSA-TV reports. Jack Joseph Dessin, 38, of New Jersey, faces the charges, U.S. Park Police said. Multiple police units and D.C. Fire and EMS responded after an SUV hit the barrier wall that surrounds a hill atop which the Washington Monument sits at the National Mall. A man was taken to George Washington University hospital for treatment of minor injuries suffered in the crash that happened about 8 p.m., according to U.S. Park Police. The crash came only hours before the Fourth of July and in a popular place for tourists visiting the National Mall for the patriotic holiday. Photos appeared to show an American flag hanging from the vehicle, among other signs that had been placed onto it. A woman on the scene said she was almost hit by the vehicle but did not want to answer any further questions or provide additional information about what had happened. The crash is under investigation.

Florida

Orlando: About $99 million in unspent rental aid meant to help Floridians living in affordable housing was returned to the state after the agency overseeing the program struggled to disburse the money. The Florida Housing Finance Corporation, established by the Legislature to help develop and support affordable housing, received $120 million in federal funding for rental assistance last year as part of the CARES Act. Florida used the money to set up a Coronavirus Relief Fund, intended to help tenants who lost jobs or income due to the pandemic catch up on rent at the properties that FHFC finances. Taylore Maxey, press secretary for the nonprofit, said it handed out about $13.2 million to help tenants at 373 multifamily developments across the state. In total, FHFC said it received 786 applications for assistance, but only 521 were approved. And about $99 million was returned to the Department of Economic Opportunity to be repurposed for other pandemic-response programs. “There’s no way to sugarcoat it: That strategy was underutilized,” said Trey Price, the FHFC’s executive director. “But all this considered, I think we did a good job with the time constraints we were under and the resources we were given.”

Georgia

Atlanta: Some 13,000 runners took to the streets Saturday to welcome the return of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race, a Fourth of July holiday tradition. Previous years saw about 60,000 runners cross the starting line in front of Lenox Mall in the Buckhead neighborhood. This year, the race was broken into two days to help with social distancing. About 18,000 runners were expected Sunday, including four of the six marathon runners who will represent the U.S. at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Race Director Rich Kenah said officials split the event primarily as a safety precaution to limit any potential COVID-19 exposure, WSB-TV reports. To participate, runners either had to show proof they had been vaccinated or go through a screening process for COVID-19. The race was held virtually last year. The fastest woman on the course Saturday morning, Jessica Smith, said she could not have been more excited to compete again. “We have a beautiful day, and we could not get more lucky with the weather,” Smith said. Another big change for the race was that spectators weren’t allowed at the finish line near Piedmont Park. Dan Kolber said he had been running the race for years and had no problem with the safety measures. “It was gone last year. This is the most fulfilling thing since this pandemic hit,” Kolber said.

Hawaii

Honolulu: As the state slowly approaches vaccination benchmarks that will trigger loosened coronavirus restrictions, officials are extending an incentive program to get more COVID-19 shots in arms. A second round of vaccine incentives will be launched this month, Hawaii Public Radio reports. The Hawaii Department of Health said the state’s current incentive program contributed to a 30% increase in vaccinations over what was expected in June. Nearly 58% of the Hawaii’s population is fully vaccinated. Travel testing and quarantine rules will be suspended when the state reaches 60%; the governor expects that will happen by Thursday and has promised to drop those rules that day. When the state reaches 70%, all COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted. People can register for the second round of incentives – which include cars, cash and furniture – beginning July 12. The program has been funded by local businesses. “There’s been no expense to the state for the higotvaccinated.com campaign,” said Patrick Bullard of H&B Marketing, who is coordinating incentives for the state vaccination program. “It’s all been made possible through the generosity of businesses that have come forward – who recognize the importance to the community to get us to the finish line sooner rather than later.”

Idaho

Boise: Anti-government activist and agitator Ammon Bundy has been found guilty of misdemeanor trespassing and misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers. Bundy was found guilty Thursday evening after a four-day jury trial and brief jury deliberations, the Idaho Statesman reports. He was sentenced to three days in jail. But with credit for time served, he will serve no additional jail time. Magistrate Judge David Manweiler also imposed 48 hours of community service and a $750 fine for Bundy. A co-defendant, Aaron Von Schmidt, was found guilty of misdemeanor trespassing. He was sentenced to three days in jail as well but also got credit for time served and a $500 fine. Both men were arrested Aug. 25, 2020, and charged with trespassing when they refused to leave a Statehouse auditorium after officials ordered it to be cleared. Officers ultimately wheeled Bundy out of the Capitol on a swivel chair. Bundy, best known for leading a group of armed activists in the occupation of an Oregon wildlife refuge in 2016 to protest the federal control of public lands, has tried to frame his arrest as oppression from political opponents. Bundy filed documents to run for Idaho governor in May, though he acknowledged during the trial that he isn’t registered to vote in the state. Bundy moved to Idaho several years ago.

Illinois

Springfield: State courthouses may end social distancing measures, and starting Oct. 1 criminal defendants may again invoke their right to a speedy trial, under new Illinois Supreme Court rules. The court issued two orders last week that essentially undo rules put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those rules included suspending speedy trial deadlines, or the number of days after which defendants may demand prosecutors bring them to trial or drop charges. Those deadlines will again come into play effective Oct. 1, a date Chief Justice Anne Burke said was chosen to give chief circuit court judges time to prepare. Decisions on whether or how to relax social distancing rules will be left up to local courts, according to the order. “It is important to note that our courts remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic, and thousands of court proceedings have taken place via both in-person and virtual hearings,” Burke said. “However, conducting criminal jury trials has been very difficult. These two orders will help our courts prepare for a return to a full slate of jury trials.” The Chicago Tribune reports some defense attorneys at the criminal courthouse in Chicago have tried to formally demand trial on behalf of their clients during the pandemic. But judges have ruled the demands have no teeth.

Indiana

Indianapolis: The Marion County prosecutor has begun a pilot program that refers certain juvenile offenders to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis. Prosecutor Ryan Mears said instead of entering into the criminal justice system, juveniles with low-level, nonviolent offenses will get a one-year standard club membership, at the prosecutor’s expense. Mears said it’s “a second chance that connects juveniles with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis, a safe place where they experience positive interactions with adults.” Mears said that “once children are introduced into the criminal justice system, it typically sets up a cycle of challenges and expectations that can impact their entire life.” Instead, he wants to help change behavior and give them opportunities to make better choices. Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis CEO and Executive Director Maggie A. Lewis said her organization’s top focus is “providing a safe and positive environment to help our city’s youth build great futures.” The Boys & Girls Clubs provide homework assistance, mentoring, sports and other programs.

Iowa

Davenport: Local animal shelters are bursting with cats and dogs, and workers are pleading with the public to volunteer as foster families until the animals can be adopted. It’s a stark reversal from one year ago, when COVID-19 lockdowns and quarantines drove people to adopt pets in droves, emptying animal shelters in the Quad Cities. Elizabeth Corn, director of King’s Harvest Pet Rescue, said the shelter has had to stop accepting animals altogether. “We have not been able to take any pets for at least a couple weeks,” Corn told the Quad-City Times. “We are working on getting them fixed and adopted as fast as we can. I’ve had at least eight phone calls today from people trying to surrender pets. We are referring them to other shelters.” Corn said King’s Harvest had 25 adoptable dogs and more than 120 adoptable cats. But dozens more are waiting until they meet adoption criteria. “Everybody’s in the same situation right now. It seems lately that we have an influx of people needing to re-home their pets,” she said. “On top of that, it’s also kitten and puppy season. We’re stuffed.” Bob Citrullo, director of the Humane Society of Scott County, said the shelter had a total of 235 animals, 80 of which are dogs, and 155 are cats.

Kansas

Goddard: Visitors to a splash park near Wichita may have been exposed to two additional types of bacteria, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The department on Friday added coliform and E. coli to the list of bacteria possibly encountered by patrons of Tanganyika Wildlife Park’s splash park, The Wichita Eagle reports. The state health department had previously reported three people who attended the park tested positive for Shigella. That number has risen to six. People who visited the splash park also have tested positive for the norovirus, sapovirus and a type of E. coli called enteropathogenic E. coli, the state health department said. The splash park has been closed since June 19. Also Friday, more customers joined a lawsuit against the park, alleging they became “violently ill and suffered repeated bouts of vomiting, diarrhea, headaches and fever and other symptoms due to the negligence and/or carelessness” of the park. On June 19, the park wrote on Facebook that the splash park was being closed due to a filtration system problem and that officials were “working diligently to remedy the issue.” A park official did not respond to requests for comment from the Eagle.

Kentucky

Louisville: Almost exactly a year after his bid for U.S. Senate came up just short in the Democratic primary, Charles Booker formally launched a new campaign Thursday, this time hoping to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Rand Paul in 2022. Booker kicked off his candidacy at a rally before a few hundred energetic supporters in Louisville’s majority-Black West End, just a block from the district he represented for one term in the state House. “We’re ready to prove the doubters wrong and make history,” he said to applause at the end of a 35-minute speech. “We’re going to win this race, and we’re going to transform Kentucky, and it starts right now.” Booker formed an exploratory committee for a potential run in April, saying he’d travel the state and listen to Kentuckians to gauge if there was enough support for him to win a race against Paul, who has said he’ll seek a third term. In an interview, Booker said his campaign will build on the themes and issues of his 2020 run and the Hood to the Holler nonprofit advocacy group he formed in its wake. The progressive was a massive underdog last year in the primary against Amy McGrath, who greatly outspent him and had the backing of the national party establishment, yet fell just 3 percentage points shy of an upset. Despite also outspending Sen. Mitch McConnell in the general election, McGrath went on to be blown out by the Republican Senate leader in November – a common outcome for Democratic statewide candidates over the past decade.

Louisiana

New Orleans: Fireworks returned to the city on Independence Day thanks to actor Will Smith. Smith offered to pick up the roughly $100,000 tab for the pyrotechnics over the Mississippi River after learning New Orleans didn’t plan a 2021 show, city officials told news outlets. New Orleans canceled last year’s fireworks because of the coronavirus pandemic. Smith is in New Orleans working on his latest film, “Emancipation,” which will tell the story of a slave, Peter, who escaped a Louisiana plantation and whose photo of scars on his back from being whipped exposed the brutality of slavery. He would also fight for the Union in the Civil War. Smith moved production of the film from Georgia to Louisiana in early April after Georgia passed a new voting law that prompted a federal lawsuit saying the overhaul was intended to deny Black voters equal access to the ballot.

Maine

Portland: Former two-term Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who liked to compare himself to former President Donald Trump, formally announced Monday that he’s launching a campaign for a third term. LePage has not been shy about criticizing his successor, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, over fiscal policies and her actions during the coronavirus pandemic. “Maine faces several challenges and we must work toward building a better future based on individual liberty, fiscal responsibility, and an economy which empowers everyone including our rural communities,” he said in a statement. There will be a fall campaign kickoff, he said. The Mills campaign responded by pointing to her successes in expanding Medicaid, investing in education, providing property tax relief and promoting clean energy jobs, “all while leading Maine through a global pandemic with near best-in-the nation results.” LePage’s announcement came four days after paperwork was filed with the state ethics commission. Under the Maine Constitution, he was limited to two consecutive terms but could run again after sitting out a term. He’d have to submit additional paperwork with the secretary of state’s office next year.

Maryland

Ocean City: Fireworks were unintentionally detonated as they were being set up for an Independence Day show in the beach town, leaving employees of the fireworks company with minor injuries, authorities said Sunday. A few hours after the blast, the city announced that the day’s fireworks shows in multiple locations had been canceled out of an abundance of caution. The Ocean City Fire Department said in a news release that they were alerted to a vehicle fire Sunday morning and responded to find the fireworks that had gone off on the beach. An undisclosed number of employees had minor injuries but declined transport to a hospital, according to the news release. Numerous videos of the explosion posted to social media showed the fireworks popping and crackling near a crowded beach. A safe zone around the fireworks area prevented any beach or boardwalk patrons from being injured, the fire department said. The city said in a news release Sunday afternoon announcing the fireworks show cancellations that the cause of the discharge was unknown. “A perimeter around the fireworks site has been established and will remain in place until the safety inspections are complete, which could take several days,” the news release said.

Massachusetts

Wakefield: The Massachusetts State Police have identified eight of 11 male suspects who were arrested following an hours­long armed standoff that partially shut down Interstate 95. They were charged with a variety of offenses, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and the use of body armor in commission of a crime, police said in a news release late Saturday. Troopers recovered three AR-15 rifles, two pistols, a bolt-action rifle, a shotgun and a short-barrel rifle. The group refers to itself as a militia and said its members adhere to “Moorish Sovereign Ideology,” police said. One of the people arrested was a male juvenile, and two others refused to give their names. The standoff began early Saturday when a Massachusetts State Police trooper stopped to offer assistance to the vehicles he found on the side of the highway in Wakefield. Police later said they were refueling. The trooper called for backup, and most of the group went into the nearby woods until they surrendered to a police tactical team just after 10 a.m. The standoff closed Interstate 95 in the area during the busy holiday weekend, and some residents were told to shelter in place. During the standoff, a member broadcast on a social media account of the group “Rise of the Moors” that they were not anti-government or anti-police.

Michigan

Traverse City: President Joe Biden stayed mum on policy during a Saturday trip to the state, focusing instead on cherries – and cherry pie and cherry ice cream – and voters who were mask-free as coronavirus restrictions have eased. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greeted Biden when he arrived midday in Traverse City, which is hosting the National Cherry Festival. They skipped the festival, however, in favor of a cherry farm in nearby Antrim County, where Biden pitched his immigration plans when chatting with two couples from Guatemala who were picking fruit. He then greeted a long line of enthusiastic supporters stretched out behind a rope. His trip was billed as part of a broader campaign by the administration to drum up public support for his bipartisan infrastructure package and other policies geared toward families and education. But the president was out for direct contact with voters and refrained from delivering remarks about his policy proposals. Whitmer told reporters she spoke to Biden about infrastructure. In recent flooding, she said the state saw “under-invested infrastructure collide with climate change,” and the freeways were underwater. “That’s why this infrastructure package is so important. That’s also why I got the president rocky road fudge from Mackinac Island for his trip here,” she said.

Minnesota

Glen: A family of three bald eagles that were rescued and treated for injuries in a suspected raccoon attack have been released into the wild in eastern Minnesota. Lt. Robert Gorecki, a conservation officer with the state Department of Natural Resources, released the birds Friday in the town of Glen, with help from members of the family who found the injured eagles June 21 at their Clear Lake cabin. Leslie and Ryan Donohue’s four children, ranging in age from 4 to 12, spotted two adult eagles on the ground below their nest on the family’s property. They were adults, unable to fly, suffering from wounds that Gorecki speculated may have been inflicted by a raccoon. They were taken to an animal hospital, the Star Tribune reports. An eaglet, not yet able to fly, was stranded in the nest 55 feet above. It was not injured but would have starved to death the next day or the day after, Gorecki said. The following day, an employee from Bollig Tree Service climbed the white pine and retrieved the young eagle. When he approached, another young bird, apparently a sibling, flew out of the nest and disappeared. Experts are hoping it could find roadkill or something else to eat. The nest also contained an unhatched egg, which may have attracted a hungry carnivore.

Mississippi

Tupelo: A heritage center focused on sharing the history and culture of the Chickasaw Nation is coming to the city. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports the Chickasaw Heritage Center’s mission will be to interpret and explain the story of the Chickasaw Nation from the perspective of its people. The story of the Chickasaw has often been told through the lens of non-native people, said Brady Davis, the CEO of the Chickasaw Inkana Foundation. “When I refer to the Chickasaw perspective, I want to reinforce that this facility will be unique in that it tells the Chickasaw story from their perspective,” Davis said. The Chickasaw lived across millions of acres of land in northeast Mississippi, northwest Alabama, west Tennessee and southwest Kentucky. They were forcibly removed from their homeland, the heart of which is modern-day Tupelo, by the U.S. government following the Indian Removal Act in the 1830s. The facility planned will house an exhibit hall, a theater, a gift shop, a cafe, a reconstructed village area and other attractions. The center is estimated to generate $6 million annually. The foundation is seeking $16 million in state support to complete the project. The state has provided $6 million so far, according to Davis. The Chickasaw Nation will match the funds dollar-for-dollar.

Missouri

Jefferson City: Gov. Mike Parson’s administration floated the idea of a statewide COVID-19 vaccination incentive program and the possibility of a “substantial grand prize” during a meeting of health officials, a newspaper reports. The Kansas City Star said it obtained notes from a June 25 Zoom meeting of the Missouri Center for Public Health Excellence during which a senior state Department of Health and Senior Services official shared the concept. The notes from the meeting compiled by the center’s secretary said of a potential program: “Will likely start in July. Working with MO state lottery. 3 separate drawing structures.” Consideration of incentives comes as the fast-spreading delta variant of the coronavirus ravages rural Missouri. The state has one of the nation’s highest rates of COVID-19 transmission and, according to the CDC, has recently led the nation in the proportion of delta variant cases. Less than 40% of Missouri’s population has been fully vaccinated, and the figure is less than 20% in some rural counties. Asked about incentives this past week, Parson said: “Everything is on the table.” A Parson spokesperson said Friday only that work is continuing on potential incentive options. According to the notes from the June 25 meeting, educational scholarships for adolescents are also contemplated.

Montana

Billings: Federal officials have given preliminary approval to a conservation group’s contentious proposal to expand bison grazing on public lands in north-central Montana. The Bureau of Land Management said there would be no significant environmental impacts from the proposal covering about 108 square miles south of Malta. That sets the stage for possible final approval of the American Prairie Reserve’s plan following a two-month comment period that began July 1. The Bozeman-based group in 2019 had scaled back its original request to graze bison across more than 450 square miles following opposition from ranchers who worry about being pushed out of the area. The group’s long-term goal remains unchanged: a 5,000-square-mile expanse of public and private lands with at least 10,000 bison. Gov. Greg Gianforte criticized federal officials for scheduling a single virtual meeting, on July 21, before a final decision could be made. The meeting coincides with harvest season and as ranchers are dealing with severe drought, Gianforte said. He called for hold in-person meetings in each of the affected counties: Phillips, Choteau, Fergus, Petroleum and Valley. Massive herds of bison once migrated through the area before the animals were hunted to near-extinction in the 19th century.

Nebraska

Omaha: Thirty state senators urged local school boards in a joint public statement Thursday to reject proposed state health standards that include lessons for young children on gender identity and gender expression. The standards under consideration by the Nebraska Department of Education would be optional if approved, so school districts would be free to accept or ignore them. Under the proposed standards, kindergartners would learn about different kinds of family structures, including same-gender families. First graders would be taught about gender identity and gender stereotypes. Students in fourth grade would be taught the difference between sex assigned at birth and gender identity. Sixth graders would learn about a range of identities related to sexual orientation, including heterosexual, bisexual, lesbian, gay, queer, two-spirit, asexual and pansexual. They would be taught the differences among cisgender, transgender, gender nonbinary, gender expansive and gender identity. The proposal has drawn huge crowds to education board meetings and faced strong opposition from Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts, who has no direct influence over the state board. Supporters have said it’s important to give children scientifically accurate information. All but one of the 30 senators who signed the statement are Republicans.

Nevada

Las Vegas: The title of Miss Nevada USA has gone to a transgender woman for the first time in the pageant’s history. Kataluna Enriquez was crowned the winner late last month and will go on to represent the state in the Miss USA competition in November. “It’s a huge honor to win, especially during Pride Month,” Enriquez said. “I wasn’t nervous. I knew that I had worked really hard, and I had my one shot at making history.” Enriquez, 27, took part in transgender pageants beginning in 2016 when she was working as a model. She began competing in cisgender pageants last year. In March, Enriquez earned the title of Miss Silver State USA. “I wanted to share my story and present that I was more than just a body,” Enriquez said following her March win. She spent two months designing and sewing the gowns she wore to register and compete in the Miss Nevada USA pageant June 27, including a pastel blue and pink gown evocative of the transgender pride flag and a shimmering floor-length halter with ombre rainbow sequins. “It wasn’t even in my head that the day I won was the anniversary of Stonewall,” Enriquez said, referencing the 1969 police raid and subsequent demonstrations that catalyzed the LGBTQ+ rights movement. “I felt like everything lined up. I’m thankful. We won. We made history.”

New Hampshire

North Conway: A cat has made it to the summit of the state’s 48 tallest mountains, spending parts of the journey peering out from the comfort of her owner’s backpack. Floki has grown from kitten to cat in the nine months since she and owner Mel Elam, of North Conway, started their journey to the top of the state’s 4,000-footers. Last on their list was Mount Washington, the highest summit in the Northeast at 6,288 feet, which they reached late last month. “We did it!” Elam posted on social media, where she chronicled her “Adventures with Floki,” accompanied by photos and video. Elam adopted Floki from a shelter last year after losing another beloved hiking companion, her dog. A harness is attached to Floki when she’s in the backpack, and she’s on a leash when she walks along a trail. In colder weather, she wore a vest. “There’s a lot of people that are like, ‘Oh, my gosh. Please tell me that is not it. What are you going to do next? Pease keep posting. We love following your adventures.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh no, we’re still going to be out there,’ ” Elam told WMUR-TV. Elam said she and Floki are considering the “52 With a View,” mountains in New Hampshire with elevations under 4,000 feet and great views.

New Jersey

Port Republic: A casino and two other restaurants in Atlantic City are saving the oyster shells left over from their diners. The state Department of Environmental Protection collects the shells, and workers and volunteers with Rutgers and Stockton universities and the Jetty Rock Foundation load them on barges and dump them into the Mullica River. That waterway is home to one of the last self-sustaining oyster populations on the Atlantic coast, according to Shawn LaTourette, the state’s environmental commissioner. The clam, oyster and other shells form the basis of new or expanded oyster colonies when free-floating baby oysters, known as spat, attach to the shells and begin to grow on them. “You have the benefit not only of ecological restoration, but it has kept 65 tons of shells out of landfills,” said Scott Stueber, a fisheries biologist with the DEP. That helps the eateries save on waste disposal costs. The program began in 2019 and currently collects oysters from the Hard Rock casino, the Knife & Fork restaurant and Dock’s Oyster House. Several other casinos have expressed interest in joining. Oysters are nature’s filters: A single adult oyster can can strain particles and contaminants from 50 gallons of water a day. In addition to improving water quality, oyster colonies also are being planted along coastlines as a shore stabilization and storm mitigation strategy.

New Mexico

Santa Fe: Federal relief funds will be used to offer back-to-work bonuses of up to $1,000 for residents who find a job in the coming weeks and stop receiving unemployment insurance benefits, state labor officials announced Friday. The program from Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is aimed at encouraging a return to work before federal unemployment supplements expire in early September. The new support payments decline gradually from $1,000 to $400 by late July, providing a bigger payout the sooner a job is secured. The federal supplement provides an extra $300 a week on top of state unemployment benefits. “If we can make it even just one degree easier for someone to get back to work, helping offset transition costs, then we’ve got to do that,” the governor said in a news release. Some businesses have complained that expanded federal aid to the unemployed – especially the $300-a-week supplemental benefit, intended to cushion the economic blow from the pandemic – has discouraged people from looking for a job. But other factors also are believed to have contributed to the shortage of people seeking work again, from difficulty arranging or affording child care to lingering fears of COVID-19.

New York

New York: After a year lost to the coronavirus, the city’s most well-known Fourth of July traditions were back Sunday. The traditional Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks show returned in full form with a display over the East River, as shells were shot from five barges in a televised, choreographed spectacle. This year, crowds were welcome to gather. The show was broadcast live on NBC as part of a two-hour special featuring prerecorded performances from artists including the Black Pumas, Coldplay, OneRepublic and Reba McEntire. Last year, because of pandemic restrictions, there were a series of shorter fireworks shows in the days leading up to the holiday, with the locations kept secret in advance to keep people from congregating. “It’s hugely significant because we’re all back together again. We were apart for so long,” said Mike Marrone, who took in the fireworks among a throng of onlookers along the Franklin D. Roosevelt parkway. The annual spectacle of gluttony that is the Nathan’s Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest also once again welcomed live audiences to watch the epic chowdown in Brooklyn. Joey “Jaws” Chestnut topped his own record by downing 76 franks and buns in 10 minutes in the men’s competition, while Michelle Lesco took the women’s title by eating 30 ³/₄ wieners and buns.

North Carolina

Chapel Hill: Predictions of a baby boom during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown have gone bust in the state, according to a team of researchers. Data compiled by Carolina Demography showed that birth rates in North Carolina fell by 3.1% from 2019 to 2020, in line with a national decline of 3.8% over the same period, the News & Observer reports. Carolina Demography is located within the Carolina Population Center at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Boone Turchi, an associate professor of economics at UNC, said the skyrocketing unemployment rates during the COVID-19 pandemic likely prompted many people to wait to have children. Birth rates were falling before the pandemic. In North Carolina, birth rates decreased by 0.96% each year on average between 2015 and 2020.

North Dakota

Fargo: Firefighters spent the Fourth of July racing from one blaze to another as residents launched a barrage of illegal fireworks. The Fargo Fire Department issued a news release early Monday morning saying firefighters responded to 15 fires Sunday, 12 of which were fireworks-related. There were two grass fires, three dumpster fires, one wood chip fire and nine structure fires. Only one fire resulted in significant damage. That blazed burned out an apartment garage. Other attached garages saw smoke damage. The fire department also helped a person who lost a thumb and finger in a fireworks explosion. Fireworks are illegal anywhere in the city. Police responded to more than 80 fireworks complaints, the fire department said. Things were much quieter in Bismarck, North Dakota’s second-biggest city, where fireworks also were banned. Police Sgt. Loren Grensteiner said no blazes caused by fireworks were reported. “It was pretty normal for the Fourth,” he said. “We had your normal fireworks calls, but we weren’t inundated with them.” Private use of fireworks during the July Fourth holiday season was banned across the state due to widespread drought. North Dakota has experienced some of the driest winter and spring months this year.

Ohio

Columbus: Refunding fines to businesses cited for violating public health orders during the coronavirus pandemic would send a “horrible” message to the vast majority of companies that followed the rules, GOP Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday as he explained why he vetoed the budget provision. The measure included in the budget by fellow Republican lawmakers would have stopped disciplinary actions against companies and refunded payment of any fines. Total fines were only estimated at about $100,000. DeWine also vetoed a Republican measure that would have allowed the House speaker and Senate president to intervene in legal challenges to the upcoming process of creating new, more representative legislative districts. DeWine called this an unprecedented violation of the separation of powers. Disappointing abortion rights advocates, the governor left in place new mandates that physicians who provide backup coverage at local hospitals as part of required patient-transfer agreements with abortion clinics must practice within 25 miles of the clinics. DeWine also left in place language allowing doctors and other medical practitioners, hospitals and insurance companies to refuse to perform or pay for procedures that violate the individuals’ or institutions’ conscience on moral, ethical or religious grounds.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City: COVID-19 vaccination rates for the state’s youth have fallen below health officials’ expectations. With a little over a month left before the next school year, the Oklahoma State Department of Health is “not satisfied” with the number of vaccinated adolescents and teenagers, said Keith Reed, deputy health commissioner. “It’s definitely been lower than our expectations,” he said. “We need many more vaccinated in order to stop transmission among this group, especially when they gather back together in school settings.” The Pfizer vaccine has been available since May to children as young as 12. Only 20.1% of Oklahomans ages 12-17 have had at least one vaccine dose, and 14% are fully vaccinated, according to the state health department. Nationally, 32% of the 12-17 age group has had at least one dose, Washington Post data shows. State health officials thought vaccinations of children might mirror the rate of the adult population, Reed said, because minors need permission from a parent or guardian to get a COVID-19 vaccination. About 57% of Oklahoma adults have had their first dose, and 49% are fully vaccinated. The rate of doses administered is falling in the state, both for adults and children. But Reed said minors never showed the same surge in demand for vaccines that adults did.

Oregon

Portland: The state on Friday reached the milestone of 70% of adults having received at least their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to officials from the state health authority. “The 70% adult vaccination goal means we have a better chance to sustain a safe reopening,” said Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority. “But COVID-19 hasn’t gone away. It’s our goal to vaccinate 8 in 10 people across Oregon, particularly adults in communities of color and other under-vaccinated groups.” Health officials say the state reached the vaccination goal through the efforts of more than 660 vaccination sites, operated by health care providers, community-based organizations, tribal partners, health authorities, pharmacies, volunteers, the Oregon National Guard and retired health care workers. Last week, after more than 15 months of restrictions, Oregon fully reopened, lifting mask requirements and limits on physical distancing and capacity. There are some exceptions, including federal rules; masks will still be required at airports, on public transportation and in health care settings. In addition, businesses can still require customers to wear masks or provide proof of vaccination to forgo wearing them.

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia: Police say scores of members of a group described by the Anti-Defamation League as white supremacist marched in the city over the weekend, clashing with pedestrians and setting off what were believed to be smoke bombs at one point. The group of Patriot Front members, estimated at 150 to 200 people, marched for several blocks in Center City wearing tan pants and black shirts with face coverings and carrying shields and flags. Police said they were chanting slogans such as “Reclaim America” and “the election was stolen.” Police said pedestrians “engaged members of the group verbally,” and there were several physical encounters. Finally, someone from the group used what police believe were smoke bombs “to cover their retreat as they fled,” police said. Police didn’t announce any arrests and said there were no reports of any damage or injuries during the march, which came on the eve of first lady Jill Biden’s visit to the city for Independence Day festivities. The Anti-Defamation League calls the Texas-based group “a white supremacist group” that “espouses racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance under the guise of preserving the ‘ethnic and cultural origins’ of their European ancestors.” It also says the group “participates in localized ‘flash mobs’ and torch marches/demonstrations.”

Rhode Island

Newport: The Preservation Society of Newport County is holding a series of lectures this summer entitled “Gilded Age Games” about how people amused themselves with games and sports at the turn of the 20th century. It is the first time since February 2020 that in-person lectures will be held at the Newport mansions. Each of the five presentations also will be viewable via Zoom. “Gilded Age Games” examines the games and amusements enjoyed by Americans around the turn of the 20th century, whether played around a table, outside on the field, or on the ocean. The series will also include presentations by the Preservation Society’s four Research Fellows about the projects on which they are working. The first lecture was held Thursday. The next one is scheduled for July 15 at Rosecliff. Lectures are also scheduled for July 29, Aug. 5 and Aug. 12. Attendance is free, but preregistration is required at newportmansions.org/learn/adult-programs.

South Carolina

Charleston: The state’s lone Democratic U.S. House member is joining with the other six Republican members to create a trail to help link and preserve Revolutionary War sites in the Carolinas. South Carolina leaders have tried for more than a decade to create the trail that would begin near Charleston, then wind into the Midlands and Upstate, into the North Carolina mountains and Piedmont, then back toward Wilmington. Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn testified last month before a House subcommittee in favor of the Southern Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage Corridor Act, The Post and Courier of Charleston reports. “It is a personal mission of mine to increase public awareness of and appreciation for natural, historical, scenic and cultural resources associated with the Southern Campaign,” Clyburn said June 15. “It is my hope that the creation of this Heritage Corridor will also draw visitors to battlefields and historical landmarks located in communities across the Carolinas that are rich in history.” Among the South Carolina sites on the trail would be Charleston Harbor, Marion’s guerrilla warfare in the Pee Dee, the Cowpens National Battlefield and the Battle of Kings Mountain.

South Dakota

Rapid City: The leader of an Indigenous-led advocacy organization has gone to court to seek dismissal of charges against him related to a protest during President Donald Trump’s visit to Mount Rushmore last July. NDN Collective President Nick Tilsen claims prosecutorial misconduct and violations of his rights to a speedy trial and free speech. Tilsen was among protesters arrested during Trump’s visit and agreed to participate in a diversion program rather than face time in prison if convicted of charges against him. Tilsen claims the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office backed out of the agreement after he spoke to the media about it in March. In his motions for dismissal, Tilsen claims his remarks to the media were protected by the First Amendment. The documents claim the state’s decision to reinstate Tilsen’s charges were directly connected to his protected speech and were reinstated as punishment for it, the Rapid City Journal reports. Tilsen’s attorneys also claim the delay in executing the agreement and then reinstating the charges violated Tilsen’s right to a speedy trial. “The prosecutor has abused their position of power and privilege to try to silence myself. These are all grounds for dismissal,” Tilsen said. “Here we are, another lie made to our people by another white man in power. And we’re tired of that.”

Tennessee

Memphis: Environmentalists and activists claimed victory Saturday after a company canceled plans to build an oil pipeline over an aquifer that provides drinking water to 1million people. Byhalia Connection said it will no longer pursue plans to build a 49-mile underground artery that would have linked two major U.S. oil pipelines while running through wetlands and under poor, predominantly Black neighborhoods in south Memphis. A joint venture between Valero and Plains All American Pipeline, Byhalia Connection had said the pipeline would bring jobs and tax revenue to the region, and it had given to Memphis-area charities and tried to build goodwill in the community. But in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Friday, Byhalia Connection said it was canceling the project “due to lower U.S. oil production resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.” Environmentalists, activist groups, lawyers, property owners, national and local elected officials, and even former Vice President Al Gore opposed the project. The pipeline would have run under neighborhoods such as White Chapel, Westwood and Boxtown, which began as a community of freed slaves in the 1860s and where homes had no running water or electricity as recently as the 1970s. Justin J. Pearson, a leader of the Memphis Community Against the Pipeline activist group, called the decision “an extraordinary testament to what Memphis and Shelby County can do when citizens build power toward justice.”

Texas

Austin: Republican Allen West, the former Florida congressman and firebrand who rode into office on the tea party wave a decade ago, said Sunday that he will run for governor of Texas in a bid to again seize on restless anger from the right. His odds are far longer this time around: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is up for a third term and may also be eyeing a 2024 presidential bid, has already locked up the endorsement of Donald Trump, whose voters West would need to have any shot at winning a GOP primary in Texas. The hurdles don’t stop there. Abbott is the most prodigious fundraiser of any governor in America, having started the year with nearly $40 million already socked away, and West is shunned by power brokers in his own party. Last month, he stepped down as chairman of the Texas GOP after spending a year using the platform to antagonize Abbott and other Republicans whom he deemed insufficiently conservative. Still, West’s celebrity in the grassroots that lingers from a combative one term in the U.S. House makes him the most prominent primary challenge Abbott has faced since becoming governor in 2015. Already there have been signs of Abbott moving to protect his right flank, passing ever-looser gun laws that he never previously endorsed and picking up Trump’s immigration mantle along the border.

Utah

Salt Lake City: Stymied by restrictions on the student newspaper at Brigham Young University, some former staffers have launched their own underground, independent publication not controlled by the school that’s owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Students writing for The Daily Universe aren’t allowed to report anything that’s critical of the school or the church, including any mention of the faith’s past support for polygamy or segregation that “could cause embarrassment” now, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. Reporters should also avoid the topics of drugs, sex education, birth control, evolution and other “claims of science,” according to rules established for the publication in the 1970s that largely remain in place today. The students’ new paper, Prodigal Press, covers what happens on campus without the limitations that come with the university’s sanction. Martha Harris, a senior in the school’s journalism program who was frustrated by the “minefield of censorship, both spoken and unspoken” at the official newspaper, reported the cover story for the second issue of Prodigal Press, a piece on discrimination LGBTQ students describe encountering at the conservative Provo school. The story included Harris’ personal experiences, as someone who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, choosing a restroom on campus and being called derogatory names. The same pitch was rejected at the campus paper. The private university has a rich legacy of independent publications that started as early as 1906. The first, titled The Radical, printed one 32-page edition that called for a cafeteria on campus and more resources at the library. The requests were granted.

Vermont

Montpelier: The tax-free purchase of feminine hygiene products, the legal requirement for sexual consent, and prison reforms protecting inmates are among new laws that took effect at the start of July. Vermont became the 22nd state to make the purchase of feminine hygiene products tax-free as of Thursday, mynbc5.com reports. “It’s taken a long time and probably a lot of federal money for other purposes to build up the courage to remove a tax on a basic necessary product for women and people who menstruate,” state Sen. Kesha Ram, a Democrat, said Thursday. The Legislature also passed a law saying a person who is asleep, unconscious or significantly under the influence is now legally unable to provide consent to a sexual act. Prison measures include the prohibition of sexual relations with prison staff and the creation of a review board to improve prison conditions. “What this does is create some mechanisms for corrections to investigate itself with a kind of internal affairs unit and also for oversight by an external board,” Defender General Matt Valerio said. Also, the maximum weekly unemployment benefit in the state rose to $583, an increase of $52.

Virginia

Richmond: Data shows deaths in car crashes rose statewide last year, even as Virginians drove less due to the coronavirus pandemic. Crash fatalities increased by 2% from 827 in 2019 to 847 in 2020, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, citing data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. “Because there was less traffic on the roadways, that seemed to, for whatever reason, encourage folks to think that they could drive faster because there was less congestion on the highways,” John Saunders, Virginia Highway Safety office director for the Department of Motor Vehicles, told the newspaper. “And when you get increased speeds, even though you may have fewer crashes, the crashes you do have are much more severe crashes because of the increase in speed.” With the July Fourth weekend expected to be busy with travelers, Virginia State Police increased patrolling through Monday at midnight. The Virginia Department of Transportation was also halting highway lane closures and many highway work zones on major roads and interstates until Tuesday to help alleviate traffic.

Washington

Tacoma: A 72-foot-tall totem pole that was erected more than a century ago as a tourist attraction in western Washington but has no connection with local tribes will be removed. The News Tribune reports the totem pole at Firefighter’s Park in Tacoma will be removed in about a month following a decision by the City Council on Tuesday. The totem pole erected in 1903 by local businessmen was meant to compete for tourists with a totem pole in Seattle. Two anonymous artists carved the totem pole in Tacoma at a Vashon Island lumberyard. The city’s Arts Commission in March decided to remove the totem pole from Tacoma’s municipal art collection. The City Council on Tuesday then voted unanimously to take the totem pole off the city’s historic register, where it had been listed since the 1970s. That cleared the way for its removal. The Puyallup Tribe had sought the removal. “There has been a lot of trauma, and we have to tell the true story in order to be able to heal,” said Puyallup Tribal Councilwoman Annette Bryan. Tacoma Arts Administrator Amy McBride said the totem pole will likely be cut into pieces, with a possibility a portion might go to the Tacoma Historical Society, where a display would include its full history. McBride said officials hope to commission new tribal artwork for the park.

West Virginia

Charleston: Elementary school students across the state will receive an array of free books this summer. The state Department of Education is entering the second year of the West Virginia Blue Ribbon Book Club, distributing 258,000 books to public school children entering grades one through three. Books will be shipped by the end of this month. Teachers also will receive books in order to create lesson plans for the upcoming school year, the department said in a news release. “This year, we were able to expand the program to include our third graders, which means more books in the hands of our youngest learners,” state schools Superintendent Clayton Burch said. The book club is a partnership among the department, the Marshall University June Harless Center and the Dollywood Foundation. The department also has included a lineup of celebrity readers on its website, including West Virginia men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins and men’s soccer coach Chris Grassie of national champion Marshall.

Wisconsin

Poynette: The world’s tallest horse has died. The 20-year-old Belgian named Big Jake lived on Smokey Hollow Farm in Poynette. Valicia Gilbert, wife of the farm’s owner, Jerry Gilbert, said Big Jake died about two weeks ago. “We would rather not remember him by a date – it’s been a traumatic event for our family,” she said. Big Jake was 6-foot-10 and weighed 2,500 pounds. The Guinness Book of World Records certified him as the world’s tallest living horse in 2010. Jerry Gilbert told WMTV that Big Jake was a “superstar” and a “truly magnificent animal.” He said Big Jake was born in Nebraska and weighed 240 pounds at birth, about 100 pounds more than a typical Belgian foal. He said he plans to memorialize Big Jake by keeping his stall empty and inserting a brick on the outside of it with his picture and name. “It’s very quiet (at the farm),” Jerry Gilbert said. “The other horses know. I think they have their own grieving time because Jake was the center of attention around here. There is a huge void. It feels like he’s still here, but he’s not.”

Wyoming

Casper: The state is making a bid to land the headquarters of the National Rifle Association. Gov. Mark Gordon and Secretary of State Ed Buchanan asked the firearms advocacy and lobbying organization in a letter released to the public last week to relocate to Wyoming from Fairfax, Virginia. The two Republicans sent the letter June 18 and as of Tuesday hadn’t heard back from the group, state officials told the Casper Star-Tribune. The letter cited Wyoming’s lack of taxes and gun regulations as reasons it would be a good home for the NRA. “We have permitless carry, the castle doctrine, anti-financial discrimination laws, permitless purchase and possession for rifles, shotguns and handguns, no registration requirements and several other pro-Second Amendment laws on the books,” the letter said. Guns are popular in GOP-dominated Wyoming, and the Legislature has sought to ease gun rules further. Wyoming is home to several firearms manufacturers including Magpul and Weatherby. The NRA already has indicated it plans to move to Texas. The group attempted to file for bankruptcy in January, but a judge dismissed the request, finding it was not filed in good faith.

From USA TODAY Network and wire reports