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Archive of Stateline.org RSS - State by State Roundup on Thursday November 05, 2009
National study finds Alabama's poorest pay more income tax than poor of other states
A national study released Wednesday showed Alabama makes families living in poverty pay higher income taxes than any other state. [The Birmingham News] Read More
State agencies laying off employees
The continued downturn in the economy is forcing several state agencies to not just tighten their belts, but to show some employees the door -- something the Alabama State Employees Association said could just be a harbinger of things to come. [Montgomery Advertiser] Read More
Alabama's natural gas rates going down again
With winter approaching, customers of Alabama Gas Corp. are going to pay lower rates for heating their homes, the fourth cutback in the past 12 months. [Montgomery Advertiser] Read More
Alabama PACT board approves investment shift from stocks to bonds
Alabama's Prepaid Affordable College Tuition board voted 7-3 this afternoon to change the way its money is invested, shifting most of its assets from stocks to bonds. [The Birmingham News] Read More
J.P. Morgan settles Alabama bribery case
J. P. Morgan Securities will forfeit hundreds of millions of dollars in fees on derivatives contracts that it sold an Alabama county, under a settlement announced Wednesday that could offer hope to other governments staggering under similar deals. [The New York Times] Read More
State still exploring options for sale of Bryce Hospital
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Its future has yet to be decided, but no one wants Bryce Hospital to move to Birmingham, a former Alabama Department of Mental Health commissioner said Wednesday during a public meeting. [Tuscaloosa News] Read More
PACT board turns to non-politicians for help
The board that oversees Alabama's Prepaid Afford?able College Tuition plan is switching from politicians to non-politicians to try to ne?gotiate a solution to the pro?gram's $346 million deficit. [Montgomery Advertiser] Read More
State investigating New Hope finances for any criminal wrongdoing connected to bad audit
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Despite the mayor's claims that he knows nothing of it, a spokesman for the Alabama Bureau of Investigation said the agency is investigating whether any laws were broken related to a state audit of New Hope's finances. [The Huntsville Times] Read More
Birmingham's Larry Langford seeks new trial
Former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford today asked a judge to grant him a new trial saying that the speed with which a jury convicted him, the venue and the fact that gambling magnate Milton McGregor's name came up all denied him a fair trial. [The Birmingham News] Read More
Justices, in aftermath of 2 murder cases, hear claims of a process gone wrong
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in two cases involving claims that the criminal justice system had gone badly awry. [The New York Times] Read More
Alaska Natives job site advertises openings
From a small tourism office in downtown, you can tell a lot about unemployment in Anchorage. [The Juneau Empire] Read More
Pill packaging deprives Alaska vets of benefits
Some Alaska military veterans may be missing out on their free or low-cost prescription drug benefits because of a dispute over the way pills are packaged. [The Juneau Empire] Read More
Palin book tour to avoid 'Democratic' strongholds
NEW YORK -- Sarah Palin's book tour is a gift for her base. [Anchorage Daily News] Read More
Special session tentatively OK'd
Republican Gov. Jan Brewer and legislative leaders have reached a tentative deal under which lawmakers would return to the Capitol in a special session later this month to begin chipping away at a state-budget deficit as large as $2 billion. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
State plans to further cut education
State lawmakers will meet later this month to cut state aid to education - but not to give voters a chance to hike their own taxes to help balance the budget. [East Valley Tribune] Read More
Brewer to announce gubernatorial bid
Gov. Jan Brewer today will formally announce her intent to seek a full, four-year term in 2010, multiple sources close to the Governor's Office tell The Arizona Republic. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
Brewer -- Long-term solution to Arizona's economic woes depends on jobs
While a temporary sales tax increase would help address Arizona's budget crisis, a long-term solution will depend on attracting firms that offer high-paying jobs, Gov. Jan Brewer told business leaders Nov. 4. [Arizona Capitol Times (Phoenix)] Read More
Groups hopeful about appeal of employer sanctions
Groups trying to overturn an Arizona law that prohibits employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants are encouraged that the U.S. Supreme Court has expressed an interest in their appeal. [Arizona Capitol Times (Phoenix)] Read More
Budget losses at polls worry Valley schools
The economy apparently was on voters' minds Tuesday when they walked into Valley voting booths to address school-district spending through bonds and budget overrides. [The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)] Read More
Beebe's poll numbers strong
A new poll shows Gov. Mike Beebe's approval rating remains high, though not quite as high as it was a few months ago. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
Beebe -- Adoption ban hinders efforts to recruit parents
Gov. Mike Beebe said today he still opposes an initiated act voters approved last year banning unmarried couples from adopting or fostering children, and he thinks the law has hindered the state's ability to recruit qualified parents. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
Court: Child living with sex offender not OK
Living in the home of a sex offender can be presumed to be not in a child's best interest, the Arkansas Court of Appeals said today in a ruling overturning a judge's decision to allow a child to continue living in the same house with a man convicted of sexual abuse. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
Federal aid available to farmers in 60 counties
Farmers in 60 Arkansas counties are eligible to apply for emergency low-interest federal loans under a U.S. Agriculture Department declaration related to October flooding, Gov. Mike Beebe's office said today. [Arkansas News Bureau] Read More
California falls short in examining deaths of children
A new law aimed at exposing child deaths to public scrutiny has given Californians their most complete view yet of the toll of abuse and neglect but falls short of legislators' intent and leaves many fatalities uncounted, according to interviews and The Times' review of previously confidential records. [Los Angeles Times] Read More
At least 25 health agencies get less swine flu vaccine than state average
At least 25 public health agencies have received less than the state average of 45% of their order of H1N1 flu vaccines due to distribution problems, state officials said Wednesday. [Los Angeles Times] Read More
CalPERS discloses more fees paid to Alfred Villalobos
California's public employee pension plan disclosed millions of dollars in new fees paid to a former board member who represents private investment funds, triggering fresh calls for reforms. [Los Angeles Times] Read More
California Senate OKs school changes to seek federal funds
Senate Bill X5 1, approved by the Senate Tuesday, would make the state more likely to get a piece of the $4.35 billion in Race to the Top federal stimulus funds offered to the nation's schools. [The Sacramento Bee] Read More
Schwarzenegger has plum position to fill
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will have a plum political post to dole out after Lt. Gov. John Garamendi is sworn into Congress today, vacating the No. 2 slot in California government. [Los Angeles Times] Read More
Report faults parole system in abduction
SAN FRANCISCO — The California inspector general issued a scathing report on Wednesday on the state's handling of the parolee who has been charged with kidnapping, raping and imprisoning Jaycee Dugard for 18 years in Antioch, Calif. [The New York Times] Read More
Jaycee Dugard case elicits strong criticism from California prison watchdog
State parole agents failed to properly supervise Phillip Garrido for a decade and missed obvious clues that could have led them much earlier to Jaycee Dugard, whom he is accused of kidnapping in 1991 and harboring in his Antioch backyard, a prison watchdog reported Wednesday. [Los Angeles Times] Read More
Probe -- State missed chances to rescue Dugard
State parole agents fell down on the job again and again during the 10 years they supervised sex offender Phillip Craig Garrido, failing to check out clues that could have led to alleged kidnap victim Jaycee Dugard and going long stretches without monitoring him at all, a state investigation found Wednesday. [San Francisco Chronicle] Read More
Who replaces Garamendi?
Now that Lt. Gov. John Garamendi has won the 10th congressional district race, here's what happens next: [The Sacramento Bee] Read More
Gavin Newsom laying low - reportedly in Hawaii
After months in the public spotlight, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has vanished since he dropped out of the gubernatorial race Friday and is reportedly spending the week in Hawaii with his wife and baby daughter. [The Sacramento Bee] Read More
Schwarzenegger taps Sen. John Benoit for supervisor seat
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced this afternoon the appointment of Republican Sen. John Benoit to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. [The Sacramento Bee] Read More
California legislators strike a final water deal
Lawmakers capped months of discussions, weeks of tedious negotiations and years of chasing a water deal with approval of major legislation in a marathon session that ended Wednesday as the sun rose. [Los Angeles Times] Read More
Money for Klamath dam removal included in California water bill
A massive water bill approved by the California legislature includes $250 million dollars for removing four private dams on the Klamath River. [The Oregonian (Portland)] Read More
Maine fifth state to allow pot dispensaries
PORTLAND, Maine — Voters approved a referendum making Maine the fifth state to allow retail pot dispensaries, but medical marijuana advocates say it won't become like California, where hundreds of marijuana shops have popped up and come under critical scrutiny. [Bangor Daily News] Read More
Colorado cops feel handcuffed by medical-pot changes
Local law enforcement officers said they are flummoxed by "murky, confusing and vague" rules governing medical-marijuana production and are looking to the state legislature for clarification this January. [The Denver Post] Read More
Health insurers blame rate increases on 2-year-old Colo. law
Health-insurance companies are blaming significant rate increases this fall on a 2-year-old state law that prohibits them from charging small businesses more for having unhealthy workers. [The Denver Post] Read More
Panel proposes letting voters amend Colorado constitution to ease budget woes
A panel looking at the state's long-term budget problems recommended legislation on Wednesday to give voters the chance to overhaul the state constitution in 2012. [The Denver Post] Read More
Big ballot plans may be a "no" go in Colorado
The Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts will continue to operate in aging, asbestos-filled buildings. Aurora will close four of its seven libraries. [The Denver Post] Read More
Sticky bud, green energy get nod from Colorado ski-country voters
Things just got a whole lot greener in Colorado's high country. [Colorado Independent] Read More
Rell to call lawmakers back before February
Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Wednesday she'll likely call state legislators back to the Capitol to make further cuts to the state budget before the regular legislative session begins in February. [Waterbury Republican-American] Read More
Ned Lamont exploring run for governor
In a move that sharply changed the dynamics of the governor's race, Greenwich multimillionaire Ned Lamont announced Wednesday that he has formed a committee to explore a possible run for governor. [The Hartford Courant] Read More
Connecticut health experts discuss implications of cats' ability to catch swine flu
The H1N1 flu, a pandemic in humans, was diagnosed in an Iowa cat this week, and he's not the only domestic animal to come down with swine flu. [The Hartford Courant] Read More
AG in D.C. urging fix for land-taking rules
State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal called Wednesday for an overhaul of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs' land-annexation process. [The Day (New London)] Read More
Keep it local -- Taxes, schools, personalities occupied voters
In Connecticut, voters appeared to focus on what really mattered to them: local school spending, property taxes, land acquisition and town services. [The Hartford Courant] Read More
Strong showing in municipal elections has state GOP looking ahead
The morning after Republican candidates rumbled to victory in municipal elections around the state, the party's chairman was engaging in some end-zone celebration. [The Day (New London)] Read More
Family of woman mauled by chimp seeks to sue state for $150 million
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The family of a Connecticut woman mauled and blinded by a chimpanzee sought Wednesday to sue the state for $150 million, saying officials failed to prevent the attack. [The Hartford Courant] Read More
Del. wetlands at brunt of warming
In Bowers Beach and historic New Castle, state and local officials are planning for what many believe is inevitable: more flooding from rising sea level. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Students still shun flu vaccine
The second day of the state's school vaccination program showed that many parents continue to choose not to get their child vaccinated at school -- or at all. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Bluewater's foes now on its side
It wasn't that long ago that Bluewater Wind's main opponents were Delmarva Power and NRG Energy. But if Bluewater's offshore wind farm gets built, it may have both to thank for keeping the project afloat. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
DNREC to acquire Yorklyn plant site
Delaware has struck a deal with the owners of the bankrupt NVF Yorklyn property to create new parkland around the abandoned factory site, linking two nearby preserves and hastening a cleanup of polluted areas. [The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)] Read More
Md., other states warned about bay cleanup
BALTIMORE, Md. -- Federal officials said Wednesday they have given marching orders to Maryland and other states that drain into the Chesapeake Bay to come up with detailed plans for reducing pollution plaguing the estuary, warning that states face development shutdowns or other as-yet unstated consequences if the water fails to get cleaner. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
More friction likely in state GOP
Florida voters can expect to see more anti-President Obama "tea parties" as conservatives nationwide turn their attention to the U.S. Senate race. [The Miami Herald] Read More
NRA wants to ban adoption agencies from asking about gun ownership
MIAMI -- The NRA wants to stop adoption agencies from asking prospective parents about whether they own guns, saying the question is a violation of gun-owners' rights. [The Miami Herald] Read More
Fla. GOP -- Steele a victim of bogus 'tweets'
Brevard Republican Party Chairman Jason Steele was targeted by a fictitious Twitter account set up by a fellow party official, the Republican Party of Florida announced. [Florida Today] Read More
Florida Sen. Dan Gelber pushing for tougher public corruption laws
Citing a rash of corruption cases, a state senator is pushing for laws to combat bribery and restrict contact between the Public Service Commission and the utilities it regulates. [The Miami Herald] Read More
Fate of Sansom probe on agenda
A special House committee will decide whether to continue its investigation into former Speaker Ray Sansom. [The Miami Herald] Read More
Push begins for tougher PSC rules
Proposals emerge to force the state utility board to operate by the same ethics rules as judges. [The Miami Herald] Read More
BankUnited pins its comeback on a cheeky recruiting campaign
MIAMI -- BankUnited, back from the brink, has launched a brazen campaign to lure management talent and business from its Florida competitors. [The Miami Herald] Read More
DOC: Probation officers' jobs won't be eliminated
The Department of Corrections has corrected its budget-cutting choices, saying it never meant to eliminate jobs of more than 1,100 probation officers. [Tallahassee Democrat] Read More
Federal agents raid Rothstein's law offices
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Federal authorities turned up the heat on Fort Lauderdale lawyer Scott Rothstein as he sought to cooperate with prosecutors investigating his alleged multimillion-dollar investment scam. [The Miami Herald] Read More
Aqueduct-bid tribe in 'illegal casino' flap
NEW YORK -- The Florida Seminole tribe, which is part of a team making a play to run the potentially lucrative video lottery casino at Aqueduct, is enmeshed in a controversy in its own state, with some pols claiming they're illegally allowing gambling. [New York Post] Read More
Georgia sells $794 million in bonds
Georgia sold $793.9 million in general obligation bonds this week, netting $35 million in budget savings for fiscal 2010, Gov. Sonny Perdue's office said Wednesday. [Atlanta Business Chronicle] Read More
Budget cuts may put brakes on rural transit in Georgia
Pembroke's country charm lured Boston-area native Cindy Milloy to the east Georgia city of about 2,300 people, and kept her there even after a muscular disease left her housebound in a region so rural it lacks a regular taxi service. [Chattanooga Times Free Press] Read More
Federal officials -- September's flood 'off the charts'
If a 500-year flood is a cup of coffee, what Georgia got in September was the whole pot, the U.S. Geological Survey said Wednesday. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution] Read More
4 midstate sites on latest Places In Peril list
Four Middle Georgia historic properties made the Georgia Trust For Historic Preservation's 10 Places In Peril list released Wednesday. [The Macon Telegraph] Read More
I-75/I-575, I-285, Ga. 400, "Gwinnett Connector" toll projects proposed
As the state Department of Transportation restarts its 6-year-old program for building toll roads with private investment, the staff's priorities include projects on huge stretches of I-285, as well as parts of I-20, Ga. 400, northern I-75 and I-575, and an extension of Sugarloaf Parkway in Gwinnett County. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution] Read More
Fort Gordon undergoing $133 million in projects
The construction and renovation of Fort Gordon's aging barracks continue as the post enters its fourth year since surviving a nationwide round of military base reductions and closures. [The Augusta Chronicle] Read More
Parents of dead Spelman student plan to file suit
The parents of a Spelman College student killed by a stray bullet while walking on the Clark Atlanta University campus have announced plans to sue the university for neglecting to provide adequate security. [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution] Read More
$75M released for campus repair work at Hawaii's public schools
Gov. Linda Lingle announced today that she has released $75 million to the Department of Education for capital improvements at public schools statewide. The funds were appropriated by the Legislature this past legislative session for building and campus facility improvements, repairs and maintenance at Hawai'i public schools. [The Honolulu Advertiser] Read More
Hawaii GOP sees good omen in mainland victories
Hawaii Republicans hope the GOP victories this week in New Jersey and Virginia will buoy their own campaigns next year. [Honolulu Star-Bulletin] Read More
Judge finds state breached home lands obligations to Hawaiians
A Circuit Court judge has ruled that the state breached its fiduciary obligation to administer the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for the benefit of native Hawaiians between 1959 and 1988. [The Honolulu Advertiser] Read More
Idaho voters reject jail measures in 3 counties
Voters in three Idaho counties _ Kootenai, Jerome and Canyon _ slammed the door on measures that would have paid for proposed jails or jail expansions. [Idaho State Journal (Pocatello)] Read More
Idaho reservoirs have lots of water now, but will it last?
Southern Idaho reservoirs are heading into the winter with more water than average, but Paul Deveau doesn't want you to read too much into it. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Judge -- Tamarack group can intervene in lawsuit
A judge will let Tamarack Resort homeowners intervene in a foreclosure lawsuit against the failed Idaho vacation getaway but refused to endorse their plan to use a Mexican real-estate lender's cash to save the ski season. [The Idaho Statesman (Boise)] Read More
Rates qualify states' jobless for 20 weeks
Because Idaho and Washington have had jobless rates higher than 8.5 percent over the past three months, the unemployed in both states could qualify for six weeks of federal unemployment benefits in addition to the 14 weeks allotted to all states under a bill passed Wednesday by the Senate. [The Spokesman-Review (Spokane)] Read More
Abortion law -- Court blocks Illinois' parental notification law
In a dramatic turn of events, a Cook County Circuit Court judge halted Illinois' parental notification law on abortion just hours after a state agency gave it the all-clear. [Chicago Tribune] Read More
Illinois investigates errors in economic stimulus money used for school jobs
Gov. Patrick Quinn on Wednesday dispatched officials from a new accountability office to investigate errors in a state database detailing stimulus-funded school jobs promoted by the Obama administration, a day after the Tribune raised questions about the job numbers' accuracy. [Chicago Tribune] Read More
Illinois lawmaker sees conflict in tollway oases deal
A major Chicago-based commercial real estate company should be removed as interim operator of the Illinois tollway's oases due to a possible conflict of interest and because of campaign contributions made to ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a state legislator said Wednesday. [Chicago Tribune] Read More
Tollway gets an earful on oasis contracts at hearing
llinois senators pressured tollway officials Wednesday to explain details of contracts with the firms that operate and sell products at its oases as well as provide justifications for the system of collecting fines for missed tolls. [Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)] Read More
Madigan embraces new era of government transparency
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan Wednesday championed the new Freedom of Information Act set to take effect Jan. 1 as "the most significant reform measure passed by the legislature and signed by the governor this year" in an address at the Chicago-Kent College of Law. [Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)] Read More
Quinn meets the Illinois delegation in Washington
WASHINGTON -- Gov. Pat Quinn discussed Illinois issues over lunch with state lawmakers in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. [Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)] Read More
U. of I. waiting on millions from state
URBANA, Il. -- The University of Illinois has received only a small fraction of the $317 million it is owed by the state for this fiscal year and has effectively frozen many open positions. [Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)] Read More
GOP gubernatorial candidates to debate
The seven Republicans running for Illinois governor are squaring off in a debate. [Quad-City Times] Read More
$3.7 mil. to study O'Hare terminal airlines don't want
A perennial consultant at O'Hare Airport has been awarded a $3.7 million contract to plan for a project major airlines are refusing to fund and consider "ill-conceived": a new western terminal. [Chicago Sun-Times] Read More
State offers help during Medicare open enrollment
Illinois officials are announcing free, one-on-one counseling services to help educate Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers about available insurance options. [Quad-City Times] Read More
Survey -- NU a deal at $51,850 a year
Three Illinois universities and three liberal arts colleges are rated among the 100 best values in private higher education. [Chicago Sun-Times] Read More
Top U.S. official pushes kids health plan enrollment
The nation's top health official is in Chicago calling for new strategies to find and enroll an estimated 5 million uninsured American children who are eligible for federal programs. [Chicago Tribune] Read More
New Illinois Republican chairman wants to lay down law on attack ads
Illinois Republican Chairman Pat Brady said today that he and top party officials will call out the party's primary candidates if they believe negative advertising has "crossed the line." [Chicago Tribune] Read More
Building on Burnham's dream
Seizing upon this year's 100th anniversary of Daniel Burnham's Plan of Chicago, state legislators and open space advocates on Thursday will make public a series of steps designed to create a new legacy of parks and trails throughout the Chicago area, including new lakefront parkland. [Chicago Tribune] Read More
During GOP debate, keep Cellini, Kjellander in mind
Illinois Republicans running for governor are breaking a sweat these days, thwacking former Democratic Gov. Rod "Dead Meat" Blagojevich for corruption and ridiculous hair. [Chicago Tribune] Read More
Macoupin Co. considers giving state's attorney raise before retirement
CARLINVILLE, Ill. -- The Macoupin County Board is poised to decide Friday whether State's Attorney Vince Moreth should be given a raise as part of an agreement under which he would retire soon and save the county more than $100,000. [The State Journal-Register (Springfield)] Read More
High stakes for Indiana casinos
The state's gaming industry must adapt quickly to a new reality: competition from Ohio. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
State lawmakers unlikely to rescue mass transit
A day after voters trashed a proposal to create a Regional Transportation District, local train and bus boosters said they will continue to push for mass transit funding -- but probably not for an RTD. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
But for luck, lawmaker says, attacker would have killed him
State Rep. Ed DeLaney may owe his life to a friend and a jammed gun. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Indiana pigs get swine flu
An Indiana swine herd has tested positive for H1N1 influenza, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed this week. [Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)] Read More
School referendums' results offer no clear trend
Voters in some of this week's three Marion County school referendums delivered clear answers but not many clues for other area school administrators preparing to make their own appeals at the polls. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Ohio casino vote stirs sense of urgency in Kentucky, Indiana
Top officials in Kentucky and Indiana urged quick action Wednesday to protect their states' interests in response to Tuesday's decision by Ohio voters to authorize casino gambling. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Court reviews Iowa prosecutors' immunity
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in an Iowa case Wednesday that turns on the question of whether prosecutors should face lawsuits from people wrongly convicted of crimes. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
UIHC must cut $17M from budget
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics must eliminate at least $17 million from its budget by June 30, 2010, according to an e-mail sent to hospital staff Tuesday. [Iowa City Press-Citizen] Read More
AG -- School board complying with open meetings laws
The state attorney general's office says the Iowa City School Board is taking the right steps to comply with open meetings laws by putting its redistricting priorities to vote Tuesday. [Iowa City Press-Citizen] Read More
Sex offender database gets update in Iowa
Iowa law enforcement officials unveiled a redesigned sex offender registry database and Web site Wednesday. [Quad-City Times] Read More
4 more swine flu deaths reported in Iowa
To date, Iowa has reported 11 confirmed H1N1 deaths in the state, including ten adults and one child. [Quad-City Times] Read More
Roberts -- Reject Supreme Court justices
An Iowa Supreme Court decision that granted marriage equality for same-sex couples is a key reason why residents should reject the state's Supreme Court retention bids, Rod Roberts said in a press release this week. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Minnesota Gov. Pawlenty in Dsm Saturday
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will be in Iowa Saturday to speak at a Republican fundraiser and took a few minutes to speak with reporters via phone. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Governor race profile -- Struggles of son give Vander Plaats focus
MOUNT VERNON, Iowa -- Perhaps it's not surprising that Vander Plaats can tap a ready reservoir of perseverance as he pursues his third campaign for the Republican nomination for governor. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Justices, in aftermath of 2 murder cases, hear claims of a process gone wrong
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in two cases involving claims that the criminal justice system had gone badly awry. [The New York Times] Read More
Connecticut health experts discuss implications of cats' ability to catch swine flu
The H1N1 flu, a pandemic in humans, was diagnosed in an Iowa cat this week, and he's not the only domestic animal to come down with swine flu. [The Hartford Courant] Read More
Kansas GOP weighs in on Tuesday's national election results
The Kansas Republican Party says last night's big wins for the GOP show Americans are unconvinced by Democratic health care proposals and the economic stimulus package. [Wichita Eagle] Read More
Statehouse Live: Death penalty repeal set for debate next session; Parkinson moves away from tax increase; State GOP comments on elections
A proposal to abolish the Kansas death penalty will be considered by lawmakers during the second week of the 2010 legislative session, the committee chair said Wednesday. [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
Lawmakers plan to discuss death penalty
A proposal to abolish the Kansas death penalty will be considered by lawmakers during the second week of the 2010 legislative session, a legislator said Wednesday. [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
Kansas leaders step back from talk of tax hike to make up budget gap
State leaders Wednesday appeared to shut the door to a tax increase to contend with the continuing budget crisis. [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
State library moves outside
Visitors to the Statehouse will soon have to walk outside to check out a book at the Kansas State Library. [The Lawrence Journal-World] Read More
Ohio casino vote stirs sense of urgency in Kentucky, Indiana
Top officials in Kentucky and Indiana urged quick action Wednesday to protect their states' interests in response to Tuesday's decision by Ohio voters to authorize casino gambling. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Beshear wants slots bill by winter
Gov. Steve Beshear and some of the state's leading Democrats say Kentucky needs to pass legislation this winter to expand gambling or risk losing millions of dollars and thousands of jobs to Ohio. [Lexington Herald-Leader] Read More
Universities to request 'modest' funding increases
Leaders of Kentucky's public universities will plead for slight increases in state funding over the next two years but, at the very least, want to avoid deep cuts when federal stimulus money goes away starting in July 2011. [Lexington Herald-Leader] Read More
Paul chides rivals for skipping forum
Republican Rand Paul criticized his three chief rivals in the race for U.S. Senate for not attending a public forum for the candidates Wednesday at the University of Kentucky. [Lexington Herald-Leader] Read More
Who gets a shot?
Across the state, local health departments have varying strategies for how and when they distribute H1N1 vaccine. [Lexington Herald-Leader] Read More
Old Frankfort Pike roundabout hearing is Thursday night
Highway engineers will answer questions about the roundabout under construction at Old Frankfort Pike and Alexandria Drive at a public meeting Thursday. [Lexington Herald-Leader] Read More
Papa John's stadium to host massive H1N1 vaccine clinics; 2 more die
With swine flu being blamed for the deaths of two more Louisville residents, local health officials announced the city's first public H1N1 vaccination clinics — a massive effort they say is unprecedented in recent memory. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Another natural gas discovery in north Louisiana could rival the Haynesville Shale
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Another natural gas discovery in north Louisiana could rival the Haynesville Shale, which last year incited a gold-rush style drilling boom when it was revealed that the underground rock layer held one of the biggest gas reserves in the country. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Louisiana Tax Amnesty program raised $303 million, state says
A state tax amnesty program has pulled in $303.7 million in collections so far, more than twice the amount government officials had estimated and a boost to the state's budget woes, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Wednesday. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Coastal restoration projects demand unified effort, Louisiana leaders say
The Obama administration should quickly establish a system to coordinate hundreds of millions of dollars in anticipated federal financing for coastal restoration, Louisiana political and business leaders said Wednesday in Washington, D.C. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Agencies -- No funds for lakes projects
A $21 million plan to restore six lakes near LSU and City Park has been developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is ready to go forward, the corps project manager said. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Civil Service panel delays vote on pay plan, seeks comments
The state Civil Service Commission postponed action Wednesday on a plan that would end 4 percent annual pay raises granted to most of the state's 60,000-plus classified employees. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
LSU to aid 'genome zoo'
LSU is expected to provide much of the DNA and tissue specimens for a new international project to assemble a "genome zoo" of 10,000 vertebrate species. [The Advocate (Baton Rouge)] Read More
Wet weather delays harvest from Midwest to South
Late-season rains have delayed harvest from the Great Plains to the Deep South, frustrating farmers and raising questions about whether some in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf region would be able to stay in business after disastrous back-to-back years. [The Sun Herald (Biloxi)] Read More
Urban, rural divide defines differing views on marriage
One day after failing at the polls as the nation watched, supporters of same-sex marriage in Maine said Wednesday they were dispirited but not defeated as they vowed to continue what they regard as a civil rights fight. [Bangor Daily News] Read More
Gay rights rebuke may change approach
They had far more money and volunteers, and geography was on their side, given that New England has been more accepting of same-sex marriage than any other region of the country. [The New York Times] Read More
High emotion, beliefs drove gay-vows vote Churches crucial in victory of Yes on 1, organizer says
Craig Kramer, of South China, made phone calls and contacted friends to make sure they voted Tuesday, one of hundreds of volunteers who helped defeat gay marriage at the polls. [Kennebec Journal] Read More
Marriage form updated for gender neutrality
State officials on Wednesday lamented the unfortunate timing of an updated marriage license form sent recently to Maine municipalities that seemed to be preparing for the same-sex marriage law to be upheld. [Bangor Daily News] Read More
Swine flu hits school districts across Maine
BANGOR, Maine -- Maine schools are being hit hard and fast by the H1N1 virus. According to the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on Monday and Tuesday of this week more than 20 schools across the state reported student absentee rates of 15 percent or greater. [Bangor Daily News] Read More
Company bids for biomass contract
MILLINOCKET, Maine — Brookfield Renewable Power has bid to supply electricity to the state's utilities from a biomass boiler it hopes to install at its local paper mill, a next step among several needed to restart the mill, a company spokeswoman said Wednesday. [Bangor Daily News] Read More
What's next with reorganization of schools?
With the prospect of a repeal of the school district consolidation law now behind them, the state Department of Education and the Legislature will be faced with deciding what to do next with the controversial law. [Bangor Daily News] Read More
Maine fifth state to allow pot dispensaries
PORTLAND, Maine — Voters approved a referendum making Maine the fifth state to allow retail pot dispensaries, but medical marijuana advocates say it won't become like California, where hundreds of marijuana shops have popped up and come under critical scrutiny. [Bangor Daily News] Read More
Republicans say 'change' issue favors them
WASHINGTON — The second "change" election in a row could add fresh momentum to a heavyweight rematch in Maryland next year between Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley and his Republican predecessor, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
Free phones, airtime offered to poor Marylanders
BALTIMORE, Md. -- One of the country's largest national prepaid cell phone carriers is making free phones and 64 minutes of monthly air time available to nearly 400,000 low-income Maryland residents under a new effort it brought to the state this week. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
Md., other states warned about bay cleanup
BALTIMORE, Md. -- Federal officials said Wednesday they have given marching orders to Maryland and other states that drain into the Chesapeake Bay to come up with detailed plans for reducing pollution plaguing the estuary, warning that states face development shutdowns or other as-yet unstated consequences if the water fails to get cleaner. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
Md. tax amnesty program nets $9.6M, comptroller's office says
BALTIMORE, Md. -- The comptroller's office says Maryland's tax amnesty program has netted an estimated $9.6 million. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
Ehrlich eyes wins by GOP for 2010 run
Former Maryland governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) said that Tuesday's Republican victories in Virginia and New Jersey would figure prominently in his thinking about a possible comeback next year, and Democrats downplayed the meaning of the results for Maryland, where their party is more dominant. [The Washington Post] Read More
Republican Pappas bows out of governor's race
BALTIMORE, Md. -- Mike Pappas, the first Republican to wade into the 2010 gubernatorial contest in Maryland, is dropping out and throwing his support behind another GOP candidate, Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
NSU President Carolyn Meyers finalist for Baltimore job
NORFOLK, Va. -- Norfolk State University President Carolyn Meyers has been named one of three finalists for the top post at Morgan State University in Baltimore. [The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)] Read More
Rape treatment plan facing big budget cut
The program was 12 years in the making. Nurses and victims advocates learned that the best way to work with a person who had been raped was with a deeper sense of care than even the most sensitive emergency room could provide. [The Boston Globe] Read More
Housing sales havens
Home sales may be in the tank statewide, but more than a dozen communities in Greater Boston are bucking the trend. [Boston Herald] Read More
Dismissed agency chief continues to draw pay
The former head of the state Division of Administrative Law Appeals, forced to resign in August amid allegations of mismanagement, continues to draw $6,300 a month in consultant pay for work she failed to complete during her two-year tenure. [The Boston Globe] Read More
SJC says newborn removed too fast
In a sharply worded rebuke, the state's high court yesterday said that a judge and the state Department of Children and Families moved too fast to remove a newborn from a Western Massachusetts mother who had already lost custody of two older children because they were not being properly cared for. [The Boston Globe] Read More
State slashes school bus aid
CAPE COD, Mass -- Regional schools on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard are facing deep reductions in money for student busing under Gov. Deval Patrick's most recent budget cuts. [Cape Cod Times] Read More
Historic wins for black, Latino and female mayors
Minority candidates made history in Massachusetts mayoral elections Tuesday, while it was a mixed result for many long-term incumbents. [Boston Herald] Read More
Report -- State must step up fight against overdoses
Tamper-proof prescription pads, jail diversion programs and school-based drug counselors are some of the steps Massachusetts should adopt to stem OxyContin and heroin overdoses, according to a new report. [Boston Herald] Read More
Critics say safety fixes should trump Deval Patrick's MBTA expansion projects
Gov. Deval Patrick's vow to continue more than $2 billion in MBTA expansion projects despite a blistering report ripping the T as unsafe and fiscally unstable makes little sense, analysts said. [Boston Herald] Read More
Be on beetle lookout
New Hampshire officials hope homeowners will check to see if the destructive Asian longhorned beetle has crossed state lines from Massachusetts and set up residence in their trees. [Concord Monitor] Read More
More help nears for 100,000 jobless
WASHINGTON -- With a key vote Wednesday, the U.S. Senate passed without dissent legislation to extend jobless benefits by 14 weeks or more to out-of-work people -- including at least 100,000 Michiganders -- who have exhausted their unemployment or would by year's end. [Detroit Free Press] Read More
Michigan caseworkers afraid for lives due to delays in state aid
State social workers struggling with mounting welfare, food stamp and Medicaid caseloads said today they fear for their lives after being assaulted or threatened by recipients frustrated by delays in state aid. [The Detroit News] Read More
Funding question keeps 55 state troopers idled
The 55 laid-off State Police troopers who were to return to work next week under terms of the recently passed budget have been told not to report until state officials get a better handle on tax collections, aides to Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Wednesday. [The Detroit News] Read More
Democrats, GOP spin Mike Nofs' win in 19th District
Republican and Democratic party leaders had vastly different takes on the significance of Tuesday's lopsided victory for the GOP in the state Senate race in the 19th District, which includes all of Calhoun County and most of Jackson County. [The Detroit News] Read More
Court -- Sex offender registry law is cruel to young lovers
Calling the punishment constitutionally cruel and unusual, a state appeals court panel Wednesday ordered removal from the state's sex offender registry the name of a man who, at 18, had consensual sexual relations with his not-quite 15-year-old girlfriend in 2004. [Detroit Free Press] Read More
Welfare workers say they're overwhelmed by growing need
State welfare workers are threatened by angry clients and struggle with lax security, troublesome computers and inadequate phone systems, a House committee was told Wednesday. [Detroit Free Press] Read More
Andy Levin named to expanded role as Michigan chief workforce officer
Gov. Jennifer Granholm has given state workforce point person Andy Levin a broader and more prominent role as the state's chief workforce officer. [Crain's Detroit Business] Read More
State officials trying to find revenue to fund tourism promotion
The new proposal drops a car rental fee and but continues to rely on the capture of new tourism-generated sales and use tax revenue. [Crain's Detroit Business] Read More
Michigan should go for nuclear jobs
DETROIT -- Michigan needs to get on the nuclear power train because it's getting ready to leave the station -- and take the jobs with it. [The Detroit News] Read More
Election judges take matters in hand to determine close races
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Though sometimes called instant-runoff voting, it's anything but. Votes are being counted by hand in cases where no one won 50 percent plus one vote. [Minneapolis Star Tribune] Read More
H1N1 cases may have peaked in Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- With big drops in outbreaks and hospitalizations, state officials see signs the epidemic could be waning. [Minneapolis Star Tribune] Read More
Flu shots may come to Minnesota schools, other public places
Coordinated flu shot clinics are being planned in Minnesota schools and public buildings this month to counter the threat of H1N1, which sent 182 people to hospitals last week and contributed to at least three more deaths. [St. Paul Pioneer Press] Read More
Ranked-choice voting opponents have day in court
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- A group opposing ranked-choice voting has alleged that the group that pushed for the new voting system in St. Paul used deceptive campaign practices. [Minneapolis Star Tribune] Read More
Somewhere, the next Jesse Ventura might be waiting
While a large pack of Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates has roamed across Minnesota for months clamoring for attention, the state's third and smallest "major party," the Independence Party, has yet to field a single credible contender. [St. Paul Pioneer Press] Read More
Human trafficking is subject of new ad campaign
Passers-by in St. Paul may notice a new ad campaign, "Hidden in Plain Sight," an effort by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to draw the public's attention to human trafficking in the United States. There are 12 posters at bus shelters throughout St. Paul. [St. Paul Pioneer Press] Read More
Minnesota's seat belt push raises belt use, lowers deaths
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- More than 10,000 citations were given during enforcement campaign. [Minneapolis Star Tribune] Read More
Saving the ash tree, seed by seed
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Most of Minnesota's ash trees seem doomed, but the rush is on to preserve their seeds in hopes of saving the species. [Minneapolis Star Tribune] Read More
Minnesota charities spreading the word
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- In a tight economy, many foundations have found that public advocacy is as critical as the services they provide. [Minneapolis Star Tribune] Read More
Minnesota Gov. Pawlenty in Dsm Saturday
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will be in Iowa Saturday to speak at a Republican fundraiser and took a few minutes to speak with reporters via phone. [The Des Moines Register] Read More
Wet weather delays harvest from Midwest to South
Late-season rains have delayed harvest from the Great Plains to the Deep South, frustrating farmers and raising questions about whether some in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf region would be able to stay in business after disastrous back-to-back years. [The Sun Herald (Biloxi)] Read More
Two students show mild reaction to swine flu shots
CALEDONIA, Miss. -- Two Caledonia High School students had mild allergic reactions after receiving swine flu shots Wednesday. [The Daily Journal (Tupelo)] Read More
Missouri is now collecting taxes from yoga classes
Is yoga karmic or commercial? [Kansas City Star] Read More
MU's grade improves on sexual health report card
The University of Missouri jumped 16 spots this year in a survey that evaluates the campus' focus on sexual health education. [Columbia Daily Tribune] Read More
Ideas flow at summit on DWI
Persistent drunken drivers would have their cars seized and it would be a crime to refuse to take a DWI breath test if panelists assembled by the governor have their way. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch] Read More
Montana taxes income of working poor more harshly than any state, report says
Montana taxes the incomes of the working poor harsher than any state, a report Wednesday said. [Missoulian] Read More
State tax revenue far lower than projected, report says
State tax collections for the first four months of this budget year not only lagged those from the same period last year, but also trail what the 2009 Legislature forecast for this year, a legislative report issued Wednesday said. [Missoulian] Read More
MSU enrolls 450 more students than expected, gains $2.5M in tuition
BOZEMAN, Mont. - About 450 more students enrolled at Montana State University's Bozeman campus this year than expected, and that's providing the school with a $2.5 million windfall. [Missoulian] Read More
Montana Supreme Court rules against injured workers in multimillion-dollar case
The Montana Supreme Court Tuesday upheld a state law cutting off workers' compensation benefits for injured, disabled workers at retirement age. [Missoulian] Read More
Officials -- State highways to worsen without funding
Expect the state highways to get worse -- bumpier, more patches, worn shoulders -- unless state leaders figure out how to raise more money for maintenance, state senators were told Wednesday. [Lincoln Journal Star] Read More
Nebraskans eager to trim budget
Any Nebraskans worth their corn husks will tell you who needs to start at quarterback for the Husker football team. And they're full of ideas on how to wrest the state out of its sticky, $334 million budget problem, judging from e-mails sent to reporters and to a state senator's Web site. [Omaha World-Herald] Read More
Special session to cut Nebraska budget begins
The Legislature started its budget-cutting special session Wednesday with one new senator and seven bills designed to deal with a $334 million shortfall in the $6.9 billion, two-year state budget. [Lincoln Journal Star] Read More
Ex-UNMC student sues college
A former University of Nebraska Medical Center student is suing the NU Board of Regents, the med center and a number of its officials for discriminating against him because of his acute depression. [Lincoln Journal Star] Read More
$2.3 million or $800,000 the question in court
A voter initiative that fundamentally altered medical malpractice litigation in Nevada was the basis of an appeal heard last week by a panel of Nevada Supreme Court justices. [Las Vegas Review-Journal] Read More
Flu vaccines starting to arrive
State health officials say Nevada now has received about 200,000 doses of swine flu vaccine. [Nevada Appeal (Carson City)] Read More
Plates honor fallen soldiers
Gov. Jim Gibbons on Monday will present the state's first Gold Star license plates to the parents of two soldiers killed in action in Iraq. [Nevada Appeal (Carson City)] Read More
In face of bankrupt trust funds, Virginia cuts unemployment benefits, Nevada weighs options
Unemployment insurance trust funds in Nevada and Virginia have gone belly up. [ProPublica] Read More
Legislature won't furlough workers
House Speaker Terie Norelli says the legislative branch won't need to lay off or furlough any workers to comply with a mandate to save money. [Concord Monitor] Read More
Schools brace for substitute shortage
With flu spreading and absentee lists growing at many New Hampshire schools, some officials are beginning to worry that they could end up with a shortage of substitutes if too many classroom teachers get sick. [The Union Leader (Manchester)] Read More
Anthem warns of security breach
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is warning 10,000 New Hampshire physicians, dentists and other providers that their Social Security numbers may have been stolen. [Concord Monitor] Read More
Property values down 6 percent
The value of property in Concord is down more than 6 percent this year, according to the city assessor's office, which released assessment figures yesterday. [Concord Monitor] Read More
Home heating oil prices are lower
New Hampshire officials say the price of home heating oil is down about 14 percent per gallon from where it was last year. [Concord Monitor] Read More
Be on beetle lookout
New Hampshire officials hope homeowners will check to see if the destructive Asian longhorned beetle has crossed state lines from Massachusetts and set up residence in their trees. [Concord Monitor] Read More
GOP -- Christie election a sign to drop health care, climate initiatives
Chris Christie's defeat of Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine in New Jersey was a sign voters want Congress to drop controversial health care and climate change bills and focus instead on the economy, Republicans in Washington argued Wednesday. [The Record of Bergen County] Read More
Christie urges bipartisanship
A day after becoming the first Republican in a dozen years to capture the Statehouse, Governor-elect Chris Christie on Wednesday went to the Democratic bastion of Newark and urged bipartisanship after a divisive campaign. [The Record of Bergen County] Read More
Christie sets sights on property taxes
Chris Christie said he will lower New Jersey's notoriously high property taxes, not with a "silver bullet," but by following the deliberate approach voters approved — a mix of spending checks and more shared services. [The Record of Bergen County] Read More
Inability to lower taxes helped cost Gov. Corzine his job
TOMS RIVER, N.J. -- In the end, Republican Chris Christie was propelled into the New Jersey governorship by the same force that pushed him so far ahead in early polls in the year-long campaign: angry, widespread resentment over the state's finances, especially the property taxes that incumbent Jon S. Corzine was elected promising to cut. [The Washington Post] Read More
Daggett loss accents two-party dominance
As Chris Daggett supporters washed away defeat with drinks and good cheer in the post-concession hours Tuesday night, two Rutgers student volunteers sat at a table inside the campaign's Dolce Hotel headquarters in Basking Ridge, N.J., pondering the big picture. [The Philadelphia Inquirer] Read More
Christie pledges fight on taxes and business rules
Governor-elect Christopher J. Christie of New Jersey, basking in praise from Republicans who hailed him as the party's new star, said Wednesday that he would move quickly to suspend new regulations on business and find ways to lower crushing property taxes, the nation's highest. [The New York Times] Read More
How Corzine failed to connect
In many ways, it seemed like a perfect fit. Jon S. Corzine, one of the most liberal members of the U.S. Senate, came to Trenton in 2006 to lead one of the most liberal states in the nation. [The Philadelphia Inquirer] Read More
Election upsets alter political landscape
It was politics as usual in many local and legislative races as incumbents prevailed, but challengers' victories in Hopewell Township, Trenton, Lawrence and Hopewell Borough could lead to some serious shake-ups. [The Star-Ledger (Newark)] Read More
A capital idea for a party
It may seem like arcane trivia to some, but this year, it's reason to party. [The Star-Ledger (Newark)] Read More
Corzine's reelection bid nearly abandoned as White House concerns grew
It was the great urban legend of the campaign: With the White House worried, a frustrated Governor Corzine was having second thoughts and came close to aborting his re-election bid. [The Record of Bergen County] Read More
Democrats to use election to push agenda in Congress
WASHINGTON — Blaming election setbacks on a drop in voter enthusiasm, Congressional Democrats said Wednesday that losses in governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey — and a striking House win in New York — should give new urgency to their legislative agenda, including a sweeping health care overhaul. [The New York Times] Read More
As GOP celebrates wins, internal ideological battles remain
A rebounding Republican Party is savoring victories in two states that President Obama won last year, but as it tries to build momentum toward what GOP Chairman Michael S. Steele called a "Republican renaissance," it faces troubling ideological fissures within its ranks over how best to reclaim power. [The Washington Post] Read More
Energized G.O.P. looking to avoid an intraparty feud
WASHINGTON — Republicans emerged from Tuesday's elections energized by victories in Virginia and New Jersey, but their leaders immediately began maneuvering to avoid a prolonged battle with conservative activists over what the party stands for and how to regain power. [The New York Times] Read More
Republican victories in Va., N.J. hinged on economic worries
Voters worried about jobs and the shaky economy helped drive Republican gubernatorial victories in Virginia and New Jersey, according to exit polls, adding political urgency to Democratic efforts to combat the nation's surging unemployment rate. [The Washington Post] Read More
Ehrlich eyes wins by GOP for 2010 run
Former Maryland governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) said that Tuesday's Republican victories in Virginia and New Jersey would figure prominently in his thinking about a possible comeback next year, and Democrats downplayed the meaning of the results for Maryland, where their party is more dominant. [The Washington Post] Read More
GOP targets Denish on stimulus funds
State Republicans on Wednesday attacked Lt. Gov. Diane Denish for using thousands of dollars in federal funds to hire public information officers who were paid not only for organizing news conferences and writing news releases and speeches, but for working on Christmas cards, driving Denish to meetings and picking her up at the airport. [Santa Fe New Mexican] Read More
PRC polls workers on ethics issues
One of state government's most scandal-ridden agencies recently asked employees to fill out an ethics survey as part of an "ongoing self examination as an agency." [Santa Fe New Mexican] Read More
Denish, running for governor, steps into budgetary fray
Anyone interpreting Republican victories in New Jersey and Virginia's governor's races Tuesday as a harbinger of a GOP upset next year in New Mexico, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has a ready reply. [New Mexico Independent] Read More
Cuomo files Intel antitrust suit
In 2005, Michael S. Dell's namesake company was getting pounded. His competitors were selling personal computers and servers built on cheap, popular and powerful chips from Advanced Micro Devices, while Mr. Dell had stuck loyally with slower chips from Intel. [The New York Times] Read More
The higher cost of higher ed
An elite group in higher education just got a bit more crowded -- the $50,000 club. [Times Union (Albany)] Read More
Cuomo targets Intel for global 'campaign of illegal conduct'
The Attorney General charges the world's largest chip-fab with engaging in broad-based bribery and coercion to maintain its market position in a new antitrust lawsuit. [Times Union (Albany)] Read More
In surprise move, casino magnate abandons bid for aqueduct racetrack
Stephen A. Wynn, the Las Vegas gambling impresario, on Wednesday dropped out of the bidding to revive the Aqueduct racetrack in Queens with 4,500 electronic slot machines, just two days before competing operators were to deliver their final offers for the complex. [The New York Times] Read More
Aqueduct-bid tribe in 'illegal casino' flap
NEW YORK -- The Florida Seminole tribe, which is part of a team making a play to run the potentially lucrative video lottery casino at Aqueduct, is enmeshed in a controversy in its own state, with some pols claiming they're illegally allowing gambling. [New York Post] Read More
Public gets more time to comment on New York's gas drilling plans
Responding to calls from politicians, environmentalists and concerned residents, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced Wednesday that it has extended the public comment period for an environmental review of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. [ProPublica] Read More
Does Chesapeake's no-drilling pledge do enough to protect NYC's watershed?
Last week, the largest natural gas lease holder in New York state issued two slightly different messages about its plans for drilling in the watershed that provides 90 percent of New York City's drinking water. [ProPublica] Read More
Some N.Y. voters uncomfortable with new system
Change isn't always easy, and that came through this week in the comments of voters who marked paper ballots and scanned them into machines, rather than the old-fashioned way of pulling mechanical levers, election officials said. [Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester)] Read More
Election results a warning for incumbents heading into 2010
Voters on Tuesday elected Republican challengers in many county races across the state, a sign of widespread displeasure with high taxes in the suburbs and an anti-incumbent backlash, political leaders and experts said. [Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester)] Read More
Toxic site headed for Superfund list
NASSAU, N.Y. -- State officials have nominated the 57-year-old Dewey Loeffel toxic dump site for placement on the EPA Superfund list. [Times Union (Albany)] Read More
Md., other states warned about bay cleanup
BALTIMORE, Md. -- Federal officials said Wednesday they have given marching orders to Maryland and other states that drain into the Chesapeake Bay to come up with detailed plans for reducing pollution plaguing the estuary, warning that states face development shutdowns or other as-yet unstated consequences if the water fails to get cleaner. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
Senate majority leader to quit
Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, one of North Carolina's most powerful and colorful lawmakers, announced Wednesday that he is resigning from the legislature. [The News & Observer (Raleigh)] Read More
N.C. has 2 up for Court of Appeals
WASHINGTON -- The nomination of two North Carolina judges to the nation's second-highest court could further a leftward push by President Barack Obama in shaping the federal judicial system. The confirmations also would give North Carolina the sort of heft on the court sought for years by the state's legal community and its senators in Washington. [The News & Observer (Raleigh)] Read More
DAs lobby for psych beds
North Carolina's prosecutors say they are increasingly concerned about the erosion of state services for people with mental illness who are accused of crimes. [The News & Observer (Raleigh)] Read More
Biomass waste gets own Web site
A Web site launched by North Carolina state government seeks to match companies looking to get rid of tubs of oil and tons of wood chips with companies that can turn them into something else. [The News & Observer (Raleigh)] Read More
Former legislator's conviction upheld
North Carolina appellate judges have upheld the conviction of former state Rep. Thomas Wright on three counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. [The Winston-Salem Journal] Read More
Sen. Hagan drops backing for judge
GREENSBORO, N.C. — A state judge ruled in favor of a company that includes U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan's husband a week after she recommended that judge for a possible lifetime federal appointment. [The News & Record (Greensboro)] Read More
N.D. ranks fourth in nation in CRP acres
Only three states have more land than North Dakota enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program, set up two decades ago to pay farmers competitive rentals to put, generally, erodible land into grass for environmental reasons as well as to lower crop production, thus putting upward pressure on crop prices. [Grand Forks Herald] Read More
H1N1 -- North Dakota reports more than 2,400 flu cases
State health officials are reporting 2,475 confirmed cases of the flu in North Dakota, up nearly 900 from last week. [Grand Forks Herald] Read More
CEO -- Utilities must join climate-change debate
The chief executive of a North Dakota-based electric power cooperative says utilities must be engaged in the climate-change debate and use their unified voice. [Grand Forks Herald] Read More
$1M in requests for child care grants
MINOT, N.D. -- State officials say a new state grant program has $250,000 for child care facilities but its requests total more than $1 million. [The Bismarck Tribune] Read More
Ohio casino vote stirs sense of urgency in Kentucky, Indiana
Top officials in Kentucky and Indiana urged quick action Wednesday to protect their states' interests in response to Tuesday's decision by Ohio voters to authorize casino gambling. [The Courier-Journal (Louisville)] Read More
Casino foes vow to continue fight
Developers of a Columbus casino approved in Tuesday's election pledged yesterday to win over skeptics with a first-class facility, even as calls increased for another ballot issue next year to "fix" the proposal. [The Columbus Dispatch] Read More
Issue 3 backers promise to open all four casinos within three years
Now that Dan Gilbert and a Pennsylvania gambling company have won the lucrative sweepstakes for exclusive rights to build four casinos in Ohio, when exactly will they build them? [The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)] Read More
Ohio ponders a future with casinos
Developers of four new Ohio casinos laid their plans following voters' approval of casino gambling, even as opponents vowed to stymie their efforts and surrounding states braced for economic losses. [The Wall Street Journal] Read More
Analysis -- Casinos finally hit payoff
By spending $50 million -- or about $30 per "yes" vote -- backers of Issue 3 financed a top-shelf campaign to persuade Ohio voters by a margin of 53 percent to 47 percent to amend the state constitution and permit four casinos to operate in the state. [The Columbus Dispatch] Read More
Ohio's voter turnout rebounds
With a hotly contested casino issue and two other statewide issues on Tuesday's ballot, more than 40 percent of registered Ohio voters cast ballots, unofficial results show. [The Columbus Dispatch] Read More
Ohio schools didn't fare badly
Statewide, voters approved 59 percent of 175 tax requests for school operations and construction, virtually identical to the 58 percent approval rate in November elections during the past decade, the Ohio Department of Education said. [The Columbus Dispatch] Read More
Ohio voters approve 81% of library levies
In Tuesday's election, Ohioans in most cases did what Gov. Ted Strickland and state lawmakers would not do -- support local libraries, mental health-related services and public children's agencies. [The Columbus Dispatch] Read More
Vets' bonuses about year away
Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan and the surviving families of those who died shouldn't expect to receive the one-time bonuses Ohio voters approved for them Tuesday for at least a year. [The Cincinnati Enquirer] Read More
Report says federal climate-change bill would create thousands of jobs in Ohio, but opponents say jobs actually might disappear
CLEVELAND -- Saving the global climate can resurrect U.S. manufacturing and create close to a million jobs, claims a new report issued by an alliance of organized labor and environmental groups. [The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)] Read More
Regulators want details of FirstEnergy Corp.'s new bulb program
CLEVELAND -- Regulators on Wednesday ordered FirstEnergy Corp. to develop a comprehensive program by the end of the month to distribute its 4.75 million compact fluorescent light bulbs. [The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)] Read More
High stakes for Indiana casinos
The state's gaming industry must adapt quickly to a new reality: competition from Ohio. [The Indianapolis Star] Read More
Oklahoma defends its handling of $2.8B in stimulus funds
Oklahoma correctly accepted and spent its federal stimulus funds, an assistant attorney general said Wednesday in arguing against a lawsuit that claimed Oklahoma officials acted wrongly. [The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)] Read More
Oklahoma lawmaker criticizes DHS raises
A legislator criticized the state agency that cut funding for some of the senior nutrition programs for giving raises to top administrators. But a spokeswoman for the Department of Human Services said the raises were adjusted the last 18 months for all employees in the sprawling agency. [The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)] Read More
Senior meals supporters crowd Oklahoma's Capitol
Concerned that thousands of older Oklahomans are going without a meal, about 400 showed up Wednesday at the state Capitol to urge state leaders to restore $7.4 million in funding cuts to senior nutrition programs. [The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)] Read More
Oregon index shows recession nearing end
"I think the recession is over," said Tim Duy, gazing past his young daughter Wednesday into sparkling waves off Hawaii. The University of Oregon economist formed his opinion not from some vacation mirage, but from a monthly index he compiles back in Eugene. [The Oregonian (Portland)] Read More
Deadly foam off NW coast subsides, but more than 10,000 seabirds die
The deadly foam that clobbered seabirds in the Pacific Northwest has subsided and several hundred birds rescued from the slime are being released. But the death toll worries conservationists. [The Oregonian (Portland)] Read More
Money for Klamath dam removal included in California water bill
A massive water bill approved by the California legislature includes $250 million dollars for removing four private dams on the Klamath River. [The Oregonian (Portland)] Read More
DHS issues health warning about Nye Beach
NEWPORT, Ore. -- The Oregon Department of Human Services is advising beach goers to avoid the water at Nye Beach, where tests for fecal bacteria have far exceeded normal limits. [The Oregonian (Portland)] Read More
Republicans have reason to crow about Tuesday
Was it only a year ago that, on the day after an election, Republican State Chairman Robert A. Gleason Jr. said he had never felt so glum about GOP prospects in Pennsylvania? [The Philadelphia Inquirer] Read More
GOP had a good day in Pennsylvania
Republican candidates' robust showings across Pennsylvania Tuesday raised GOP hopes for the next year's state and congressional elections. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette] Read More
Election trends seem to favor Republicans, but sample very small
While Democrats and Republicans sought to spin the results of Tuesday's elections in their favor, political observers say the results of races across Pennsylvania and the country show an electorate fed up with the status quo. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review] Read More
Women begin to dominate state appellate courts
She faced a 1.2 million voter registration deficit and snared significantly less in campaign contributions than her opponent. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review] Read More
Pa. court voids verdict against paper
The state Supreme Court said yesterday that it was sufficiently troubled by the role two former judges at the center of a juvenile justice scandal played in a defamation case that it was overturning a $3.5 million verdict against a northeastern Pennsylvania newspaper. A new trial was ordered. [The Philadelphia Inquirer] Read More
State to tell township of any SMS violations
Residents living near a steel coating plant in Upper Nazareth Township and local officials Wednesday struggled to accurately understand the state of operations and compliance at the site, cited dozens of times during the past eight years for violating state environmental rules. [The Morning Call] Read More
Md., other states warned about bay cleanup
BALTIMORE, Md. -- Federal officials said Wednesday they have given marching orders to Maryland and other states that drain into the Chesapeake Bay to come up with detailed plans for reducing pollution plaguing the estuary, warning that states face development shutdowns or other as-yet unstated consequences if the water fails to get cleaner. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
Economist -- R.I. recovery will lag
The end of the "Great Recession" is in sight, but economic recovery in Rhode Island will lag behind its New England neighbors and the rest of the nation in the coming months, according to Andres Carbacho-Burgos, an economist with Moody's Economy.com. [The Providence Journal] Read More
24/7 slots coming to Twin River
With the state hungry for new revenue in a grim economy, Lottery Director Gerald Aubin has — with Governor Carcieri's blessings — approved 24-hour gambling seven days a week at the Twin River greyhound track and slot parlor. [The Providence Journal] Read More
Swine flu in R.I.: It's hand-to-hand combat in the war on germs
Chantel Abreu sits behind a counter in the collector's office at Providence City Hall, greets coughing and sneezing taxpayers and handles the documents they pass her with their germy hands. [The Providence Journal] Read More
Hasbro Children's Hospital reports seeing record numbers in ER
The emergency room at Hasbro Children's Hospital has seen record-breaking numbers of children in recent days, nearly double the number seen earlier this year. [The Providence Journal] Read More
Details to be kept quiet
Politicians and other state officials privately crafted a $450 million incentive deal to land Boeing Co. on the promise of thousands of jobs and a multibillion-dollar economic impact, but the details of that deal could be kept from public view for the next year. [The Post and Courier (Charleston)] Read More
Barrett presses rivals on detainee issue
U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett found out Wednesday his Republican rivals for governor are willing to disagree even when they agree on an issue - housing terrorism suspects in Charleston. [The State (Columbia)] Read More
Ethics Commission awaits response from Gov. Mark Sanford
State Ethics Commission officials are waiting on a response from Gov. Mark Sanford before wrapping up their investigation of the governor, an official said Wednesday. [The Greenville News] Read More
New Medicaid pharmacy progam saving money, DHEC says
A new program that limits Medicaid beneficiaries to one pharmacy has saved the state more than $320,000 this year in prescription drugs and other health-related costs, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. [The Greenville News] Read More
21 indicted in probe of cockfights
Twenty one people have been indicted for participating in cockfighting derbies in Lexington and Williamsburg counties, where undercover officers witnessed gambling and dead birds getting tossed into 55-gallon barrels. [The State (Columbia)] Read More
State witnesses analyze protections for resources along pipeline route
State geologist Derric Iles testified Wednesday that TransCanada's proposed XL pipeline would cross sensitive areas for fossils along its path through western South Dakota, but there's no way to know if fossils actually will be encountered during construction. [Capital Journal (Pierre)] Read More
18 more miles of road created through Fort Pierre grasslands
FORT PIERRE, S.D. — User-created roads in the grasslands have been a clear sign of what some people in the area have wanted. [Capital Journal (Pierre)] Read More
New cycle permit proposed for Custer park
The state parks division is proposing a special motorcycle permit to get into Custer State Park during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally each August. [Rapid City Journal] Read More
U.S. takes back $190 million in Tennessee road funds
After sending Tennessee $500 million in economic recovery money to fast-track scores of highway projects earlier this year, the federal government has rescinded $190 million from its regular transportation funding to the state. [The Tennessean (Nashville)] Read More
TN legislators may scrap $70M biofuels project
State lawmakers say they might pull the plug on a University of Tennessee effort to produce ethanol from switchgrass, after school officials said it has changed business partners, scaled down production and now plans to start out using corncobs, not switchgrass. [The Tennessean (Nashville)] Read More
Nashville sued in convention center eminent domain case
Tower Investments, which owns a key site for the proposed downtown convention center, sued a Metro agency Wednesday for refusing to share records of appraisals it's using to acquire the property. [The Tennessean (Nashville)] Read More
Blasts begin at rock slide site
HARMON DEN, N.C. -- The highway department has said it will take at least four months to get two lanes open using the eastbound side of the interstate. [Knoxville News Sentinel] Read More
Bredesen OK'd $10K for slaying info, but DA didn't announce for 3 weeks
An announcement that the governor had approved a $10,000 reward for information in the slaying of an East Knox County shopkeeper sat neglected for more than three weeks in the Knox County District Attorney's General office. [Knoxville News Sentinel] Read More
TWRA investigates man's death on Cherokee Lake
BEAN STATION, Tenn. — The body of a 60-year-old man was pulled from Cherokee Lake on Wednesday and authorities are trying to determine how he died, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. [Knoxville News Sentinel] Read More
Study -- Texas' teacher merit pay program hasn't boosted student performance
For the $300 million spent on merit pay for teachers over the last three years, Texas was hoping for a big boost in student achievement. But it didn't happen with the now-defunct program, according to experts hired by the state. [The Dallas Morning News] Read More
Texans tweak their constitution, yet again
For the 467th time, Texans voted on Tuesday to modify the state's constitution, approving 11 changes on issues including beach access, property rights and university finances. But that doesn't mean all the voters were quite sure what they were approving. [The Wall Street Journal] Read More
Texas setting aside 20 percent of swine flu doses for county health departments
The state health department is significantly changing the way it distributes swine flu vaccine, giving more control of vaccine supplies to local health departments under a plan announced Wednesday. [The Dallas Morning News] Read More
Food stamp workers share frustrations
When the new head of the agency responsible for the state's backlogged food stamp applications sent an e-mail to employees asking for feedback about the agency, he got it. [The Austin American-Statesman] Read More
Senator -- No fed money for US-China wind project
WASHINGTON — A Democratic senator is calling on the Obama administration to reject an expected request for federal economic stimulus money as part of a $1.5 billion West Texas wind energy project because he says it will generate Chinese, not American, jobs. [The Houston Chronicle] Read More
UH poised to raise admission standards
The University of Houston moved Wednesday to raise its admission standards, one day after voters approved a measure to boost the stature of the university and several other Texas schools. [The Houston Chronicle] Read More
State agencies warned to pinch pennies
Legislative budget leaders issued a broad warning to state agencies to pinch pennies in light of the larger-than-forecast revenue shortfall that seems to be emerging from the latest tax collection data. [The Salt Lake Tribune] Read More
Shurtleff drops out of U.S. Senate race
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff stunned Utah politicians Wednesday by abruptly dropping out of the U.S. Senate race, saying he needs time to work with his daughter who is struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. [The Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)] Read More
Herbert names influential Dem as senior adviser
Gov. Gary Herbert says he's had enough with the bickering and incivility and relentless contentiousness suffocating debate over Utah's land and energy resource use. [The Salt Lake Tribune] Read More
State student enrollment up 12,260 kids from last year
One look at Kaysville Junior High School's hallways between classes brings the word "sardines" to mind. [The Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)] Read More
Plan moves teacher retirement expenses
Treasurer Jeb Spaulding outlined a plan Wednesday to move a portion of the expenses of the teacher retirement system to school districts. [Burlington Free Press] Read More
State postpones hearing on closed slaughterhouse
The state Agriculture, Food and Markets Agency on Wednesday postponed a hearing set for today on its decision to pull the commercial license of a Grand Isle slaughterhouse under attack for alleged mistreatment of young male calves. [Burlington Free Press] Read More
McDonnell announces transition committee
In his first day as governor-elect, Bob McDonnell yesterday announced his transition committee leaders, including Tom Farrell, chairman and CEO of the state's largest utility, Dominion Resources. [Richmond Times-Dispatch] Read More
McDonnell plans transition, says Obama called him
Hours after his landslide election victory, sleep-deprived Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell on Wednesday fielded congratulatory phone calls from well-wishers including President Barack Obama before meeting with a horde of reporters wanting to know his transition plans and what the Republican dominance on election night portends. [The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)] Read More
McDonnell team rose to challenge in darkest hour
In a 15-hour RV swing through Northern Virginia in late August, there wasn't really time for Robert F. McDonnell, the Republican candidate for governor, to stop along a residential street in West Springfield. [The Washington Post] Read More
Va. Republicans pledge to steer toward center
RICHMOND, Va. -- Despite winning the governor's race by a 17-percentage point blowout, Virginia Republicans insisted Wednesday that they had gained no broad mandate and would make their top priority the pragmatic platform that drove voters to the polls. [The Washington Post] Read More
EPA sets tough interim rule for bay cleanup
States that contribute pollution to the Chesapeake Bay must have controls in place by 2017 to reduce that pollution 60 percent, federal officials say. [Richmond Times-Dispatch] Read More
GOP comes back in North Virginia
FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- When Charlie Ambrus was asked why he, as a lifelong Democrat and enthusiastic Obama voter, stumped for a Republican candidate for the state legislature this fall, he answered simply: "She came to my door." [The Wall Street Journal] Read More
Gene Walters, longtime supermarket executive, dies at 86
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- For years, Gene Walters was one of the most widely recognized faces in Hampton Roads. He was in TV commercials all the time, always urging customers to "tell a friend" about shopping at Farm Fresh grocery stores. [The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)] Read More
Va. residents can get help with heating bills
Dominion's EnergyShare program is accepting applications from people who need financial help to stay warm during the winter. [The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)] Read More
27-year-old Chesapeake mother dies of swine flu
CHESAPEAKE, Va. -- Angela Mefford's cough early last week seemed run-of-the-mill. [The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)] Read More
NSU President Carolyn Meyers finalist for Baltimore job
NORFOLK, Va. -- Norfolk State University President Carolyn Meyers has been named one of three finalists for the top post at Morgan State University in Baltimore. [The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)] Read More
Ehrlich eyes wins by GOP for 2010 run
Former Maryland governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) said that Tuesday's Republican victories in Virginia and New Jersey would figure prominently in his thinking about a possible comeback next year, and Democrats downplayed the meaning of the results for Maryland, where their party is more dominant. [The Washington Post] Read More
Md., other states warned about bay cleanup
BALTIMORE, Md. -- Federal officials said Wednesday they have given marching orders to Maryland and other states that drain into the Chesapeake Bay to come up with detailed plans for reducing pollution plaguing the estuary, warning that states face development shutdowns or other as-yet unstated consequences if the water fails to get cleaner. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
Republican victories in Va., N.J. hinged on economic worries
Voters worried about jobs and the shaky economy helped drive Republican gubernatorial victories in Virginia and New Jersey, according to exit polls, adding political urgency to Democratic efforts to combat the nation's surging unemployment rate. [The Washington Post] Read More
In face of bankrupt trust funds, Virginia cuts unemployment benefits, Nevada weighs options
Unemployment insurance trust funds in Nevada and Virginia have gone belly up. [ProPublica] Read More
As GOP celebrates wins, internal ideological battles remain
A rebounding Republican Party is savoring victories in two states that President Obama won last year, but as it tries to build momentum toward what GOP Chairman Michael S. Steele called a "Republican renaissance," it faces troubling ideological fissures within its ranks over how best to reclaim power. [The Washington Post] Read More
Democrats to use election to push agenda in Congress
WASHINGTON — Blaming election setbacks on a drop in voter enthusiasm, Congressional Democrats said Wednesday that losses in governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey — and a striking House win in New York — should give new urgency to their legislative agenda, including a sweeping health care overhaul. [The New York Times] Read More
Energized G.O.P. looking to avoid an intraparty feud
WASHINGTON — Republicans emerged from Tuesday's elections energized by victories in Virginia and New Jersey, but their leaders immediately began maneuvering to avoid a prolonged battle with conservative activists over what the party stands for and how to regain power. [The New York Times] Read More
Referendum 71 margin of approval increases slightly
The narrow lead in votes to approve Referendum 71 widened slightly with the latest tally released by the Secretary of State's Office. [The Seattle Times] Read More
Gay rights measure extends lead
Referendum 71, which would uphold the state's new "everything but marriage" law for gay domestic partners, edged closer to passage after the latest vote count Wednesday [seattlepi.com] Read More
Gay-rights support stops at Cascades
Every county east of the Cascades rejected Referendum 71 — some by resounding margins. [The Seattle Times] Read More
Rates qualify states' jobless for 20 weeks
Because Idaho and Washington have had jobless rates higher than 8.5 percent over the past three months, the unemployed in both states could qualify for six weeks of federal unemployment benefits in addition to the 14 weeks allotted to all states under a bill passed Wednesday by the Senate. [The Spokesman-Review (Spokane)] Read More
Detractors line up against state's Spokane River plan
The latest plan to limit algae-producing phosphorus in the Spokane River is drawing critics from all directions as Washington officials consider whether to move ahead with it. [The Spokesman-Review (Spokane)] Read More
Like a natural disaster, without the upside
When an economic engine like Boeing snubs your state on your watch, there's not much for a governor like Chris Gregoire to do. [Crosscut (Seattle)] Read More
Deadly foam off NW coast subsides, but more than 10,000 seabirds die
The deadly foam that clobbered seabirds in the Pacific Northwest has subsided and several hundred birds rescued from the slime are being released. But the death toll worries conservationists. [The Oregonian (Portland)] Read More
W.Va. officials: Too soon to tell impact of Ohio casino vote
West Virginia officials know Ohio casinos won't be good for the Mountain State's budget, but they say it's too soon to put a dollar amount on the damage. [Charleston Gazette] Read More
West Virginia Casinos Aren't Worried — Yet
WHEELING, W.V. -- Officials at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort and at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack said they don't expect any roulette wheels to spin at proposed Ohio casinos for at least two years. [The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register] Read More
W.Va. resort nets nearly $122K from new casino
The Greenbrier netted nearly $122,000 from its new casino in the first month of operation. [The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington)] Read More
State-run hospital named for ex-W.Va. lawmaker
BECKLEY, W.Va. -- A state-run hospital in Beckley has been renamed in honor of a former Raleigh County lawmaker. [The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington)] Read More
Obama -- Use stimulus dollars to make education America's 'national mission'
On the anniversary of last year's historic election, President Barack Obama on Wednesday told an audience of more than 600 at Madison's Wright Middle School that he wanted to use more than $4 billion in federal incentives to "make education America's national mission." [Wisconsin State Journal (Madison)] Read More
Wis. Supreme Court rejects gay rights challenge
The state Supreme Court has refused to directly take up a challenge to Wisconsin's domestic partner registry, a move gay rights advocates touted Wednesday as a triumph for same-sex couples. [Wisconsin State Journal (Madison)] Read More
Don't count on stimulus job tally
Many employment reports from sources in Wisconsin are wildly inflated. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] Read More
No talk of governorship with Obama, Barrett says
The Democrats are still looking for a single major candidate to enter the 2010 governor's race. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] Read More
Wis. committee meets on lawmaker's expulsion
The Assembly Special Committee on Ethics and Standards of Conduct must recommend whether the full body should kick Rep. Jeff Wood out. [Wisconsin State Journal (Madison)] Read More
Wis. officials confirm 2 more dead from swine flu
The flu has now claimed 16 lives in Wisconsin since spring. [Wisconsin State Journal (Madison)] Read More
Former NRC Commissioner in Wis. to talk power
MILWAUKEE -- Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission Commissioner Peter Bradford is in Wisconsin on Thursday and Friday to talk about the costs of nuclear power. [Janesville Gazette] Read More
Thomas gets new term on Wis. outdoors board
STEVENS POINT, Wis. -- Christine Thomas, the dean of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's College of Natural Resources, has been given another six-term on the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board. [Janesville Gazette] Read More
Tea Party brigade holds rally in Cheyenne
Hundreds gathered in front of the State Capitol on Tuesday as the Tea Party Express II held a rally to inspire local conservative voters to action. [Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne)] Read More
Classes teach Wyoming officers prescription drug trends
LARAMIE, Wyo. - The Wyoming Department of Corrections is hosting a seminar for law enforcement officers about emerging trends of prescription drug abuse and illegal trafficking. [Billings Gazette] Read More
UW proposes steep MBA tuition increase
The cost of an MBA degree from the University of Wyoming could nearly triple starting next school year, as part of a proposed massive overhaul of the university's MBA program. [Casper Star-Tribune] Read More
Another natural gas discovery in north Louisiana could rival the Haynesville Shale
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Another natural gas discovery in north Louisiana could rival the Haynesville Shale, which last year incited a gold-rush style drilling boom when it was revealed that the underground rock layer held one of the biggest gas reserves in the country. [The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)] Read More
Md., other states warned about bay cleanup
BALTIMORE, Md. -- Federal officials said Wednesday they have given marching orders to Maryland and other states that drain into the Chesapeake Bay to come up with detailed plans for reducing pollution plaguing the estuary, warning that states face development shutdowns or other as-yet unstated consequences if the water fails to get cleaner. [The Sun (Baltimore)] Read More
Republican victories in Va., N.J. hinged on economic worries
Voters worried about jobs and the shaky economy helped drive Republican gubernatorial victories in Virginia and New Jersey, according to exit polls, adding political urgency to Democratic efforts to combat the nation's surging unemployment rate. [The Washington Post] Read More
Cuomo targets Intel for global 'campaign of illegal conduct'
The Attorney General charges the world's largest chip-fab with engaging in broad-based bribery and coercion to maintain its market position in a new antitrust lawsuit. [Times Union (Albany)] Read More
Schools sprinting to win Obama's Race to the Top billions
President Obama touted Race to the Top to the nation in a speech in Madison, Wis., Wednesday. But schools already know it well. [The Christian Science Monitor] Read More
The higher cost of higher ed
An elite group in higher education just got a bit more crowded -- the $50,000 club. [Times Union (Albany)] Read More
More friction likely in state GOP
Florida voters can expect to see more anti-President Obama "tea parties" as conservatives nationwide turn their attention to the U.S. Senate race. [The Miami Herald] Read More
NRA wants to ban adoption agencies from asking about gun ownership
MIAMI -- The NRA wants to stop adoption agencies from asking prospective parents about whether they own guns, saying the question is a violation of gun-owners' rights. [The Miami Herald] Read More
Anthem warns of security breach
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is warning 10,000 New Hampshire physicians, dentists and other providers that their Social Security numbers may have been stolen. [Concord Monitor] Read More
Looser rules on sentencing stir concerns about equity
The Supreme Court has given federal judges more freedom to depart from sentencing guidelines, but this has led to defendants receiving wildly different sentences for similar crimes. [The Wall Street Journal] Read More
In face of bankrupt trust funds, Virginia cuts unemployment benefits, Nevada weighs options
Unemployment insurance trust funds in Nevada and Virginia have gone belly up. [ProPublica] Read More
Senate approves more jobless benefits
WASHINGTON — The Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to offer up to 20 more weeks of unemployment benefits to those who have been out of work a long time, after weeks of delay in which hundreds of thousands of Americans exhausted their government aid. [The New York Times] Read More
As GOP celebrates wins, internal ideological battles remain
A rebounding Republican Party is savoring victories in two states that President Obama won last year, but as it tries to build momentum toward what GOP Chairman Michael S. Steele called a "Republican renaissance," it faces troubling ideological fissures within its ranks over how best to reclaim power. [The Washington Post] Read More
Justices, in aftermath of 2 murder cases, hear claims of a process gone wrong
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in two cases involving claims that the criminal justice system had gone badly awry. [The New York Times] Read More
Reports show conflicting number of jobs attributed to stimulus money
In June, the federal government spent $1,047 in stimulus money to buy a rider mower from the Toro Company to cut the grass at the Fayetteville National Cemetery in Arkansas. Now, a report on the government's stimulus Web site improbably claims that that single lawn mower sale helped save or create 50 jobs. [The New York Times] Read More
Energized G.O.P. looking to avoid an intraparty feud
WASHINGTON — Republicans emerged from Tuesday's elections energized by victories in Virginia and New Jersey, but their leaders immediately began maneuvering to avoid a prolonged battle with conservative activists over what the party stands for and how to regain power. [The New York Times] Read More
Democrats to use election to push agenda in Congress
WASHINGTON — Blaming election setbacks on a drop in voter enthusiasm, Congressional Democrats said Wednesday that losses in governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey — and a striking House win in New York — should give new urgency to their legislative agenda, including a sweeping health care overhaul. [The New York Times] Read More
Nation is facing vaccine shortage for seasonal flu
Even though the regular flu season has yet to start, the nation is facing a severe shortage of seasonal flu vaccine as well as swine flu vaccine. [The New York Times] Read More
Obama -- Use stimulus dollars to make education America's 'national mission'
On the anniversary of last year's historic election, President Barack Obama on Wednesday told an audience of more than 600 at Madison's Wright Middle School that he wanted to use more than $4 billion in federal incentives to "make education America's national mission." [Wisconsin State Journal (Madison)] Read More
Obama focuses on education in Madison
After a year in office primarily spent trying to rescue the economy, President Barack Obama went back to school on the anniversary of his election Wednesday, telling America that states must now focus on reforming education to ensure a strong economic future. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] Read More
Toxic site headed for Superfund list
NASSAU, N.Y. -- State officials have nominated the 57-year-old Dewey Loeffel toxic dump site for placement on the EPA Superfund list. [Times Union (Albany)] Read More
Federal agents raid Rothstein's law offices
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Federal authorities turned up the heat on Fort Lauderdale lawyer Scott Rothstein as he sought to cooperate with prosecutors investigating his alleged multimillion-dollar investment scam. [The Miami Herald] Read More |
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