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Archive of Stateline.org RSS - State by State Roundup on Tuesday May 06, 2008
Birmingham-area transportation officials order roadside memorials removed from interstates
State transportation officials in the Birmingham division have begun taking down roadside memorials along interstates, saying they are unsafe. [The Birmingham News] Read More
States get in on calls for a gas tax holiday
SLOCOMB, Ala. - Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida has been fighting to cut 10 cents from the state's gasoline tax for two weeks in July. Lawmakers in Missouri, New York and Texas have also proposed a summer break from state gas taxes, while candidates for governor in Indiana and North Carolina are sparring over relief ideas of their own. [The New York Times] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Lawsuit seeks to stop Arctic oil exploration
ANCHORAGE - Alaska Native and environmental groups sued Monday to stop exploration by oil companies this summer in Arctic waters frequented by whales, seals and other marine species. [The Juneau Empire (registration)] Read More
Judge rejects Kohring request to talk to juror
Former state Rep. Vic Kohring has suffered another legal setback ahead of his sentencing Thursday. [Anchorage Daily News (registration)] Read More
Palin balances official duties, son's needs
The results of Gov. Sarah Palin's prenatal testing were in, but the doctor's tone was ominous: "You need to come to the office so we can talk about it." [Anchorage Daily News (registration)] Read More
UAF chancellor takes position at Ohio?s Urbana University
University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Steve Jones announced Monday that he's leaving "America's Arctic University" for the greener pastures of Ohio. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
As Ariz. degrades, folks may leave
A symbol of Arizona's growth is the U-Haul, bringing in families pursuing sunshine, mountains, cheaper housing and jobs as they pile in from the Rust Belt or Southern California. [Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) (registration)] Read More
Federal, Arizona officials tighten restrictions ahead of fire season
From north to south, fire restrictions are taking effect as officials brace for the state's wildfire season. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
States get in on calls for a gas tax holiday
SLOCOMB, Ala. - Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida has been fighting to cut 10 cents from the state's gasoline tax for two weeks in July. Lawmakers in Missouri, New York and Texas have also proposed a summer break from state gas taxes, while candidates for governor in Indiana and North Carolina are sparring over relief ideas of their own. [The New York Times] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Beebe -- Federal cuts not as bad as feared
Federal cuts won?t hurt state work-force programs as much as state officials initially feared, Gov. Mike Beebe said. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)] Read More
Beebe encourages schools to install tornado-safe rooms
CARLISLE, Ark. - Just before the sirens sounded in Carlisle, school superintendent Floyd Marshall got the warning from police -- a tornado was coming right for the town's elementary and high school. [The Daily Citizen (Searcy)] Read More
Ark. Democratic leader tells members to stop helping GOP
The head of Arkansas' Democratic Party is asking lawmakers in his party to avoid taking friendships forged with Republicans in the Capitol to the campaign trail. [The Daily Citizen (Searcy)] Read More
State offers model for sorting schools' deficits
The Arkansas Department of Education has sent to the U.S. Department of Education a proposal for categorizing and assisting academically troubled schools, officials said Monday. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)] Read More
Leader of party rebukes senators
The state Democratic Party chief and two prominent state senators in his party differed Monday over the senators associating with Republican fundraisers and his comments suggesting one of them might have preferred a Republican candidate for governor. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)] Read More
Ark. governor urges schools to install tornado-safe rooms
CARLISLE, Ark. - Just before the tornado sirens sounded, school superintendent Floyd Marshall got the warning from police _ a twister was coming right for the town's elementary and high school. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
California may run out of cash by August
California is facing a cash crisis this summer, putting pressure on elected officials to submit an on-time state budget or risk asking taxpayers to pay a premium on loans. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
Plan to upgrade courthouses is pushed
Higher fees for parking tickets, traffic school, criminal convictions and civil court filings would pay for $5 billion in improvements to California's deteriorating courthouses under a proposal announced Monday by the chief justice of the state Supreme Court and legislative leaders. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
Health care providers challenge cuts to Medi-Cal
Doctors, hospitals and other health care providers filed a class-action lawsuit Monday seeking to block the state from cutting payments to them for treating the poor. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
Capital One sues to stop Calif. credit card probe
LOS ANGELES - Capital One Financial Corp has sued in an effort to keep its records out of the hands of California Attorney General Jerry Brown, who is investigating whether the bank's credit card business violated state false advertising and unfair competition laws. [The San Diego Union-Tribune] Read More
Vegetable oil fuels cars - and tax bills
Dave Eck, a Half Moon Bay mechanic, had attracted a media spotlight with his fleet of vehicles fueled by used fryer grease from a local chowder house. So when Sacramento called, he figured officials wanted advice on promoting alternative fuels. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
$50 million donation to community colleges
The Bernard Osher Foundation today will commit $50 million toward a permanent scholarship endowment for low-income California community college students, believed to be the largest donation for a public two-year system in U.S. history. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
Court voids inmate's death sentence
In a unanimous decision, the California Supreme Court found Monday that a San Quentin inmate was wrongly sentenced to death in 1982 for murder because Los Angeles district attorneys -- including current Superior Court Judges Lance A. Ito and Frederick Horn -- withheld a confession to the killing by their star witness. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
State invests $1 billion to rebuild path over Sierra
TRUCKEE, Calif. - High on the Sierra crest above this old railroad town, the granite rocks are scarred with ruts carved by the wheels of the wagons pioneers hauled over Donner Summit 150 years ago. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
Bill would take pets off driver's laps
No more dogs behind the steering wheel. Canines don't have to be back-seat drivers, but they'd better stay away from the gas pedal under legislation passed Monday by the Assembly. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
CA Supreme Court overturns sentence for death row inmate
LOS ANGELES -- Adam Miranda still could face execution even though the California Supreme Court threw out his death sentence. [The Orange County Register] Read More
Gasoline tax holiday out of reach in Nevada
Motorists in three states, including Nevada, might never see the savings of the gasoline tax holiday touted by two presidential candidates. [Las Vegas Review-Journal (registration)] Read More
Fed ruling resurrects prospects of Orange County toll road
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. - A federal review has found a toll road proposed to run through a popular coastal state park in Orange County would not jeopardize sensitive wildlife species. [Contra Costa Times (registration)] Read More
Richmond DNA lab's sample processing to double
The state Department of Justice's DNA laboratory in Richmond will double the number of DNA samples it processes starting next year when its newly expanded lab begins receiving samples from everyone arrested for a felony in California, Attorney General Jerry Brown said Monday. [San Francisco Chronicle] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Reports find racial gap in drug arrests
More than two decades after President Ronald Reagan escalated the war on drugs, arrests for drug sales or, more often, drug possession are still rising. [The New York Times] Read More
California may run out of cash by August
California is facing a cash crisis this summer, putting pressure on elected officials to submit an on-time state budget or risk asking taxpayers to pay a premium on loans. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
Legislature going out on 'high note'
The Democrats in charge of the legislature say they will close this year's session either today or Wednesday, satisfied they've made strides in education, health care, the economy and protecting the environment. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
Ritter questions TABOR strategy
The rough political road for a proposed state-budget fix got even rougher Monday as Gov. Bill Ritter stopped short of endorsing it and the group expected to propel it to November's ballot expressed concern about funding, timing and other issues. [The Denver Post] Read More
Dueling fuel philosophies on collision course
WASHINGTON - Prices at the pump are fueling the latest battles in Congress. [The Denver Post] Read More
Xcel fees in cross hairs
State regulators are investigating a growing number of fees and surcharges that Xcel Energy and other utilities are tacking onto customer bills. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Reports find racial gap in drug arrests
More than two decades after President Ronald Reagan escalated the war on drugs, arrests for drug sales or, more often, drug possession are still rising. [The New York Times] Read More
State Senate approves greenhouse gas reduction measure
The state Senate gave final -- and unanimous -- legislative approval Monday to a tough new bill requiring drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions connected to global warming, and the GOP leader in the Senate said he expects Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell to sign it into law. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
State Senate gives solid approval to gas-emissions bill
The Senate on Monday unanimously backed a mandate to cut emissions of greenhouse gases in Connecticut, keeping the state on pace with others in its efforts to combat global warming. [The Day (New London)] Read More
Minimum wage bill now in Rell's court
The minimum hourly wage in Connecticut would rise Jan. 1 from $7.65 to $8 ? and to $8.25 as of Jan. 1, 2010 ? under a bill the state Senate gave final legislative approval to Monday night. The bill, which the House approved April 22, now goes to Gov. M. Jodi Rell, but her press office said that she doesn't know whether she will sign it into law. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Near end, session slows down
With adjournment looming, state legislative business slowed to a crawl Monday as the Republican minority reacted with delaying tactics to a refusal by the Democratic majority to debate a GOP budget alternative. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Mayors, others decry state budget decision
Mayors, union leaders and activists for the poor ramped up the political pressure Monday on the General Assembly and Gov. M. Jodi Rell, hoping to change their minds about not amending the new budget that takes effect July 1. [The Day (New London)] Read More
House passes mortgage relief bill
The House of Representatives has passed a bill that aims to help struggling homeowners caught up in the subprime mortgage mess. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Partial federal takeover of DCF urged
Nearly 6,000 Connecticut children live in the state child welfare system, and for many of them, life is unnecessarily bleak, lawyers representing them say. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Legislation advances, awaits Rell's signature
The following bills are among those that have passed the General Assembly. Unless otherwise noted, they are awaiting Gov. M. Jodi Rell's signature. [New Haven Register (registration)] Read More
Senate panel OKs cap on rail damages
A legal cap on railroad damages critical to restoring rail service from Boston through Nashua took an important step forward Monday. [The Telegraph (Nashua) (registration)] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Bill Lee plays it coy
He has not said yes and he has not said no, but retired Superior Court Judge Bill Lee -- drafted Saturday as the Republican Party's nominee for governor -- did say he would "proceed toward running" for the office. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Ruling puts NCCo in money bind
New Castle County and the seven school districts within it won't be recapturing any of the millions of dollars in tax revenue lost when Verizon was able to reduce its tax payments last year. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Opponents of UD program still opposed
NEWARK, Del. - Months spent rewriting the educational program presented to dorm dwellers at the University of Delaware resulted in a new, multipronged proposal creators say rights the wrongs of the old plan, shelved last fall over criticism that it pushed a single point of view on students. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Bill Lee - Thanks, but I'm still not in it
Retired Superior Court Judge Bill Lee, who was drafted by the Republican Party Saturday to be its candidate for governor, said today he was humbled by the "unprecedented honor" and would "proceed toward running" for the governor's office. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Feds investigate state investment pool
State investments downgraded during the subprime mortgage meltdown have been targeted in a federal probe. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has asked the State Board of Administration to hand over hundreds of pages of documents related to the buying and selling of at least 10 different securities, according to a letter dated Feb. 22. [The Palm Beach Post] Read More
Must Florida pay for felled citrus trees?
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - A jury is set to begin deliberations Monday in a case that could cost the Florida Department of Agriculture tens of millions of dollars for cutting down backyard citrus trees over the objections of homeowners. [The Christian Science Monitor] Read More
Fewer students will learn less at UF after cuts
Faced with a nearly $50-million loss in state dollars for the looming budget year, the University of Florida will lay off 138 faculty and staff members; cut undergraduate enrollment by 4,000 students; slash research spending; and eliminate some degree programs and academic departments. [St. Petersburg Times] Read More
Bill change paves way for adoption support
The state Department of Children and Families hopes to reclaim money for adoptive families and equipment for caseworkers under a bill amendment that lawmakers approved in the final minutes of this year's legislative session. [The Palm Beach Post] Read More
State seeks role in No Child Left Behind test
Florida is applying to join an experimental program that could resolve some sharp differences between state and federal school-assessment results. [The Orlando Sentinel (registration)] Read More
School districts hope web will help with agonizing wait for FCAT
Palm Beach and Broward County high school freshmen and sophomores finished the reading FCAT by mid-March. More than six weeks later, they still don't know the scores. And the wait will drag into early June. State and local educators say they'd love to speed up the process and improve student achievement with a technological solution: putting the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test online. [The Sun-Sentinel (South Florida)] Read More
UF cuts 400 jobs, undergrad enrollment
The University of Florida, the state's highest-rated institution of higher education, announced layoffs, reductions in degree programs and a steep cut in undergraduate enrollment as part of a plan to cope with severe budget cuts from the state. [The Miami Herald (registration)] Read More
Six wardens among double-dippers at Florida Department of Corrections
The Department of Corrections, an agency notorious for cronyism, has a number of double-dippers at its highest levels. [St. Petersburg Times] Read More
FCAT would lose weight under bill
Big changes are coming to the way Florida grades its high schools. [St. Petersburg Times] Read More
Commuter rail far from dead, Mica and Dyer vow
Central Florida commuter-rail supporters are preparing to spend as much as $52 million in the next year to keep their plan on track, despite the Legislature's rejection of the deal last week. [The Orlando Sentinel (registration)] Read More
States get in on calls for a gas tax holiday
SLOCOMB, Ala. - Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida has been fighting to cut 10 cents from the state's gasoline tax for two weeks in July. Lawmakers in Missouri, New York and Texas have also proposed a summer break from state gas taxes, while candidates for governor in Indiana and North Carolina are sparring over relief ideas of their own. [The New York Times] Read More
Dems to weigh two delegate plans
Michigan Democratic leaders could endorse one of two competing plans for resolving Michigan's delegate ban on Wednesday. [The Detroit News] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Ga. execution could be first since court ruling
Three states moved to schedule executions following a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that upheld the constitutionality of lethal injections, led by Georgia which planned to put a man to death Tuesday for killing his girlfriend. [The Macon Telegraph] Read More
Executions might start again today
If Earl Lynd's execution goes forward tonight as scheduled, Georgia will be the first state to put anyone to death in nearly eight months. [The Augusta Chronicle] Read More
Harbin denies role in mix-up
State Rep. Ben Harbin and his attorney denied Monday any wrongdoing in a possible mix-up that allowed the Evans Republican to keep his driver's license after last year's arrest on suspicion of drunken driving. [The Augusta Chronicle] Read More
Perdue to sign dogfighting bill
Dogfighting penalties are about to get a little tougher in Georgia. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration)] Read More
Georgia inmate denied clemency
Barring a last-minute intervention by the courts, a condemned killer who shot his live-in girlfriend likely is to become the first inmate put to death since a U.S. Supreme Court review halted executions last September. [The Athens Banner-Herald] Read More
Executions resume
Georgia is poised to become the first state in the nation to execute an inmate since the U.S. Supreme Court decided in September to review Kentucky inmates' claims that lethal injection is unconstitutional. [The Athens Banner-Herald] Read More
Executions might start again today
If Earl Lynd's execution goes forward tonight as scheduled, Georgia will be the first state to put anyone to death in nearly eight months. [The Augusta Chronicle] Read More
Ga. execution would be first since Supreme Court ruling
ATLANTA - Georgia moved forward with preparations to execute a man convicted of killing his girlfriend, who on Tuesday night could become the first inmate put to death since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of lethal injection. [USA Today] Read More
States get in on calls for a gas tax holiday
SLOCOMB, Ala. - Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida has been fighting to cut 10 cents from the state's gasoline tax for two weeks in July. Lawmakers in Missouri, New York and Texas have also proposed a summer break from state gas taxes, while candidates for governor in Indiana and North Carolina are sparring over relief ideas of their own. [The New York Times] Read More
Death row inmates plead for humanity
"Let's ride" were the last words spoken by Michael Richards before the syringes containing a lethal concoction of chemicals were pumped into his veins in Texas' Huntsville death chamber Sept. 25, 2007. [ABC News] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
State voter roll rises by 16,000
In Hawaii the current statewide registered voter count is about 663,000, Glen Takahashi, election administrator in the City Clerk's Office, said in an e-mail. [Honolulu Star-Bulletin] Read More
Ceded-land deal at impasse
Just days after the end of the legislative session and a failed attempt to reach an agreement over how much ceded-land revenue is owed to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the key parties involved appear to again be at loggerheads. [The Honolulu Advertiser] Read More
UH-Manoa to measure greenhouse gas output
The University of Hawaii-Manoa says it will be the first institution in Hawaii -- and the first college campus in the nation -- to join a registry of corporations that measure and publicly report their annual greenhouse gas emissions. [The Honolulu Advertiser] Read More
HECO to seek increase in rates
Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc. has given notice that it will ask the state Public Utilities Commission for permission to raise rates again for its 295,000 customers on Oahu. [Honolulu Star-Bulletin] Read More
Airlines raise fuel surcharge
Hawaii, which already has the most expensive gas prices in the nation, has the highest airline fuel surcharges, too. [Honolulu Star-Bulletin] Read More
NCAA to sanction three UH sports
The University of Hawaii's rebuilding men's basketball team is bracing for what is expected to be the heaviest penalty of the three UH sports sanctioned when the NCAA today announces Academic Progress Rates for 2006-07 school year. [The Honolulu Advertiser] Read More
Attorneys general meet to discuss energy issues
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- One highly effective way to reduce electricity use is to hang laundry on an outdoor clothesline, instead of using a dryer, Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said Monday. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Kempthorne holds on to his records
Two years ago, the Idaho Attorney General's office told Dirk Kempthorne to give his gubernatorial records to the Idaho State Historical Society -- like every governor before him. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Senate hopeful Risch to skip live Idaho Public TV debate
For a second straight election, Lt. Gov. Jim Risch will forgo a live Idaho Public Television debate in favor of a taped commercial network debate with candidates in Idaho's Republican U.S. Senate primary facing questions from a panel but not from each other. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Idaho gas prices set another record
Whatlyne Frederick remembers being outraged when she paid $2 a gallon for gasoline in 2005 to fill her 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier. On Monday, the situation became "ridiculous," she said, when she paid $3.46 a gallon at the Maverik station at Cole and Ustick roads. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Students' reading scores up from fall
Idaho elementary school students showed gains in reading ability on the latest statewide exam given earlier this winter. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Areva plans to build $2 billion uranium plant in Idaho
French-owned energy services company Areva Inc. will build what it's said will be a $2 billion uranium enrichment facility near the eastern Idaho city of Idaho Falls, after winning tax concessions from the state Legislature meant to lure the plant to the region. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
State approves increase for Rocky Mountain Power
Idaho utility regulators are giving Rocky Mountain Power permission to charge customers a little more for electricity this year. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Idaho journalist, author Shadduck dies at age 92
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- Louise Shadduck of Coeur d'Alene, a newspaper reporter who became the first woman in the nation to serve in a state cabinet post, died Sunday at 92. [The Times-News (Twin Falls)] Read More
Attorneys general meet to discuss energy issues
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- One highly effective way to reduce electricity use is to hang laundry on an outdoor clothesline, instead of using a dryer, Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said Monday. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Both sides rest at Rezko trial
CHICAGO - Less than two hours after prosecutors rested their case Monday in political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko's fraud trial, defense attorneys did the same without calling a single witness. [USA Today] Read More
Ill. Corrections wants Stateville open, Pontiac closed
The Illinois Department of Corrections is shelving plans to shutter a maximum security unit in Joliet, targeting a more than 130-year-old prison in Pontiac for closure instead. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Senators insist day off isn't for Obama's benefit
With their former colleague vying for votes in neighboring Indiana, the Illinois Senate has called off work today, a move one Republican said is improper given Illinois' lingering problems. [Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)] Read More
State Supreme Court denies media request in R. Kelly porn case
CHICAGO - The Illinois Supreme Court on Monday denied an emergency motion filed by news organizations seeking sealed court records and transcripts related to R. Kelly's pornography case. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Gov to unveil $150 million anti-violence plan today
Gov. Blagojevich is proposing a $150 million anti-violence initiative that would provide new state dollars for more teen jobs, after-school programs and community grants in high-crime areas. [Chicago Sun-Times] Read More
Lawmaker -- Job moves in works for years
A southern Illinois lawmaker says Gov. Rod Blagojevich?s controversial decision to move 148 jobs from Springfield to his district has been in the works for two years. [Quad-City Times] Read More
Museum broadcasts need for funds to finish building
The Museum of Broadcast Communications is hoping that naming rights, or perhaps a generous person or foundation, will provide upward of $6 million to rescue its long-stalled efforts to build a new home at Kinzie and State Streets. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Plan to define marriage fails
Illinois voters won't be asked this fall whether they think the state constitution should be rewritten to define "marriage" as only for male-female couples. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Appeals court rejects Chief Illiniwek suits
A state appellate court has upheld the dismissals of a pair of lawsuits that claimed the University of Illinois broke state law when it eliminated its controversial Chief Illiniwek mascot. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
States get in on calls for a gas tax holiday
SLOCOMB, Ala. - Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida has been fighting to cut 10 cents from the state's gasoline tax for two weeks in July. Lawmakers in Missouri, New York and Texas have also proposed a summer break from state gas taxes, while candidates for governor in Indiana and North Carolina are sparring over relief ideas of their own. [The New York Times] Read More
Audit finds state paid $882,000 for $50,000 in savings
State Auditor David Vaudt has released a second report on business conducted by several state agencies with a consulting company based in Chicago. [Radio Iowa] Read More
Iowans warned about measles, cases confirmed in Illinois, Wisconsin
State public health officials say the risk for measles is "high" in Iowa as there have been confirmed cases of measles in Wisconsin and Illinois. Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, medical director for the Iowa Department of Public Health, says measles is a highly contagious disease. [Radio Iowa] Read More
Defense rests in Rezko trial
CHICAGO - Defense attorneys rested their case in political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko's corruption trial Monday without calling a single witness. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch] Read More
Latest prison closings proposal would benefit Thomson
Pontiac?s loss of a maximum-security prison could be a big win for Thomson. [Quad-City Times] Read More
Prosecution rests; Rezko to present no defense witnesses
Antoin "Tony" Rezko's defense attorneys staked their case Monday on the prospect that jurors have found more credibility problems than compelling evidence during weeks of testimony from prosecution witnesses. [Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)] Read More
Plan would keep all of Stateville prison open, shut Pontiac facility
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration is canceling its plan to close part of the Stateville prison near Joliet and now wants to shut down the Pontiac Correctional Center instead. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Enrollment in health plan halted
Gov. Rod Blagojevich?s administration is ending enrollment in its health-care plan after months of pushing for a dramatic expansion of the program against the wishes of lawmakers. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Governor refuses to discuss Rezko trial
GRANITE CITY, Ill.- Insisting "the truth will come out," Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Monday refused to publicly address claims that the former head of the Illinois Finance Authority got his job in exchange for campaign contributions. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Testimony comes to quick conclusion at Rezko trial
With surprising swiftness, testimony at the corruption trial of Antoin "Tony" Rezko concluded Monday. Prosecutors rested their case after more than nine weeks of testimony, and Rezko's lawyers quickly followed suit without calling a single witness. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Construction begins on new coke plant in Granite City
GRANITE CITY, Ill. - Construction began Monday on a coke-making plant that will provide fuel and steam to an adjacent steel foundry in a $570-million venture. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Stateville gets new lease on life as Pontiac prison is put on chopping block
The Illinois Department of Corrections has backed off closing a wing of Stateville prison north of Joliet and now wants to shut Pontiac Correctional Center and transfer its 1,600 inmates to a facility near the Iowa border. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Defense calls no witnesses, says case vs. Rezko weak
The prosecution and defense both rested Monday in the Tony Rezko corruption case, but not before the final witness leveled a new allegation. [Chicago Sun-Times] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
A final push for primary voters
DURHAM, N.C. -- In the hours before today's important primaries here and in Indiana, the candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination made final pleas for votes even as they acknowledged the race will almost certainly continue into next month. [The Star-Ledger (Newark)] Read More
Presidential primary is casting a long shadow in Indiana
ANDERSON, Ind. - Inside Eva's Pancake House in this central Indiana town, it had been a slow morning for Jill Long Thompson, one of two Democratic candidates for governor. [The New York Times] Read More
Indiana may feel coattail effect in fall
ORLEANS, Ind. - When Baron P. Hill, the local congressman, endorsed Barack Obama last week, his surprise announcement was greeted with a roof-raising cheer from more than 12,000 people crowded into the basketball arena at Indiana University. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
Undecideds may hold sway in too-close-to-call primary
As they campaigned across Indiana in the past two weeks, Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton reminded Hoosier voters just how important the state's primary is. [The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne)] Read More
Obama rally with Stevie Wonder draws thousands to Downtown
Standing before an estimated 21,000 people who turned the American Legion Mall into a sea of upturned faces, Sen. Barack Obama on Monday urged voters to help him change the world. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Touch-screen machines, extra poll workers ready for high turnout
Automatic 5 a.m. wake-up calls for poll inspectors and touch-screen voting machines in case of paper ballot shortages will be used for the first time in Indiana's presidential primary today, a vote that has turned into one of the more closely watched in the nation. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
State overdue for its moment in national political spotlight
After two of the most high-profile months in the state's history, and after 40 years of waiting for the chance to have a meaningful say in presidential politics, it's Indiana's turn. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
States get in on calls for a gas tax holiday
SLOCOMB, Ala. - Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida has been fighting to cut 10 cents from the state's gasoline tax for two weeks in July. Lawmakers in Missouri, New York and Texas have also proposed a summer break from state gas taxes, while candidates for governor in Indiana and North Carolina are sparring over relief ideas of their own. [The New York Times] Read More
Indiana voters rely on 'feel'
Nancy Cravens can't quite put into words her opposition to Barack Obama. [The Detroit News] Read More
Poll watchers rejected
The county election board rejected all requests for poll watchers during today's primary election. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
Early voting soars
In what may have foreshadowed a heavy turnout today, voters lined up Monday morning for last-minute absentee voting in the lobbies of the County-City Building in South Bend and the County Services Building in Mishawaka. [South Bend Tribune] Read More
Appeals Court reinstates lawsuit over school funding
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reinstated a lawsuit that accused the state of violating its constitution by failing to provide enough money for all schoolchildren to have a fair chance to learn. [South Bend Tribune] Read More
State braces for record turnout
The national spotlight will shine on the Hoosier State today, and Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita says the election system is ready to handle more than 165,000 new voters and a possible record turnout. [The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne)] Read More
Early voter turnout continues at fever pitch
Hoosiers have been voting early and often, particularly in Northwest Indiana, in the final run up to today's primary election. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
A final push for Hoosier votes
In her last scheduled region visit before today's hotly contested Indiana primary, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton appealed to voters' faith in her ability to better their lives. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
Voters line up at polls; absentee voting high
Voters were lining up at polls this morning across the city. Election workers are predicting the number of ballots cast in today's primary and school board elections could be high by day's end. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Clinton vs. Obama -- Don't forget these Indiana campaign moments
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who grew up in suburban Chicago, was an Indiana organizer for the Carter-Mondale campaign in 1976. Sen. Barack Obama represents Illinois and has distant cousins in Tipton County, where his maternal great-great-great-grandfather settled. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Polling place glitches are few in Indy
Voters came out today and they kept coming. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Obama surprises Greenwood breakfast group
GREENWOOD, Ind. -- A group of regulars eating breakfast at the Four Seasons Family Restaurant got a surprise visit this morning from Sen. Barack Obama. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
2 Md. leaders endorse Obama
WASHINGTON - On the eve of primaries in North Carolina and Indiana, Barack Obama angled for an advantage on a second front yesterday, picking up pledges from two party leaders in Maryland to pull nearly even with Hillary Clinton in the race for superdelegates. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
Indiana, N.C. voters settling largest remaining contests
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Voters in Indiana and North Carolina crowded polling places Tuesday as they sought to settle the largest remaining contests in the Democratic presidential nomination struggle between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton that has dragged improbably into spring. [The Charlotte Observer (registration)] Read More
Senators insist day off isn't for Obama's benefit
With their former colleague vying for votes in neighboring Indiana, the Illinois Senate has called off work today, a move one Republican said is improper given Illinois' lingering problems. [Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Seeking big wins in N.C. and Ind.
The primaries in North Carolina and Indiana today offer Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton one more chance to transform their long and bitter struggle for the Democratic presidential nomination. [The Philadelphia Inquirer (registration)] Read More
Two candidates, two states and one big day
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - On a final, fevered day of campaigning, Sen. Barack Obama looked to voters in Indiana and North Carolina to reverse a string of defeats in key states, while Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton fought to keep her improbable comeback hopes alive with a pair of strong showings. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Audit finds state paid $882,000 for $50,000 in savings
State Auditor David Vaudt has released a second report on business conducted by several state agencies with a consulting company based in Chicago. [Radio Iowa] Read More
Culver signs bills to help vets
Measures meant to improve services for Iowa veterans were signed into law Monday by Gov. Chet Culver. [Quad-City Times] Read More
Culver signs loan oversight bill
Iowa students might not have to borrow as much money to pay for college as a result of new legislation signed Monday, Gov. Chet Culver said. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Culver wants lawyers paid to review records
Gov. Chet Culver's office has begun to encourage state agencies to charge for the cost of having government lawyers review documents requested under Iowa's open-records law. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Iowa pollution perils lurk among buried fuel tanks
Leaking underground fuel tanks threaten to contaminate drinking water, lakes, streams and homes across Iowa as environmental officials change rules to speed up detection and cleanup. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
State pays $250,000 to settle another TouchPlay lawsuit
The Iowa Attorney General's office has announced another settlement with a former manufacturer of the TouchPlay machines. The state banned TouchPlay machines in May of 2006, after concerns that the games were too much like slot machines. A-G spokesman, Bob Brammer, talks about the details of the latest settlement. [Radio Iowa] Read More
Iowans warned about measles, cases confirmed in Illinois, Wisconsin
State public health officials say the risk for measles is "high" in Iowa as there have been confirmed cases of measles in Wisconsin and Illinois. Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, medical director for the Iowa Department of Public Health, says measles is a highly contagious disease. [Radio Iowa] Read More
Governor signs veterans bills into law
Iowa Governor Chet Culver traveled to Fort Dodge Monday, where he signed three bills dealing with veterans issues into law. Culver says one the bills provides $600,000 to improve the operations at county veterans services offices. [Radio Iowa] Read More
Savings effort for state faulted again
State officials paid an out-of-state contractor $882,260 to help Iowa save $50,325 a year, according to an audit released Monday. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Student loan protection bill signed
Gov. Chet Culver signed legislation Monday to help make the student loan process more transparent for Iowa college students and provide more oversight for lenders. [Quad-City Times] Read More
State officials urge Iowans check vaccinations for measles
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa ? State health officials are urging Iowans to make sure their vaccinations are current. [Quad-City Times] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Work in Kansas Legislature stalled by senators' protests
Action in the Kansas Legislature came to a virtual halt Monday as lawmakers looked for an exit strategy for the 2008 session. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Immigration measure close to dying in Kansas Legislature
Legislation aimed at curbing illegal immigration lingers near death at the state Capitol, and no one has issued a resuscitation order. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Lawmakers suggest tax exemption
As lawmakers squeeze the budget belt one notch tighter, two Topeka lawmakers have called for "decoupling" the state from a federal tax code for one year, possibly saving $79 million. [The Topeka Capital-Journal] Read More
Google invests in KU studio
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Internet company Google has made a $100,000 gift to help The University of Kansas architecture students design and build sustainable structures, including one of the first new "green" buildings in Greensburg. [The Topeka Capital-Journal] Read More
Schoolkids miss dome tour, meet governor
Fortune finally smiled Monday on Bethel's bad-luck fourth-grade class. A public-building evacuation -- their second in two years -- gave the students from Wichita's Bethel Life School an unexpected opportunity to meet Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. [Wichita Eagle (registration)] Read More
Legislature grinds to standstill
As the Legislature staggers toward a last showdown over proposed coal-fired power plants in western Kansas, a resolution to allow the Legislature to sue the governor on the issue will not be going forward, the president of the state Senate said Monday. [Wichita Eagle (registration)] Read More
Coal plant debate stays at impasse
The wrap-up session continued Monday as lawmakers argued over the final spending bill and a measure allowing two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas. [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
Coal debate in final days
Republican House Speaker Melvin Neufeld is optimistic today's session of the Legislature ? perhaps lawmakers' last big work day in 2008 ? delivers hard-fought victories on a contentious coal debate. [The Topeka Capital-Journal] Read More
Rep. Wilk not running again
State Rep. Kenny Wilk, who has successfully pushed through major economic policy changes in the Legislature for years, said Monday he would not seek re-election. [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
Bill on water rights in county clears Legislature
The Kansas House on Monday approved a measure aimed at stopping a Douglas County water district from condemning land to drill a well and possibly appropriate water rights. [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
Blunt or aides erased e-mails, lawsuit contends
Independent investigators on Monday alleged that Gov. Matt Blunt or his top aides ordered state computer technicians to destroy copies of e-mail messages that might have been politically damaging. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Republican River tour will address water use
An early June tour will visit the lower Republican River basin in Kansas and Nebraska to help answer water use questions in both states. [Lincoln Journal Star] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Death-row inmate's DNA to be checked against fluids on clothing
An attorney for Brian Keith Moore, who is on death row for a murder he says he didn't commit, said yesterday that lab technicians have found enough DNA on evidence to potentially eliminate Moore as the killer. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
13 precincts moving for primary
The Jefferson County Board of Elections has moved more than a dozen voting sites for the May 20 primary, affecting thousands of people. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Natural resources chief named in Ky.
Carl E. Campbell, a former state mining official, has been named to replace the recently fired Susan Bush as commissioner of the state Department for Natural Resources. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Executions resume
Georgia is poised to become the first state in the nation to execute an inmate since the U.S. Supreme Court decided in September to review Kentucky inmates' claims that lethal injection is unconstitutional. [The Athens Banner-Herald] Read More
Ga. execution could be first since court ruling
Three states moved to schedule executions following a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that upheld the constitutionality of lethal injections, led by Georgia which planned to put a man to death Tuesday for killing his girlfriend. [The Macon Telegraph] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Lawmakers comb through budget proposals
Legislators on Monday debated litter control, the cost of river ferries and whether the state is spending too much money teaching juvenile offenders everything but the basics. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Legislator pay raises simmer
A hefty pay raise proposal for lawmakers was put on hold Monday by a Senate committee, amid questions about the state's budget for the upcoming year. [The News Star (Monroe)] Read More
State official mourns woes of Road Home
How does Gov. Bobby Jindal?s point man on hurricane recovery efforts spell heartburn? R-O-A-D-H-O-M-E. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
State plans bigger role in appeals
The Louisiana Recovery Authority is putting the finishing touches on an overhaul of the Road Home appeals process that allows homeowners to challenge the final award granted by the state's primary residential rehabilitation program. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Legislative pay raise vote put off by panel
The Senate Finance Committee shaved about $20,000 from a proposed legislative pay raise Monday before persuading its chief sponsor to delay a vote until lawmakers have a better handle on what will be financed or cut in the state's $30 billion operating budget. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Bill reshapes system for funding projects
Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to overhaul the way major construction projects are financed in the annual capital outlay bill passed its first committee test Monday despite grumbling from some legislators that the process still leaves too much spending power in the hands of the administration. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Panel revises capital outlay process
The Jindal administration stepped in on Monday to change the process for choosing which construction projects the state will fund. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Panel resists easing building code
A House committee on Monday fought efforts by north Louisiana legislators to kill off the new statewide building code but put limits on what inspectors could charge. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Legislative notebook -- Jindal angers lawmakers with veto threat
Some lawmakers took offense at a letter from Gov. Bobby Jindal, in which he threatened to line-item veto the add-ons they often insert into the state's budget each year. [The News Star (Monroe)] Read More
Harris County may send more inmates out of state
With the Harris County Jail already filled to the brim and an influx of inmates expected this summer, the sheriff's department is asking Commissioners Court for permission to send another 1,130 more inmates to Louisiana facilities. [The Houston Chronicle (registration)] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Gas tax plan: gimmick or boost?
Members of Maine's congressional delegation and Gov. John Baldacci are split over whether suspending federal fuel taxes this summer will help the economy or is a campaign gimmick that will do little. [Bangor Daily News] Read More
Telford gets $75M Army deal extension
BANGOR, Maine - The U.S. Army has awarded Telford Aviation Inc. a $75 million contract to continue maintaining military aircraft and airborne reconnaissance surveillance systems used on the aircraft, according to a company official. [Bangor Daily News] Read More
Senate panel OKs cap on rail damages
A legal cap on railroad damages critical to restoring rail service from Boston through Nashua took an important step forward Monday. [The Telegraph (Nashua) (registration)] Read More
Richmond businessman fears impact of people's veto effort
RICHMOND, Maine- Bill Keleher runs a small business where he needs to provide health insurance to his workers to stay competitive. [Kennebec Journal] Read More
Kittery baker is fighting the feds over food policy
KITTERY, Maine ? With the rising cost of food and fuel creating a quagmire for Americans nationwide, local bakery owner Andrew Siegel and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, gathered Monday afternoon to announce their plans to combat federal renewable fuel policies and the mounting effect on skyrocketing food prices nationwide. [Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover) (registration)] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
SAD 59: Science teaching debated Director: Evolution, creationism are unproven theories
MADISON, Maine- Neither creationism nor evolution belongs in a high-school science curriculum, a School Administrative District 59 director believes. [Morning Sentinel] Read More
2 Md. leaders endorse Obama
WASHINGTON - On the eve of primaries in North Carolina and Indiana, Barack Obama angled for an advantage on a second front yesterday, picking up pledges from two party leaders in Maryland to pull nearly even with Hillary Clinton in the race for superdelegates. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
Md. opens safe-driving campaign
With Maryland on pace for more than 600 traffic fatalities this year, state officials kicked off a public awareness campaign to promote safer driving yesterday. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
Immigrants feel less welcome in Frederick
In just over a decade, Frederick County has been transformed from a bucolic, timeless community of dairy farms and strawberry festivals to a fast-paced mosaic of high-tech firms and housing developments, Pilates classes and exotic eateries, mega-stores and McDonald's. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Death-row inmate's defense cites jury nonfeasance
Attorneys for a Maryland death-row inmate argued yesterday that their client's sentence should be overturned because a jury didn't use the highest standard of proof when weighing aggravating factors of his crime with mitigating circumstances. [The Washington Times] Read More
O'Malley's office accused of pressuring state police
A state police commander who oversaw Maryland's automotive inspections program alleged that "strong political pressure" from Gov. Martin O'Malley's office was behind a recent decision to allow a Prince George's County station to resume inspections four years after its license was revoked for fraudulent practices. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Oyster reef removal begins in Magothy
Removal of a botched oyster reef in Sillery Bay began today and should be completed within a week and a half, state Department of Natural Resources officials said. [The Capital (Annapolis)] Read More
Food prices on a roll
Americans may be getting another helping of food inflation, thanks to higher prices for chicken and pork. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
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