Montana State

Montana Free Press

The MT Lowdown is a weekly digest that showcases a more personal side of Montana Free Press’ high-quality reporting while keeping you up to speed on the biggest news impacting Montanans. Want to see the MT Lowdown in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. My story from earlier...

Is forever too long for open space protection?

Ohio State

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The Lantern

On Tuesday, licensed Ohio dispensaries began legally selling non-medical marijuana to consumers; however, the drug’s possession, growth and/or usage are still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus. Credit: Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS [Original caption: Four citizen-led petitions with proposals to update Dallas’ charter hit the 20,000 valid signature threshold to make it on the Nov. 5 election ballot, including one that would ban police officers from arresting or citing people carrying less than four ounces of marijuana.] As of Tuesday, students 21 and older can now legally purchase marijuana in Ohio.

Dispensary sales of recreational marijuana began Tuesday; possession and usage still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus

Colorado State

David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Today

A permanent marker will be erected to honor the victims of the racist mass shooting nearly a year ago at a Dollar General store in the New Town community. City Council approved the marker 17-0 on Tuesday night.

Marker will honor victims of racist Dollar General shooting

The Current GA

Since 2020, the condition known as long COVID-19 has become a widespread disability affecting the health and quality of life of millions of people across the globe and costing economies billions of dollars in reduced productivity of employees and an overall drop in the work force .

Expert: Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – picture is unsettling

Thomson, GA

Daily Coffee Press

A Georgia city mayor has been arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation following an investigation and a grand jury indictment. According to GBI officials, the Thomson Police Department requested the agency to investigate an allegation that Thomson City Mayor, 52-year-old Benjamin Cary Cranford, provided alcohol to an inmate on work detail within the city limits on June 4, 2024.

Georgia City Mayor Arrested for Allegedly Giving Alcohol to an Inmate on Work Det

Denver, CO

In addition to collecting more than 8,000 used needles in the past year from Denver drug users, the Harm Reduction Action Center passed out 10,000 meth pipes and “snort kits,” according to a newsletter sent to its supporters Thursday. They also connected about 1,700 people to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Denver group hands out 10K meth pipes, ‘snort kits,’ connects 1,700 to treatment annually

Georgia State

Appling County, GA

A 40-year-old man from Appling County, Christopher Eric Stone, with a significant criminal history, was recently sentenced to over five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, according to officials from the Department of Justice.

Georgia Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years for in Federal Prison for Meth Distribution

WyoFile

The woman who shot a video of a hydrothermal explosion in Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday morning told WyoFile she and her family were terrified as the blast sent boiling water and rocks skyward, destroying parts of a boardwalk, its guardrail and a nearby bench.

Yellowstone hydrothermal explosion: ‘We were terrified’

Writers represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. Writers are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

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J. Souza

According to cruise industry reports, the world's largest cruise ship is sailing well above 100% capacity, thanks to more beds being filled on recent sailings. Royal Caribbean’s newest flagship, the Icon of the Seas, is proving to be an unprecedented success, with occupancy rates far exceeding expectations.

The Largest Cruise Ship in the World is Sailing at 132% Capacity: How This is Even Possible

South Carolina State

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Colleton County, SC

Explore Beaufort SC

Some beachgoers were in for a surprise this week when a bizarre looking prehistoric fish washed ashore in Colleton County along Edisto Beach at Edisto Beach State Park. It turned out to be an atlantic sturgeon.

Rare Atlantic sturgeon washes ashore on South Carolina beach

More dangerous substances are entering the Denver drug supply, Harm Reduction Action Center warned in a newsletter this week. “The Iron Law of Prohibition posits that as law enforcement becomes more intense, the potency of prohibited substances increases,” HRAC Executive Director Lisa Raville wrote in the newsletter. That is exactly what is happening, she said.

Dangerous substances entering Denver drug supply

New Jersey State

East Orange, NJ

Morristown Minute

NEWARK, N.J. – Leevander Wade, 44, of East Orange, New Jersey, has been sentenced to 440 months in federal prison for his involvement in three murders linked to a large-scale drug trafficking enterprise. U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz imposed the sentence on August 1, 2024, following Wade's guilty plea to racketeering conspiracy earlier this year.

NJ Man Sentenced to 36+ Years for Three Drug-Related Murders

Kentucky State

Northern Kentucky Tribune

This story was produced through a collaboration between the Daily Yonder , which covers rural America, and Climate Central , a nonadvocacy science and news group. On the day he would become homeless, Wesley Bryant was awoken by his wife, Alexis.

Some Kentuckians, like many rural Americans, are too poor to qualify for federal flood protections

Newark, NJ

NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County man has been charged with numerous offenses related to narcotics distribution and firearms trafficking. Kyrell Domnie, 39, of Irvington, known by the alias "Fly Ky," was charged by complaint and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court on July 17, 2024. He remains detained following the hearing.

Convicted Felon Faces Multiple Narcotics and Firearms Charges

Black people represent 10.8% of Denver’s and 4.1% of Colorado’s populations, according to Census statistics. But they are almost four times more likely than other races to become homeless, according to the Point in Time count. They represent 4.11% of Colorado's population but 16.7% of people experiencing homelesssness. So why is that?

Denver's homeless crisis: Disparities for Black community

Florida State

Uncovering Florida

In a divided vote on Senate Bill 1084, which would make a variety of regulatory changes including putting a ban on lab grown meat state-wide, Florida’s Senate and House ultimately decided to pass it, sending it on to Governor DeSantis for approval. DeSantis officially approved it on May 1, 2024, and the law came into effect on July 1, 2024.

DeSantis Signed New Florida Law: Selling Lab Grown Meat Is Now A Second Degree Misdemeanor

Migrants enrolled in the Denver Asylum Seekers Program won’t get cash benefits after all. The council amended a contract with Haven for Hope during the Safety, Housing, Education and Homelessness Committee meeting Wednesday. Instead of Haven of Hope providing migrants with cash assistance on debit cards, it will instead provide “culturally appropriate” food, if the change is approved by the full council.

Denver may revoke cash assistance for migrants

Louisiana State

Natrona County, WY

Houma, LA

A worker died Aug. 5 when the crane he was operating toppled at a wind farm construction site in remote Natrona County, state and local officials say. The victim, John William Hoffpauir, Jr., 55, of Houma, Louisiana, was working as a crane operator at the Cedar Springs wind energy construction site north of Casper and Glenrock under the control of Blattner Energy at the time of the accident. Hoffpauir was a Blattner Energy employee, a spokesperson for the company told WyoFile.

Worker killed in accident on wind energy construction site in Natrona County

Massachusetts State

Dianna Carney

Sandy Paws Rescue Inc., a foster-based rescue organization in Massachusetts, recently shared their furry friends who have been waiting the longest to find their forever homes. From a puppy who is housebroken and loves toys to a little five-year-old dog who is a great snuggle buddy and loves other dogs, each dog is unique but has one thing in common- they need a family who will love them. Get to know these five great dogs below, and don't forget to leave a comment to let me know which pup stole your heart!

Local Animal Rescue Shares Dogs Who've Been Looking For Love The Longest

NewsBreak

Judge orders more analysis amid debate over threatened status for Upper Missouri grayling

This story is adapted from the MT Lowdown, a weekly newsletter digest containing original reporting and analysis published every Friday. The long-running, oft-litigated saga of the...

Judge orders more analysis amid debate over threatened status for Upper Missouri grayling

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