State and Local Daily Digest: Bat Feces, Mold Prompt Fla. State Worker Lawsuit; N.Y. Fantasy Sports Settlement

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
PUBLIC HEALTH | Three state workers are suing over health ailments suffered in Northwood Centre, where 10 pounds of bat feces was discovered above the desk of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Ken Lawson. Mold and poor air quality were also cited in the lawsuit, claiming negligence as far back as 2007. Florida plans to move the approximately 1,500 state employees in the building out in the next few months. [Tallahassee Democrat]

ALBANY, NEW YORK
GAMBLING | New York users of FanDuel and DraftKings are temporarily barred from the websites’ fantasy sports contests, per a Monday settlement with state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office. Both sides have agreed to put their legal battle on hold while New York’s legislature considers regulating the industry, which the AG holds currently amounts to illegal gambling. A law would likely lay out collection of state fees and, if passed, would see the AG drop the gambling portion of the lawsuit. [The Journal News]

WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MARIJUANA | The U.S. Supreme Court won’t weigh in on Nebraska and Oklahoma’s proposed lawsuit against Colorado’s legal marijuana laws. Though the high court declined 6-2 to hear the case, the plaintiff states can now bring it before U.S. District Court. "The fact remains—Colorado marijuana continues to flow into Oklahoma, in direct violation of federal and state law,” said Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt following Monday’s decision. “Colorado should do the right thing and stop refusing to take reasonable steps to prevent the flow of marijuana outside of its border.” [The Denver Post]

MADISON, WISCONSIN
GUN SAFETY | Not all shooters are thrilled with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ proposal to ban alcohol consumption at its eight shooting ranges. While consistent with private ranges and gun clubs, the new safety regulations—which also prohibit automatic weapons, exploding targets and staying loaded off the firing line—have met resistance. "I'm not aware of another constitutional right you lose when you have a beer,” said Jeff Nass, executive director of the National Rifle Association’s Wisconsin chapter. [Associated Press via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
HEALTH CARE | County officials are taking issue with the unreliability of the MNsure IT system used to enroll low-income Minnesotans in health care programs. Created in 2013 in accordance with the Affordable Care Act, the platform has been plagued by technical issues since launch, causing eligibility problems for residents of Stearns County and elsewhere across the Land of 10,000 Lakes. “It’s been a challenge for us,” said Nathan Moracco, assistant commissioner for health care at the state Department of Human Services. “It’s been a challenge for the counties to do the eligibility work.” [St. Cloud Times]

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
URBAN PLANNING | Redevelopment in Baltimore hinges on the model State Center project, which would bring new homes and stores backed by state-rented office space to 28 acres of city. Originally proposed in 2005, the plan has been railroaded by everything from a lawsuit over the bidding process to a decision on a parking garage for state employees left up to Gov. Larry Hogan’s office. "It is one of the frustrations of my administration that we are only here and not further," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake at a Monday press conference. "This deserves the support." [The Baltimore Sun]

SAN JOSÉ, CALIFORNIA
AUDITS | A backlog of 296 open audit findings dating as far back as 2010 could save San José at least $13 million and settle several legal disputes if addressed. For instance, the city has yet to collect all $148,000 in overpayments for unused sick leave identified by a 2011 audit. City Council members will hear a report on the unhandled recommendations on Tuesday. [San Jose Inside]

LANSING, MICHIGAN
SOCIAL SERVICES | Child poverty increased in 80 of Michigan’s 83 counties between 2006 and 2014, according to a new report. The report also found that the rate of child abuse and neglect had risen by 26 percent across the state in the same time period. These factors have the potential to increase the likelihood of exposure to lead, and have far-reaching consequences on infant birthweight and mortality, as well as on longer term indicators like school performance and graduation rate. [Detroit Free Press]

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
ACCESSIBILITY | The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Government Center Station had its grand re-opening after being closed for two years of renovations. The station is now fulling accessible to people with disabilities. Some of the history from the stop’s time as “Scollay Square Station” remain–mosaics discovered during renovations were restored and are on display. But, there’s still no word on the creepy ghost costumes that workers found during construction. [MassLive.com]

FLINT, MICHIGAN
WATER CRISIS | Officials in Genesee County are asking the state to cover the $1 million they have spent in the last six months dealing with Flint’s water issues. “When [Governor Snyder] makes the statement that all levels of government have failed, that’s incorrect,” insists County Commissioner Jamie Curtis, adding that “Genesee County didn’t fail.” Without the state’s help, Curtis claims the County will have to lay off 24 employees, and may see its bond rating fail. [Michigan Radio]