NewsWatch: Cities and Counties -- Robber Wears Plastic Bag on Head, Nearly Suffocates

Obama Courts Mayors
Knowing he may face an even more hostile Congress after the November elections, President Barack Obama is turning to mayors such as Atlanta's Kasim Reed to help him persuade national lawmakers to pass his proposed $50 billion transportation improvements package. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Robber Wears Plastic Bag on Head, Nearly Suffocates
Phoenix police are searching for a man who pulled a plastic bag over his head as a disguise and nearly suffocated when he robbed a Circle K.  Arizona Republic

Bike Lanes Abused, Says Report
The dedicated bicycle lane has re-engineered the New York City’s byways so that two-wheelers get a more equal share of the roadspace. But a report found that pedestrians walk in the lanes; cyclists travel the wrong way in the lanes; cars open their doors into the lanes; motor vehicles -- including police cars, taxis and other city-owned cars -- park in the lanes. The report examined bicycle lanes at 11 locations throughout Manhattan. New York Times

The World's Fastest-Growing Cities
The urban powerhouses of the next decade aren't behemoths like New York or Mumbai, but smaller cities like Chongqing, China; Santiago, Chile; and Austin, Texas. Forbes

An Alternative to Congestion Pricing: Roadway Traffic Restraint
We ... ought to be charging drivers more to make up for the negative effects they have on the environment and the roadway infrastructure," according to a recent article, "and ... we ought to be increasing subsidies to encourage people to take transit." The Transport Politic

D.C. Paid More than $50 Million in Legal Settlements
Every year, people file suits alleging a litany of misdeeds by the D.C. government, including age discrimination, false arrest, improperly maintaining walkways, errantly tossing trash cans and driving over pedestrians. Washington Post

New Jersey Stun Gun Rules Liberalized
In the year since New Jersey has allowed police to use stun guns, not a single one has been fired or even purchased. That’s because the original policy was far too limiting, state officials said today when announcing new rules on stun gun use. New Jersey Star-Ledger

Bell, Calif., Residents March on City Hall
Dozens of Bell, Calif., residents armed with brooms have marched on City Hall, saying the California attorney general needs to "clean house" in the scandal-plagued city. Between 40 and 50 residents held signs Thursday night demanding that the city immediately be placed into receivership. Sacramento Bee