usatoday_20170111_USA_Today

4ANEWS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017

Sites where Underground

Railroad conductor Harriet

Tubman lived and worshiped in

Auburn, N.Y., officially became a

national park on Tuesday, add-

ing to growing recognition for

the abolitionist and activist.

The Harriet Tubman Na-

tional Park commemorates

her post-Civil War advocacy

for women’s suffrage and

other causes. It includes

her home, a home she

helped establish for elder-

ly and indigent African

Americans, and the historic

Thompson Memorial A.M.E.

Zion Church and rectory, locat-

ed near the cemetery where she

is buried.

A memorandum, signed by

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell

during a ceremony, established

the park as the 414th unit in the

National Park System.

“She’s a true American hero

because she didn’t just secure

the blessings of liberty for her-

self, she risked her life to secure

it for others and passionately

fought to change her country to

secure it for everyone,” said

Senate Minority Leader

Charles Schumer, D -N.Y., dur-

ing the ceremony with other

New York lawmakers, commu-

nity and church members.

Born on Maryland’s

Eastern Shore, Tubman was

enslaved for 30 years before es-

caping in 1849 to Philadelphia.

She then returned to Maryland

to lead hundreds of slaves to

freedom in the North over a 10-

year-period and became known

as “Moses” by African Ameri-

can and white abolitionists.

A sister site in Cambridge,

Md. — the Harriet Tubman Un-

derground Railroad National

Historical Park — became a na-

tional park in December 2014

and its visitors center is expect-

ed to open in March.

“I never ran my train off the

track, and I never lost a passen-

ger,” she’s been quoted as

saying.

Her legacy has received

greater attention in recent

years. In April, the U.S. Trea-

sury Department announced a

plan for Tubman to replace An-

drew Jackson as the portrait on

the $20 bill.

Jewell said she can “hardly

wait” to go to the ATM and find

Tubman’s likeness on a $20.

Auburn resident Judith Bry-

ant, Tubman’s great-great-great

grandniece, said she was

thrilled to see the park finally

come to fruition.

“I’m just happy that it got

done on President Obama’s

watch,” she said. “It’s truly sig-

nificant for the country.”

National park honors Harriet Tubman

HIGHLIGHT: NEW YORK

MIKE GROLL, AP

Harriet Tubman’s residence in Auburn, N.Y., is

now officially the 414th unit in the National

Park System. She will also be on the $20 bill.

Nicole Gaudiano

USA TODAY

AP

STATE-BY-STATE

ALABAMAMobile: Fonde Ele-
mentary School in Mobile Coun-
ty is going to year-round classes
starting this summer, WKRG-TV
reports. Students will have a
five-week summer break and a
two to three-week break after
each quarter.

ALASKAJuneau: The Coast
Guard rescued four people from a
disabled fishing vessel in heavy
seas. The Lady Gudny was left
dead in the water 230 miles east
of Kodiak.

ARIZONAChandler: Regulators
say there were no human re-
mains in an Arizona funeral
home when it caught fire last
weekend. The Valley of the Sun
Mortuary in Chandler suffered
heavy damage.

ARKANSASLittle Rock: Arkan-
sas officials say the number of
mumps cases in the northwest
part of the state appears to be
leveling off. The state Depart-
ment of Health says there were
2,400 confirmed or strongly
suspected cases as of Jan. 5.

CALIFORNIANewport Beach:
Southern California whale watch-
ers were treated last weekend to
five orcas, including a calf, seen
near Point Vicente.

COLORADOPueblo: The Army
has resumed destruction of
chemical weapons at a Colorado
plant after fixing a leak. The
Pueblo Chemical Depot destruc-
tion plant is destroying shells
containing mustard agent.

CONNECTICUTGroton: The
president of defense contractor
Electric Boat in Groton says the
company can “absolutely”
achieve the Navy’s goal of ramp-
ing up the number of submarines
in the fleet. The Navy released a
355-ship proposal last month
with18 attack submarines.

DELAWAREHockessin: A Dela-
ware teenager has been recog-
nized by President Obama for the
hundreds of hours he spends
helping the poor. The News Jour-
nal reports that Kevin Jasani, 17,
of Hockessin, received the Presi-
dent’s Volunteer Service Award
last month.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Nan-
do’s Peri-Peri restaurant chain
launched a “#Everyone Is Wel-
come” public relations campaign
this week at its six District of
Columbia locations, plastering
the windows with posters pro-
claiming it’s “an immigrant em-
ploying, gay loving, Muslim
respecting, racism opposing,
equal paying, multicultural res-
taurant,” WTOP Radio reports.

FLORIDATampa: Tampa police
say seven people with “Food not
Bombs” were arrested last week-
end for serving food to
the homeless
without a
permit. They
face misde-
meanor
charges.

GEORGIA
Atlanta:
Federal au-
thorities are
revoking med-
ical certificates
given to truckers
by Anthony Lefteris, a chiroprac-
tor operating out of an Atlanta
truck stop. Prosecutors say Lefte-
ris skipped required tests such as
vision and hearing.

HAWAIIHonolulu: Firefighters
helped remove people from a
popular hiking trail in Hawaii’s
Koko Head District Park after a
brush fire broke out. Sunday’s fire
took five hours to extinguish.

IDAHOBoise: Gov. C. L. “Butch”
Otter is proposing $2.4 million in
spending to add 25 medical resi-
dency positions in Idaho. The
state’s first medical school is
being developed on Idaho State
University’s Meridian campus.

ILLINOISChicago: A case before
the Illinois Supreme Court this
week challenges a law that allows
the state’s not-for-profit hospitals

to skip paying property taxes. The

Chicago Tribune reports that

hospital applications for property

tax exemptions are in limbo while

courts consider the issue.

INDIANAElkhart: Bills in the

Indiana Legislature aim to ex-

empt out-of-state buyers of rec-

reational vehicles from having to

pay state sales tax, even if their

states don’t have a reciprocal

agreement in place, The Elkhart

Truth reports.

IOWADes Moines: Prosecutors

say Eddie Tipton, a former official

of the Iowa-based Multi-State

Lottery Association, took ad-

vantage of a false random num-

ber generating program he

designed to predict winning

lottery numbers and recruited his

brother, Tommy, to help him cash

winning tickets. Their trials are

delayed to later this year.

KANSASTopeka: The Topeka

Capital-Journal reports that a

Kansas National Guard internal

investigation focused on allega-

tions that recruiters were pres-

sured by superiors to clear

unqualified applicants.

KENTUCKYDanville: A Boyle

County family created a calendar

dedicated to its hat-wearing lla-

ma. Fizzy Ramsey, board presi-

dent of the local humane society,

tells The Advocate-

Messenger that a

sombrero was

put on Wayne the

llama at her

younger brother’s

farm wedding,

and that started a

chain of other

hats and requests

to buy photos.

LOUISIANANew

Orleans: Fifty-five

new traffic cameras

began photographing

and fining New Orleans

speeders this week. The

cameras are being de-

ployed in school zones,

NOLA.com/ The Times-Picayune

reports.

MAINEPortland: A developer is

seeking approval for a $13 million

condominium development in

Portland. The Portland Press

Herald reports that the four-story

building would have 22 single-

bedroom units and 23 two-bed-

room units.

MARYLANDDundalk: A Mary-

land man was arrested following

an hourslong standoff Sunday

that police say began when a

family member took a bite from

his grilled cheese sandwich. After

the bite, the man fired a gunshot

in the house and barricaded him-

self inside before surrendering.

MASSACHUSETTSBoston: Driv-

ers in Boston, beware. The city’s

default speed limit is now 25

mph. It applies to any city street

unless a different limit is posted.

MICHIGANAnn Arbor: The

University of Michigan’s academ-

ic medical center is changing its

name to better reflect its mission

of patient care, education and

research. Starting this week, the

new name is “Michigan

Medicine.”

MINNESOTAMinneapolis:

Minneapolis park police are

warning thrill-seekers to stay

away from frozen Minnehaha

Falls. Minnesota Public Radio

reports that a woman was struck

on the head by a falling sheet of

ice while trespassing around the

falls last weekend.

MISSISSIPPIHattiesburg: A

groundbreaking ceremony is set

Wednesday for a monument that

will honor Mississippi’s Gold Star

families — those who lost rela-

tives in military service. Gov. Phil

Bryant will speak at the event.

MISSOURIJefferson City: In

his first act as Missouri’s chief

executive, Gov. Eric Greitens on

Monday banned lobbyist gifts to

executive branch employees.

Greitens campaigned heavily on

ethics and promised to clean up

Capitol culture.

MONTANAKalispell: A Colum-

bia Falls woman reached a plea

agreement in an investment

fraud case. The Flathead Beacon

reports that prosecutors will

recommend a 40-year prison

sentence, with 30 suspended, for

Catherine Ann Finberg.

NEBRASKALincoln: Teams and

hardy individuals are invited to

compete in the

second Cowboy

Ultra run in

May. The Ne-

braska Game

and Parks Com-

mission says the

race is limited to

75 entrants.

NEVADALas Ve-

gas: Las Vegas

police say a man

armed with a sam-

urai sword barri-

caded himself and

an elderly woman in his

home. Police were called by the

man’s father early Monday.

NEW HAMPSHIREHampstead:

New Hampshire officials are

warning off-road riders of thin

ice. A woman was hurt but es-

caped with her passenger when

her recreational vehicle broke

through the ice on a Hampstead

pond and sank in about eight feet

of water.

NEW JERSEYTrenton: New

Jersey municipalities that chose

to honor law enforcement by

adding a streak of blue to the

middle of their roads have been

advised by federal officials to

stop. Blue center lines violate the

Manual on Uniform Traffic Con-

trol Devices for Streets and High-

ways.

NEW MEXICOSanta Fe: A New

Mexico lawmaker is reviving

efforts to reinstate the death

penalty as an option for convicted

killers of police, children and

corrections officers. A spokesman

for Gov. Susana Martinez said she

supports the measure.

NEW YORKNew York: A year

ahead of schedule, cellphone and

Wi-Fi coverage are now provided

to commuters at New York City’s

underground subway station.

NORTH CAROLINAWinston-

Salem: North Carolinians who

lost their driver’s licenses because

of problems at the Department of

Motor Vehicles have gotten them

back. The Winston-Salem Journal

reports that DMV officials had

failed to update records for things

like paying a fine from a ticket.

NORTH DAKOTAFargo: The

crew of a United Express com-

muter jet headed to Denver from

Fargo aborted takeoff early Mon-

day after the plane blew two tires

on the runway. No one was hurt,

and passengers were re-booked

on other flights.

OHIOCincinnati: The use of

traffic cameras by Ohio cities is

once again before the state Su-

preme Court. Attorneys for Day-

ton urged the justices this week

to reject a state law requiring that

a police officer be present when

cameras are being used to gener-

ate red-light or speeding cita-

tions.

OKLAHOMAOklahoma: The

director of Oklahoma’s Depart-

ment of Human Services says

the agency could be forced

to furlough workers or

cut provider rates if it

doesn’t get more

than $42 million

before the fiscal

year ends in

June.

OREGON

Corvallis: Police

arrested a man accused of hitting

two people with a baseball bat.

The attacks came without warn-

ing Saturday at the Corvallis

Public Library.

PENNSYLVANIAPhiladelphia:

A water main break caused a

sinkhole to open on a street in

Philadelphia’s Fishtown section

that was large enough to swallow

two cars.

RHODE ISLANDProvidence:

Providence College has received a

$50,000 gift from a 1958 graduate

to help military veterans who

want to continue and complete

their education. The scholarship

gift comes from Col. Noel J. Doyle

Jr. and his wife. Doyle served 30

years in the Army.

SOUTH CAROLINASpartan-

burg: Footprints in the snow

helped police nab a man suspect-

ed of breaking into a Spartanburg

home. Officers were able to catch

up with Drew Lamb last weekend

after he stumbled several times in

the slippery conditions.

SOUTH DAKOTAPierre: South

Dakota lawmakers are consider-

ing whether some unmanned

aircraft should be exempt from

state registration requirements.

One bill would excuse the owners

of drones weighing less than 55

pounds from being required to

register.

TENNESSEENashville: The

annual Tennessee Sandhill Crane

Festival is this weekend at the

Hiwassee Refuge and Birchwood

Community Center. The festival

celebrates the thousands of

cranes that migrate through or

winter around the refuge.

TEXASAustin: Officials are

investigating the cause of a fire

that destroyed an Islamic center

that was under construction in

Austin. The three-story building

was engulfed in flames when

firefighters arrived last weekend.

UTAHSalt Lake City: The Bu-

reau of Land Management is

planning to round up around

1,500 horses from three herds

this winter. The Salt Lake Tribune

reports that the roundup will

include fitting 100 horses with

GPS tracking devices and releas-

ing them back into the herd.

VERMONTWhite River Junc-

tion: Fourteen towns in Vermont

will connect with certified weath-

erization contractors for free

home professional energy assess-

ments, proposals and quotes.

Meetings will start Jan. 17 in the

pilot Weatherize Upper Valley

program.

VIRGINIAChesapeake: Instead

of a stork, it was a snowplow that

delivered Hugh and Stephanie

Dawson’s baby, Brayden. The

couple was enroute to Cheapeake

Regional Medical Center when

their truck died on an exit ramp

Sunday. Hugh Dawson flagged

down a snowplow and persuaded

the driver to take them the rest of

the way.

WASHINGTONSeattle: Seattle

police are warning heroin users

about dangerous purity levels

after several recent overdoses.

Three people died and a fourth

was taken to Harborview Medical

Center for treatment. The Seattle

Times reports that bicycle officers

were canvassing areas Saturday

to warn users of the danger.

WEST VIRGINIACharleston:

West Virginia has a new travel

guide for 2017 with all crowd-

sourced content. According to

Wild, Wonderful West Virginia,

the guide focuses on recreational

experiences cited in social media,

with stories, pictures, blog posts

and links to video.

WISCONSINMadison: Some

University of Wisconsin-Madison

professors are ripping the state

Department of Natural Re-

sources for scrubbing language

from its website that declared

human activity causes climate

change. The agency changed the

language last month to say the

cause is debatable. Critics of the

change in the UW-Madison cli-

mate, zoology and ecology de-

partments say the new language

incorrectly implies that climate

change is mysterious.

WYOMINGCasper: The Uni-

versity of Wyoming is trying to

attract community college stu-

dents to campus with several

types of scholarships. The Casper

Star-Tribune reports that all

require an associate’s degree and

at least a 3.4 grade-point average.

Compiled from staff and wire reports

by Joe Taylor, with Jim Cheng, Brett

Hait, Peter Mathews, Tom Schmitz, Joe

Peterson and Paul Rolfes. Design by

Kayla Golliher. Graphics by Alejandro

Gonzalez.

News from across the USA