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Thursday July 24, 2008
Archive of Home on Thursday May 08, 2008

At-risk gubernatorial seats increase

After a pair of hard-fought primaries, North Carolina joins Missouri, Washington and Indiana on Out There's list of states where partisan control of the governorship could flip this fall.

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Silver Alert helps rescue lost seniors

(Updated 9:30 a.m EST, May 8, 2008)

When an elderly person with dementia is lost, eight states can trigger an alert to let the community know. Proposals in Congress would expand the successful missing persons program to all 50 states.

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Candidates look to final five states and Puerto Rico for victory

Even before polls closed in Indiana and North Carolina, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were shifting their attention to the five states and one territory that have yet to vote.
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State of Tennessee will shed 2,000 jobs

State workers welcomed news from Gov. Phil Bredesen on Wednesday that his administration hopes to use voluntary buyouts rather than layoffs to trim the payroll by about 2,000 employees.
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No benefits for gay partners, court says

Public employers are barred from providing health care benefits to the partners of gay and lesbian employees, a divided Michigan Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday.
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Lawmakers target $1b endowments

Massachusetts lawmakers desperate for additional revenue are eyeing the endowments of deep-pocketed private colleges to bolster the state's coffers by more than $1 billion a year, asserting that the schools' rising fortunes undercut their nonprofit status.
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Islamic divorce ruled not valid in Maryland

After his wife of more than two decades filed for divorce in Montgomery County Circuit Court, Irfan Aleem responded in writing in 2003, and not just in court.
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Florida to pay $11.5 million for cutting citrus trees

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - A south Florida jury has ordered the State of Florida to pay $11.5 million as compensation to 58,225 residents of Broward County after the state cut down all the citrus trees in their yards in a disease-prevention effort.
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$271 million for research on stem cells in California

LOS ANGELES - California has awarded $271 million in grants to build 12 stem cell research centers in the state, even as one of the political rationales for the building program might soon disappear.
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N.M. governor says border security is improving

CHIHUAHUA, Mexico - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Wednesday that he has seen an improvement in security along the U.S.-Mexico border.
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Broker to return $37m to towns

A major Wall Street firm agreed to return $37 million to 17 cities and towns in the state, as well as to the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, after it allegedly misled them into buying investments they thought were as safe as cash.
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Patrick - Casinos plan could still fly

BROOKLINE, Mass. - Despite a recent high-profile defeat, legislation to legalize casino gambling in Massachusetts may yet come back, Governor Deval Patrick said yesterday.
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Raid on sect in Texas rattles other polygamists

COLORADO CITY, Ariz. - As the supper dishes were being cleared away and the rice pudding brought out for dessert, Marvin Wyler's two wives, along with some of their children and a group of friends, began poring over the list.
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Transit systems travel 'green' track

NEW YORK - This year, the surging current of the East River will help provide power to a nearby subway station. The lights that lace the ornate interior of Manhattan's Grand Central Station have largely been replaced by bulbs that burn brightly but save energy.
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Mural tests Vermont law that forbids billboards

BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. - It was meant to be a throwback to the days of romantic Sunday drives - a mural painted on the side of a red barn urging passing drivers to "See Bellows Falls," a town whose Main Street conjures up bygone days.
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Senate gas-tax cut hits pothole

The state Senate has passed legislation to suspend state gasoline taxes for the summer, but the initiative has little traction because of opposition from the Assembly and Gov. David Paterson.
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Proposed Minnesota law would delay foreclosures

Lawmakers in some states are proposing moratoriums on foreclosures as a way to deal with the ongoing crisis in the housing market.
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Raises for lawmakers now up to Jones

The fate of a salary increase for state lawmakers now lies in the hands of Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), who last week said, "I need a pay raise."
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AG - Close colleges to illegal aliens

Public colleges in North Carolina should not admit illegal immigrants as students, the state Attorney General's Office advised in a letter released Wednesday.
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Will states fix 2012 primary process?

While voters in Indiana and North Carolina go to the polls today (May 6) to help Democrats pick Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as their nominee and Republicans rally behind John McCain, party insiders and state election officials are in informal talks to improve the presidential nominating contests for 2012 and beyond.

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Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?

Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state.
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Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned

Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views.
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WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex

An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in.
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Seeds of social issues dot 2008 elections

With a sagging economy and a divisive war occupying Americans’ minds, will social issues be overshadowed in state elections in 2008?

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Parents turn to states for autism help

(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs.
 

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With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead

A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say.
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Legislators prod Congress on Medicaid, Real ID

As some states tumble into what they fear is a recession, state lawmakers from across the country are pushing Congress for relief from impending federal rules that would force states to pick up more Medicaid costs and spend billions to make drivers’ licenses more secure.
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More states offer choice in long-term care

More states are poised to offer a successful alternative to traditional Medicaid plans that allows elders and the disabled to avoid moving to a nursing facility by hiring friends, neighbors or family members to look after them in their own homes.
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WORTH NOTING: Phantom voter stalks Ala. State House

An Alabama lawmaker says someone’s been using his voting machine.  Florida’s House Speaker locks the doors and turns off Internet access to make legislators pay attention. And Mayberry’s Sheriff Taylor endorses a North Carolina gubernatorial candidate. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.
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Summaries of the governors' speeches

A weak economy, the stalled housing market and the high cost of college education are among governors' top concerns heading into 2008. Here is a state-by-state snapshot of governors' key proposals as distilled from their annual addresses to their legislatures. 

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Budget picture dominates govs' speeches

From quoting Shakespeare to invoking images of flying pigs, the nation’s governors offered colorful ways to describe their states’ financial situation. The weak economy and stalled housing market obviously weigh heavy on governors’ minds as reflected in Stateline.org’s exclusive look at the governors’ 2008 state of the state speeches.
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Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?

For the past several election cycles, the Democrats have been on a roll in legislative elections. This year, the party is well-positioned to hold its majority of chambers — but greatly expanding Democratic control may not be in the cards.

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