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Bowling Green City Commissioners Advance Pedestrian Safety Rules and Allocate Additional Sinkhole Repair Funds

Bowling Green City Commissioners Advance Pedestrian Safety Rules and Allocate Additional Sinkhole Repair Funds

Bowling Green city commissioners have moved forward with new pedestrian safety rules for several of the city's busiest roads. The proposed ordinance aims to restrict individuals from remaining stationary in certain public rights-of-way along major streets such as Dishman Lane, Cave Mill Road, and Broadway Avenue. This measure is intended to reduce the risk of pedestrian-involved accidents, following concerns raised by Commissioner Sue Parrigin regarding numerous pedestrian deaths and injuries. The commissioners approved amendments to the proposal, exempting property owners, residents, and their invited guests from the restrictions and removing a previously proposed $20 permit fee. The ordinance is scheduled for a second reading on September 15. Concurrently, the commissioners approved an additional $462,550 for demolition and sinkhole repairs, increasing the city's total contract with Scott and Ritter Inc. to $1,642,550. Public Works geologist Nick Lawhon reported that the city is currently managing 11 sin...

The Augusta Chronicle

Hurricane season peaks in September. FEMA says prepare now

Hurricane season peaks in September. FEMA says prepare now

September is National Preparedness Month. Learn how to build an emergency kit and plan for natural disasters.

Indiantown Village Council Terminates Manager Taryn Kryzda Amidst Data Center Debate, Appoints Interim Successor

Indiantown Village Council Terminates Manager Taryn Kryzda Amidst Data Center Debate, Appoints Interim Successor

The Indiantown Village Council has terminated Village Manager Taryn Kryzda, who had served since 2024, during a special meeting. This decision came after hours of public comment regarding proposed hyperscale data center projects in the village. Residents urged the council to pause new data center applications to allow for the drafting of regulations addressing infrastructure, utilities, and community impacts. The council voted 4-1 against a resolution that would have temporarily halted these applications. Following this vote, the council proceeded to terminate Kryzda and remove Village Attorney Wade Vose from the meeting, despite his prior resignation. Michael Giardino, former Stuart city manager, was appointed as the interim village manager. Giardino himself was recently fired by the Stuart City Commission. The council indicated that these leadership changes reflect a desire for a new direction in addressing major issues, including future data center development.

Hamilton County 911 Seeks Increased Funding from Chattanooga for Employee Salary Raises

Hamilton County 911 Seeks Increased Funding from Chattanooga for Employee Salary Raises

The Hamilton County 911 emergency communications district is requesting additional funding from Chattanooga and other local governments over the next five years to support employee salary increases. Executive Director Jeff Carney presented this proposal to the Chattanooga City Council on Tuesday. The plan anticipates Chattanooga contributing millions more over this period, with other municipalities and Hamilton County also providing funds. Carney emphasized that the request aims to ensure local governments are adequately compensating the district for the 911 services provided. This framing, however, met with some resistance from council members who asserted that the city already fulfills its financial obligations. District 5 Councilman Dennis Clark suggested a different approach, preferring language that focuses on Chattanooga paying its 'fair share' rather than implying a lack of payment. The council did not vote on the proposal during the meeting, and Carney indicated he remains open to further discussio...

Cedar Rapids Seeks New Contractor for Stalled Road Construction After Shift Companies Abandon Projects

Cedar Rapids Seeks New Contractor for Stalled Road Construction After Shift Companies Abandon Projects

The City of Cedar Rapids is actively searching for a new contractor to complete two unfinished road construction projects that were part of the Paving for Progress program. The previous contractor, Shift Companies, informed the city last month that it would not be able to finish the work. One of the affected projects is on 34th Street SE, and the other is located on the northeast side of town, specifically in the area of Richard Drive and Nancy Jane Lane. City Engineer Ken DeKeyser has confirmed that sufficient work will be done on 34th Street SE to ensure the road remains open throughout the upcoming winter, addressing concerns raised by local residents. A definitive timeline for the completion of these projects by a new contractor has not yet been established.

Newton Reorganizes Sustainability Office, Shifts Focus to Implementation Amid Leadership Change

Newton Reorganizes Sustainability Office, Shifts Focus to Implementation Amid Leadership Change

The city of Newton is reorganizing its climate and sustainability office, integrating it into the Department of Public Works (DPW) and re-evaluating its leadership structure. Mayor Marc Laredo's administration announced that Sustainability Co-Chair Ann Berwick would be 'transitioning' out of her role, though Berwick stated she was 'abruptly fired' without a stated reason or discussion about the city's future sustainability plans. This change marks a shift in the city's approach to sustainability, moving from policy development to active implementation and climate adaptation strategies. Newton Chief Operations Officer Josh Morse explained that the reorganization aims to leverage the DPW's extensive resources and infrastructure capabilities to execute climate action plans more effectively. The city has a long history of environmental leadership, dating back to the 1970s with an 'energy engineer' position, and has since expanded its initiatives to include stormwater resiliency and phosphorus reduction program...

The Columbus Dispatch

Man sentenced for April 2025 road rage shooting on I-270

Man sentenced for April 2025 road rage shooting on I-270

Dewayne Pittman pleaded guilty to felonious assault in connection to the April 2025 shooting that left a man injured.

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Removes Interchanges from South Extension Design Amid Norman Opposition

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Removes Interchanges from South Extension Design Amid Norman Opposition

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) has removed two proposed interchanges from the design of its South Extension Turnpike project after the Norman City Council rejected a resolution supporting their construction. The interchanges, planned for Alameda Drive and Tecumseh Road, along with a third at Etowah Road, were part of the larger South Extension, which aims to connect Interstate 40 to Interstate 35. OTA Executive Director Joe Echelle announced the change at a recent board meeting, explaining that without an approved resolution from the city, the OTA cannot transfer the right-of-way and maintenance responsibilities, which is standard procedure. The interchanges were part of the 15-year, $8.2 billion statewide ACCESS turnpike improvement project. While the interchanges have been removed from the current design, Echelle stated that the design would not preclude their construction at a future date, though this would likely incur increased costs and shift the burden to the city.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Sarasota County shifts $15.6 million to key evacuation route

Sarasota County shifts $15.6 million to key evacuation route

Sarasota County shifts $15.6 million toward widening River Road and may redirect another $7.5 million from a school grant.

Springfield News-Leader

Neighborhood Works+ narrows down Springfield improvement projects

Neighborhood Works+ narrows down Springfield improvement projects

Residents across Springfield submitted more than 560 ideas for neighborhood projects in early 2026. Now, 30 have been identified to move forward.

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Lubbock City Council hosting public hearing, 1st vote on budget, tax rate

Lubbock City Council hosting public hearing, 1st vote on budget, tax rate

The Lubbock City Council will host public hearings on Tuesday, Sept. 1, to hear from the public on its proposed tax rate and budget for the upcoming year.

FEMA Fast-Tracks Recovery Funds for Indiana After Severe Flooding

FEMA Fast-Tracks Recovery Funds for Indiana After Severe Flooding

Indiana is set to receive expedited disaster aid following recent storms and historic flooding, thanks to a new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) pilot program. FEMA officials, alongside Governor Mike Braun, toured affected areas, including Carmel, Gary, and Connersville, to assess the damage. In Carmel, a major bridge collapse highlighted the severity of the situation. FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton explained that the pilot program aims to streamline the distribution of recovery funds, enabling communities to rebuild faster. The federal government has already approved major disaster declarations for 21 counties in Indiana, with damages estimated to exceed $5 billion. This initiative is designed to ensure that federal support is not a bottleneck in the recovery process.