Natural gas tax bill dies
A bill that would have raised taxes on natural gas wells drilled off the Alabama coast has died in the Alabama Legislature. [Montgomery Advertiser]
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Archive of Stateline.org RSS - State by State Roundup on Wednesday May 07, 2008
Natural gas tax bill dies
A bill that would have raised taxes on natural gas wells drilled off the Alabama coast has died in the Alabama Legislature. [Montgomery Advertiser] Read More
Execution is first since ruling
Georgia executed killer William Earl Lynd last night, ending a more than seven-month nationwide hiatus on capital punishment prompted by the Supreme Court's examination of lethal injection. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Senate blocks bill on background checks
The Alabama Senate has blocked consideration of a bill that would short-circuit plans by the state's junior college chancellor to have a private company do criminal background checks on college employees. [Montgomery Advertiser] Read More
House OKs bill to add to hate crimes law
The Alabama House has approved a bill to add crimes against people because of their sexual orientation to the state's hate crimes law. [Montgomery Advertiser] Read More
House OKs tax exemption for rebate checks
The Alabama House has approved a bill to exempt federal economic stimulus checks from state income taxes, saving residents about $57 million. [Montgomery Advertiser] Read More
Alaska's bent learning curve
One out of 20 children entering ninth grade in Alaska will have a college degree 10 years later, giving the state one of the worst postsecondary-education rates in the nation. [Anchorage Daily News (registration)] Read More
State lawmakers seek new polar bear study
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The state Legislature is looking to hire a few good polar bear scientists. The conclusions have already been agreed upon - researchers just have to fill in the science part. [The Juneau Empire (registration)] Read More
Winter schedule proposed for Alaska ferry system
The Alaska Marine Highway System has released draft schedules for next fall, winter and spring. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner] Read More
Measure would let officers enforce immigration laws
Trying to prod the Legislature into action, state Rep. Russell Pearce on Tuesday rallied immigration hardliners to underscore support for his bill that would let local police officers enforce immigration laws. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
Council OKs tougher tailpipe-emissions rules
New cars and trucks sold in Arizona would have to meet stricter, California-style standards for tailpipe emissions by the 2012 model year under a new rule approved Tuesday by an executive oversight panel. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
Coalition pushing tax for roads
Business and community groups took the first steps Tuesday to persuade Arizonans to raise the taxes on virtually everything they buy to build new roads. [Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) (registration)] Read More
Legislator wants eased rules on using teen labor
State lawmakers are weighing whether to let teens perform jobs now considered too hazardous for them under state law as one answer to the complaints of a labor shortage. [Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) (registration)] Read More
Theaters win round on access
A federal judge ruled that theater owners can't be forced to install special equipment to help those with hearing and vision disabilities enjoy the movies. But the state has appealed the ruling, which came in a lawsuit by Attorney General Terry Goddard against Scottsdale-based Harkins Theaters. [Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) (registration)] Read More
Arizona seeks Goldwater statue for D.C.
A likeness of Barry Goldwater, the five-term Arizona senator and 1964 presidential candidate, could soon grace a prominent U.S. Capitol hallway. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
Group seeks to get sales-tax hike for transportation on ballot
Supporters of a transportation-tax package filed language Tuesday for the November election, marking the kickoff of what is likely to be an intensive campaign to collect signatures needed to get the measure before voters. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
Study calls for overhaul of state's pay for Ark. employees
An overhaul of the state's pay plan that would boost entry-level salaries by nearly 14 percent has been proposed by the head of Arkansas' personnel office and legislative researchers. [The Daily Citizen (Searcy)] Read More
Fewer teachers leaving after first year, panel told
The number of public school teachers leaving the profession after their first year has dropped considerably in the past six years because of a more than 20 percent hike in minimum teacher salaries in 2004, officials told legislators Tuesday. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
State needs more health care professionals, experts say
Arkansas' dwindling health care work force needs a boost to meet the needs of the state's aging baby boomer population, health care officials told legislators Tuesday. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
Increase in pay for government workers recommended
To lower the turnover of entry-level government workers, the state should revamp pay scales by $46.7 million, the head of Arkansas' personnel office told legislators Tuesday. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
Candidates differ on casino, gas tax
FORT SMITH, Ark. - Sebastian County Democratic Chairman Lee Webb can't remember the last time two members of his party competed in a legislative primary here, especially one that pits a challenger against an incumbent. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)] Read More
House district 49 race lacks incumbent
The race to replace Mark Pate, who was term-limited, in House District 49 has drawn two candidates for the May 20 Democratic primary: Educator Kieth Williams, 61, and farm consultant Johnny Wheetley, 47. [The Daily Citizen (Searcy)] Read More
State proposes $46.7 million pay overhaul
State and legislative staff members on Tuesday proposed an overhaul of the pay plan that covers about 35,000 of the state?s employees. It would cost $ 46.7 million. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)] Read More
Wal-Mart selects 20 capitols, including Pa.'s, for energy audits
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has announced partnerships with Pennsylvania, 18 other states and Puerto Rico to help them save on energy and electricity costs at their capitols. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review] Read More
Execution is first since ruling
Georgia executed killer William Earl Lynd last night, ending a more than seven-month nationwide hiatus on capital punishment prompted by the Supreme Court's examination of lethal injection. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Quiet philanthropist Osher donates $70 million to state's community colleges
The quiet philanthropist stood beside the movie-star governor Tuesday to celebrate the Bernard Osher Foundation's unprecedented $70 million donation to California communitcy college students. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
$227 million in grants going to build California stem cell labs
California's voter-created stem cell institute is expected to award $227 million in grants today to seed a laboratory building spree at a dozen universities and research centers, including USC, UCLA and UC Irvine. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
Senate GOP leader rules out tax hikes to balance budget
Saying the ailing economy is putting enough stress on taxpayers, Senate Republican leader Dave Cogdill said Tuesday that Republicans will oppose any tax hikes to bridge California's budget deficit. Cogdill suggested the deficit, which he pegged at $16 billion for the fiscal year beginning July 1, could be wiped out through service cuts and tapping into the reserves of voter-approved initiatives intended for early childhood education, mental health services and transportation. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
Bay Area bids for stem cell bonanza
California voters who raised $3 billion for stem cell research in 2004 finally will see their tax dollars at work - not yet in the form of diseases cured, but in the rise of vast laboratories built of concrete, glass and steel. [San Francisco Chronicle] Read More
Vallejo to become largest city in state to file for bankruptcy
Vallejo is set to become the largest California city to declare bankruptcy after leaders voted in favor of the solution to its spiraling budget crisis. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
What's behind rival California redistricting plans?
Fabian N??ez ended his four-year reign as speaker of the state Assembly Tuesday by proposing ? seriously or not ? that the Legislature cede the power to redraw legislative districts to an independent commission and modify legislative term limits. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
State funding proposal raises hopes for new downtown San Jose courthouse
A proposal to finance new courthouse construction projects throughout California with $5 billion in revenue bonds has revived hopes for a long-stalled plan to build a family courthouse in downtown San Jose. [The Mercury News (San Jose) (registration)] Read More
California Assembly speaker proposes ethics plan as rival initiative is filed
Assembly Speaker Fabian N??ez proposed a ballot measure targeting legislative ethics Tuesday, hours before backers of a rival measure filed voter signatures to qualify for the November ballot. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
Differing views on measure to end rent control
Hundreds are expected to descend on San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza today to protest a June ballot measure that would end rent control across the state and, many argue, would push thousands of people from their homes through evictions or rising prices. [San Francisco Chronicle] Read More
EPA unlikely to join state in limiting chemical
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency probably won't follow California in ridding drinking water of a rocket fuel chemical that has contaminated supplies in Rancho Cordova and in dozens of other communities around the country, a top agency official said Tuesday. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
Los Angeles limits 'mansionization,' downtown hotel conversions
The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved new rules to address major byproducts of the gentrification that has swept the city: limiting the size of "mansionization" additions and making it harder for developers to convert low-income housing into luxury lofts. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
96 arrested in San Diego State drug bust
SAN DIEGO - The undercover officers started to appear at San Diego State fraternity parties about six months ago. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
Council OKs tougher tailpipe-emissions rules
New cars and trucks sold in Arizona would have to meet stricter, California-style standards for tailpipe emissions by the 2012 model year under a new rule approved Tuesday by an executive oversight panel. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
Identity thieves prey on patients' medical records
Doctors' offices, clinics and hospitals are a fruitful hunting ground for identity thieves, who are using increasingly sophisticated methods to steal patient information, lawyers and privacy experts say. [USA Today] Read More
Vallejo to become largest city in state to file for bankruptcy
Vallejo is set to become the largest California city to declare bankruptcy after leaders voted in favor of the solution to its spiraling budget crisis. [Los Angeles Times (registration)] Read More
Senate GOP leader rules out tax hikes to balance budget
Saying the ailing economy is putting enough stress on taxpayers, Senate Republican leader Dave Cogdill said Tuesday that Republicans will oppose any tax hikes to bridge California's budget deficit. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
Springs DA filmed drinking, driving during office hours
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Fourth Judicial District Attorney John Newsome has been caught on tape drinking and then driving his county-owned vehicle, KOAA reported Tuesday. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
Public to comment on prairie dogs
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has begun accepting public comment on whether the white-tailed prairie dog, a squirrel-like rodent found in four states, should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. [Billings Gazette] Read More
Ritter touts business wins
Gov. Bill Ritter checked off several wins on his business scorecard before members of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. [The Denver Post] Read More
$500,000 to boost 527 groups' Colorado campaigns
Another half-million dollars have flowed into stealth political groups who will use the money to try to influence key Colorado races this year. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
Boasts, barbs end session
The state legislative session reached its furious conclusion late Tuesday with a heaping of last-minute work and one final dollop of partisan finger-pointing. [The Denver Post] Read More
Raising the initiative bar
Colorado lawmakers wrapped up the 2008 legislative session Tuesday by passing a ballot measure that would ask voters to make it harder to amend the constitution but easier to change state law. [The Denver Post] Read More
Rell looks for savings as deficit looms
On the eve of the General Assembly session adjournment, the political battle continued at the state Capitol Tuesday over whether to alter the budget that kicks in July 1. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Use of state lawyers in ethics cases flounders in House
A Senate-approved bill that would let legislators and other state employees use taxpayer-funded state lawyers to defend them in ethics cases is floundering in the House - where a key committee chairman, who normally would bring it up, refuses to do so. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Needy districts face cuts in school reading programs
The state's neediest school districts are facing cuts in critical programs that help teach children to read because of a looming $20 million falloff in funding under the state's "do-nothing" budget. [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
Bill on open alcohol containers in vehicles seems dead
In the state Senate, it seemed like a no-brainer last week that a driver in the year 2008 should not be able to bolt down the highway with an open bottle of whiskey in his hand. To the surprise of many, that's still legal in Connecticut. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Advocacy group seeks oversight of some Connecticut DCF functions
A watchdog group is asking a federal court monitor to appoint an overseer to manage some services of the state Department of Children and Families. [The Day (New London)] Read More
All present and accounted for
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. - For the first time since the start of the Iraq War, the Connecticut National Guard units are all home. [The Day (New London)] Read More
GOP pushes budget spending
On the eve of the General Assembly session adjournment, the political battle continued at the state Capitol Tuesday over whether to alter the budget that kicks in July 1. [The Day (New London)] Read More
Senate cuts fee for Gold Star plates
A bill that eliminates the fee for the Gold Star Family license plate is heading to Gov. M. Jodi Rell's desk. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Senate votes to limit lead in toys
The state of Connecticut is moving closer toward establishing limits for lead in children's products. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Wal-Mart selects 20 capitols, including Pa.'s, for energy audits
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has announced partnerships with Pennsylvania, 18 other states and Puerto Rico to help them save on energy and electricity costs at their capitols. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review] Read More
Work on child porn case earns trooper award
WASHINGTON -- Some mornings, Delaware State Police Cpl. Scott Garland would be sitting at his desk, still poring over evidence in the child pornography case against Paul Thielemann, and his supervisor would know Garland had worked through the night. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Highway safety agency begins summer initiatives
The state Office of Highway Safety is kicking off its third annual summer initiatives to reduced traffic deaths and highway injuries. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Developer faces charges for permit failure
A major Wilmington-area developer faces a $5,000 penalty for failing to secure permits to operate two large boilers in a landmark office building at 11th and Market streets. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Crist signs bill giving abused girl $2.9M with promise of $18.2M
With 9-year-old Marissa Amora at his side and smiling brightly from her wheelchair, Gov. Charlie Crist signed legislation Tuesday that could eventually award her $18.2 million for a Department of Children and Families mistake that led to horrific abuse and permanent brain damage. [Tallahassee Democrat] Read More
Crist plane in emergency landing after controls malfunction
The state plane carrying Gov. Charlie Crist had to make a U-turn over Georgia and return to Tallahassee on Tuesday after three controls malfunctioned. [The Sun-Sentinel (South Florida)] Read More
More than $11.5M awarded to Florida residents in citrus case
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Florida owes more than $11.5 million to thousands of Broward County homeowners whose citrus trees were chopped down during a failed effort to control a harmful disease, a jury ruled. [The Boston Globe (registration)] Read More
Citrus owners get slim award - $34 a tree
Tens of thousands of Broward homeowners should be given more money for many of the trees destroyed by the state during the controversial citrus canker eradication program, a Broward jury decided late Tuesday. [The Miami Herald (registration)] Read More
Sink signs agreement for Crotzer
Alan Crotzer has heard plenty of apologies from lawmakers and state officials for 24 years he spent in prison for crimes he didn't commit. On Tuesday he and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink signed the $1.25 million agreement that will put dollars behind those words [Tallahassee Democrat] Read More
Soaring food costs forcing changes in your child's school menu
Here's what the soaring cost of food has meant to Broward County's school lunch menu: white bread instead of whole wheat, less-expensive fresh fruits and vegetables, and cutbacks in popular-but-pricey Jamaican meat patties and egg rolls. [The Sun-Sentinel (South Florida)] Read More
Capitol gadfly stirs up change
He started every appearance before lawmakers the same way: "Brian Pitts, Justice 2 Jesus." [St. Petersburg Times] Read More
State spends $18 million to right wrongs
In a day of righting government injustice, a wrongfully convicted man was finally compensated for 24 years in prison Tuesday, just hours after Gov. Charlie Crist signed off on an $18 million payment plan for a brain-damaged girl whom the system failed. [The Miami Herald (registration)] Read More
Abused child gets $18.2 million settlement from Florida
When she was 2, Marissa Amora was so badly abused at her Lake Worth home she suffered catastrophic brain damage that requires her to eat through a feeding tube. Seven years later, she looked on at the Governor's Mansion as Gov. Charlie Crist signed a settlement Tuesday giving her $18.2 million for the role negligent child-abuse investigators played in her case. [The Sun-Sentinel (South Florida)] Read More
Ga. Biomass plant eyes Tallahassee
A Georgia company wants to build Florida's first biomass energy plant ? turning wood chips into electricity ? at a Florida State University industrial park. Before that can happen, the company, Biomass Gas & Electric LLC, needs to answer questions from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. [Tallahassee Democrat] Read More
Florida universities raise tuition, cap enrollment, freeze jobs
Florida's universities are raising tuition, laying off employees and limiting enrollment to make it through what has turned out to be one of the toughest budget years in recent history. [The Sun-Sentinel (South Florida)] Read More
Wal-Mart selects 20 capitols, including Pa.'s, for energy audits
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has announced partnerships with Pennsylvania, 18 other states and Puerto Rico to help them save on energy and electricity costs at their capitols. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review] Read More
Execution is first since ruling
Georgia executed killer William Earl Lynd last night, ending a more than seven-month nationwide hiatus on capital punishment prompted by the Supreme Court's examination of lethal injection. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Execution is first since ruling
Georgia executed killer William Earl Lynd last night, ending a more than seven-month nationwide hiatus on capital punishment prompted by the Supreme Court's examination of lethal injection. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Lynd is first person in U.S. executed since moratorium
JACKSON, Ga. - Almost 20 years after murdering his ex-girlfriend, William Earl Lynd became the first person in the United States to die by lethal injection since an unofficial moratorium was placed on executions while the U.S. Supreme Court decided the constitutionality of the procedure. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration)] Read More
Cagle -- Let the voters decide on Sunday sales
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, a possible Republican candidate for governor in 2010, now says he is willing to let the state Senate vote on Sunday package store sales of liquor. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration)] Read More
Perdue signs bill that makes dogfighting penalties tougher
Animal rights groups on Tuesday applauded a new law that toughens penalties for dog fighting in Georgia. And they credited Michael Vick - the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback serving time for running a brutal pit bull ring - with making it possible. [The Macon Telegraph] Read More
Officer says he was misled by documents about Harbin case
The officer who arrested state Rep. Ben Harbin on suspicion of drunken driving said Tuesday that he wouldn't have missed a hearing on the suspension of the Evans Republican's driver's license if not for a court procedure legal observers called rare but not unprecedented. [The Augusta Chronicle] Read More
State first to resume executions
A Georgia man who killed his live-in girlfriend was executed Tuesday, the first inmate put to death since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of lethal injections. [The Athens Banner-Herald] Read More
U.N. secretary-general to visit Atlanta, meet with Gov. Perdue
U.N. Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon will visit Atlanta this week and meet with public officials. [The Macon Telegraph] Read More
Georgia environmental officials relax water restrictions
Georgia environmental officials are relaxing some of the strict water restrictions imposed last year despite concerns that the epic drought gripping the state could grow worse. [The Macon Telegraph] Read More
Governor signs dogfighting bill
Five months after Atlanta Falcons star Michael Vick was sentenced to prison for his involvement in dog fighting, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed legislation Tuesday stiffening Georgia's dog-fighting laws. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration)] Read More
Ga. Biomass plant eyes Tallahassee
A Georgia company wants to build Florida's first biomass energy plant ? turning wood chips into electricity ? at a Florida State University industrial park. Before that can happen, the company, Biomass Gas & Electric LLC, needs to answer questions from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. [Tallahassee Democrat] Read More
Execution is first since ruling
Georgia executed killer William Earl Lynd last night, ending a more than seven-month nationwide hiatus on capital punishment prompted by the Supreme Court's examination of lethal injection. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Big Isle election funding plan criticized
HILO, Hawaii ? A proposal to publicly fund some Big Island elections, which passed the Legislature by a wide margin and awaits Gov. Linda Lingle's signature, will make candidates less beholden to special interests, supporters say. [The Honolulu Advertiser] Read More
Isle schools must absorb $7.7 million budget cut
The price of A+, lunch and bus fares could go up as education officials consider raising fees to absorb a $7.7 million cut in their $2.4 billion operating budget. [Honolulu Star-Bulletin] Read More
UH keeps track of its hot air
The University of Hawaii at Manoa has become the first Hawaii organization to take part in a volunteer effort to track its own greenhouse gas emissions and report to an independent third party. [Honolulu Star-Bulletin] Read More
Superferry awaits signal from Kauai
The Hawaii Superferry, which hasn't sailed to Kaua'i since harbor protesters blocked its arrival in August, intends to resume trips there only if the community signals it wants the service restored, the company's new chief executive said yesterday. [The Honolulu Advertiser] Read More
State campaign aims to stomp out roaches
The state will pass out hundreds of cockroach traps to residents at Kalihi Valley Homes this month in a pilot campaign to raise awareness about the danger that the insects pose to people with asthma. [Honolulu Star-Bulletin] Read More
Solar water heat required in new Hawaii homes
HONOLULU - All new homes in Hawaii will be required to have solar water heaters installed starting in 2010 under a law approved by the Legislature. [MSNBC.com] Read More
Areva picks E. Idaho for $2 billion uranium enrichment plant
A uranium enrichment plant near Idaho Falls will be one of the largest construction projects in the state's history, and it could create 1,000 jobs for the five years it takes to complete it. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
State Bar survey rates Idaho Supreme Court candidate Horton above rival Bradbury
Idaho Supreme Court Justice Joel Horton rated higher than his judicial election challenger in four separate categories, according to the results of an Idaho State Bar survey released Friday. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Anti-wolf petition drive falls short of goal
LEWISTON, Idaho -- Idaho voters will not have a chance to vote wolves out of the state in November. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Wyo wants part in wolf suit
For years, Wyoming and the federal government battled against each other in court over wolf management. Now, they're fighting on the same side. The Cowboy State has joined Idaho and Montana in asking to intervene in federal court against a lawsuit seeking to return wolves in the Northern Rockies to the endangered species list. [Casper Star-Tribune] Read More
Illinois House approves legislation to arrest parolees charged with domestic battery
A month after a 22-year-old Chicago graduate student was shot to death by a violent ex-boyfriend out on parole for murder, the Illinois House unanimously passed legislation that would tighten the rules to try to prevent similar crimes. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Suburban schools benefit from lawmakers' lapse
Suburban schools will be able to avoid stricter driver education laws because Illinois lawmakers didn't get their work done on time. [Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)] Read More
Lawmakers brainstorm on construction funds
House Democrats sized up a broad menu of ways to pay for a potential multibillion-dollar statewide construction program Tuesday, coming to no conclusions but considering options that include income tax increases, gambling expansion and leasing the lottery. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Lawmakers to introduce truancy bill
With less than a month before the end of spring session, Rockford?s lawmakers are pushing for changes in state law that Mayor Larry Morrissey says will help the city fight rampant truancy. But to succeed, Morrissey and the delegation must mount a last-minute blitz ? four months after the session started in January [Rockford Register Star] Read More
Lawmakers vow to fight for Pontiac prison
Lawmakers vowed Tuesday to fight for the future of the state prison at Pontiac, with some questioning whether its threatened closure was part of political payback by Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Gov. wants to spend $150 million on anti-violence programs
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's $150 million plan to curb youth violence after a rash of Chicago shootings relies on something the Democrat hasn't done before: Getting lawmakers to pass a capital bill so he can pay for his proposal. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Legislative pay raises again debated in Illinois
Illinois House Republicans tried unsuccessfully to kill a proposed hike in state lawmakers' salaries Tuesday, saying it sends the wrong message to voters in the midst of governmental gridlock in Springfield. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch] Read More
IDOT move could cost $1 million
Relocating the Illinois Department of Transportation?s Division of Traffic Safety to southern Illinois could cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars in moving expenses, according to estimates provided to The State Journal-Register on Tuesday. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Deval's donation doesn't check out
Gov. Deval Patrick tells audiences a funny story about donating to Barack Obama as an Illinois state Senate candidate, yet after a media inquiry, he said yesterday he can't find proof of any such contribution. [Boston Herald] Read More
Worker pleads not guilty in fraud case
The state treasurer?s office employee charged with embezzling $750,000 from state coffers pleaded not guilty to the three federal counts Tuesday. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Bomb squad checks out duffle bag at Capitol
An unattended duffle bag was found Tuesday morning on the Illinois Firefighters Memorial on the Capitol complex, prompting the Secretary of State?s bomb squad to respond. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Bill would tighten state's leash on parolees
The Illinois House voted Tuesday to clamp down on parolees after the fatal shooting last month of a woman in West Town by her ex-boyfriend, a parolee she had a restraining order against. [Chicago Sun-Times] Read More
Lake County chief judge to resign post
Lake County Chief Judge David Hall said Tuesday he will resign from his leadership post in the wake of his arrest on driving under the influence charges. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
No trace of Patrick's mid-'90s contribution to Obama
Governor Deval Patrick tells audiences a funny story about donating to Barack Obama as an Illinois state Senate candidate, yet after a media inquiry, he said yesterday that he can't find proof of any such contribution. [The Boston Globe (registration)] Read More
Lake County puts Long Thompson over top
Former congresswoman Jill Long Thompson squeaked out a win for the Democratic nomination for Indiana governor, with Lake County apparently giving her the victory in the homestretch. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
4 incumbents protect seats in rare challenge
Four Republican state senators appeared late Tuesday to have weathered the recent property tax uproar that produced rare opposition for them in their party's primary. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Clinton squeaks by Obama in Indiana
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton squeaked out a critical razor-thin victory in Indiana's presidential primary Tuesday but lost North Carolina's primary, a split decision that left her no closer to overcoming Sen. Barack Obama in the race for the Democratic nomination. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Large turnout for Democrats
Voter turnout was Tuesday as Hoosiers flocked to the polls to take part in a historic Democratic presidential primary race. [The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne)] Read More
Early votes lead to late count
The nation was kept waiting into Wednesday morning for the outcome of the Democratic presidential primary as election officials in Lake County struggled to count what they described as an unprecedented number of absentee ballots cast. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Hoosier cable showdown
The hours-delayed results of Lake County voting sparked a live, late-night sparring match between Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. and Gary Mayor Rudy Clay. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
Voter ID law thwarts elderly nuns
Indiana's controversial photo identification rule may not have made a major dent in the state's high turnout, but it did frustrate a small group of voters more accustomed to divine law. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Randolph wins state senate nomination
Former state Sen. Lonnie Randolph won the seven-Democrat showdown to replace East Chicago state Sen. Sam Smith, election results showed Wednesday morning. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
Lawson earns House nod
State Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, turned away challenger Raymond Fletcher on Tuesday in the Democratic primary for House District 1. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
Indiana House Districts 7, 17 incumbents fend off challengers
Two local House Democrats have fended off challengers in their primaries, with one facing a challenger in the fall. [South Bend Tribune] Read More
Indiana Reps. Carson, Burton Survive Primaries
Indiana Democratic Rep. Andre Carson triumphed over a crowded field of primary challengers Tuesday, passing a big political test less than two months after he won a special election to fill a vacancy in the Indianapolis-centered 7th District. [CQPolitics.com] Read More
3 GOP veterans coast to victories
The longest-serving member of the House Republican caucus weathered a spirited primary challenge Tuesday night in her quest for a 16th term. [The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne)] Read More
Indiana's primary turnout high, despite photo ID law
Indiana's controversial photo identification rule may not have made a major dent in the state's high turnout, but it did frustrate a small group of voters more accustomed to divine law. [The Boston Globe (registration)] Read More
Governor's race set in N.C.; Indiana awaits tally
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - North Carolina voters will choose between Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue (D) and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (R) in a November election to choose a successor to a two-term Democratic governor barred from seeking a third term. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Long Thompson takes win in governor's race
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Jill Long Thompson was poised early this morning to take her underdog status into the fall election against Republican Mitch Daniels. A topsy-turvy night of returns had her leading by about 5,400 votes with 99 percent of the precincts reporting. [South Bend Tribune] Read More
Night owls first to hear Indiana's key election results
By the time Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., was announced the winner of Indiana's Democratic presidential primary early Wednesday, plenty of people were in bed. [South Bend Tribune] Read More
Clinton wins narrow victory
As the nation's attention fixed on the snail-slow pace of Lake County's election bureaucracy, Hillary Clinton held onto the slimmest of victories over opponent Barack Obama in Tuesday's Democratic primary. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
'There is no rational response'
With Indiana's presidential primary hanging in the balance and much of the nation's attention focused on the state, Lake County's election results were inexplicably slow to come out. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Long Thompson beats Schellinger
Jill Long Thompson captured a slim victory early today in a fierce battle for the Democratic nomination for governor. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
No ID, no vote, 10 retired nuns told
WASHINGTON - At least 10 retired nuns in South Bend, Ind., were barred from voting in Tuesday's Indiana Democratic primary election because they lacked photo IDs required under a state law that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld last week. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
Former Ind. congresswoman wins gov. primary after tight race
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Democratic primary races for the governors' offices in North Carolina and Indiana echoed the contests on the presidential level - one was over quickly, the other was down to the wire. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Long Thompson wins gubernatorial primary
INDIANAPOLIS - Former U.S. Rep. Jill Long Thompson eked out a win yesterday to become the Democratic nominee for governor and will face well-funded Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels in November. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Iowa secretary of state won't appeal English-only ruling
Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro said Tuesday he won't appeal a judge's decision that voter registration forms must only be in English. [Sioux City Journal] Read More
Culver signs tax bill for schools
A 1-cent state sales tax will replace local-option sales taxes that every Iowa county collects for school infrastructure, under a bill signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Chet Culver. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Lawmakers react to proposed casino smoking ban in Sioux City
The city council in Sioux City is considering an ordinance which would ban smoking at the city's gambling casino. The state law which goes into effect July 1st bans smoking in most pubic places, but would allow it on the gambling floors at casinos. [Radio Iowa] Read More
Lawmakers tout law that pays nurses more money
Iowa House speaker Pat Murphy and other lawmakers paid a visit to University Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City Tuesday to highlight legislation passed on the final day of this year's session. The bill earmarks this year's Medicaid provider reimbursement increase to go directly to increasing the wages of registered nurses. [Radio Iowa] Read More
Lobbyist says more regular citizens should own wind turbines
A wind turbine entrepreneur says it's time for Iowa to take some of the steps taken in Minnesota in order to position the state as a leader in the wind energy industry. Ed Woolsey of Prole, president of Green Prairie Energy, lobbies legislators on behalf of the Iowa Renewable Energy Association. [Radio Iowa] Read More
'Sunshine bill' failed to rise
A bill that legislative leaders called a top priority early this year became the last one to die as the 2008 session ended last month. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Iowa First Lady receives Iowa book
First Lady Mari Culver paid a visit to an elementary school in Ankeny today. Teacher Lori Reha's first-grade students at East Elementary wrote a book about the State of Iowa, which they dedicated to the Governor and presented to his wife. [Radio Iowa] Read More
Banned voter forms weighed as 'guides'
State officials will try to assist non-English-speaking voters without appealing a judge's ruling that outlaws voter registration forms in languages other than English, Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro said Tuesday. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Top Democrat says there won't be effort to repeal "English only"
Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro says his office will not appeal a ruling which prohibits the state from providing voter registration forms in languages other than English. A fifth district court judge ruled that the Secretary of State's office was violating state law by offering voter registration forms in languages other than English. [Radio Iowa] Read More
Wal-Mart selects 20 capitols, including Pa.'s, for energy audits
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has announced partnerships with Pennsylvania, 18 other states and Puerto Rico to help them save on energy and electricity costs at their capitols. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review] Read More
High court limits jury's power
The state's highest court is allowing a grand jury to keep investigating one of the few U.S. doctors who performs late-term abortions but is limiting its power to subpoena his patients' records. [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
The $6,400 question - should KU Athletics be reimbursed?
The weeklong celebration that engulfed Lawrence after the Kansas University Jayhawks won the national basketball championship didn't come without a price. [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
Session nears end with third coal bill
Call it Coal 3. For the third time in the 2008 legislative session, lawmakers on Tuesday approved a bill that would authorize the construction of two 700-megawatt coal-fired power plants and strip the state of authority to block similar projects. [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
Budget deal looks close in Kansas Legislature
Lawmakers were close to breaking a budget deadlock Tuesday night that could lead to the Legislature?s adjournment sometime today. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Three governors, including Sebelius, talk energy
Energy was the topic as three governors, including Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, met in Overland Park for a National Governors Association summit on clean energy. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Iowa First Lady receives Iowa book
First Lady Mari Culver paid a visit to an elementary school in Ankeny today. Teacher Lori Reha's first-grade students at East Elementary wrote a book about the State of Iowa, which they dedicated to the Governor and presented to his wife. [Radio Iowa] Read More
Sexual abuse alleged at mental health facility
Kansas City police are investigating allegations that an employee at the Western Missouri Mental Health Center sexually assaulted at least four teenage girls who were patients. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
House, Senate adjourn nearer accord on budget
Senate and House negotiators drew close to an agreement on the final spending bill of the year late Tuesday, before adjourning until this morning. [Wichita Eagle (registration)] Read More
Coal plant bill OK'd by Kansas Senate
The Kansas Senate has passed yet another bill to authorize two coal-fired power plants in western Kansas, even as enthusiasm for the fight dimmed in the legislative session's final hours. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Funds scant for disabled services
It was a loud day at the state Capitol Tuesday as people with disabilities and their supporters tried to shout their way to additional funding. [Wichita Eagle (registration)] Read More
Voter ID passes, but veto possible
A bill requiring people to provide photo identification when they vote passed both houses of the Legislature on Tuesday and is headed for the governor's desk. [Wichita Eagle (registration)] Read More
House speaker alleges improper use of plane trips by governor
In Kansas politics, the state plane used by the governor can be an asset or a liability. House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, recently accused Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of getting people to vote against the coal-fired power project by flying them to Kansas University basketball games. [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
State's budget still up in air
The state's wrap-up budget remained in limbo late Tuesday after the House adjourned with no resolution to negotiations on the final spending issues. The day was filled with talk of who was to blame for the delay. [The Topeka Capital-Journal] Read More
Session slowly coming to end
The Legislature moved closer to a climatic ending of the 2008 session late Tuesday by debating a bill containing a cluster of economic development incentives and consent for construction of a $3.6 billion coal-fired electric plant in southwest Kansas. [The Topeka Capital-Journal] Read More
Kansas high court limits grand jury's power in abortion case
TOPEKA, Kan. - The state's highest court Tuesday allowed a grand jury to keep investigating one of the few U.S. doctors who performs late-term abortions but limited its power to subpoena his patients' records. [USA Today] Read More
Kentucky likely to get some attention
As implausible as it once sounded, Kentucky will likely take a turn in coming days as the center of the American political universe. [Lexington Herald-Leader] Read More
State urged to end ethics case
A hearing officer has recommended dismissing an ethics charge against former state Highway Commissioner Marc Williams. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Grayson issues warning about voter registration
Secretary of State Trey Grayson issued a warning to Kentucky citizens that his office has learned that a voting group has sent thousands of potentially confusing mailings to women across Kentucky asking them to register to vote. [The Kentucky Post (Covington)] Read More
Justice recounts cases on Commandments
In 2005, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer wrote a concurring opinion with the majority in ruling that Ten Commandments displays in two Kentucky courthouses were unconstitutional -- yet one at the Texas Capitol was not and could stay. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Wal-Mart selects 20 capitols, including Pa.'s, for energy audits
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has announced partnerships with Pennsylvania, 18 other states and Puerto Rico to help them save on energy and electricity costs at their capitols. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review] Read More
Beshear declares National Tourism Week
Gov. Steve Beshear declared the week of May 10-18 National Tourism Week in Kentucky, noting the importance of tourism to the state?s economy. [The Kentucky Post (Covington)] Read More
Same race, new challenges
Just 24 votes separated Sen. Johnny Ray Turner from challenger Eric Shane Hamilton in the 2004 Democratic primary for Eastern Kentucky's 29th Senate District. [Lexington Herald-Leader] Read More
Execution is first since ruling
Georgia executed killer William Earl Lynd last night, ending a more than seven-month nationwide hiatus on capital punishment prompted by the Supreme Court's examination of lethal injection. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Execution is first since ruling
Georgia executed killer William Earl Lynd last night, ending a more than seven-month nationwide hiatus on capital punishment prompted by the Supreme Court's examination of lethal injection. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Jindal -- Nation's noticing work
Gov. Bobby Jindal, who spent last week making appearances on "The Tonight Show" and in front of the National Press Club in Washington, said America is taking notice of Louisiana. [The News Star (Monroe)] Read More
Senate bill boosts debt collection exemptions
Legislation to better protect homes from debt collectors passed a Senate panel Tuesday. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Panel votes to repeal helmet law
Less than one week into Motorcycle Safety Month, a House committee has voted to lift the law requiring motorcycle riders to wear safety helmets. [The News Star (Monroe)] Read More
Legislature delays start of ethics law
The Legislature has agreed to delay the start of a new law requiring outside, third-party groups that try to influence elections to detail their contributors and their expenses. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Jindal's key bill on move
Work-force development -- the key piece of Gov. Bobby Jindal?s legislative package -- sailed through the state Senate Tuesday. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Student test scores increase statewide
LEAP and GEE scores released by the state Department of Education on Tuesday show an overall improvement statewide, but locally, the news may not be as good. [The News Star (Monroe)] Read More
Committee crawfishes on imported seafood disclosure
A weakened bill prohibiting restaurants from misrepresenting that they serve Louisiana shrimp or crawfish when they use the imported variety unanimously cleared the House Commerce Committee Tuesday, the first time in almost a decade a seafood disclosure bill has made it to the full House for debate. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Inmates think twice about escaping from here
NEW ORLEANS - The way the warden sees it, the more than 400-pound black bear living in the middle of the sprawling Louisiana State Penitentiary is an extra layer of security. [MSNBC.com] Read More
Aid for elderly, disabled urged
WASHINGTON -- Three Gulf Coast senators are pushing legislation to aid thousands of disabled or elderly residents who remain uprooted nearly three years after they were left homeless by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. [The Sun Herald (Biloxi)] Read More
Juvenile records could be public
The criminal records of some juveniles could become public record under legislation passed by a Senate committee on Tuesday. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Sex offenders? retirement penalty fails
The House on Tuesday sidelined a proposed constitutional amendment that would strip retirement benefits from school employees convicted of felony sex crimes involving students. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
No tales about tails' origin
Restaurants would have to be open about the country of origin of crawfish and shrimp they use under a bill that cleared a House panel Tuesday. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Senate passes bill allowing statewide cable franchises
Legislation that would allow companies such as AT&T to get a statewide franchise to offer television service cleared the Senate on Tuesday. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Cazayoux takes oath, joins House
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Don Cazayoux, a small-town lawyer and former state representative, was sworn in Tuesday as the new congressman for Louisiana's 6th Congressional District. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Panel seeks shift in helmet requirement
Louisiana's requirement that motorcyclists wear protective helmets should be repealed for riders 18 and older, a divided House committee decided Tuesday. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Legislative notebook -- Cell phone use continues to dominate debate
Bans on certain types of cell phone usage while driving won Senate approval Tuesday, as lawmakers continue to debate an array of bills that would restrict cell phone use by drivers. [The News Star (Monroe)] Read More
Panel OKs sale of bonds for Entergy's storm costs
The State Bond Commission voted 9-3 Tuesday to authorize two Entergy companies to issue more than $1 billion in bonds to pay for damages caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as stashing away about $200 million in reserves for the upcoming hurricane season. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Lawmaker wins 1st fight against secret contracts
Rep. Cameron Henry began his first regular session aiming to outlaw a unique component of Louisiana civil law, the practice of using counter letters as a way to conduct certain business deals without leaving a public paper trail. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Northeastern Louisiana states case at 'Exposure'
More than 400 business and community leaders from throughout northeastern Louisiana packed the Louisiana State Museum here Tuesday for Northern Exposure. [The News Star (Monroe)] Read More
Phone measures aim to enhance traffic safety
A divided Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would outlaw text-messaging while driving and would ban young drivers from using cell phones unless they're hands-free devices. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Execution is first since ruling
Georgia executed killer William Earl Lynd last night, ending a more than seven-month nationwide hiatus on capital punishment prompted by the Supreme Court's examination of lethal injection. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
Emergency services minimize impact of outage
Local law enforcement agencies and emergency responders reported few interruptions to the services they provide despite a Unicel network outage that silenced 248,000 customers' cell phones Tuesday. [Kennebec Journal] Read More
Bill raising dropout age prepped for final vote
Staying in school until graduation or adulthood could soon be the law in Minnesota. [Brainerd Daily Dispatch] Read More
Machines to replace Maine court reporters
Electronic recording machines might replace court reporters in many of the state's courtrooms. [Kennebec Journal] Read More
Four repeal efforts target Dirigo taxes, driver's license rules
Maine election officials said Tuesday that they've accepted applications from four groups challenging a pair of recently enacted laws, but the four could morph into two as the campaigns develop. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Governor's panel: Use qualities to lure jobs to Maine
The Governor's Council on Maine's Quality of Place says it's come up with 10 ways to use Maine's distinctiveness to promote job growth. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Mitchell tackles U.S. health care
If ever there were a time for high-level intervention in the debate over reforming the American health care system, former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell of Maine says, this is it. [Bangor Daily News] Read More
O'Malley ad campaign takes on foreclosures
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley gingerly embraced one of the perks of office yesterday that fellow Democrats had accused his Republican predecessor of shamelessly exploiting: the ability to appear in public service ads. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
O'Malley talks about importance of slots referendum
Gov. Martin O'Malley said today that if a referendum on slot machine gambling fails in November, "it'll be back to the drawing board with a lot of unpopular choices, and I don't think any of us wants to go there." [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
Policy raises ire in W. Md.
FREDERICK, Md. - Frederick County sheriff's deputies have become the first Maryland law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of people they arrest, a move authorities say is a necessary tool for policing, but one that has sparked an outcry from advocates who say the policy is costly and encourages ethnic profiling. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
State, local officials seek foster homes
State officials will spend the next two years searching for more people like William and Dorine Wallace. [The Capital (Annapolis)] Read More
Inspector license policies revised
The Maryland State Police have established policies for the revocation of vehicle inspectors' licenses after questions arose over allowing a Prince Ge |