Likely Cause of Oroville Dam Spillway Collapse Released by Calif. Investigators
Water pours through the main spillway of the Oroville Dam in February. Photo by Kelly M. Grow/ California Department of Water Resources
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Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: Montana’s REAL ID compliance loan; Philly mayor’s marijuana comments; leaders in Missouri city advised to impeach their mayor.
INFRASTRUCTURE | The collapse of the main spillway at the Oroville Dam in Northern California in February was likely caused by “high velocity flows” of water underneath the concrete spillway, which itself had several problems in its original design. An official report into the events that could have grown into a much larger and catastrophic failure of an emergency spillway is expected this fall. But a report released Monday by the Board of Consultants overseeing the investigation into the emergency provides a preliminary look at what is coming into focus, including: “Subsequent erosion of foundation material caused progressive failure both upstream and downstream.” [Los Angeles Times]
GOVERNORS | With Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad preparing to leave Des Moines to be President Trump’s ambassador to China, the GOP-controlled legislature approved $150,000 in funding to provide for Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds’ transition to Branstad’s office. State Democrats have pounced: "While the state is in the middle of a budget mess, it is extravagant and unnecessary to spend $150,000 to move the lieutenant governor from one room to another," State Sen. Tod Bowman said. But Branstad said that in 2007, Democratic lawmakers approved spending $170,000 for the transition costs during Democratic administrations, including when then-Lt. Gov. Chet Culver succeeded Gov. Tom Vilsack. [The Des Moines Register; Iowa Public Radio]
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill into law Tuesday aimed at strengthening the finances of the state’s underfunded pension system. The governor says the bill falls short and argues that the state needs a 401k-style retirement plan for public employees, instead of guaranteeing set payments each month. Under the newly signed law, contributions to the pension system by employees and public agencies will go up. [The State]
MARIJUANA | Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said that Pennsylvania should legalize recreational marijuana like Colorado and other states, saying that law enforcement resources could be better utilized. His comments on Monday came following a weekend “smokeasy” marijuana party bust at a warehouse by Philadelphia police. Kenney fell short of criticizing the law enforcement action, he did tell reporters: "I just think the amount of resources that were put into it may have been a little overkill.” [The Inquirer / Philly.com; WCAU-TV / NBC Philadelphia]
REDISTRICTING | A three-judge panel is set to take on big questions regarding congressional and state House boundaries on Thursday. That same panel, based in San Antonio ruled in March of this year that lawmakers in Texas had knowingly drawn three discriminatory districts, and last week the judges took issue with the 2011 state House map. But both previous rulings left several big picture items unaddressed: Will the state’s political map be redrawn? If so, by whom? And will those maps be ready before the 2018 election cycle? [The Texas Tribune]
STATE AND FEDERAL RELATIONS | Montana might initially use a loan to help cover the up to $4.6 million in costs of complying with the federal REAL ID Act. The Real ID Act passed in 2005 and calls for enhanced driver’s licenses. Montana has previously gained extensions allowing residents to use state-issued licenses to board planes and enter federal buildings. But the federal government last year rejected a request to further delay implementation of the law. Borrowed money to cover the cost of the REAL ID program would be paid back with license fees. [Billings Gazette]
CITY HALLS | The city of Lexington, Kentucky is launching a program that will involve picking up people who are homeless or panhandling and driving them in a van to job sites. Mayor Jim Gray announced the initiative Tuesday. It is based on an Albuquerque, New Mexico program. Those who end up working at the job sites will be paid $9 per hour. The “End Panhandling Now!” van will be operated by New Life Day Center. [Lexington Herald-Leader]
An attorney representing the city of Oronogo, Missouri, has recommended that Mayor Jonathan Hart be impeached, on grounds that he entered into contracts or made payments without approval of the Board of Alderman and has created a hostile work environment at city hall. “These actions not only cost the city money… they continue to this day to put the city’s liability in jeopardy,” the lawyer, Jared Thomas, told the board on Monday. [Joplin Globe]
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