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Archive of Stateline.org RSS - State by State Roundup on Thursday May 08, 2008
Alabama House panel passes bill to restrict certain public benefits for immigrants 19 and older
A plan that could bar illegal immigrants 19 or older from getting some public benefits cleared a legislative panel Wednesday. [The Birmingham News] Read More
Legislative committee approves proposed Alabama-wide smoking ban
People could not smoke in restaurants, stores, malls, convention halls, theaters, sports arenas and many other public indoor places under a bill that took a big step toward becoming law Wednesday. [The Birmingham News] Read More
Alabama teens' use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana down; other drugs on the rise
Rates of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use among Alabama students have declined in recent years, but the use of other drugs such as cocaine, hallucinogens and the prescription painkiller OxyContin is on the rise, according to a report by the state Department of Education. [The Birmingham News] Read More
With billions of dollars at stake, TransCanada pitches pipeline
Gov. Sarah Palin's attempt to wrest control of development of Alaska's vast natural gas reserves away from the world's big petroleum companies may hinge on a medium-sized Canadian pipeline company. [The Juneau Empire (registration)] Read More
Study - Alaska worst in U.S. at producing college graduates
Juneau's fifth-graders got a peek of college life earlier this week when they took a tour and some classes at the University of Alaska Southeast. [The Juneau Empire (registration)] Read More
Palin paves way for pay boost
Long-awaited pay raises may be on the way for state legislators, after Gov. Palin quietly signed the bill last week that would make them possible. [The Juneau Empire (registration)] Read More
'Tougher in Alaska' is no day at the beach
Geo Beach is the Brawny lumberjack come to life: Barrel-chested, with flannel for skin and a voice like a chain saw. [Anchorage Daily News (registration)] Read More
Governor calls for boost of 1 cent in state sales tax
Gov. Janet Napolitano is defending a proposal to hike the state sales tax to among the highest in the nation to fund transit improvements. [Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) (registration)] Read More
New law will pile on charges for sex predators on Internet
A new law sponsored by a Chandler legislator will make punishments harsher for Internet sex predators. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
Bald-eagle protection in Arizona reviewed
Wildlife officials have until Dec. 5 to decide if Arizona's fewer than 50 breeding pairs of desert-nesting bald eagles should continue to be protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
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. [The New York Times] Read More
Gov. Richardson -- U.S. - Mexico border more secure
CHIHUAHUA, Mexico ? New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Wednesday that he has seen an improvement in security along the U.S.-Mexico border. [Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) (registration)] Read More
Guardsman accused of stealing border fence material
A Wyoming Air National Guard member stands accused of selling scrap metal he reportedly stole from the Department of Homeland Security's border-fence project and using the profits to buy cowboy boots, a .45-caliber pistol and other items. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
Guardsman faces border-fencing-theft charge
An Air National Guardsman assigned to work on the border fence in Arizona has been accused of stealing more than $8,100 of scrap metal from the project and selling it to buy personal items. [Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) (registration)] Read More
Proposal to cut alien benefits gets go-ahead
Backers of a proposed initiative aimed at cutting state benefits to illegal aliens are in a hurry to round up thousands of petition signatures after Attorney General Dustin McDaniel approved the proposal's ballot wording Wednesday. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)] Read More
Beebe -- Ark. party leader right to urge stop to GOP help
Gov. Mike Beebe said Wednesday that he supports the state Democratic Party chairman sending a letter admonishing lawmakers in his party to avoid supporting Republican lawmakers in campaigns. [The Daily Citizen (Searcy)] Read More
Ark. 211 service helps get callers to social services
An operator handling the first call for the Arkansas' new 211 service heard a familiar voice on the other end of the line: Gov. Mike Beebe. [The Daily Citizen (Searcy)] Read More
Ark. governor, congressional delegation oppose gas-tax holiday
A summerlong suspension of the federal gas tax may be the brainchild of former Arkansas first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, but the idea is resoundingly opposed by the state's governor and congressional delegation. [The Daily Citizen (Searcy)] Read More
Ark. first lady urges better mental health care for children
Ginger Beebe doesn't like public speaking but will put aside her nervousness to speak on behalf of children with mental-health problems. [The Daily Citizen (Searcy)] Read More
Beeb -- Democratic leader right to rebuke members who help GOP candidates
Gov. Mike Beebe said Wednesday he supports state Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney in his effort to discourage elected Democrats from supporting Republican candidates. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
Rice hulls touted as fuel source as soy prices rise
Arkansas is still working to develop its place in the alternative fuels market, but Agriculture Secretary Richard Bell said Wednesday the state is well-positioned to use rice husks to generate ethanol. [The Daily Citizen (Searcy)] Read More
Legislators hear benefits of statewide trauma system
A statewide trauma system would save the lives of 200 to 600 Arkansans who die each year because they can't get needed emergency care fast enough, health officials told legislators Wednesday. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)] Read More
Democrats, Green Party seeking opponent for Dobbins
Several potential write-in candidates have surfaced to possibly challenge a former state House member seeking to return after resigning his seat amid allegations he fondled a teenage girl, the Democratic Party of Arkansas said Wednesday. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
McDaniel approves wording of illegal immigration measure
After rejecting two previous versions, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on Wednesday approved the name and ballot title of a proposed ballot initiative that would make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to receive public benefits in Arkansas. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
Fiscal office explains $107 million cut in state budget next year
An anticipated drop in individual income tax collections and sales tax collections in line with an economic downturn are the reason for a $107 million cut in Arkansas' budget forecast for the 2009 fiscal year, state fiscal officers said Wednesday. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
Beebe makes call to kick off new 211 system
Gov. Mike Beebe made a call to Arkansas' new 211 system during a news conference Wednesday marking the official launch of the program, which seeks to connect Arkansans with community services and volunteer opportunities. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
Ark. surplus to grow to $164M, officials tell lawmakers
Arkansas' accumulated surplus could grow to more than $164 million by July 1, despite calls for budget cuts in the coming fiscal year, state finance officials told a legislative panel Wednesday. [The Daily Citizen (Searcy)] Read More
State forecasts surplus of $94.8 million
State officials said Wednesday that they expect a $94.8 million surplus when this fiscal year ends June 30. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)] Read More
Perata pulls plug on bid to recall Denham
Citing the prospects of another lengthy state budget stalemate, state Senate leader Don Perata on Wednesday dropped his recall campaign of Sen. Jeff Denham ? a development that surprised even Denham. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
California deficit still anyone's guess
A quick pop quiz on state politics: How big is California's budget deficit? Is it: a) $14.5 billion, b) $8 billion, c) $10 billion, or d) $20 billion? The answer is, there is no correct answer. [The Mercury News (San Jose) (registration)] Read More
Law would ban sale of metallic balloons
A legislative proposal would ban the sale of helium-filled metallic balloons starting in 2010. [Contra Costa Times (registration)] Read More
Perata ends campaign to recall GOP senator
In an abrupt political reversal, State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata ends his campaign to recall Sen. Jeff Denha, a Merced Republican. [San Francisco Chronicle] Read More
Critics call crime initiative a ploy to lure 'ultraconservatives' to polls
They turned up the heat on the politics of crime Wednesday over an initiative likely to appear on the November ballot aimed at gangs and guns. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
Democratic leaders push uncommitted superdelegates
WASHINGTON ? The fight for the 268 uncommitted Democratic Party superdelegates shifted into a higher gear Wednesday, but few of the party insiders were ready to pledge their allegiance to Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
Calif. appeals court rules in domestic partners case
SANTA ANA, Calif. ? People who mistakenly believe they are registered as domestic partners in California have the same rights as those who fulfilled terms of the state's Domestic Partner Act, an appeals court ruled. [The San Diego Union-Tribune] Read More
Perata drops bid to recall GOP legislator Denham
After millions of dollars raised and a long trail of acrimonious campaigning, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, said Wednesday he is dropping his controversial bid to recall state Sen. Jeff Denham, saying he worried it would get in the way of fixing the state's precarious fiscal condition. [The Mercury News (San Jose) (registration)] Read More
Historic SoCal land conservation deal hammered out
LEBEC, Calif. -- A group of environmentalists and the owners of a large expanse of wilderness have hammered out a deal that would result in the largest parcel of land designated for conservation in California history that could rival Yosemite National Park in its diversity of wildlife. [The Sacramento Bee (registration)] Read More
Scrutiny of state contracts urged
When the state education department bought $43,000 in file boxes, Post-its and other office supplies last April, the bill was $2,500 too high. When the department spent $77,000 for supplies like file folders and boxes the next month, the bill was another $5,000 too high. [The Mercury News (San Jose) (registration)] Read More
$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. [The New York Times] Read More
Gov. Richardson -- U.S. - Mexico border more secure
CHIHUAHUA, Mexico ? New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Wednesday that he has seen an improvement in security along the U.S.-Mexico border. [Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) (registration)] Read More
Video shows sick cow at Pa. livestock auction
Four months after inhumane treatment of cows revealed at a California slaughterhouse led to the largest meat recall in U.S. history, the Humane Society of the United States yesterday released new undercover videos of crippled cows at livestock auctions in four states, including Pennsylvania. [The Philadelphia Inquirer (registration)] Read More
Ritter: GOP stalled road efforts
Gov. Bill Ritter said Wednesday that concern over Democratic lawmakers' re-election chances was partly to blame for legislative failure to approve proposals to fix Colorado roads and bridges. [The Denver Post] Read More
DA apologizes over drinking
Fourth Judicial District Attorney John Newsome apologized Wednesday after being caught by a television news station's hidden camera drinking at a bar and later driving a county- owned vehicle. [Rocky Mountain News (Denver)] Read More
Unions reach out to expand war chest
The nation's largest unions are turning Colorado into a battleground state, throwing big dollars behind a local issue committee that's fighting the right-to-work ballot initiative and pushing a pair of competing measures. [The Denver Post] Read More
Ethics reform bill apparently scuttled
An increasingly personal dispute between House and Senate lawmakers imperiled an ethics reform bill late Wednesday night, as the legislature's midnight deadline to adjourn approached. [The Day (New London)] Read More
Time runs out on sick day legislation
The House of Representatives appeared to have scuttled an effort to require businesses to provide paid sick days to all their workers, refusing to call the bill for a vote as time ran out on the legislative session Wednesday night. [The Day (New London)] Read More
Mortgage relief bill highlights final day of legislative session
Hours before the legislature's 2008 session ended, the state Senate unanimously passed a comprehensive mortgage-relief bill that would help thousands of subprime mortgage holders threatened with foreclosure. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Fate of pension revocation bill in doubt
The fate of a key ethics reform bill, which revokes the pensions of corrupt officials and public employees, remained in doubt late Wednesday as the legislative session neared adjournment. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
State to require teachers to take test on reading
Aspiring early childhood and elementary school teachers will have to prove they know how to teach reading on a test the State Board of Education has added to Connecticut's teacher certification requirements. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Rell cool to expansion of state worker insurance pool
Gov. M. Jodi Rell expressed strong reservations Wednesday about a Democratic bill that would permit municipalities, nonprofits and small businesses to join the state employee health insurance pool. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
State says permits for new houses fell 16 percent in 2007
A state economic development agency says that new housing starts in Connecticut dropped 16 percent last year, but the figures were better than those in the region and the nation. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Legislature convenes special session on conveyance tax
Not having to pass a budget didn't save state legislators from having to convene a special session. [The Day (New London)] Read More
Bill would end ban of paid firefighters volunteering
The General Assembly has passed bill that stops cities and towns from banning their paid firefighters from serving as volunteer firefighters in their home towns. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Bill to reform magistrate appointments dies
A legislative controversy - which ignited after Gov. M. Jodi Rell's appointment early this year of a Republican activist from Old Lyme as a $121,615-a-year family support magistrate - died quietly Wednesday when the House failed to take up a Senate-approved reform bill. [The Hartford Courant (registration)] Read More
Two lanes of I-95 north to close this weekend
A state road project that stymied traffic last weekend will be in effect again beginning Friday. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Del. group to build second Afghan school
Afghanistan-Delaware Communities Together is planning to build a second school in Afghanistan. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Michigan ruling stirs same-sex advocates in Florida
A Michigan Supreme Court ruling -- that the state's law banning gay marriage also prohibits same-sex benefits offered to government employees -- is energizing opponents of a similar amendment on Florida's November ballot. [The Miami Herald (registration)] Read More
Florida takes $10 million from condo trust fund
Almost one-third of the money designated for programs to help educate condo owners and pay for enforcement of condo laws will be diverted for unrelated state expenses as a result of the current budget crunch. [The Sun-Sentinel (South Florida)] Read More
Counting Florida's votes won't close Clinton-Obama gap
Every time Hillary Clinton is on the ropes -- as she was Wednesday after lackluster showings in Indiana and North Carolina -- her fallback is always the same: Count Florida's votes. But even her campaign acknowledges that the state can't deliver her the Democratic nomination. [The Miami Herald (registration)] Read More
FDLE unveils terror-alert system
Suspicious business owners now have a new communication network, "BusinessSafe," to report their concerns to the proper authorities, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey announced Wednesday. [Tallahassee Democrat] Read More
Dems press fight for Michigan delegates
Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign Wednesday pinned its increasingly thin hopes for the Democratic nomination on winning full delegate slates from Michigan and Florida -- but the hard reality of delegate math makes victory nearly impossible. [The Detroit News] Read More
Cut! Filming in Florida just got less attractive
Without $25 million in production subsidies, Florida will find it tough to lure movies and TV shows to shoot here. [The Miami Herald (registration)] Read More
As Florida leads in boating deaths, water education lags
Boating deaths jumped 10 percent in Florida last year, marking the 16th year in 20 that the Sunshine State has led the nation in fatalities. [St. Petersburg Times] Read More
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. [The Christian Science Monitor] Read More
Volusia lawmaker's intervention scuttles growth-limit bill
Ormond Beach state Sen. Evelyn Lynn says she only was trying to help rural areas around the state lure more development. But the result was that Lynn last week helped derail a proposed rewrite of Florida' growth laws in the dying hours of the legislative session. [The Orlando Sentinel (registration)] Read More
Foes of Web driving class get Scooby Doo certified
Scooby Doo can get behind the wheel again in Florida. Not in real life, of course. The talking dog doesn't exist. But opponents of a bill to let Georgia's habitual traffic violators take court-ordered driving classes online signed the cartoon canine up for an Internet course in Florida, which has a similar law. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration)] Read More
Gas prices have some thinking they can drive 55
ALBANY, N.Y. - As other cars zipped by at 70 mph or more, Mike Papin and his wife, Joann, kept rolling along just below the 65 mph limit as they made their way from their winter home in Florida to a summer place in Vermont. [MSNBC.com] Read More
Obama picks up superdelegates; undecideds moving his way
WASHINGTON - Barack Obama's march toward the Democratic presidential nomination picked up support from four more superdelegates Wednesday, pushing him ever closer to victory over Hillary Rodham Clinton -- even as their primary marathon staggered on. [The New York Times] Read More
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. [USA Today] Read More
Perdue signs high-deductible insurance plan bill
Insurance companies gained millions of reasons on Wednesday to offer high-deductible health insurance plans as Gov. Sonny Perdue signed legislation aimed at making the plans more affordable and more widely available. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration)] Read More
Lt. governor says he will allow Senate vote on Sunday sales
Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle now says he's willing to let the state Senate act on a referendum that would allow voters to decide whether stores may sell alcohol on Sunday. [The Macon Telegraph] Read More
New Ga. law bans sale of 'pot candy' to minors
Selling marijuana-flavored candy to children will net the seller a $500 fine under a ban that may be the first of its kind in the nation. [The Macon Telegraph] Read More
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 Augusta Chronicle] Read More
Foes of Web driving class get Scooby Doo certified
Scooby Doo can get behind the wheel again in Florida. Not in real life, of course. The talking dog doesn't exist. But opponents of a bill to let Georgia's habitual traffic violators take court-ordered driving classes online signed the cartoon canine up for an Internet course in Florida, which has a similar law. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration)] Read More
Defense lawyer -- Lack of funds could spur appeal
The statewide indigent defense funding shortfall could play a significant part in the Damon Jolly trial, said one of his attorneys. [The Macon Telegraph] Read More
School boards will be studied
At the request of the state Board of Education, a coalition of business and education groups are putting together a task force that will take a broad look at how local school boards in Georgia operate. [The Augusta Chronicle] Read More
Perdue OKs bill to expand use
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation gained the power to compare crime suspects' DNA samples with a database of genetic evidence collected from 150,000 offenders and nearly 7,000 unsolved cases, under legislation Gov. Sonny Perdue signed Wednesday. [The Augusta Chronicle] Read More
Perdue OKs health bills
Gov. Sonny Perdue on Wednesday signed a pair of bills aimed at making high-deductible health insurance plans more accessible to Georgians. [The Augusta Chronicle] Read More
Driving without license felony under House bill
Driving without a license could become a felony under a bill that passed the Georgia House on Thursday. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration)] Read More
Lingle?s housing measures collapse
Gov. Linda Lingle lost a series of important housing bills when the state Legislature ended last week. [Honolulu Star-Bulletin] Read More
Two panels to review ConCon cost factors
Gov. Linda Lingle's announcement of a task force to determine the cost of convening a constitutional convention means the state's executive and legislative branches plan to study the same issue in different ways. [The Honolulu Advertiser] Read More
Hawaii taps tourism emergency fund
The Hawaii Tourism Authority will spend $3 million from an emergency fund to convince North American travelers that Hawaii still offers a good value for a vacation. [The Honolulu Advertiser] Read More
Lingle and Kim wage war of words over Liu
Decrying a "major waste of time and resources," Gov. Linda Lingle fired back at a state Senate investigative committee that contends one of her Cabinet members broke the law in awarding a contract to a company that was not the top-ranked bidder for a new investment fund. [Honolulu Star-Bulletin] Read More
Ferry must pay for tugboat
The state Department of Transportation has told Hawaii Superferry it must pay for evening tugboat services at Kahului Harbor needed to accommodate the company's expanded Maui service. [The Honolulu Advertiser] Read More
Attorneys general treat big oil with kid gloves
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- Another day, another new high for oil prices. Against that backdrop, the president of Shell Oil Company delivered a vigorous defense of his industry's record profits. The oil executive stopped in the Northwest -- in his words -- to "educate" political leaders. [Northwest Public Radio] Read More
Idaho superdelegate Roark uncommitted
Idaho Democratic Party Chairman and presidential superdelegate Keith Roark said Wednesday he still hasn't backed a presidential candidate, but said Sen. Barack Obama's 14-point victory in the North Carolina primary Tuesday helped address his concerns. [The Times-News (Twin Falls)] Read More
Idaho Dems miffed at Bill Clinton's comments
Idaho Democrats sounded off Wednesday against former President Bill Clinton and his campaign comments about Gem State politics. [The Times-News (Twin Falls)] Read More
Only one superdelegate in Idaho is undecided
R. Keith Roark still isn't picking sides, but an overwhelming win by Sen. Barack Obama Tuesday night in the North Carolina Democratic primary and a closer-than-expected showing in Indiana erased some doubts for Idaho's one uncommitted Democratic superdelegate. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Southwest Idaho company making millions by accepting toxic waste
Railcars loaded with 6,700 tons of radioactive waste will roll across the Treasure Valley this week, the cargo destined for a remote site south of Boise on a sagebrush-dotted plateau near the Snake River. And it won't be the first time. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Senate panel approves Idaho wilderness bill
WASHINGTON -- A bill to create a wilderness in southwest Idaho's Owyhee canyonlands has cleared a Senate committee. [The Times-News (Twin Falls)] Read More
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." [Chicago Sun-Times] Read More
House passes measure to let police carry guns on college campuses
Police officers at Illinois universities, colleges and community colleges would be allowed to carry guns on campus, regardless of school policy, under a proposal the House of Representatives passed on Wednesday. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Wrigley Field's name would stay in state deal
Chicago Cubs fans who love Wrigley Field's name and historic character will find their passions protected by the state if it swings a deal to buy the North Side ballpark from Tribune Co., former Gov. James Thompson said Wednesday. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Ill. voters to vote on 'Con-Con'
Illinois voters in November will get to decide whether to have a constitutional convention and revamp the state's governing document. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch] Read More
Construction costs a political hang-up
Around the Capitol, the perception is that "everyone" wants new roads, bridges and schools. The problem is no one can agree on how to pay for them. [Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)] Read More
Prison expert acquitted of scheming to bribe former Illinois corrections director
A federal judge on Wednesday acquitted Michael J. Mahoney, a nationally known corrections expert, on charges that he schemed to bribe Illinois' former top prison official to win lucrative state contracts for his lobbying clients. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Governor doesn't show for Holocaust observance
Gov. Rod Blagojevich was absent Wednesday for the 27th annual Days of Remembrance Holocaust Observance, which was held at the Old Capitol State Historic Site. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Fairgrounds may need costly work
The Illinois State Fairgrounds could need millions of dollars in maintenance and capital improvements in the next few years, based on information turned over to Rep. Raymond Poe. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Jacobs supports pay hike bill in Illinois
While Quad-City members of the Illinois House voted Wednesday to reject boosting salaries for state lawmakers by nearly 12 percent, state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, supports getting paid more money. [Quad-City Times] Read More
Food costs rising for Illinois institutions
The cost of providing food to Illinois? prison inmates, aging veterans and developmentally disabled residents at state institutions is on pace to be up by $7 million this year, according to a review of state payments to vendors. [Quad-City Times] Read More
Feds pledge $1.3 billion for new FutureGen concept
The federal government Wednesday announced plans to offer companies $1.3 billion toward building FutureGen-style power plants across the country, taking another step away from building a single, massive project in Mattoon. [The Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale)] Read More
Senate Democrats try to take heat off Halvorson
Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) was removed as chairperson of the powerful rules committee Wednesday by Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) after she clashed with Republicans over her handling of a bill that could have allowed voters to create a recall provision for elected officials. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Fat tax break for felon
Stuart P. Levine, the star prosecution witness in Tony Rezko's corruption trial, might be an admitted drug user and felon. But he's savvy when it comes to his property taxes. [Chicago Sun-Times] Read More
Critics - Too many holes poked in plastic bag law
Chicago retailers who derive 25 percent of their gross sales from food or pharmaceuticals would be required to install plastic bag recycling bins - and distribute bags that state "Please reuse or recycle" ? under a crackdown advanced Wednesday that aldermen called a "first step." [Chicago Sun-Times] Read More
Bill allowing Rockford schools to share data gets 1st OK
Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey has said for months that state law should be changed to require the Rockford School District to share names and personal information about students suspected of being truants. [Rockford Register Star] Read More
Prison closing plan gets support
A plan aimed at stopping Gov. Rod Blagojevich from closing Pontiac Correctional Center has gained the support of a top Senate Democrat. [Quad-City Times] Read More
Lawmaker warns construction funds are in danger
With time running short at the Capitol for a budget deal, one suburban lawmaker said talk of billions of dollars worth of state-sponsored construction may be headed to the political backburner. [Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)] Read More
House votes down officials' pay hikes
The Illinois House voted Wednesday to reject pay increases of $7,000 next year, citing a lagging economy and litany of unfinished business at the Capitol. [Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)] Read More
Illinois House votes to let campus cops carry guns
In an attempt to boost campus safety, the Illinois House voted Wednesday to let all university police officers carry guns while on duty. [Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)] Read More
State representatives reject recommendation for pay hike
Most members of the Illinois House of Representatives said Wednesday they and other top state officials shouldn?t receive pay hikes anytime soon, but their paychecks could be getting bigger in a few months anyway. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Q5 lacks strategy on keeping IDOT jobs
A local economic-development campaign that has pledged to create or retain 4,500 Sangamon County jobs in five years had remained quiet on a plan to move 150 state jobs our of Springfield until Wednesday. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
Chicago State names interim president
Chicago State University trustees Wednesday named a 45-year veteran of higher education to replace beleaguered outgoing President Elnora Daniel for the next school year. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Disabled criticize Pace's dispatch computer service for paratransit
Angered by chronically late or no-show drivers and frustrated at having to sit for hours in paratransit vans for what should be shorter rides, more than a dozen disabled riders castigated Pace Wednesday for what they said were flaws in a new computerized dispatch system. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
House votes down pay raise for lawmakers
The Illinois House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to reject a pay raise, meaning the Senate must do the same or the salary bumps take effect. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Officials -- 19 schools get pass on driver's ed rule
Nineteen suburban high schools have gotten a reprieve from a controversial requirement to provide driver-education students with six hours of instructor-supervised street driving, according to state education officials. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Dressed down
There's already a laundry list of problems at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, but so far no one has seen the wardrobe of its leader as a problem. [Chicago Sun-Times] Read More
Daley asks where is the money for gov's anti-violence plan
Saying he's on -- a crusade to help Mayor Daley, -- Gov. Blagojevich staged a West Side rally Tuesday to unveil his $150 million plan to curb youth violence and "stop the killing." [Chicago Sun-Times] Read More
Long Thompson readies for race against Gov. Daniels
Lake County played a huge role Tuesday in deciding -- and delaying -- the Democratic nomination for Indiana governor. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
Indianapolis Museum of Art, ACLU sue over new state pornography law
The Indianapolis Museum of Art, which sells art books containing images of nudes painted by the Old Masters, joined a civil rights group Wednesday in suing over a law that would require a business selling pornography to register with the state. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
By the numbers -- how Clinton won
The race in Indiana between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama was decided by fewer than 15,000 votes, but the gap between them was much wider among some groups. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Randolph wins nail-biter
Lonnie Randolph struggled Wednesday to come up with a metaphor for the 222-vote victory he eked out a day earlier. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
Tuesday's primary turnout highest in 20 years
If Tuesday seemed like a busy day at your local polling place, there's a reason: Just over 39 percent of Indiana's registered voters cast ballots in the presidential primaries on Tuesday -- nearly double the turnout of recent comparable elections. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Many Republicans crossed party line
In traditionally staunch Republican Hendricks County, results of Tuesday's party primary elections show voters favored local government in GOP hands though many crossed over to vote for a Democratic president. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Official -- Shortage of ballots unforeseeable
The high number of unexpected crossover voters -- Republicans voting on the Democratic ballot -- was the reason many polling places ran out of ballots during Tuesday's high-profile primary election, officials said. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
Late vote results criticized, explained
The nation watched Tuesday night as Lake County election officials held the fate of the Democratic presidential primary in their hands -- and held it, and held it and held it. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
Lake County, Ind., to re-evaluate process after delayed primary results
Election-day shenanigans are nothing new in Lake County, Ind., where absentee ballots have been found stuffed in a car trunk, voters have been offered new sidewalks in exchange for allegiance and vote fraud investigations evoke thoughts of nearby Chicago. [Chicago Tribune (registration)] Read More
Concession seals bid for top state job
Nearly 24 hours after the polls closed, Jim Schellinger conceded that he had lost the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to Jill Long Thompson after a roller-coaster night of election returns. [The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne)] Read More
Virginia superdelegate Del. McClellan switches from Clinton to Obama
A Virginia Democratic superdelegate yesterday switched her support from Sen. Hillary Clinton to Sen. Barack Obama, saying it seems unlikely that Clinton can catch up with Obama for the presidential nomination. [The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg)] Read More
Chaos comes to Indiana?
Following Hillary Clinton's razor-thin victory in Indiana, some Republicans were claiming victory Wednesday for supporting her in large enough numbers to keep the Democratic slugfest going. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
Mo. voters may decide on photo ID requirement
Voters could decide whether to enact a photo ID requirement for voting under a proposed constitutional amendment given first-round approval Wednesday by the Missouri House. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch] Read More
She's ready for a fight
It took close to 24 hours after Indiana's polls closed for Jill Long Thompson to sew up her win as the Democratic nominee for governor, but she wasted no time Wednesday homing in on her next target: Mitch Daniels. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Gubernatorial candidates? positions on key issues
With Hoosiers paying record prices at the gas pump and oil prices climbing, what would you do as governor to provide some short- and long-term relief? [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Voter ID measure moves ahead in Missouri
Missouri lawmakers gave preliminary approval to voter ID legislation on Wednesday, reopening a deeply partisan issue with scant time remaining in the session. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Culver -- 'Community effort' needed to keep young people in school
Gov. Chet Culver said Wednesday that his policies have begun to remedy some of the problems that lead to school dropouts, though he said the best approaches are customized to local problems and conducted by local leaders. [Quad-City Times] Read More
Proposal eases property taxes by adding fees
Iowa's city and county governments would have more ability to charge special taxes or fees, under one idea for property tax relief that top legislative leaders said will be reviewed next year. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Hispanics fear immigration raid in Iowa
WATERLOO, Iowa ? The presence of immigration officials at National Cattle Congress in Waterloo has stoked fears of an impending raid and caused some in the Hispanic community to avoid workplaces and public areas. [Quad-City Times] Read More
Iowa leaders say don't blame ethanol for food costs
Rising food prices have emboldened critics of ethanol and provoked a firm pushback from Iowa leaders. [Sioux City Journal] Read More
Fee for records may be reviewed
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal said Wednesday that the Legislature would take a look at a new policy initiated in state agencies by Gov. Chet Culver's office to charge more fees in connection with fulfilling open-records requests. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Culver wants dropout rates reduced
Iowa must take more steps to reduce the number of high school dropouts, specifically among minority students, Gov. Chet Culver said Wednesday. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Legislature signs off session with coal bill
The Kansas Legislature on Wednesday sent another coal-fired power plants bill to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius before ending the wrap-up session. [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
Legislature concludes work
Consider these two scenarios for the fate of the coal bill: The third time is the charm. Or, three strikes and you are out. Supporters of a coal-fired power plant were banking on the former Wednesday. They are hopeful Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will sign off on their third bill of the session authorizing expansion of the power plant near Holcomb in southwest Kansas. [The Topeka Capital-Journal] Read More
Final spending bill approved
Legislators approved a version of the year?s final spending bill Wednesday night preserving a project critics call "the road to nowhere." [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
KU professor on tonight's 'Daily Show'
A University of Kansas professor will be Jon Stewart's guest tonight on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show." David Perlmutter, who also is KU's associate dean for graduate and research studies, will talk about his new book, Blogwars, which explores the history and phenomenon of political blogs. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Sports facility upgrades expanded
With upgrades to the Kansas University football team?s facilities nearly complete, attention this summer will return to Allen Fieldhouse and the area around it for $55 million in upgrades, expansions and additions. [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
Contest rates state by design
The finalists in a statewide architectural wonders contest claim to be the biggest, longest and fanciest structures in Kansas. But you can be the judge of that. The Kansas Sampler Foundation is asking people to choose from among 24 nominees in the 8 Wonders of Kansas Architecture contest. [Wichita Business Journal (registration)] Read More
Controversial Lawrence bypass gets federal approval
A proposed highway that would route traffic through southeast Lawrence has cleared its last environmental hurdle, but a courtroom battle still looms. The federal government has given final environmental approval to the four-lane South Lawrence Trafficway, which could make it easier to reach parts of Lawrence from the Kansas City area. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Bombardier-inspired tax-credit program headed to governor
Capping seven weeks of intense debate, Missouri legislators gave final approval Wednesday to a new tax-credit program that could bring an aircraft assembly plant to Kansas City. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Governor fires back in dispute over e-mails
The governor began returning fire Wednesday as Missouri's e-mail wars heated up. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Voter ID measure moves ahead in Missouri
Missouri lawmakers gave preliminary approval to voter ID legislation on Wednesday, reopening a deeply partisan issue with scant time remaining in the session. [Kansas City Star (registration)] Read More
Vehicle registration fees likely to go up
Fees to register a vehicle in the state would increase by $4 under a compromise bill sent to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. [Wichita Eagle (registration)] Read More
House, Senate pass final spending bill
Kansas lawmakers cut corporate tax rates by $13.3 million next year before approving a hard-fought final spending bill and adjourning for the year late Wednesday. [Wichita Eagle (registration)] Read More
House roll call on bill allowing coal-fired plants
Here is the 76-48 vote Wednesday by which the House approved the latest bill allowing for the expansion of the Holcomb power plant and restricting the power of the secretary of health and environment. Supporters of the provisions tied them to economic development projects in other parts of the state. [The Topeka Capital-Journal] Read More
KU prof to be on 'Daily Show'
LAWRENCE, Kan. ? A University of Kansas journalism professor and author will be on the hot seat today when he sits down with Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" to discuss his new book about political blogging. [The Topeka Capital-Journal] Read More
Planned oil pipeline to cut across Montana
TransCanada Corp. is planning to build a 36-inch underground pipeline through Eastern Montana and five other states to carry Canadian crude to U.S. refineries along the Gulf Coast of Texas. [Billings Gazette] Read More
State's superdelegates urged to pick and repick
Kentucky's Democratic superdelegates are holding firm in their positions after the North Carolina and Indiana primary results, although one prominent supporter of U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said pressure is being applied to that group to end the campaign soon. [Lexington Herald-Leader] Read More
KCTCS tuition hike bid takes a hit
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System felt the biggest wallop from from recommended tuition increases released Wednesday. [Lexington Herald-Leader] Read More
House Whip Wilkey frustrated, to leave seat
House Democratic Whip Rob Wilkey plans to withdraw from the November election and give up his seat at the end of the year, his office confirmed yesterday. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Public urged to report any suspected vote fraud May 20
State and federal officials warned yesterday that they will crack down on vote fraud when national attention focuses on Kentucky's primary election May 20. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Guardsman guilty of reckless homicide
BARDWELL, Ky. -- A Western Kentucky jury rejected a murder charge Tuesday and instead convicted a Kentucky National Guardsman of reckless homicide in the death of a fellow guardsman last year. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Despite fix-ups, fewer show up
Kentucky has spent more than $300 million over the past decade maintaining and enhancing its state parks to attract paying customers who -- so far -- haven't shown up, State Auditor Crit Luallen said Wednesday. [Lexington Herald-Leader] Read More
State losing money on parks
Kentucky's state park system is losing increasing amounts of money despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars on improvements in recent years, according to a report released yesterday by Auditor Crit Luallen. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
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. [The Wall Street Journal (subscription)] Read More
Lawmakers -- Ethics laws too strict for volunteers
Unless the new disclosure laws are changed, few will want to serve on state boards and commissions, which some state senators said Wednesday would reduce public involvement in government operations, senators said Wednesday. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Armor bill clears House
Bulletproof vests and other body armor would be off limits on school campuses under legislation that cleared a House committee Wednesday. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Bill fines landlords of illegal immigrants
The House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice voted 7-4 Wednesday for a bill that would make it a crime to knowingly rent or lease a room, apartment or house to an illegal immigrant. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Momentum grows in House to support income tax repeal
The state House appears poised to endorse a bill repealing the state's personal income tax -- a move that would chagrin the Senate and place the bill on the governor's desk. [The News Star (Monroe)] Read More
Airport authority flies into the sunset
The 16-year-old Louisiana Airport Authority should fade into history by Jan. 1, since it hasn't done much to develop a cargo airport between New Orleans and Baton Rouge as intended, the Senate decided Wednesday. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
State's superdelegates stay on fence
Despite mounting pressure for Hillary Clinton to yield to front-runner Barack Obama in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, most of Louisiana's superdelegates remain uncommitted. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Senate topples bid for wind insurance
WASHINGTON ? After a bitter debate over the possible cost to taxpayers, the Senate rejected an attempt Wednesday to add wind coverage to the National Flood Insurance Program. [The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson)] Read More
Bill seeks to limit traffic cameras
Traffic cameras aimed at catching drivers who run red lights should not be aimed at the front of cars, says Sen. Troy Hebert, D-Jeanerette. [The News Star (Monroe)] Read More
Supplemental war spending bill includes levee project funding for New Orleans
WASHINGTON - Congress today will unfurl a massive emergency war spending bill expected to include $5.8 billion to secure levees in the New Orleans area. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
House OKs job training bill
The House easily approved Gov. Bobby Jindal's job training package Wednesday. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Legislators eye Congress
Three prominent black state legislators say they are seriously considering a run for three different U.S. Congress seats this fall as independents instead of as Democrats. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Panel backs poverty fight
The state could be required to reduce child poverty by 50 percent under a bill easily approved by a Senate committee Wednesday. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Bill raising drivers' coverage advances
A bill that would require all drivers to have higher minimum insurance coverage on their vehicles was approved 6-2 Wednesday by the House Insurance Committee. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Senate says abolish airport panel
A state panel that has spent 16 years trying to build a sprawling airport near Donaldsonville would be abolished under a bill that won Louisiana Senate approval 36-0 on Wednesday. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Jindal sets tone for projected surplus
Gov. Bobby Jindal urged lawmakers Wednesday to resist embarking on a spending spree with any additional revenue gleaned for state government. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Running for Office -- State House of Representatives District 18
OSCAR, La. - Pointe Coupee Parish businessman and School Board member Major Thibaut announced he will be a candidate for the District 18 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
House OKs bill to give PSC raise
The House endorsed a $30,000 a year pay increase for members of the Public Service Commission. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
House backs July 1 for resignation date
The House decided Wednesday to give people until July 1 to resign from elected jobs or state boards so they can avoid divulging their personal finances. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Restraint urged as windfall brews
In a pre-emptive strike at legislators contemplating major tax cuts or spending reductions, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Wednesday that any budget windfall recognized by state forecasters this week should be reserved as surplus or devoted to reducing the state's reliance on one-time money. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
New Road Home appeal process offers hope for those in limbo
Louis Generes III didn't accept the official calculation of his Road Home rebuilding grant, but he was willing to follow the program's rules for mounting a challenge. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Legislation prohibits body armor in schools
Students in elementary and high schools should be prohibited from wearing bulletproof vests and other body armor, legislation approved by a House committee says. [The News Star (Monroe)] Read More
Bill would raise severance tax cap
Natural gas production from the rich Vernon Field in Jackson Parish generated more than $32 million in severance taxes last year, but Jackson Parish's local take was only $850,000. [The News Star (Monroe)] Read More
Peigneur bill going to Senate
A bill that would restrict expansion of natural gas storage caverns beneath Lake Peigneur will make it to the Louisiana Senate floor. [The Daily Iberian (New Iberia)] Read More
Senate defeats wind clause
WASHINGTON -- A Gulf Coast-backed effort to add wind coverage to the National Flood Insurance Program was soundly defeated Wednesday in the Senate amid concerns it would be too costly. [The Sun Herald (Biloxi)] Read More
Maine plays role in debate over ethanol funding
WASHINGTON - Higher food prices have led some lawmakers to re-examine a federal mandate passed last year that requires refiners to nearly double the amount of corn ethanol used in gasoline. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Ethanol has arrived
Two years ago, Mike Perrino towed his 30-foot Pro-line boat from Maine to a fishing tournament in Massachusetts, topping off the gas tanks before heading to sea. Two miles out, the boat stopped. [Portland Press Herald] Read More
Plans to end hunger advance
Activists who want to end childhood hunger decided Tuesday night at a Blaine House dinner to move forward with plans for a summit to focus on the issue. [Kennebec Journal] Read More
Maine bread company bashes U.S. fuel policy
A Maine bread company executive testifying before a Senate committee in Washington on Wednesday said the federal government?s renewable fuel policy has encouraged skyrocketing food prices. [Bangor Daily News] Read More
Bangor Hydro sends disconnect notices to nearly half its customers
BANGOR, Maine - Knowing their electricity wouldn?t be cut off in the winter, local residents Lana and Jon Courtright chose to buy food and gasoline instead of paying their electric bill. [Bangor Daily News] Read More
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. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
O'Malley stresses need for slots
Gov. Martin O'Malley said yesterday 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 Capital (Annapolis)] Read More
Deal to protect homeowners unravels
A compromise on legislation that would give owners of manufactured homes the first shot at buying their communities if they come up for sale is coming undone, with the homeowners and landowners at loggerheads once again. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Court rules on rights of victims
Tracy L. Palmer was furious when she learned that a Prince George's County judge had decided to reduce her abuser's prison sentence, but attorneys told her it was too late to do anything about it. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
Miller might not be the retiring type
A year and a half after Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. announced that this term would be his last, the heavy betting among his colleagues is that the Annapolis titan will seek reelection in 2010. [The Washington Post (registration)] Read More
State, county practice for big storm
What if a Category 3 Atlantic hurricane hit right at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay? [The Capital (Annapolis)] |
