After the police killing of George Floyd, a majority of the city council vowed to dismantle the police department. They took a much more modest step this week.
Advocacy groups filed lawsuits against Minneapolis and Denver this month over clear outs of homeless encampments, saying the enforcement during a pandemic is cruel and counterproductive.
New York City, Boston and Seattle top the 2020 Clean Energy Scorecard, which ranks 100 cities on local efforts to implement clean energy policy. But only 20 cities are on track to meet their own community climate goals.
STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | Members of a Pennsylvania city council could censure colleagues who attended Black Lives Matter protests … People in Louisiana aren’t providing their contacts to contact tracers … To go to Alaska, you must test negative.
A veto-proof majority of the municipal legislative body said that they will dismantle the police department and reinvest their budget into community-led public safety programs. But many key details have yet to emerge.
STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | Racial slur uttered after Ahmaud Arbery shooting, defendant said … Las Vegas bans protesters from carrying backpacks … Hawaii warns of scams targeting sex offenders.
In the absence of federal civil rights investigations into the conduct of local police departments, some states may begin to implement their own consent decree programs.
STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | Los Angeles Metro apologizes for weekend transit shutdown that stranded riders … Pennsylvania governor promises school reopenings … Boston tries to rapidly build out bike lanes.
The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether or not to take up a series of cases that challenge the legal doctrine of qualified immunity, which has been used to shield officers from civil liability over their actions.
STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | Supreme Court lets state church restrictions stand … Arizona challenges Google location tracking policies … Boston Marathon canceled.
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Positive Covid-19 case in Pennsylvania legislature causes stir … New York City mayor eases retailers ability to walk away from leases … Oklahoma governor vetoes medical marijuana delivery bill.
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | No raises for city workers in D.C. … Shutdown Colorado restaurant sues governor … Illinois moves toward allowing Chicago casino.
A new suit against Minneapolis and scooter companies is at least the third of its kind filed this year. It alleges that electric scooters are creating hazards on sidewalks for people with disabilities.