Panel passes bill to tap revenues
A legislative panel on Tuesday passed two bills that would pump $100 million into the state General Fund next year. [The Birmingham News]
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Archive of Stateline.org RSS - State by State Roundup on Wednesday March 16, 2005
Panel passes bill to tap revenues
A legislative panel on Tuesday passed two bills that would pump $100 million into the state General Fund next year. [The Birmingham News] Read More
Bill sets 10 mills to fund schools
Thirty school systems, including Walker and Blount counties, would have to raise property taxes for public schools under a bill approved Tuesday by the House of Representatives. [The Birmingham News] Read More
Nonviolent convicts fill state prisons
Alabama courts have sent more people to prison for drug possession than for the violent crimes of murder, manslaughter, rape and robbery combined. Second to possession is drug distribution. [The Birmingham News] Read More
Senate to vote today on drilling in Alaska
WASHINGTON - The Senate will vote today on whether to authorize drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a move that would clear the way for exploration in a piece of the vast Alaska expanse that environmental groups have long sought to shield from oil companies. [The Boston Globe] Read More
Polygraphs proposed for freed sex offenders
Paroled rapists, child molesters and other sex offenders would have to submit to lie-detector tests under a new program proposed by the state Department of Corrections. [Anchorage Daily News] Read More
Surplus may go to schools
The Alaska Legislature is poised to spend most of the surplus dollars coming in from record high oil prices on schools. [Anchorage Daily News] Read More
Psychiatric hospital for youth proposed
A local nonprofit has joined with an Iowa organization to propose building a psychiatric hospital capable of treating 120 boys and girls up to age 18, at the corner of Lathrop Street and 30th Avenue. [Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks)] Read More
Democrats furiously fight move into ANWR
WASHINGTON - With momentum and the rules of the Senate working against them, Democrats launched a furious, last-gasp campaign yesterday to derail a Republican-backed plan to allow drilling in an Alaskan wilderness area. [Seattle Post-Intelligencer] Read More
Voucher foes rally to kill bill
Fearing that public schools could lose tax dollars to private and religious schools, parents are urging Gov. Janet Napolitano to veto a voucher bill that appears headed for her desk. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
Fortified CPS still in crisis
Workloads remain at crisis level at Child Protective Services more than a year after state leaders pumped millions of new dollars into the agency and authorized the hiring of more than 200 workers. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
Napolitano again vetoes ecological-terrorism bill
For the second time in two years Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed legislation to use state racketeering laws to go after ecological terrorism. [Arizona Daily Star (Tucson)] Read More
Proposal would give Senate say on judges
A deal worked out between conservative groups and judges would give state senators some say for the first time about who sits on the state's high court and certain lower courts. [Arizona Daily Star (Tucson)] Read More
Idea for Western primary reborn
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - A Democratic activist is among those trying to revive the idea of a Western presidential primary with eight states: Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah. [Billings Gazette] Read More
Senate OKs wider use of DUI gear
First-time DUI offenders could agree to equip their vehicles with an ignition interlock device to prevent drunken driving rather than face suspended driver's licenses under a bill that breezed through the Senate on Tuesday. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
House approves bill that would expand gambling
Two communities in Arkansas would be allowed to vote on whether to expand gambling at horse and dog tracks under a bill passed Tuesday by the state House. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
Bill removing Advanced Placement requirement falters
An education bill ran into trouble Tuesday when an assistant attorney general said the measure could threaten the state's efforts to comply with court-ordered education reforms. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
Scroggin discusses school funding bills
VILONIA, Ark. - State Rep. Preston Scroggin (D-Vilonia) discussed at the Vilonia School Board meeting Monday night the myriad of school facility funding bills and other education-related issues that are at various phases in the 85th General Assembly. [The Log Cabin Democrat (Conway)] Read More
Bill honors voters' intent
The Arkansas House and Senate passed a bill that allows counties with dedicated sales and use tax funds to appropriate up to 95 percent of anticipated revenues, instead of the former maximum of 90 percent. [The Log Cabin Democrat (Conway)] Read More
Bentonville art museum bill clears committee with ease
A bill granting a state sales tax exemption to build a $30 million art museum to house a collection worth at least $100 million in Northwest Arkansas passed the House Revenue and Taxation Committee in minutes on Tuesday. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
Angelides off to early start in governor's race
Democratic State Treasurer Phil Angelides launched his campaign for governor Tuesday with a sharp offensive portraying Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as out-of-touch and unwilling to turn to corporations and wealthy Californians to help balance the state's books. [The Sacramento Bee] Read More
Case stirs fight on Jews, juries and execution
OAKLAND, Calif. - The convictions of dozens of death-row inmates in California are coming under legal scrutiny because of accusations that Jews and black women were excluded from juries in capital trials in Alameda County as "standard practice." [The New York Times (registration)] Read More
Gay marriage- The great (legal) divide
Same-sex marriage may be an idea whose time has come - the next step in the march toward the equality of all Americans. [The Sacramento Bee] Read More
Rankings spotlight classroom struggle
California's latest school-by-school ranking reveals that students in just 21 percent of schools scored well enough on last year's tests to secure a spot for their campus among the state's elite -- those achieving at least 800 on the Academic Performance Index. [San Francisco Chronicle] Read More
Judge's gay marriage ruling poises Calif for constitutional fight
SAN FRANCISCO - Five years ago this month, California voters passed a law that tried to preserve marriage as the exclusive province of heterosexual couples. But following a trial judge's decision to strike down the statute, a burning question for gay rights advocates and their opponents Tuesday was whether the electorate would vote that way again if a constitutional amendment banning same-sex nuptials makes it to the ballot. [The San Diego Union-Tribune] Read More
Governor's kiss opens peace talks with Democrats
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger opened his first meeting of the year with legislative leaders by showing his affectionate side. [The San Diego Union-Tribune] Read More
Analysis- Governor hits a hurdle on his way to the ballot
Fresh off a successful November election in which voters largely rubber-stamped his initiative agenda, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger could be forgiven for thinking governing via the ballot this year would be less difficult than fighting it out with a stubborn state Legislature. [The Sacramento Bee] Read More
New scores for measuring school progress released
The California Department of Education released new scores Tuesday that show the base from which each school's academic progress will be measured this year. [Mercury News (San Jose)] Read More
Judge- State court security is flawed
Four days after a killing spree at an Atlanta courthouse, California Chief Justice Ronald George warned legislators Tuesday that poor security leaves many of the state's courthouses vulnerable to similar violence. [The Sacramento Bee] Read More
Stem cell fund distribution delayed until fall
LOS ANGELES - The state probably won't issue its first stem cell grants until the fall, nearly four months after its initial plans to begin giving out money in May, the program's interim president said Tuesday. [The Sacramento Bee] Read More
Watchdog group sues governor
A political watchdog group Tuesday sued Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a business group with ties to him for allegedly violating state campaign fund-raising laws. [The Sacramento Bee] Read More
Regional stem cell labs urged
EMERYVILLE, Calif. - California's new stem cell agency may need to create regional laboratories around the state to carry out research without conflicting with Bush administration rules, the agency's interim chief said Tuesday. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
Gay marriage ruling galvanizes both sides
NEW YORK - A California court's ruling that gay marriage is constitutional in the state has given new fodder to both sides waging one of the nation's most complex and emotional debates. [The Christian Science Monitor] Read More
Democratic race for California governor in '06 starts early
SAN FRANCISCO - Two years ago, before Arnold Schwarzenegger became governor in an unprecedented recall, Democrats in California were meeting for their state convention. [The New York Times (registration)] Read More
Angelides enters race for governor in '06
SAN FRANCISCO - State Treasurer Phil Angelides on Tuesday became the first Democrat to announce his candidacy for governor, lambasting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as an insensitive elitist who has not lived up to his campaign pledges. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
Gov. faces widening network of opposition
Inspired by what began as an isolated protest by California nurses, opponents of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are working in a loose but widening network to thwart his policy proposals. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
Day of change for fiscal fix
As Colorado's senators took a first crack at reshaping landmark budget reform legislation Tuesday, state leaders continued to work behind closed doors to craft a deal both parties can buy. [Denver Post] Read More
Owens seeks cap on tuition increases
Gov. Bill Owens' administration will ask legislators today to ensure that no state college or university student will pay more than 12 percent extra in tuition next year. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
CU candidacy sidelined
A Denver lawmaker effectively torpedoed the fledging candidacy of former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown for the job of interim president at the University of Colorado. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
Idea for Western primary reborn
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - A Democratic activist is among those trying to revive the idea of a Western presidential primary with eight states: Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah. [Billings Gazette] Read More
Shuffle in budget plan
An amended budget-balancing bill is headed to the Senate floor, and some of its former friends and foes are rethinking their positions. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
Legislative blizzard socks state Senate
The Senate debated a smorgasbord of bills Tuesday that passed on unofficial voice votes, despite a Republican here and there questioning the value of the mostly Democratic proposals. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
Colorado wants to cut releases from reservoir so it can refill
Colorado will ask Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton to slash releases from Lake Powell beginning in May to help the giant drought- plagued reservoir refill faster. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
Cap bill moves ahead
The amount of money injured people could receive for pain and suffering would be adjusted for inflation under a bill approved by the House on Tuesday. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
All-in-the-family deals blasted in education department audit
The state Department of Education got rapped for allowing employees to hire relatives in a routine audit released Tuesday. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
Buildings crumbling
Like Humpty Dumpty, Colorado's public buildings are broken, and there are woefully few dollars available to put them together again, lawmakers say. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
Lawmakers back broad smoking ban
A legislator wants a statewide ban on smoking in workplaces, including bars and restaurants. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
Churchill faces army of foes
Whatever the result of a university review of his scholarship, the controversy over Ward Churchill now entering its third month has made one thing clear: The professor has no shortage of enemies. [Denver Post] Read More
EPA's mercury rule attacked
Western states could see a spike in toxic mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in coming years under a rule finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday, national environmental groups charged. [Denver Post] Read More
U.S.-only contracts bill dies
A Democrat-backed effort to ban state contracts with non-U.S. companies whimpered to an end Tuesday when the Senate sponsor killed the bill. [Denver Post] Read More
Metro State finalist, students spar
Metropolitan State College of Denver students complained Tuesday about the presidential-search process and questioned whether Stephen Jordan is the right man for the job. [Denver Post] Read More
Beauprez eyes governor's seat
Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez is gambling his political career - and shuffling the deck of state politics - by taking the first steps toward a bid for governor in 2006. [Denver Post] Read More
Group holds up grants for U. of Colorado
DENVER - A philanthropic organization that has given the University of Colorado nearly $2 million in the past three years has delayed fulfilling grant requests this year, in part because of the school's recent scandals, the organization's president said. [Chicago Sun-Times] Read More
Study - Civil unions aid taxes
Civil unions would pump almost $1 million worth of new tax revenue into Connecticut's economy as same-sex couples shell out significant sums on everything from flowers to food to celebrate their new status, according to a study commissioned by the gay rights lobbying group, Love Makes a Family. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Bill Would Require Obesity-Surgery Insurance
Lawmakers are considering legislation that would require insurance companies to cover the $25,000 to $35,000 cost of weight-loss surgery for severely obese people. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Union asks Rell for help averting strike
Union officials Tuesday called upon Gov. M. Jodi Rell to use her influence to avoid a replay of a divisive 2001 nursing home strike that affected 39 homes across Connecticut. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Poverty relief plan gets panel's approval
Legislation to launch a 10-year state program aimed at reducing child poverty by half cleared an initial hurdle Tuesday but may face a long road in a tough budget year. [New Haven Register (registration)] Read More
Minner's silence upsets residents
Wearing three shirts, two pairs of pants and a thick coat, Walle Gerdts braved a bitter wind to gather more signatures on petitions calling for Gov. Ruth Ann Minner to address rising violence in Wilmington. Minner has yet to respond. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Bill gives more weight to state tests
A bill sponsored by a group of House Republicans would increase the role state tests for 10th-graders play in deciding who graduates in Delaware. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Prison sought for ex-DRBA chief
Former Delaware River & Bay Authority director Michael E. Harkins should spend 12 to 18 months in prison for defrauding the agency, federal prosecutors argued in court papers filed Tuesday. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Will mercury rules improve Del. air?
The Bush administration on Tuesday approved a plan to cap and reduce mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants, under a strategy critics said is a boon to utilities and a setback for air quality. Delaware regulators greeted the plan with skepticism Tuesday. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Mobile home group seeks protection
A group representing owners of manufactured homes asked lawmakers Tuesday to require mobile home park owners to justify any lot rent increases larger than the annual inflation rate. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
End-of-life bills reveal divide over how far law should go
State Rep. Dennis Baxley of Ocala uses stark terms to defend the need for a law in cases like Terri Schiavo's. [St. Petersburg Times] Read More
Senate leader backs tort reform at rally
Senate President Tom Lee, waving his credentials as a businessman and sounding far more committed than he has in recent months, told a capital rally Tuesday that improving the litigation climate for Florida businesses was a "front-burner issue" for himself and the state Senate. [St. Petersburg Times] Read More
State board adopts pre-K rules
Preschools should teach 4-year-olds to brush their teeth, understand numbers, dance and follow rules, according to dozens of guidelines approved Tuesday by the Florida Board of Education. [The Miami Herald (registration)] Read More
Education package clears first hurdle
An education-reform package that could make private-school vouchers available to 350,000 public-school students and would trade strict class-size limits for higher teacher pay passed its first legislative test Tuesday. [The Orlando Sentinel (registration)] Read More
Foggy prekindergarten plans begin to clear up
MIAMI - After months of confusion, Florida's new voluntary prekindergarten program is beginning to take shape. [St. Petersburg Times] Read More
'Who there would take Terri's place?'
Michael Schiavo says he looks into his wife's eyes and sees no spark of consciousness, no recognition, no glimmer of any sort of response. [St. Petersburg Times] Read More
School must get charter, state says
MIAMI - The Hillsborough school district thinks the Life Skills Center charter school is in no shape to open, not with a $500,000 deficit looming before the first student enrolls. [St. Petersburg Times] Read More
Proposal allows property tax break
Looking for a nicer home? Some Florida lawmakers want to help. [St. Petersburg Times] Read More
Issues draw many who link their cause to Schiavo case
WASHINGTON - With the deadline for removing Terri Schiavo's feeding tube just two days away, a variety of interest groups are lobbying politicians in Tallahassee and Washington. [St. Petersburg Times] Read More
Voter initiatives may face limits
A package of proposals that would make it harder for voters to change the Florida Constitution easily cleared its first Senate panel Tuesday -- but without a key measure that is advancing in the House. [The Miami Herald (registration)] Read More
Toll idea advances despite opposition
The state is moving forward with controversial plans to build toll lanes down the center of Interstate 4 as a way to ease the bumper-to-bumper traffic that plagues Central Florida's most-hated road. [The Orlando Sentinel (registration)] Read More
Democratic Party chief to step down, sources say
Florida Democratic Party Chairman Scott Maddox will announce today that he will resign after the legislative session to run for a statewide office in 2006, sources close to Maddox said. [The Orlando Sentinel (registration)] Read More
Business, Bush ally to curb lawsuits
Gov. Jeb Bush on Tuesday called for a major rewrite of Florida's civil-litigation laws to limit class-action lawsuits, reduce companies' exposure to large jury awards and "to create a more jobs-friendly" legal system. [The Orlando Sentinel (registration)] Read More
For evangelicals, a bid to 'reclaim America'
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. - For the Reback daughters, the big attraction was the famous Ten Commandments monument, brought to Florida on tour after being removed from the Alabama judicial building as unconstitutional. [The Christian Science Monitor] Read More
Take us out of the ballgame, dollar-gazing Floridians are saying
When reporters asked Gov. Jeb Bush last month whether he could find money to fend off Arizona's latest incursions into spring baseball, he offered a tepid "We'll see," adding that the state had other priorities. [The New York Times (registration)] Read More
Smoking ban scaled back
Smoking would be allowed in bars and restaurants that don't serve minors under an amendment to the proposed Georgia Smokefree Air Act, approved Tuesday by a House health committee. Stricter local smoking bans wouldn't be effected. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration)] Read More
Lawsuits likely over vote ID bill
A top official of the American Civil Liberties Union said Tuesday he expects voting rights groups to file suit if the General Assembly passes legislation requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration)] Read More
House looks to shield privacy of toll road users
Republicans and Democrats in the Georgia House were in rare agreement today on a new exception to the Georgia Open Records Act. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration)] Read More
Legislature approves Gwinnett 4-year college
The Georgia House passed a resolution this morning calling for creation of a four-year college at Gwinnett University Center. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration)] Read More
House subcommittee adds 60-day stays into development bill
A House subcommittee put a 60-day delay into a pro-developers proposal that opponents were calling the "instant landfill bill." [The Macon Telegraph] Read More
Woman who helped nab suspect set to mend life
The third day of Ashley Smith's dramatically changed life brought the promise of at least part of the $60,000 offered for what she did Saturday: lead law enforcement to the capture of Brian G. Nichols, who allegedly shot four people, held her hostage at her apartment in Duluth then let her go. Gov. Sonny Perdue has asked the state's Office of Personnel and Budget to cut a $10,000 check for Smith. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration)] Read More
Move to ban fluoride founders
Efforts to ban the addition of chemicals such as fluoride to Hawaii's drinking water appear dead in the state Legislature this year. [Honolulu Star-Bulletin] Read More
City, state to join forces on potholes
State and city transportation departments are teaming up to fill in the pothole problem, government officials said at an East Honolulu meeting Monday night. [Honolulu Star-Bulletin] Read More
Agency trying to shed light on Sunshine Law
Last year, Hawai'i congressman Ed Case wanted to meet with the state Board of Education for an informal discussion of school issues. [Honolulu Advertiser] Read More
Legislature rejects mental health bill: Lawmakers cite budgetary concerns
Citing budgetary and philosophical concerns, the House of Representatives on Monday voted down a bill aimed at easing the financial burden of those afflicted by mental illness. [Idaho State Journal (Pocatello)] Read More
Bills would tackle water dispute
A dispute over the use of water from the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer remains unresolved and House Speaker Bruce Newcomb isn't waiting for a deal. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Bill that would make contractors register is sent to Kempthorne
More than 40 years after the Idaho Legislature first approved the licensing of builders, a new bill that would require contractors to register with the state is on its way to Gov. Dirk Kempthorne's desk. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Idea for Western primary reborn
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - A Democratic activist is among those trying to revive the idea of a Western presidential primary with eight states: Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah. [Billings Gazette] Read More
Senate to vote on bill to require kids to use car seats up to age 6
The Idaho Senate will vote on whether parents will have to use car seats and booster seats for their children up to age 6. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
GOP names top picks for Noble's seat
MERIDIAN, Idaho - Russ Fulcher, a vice president at Preco Electronics in Boise, is a Republican committee's top pick for filling the Senate seat that Jack Noble surrendered in disgrace last week. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
EPA's mercury rule attacked
Western states could see a spike in toxic mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in coming years under a rule finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday, national environmental groups charged. [Denver Post] Read More
Daley blasts gun control 'sideshow'
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley on Tuesday said Gov. Rod Blagojevich was creating a diversion and "a sideshow" by blaming the city's lobbyists for the recent failure of gun-control legislation. [The Daily Herald (Arlington)] Read More
O'Hare vendor called minority front
City officials alleged Tuesday that a minority contractor at O'Hare International Airport acted as a front for a firm run by Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a top adviser and fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Judge criticizes DCFS over child abuse probes
The state's child-welfare agency has about two months to make its procedures on a difficult subject -- how to investigate child-abuse cases without completely removing children from their families -- meet constitutional requirements. [Chicago Sun-Times] Read More
Democrats push gaming expansion
Democrats in the Illinois Senate plan to start moving a gambling-expansion bill today that will put a casino in Chicago and use some of the proceeds to pay for school construction and early childhood programs. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Union split on import drug plan
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's efforts to promote his prescription drug import program have widened a rift at a major union that the governor recently said was backing the initiative. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
State wants back $12,000 accidentally paid to worker
For six months in 2002, Connie Peters allegedly cashed $12,567 in state paychecks for a job that did not exist, and now Attorney General Lisa Madigan wants that money back -- plus a lot more. [Chicago Sun-Times] Read More
Daley speaks in defense of gun-control measures
CHICAGO - Chicago Mayor Richard Daley urged state lawmakers Tuesday not to pass a "concealed-carry" law for average Illinoisans, even though his city's aldermen can carry guns under a little-known statute. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
State criminal, ethics probes begin
Indiana's newly minted inspector general has launched more than a dozen investigations into suspected criminal or ethics violations across state government. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Inspector general bill bridges impasse
A bill that would create a disputed state inspector general post passed the House 98-0 Tuesday after several bipartisan compromises were reached on key issues. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
Lawmakers begin anew on funding for Colts stadium
Lawmakers started over Tuesday in their work to find the money for a new Indianapolis Colts stadium after several proposals failed during the first half of the legislative session. [Journal and Courier (Lafayette)] Read More
Dungy and NFL chief push for stadium
City officials turned up the star power Tuesday as they tried to revive their troubled push for a new Indianapolis Colts stadium and a Convention Center expansion. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
EPA orders industry to cut mercury 70%
Indiana's coal-burning power plants for the first time must cut mercury emissions under a federal rule hailed by the industry as a clean-air landmark but derided by environmentalists as too lax to protect Hoosiers. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
House GOP hosts town hall meeting
Lake County residents fired up about property tax issues who were unable to attend Monday's rally at the Statehouse have another chance to be heard Friday. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
Proposal to forbid same-sex marriage is passed
Supporters of a proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage won their first major battle in the Iowa Legislature on Tuesday. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Vilsack pushes hard for strong anti-meth laws
Gov. Tom Vilsack made an impassioned plea Tuesday for lawmakers to move forward with tough new anti-methamphetamine laws, arguing that they would help protect Iowa children from a growing problem. [Quad-City Times] Read More
Vilsack endorses plan on regional partnerships
Iowans could see basic services, ranging from law enforcement to garbage collection, provided on a regional level under a plan gaining momentum at the Statehouse. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Psychiatric hospital for youth proposed
A local nonprofit has joined with an Iowa organization to propose building a psychiatric hospital capable of treating 120 boys and girls up to age 18, at the corner of Lathrop Street and 30th Avenue. [Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks)] Read More
Vilsack signs telephone deregulation bill
Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack signed a bill Tuesday that removes price controls from local phone service, a measure he said will modernize and strengthen the state's telecommunications market. [Sioux City Journal] Read More
Vilsack submits list of political nominees
Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack submitted this year's list of nominees to state boards and commissions Tuesday, but he declined to reappoint a controversial hog farmer to another term on the environmental protection board. [Quad-City Times] Read More
Meth legislation sent to committee
Leona Westphal believes she knows the meth-makers in her town, and she's all for doing something to stop them. But don't ask the Corning convenience store owner to quit selling cold and allergy tablets to curb Iowa's meth production - not when those responsible for the scourge are sometimes released after a few months in jail. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
In school-cash hunt, many feel like targets
As Kansas lawmakers scour the budget for more money for elementary and secondary education, higher education officials and representatives of other interest groups are feeling like targets. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Senate backs booster seats
A bill that won tentative approval in the Senate on Tuesday would require that children ages 4 through 7 be strapped into booster seats. [Wichita Eagle (registration)] Read More
Panel weighs abortion rules
Spurred by recent findings that a Kansas City, Kan., doctor performed abortions under unsanitary conditions, a state House committee is likely today to approve a bill mandating health and safety standards for all abortion providers. [Wichita Eagle (registration)] Read More
Kansas urged to act on children's oral health, obesity
Despite overall improvements in child welfare, advocates say Kansas must do more to enhance oral health and reduce childhood obesity. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
KU Med Center chief opposes House committee's budget
The chief of the Kansas University Medical Center said Tuesday that a budget proposal to delay a state employee pay raise and grab other higher education funds would "create significant problems." [Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
Sebelius aide criticizes gambling measure
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius supports expanded gambling in Kansas, but a top aide is criticizing a bill to permit casinos in five areas and slot machines at dog and horse tracks. [Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
Sexual orientation bill attracts comments
Legislation aimed at prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation statewide drew testimony from both sides Tuesday, but no action is planned on the measure. [Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
Female inmate population rocketing from drug crimes
Kentucky's female prison population is growing at a faster rate than male inmate totals, fueled by drug-related crimes and perhaps a new attitude toward prosecuting and sentencing female offenders. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Kentucky environmentalists criticize mercury rule
If you go fishing in Herrington Lake, or in Lake Cumberland, be careful about who eats your catch. The reason: Fish in those and other Kentucky waters have accumulations of mercury in their tissue at levels high enough that more than one meal a week can cause nerve and brain damage in children under 6, and can be passed from mothers to unborn children. Mercury can also be transmitted to infants through breast milk. [Lexington Herald-Leader] Read More
Added state funding lets UK trim tuition hike
The University of Kentucky will scale back its proposed 14.5 percent tuition increase this fall after getting more money in the state budget, UK President Lee Todd said yesterday. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Purchase of sleeping bag, gear defended
Commerce Secretary Jim Host criticized state Auditor Crit Luallen's work last fall, challenging her to dig deeper into the use of state government credit cards. She did so, and found that one of the cards was used last April for a $95.49 purchase of a sleeping bag, flashlights and canteens for Host to use on a camping trip with Gov. Ernie Fletcher and other officials. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Fletcher praises productivity
The bulldozing temporarily stopped at the Kentucky TriModal Transpark on Monday during a visit by Gov. Ernie Fletcher. Kentucky's top steward made an appearance to congratulate local legislators for bipartisan progress in Frankfort. [Bowling Green Daily News] Read More
Panel to study local tax system
After years of debate, state lawmakers have passed historic tax changes, and buried deep within that plan is a provision that could kick-start local reforms. [The Kentucky Post (Covington)] Read More
GOP legislators lukewarm to state party's call for no-tax pledges
The Louisiana Republican Party is calling on GOP state legislators to sign a no-tax pledge -- noting they could block any tax-raising attempts during the 2005 Legislature. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Panel backs legislative auditor's bid for pay raise, housing money
Legislative Auditor Steve Theriot of Gretna, who has been on the job since May, won a 4 percent pay increase and a new $1,000-a-month housing allowance Tuesday from a panel of lawmakers. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Governor names inspector general
Gov. Kathleen Blanco named an inspector general Tuesday, choosing a longtime staffer in the legislative auditor's office to take over as the chief investigator for the executive branch. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
High court rules permits not needed
WATERVILLE, Maine - The state's highest court has ruled in favor of the city and schools in a case in which a neighbor of Waterville Senior High School alleged renovations and expansions at the school's athletic field required Zoning Board of Appeals review and building permits. [Morning Sentinel] Read More
Differing paths lead to Maine
WATERVILLE, Maine - Job opportunities drive much of the decision-making process when minorities relocate to Maine. [Morning Sentinel] Read More
Bill boosts coverage for retired teachers
The state pays 100 percent of health insurance costs for retired state employees, but only 40 percent for retired teachers. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Legislative leaders propose borrowing plan
Legislative leaders are floating a proposal to borrow $415 million to balance the state budget for the next two years. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Lerman forms naming panel
The quest to name the new bridge north of Augusta took another step Tuesday with the release of Rep. Arthur Lerman's bill to create the Augusta Bridge Naming Committee. [Kennebec Journal] Read More
Mitchell: New school fund formula a significant change
CHINA, Maine - The new state school funding formula is more transparent and easier to explain to voters, Sen. Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchell of Vassalboro assured China School Committee members Monday evening. [Kennebec Journal] Read More
Bill aims for strict vaccine warning
Erica McPhee of Windham says that her 3 1/2-year-old son, Adam, "was the perfect baby" until he was immunized with vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal, which contains mercury. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Mercury rules meet resistance
The Bush administration imposed rules Tuesday that are designed to cut mercury air pollution by two-thirds over the next 15 years, the nation's first-ever attempt to limit the toxic metal emitted by coal-fired power plants. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
House bill targets people with money, no health plan
Legislators intent on reducing the number of Maryland residents without health insurance took a different - and unprecedented - tack yesterday: penalizing those with above-average incomes who don't buy coverage. Up to now most efforts have focused on providing subsidies to the poor or prodding employers to offer coverage. [The Sun (Baltimore) (registration)] Read More
By blocking Ehrlich's nominees in Senate, Miller seeks leverage
Escalating a political feud over the Ehrlich administration's hiring and firing of key government staffers, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller this week held up appointment of dozens of nominees who need approval from lawmakers to stay in their jobs. [The Sun (Baltimore) (registration)] Read More
The March comes to an end
On the one hand, he's got a glistening green guitar, late nights with screaming fans and -- ah, yes -- those muscle shirts. On the other, there's a city to run, countless obligations and -- ah, yes -- a possible run for governor. And the winner? Politics. Mayor Martin O'Malley is pulling the plug on O'Malley's March, the Irish rock band he's led since 1988. [The Sun (Baltimore) (registration)] Read More
Teen-driving bills get preliminary OK
Members of the House of Delegates gave preliminary approval yesterday to a package of five bills that would tighten the reins on teenage drivers, including two measures introduced by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. as part of his public safety agenda. [The Sun (Baltimore) (registration)] Read More
State gives nod to UB-Towson MBA program
Maryland's higher-education secretary has approved creation of a new joint MBA program at the University of Baltimore and Towson University, clearing the way for the first classes to be offered this fall. [The Sun (Baltimore) (registration)] Read More
Governor wants to fire Boston's Big Dig boss
BOSTON - Gov. Mitt Romney asked the state's highest court Tuesday if he had the power to fire the Massachusetts turnpike chairman, after an engineer who led an investigation into leaks at the $14.6-billion Big Dig project said he could no longer vouch for the safety of its tunnels. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
Romney, Reilly take Digs in preview of '06 campaign
Gov. Mitt Romney and rival Attorney General Tom Reilly are locked in a long-distance duel over the Big Dig, taking shots as they take turns out of state on political business. [Boston Herald] Read More
AG probes Big Dig firms; Romney rips Amorello
Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly has opened a fraud investigation of Big Dig contractors Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff and Modern Continental Construction Co., focusing on what Reilly called poor oversight and shoddy work that left the tunnels plagued with leaks, defective walls, and damaged fireproofing. [The Boston Globe] Read More
Mass. bill would ban 'cop killer' guns, rifles
So-called cop killer handguns and .50-caliber rifles would be included in the Massachusetts assault weapons ban under legislation filed yesterday by state Senator Jarrett T. Barrios, cochairman of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. [The Boston Globe] Read More
Governor argues law lets him oust turnpike chairman
When Governor Mitt Romney asked the state's highest court yesterday whether he can legally oust Matthew J. Amorello from chairmanship of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, Romney put forth a novel argument: that he should be able to remove Amorello from the chairmanship even if he can't take him off the board entirely. [The Boston Globe] Read More
Mich. group sees Romney in liberal light
As he heads to Michigan today to deliver a political speech, Governor Mitt Romney is raising the hackles of a conservative organization in that state, which says his views on abortion and same-sex marriage are ''largely indistinguishable" from those of US Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry, Democrats of Massachusetts. [The Boston Globe] Read More
House panel debates display of religious laws
A state House committee likely will soon approve a bill that would allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed on public property, the chairman of the panel said Tuesday. [Lansing State Journal] Read More
Senate approves bill that sets aside school pledge time
Public schools would be required to set aside time each day for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, under a bill unanimously approved Tuesday by the state Senate. [Detroit Free Press] Read More
Governor wants to open up insurance process
Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Tuesday pushed for legislation that would open to public scrutiny a process that tacks an annual surcharge on auto insurance rates to cover catastrophic claims. [The Ann Arbor News] Read More
Mich. officials bracing for latest round of base closings
WASHINGTON ? When the Army garrison at Selfridge Air National Guard Base was threatened with closure a decade ago, then-Michigan Secretary of State Candice Miller learned an important lesson: in the painful calculations of military downsizing, emotional pleas rarely win the day. [The Ann Arbor News] Read More
Mich. moose population slump continues
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Mercilessly hounded by blood-sucking ticks, the Isle Royale moose herd is on a downward spiral - and the wolf packs that roam the national park in Lake Superior are taking advantage. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Senate panel approves bill to let bikers ride without helmets
After decades of lobbying, Michigan motorcyclists could be roaring closer to being allowed to ride without a helmet. [The Detroit News] Read More
Mich. group sees Romney in liberal light
As he heads to Michigan today to deliver a political speech, Governor Mitt Romney is raising the hackles of a conservative organization in that state, which says his views on abortion and same-sex marriage are ''largely indistinguishable" from those of US Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry, Democrats of Massachusetts. [The Boston Globe] Read More
Tribes would have to prove need to enter Minnesota casino pact
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has touted his casino proposal as something that would lift up poorer northern tribes, so the bill authorizing it requires partner American Indian bands to prove they need the help. [Duluth News Tribune] Read More
Abortion alternative bills backed by panel
The Positive Alternatives Act, which would create a state fund for agencies that discourage abortion, was approved by a Senate committee Wednesday along with changes on some controversial provisions. [Minneapolis Star Tribune (registration)] Read More
Poll finds most oppose same-sex marriage
A poll conducted for an offshoot of the Minnesota Family Council showed that 65 percent of Minnesotans surveyed oppose legalizing same-sex marriage in the state and nearly that percentage would support a constitutional ban on such unions. [Minneapolis Star Tribune (registration)] Read More
Plan would divert tax to wildlife habitats
A pair of DFL senators Tuesday said they want voters to decide whether a portion of the state's sales tax should go to improve fish and wildlife habitat and clean up polluted waters. [Duluth News Tribune] Read More
Pawlenty plan for faith-based office spurs questions
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan to follow 20 states by creating an office of faith-based initiatives is being greeted with skepticism and a lawsuit threat. [St. Paul Pioneer Press (registration)] Read More
Governor's Web site links questioned
Imagine you're sitting at your computer and you're curious about a guy named Tim Pawlenty, who you have heard might have political ambitions. [St. Paul Pioneer Press (registration)] Read More
Pawlenty pulls family photos after criticism
Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Tuesday that he directed his staff to remove childhood photos from his official state Web site after a DFL state representative questioned if it was a proper use of state resources. [St. Paul Pioneer Press (registration)] Read More
House bill takes aim at identity theft
Bipartisan legislation designed to combat identity theft on several fronts will be introduced today in the House in an effort to stem what a sponsor called "one of the fastest-growing crimes in America." [Minneapolis Star Tribune (registration)] Read More
Bill would curb cell phone use by bus drivers
State Sen. Wes Skoglund says he's been a worried passenger on city buses and charter buses whose drivers were talking on cell phones. But the last straw came the other day when he saw a school bus pass the State Capitol with a load of children on board and a tiny telephone to the driver's ear. [Minneapolis Star Tribune (registration)] Read More
State unemployment rate down to 4.2%
Minnesota's unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in February, down from 4.4 percent in January, seasonally adjusted, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development announced Tuesday. [Minneapolis Star Tribune (registration)] Read More
State license tab collaboration again brings in over $100,000
For the second straight year, the state's Department of Vehicle Services received more than $100,000 from the company that works with state licence renewal notifications. [Minneapolis Star Tribune (registration)] Read More
House gives mystery group $500K
The state House on Tuesday approved $500,000 for a fledgling company with no permanent address in a $112 million bond package. [The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson)] Read More
Bill allowing tax hikes to help veterans nursing homes killed
The Senate killed a bill Tuesday to allow Mississippi veterans nursing homes in Jackson, Oxford, Kosciusko and Collins to receive financial help if counties raised local property taxes. [The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson)] Read More
Dillard's seeks to block judge
Dillard's has asked a state Supreme Court panel to block a black judge from presiding over racial-profiling lawsuits against the department store chain [The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson)] Read More
State school funding plan gets thumbs-down from educators
Judging from the lukewarm to cold response from many school leaders Tuesday, the Legislature should expect an uphill battle in its effort to overhaul the state's method for paying for education. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch] Read More
State effort penalizes child support recipients
This is the first year the state is taking $25 out of rerouted income tax refund checks. Missouri's Family Support Division was required by the Legislature to begin charging fees this year. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch] Read More
Lawmakers, governor spar over Medicaid funding
The verbal debate over proposed Medicaid funding changes in Missouri hasn't been limited to the House and Senate chambers. [Jefferson City News Tribune] Read More
Medicaid overhaul proposal advances
The Missouri Senate gave preliminary approval Tuesday night to a sweeping plan that would restructure the way the state provides health care to its neediest residents. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Mo. executes Stanley Hall
Eleven years after he threw a woman to her death in the icy Mississippi River, Stanley L. Hall of St. Louis was executed by injection. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch] Read More
Education leaders back Blunt in call for funding
Backed by about 30 representatives of Missouri education groups, Gov. Matt Blunt on Tuesday encouraged lawmakers to "pass a budget that I can sign," including his proposed $170.6 million increase for public schools. [Jefferson City News Tribune] Read More
Some oppose assessment changes in proposed school formula
Real estate agents and rural lawmakers are opposing an effort to rewrite Missouri's school funding method because of a provision that would make more information about home sales available to assessors. [Jefferson City News Tribune] Read More
Idea for Western primary reborn
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - A Democratic activist is among those trying to revive the idea of a Western presidential primary with eight states: Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah. [Billings Gazette] Read More
School money formula unlikely anytime soon
As the 2005 Legislature wrestles with the state's school funding formula, it seems unlikely that lawmakers will have a final fix before the beginning of the school this fall. [Billings Gazette] Read More
Origin labels pass 1st House vote
The House of Representatives gave a hearty, preliminary approval Tuesday to a bill that would require Montana grocery stores to label the country of origin of certain foods, especially meat. [Billings Gazette] Read More
House backs creation of school insurance fund
The House of Representatives overwhelmingly endorsed a measure Tuesday that will create a state-subsidized health insurance plan for 19,000 school district employees across Montana. [Billings Gazette] Read More
House panel OKS reduced tax credits to lure filming
A legislative committee on Tuesday agreed more should be done to lure the movie and TV industry to Montana, but scaled back the proposed tax breaks that would be used to entice Hollywood to Big Sky Country. [Billings Gazette] Read More
House panel deadlocked on spending
It was another major spending bill, another partisan stalemate before the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. [Billings Gazette] Read More
EPA's mercury rule attacked
Western states could see a spike in toxic mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in coming years under a rule finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday, national environmental groups charged. [Denver Post] Read More
Heineman pledges more scrutiny after convicted murderer offered job
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman pledged to tighten hiring procedures after a state agency hired a man to run a mental-health office who was convicted of a 1985 murder that garnered international attention. [Lincoln Journal Star] Read More
Legislation includes payment for driver in band bus crash
The man behind the wheel of the bus that crashed into a suburban Omaha creek in 2001, killing four people and injuring 27, is another step closer to receiving a $241,000 check from state government. [Lincoln Journal Star] Read More
Omaha's zoo no longer offers free visits to other zoo's members
Nebraskans and others with memberships to their area zoos no longer will enter Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo for free. [The Grand Island Independent] Read More
Fake licenses seized at fraternity house
Dozens of fake Nevada driver's licenses were confiscated during a pre-dawn raid at a University of Nevada, Reno, fraternity house, authorities said. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
Property tax - Options emerge on tax relief
Lawmakers reviewing property tax relief proposals were presented with two basic options Tuesday that would reduce projected revenue windfalls to local governments but would treat property owners far differently. [Las Vegas Review-Journal] Read More
Regents to list host account expenditures
Regents might not receive a salary, but they are charging the university system for perks including wine, parties, golf, hotel accommodations and airfare for athletic events that they say help higher education. [Las Vegas Review-Journal] Read More
Idea for Western primary reborn
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - A Democratic activist is among those trying to revive the idea of a Western presidential primary with eight states: Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah. [Billings Gazette] Read More
Plan upsets Beers
Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, contends the state has a chance to cut a property tax. But he argues Gov. Kenny Guinn and Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley instead want to use the tax money to expand social programs. [Las Vegas Review-Journal] Read More
Proposal for special sessions advances
The Nevada Legislature moved a step closer Tuesday to having the power to call itself into a special session. [Las Vegas Review-Journal] Read More
All-day kindergarten debated
Educators brought out all the stops Monday to ask an Assembly education committee to endorse all-day kindergarten. [Las Vegas Sun] Read More
$1 million sought for mental health court
Spending $1 million a year to continue a mental health court in Las Vegas will save money on jails and hospital emergency rooms, proponents told the Assembly Ways and Means Committee Monday morning. [Las Vegas Sun] Read More
Mule deer tag bill opposed
Assemblyman Jerry Claborn, D-Las Vegas, says he wants to make the drawing of hunting tags for mule deer fairer, but he ran into a barrage of opposition from hunters Monday. [Las Vegas Sun] Read More
UNLV, UNR scale down building plans
UNLV and UNR officials have big dreams for new structures on their campuses, from high-tech science buildings that will help bring in more grant money to 21st century libraries that combine traditional books with multimedia and digital technology. [Las Vegas Sun] Read More
Audits point to state waste
Several state audits released Monday pointed to ways that the state could be saving millions of taxpayer dollars annually while better serving the public. [Las Vegas Sun] Read More
North Las Vegas break-in - Guinn backs DMV chief
Last week's theft of personal records for 8,738 people from a Department of Motor Vehicles office hasn't reduced Gov. Kenny Guinn's faith in the department or its director, Ginny Lewis, the governor's spokesman said Tuesday. [Las Vegas Review-Journal] Read More
Officials brace for West Nile
Joan Swanson's understanding of the spread of the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus in the United States tells her this: In 2005, many more people in Nevada are going to end up like she did last year -- on death's doorstep. [Las Vegas Review-Journal] Read More
236 more prison system employees sought
Members of a legislative budget panel picked through the Nevada prison system's spending plans Tuesday, grilling officials on requests for more staffing. [Las Vegas Review-Journal] Read More
Lawmaker ends ad contract with state
To try to end a growing controversy, Sen. Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, said Tuesday she has severed a $10,000 state contract that allows her to sell surplus government vehicles. [Las Vegas Review-Journal] Read More
Local revenues worry legislators
While lawmakers try to pare down a short-term solution to homeowners' hardships, they keep reminding local governments they have a role to play in anything the Legislature does. [Las Vegas Review-Journal] Read More
Chandler pleads guilty
Attorney General Kelly Ayotte embraced a ban on all cash gifts to elected officials Tuesday, hours after former House Speaker Gene Chandler pleaded guilty to a criminal misdemeanor for failing to disclose nearly $69,000 over a four-year period. [The Telegraph (Nashua)] Read More
Lynch remains opposed to Sunapee ski expansion
Gov. John Lynch says that despite a meeting with Mount Sunapee Resort operators, he remains opposed to the ski area?s expansion. [Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover)] Read More
Malpractice reform may be doomed
Lawyers and doctors are no closer to agreeing on medical malpractice reform this year than they were last - a problem that could kill reform again this year. [Concord Monitor] Read More
Bill would let students use alcohol in culinary arts
Tiramisu just isn't the same without that certain essence coffee liqueur provides, and just try making chicken Marsala without the wine. [The Telegraph (Nashua)] Read More
Malpractice issue: How much of a physician's apology should be evidence in court?
Both sides of the medical malpractice issue agree a doctor should be allowed to tell a patient they're sorry if something goes wrong during the course of treatment. [Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover)] Read More
New rules on mercury give PSNH lots of time
New federal rules on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants won't require Public Service of New Hampshire to make reductions for five years. [Concord Monitor] Read More
AIDS cuts mean slash in services
For the last few years, someone has come to Marc Renaud's Merrimack home to vacuum the floors, change the kitty litter box and handle other chores Renaud, who has HIV, can't or shouldn't do. [Concord Monitor] Read More
Jets officials make play for Giants Stadium
The Jets have offered to buy Giants Stadium, acting Gov. Richard Codey said late yesterday, adding another bizarre twist to the high- stakes negotiations over the future of professional football in New Jersey. [The Star-Ledger (Newark)] Read More
Some fear new rules make almost everyone a 'lobbyist'
Proposed regulations on lobbying are so sweeping that they would require thousands of ordinary business people to register as lobbyists and fill out onerous paperwork, the state Election Law Enforcement Commission was told yesterday. [The Star-Ledger (Newark)] Read More
N.J. will try `lease-buyback' deals
For sale: 117-acre school for the deaf in a bucolic campus setting in Ewing. Seller: state Treasury Department. Terms of sale: Buyer will renovate buildings; school will remain open; property will revert back to state after 36 years of lease payments. [The Times (Trenton)] Read More
Both parties back rebates as budget hearings begin
State lawmakers from both political parties said their first priority will be to preserve taxpayer rebates as they began a line-by-line review of acting Gov. Richard Codey's proposed $27.4 billion state budget yesterday with a public hearing in Newark. [The Star-Ledger (Newark)] Read More
Late-night vote gives preschool bill life
After a late-night committee vote, a measure to create a statewide preschool program will now go to a full vote of the House. [Albuquerque Tribune] Read More
Learning verve
This year's freshman legislators are far from shrinking violets, observers say. So we asked the area's seven newcomers to speak candidly about hard votes, tough times, surprises - and goofs. [Albuquerque Tribune] Read More
Idea for Western primary reborn
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - A Democratic activist is among those trying to revive the idea of a Western presidential primary with eight states: Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah. [Billings Gazette] Read More
New Mexico gets lots of snow
LAS VEGAS, N.M. - A slow-moving storm dumped nearly 3 feet of snow on parts of northern and eastern New Mexico, closing major highways, schools and some government offices Tuesday. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
Governor's surprise mission adds to budget talk intrigue
Gov. George Pataki stunned Senate and Assembly members just as they began public budget negotiations Tuesday, revealing he is going to Washington to ask for special health care funding today and must have deeper Medicaid cuts than the Legislature desires. [Times Union (Albany)] Read More
N.F.L. plans super bowl in proposed Jets stadium
National Football League owners are expected next week to award the 2010 Super Bowl to the Jets' proposed $1.7 billion stadium on the Far West Side of Manhattan if it is ready for the 2009 season, a league executive said yesterday. [The New York Times (registration)] Read More
Gay marriage ruling galvanizes both sides
NEW YORK - A California court's ruling that gay marriage is constitutional in the state has given new fodder to both sides waging one of the nation's most complex and emotional debates. [The Christian Science Monitor] Read More
State budget shocker: It may get done on time
State lawmakers yesterday took a step forward toward delivering the first on-time budget in two decades by announcing a "conceptual agreement" that adds $1.5 billion to Gov. Pataki's $105.2 billion spending plan. [New York Post] Read More
Gov puts squeeze on school `master' fees
Gov. Pataki is taking legal action to slash the more than $350,000 in fees charged to taxpayers by three part-time "special masters" who recommended that more aid be given to schools, The Post has learned. [New York Post] Read More
Bill limiting records access debated
In the middle of Sunshine Week -- a seven-day spotlight on the laws that keep government open to the public -- an Assembly committee has approved a bill critics say will make it harder to obtain information on the state's energy systems. [Times Union (Albany)] Read More
Jets officials make play for Giants Stadium
The Jets have offered to buy Giants Stadium, acting Gov. Richard Codey said late yesterday, adding another bizarre twist to the high- stakes negotiations over the future of professional football in New Jersey. [The Star-Ledger (Newark)] Read More
State approves new standards for high school mathematics
New York State's Board of Regents adopted new standards for high school mathematics yesterday and approved the creation of five charter schools in New York City. [The New York Times (registration)] Read More
The calendar vs. the purse for Albany's Big 3
As they mount their biggest effort in years to try to pass the state budget by the April 1 deadline, the three men who control Albany find themselves weighing the relative merits of punctuality versus a budget they like. [The New York Times (registration)] Read More
A longtime Pataki confidant is a highly paid lobbyist, too
Over the past 10 years, working for either modest compensation or none at all, John F. O'Mara, a little-known lawyer from the upstate village of Horseheads, has helped Gov. George E. Pataki draw up the death penalty, deregulate the energy industry and direct campaigns. [The New York Times (registration)] Read More
Leaders got funds to spend at will
The $45,000 that House Speaker Jim Black used to provide a state job to the man who helped keep him in power came from $5 million in reserve funds tucked into the state budget that were at his disposal. [The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)] Read More
Rand is honored, but no one takes credit
The state's real estate commissioners wanted to give credit to Sen. Tony Rand last month when they dedicated their building in North Raleigh in his name. They said Rand is a tireless worker for North Carolinians and the building dedication was an appropriate honor. [The News & Observer (Raleigh) (registration)] Read More
Past 2 years yield more than 50 open government violations
North Dakotans' queries about abuse of the state's public access laws have turned up more than 50 violations in the past two years, officials say. [The Bismarck Tribune] Read More
House passes faith-based programs bill
The House passed a bill Tuesday creating a "faith-based and community initiatives" program in the governor s office. [The Forum (Fargo)] Read More
Legislature looks at helping kids with extraordinary medical needs
A Bismarck child's rare disease has prompted legislators to take a closer look at how the state determines which children receive help for extraordinary medical expenses. [The Bismarck Tribune] Read More
Corps delays clearing sandbars for birds
BISMARCK, N.D. - The Army Corps of Engineers is delaying its plans to start defoliating overgrown sandbars to create more nesting space for two struggling bird species along a stretch of the Missouri River. [Omaha World-Herald] Read More
House debates special duck hunting license
Charging visiting hunters $170 for a statewide duck hunting license and limiting their movements will send a signal from the Legislature that visiting sportsmen are unwelcome, a rural lawmaker argued. [The Bismarck Tribune] Read More
Municipal government officials decry Taft plan to cut revenue sharing
Officials representing every level of local government will rally in Columbus today against a plan by state officials to carve away at the chunk of state revenue that gets passed down. [The Beacon Journal (Akron)(registration)] Read More
Order stalls education cuts
A judge ordered the state's welfare director on Tuesday to work with school districts to find a way to replace a federal special education program set to end by July. [The Beacon Journal (Akron)(registration)] Read More
Taft's 9% tuition cap in jeopardy
Gov. Bob Taft's proposed 9 percent cap on tuition hikes may be in trouble in the Ohio House. [Toledo Blade] Read More
Speaker vows to save children's medical aid
Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted (R., Kettering) said yesterday that lawmakers will "definitely" find a way to prevent another cut to a state program assisting children with serious medical handicaps like cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, and hemophilia. [Toledo Blade] Read More
Ohio House OKs education bailout
The Ohio House of Representatives yesterday approved a bill to eliminate an estimated $295 million shortfall in the kindergarten-grade 12 budget that ends June 30. [Toledo Blade] Read More
State, group work toward settlement
A 15-year class-action lawsuit between 7,000 mentally disabled people and the state of Ohio may again be headed for settlement. [The Beacon Journal (Akron)(registration)] Read More
Leaders reach bond deal
Gov. Brad Henry and legislative leaders struck a deal Tuesday on $500 million in improvements for Oklahoma college campuses -- one of the Democratic governor's top priorities this legislative session. [The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) (registration)] Read More
Revenues continue steady rise
State revenue collections remained strong in February, stimulated by the gross production tax on natural gas and income taxes, according to figures released Tuesday. [The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) (registration)] Read More
Bill to ban campaign lying hits snag
A bill to penalize political candidates for lying about legislators' voting records hit a snag in the Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday. [Shawnee News-Star] Read More
Senate bill aims to save state jobs
Senators passed legislation Tuesday designed to prevent the loss of manufacturing jobs in Oklahoma. [The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) (registration)] Read More
Rally at Capitol calls for legislative action on domestic violence
Dozens of women rallied Tuesday at the state Capitol to bring attention to what they say is inaction by legislators in the battle against domestic violence and sexual assaults. [The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) (registration)] Read More
Senate passes bill on retirement plan
Senators passed a bill Tuesday that would create a new retirement plan for public safety employees. [The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) (registration)] Read More
State executes Guthrie man for double murder
McALESTER, Okla. - A Guthrie man convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend and their 11-month-old baby in 1991 was put to death Tuesday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. [Shawnee News-Star] Read More
Controversial law amended
Employees at city-owned hospitals wouldn't be able to organize under legislation passed Tuesday by the House. Read More
Convicted murderer executed by injection
A man convicted in the mutilation and slaying of his girlfriend and the fatal shooting of the couple's 11-month-old daughter in 1991 was executed in McAlester. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
Drug-related deaths up 4 percent statewide
Drug-related deaths increased 4 percent statewide in 2004, with heroin responsible for the largest number and cocaine blamed for the highest individual increase, officials said. [Corvallis Gazette-Times] Read More
Senate panel considers payday loan restrictions
Advocates for clamping a lid on charges for payday loans argued Tuesday that exorbitant rates can worsen low-income people's chronic debt problems. [Corvallis Gazette-Times] Read More
Hearing-impaired press lawmakers for improved services
Dot Johnson of Salem, like many people in her situation, wants less talk and more action from the Oregon Legislature. [Statesman Journal (Salem)] Read More
GOP plan would eliminate CIM and CAM
Oregon students would be relieved of certain mandated exams under a plan released by House Republicans on Tuesday. [Statesman Journal (Salem)] Read More
Preschool effective, 42-year study finds
Forty-two years ago, researchers began following a group of 123 low-income black children who were destined to fail in school. [Statesman Journal (Salem)] Read More
Measures spur energy from farm products
The Oregon Senate on Tuesday passed two bills aimed at spurring more renewable energy produced from farm products. [Statesman Journal (Salem)] Read More
Wolf views ignite cultural spat
Students from Portland's Sunnyside Environmental School gave their opinions on a state wolf plan at a February hearing. Some did it in unconventional ways: Two rapped along with boom-box music, three read a poem, and others made more direct statements. [The Oregonian (Portland)] Read More
Rendell takes his plea directly to homeowners
Saying he was surprised by the reluctance of school districts to sign on to the state's plan to use gambling revenue to cut property taxes, Gov. Rendell appealed directly to homeowners yesterday to pressure their school boards to participate. [The Inquirer (Philadelphia) (registration)] Read More
Street asks Rendell for help in stemming rising homicide rate
With 77 people killed this year, including 22 in nine days, Mayor Street has sent an SOS to Gov. Rendell, seeking help to stem the rising tide of homicides in Philadelphia. [The Inquirer (Philadelphia) (registration)] Read More
Rendell may extend tax deadline for schools
Gov. Ed Rendell is willing to consider pushing back the May 30 deadline for school districts to decide whether to take part in the Act 72 property tax reduction program. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette] Read More
Pa. court blocks old cases alleging clergy sex abuse
PHILADELPHIA - An attorney for reported victims of clergy sex abuse plans to appeal a Pennsylvania court ruling that blocks most molestation lawsuits dating back more than two years. [The Boston Globe] Read More
Pa. work force assistance Web site revamped
A redesigned, easier-to-use Pennsylvania Workforce Development Web site was unveiled by the secretary of Labor and Industry on Tuesday. [Philadelphia Business Journal (registration)] Read More
Pa. appeals court ruling may help diocese block lawsuits
On the heels of an appellate court ruling that the statute of limitations bars lawsuits from those molested long ago by Catholic priests in Philadelphia, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is asking Allegheny County Common Pleas Court to dismiss identical cases her [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette] Read More
State police settle lawsuit
The state attorney general's office yesterday agreed to settle a federal lawsuit brought by the mother of a man killed by a state trooper in 1994, in what is believed to be the largest settlement payment in state police history. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette] Read More
Ready, set, STOP! I-79 work looms
The $93 million reconstruction of the busiest stretch of Interstate 79 in Pennsylvania has officially begun with "prep work" being done at night, when traffic is lightest. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette] Read More
Inspectors cite State House for 32 fire-code violations
State officials have 90 days to come up with a plan to bring the State House into compliance with the new fire codes enacted in response to The Station nightclub fire. [The Providence Journal (registration)] Read More
DOT director anticipates modest hike in federal aid
State Transportation Director James Capaldi said yesterday that the new transportation bill that has emerged from the U.S House of Representatives would apparently give Rhode Island a modest but helpful increase in federal highway aid. [The Providence Journal (registration)] Read More
Lawmakers unhappy with RIPTA's finances
tate transit officials got a skeptical reception from the House Finance Committee yesterday when they showed up with an unbalanced budget, no clear plan for fixing it, and no board members to explain where they think the agency should be heading. [The Providence Journal (registration)] Read More
Bill would end 7-day wait for gun for abused
If a woman is frightened enough to pursue a restraining order against a domestic abuser, then she ought to be able to buy a gun in Rhode Island without waiting the required seven days for a permit, says a local affiliate of the National Rifle Association. [The Providence Journal (registration)] Read More
Panel OKs state pension boost
More than 63,000 state retirees would have their cost-of-living adjustments rescued this year under a plan approved by a Senate committee Tuesday. [The State (Columbia)] Read More
Budget sails through House, 107-0
COLUMBIA--A little extra money can do amazing things. [The Post and Courier (Charleston) (registration)] Read More
Democrat might hold up debate on tort reform
COLUMBIA--House Republicans ran into a procedural filibuster Tuesday but said nothing would stop them from approving the Senate's version of tort reform this week. [The Post and Courier (Charleston) (registration)] Read More
Panel OKs alcohol sales bill
A Senate committee approved legislation on Tuesday that would allow bars and restaurants to pour liquor from big bottles instead of from minibottles. [The Post and Courier (Charleston) (registration)] Read More
Firm to mold future of site
A firm that has designed communities from Beaufort to Berlin to Mecca will recommend a plan for redeveloping the 148-acre State Hospital property on Bull Street. [The State (Columbia)] Read More
High court to decide districting question
The South Dakota Supreme Court will hear arguments this month on whether the Legislature has the power to fix a redistricting plan a federal judge says violates voting rights of Lakota citizens. [Argus Leader (Sioux Falls)] Read More
Planning in limbo for some scholars
Higher-education officials halted printing last week of college-prep material until they learn whether Gov. Mike Rounds signs a bill that cuts $1,000 from the value of a state-paid scholarship. [Argus Leader (Sioux Falls)] Read More
State's gas prices reach record high
ABERDEEN, S.D. - Average gas prices in South Dakota hit a record high of $2.06 a gallon on Monday, even topping the record national high set last spring, according to AAA South Dakota of Sioux Falls. [Rapid City Journal] Read More
Fund to aid legal battles
A new fund established by the South Dakota Newspaper Association offers financial help to news organizations when the public's right to know ends up in a costly court battle. [Rapid City Journal] Read More
Learn ABCs of taking Dakota STEP tests
Students across the state will soon be taking the South Dakota STEP, or State Test of Educational Progress. [Argus Leader (Sioux Falls)] Read More
GF&P commission considers date change for pheasant season
A proposal before the state Game, Fish & Parks Commission would change the starting date for the pheasant hunting season from the third Saturday in October to the Saturday closest to Oct. 15. [Rapid City Journal] Read More
'Straight answer' on TennCare drugs still elusive
Less than a week after legislators said they wanted a single, straight answer about whether the state could require cheaper generic drugs for TennCare users, attorneys for the state and for TennCare users continued to present two widely different views. [The Tennessean (Nashville)] Read More
Meth crackdown bill advancing through legislature
The governor's legislation to crack down on methamphetamine abuse and manufacturing cleared two legislative hurdles yesterday. [The Tennessean (Nashville)] Read More
State's financial disclosure rules leave the public guessing
State Sen. Mike Williams hasn't made any changes to his state financial disclosure form in the past 15 years, saying he's the manager of a health club - a health club that no longer exists. [The Tennessean (Nashville)] Read More
Opposing groups fight gay marriage ban
For starkly different reasons, two groups on the opposite sides of gay marriage are trying to defeat efforts to put a ban in the Tennessee Constitution. [The Tennessean (Nashville)] Read More
Company that hired Ford got 5 contracts with Regents schools
Five state colleges and universities have had energy management contracts totaling about $1.25 million since a company says it hired state Sen. John Ford as a consultant in 2001, the Tennessee Board of Regents said yesterday. [The Tennessean (Nashville)] Read More
Security aside, state workers know they're not entirely safe
The recent killings at an Atlanta courthouse and this week's anthrax scare at the Pentagon shows that safety in government buildings remains an uncertainty - something that Tennessee state workers know all too well. [The Tennessean (Nashville)] Read More
Cigarette tax increases clear subcommittee
A lawmaker pushing a cigarette tax increase doesn't want her bill to get wrapped up with another one sponsored by a Memphis lawmaker caught in a feud with the governor. [The Tennessean (Nashville)] Read More
Senate has own ideas for tax bill
The Senate wants to pay for property tax relief through higher business taxes and lower sales taxes than those included in a $10.8 billion tax bill passed Tuesday by the House. [The Houston Chronicle (registration)] Read More
Plan would reduce CPS caseloads
House budget writers Tuesday approved enough money for the state's troubled Child Protective Services agency to hire 1,828 employees, including 848 new investigators, by 2007. [The Houston Chronicle (registration)] Read More
DeLay's ARMPAC linked to Texas group
U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's federal leadership political fund apparently coordinated with a Texas committee to deliver $23,000 in contributions to Texas House candidates, according to documents filed in a civil lawsuit. [The Houston Chronicle (registration)] Read More
Hospital ends life support of baby
HOUSTON - In what medical ethicists say is a first in the United States, a hospital acting under state law, with the concurrence of a judge, disconnected a critically ill baby from life support Tuesday over his mother's objections. [The Dallas Morning News (registration)] Read More
Finance bill would send challenges to top court
A provision in a measure passed Monday by the Texas House would weaken the role of Travis County's district courts in cases challenging the state's education and tax systems. [The Austin American-Statesman (registration)] Read More
$1 billion boost, big wish list for social services
The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved about $1.1 billion in new funding for the state's social services. [The Austin American-Statesman (registration)] Read More
Senate approves workers' comp overhaul
The Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a complete overhaul of the state's workers' compensation system. [The San Antonio Express-News (registration)] Read More
Homosexuals keeping an eye on proposals in the Legislature
It's a small room on the east side of the Student Services building at the University of Texas here. So small and unassuming, in fact, you easily could walk right by and never know what it was. [The San Antonio Express-News (registration)] Read More
Life-without-parole bill passes first vote
A proposal that would let juries send killers to prison without any hope for parole cleared the first hurdle Tuesday when a Senate committee approved the bill, which has divided Texas prosecutors. [The San Antonio Express-News (registration)] Read More
Pollution from upsets at plants reduced
Pollution from episodic releases at area chemical plants and refineries dropped by 15 million pounds from 2003 to 2004, a leader of the state environmental agency said Tuesday. [The Houston Chronicle (registration)] Read More
Legislators seek limits on corridor
State Rep. Garnet Coleman has filed a bill seeking to bar the state from spending money on the Trans-Texas Corridor until 2007 and calling for a committee to study the corridor plan and its use of toll and bond financing. [The Houston Chronicle (registration)] Read More
Court - State can withhold aid for abortion clinics
The state can withhold federal funds from clinics that provide abortions, as long as they are allowed to create independent "affiliates" that continue receiving money to provide other services, an appeals court has ruled. [The Houston Chronicle (registration)] Read More
Perry picks West Texan for state's high court
LUBBOCK, Texas - Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday appointed the chief justice of an Amarillo appeals court to the Texas Supreme Court, replacing a judge recently seated on a federal bench. [The Houston Chronicle (registration)] Read More
Senate OKs overhaul of state workers' comp
The Senate took a major step Tuesday night in trying to heal a fractured workers' compensation system, approving a massive overhaul supporters pledge will give injured workers better treatment and reduce business costs. [The Houston Chronicle (registration)] Read More
State panel says judge 'strong-armed' youth
SUGAR LAND, Texas - The State Commission on Judicial Conduct has issued a public warning to a Fort Bend County justice of the peace for bringing a teenager to court on a case that had been dismissed. [The Houston Chronicle (registration)] Read More
Another stall for Safe Clear
Houston thought its mandatory freeway towing ordinance was safe, but a bill to stop it unexpectedly cleared a House committee Tuesday. [The Houston Chronicle (registration)] Read More
Bagging game a mouse click away
He now wants to use the Internet to shoot live animals and that has made him one of Texas's most wanted men. [CBSNews.com] Read More
Perot pushes technology for schools
The last time Dallas billionaire Ross Perot set his sights on changing education in Texas, the state's public schools were never the same. [The Dallas Morning News (registration)] Read More
Panel OKs life terms without parole
Texas jurors would have the option of sentencing a killer to life in prison without the possibility of parole under a measure that passed a Senate committee Tuesday. [The Dallas Morning News (registration)] Read More
Critically ill baby removed from life support in Texas
HOUSTON - A critically ill 5-month-old was taken off life support and died Tuesday, a day after a judge cleared the way for doctors to halt care they believed to be futile. [USA Today] Read More
Huntsman lobbies education secretary
Gov. Jon Huntsman spent an hour Tuesday with U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, laying out Utah's objections to the No Child Left Behind education law. [The Daily Herald (Provo)] Read More
Jobs growth buoying Utah economy
Utah's population boom apparently is finally being matched by the roar of its economy. [Desert Morning News (Salt Lake City)] Read More
Lobbyists still find ways around gift spending limits
After the legislative session ended, lobbyists and legislators convened in a more exclusive gathering - on the tee box of a St. George golf course. [The Salt Lake Tribune] Read More
Wait on N-waste plan, panel is asked
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission shouldn't immediately license a facility to store highly radioactive waste on the Skull Valley Goshute reservation because years of piecemeal decisions have changed the proposal and left too many significant issues unresolved. [The Salt Lake Tribune] Read More
Idea for Western primary reborn
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - A Democratic activist is among those trying to revive the idea of a Western presidential primary with eight states: Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah. [Billings Gazette] Read More
EPA's mercury rule attacked
Western states could see a spike in toxic mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in coming years under a rule finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday, national environmental groups charged. [Denver Post] Read More
Legislature pools ideas for health care
All of a sudden, the Statehouse is full of proprosals to fix the state's chronically expensive health care system. Some plans focus on near-term ways to plug the growing deficit in the Medicaid program; others would overhaul how health care is paid for and delivered. Some start with the premise that raising taxes is not an option; others are built around new taxes. [Burlington Free Press] Read More
Physicians join criticism of Douglas' Medicaid plan
Vermont physicians Tuesday joined the growing chorus of critics opposed to the governor's plan to solve the state's Medicaid-funding crisis. [Rutland Herald] Read More
Federal mercury rules outrage Vermonters
In Vermont, a new federal rule that delays deep reductions in mercury pollution touched off strong objections -- and the possibility of a lawsuit -- Tuesday. [Burlington Free Press] Read More
Hearings begin on wind energy
A hearing on the first of a series of proposed projects to generate wind energy on Vermont's ridgelines focused on the wind turbines' effect on the state's natural beauty. [Rutland Herald] Read More
Statehouse security raised for judge vote
Extra security is planned Thursday when the House and Senate meet in joint session to vote on the re-appointments of four justices to the Supreme Court and eight other judges. [Burlington Free Press] Read More
N.C. House approves bill to transfer airport land
A bill requiring the state to convey the entire airport property to Currituck County is expected to become law within the next two weeks. [The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk) (registration)] Read More
GOP unveils malpractice proposal
Republican lawmakers have unveiled their own notion of medical-malpractice-insurance reform, a package they have named Plan A. [The Seattle Times] Read More
Primary vote in August wins House approval
Just four days after the Senate rejected it, lawmakers in the state House agreed almost unanimously Tuesday to move Washington's primary to August in a bid to help out military voters. [The Olympian] Read More
State headed for one of its worst droughts
MOUNT SPOKANE, Wash. - Scott Pattee carried a 9-foot-tall aluminum tube as he talked to reporters on Mount Spokane on Tuesday, but the snow measuring device was just a prop. [The Olympian] Read More
Chatting on a cell phone while driving could get costly
The state Senate yesterday told drivers to put down their cell phones and pay attention to the road, passing a bill prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. [Seattle Post-Intelligencer] Read More
Job market grows - from bottom up
When the economy took a nosedive nearly five years ago, Kevin Barry's thriving wireless sales and repair business did, too. His customers -- trucking companies, couriers, contractors -- were laying off workers, the very people using Industrial Communications' cellphones and two-way radios. [The Seattle Times] Read More
Senate OKs bill on cellphone use by drivers
The state Senate voted yesterday to impose a $107 fine for talking on a handheld cellphone while driving, but hands-free cellphone devices would be permitted. [The Seattle Times] Read More
Senators- Get moving on transportation vote
Expressing frustration with three years of inaction, state senators from both parties yesterday introduced a bill to force the Regional Transportation Investment District (RTID) to put a package of projects and taxes on the November ballot. [The Seattle Times] Read More
House passes transportation bill; Senate unveils own plan
A three-county regional body has tried and failed for three years to agree on a package of transportation projects and taxes to take to voters. Yesterday, both houses of the Legislature sought to reinvent that effort so that it would succeed. [Seattle Post-Intelligencer] Read More
Bill on UW admission policy has uphill battle
When voters approved Initiative 200 and prohibited state agencies from using affirmative action, minority applicants to the University of Washington declined as did diversity at the state's flagship campus. [Seattle Post-Intelligencer] Read More
Democrats furiously fight move into ANWR
WASHINGTON - With momentum and the rules of the Senate working against them, Democrats launched a furious, last-gasp campaign yesterday to derail a Republican-backed plan to allow drilling in an Alaskan wilderness area. [Seattle Post-Intelligencer] Read More
House OKs mail-only elections
All elections in Washington state would rely on mail ballots only, beginning in 2008, under a bill approved by the state House yesterday. [Seattle Post-Intelligencer] Read More
Table games on hold for now
Win or lose, the fate of a bill to legalize table gaming at the state?s four racetracks appears headed for the crunch-time at the end of the 60-day regular session. [Charleston Gazette (registration)] Read More
When does life begin an issue in Laci Peterson talks
When does life begin? Gather a diverse group of spiritually minded folks, political leaders and scientific minds, and pick their brains. You're apt to get a variety of opinions, all well-meaning and all with some degree of support. [The Register-Herald (Beckley)(registration)] Read More
Gas prices set state record
West Virginia gas prices set a state record Tuesday, according to the American Automobile Association. [The Register-Herald (Beckley)(registration)] Read More
'Bad-faith' lawsuit hearing is Thursday
Representatives of insurance companies, trial lawyers and maybe even some state residents are expected to crowd into the Senate Judiciary Committee later this week for a public hearing on "bad-faith" lawsuits. [Charleston Gazette (registration)] Read More
Meth bill to limit cold remedy sales
In almost 20 years of police work, St. Albans Police Sgt. Joe Crawford has seen drug epidemics come and go, but he says methamphetamine is a different animal altogether. [Charleston Gazette (registration)] Read More
Love wants road named for Hank Sr.
Hank Williams rode the final mile of his personal Lost Highway right into Oak Hill on a fog-shrouded holiday night, a fact Sen. Shirley Love wants no one to forget. [The Register-Herald (Beckley)(registration)] Read More
Highway charity solicitation being targeted in House bill
Few motorists in West Virginia have escaped them. Now, however, there is concern among lawmakers that charitable groups making middle-of-the-road pitches could put themselves and others at risk. [The Register-Herald (Beckley)(registration)] Read More
Ross didn't benefit from vote, hearing examiner says
A hearing examiner is recommending the state Ethics Commission dismiss a complaint against former state Sen. Mike Ross for voting to give money to a golf tournament on a course with financial ties to his company. [Charleston Gazette (registration)] Read More
Jail fees affecting library budgets
Rising regional jail fees are leading some county commissions to cut or even eliminate funding for libraries, according to librarians lobbying at the state Legislature on Tuesday. [Charleston Gazette (registration)] Read More
Nuisance ordinances don't apply to pesky neighbors, court rules
The state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that people cannot bring nuisance suits against annoying neighbors. [Charleston Gazette (registration)] Read More
Doyle takes new heat on budget
Republican lawmakers who have railed against Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle's proposed budget for including too many fund transfers put a figure on them for the first time Tuesday: $879 million. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] Read More
Tax hike on cigarettes?
Two lawmakers want to raise the cost of cigarettes and two others say the price of gasoline can be lowered. [The Capital Times (Madison)] Read More
Gundrum won't run for AG
Citing personal considerations, state Rep. Mark Gundrum, R-New Berlin, says he will not run for attorney general next year in a bid to unseat Democrat Peg Lautenschlager. [The Capital Times (Madison)] Read More
Governor's response varies on open records
Last year, dozens of people contacted the state's highest public office wanting answers. [Janesville Gazette] Read More
Ex-legislators, their aides shift to lucrative lobbying
Tim Hoven never earned more than $45,569 a year for the eight years he served in the Assembly. But after he decided not to seek re-election in 2002, the 41-year-old Republican joined dozens of other ex-legislators and former aides who quickly have found another way to trade their Capitol experience for bigger salaries. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] Read More
DNR - Hunters harvest around half-million deer
Hunters complained about seeing fewer deer last fall, but they shot 518,630 of them during the various deer hunting seasons, the state Department of Natural Resources reported. [The Post-Crescent (Appleton)] Read More
Barriers to care remain after dental talks
The conference in Madison Monday was titled "Breaking Down Barriers," but there was little apparent movement among dentists, state officials and health advocates to put more low-income patients in the dentist's chair anytime soon. [The Capital Times (Madison)] Read More
Forum to address immigration reform
Community and faith-based organizations will hold a forum to push for bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at La Casa de Esperanza, 414 Arcadian St., Waukesha. The meeting comes as many lawmakers are taking a get-tough stance on immigration, both in the Wisconsin legislature and in the Congress, said Joyce Ellwanger of the WISDOM Immigration Committee, one of the groups coordinating the event. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] Read More
Idea for Western primary reborn
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - A Democratic activist is among those trying to revive the idea of a Western presidential primary with eight states: Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah. [Billings Gazette] Read More
Mercury rule doesn't hurt Wyoming coal
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new mercury rules will likely result in higher electric bills in Wyoming because nearly all of the state's consumer electricity comes from coal-fired generation. [Casper Star-Tribune] Read More
Governor signs review panel bill
Count Gov. Dave Freudenthal among those who don't think new legislation to create medical review panels in Wyoming will do much to hold down malpractice insurance premiums or to encourage parties to settle malpractice cases before they go to court. [Casper Star-Tribune] Read More
Coal-to-diesel proposal gets boost
HANNA, Wyo. - Arch Coal Inc. has agreed to provide its product to a Texas company proposing a $2.3 billion plant that would turn coal into clean-burning diesel, hydrogen and electricity. [Billings Gazette] Read More
Wyoming 'running out of time' for good snowpack
CASPER, Wyo. - Snowpack levels remain far below historical averages in most of Wyoming, despite last weekend's snowstorms. [Billings Gazette] Read More
EPA's mercury rule attacked
Western states could see a spike in toxic mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in coming years under a rule finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday, national environmental groups charged. [Denver Post] Read More
Amtrak and your morning commute
The administration wants to end Amtrak's subsidies altogether and instead give the money directly to states to improve tracks and buy equipment. [The Wall Street Journal (subscription)] Read More
U.S. report lists possibilities for terroist attacks and likely toll
WASHINGTON - The Department of Homeland Security, trying to focus antiterrorism spending better nationwide, has identified a dozen possible strikes it views as most plausible or devastating, including detonation of a nuclear device in a major city, release of sarin nerve agent in office buildings and a truck bombing of a sports arena. [The New York Times (registration)] Read More
Security report outlines terror scenarios
WASHINGTON - An upcoming Homeland Security Department report outlines a dozen frightening if hypothetical scenarios such as a terrorist nuclear attack or spreading plague in airport bathrooms to spur state and local preparedness against security risks. [USA Today] Read More |
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