Technology on Monday November 02, 2009

WA: Privacy looms over gay rights vote
By William Yardley, The New York Times
SEATTLE — At a time when voters in many states are using petitions to qualify ballot measures on issues from gay rights to property rights, a legal dispute over the identity of 138,000 petition signers here is raising new questions about privacy, free speech and elections in the Internet age.
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CA: California may pull the plug on power-guzzling flat-screen TVs
By Michael B. Farrell, The Christian Science Monitor
SAN FRANCISCO -- The state that first championed the ban on energy-hogging refrigerators in the 1970s now has its sights set on power-hungry TVs.
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ID: Idaho school district to restart copier bids
By The Associated Press, Idaho State Journal (Pocatello)
The largest school district in the state plans to restart the bidding process with copier companies for their services in November, nearly three months after recanting on a decision to award the contract to Xerox Corp.
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MN: Website in Minnesota lifts profile of e-philanthropy
By Jean Hopensperger, Minneapolis Star Tribune
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- GiveMN is a new research tool that aims to increase people's charitable giving online.
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MN: Protected aquifer feared at risk
By Tom Meersman, Minneapolis Star Tribune
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Pooling underneath the Twin Cities area is drinking water so old and pristine that it's protected by state law. It can't be used for industrial purposes in the seven-county metro area.
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MO: Study will review purposes of Missouri River dams
By Chet Brokaw, The Associated Press, Kansas City Star
A Missouri River study ordered by Congress will provide a long overdue review of the 1944 law that spelled out the purposes of the river's six dams, officials from states along the Missouri said Thursday.
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MT: Schweitzer criticized for backing single firm on $70M Internet stimulus project
By Mike Dennison, Missoulian
Gov. Brian Schweitzer's recommendation that one firm get $70 million in federal stimulus funds to expand high-speed Internet service is being blasted by Montana telephone companies and regulators, who say the project won't extend new service to under-served areas.
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OK: Today marks the first day of new Oklahoma laws
By Michael McNutt , The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)
Most elements of a comprehensive lawsuit reform measure, agreed to in the last days of this year's legislative session after more than two years of bickering, are now law. It's one of nearly 200 state laws that will take effect today.
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RI: R.I. to distribute $2.3 million in federal aid for energy-efficiency projects
By Peter B. Lord, The Providence Journal
Help is finally on the way for middle-class people who want to make their houses more energy-efficient and save on heating bills. But the assistance is not quite here yet.
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SC: How the Boeing deal was done
By Andy Shain, The State (Columbia)
A week before North Charleston landed a new Boeing jet assembly line, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham thought South Carolina had lost the deal.
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TX: Emergency alert system now includes cell phones
By Suzannah Gonzales, The Austin American-Statesman
Central Texans can now receive emergency notifications on their cell phones.
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US: A bid to cut emissions looks away from coal
By Matthew L. Wald, The New York Times
WASHINGTON — As Congress debates legislation to slow global warming by limiting emissions, engineers are tinkering with ways to capture and store carbon dioxide, the leading heat-trapping gas.
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