Portland beats N.Y. in communications

WASHINGTON – Thirteen U.S. cities were rated better than New York in a study of emergency communications, according to draft portions of a federal report obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press.

A portion of the report, to be released Wednesday, gives the highest ratings to Washington, San Diego, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Columbus, Ohio, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Laramie County, Wyoming.

Four small city areas did not make perfect grades but still scored higher than New York, according to federal officials: Anchorage, Alaska Ada County, Idaho, Topeka, Kan., and Portland, Maine.

Three major urban centers in California – Los Angeles, Anaheim and Long Beach – also scored above New York.

The lowest scores went to Chicago, Cleveland, Baton Rouge, La., Mandan, N.D., and American Samoa.