State & Local Daily Digest: L.A. Gas Shortage Looms; Pennsylvania Sues Delaware

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
ENERGY | Angelenos, like everyone else in California, have been asked to conserve water because of the ongoing drought. But there’s a looming shortage of a different type: natural gas. Due to residual effects from the massive Porter Ranch natural gas leak, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is warning that it may have to shut off gas-fueled power plants during times of peak electricity use in the summer. [Southern California Public Radio / KPCC]

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
INTERSTATE RELATIONS | The commonwealth of Pennsylvania has sued the state of Delaware in federal court over more than $10 million in unclaimed money orders. The issue at hand? A money transfer company incorporated in the First State sent $10.3 million in unclaimed property to the Delaware state government between 2000 and 2009. Such unclaimed property is a sizable amount of Delaware’s revenue. Pennsylvania is not pleased, however. "Federal law prevents Delaware from collecting money associated with unclaimed money orders that belong to Pennsylvania and other states," Pennsylvania State Treasurer Timothy Reese said in a statement. "Put simply, unclaimed property from Pennsylvania should stay in Pennsylvania." [The News-Journal]

HOOSICK FALLS, NEW YORK
WATER | The ongoing water crisis in this small New York community northeast of Albany has grown more serious. After investigating high levels of the synthetic chemical PFOA in the local drinking water supply, state environmental officials are now likely looking at more than one source of the toxin. There may be at least 11 contamination or illegal dumping sites, though the state is not confirming the full scope of its investigation. [Politico New York]

PIERCE COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA
NUCLEAR WASTE | On Tuesday, county commissioners voted to prohibit researchers from drilling an exploratory borehole on state-owned land that some feel could be a first step to using the site as a place to store spent nuclear fuel. The Energy and Environmental Research Center, based in Grand Forks, says there are no plans to actually store nuclear waste at the site but has been interested to drill at the location to see if a type of crystalline rock 3 miles underground could be used to store nuclear waste. [The Bismarck Tribune]

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS | David Beckham wants to build a professional soccer stadium in Miami, but his plans have hit a snag over parking. Local officials are concerned that Beckham’s stadium plans do not include any parking garages and instead have a vision of fans reaching the site by Metrorail or parking in lots that are located within a half mile of the proposed 9-acre site along the Miami River. [The Miami Herald]

KALAMA, WASHINGTON
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | After a proposed Chinese-backed methanol production and shipping facility in Tacoma ran into local opposition, municipal officials in this small port city on the Columbia River have put out the welcome mat. “Part of our identity is heavy industry on the river. People seem to embrace that,” Kalama City Administrator Adam Smee said, citing the desire to create more local jobs. [KUOW]

AMARILLO, TEXAS
MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT | Interim City Manager Terry Childers is under fire from the public and elected officials for a series of 9-1-1 calls he made in mid-February where he berated dispatchers, threatened their jobs and called their operation a “three-ring circus.” The incident was prompted by Childers’ briefcase and bag being taken from outside his Residence Inn room and demands that police shut the hotel down to investigate. Childers has apologized and said he regrets his actions. [Amarillo Globe-News]

COBB COUNTY, GEORGIA
TRANSPORTATION | Legislation approved this week by the Georgia State Senate would create more hoops for local governments in the Peach State to jump through if they want to create any new “fixed guideway transit” systems without getting voter approval first. That would make it difficult for jurisdictions like Cobb and Gwinnett counties to move on plans for new bus rapid transit or rail systems. The bill’s next stop? The Georgia House of Representatives. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
ALCOHOL REGULATIONS | Virginia’s state-controlled liquor stores are one step closer to allowing the sale of high-proof grain alcohol. The House of Delegates, which previously passed legislation that OKs the sale of products like Everclear, rejected an appeal by Gov. Terry McAuliffe to delay implementation to continue research into impacts the sale of grain alcohol might have on college campuses. [Richmond Times-Dispatch]

IOWA CITY, IOWA
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS | For a second time, elected officials in Iowa City have given the thumbs down to $50,000 in starter funds needed to make a “polarizing” piece of public art called The Lens a part of a downtown park. “We’re divided, the public is divided, the council’s divided,” Mayor Jim Throgmorton said. [The Gazette]