Archive of Arkansas on Monday May 05, 2008
Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
By Kim Mendelsohn, Special to Stateline.org
Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state.
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AP News Analysis -- Ballot measure campaigns to be waged in Arkansas' pews
By Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press, The Daily Citizen (Searcy)
The best place to hear arguments this fall over whether to create a state-run lottery for education or to restrict public services for illegal immigrants may not be at a campaign rally. It'll be from the pews.
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State revenues beat expectations, rise slightly in April
By Jason Wiest, Arkansas News Bureau
State revenues came in near target in April, beating the fiscal forecast by 2.4 percent, or $12.9 million, state fiscal officers reported Friday.
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Huckabee accepts letter of caution on portrait funds
By Staff Reporters, Arkansas News Bureau
The state Ethics Commission issued a letter of caution to former Gov. Mike Huckabee on Friday as settlement of a complaint that Huckabee failed to disclose the names of donors who paid for his portrait that hangs at the state Capitol.
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Blow dealt by rescission of work force training funds softened, Beebe says
By Staff Reporters, Arkansas News Bureau
With the help of Arkansas' congressional delegation, Gov. Mike Beebe said Friday he has found some relief to a $4.3 million rescission of federal funds already allocated for workforce training programs.
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Arkansans won't escape effects of global tightening of rice supply
By Jason Wiest, Arkansas News Bureau
Less than a three-hour drive from riceland that feeds people worldwide, the manager of an Asian restaurant in Russellville would like to build a stockpile of rice that would last at least half a year.
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Governor tracks storms from early radio show to late news conference
By Rob Moritz, Arkansas News Bureau
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Gov. Mike Beebe statewide radio program doubled as a weather broadcast early Friday, interrupted by several bulletins on a severe storm outbreak in the state that included some deadly tornadoes.
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Northwest Arkansas termed 'recession-proof'
By John Lyon and Doug Thompson, Arkansas News Bureau
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Is Northwest Arkansas recession-proof? It is, according to Mark Hovind of Las Vegas, president of JobBait.com.
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Early voting begins Monday for preferential primary
By Andrew DeMillo, The Associated Press, The Log Cabin Democrat (Conway) (registration)
With no high-profile Senate or congressional races and the state's presidential primary a memory, election officials say they're not expecting turnout for this month's primaries and non-partisan judicial races to match the fervor of February's presidential race.
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Trauma system will be priority in session, Wills says
By Rob Moritz , Arkansas News Bureau
Funding a statewide trauma system that could cost $25 million will be a priority during the 2007 legislative session despite what is expected to be a tight budget cycle, the next House speaker said Friday.
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Bills seek punishment for use, display of fake weapons
By Lucas L. Johnson II, The Associated Press, The Daily Citizen (Searcy)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Concerns that realistic-looking toy weapons are confusing police and threatening safety have led 15 states to take a crack at going beyond gun control to implement fake-gun control.
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After hiatus, states set wave of executions
By Ralph Blumenthal , The New York Times
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Here in the nation's leading death-penalty state, and some of the 35 others with capital punishment, execution dockets are quickly filling up.
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Fighting global warming block by block
By Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post (registration)
SEATTLE - King County Executive Ron Sims has a simple test for every new public works project, building plan or government land purchase: Will it increase the region's total greenhouse-gas emissions, or reduce them?
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WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in.
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Parents turn to states for autism help
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs.
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Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
By John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views.
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Seeds of social issues dot 2008 elections
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist
With a sagging economy and a divisive war occupying Americans’ minds, will social issues be overshadowed in state elections in 2008?
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Legislators prod Congress on Medicaid, Real ID
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer
As some states tumble into what they fear is a recession, state lawmakers from across the country are pushing Congress for relief from impending federal rules that would force states to pick up more Medicaid costs and spend billions to make drivers’ licenses more secure.
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With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead
By Daniel C. Vock and John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writers
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say.
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More states offer choice in long-term care
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
More states are poised to offer a successful alternative to traditional Medicaid plans that allows elders and the disabled to avoid moving to a nursing facility by hiring friends, neighbors or family members to look after them in their own homes.
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Credit crunch hits states' college loans
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer
(Updated 11:55 a.m. EDT, April 23, 2008)
The credit crisis has led some state lending agencies to suspend their federal and private student loan programs, forcing thousands of students to search elsewhere for money to pay for college.
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'Don't forget us,' PA candidates tell voters
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer
As Pennsylvanians prepare to go to the polls tomorrow to cast ballots in the April 22 presidential primary, experts wonder how the surge in registered voters will affect little-noticed state legislative races, particularly those in the House, where Democrats cling to a one-seat majority.
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Partisan mix in R.I., Conn. poses challenges
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist
The blue states of Connecticut and Rhode Island have had a long tradition of electing Republican governors. But in both states, the combination has led at times to difficult — even chaotic — policymaking.
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Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist
For the past several election cycles, the Democrats have been on a roll in legislative elections. This year, the party is well-positioned to hold its majority of chambers — but greatly expanding Democratic control may not be in the cards.
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'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist
The national polls point to a tight presidential race in November. But Democrats have a bit more to cheer about than Republicans do, regardless of who wins the Democratic primary, according to the latest state-by-state electoral-vote projections by “Out There.”
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Governors pitch ambitious programs
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Billion-dollar deficits in California, New York and Arizona haven’t stopped governors there and elsewhere from proposing big-ticket items for 2008. Stateline.org looks at proposals from governors’ 2008 "state of the state" speeches and provides an exclusive summary of all the addresses so far.
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Commentary: Govs beat White House hopefuls as agents of change
By Gene Gibbons, Stateline.org Executive Editor
It took a while for most of the presidential candidates to figure out that voters want “change” and action on a variety of issues that affect their lives. They might have gotten it sooner if they had noticed the way that many states, led by innovative governors, are moving forward in areas like health care, immigration and global warming.
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Iraq casts shadow on 2008 state races
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist
Not a single governor or state legislator wields authority over the conduct of the Iraq War, yet a broad range of party strategists and political analysts agree that state races in 2008 will be shaped, mostly indirectly, by public attitudes towards that conflict. Unless there’s a sea change in public opinion, that’s bad news for Republicans.
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WORTH NOTING: Illinois gov runs up travel tab
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s commuting costs start to add up. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds settles a dispute with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a cranky game warden. California corrections officials install “flushometers” to control wasteful toilet flushing in prisons. In case you missed any of those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.
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