Banker to lead state agency for economic development
From: www.nytimes.com
"Gov. David A. Paterson named a prominent banking executive, Robert G. Wilmers, on Thursday as chairman of the state's economic development agency."
S&P cuts ratings on bond insurers MBIA, Ambac
From: www.usatoday.com
"NEW YORK - Standard & Poor's on Thursday cut the financial strength rating on bond insurers MBIA (MBI) and Ambac Financial Group (ABK) to "AA" from "AAA," a day after Moody's said it was considering doing the same thing."
Proposition 13's influence monumental 30 years later
From: www.signonsandiego.com
"Proposition 13 turns 30 years old today, but California's homeowners still trust it to keep the lid on their property taxes. "
Illinois' richer casinos must give horse owners, tracks a cut of their profits, court says
From: www.chicagotribune.com
"Illinois' richest casinos?in Aurora, Elgin and Joliet?must pay part of their profits to horse owners and racetracks, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday."
Panel approves state health insurance coverage for domestic partners
From: www.lvrj.com
"A panel that oversees the state employee health insurance program voted Thursday to extend coverage to the domestic partners of plan participants despite budget problems that could make the $2.7 million cost unaffordable."
Consultant urges Legislature to vote yes on TransCanada deal
From: www.newsminer.com
"A consultant who helped push former Gov. Frank Murkowski?s oil and gas deals and now works for the Alaska Legislature urged a yes vote Thursday on TransCanada?s gas pipeline plan."
License seen as gas line catalyst
From: www.adn.com
"A top adviser told Alaska legislators Thursday he sees no major reason why they shouldn't vote to award a state license and half a billion dollars in seed money to a potential natural gas pipeline builder."
Ala. panel holds up emergency management contract
From: hosted.ap.org
"A legislative panel Thursday delayed a $273,000 contract to test the Alabama Emergency Management Agency's disaster plans because EMA Director Brock Long used to be employed by a company getting some of the work."
Arkansas ranked 48th in new per capita GDP estimates
From: www.thedailycitizen.com
"Arkansas ranks No. 48 in new U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates of states' per capita real gross domestic product.
"
Verizon buys Alltel for $28.1 billion, may locate regional HQ in Little Rock
From: www.arkansasnews.com
"The blockbuster deal took officials and employees alike by surprise. Alltel Corp. announced Thursday it would be purchased by Verizon Wireless in a $28.1 billion debt and equity transaction that would form the nation's largest wireless provider."
New study puts $2.1B price tag on Hollywood writers strike
From: www.contracostatimes.com
"A new report finds the Hollywood writers strike could end up costing the state's economy an estimated $2.1 billion."
Budget cuts could hurt disabled immigrants
From: www.contracostatimes.com
"Called the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, the money benefits about 10,400 aged, disabled or blind legal immigrants in California. Eliminating the program would save the state $111 million. "
Poll - Most new legal immigrants were illegal at some point
From: www.signonsandiego.com
"SAN FRANCISCO - A new poll shows that more than half of new California immigrants who have green cards at some point lived in the state illegally.
"
Democrats face GOP opposition over tax increase of $6.4 billion
From: www.signonsandiego.com
"An Assembly Democratic state budget plan based on a $15 billion lottery bond and a $6.4 billion tax increase was greeted yesterday by distant cannon fire."
Prop. 13 property taxes in the voters' hands
From: www.sfgate.com
"Thirty years ago today, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 13 as a way to keep seniors from losing their homes to skyrocketing property taxes. But the 1978 vote also ignited a revolution that dramatically changed the way people across America look at government and taxes.
"
Tax hikes in Democrats' budget
From: www.mercurynews.com
"Assembly Speaker Karen Bass outlined a Democratic budget proposal Thursday that raises more than $6 billion in tax revenue, using the money to boost education spending and help avoid deep cuts in health and social service programs.
"
Dems want to borrow from lottery to help close budget deficit
From: www.sacbee.com
"Democratic lawmakers made an opening pitch Thursday for closing the state's $15.2 billion deficit, using lottery borrowing as well as unspecified proposals to close tax loopholes.
"
Parties far apart on fixing California's budget deficit
From: www.sacbee.com
"What could be an epic battle over how to close a $15 billion-plus deficit in the 2008-09 state budget began in earnest Thursday when the Assembly's Democratic majority unveiled its version, which includes more than $6 billion in new revenues.
"
Survey -Hundreds underinsured in last year's wildfires
From: www.sacbee.com
"LOS ANGELES -- Hundreds of people who lost homes in last year's wildfires did not have enough insurance to cover their rebuilding costs, according to a survey to be released Friday."
Prop. 13 still liked, California Poll finds
From: www.sacbee.com
"Three decades after California voters passed Proposition 13, they still like the idea of the tax revolt they ignited.
In a new Field Poll, a survey of more than 1,000 registered voters found they support the iconic property tax reduction initiative by a ratio of more than 2-to-1.
"
Tenant-rights measure becomes law
From: www.chieftain.com
"A local homeless advocate is pleased a new tenant-rights bill has become law."
With no gift ban, it's party hearty
From: www.rockymountainnews.com
"Steak dinners, champagne bars and wine-and-cheese receptions will be plentiful during the Democratic National Convention in Denver Aug. 24-28. So will state elected officials, who are expected to show up in force at the free shindigs."
Colorado economy slows along with U.S.
From: www.rockymountainnews.com
"Colorado, like most of the country, experienced slower economic growth in 2007 amid a sharp downturn in home building."
Ritter vetoes three bills
From: www.denverpost.com
"Citing concerns over the potential loss of federal funding and the enforcement of attendance laws, Gov. Bill Ritter this morning vetoed a bill that would have removed scoring penalties for students who do not take annual assessment tests."
GOP details mill-levy fight fallout
From: www.denverpost.com
"State officials will have to cut $272 million from next year's budget if the state Supreme Court does not overturn a lower court's ruling that Gov. Bill Ritter's mill-levy freeze is unconstitutional, Republican legislative leaders said Thursday in a letter to the governor."
New stamp to feature Colorado's flag, mountains
From: www.denverpost.com
"Colorado philatelists, take note: Your state is getting a new postage stamp next week."
State spends $225,000 to fight police union
From: www.courant.com
"The state has spent more than $225,000 on private lawyers to block state police managers from forming a union despite four rulings that they have the right to organize, the union said Wednesday."
Amtrak plans bridge work in Connecticut
From: www.courant.com
"NEW LONDON, Conn. - Portions of Amtrak service through New England will be disrupted for four days later this month because of renovations on an aging Connecticut drawbridge and scheduled maintenance elsewhere, railroad officials said Thursday."
FPL asks state to keep audit of green energy program secret
From: www.palmbeachpost.com
"For months, the state has wanted to know how FPL has spent about $10 million it collected from customers to develop alternative energy sources. Last week, Florida's Public Service Commission released its audit of Florida Power & Light Co.'s Sunshine Energy Program after it challenged whether the energy giant has made good on the program's promises. But the audit findings are secret at FPL's request.
"
National Guard - Ready for the storm
From: www.orlandosentinel.com
"A year ago, state and federal officials worried about whether the war-stressed Florida National Guard was ready to handle the aftermath of a major hurricane at home. Now, Guard leaders say their troops are in the best shape in four years for storm duty, thanks to an infusion of equipment and more soldiers on hand"
John McCain visits Orlando - says he is 'committed' to saving Everglades
From: www.orlandosentinel.com
"LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Two days after his opponent locked up the Democratic nomination, Republican John McCain came to Orlando to raise more money and show the importance he places on winning Florida.
"
Study calls for an end to waste-to-energy projects
From: floridacapitalnews.com
"Recycling is a cheaper and better way to combat global warming than turning waste into energy, according to a study released Thursday by environmental groups.
"
State of Florida to close 13 motor-vehicle offices
From: floridacapitalnews.com
"The image of long lines at the motor-vehicle office is a cliche when politicians and bureaucrats talk about cutting budgets, but Florida officials say that's not a problem as they close 13 driver-licensing bureaus statewide.
"
McCain - I want to save Everglades
From: www.miamiherald.com
"ORLANDO, Fla. -- John McCain on Thursday defended his opposition to spending $2 billion on restoring the Everglades, an effort supported by two of his biggest Republican supporters in Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez."
McCain defends position on Florida measures
From: www.washingtonpost.com
"LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Republican John McCain was confronted Thursday about why he opposed an Everglades restoration measure that had broad support from Florida officials, including Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and GOP Sen. Mel Martinez. "
Ga. colleges make $11 billion economic impact statewide
From: www.macon.com
"A new study shows the state's 35 public colleges and universities have an $11 billion economic impact on Georgia."
Study cites immigrants' economic impact
From: www.desmoinesregister.com
"Iowa's economy would lose $4.4 billion in annual spending if all undocumented workers were exported from the state, a spokesman for a national advocacy group said Thursday."
State to take cut off the top from winnings of gamblers in debt
From: www.desmoinesregister.com
"EMMETSBURG, Iowa -- Winning a big cash jackpot at an Iowa casino or hitting the daily double at a racetrack will soon mean going home empty-handed for some gamblers who haven't paid their bills."
Judge rules Cunningham can stand trial
From: www.desmoinesregister.com
"Former job-training executive Ramona Cunningham needs "continued psychiatric treatment" but is mentally fit to stand trial for her role in the CIETC salary scandal, a federal judge ruled Thursday."
Judge says Cunningham is fit to stand trial
From: ads.qctimes.com
"A federal judge has found former CIETC CEO Ramona Cunningham mentally competent to stand trial."
Forum looks at immigration and Postville incident
From: www.qctimes.com
"Panelists at an immigration forum Thursday urged the federal government to stop carrying out raids like the one that detained nearly 400 workers at a Postville, Iowa, meatpacking plant."
Braley says no more chances for Agriprocessors
From: www.qctimes.com
"Congressman Bruce Braley doesn?t want Agriprocessors to get any more chances. He said the company has already had too many."
Feds revise Idaho's 2006 growth numbers from best to 28th
From: www.idahostatesman.com
"Idaho's economic growth for 2006 was drastically short of original estimates and 2007 figures are due to be even worse, according to a new federal report."
Mowing costs more moolah as Idaho gas prices spike
From: www.idahostatesman.com
"With gas prices in Idaho near $4 a gallon, fishermen have left their rods in the garage, lawn maintenance companies are hiking mowing rates and private pilots who previously climbed into their small Cessna aircraft for a quick lunch flight to Hailey or Jackpot, Nev., are throttling back on their air time."
Idaho employment skids in early 2008
From: www.idahostatesman.com
"More evidence surfaced this week indicating that the once high-flying Idaho economy has slowed dramatically in the last year."
State again overspends on Illinois fair budget
From: ads.qctimes.com
"Fun at the state?s two fairgrounds cost Illinoisans more than just the price of admission last year."
Illinois shortchanged gas pump inspections in 2005, 2006
From: www.qctimes.com
"Illinois inspectors did not get around to checking whether all of the state?s gas pumps were accurately dispensing fuel in 2005 and 2006, a new report says."
Casinos have to pay tracks, court rules
From: www.dailyherald.com
"Arlington Park is in line to get millions of dollars courtesy of the Empress Casino and other suburban riverboats, thanks to an Illinois Supreme Court ruling Thursday."
Court rules casinos must pay horse racetracks
From: www.sj-r.com
"Illinois? richest casinos must pay part of their profits to horse owners and racetracks, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday."
Bomke -- Blagojevich shows interest in former LDC site
From: www.sj-r.com
"LINCOLN, Ill. ? The fiscal 2009 budget just passed by state lawmakers does not contain any funding beyond maintenance for Lincoln Estates. But there is hope."
AFSCME hits IDOT with unfair labor charge
From: www.sj-r.com
"A major state employee union has filed an unfair labor practices charge against the Illinois Department of Transportation over its planned move of the Division of Traffic Safety from Springfield to southern Illinois."
Illinois overspends on fairs
From: www.chicagotribune.com
"According to the auditor general, the costs of Illinois' two state fairs exceeded revenues last year. "
Gov's aide says Blagojevich focused on budget, not verdict
From: www.suntimes.com
"The elephant could have been in the room, but no one heard its trumpet. Tony Rezko's name never surfaced when Gov. Blagojevich met with legislative leaders Thursday trying to find a budget compromise.
"
Rezko's money woes mount
From: www.suntimes.com
"Tony Rezko has gone to jail, but his money troubles won't go away. A former Rezko business associate went to court Thursday to try to get the former top political fund-raiser and adviser to Gov. Blagojevich declared bankrupt and force an investigation into his finances."
Regulators say IPL handled outages well
From: www.indystar.com
"Indianapolis Power & Light Co. restored electricity Thursday to the last of 75,000 customers left in the dark by a devastating storm one week ago."
State tax collections nosedive in May
From: www.kentucky.com
"State General Fund tax collections took a nosedive in May."
Lawmakers balk at bill to pay off Citizens debt
From: www.2theadvocate.com
"Legislation that would have paid off the state property insurance company's debt and reduced homeowners policy premiums was shelved Thursday."
Bill would change capital outlay system
From: www.2theadvocate.com
"The House advanced legislation Thursday that would change the way the state handles construction projects."
N.O. port bill sails through the House
From: www.nola.com
"The Port of New Orleans nudged a little closer to having the ability to expand into Plaquemines Parish Thursday after the House gave 98-0 approval to a bill that would allow it to develop wharves and other facilities closer to the mouth of the Mississippi River."
RMV boss driving out staff
From: www.bostonherald.com
"Gov. Deval Patrick's newly appointed Registrar of Motor Vehicles is launching a management shake-up to consolidate power at the agency and overhaul operations still controlled by managers hired under Republican governors."
Officials say not to bet on slots for schools
From: gazette.net
"Sen. Nancy J. King rejects the argument by the Maryland State Teachers Association and others that legalized slot machine gambling would be a financial pipeline for education. The state has too many needs, she said."
Miller not worried about Currie probe
From: www.hometownannapolis.com
"Sen. President Thomas V. Mike Miller said Wednesday that he's "not the least bit" concerned about the wide-ranging scope of a subpoena for records in a federal investigation into a prominent state senator."
Overdue home loans up 70% in Md.
From: www.baltimoresun.com
"The number of Maryland homeowners behind on their mortgage payments jumped a record 70 percent in the past year as a protracted housing slump and months of sharply tightened credit continue to take their toll."
Iowa immigration raid felt in Pikesville stores
From: www.baltimoresun.com
"At Baltimore's largest kosher grocery store, meat manager Chaim Fishman has learned to order twice as much poultry from his chief supplier as he used to. He knows that however much he orders, the company will ship half."
Currie pushed for stoplight at Shoppers site
From: www.baltimoresun.com
"Maryland Sen. Ulysses Currie, who is being investigated by the FBI in connection with his consulting work for Shoppers Food & Pharmacy, apparently pressured state highway officials to expedite a traffic light project near a shopping center where the grocery chain planned to open a store."
State House passes more of its plan to control water
From: www.southbendtribune.com
"Michigan lawmakers haven't reached a final deal to regulate water withdrawal from state lakes and rivers, but they have set the boundaries for a possible compromise."
Advocates seek Great Lakes action
From: www.southbendtribune.com
"TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- Michigan should push ahead with Great Lakes protection efforts despite a shortage of financial support from the federal government, state officials and conservation advocates said Thursday."
Canada proposes refinery, dump
From: www.freep.com
"Environmental groups and U.S. officials are sounding alarms about two major new Canadian projects -- a heavy oil mega-refinery along the St. Clair River and an underground radioactive waste repository near Lake Huron -- they say could put Michigan air and water at risk for decades."
House OKs lakes water removal bills
From: www.detnews.com
"The House completed its version on Wednesday of new state regulations to comply with a compact among the Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces that would protect against massive water withdrawals by outside states or regions."
Casino could report losses for '08
From: www.freep.com
"Greektown Casino may lose $15.6 million in 2008, most of it related to bankruptcy costs, according to projections from an accounting firm hired to help it navigate through Chapter 11."
Proposed power plant still on hold
From: www.twincities.com
"State regulators delayed a decision Thursday on transmission lines that would run from a proposed coal-fired power plant in South Dakota to Minnesota, saying they need more information about costs. "
HD 63 candidate criticizes toilet rebate program
From: bozemandailychronicle.com
"A local candidate for the Montana Legislature says a Bozeman rebate program encouraging homeowners to switch to more water-efficient toilets is flushing taxpayers? money down the drain."
Schweitzer -- Manage beetles like post-fire forests
From: www.helenair.com
"MISSOULA, Mont. -- Creating healthier forests, possibly by having Montana take over management of some federal timbered land, is the best way to combat the ?red storm? of beetle-killed pine trees sweeping across the West, Gov. Brian Schweitzer told the 150 people gathered in at the University of Montana Thursday for a day-long conference on bark beetles."
Leader defends 5 percent raises for lottery workers
From: www.newsobserver.com
"State Lottery Commission Chairman John McArthur said Thursday that proposed 5 percent raises for lottery employees encourage a better-run lottery."
Auditor -- Labor Dept. overspent millions
From: www.journalstar.com
"The state Department of Labor has overspent about $7 million in federal funds over the past few years, apparently the result of human error, according to a special audit of the department?s federal funds."
Johanns says higher taxes at stake
From: www.journalstar.com
"Mike Johanns told Lancaster County Republicans Thursday night that the change Democrats offer this election year is more taxes and government health care."
N.H. announces new mortgage fraud task force
From: www.fosters.com
"Several state agencies are working with federal authorities to investigate mortgage fraud in New Hampshire."
Midnight, bonds and locked doors
From: www.cmonitor.com
"Wednesday's legislative session was a throwback. Nearly two decades have passed since a governor has invoked his power to call a special session. No one can remember when exactly the House last stayed until midnight. Locking the doors to keep legislators from leaving is a rarely used tool in House Speaker Terie Norelli's toolbox.
"
Donor gives UNH $25 million
From: www.cmonitor.com
"University of New Hampshire alumnus and multimillionaire Peter Paul donated $25 million to his alma mater yesterday, granting the school its biggest-ever donation. "
Building permit extension marching through Trenton
From: www.nj.com
"Avidly supported by business and labor, legislation to extend for six years the life of building permits for stalled residential and commercial development projects yesterday began what is expected to be a 17-day express run through the Assembly and Senate."
Panel moves to strengthen workers' comp
From: www.nj.com
"The Senate Labor Committee yesterday approved four bills to shore up the state's workers' compensation system by giving judges more enforcement powers, increasing penalties for violators, and adding new voices to the agency that helps set insurance rates."
Highlands Act housing restrictions disclosed
From: www.nj.com
"The Highlands Act is sweeping legislation that restricted development in a huge swath of northern New Jersey. But state officials have never quantified exactly how much development was off the table -- until now."
State workers will get raises, official claims
From: www.lvrj.com
"A spokesman for Gov. Jim Gibbons has a message for state workers and schoolteachers concerned that some or all of their 4 percent cost-of-living pay increase could be on the chopping block: It's not going to happen."
Federal OSHA coming to CityCenter
From: www.lasvegassun.com
"Nevada workplace safety regulators, concerned about construction worker deaths but overwhelmed by the task of inspecting MGM Mirage's $9.2 billion CityCenter site, have taken an unprecedented step: Calling in help from the feds."
Most sellers break milk-price law
From: www.nypost.com
"New Yorkers are being milked for their hard-earned grocery dollars. A whopping 86 percent of supermarkets, delis and bodegas throughout the five boroughs are charging above the state-mandated price ceiling for milk, according to a City Council survey released yesterday."
'New sheriff' for state's economy
From: www.timesunion.com
"Robert G. Wilmers, the head of M&T Bank, was tapped to be the unpaid chairman of Empire State Development Corp. on Thursday, Gov. David Paterson announced."
Governor approves bonds for museum, waterways
From: newsok.com
"Another part of the statewide $475 million bond issue -- a $75 million package that includes funding for the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City -- has been signed into law by the governor."
Gas closes in on $4 level as crude rises again
From: www.journalrecord.com
"A significant two-day drop in the price of crude oil was all but erased Thursday, and gasoline responded by coming ever so close to the $4-per-gallon plateau."
Oregon coast feels pinch of economic slowdown
From: www.nwpr.org
"The Oregon coast has been hit with a double whammy this year. High gas prices are causing some people to think twice about weekend trips to the shore. And a shutdown of the salmon season has left the fishing industry scrambling."
Measure 49 stops Clackamas County subdivision
From: www.oregonlive.com
"OREGON CITY, Ore. -- A judge halted development of a 41-home subdivision Thursday, in one of the first rulings to clarify when developments can proceed under Oregon's changing property-rights law."
Turnpike lease bill gets rare bipartisan backing
From: www.mcall.com
"A Philadelphia Democrat and a Republican from rural Pennsylvania whose district includes Interstate 80 have teamed up to sponsor the legislation authorizing the possible lease of the Turnpike."
Urban blight is plaguing Pa. cities, legislators told
From: www.philly.com
"Tracy and Bridget Bagner thought they just lived next door to Norristown's urban blight problem -- until officials tore down their neighbor's dilapidated rowhouse in March. Then came the knock on the Bagners' door ordering them out, too."
Bill hiking rent-to-own rates advances
From: www.philly.com
"A bill that would allow rent-to-own stores to dramatically hike interest rates was approved by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee yesterday."
Most House members from Allegheny vote for smoking ban
From: www.pittsburghlive.com
"A majority of House members from Allegheny County voted for a statewide smoking ban less than an hour after all senators from the county voted to oppose it."
State's economic performance slipped in 2007
From: www.pittsburghlive.com
"Pennsylvania's economy expanded by 1.6 percent last year, a decline from the previous year -- according to a U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report released today."
State seeks $18 million for jobs not created
From: www.pittsburghlive.com
"Pennsylvania officials offered Nationwide Appraisal Services Corp. $300,000 in December 1999 to add more than 300 jobs in its Washington County office. It seemed like a good idea at the time."
PLCB snafu affecting restaurants' orders
From: www.post-gazette.com
"Technical problems with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's online special liquor order system are causing delays for restaurants and bars trying to place their weekly orders of wine and spirits."
House bill aids taxing foreclosures
From: www.projo.com
"A bill designed to help cities and towns weather the cash-flow crunch caused by the state's mortgage foreclosure crisis has been passed by the House of Representatives."
South Carolina's economy fares well
From: www.greenvilleonline.com
"South Carolina's economy performed better than the Southeast region as a whole and mirrored the nation in 2007, according to government estimates."
S.C. first in on-job deaths of Hispanics
From: www.thestate.com
"South Carolina had the nation's highest on-the-job death rate for Hispanic workers between 2003 and 2006."
Mortgage woes remain in S.C.
From: www.thestate.com
"Foreclosures and late mortgage payments remained near record high levels in South Carolina in the first three months of 2008, according to an industry survey released Thursday."
Army - Let more states join water fight
From: www.orlandosentinel.com
"WASHINGTON - The answer to the water war among Florida, Alabama and Georgia is to involve even more states, the Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday.
"
Oil prices seep into asphalt costs, detour road work
From: www.usatoday.com
"CHICAGO - Fewer roads will be repaved this summer, thanks to soaring prices of oil-based asphalt. Some states, cities and counties say their road-repair budgets didn't anticipate asphalt prices that are up 25.9% from a year ago, so they're being forced to delay projects."
In Juneau, firm resistance to a road out of isolation
From: www.nytimes.com
"JUNEAU, Alaska - The proposed 51-mile Juneau Access Road would provide something this remote capital city has never had: an overland route to the rest of North America. No longer would people have to take a ferry or a flight."
State shuts down 3 cranes months after safety warning
From: seattletimes.nwsource.com
"Three tower cranes -- two with mixed and matched parts -- have been shut down at high-rise projects in Seattle and Renton, but not until nearly three months after state regulators learned of concerns about their safety."
State hasn't caught up to mortgage woes of U.S.
From: seattlepi.nwsource.com
"Washington's mortgage delinquency and foreclosure situation worsened in the first three months of the year, although the state remained far better than the U.S. as a whole, according to a new report."
State's GDP growth nearly flat
From: www.wrn.com
"Wisconsin ecomomic growth was among the lowest among the fifty states last year. That's according to statistics released Thursday by the U-S Bureau of Economic Analysis, which show Wisconsin's gross domestic product was $232 billion in 2007 - just one-percent more than the year previous. "
No-call registry expands to cells
From: www.jsonline.com
"Starting today, cell phone users for the first time will be able to add their numbers to the state's popular do-not-call list."
WVU president to resign Sept. 1
From: www.post-gazette.com
"CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia University President Mike Garrison announced his resignation today after weeks of pressure from faculty, alumni, donors and students who said he could no longer govern the state's flagship university in the wake of a degree-granting scandal involving the daughter of Gov. Joe Manchin."
Study: Finished highway system boon for Appalachia
From: www.dailymail.com
"RICHMOND, Va. - The hills of Appalachia, one of the country's most poverty-stricken regions, could provide tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars once a nearly finished highway system is complete, according to a study released Thursday."
DirecTV agrees to buy West Virginia call center
From: www.theintelligencer.net
"HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - DirecTV has agreed to buy a West Virginia call center in a deal that is expected to save more than 600 jobs."
WVU law faculty joins call for ouster
From: www.post-gazette.com
"A majority of the tenured faculty of West Virginia University's law school has called for the resignation of WVU President Mike Garrison, saying he has "lost the battle of public opinion.""
Wyoming guardsman indicted in theft of border fence material
From: hosted.ap.org
"TUCSON, Ariz. -- A Wyoming air national guardsman has been indicted for allegedly stealing and selling scrap metal from the border fence construction project."
State revenue vs. elk
From: www.casperstartribune.com
"The five elected officials who sit on the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners are faced with a decision on a project that could generate $24 million per year for the state's school trust but also may disturb critical elk winter range."
Scalpers beware: States target ticket sellers
From: www.stateline.org
"The online hijacking of huge blocks of tickets for hot concerts and sporting events for resale at many times face value has raised the ire of consumers and caught the attention of several states that have taken steps to address the problem."
State jobless benefits reserves low
From: www.stateline.org
"
More than a dozen states would be hard-pressed to provide unemployment benefits if the economy tailspins into a full-blown recession and more workers get pink slips.
"
States act to stem foreclosure scams
From: www.stateline.org
"The rise of home foreclosures has spawned an increase in scams that prey on people’s desperation to save their homes. At least 18 states have enacted laws to target such schemes."
States wager on racetrack slots
From: www.stateline.org
"States are betting that adding slots to racetracks will help get them through a faltering economy and dwindling cash reserves"
WORTH NOTING: Partying, politicking and parrying at governors' pads
From: www.stateline.org
"Some governors can’t get away from prying eyes, even in their own mansions. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) is embarrassed when word leaks out of his son’s birthday beer bash on the premises; California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) can barely get a GOP sign on his own yard; and Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) is fighting to get the keys to his mansion from his soon-to-be ex-wife. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in."
The economic downturn: an opportunity for governors?
From: www.stateline.org
"Most governors recognize that they have the best political job in America. Most also would concede that the job is more satisfying when the economy is strong and revenues are growing than during an economic downturn, when cutting budgets becomes the major task. But even a recession can present opportunities for governors to make improvements that yield lasting benefits for their states."
Visit the Stateline.org Economy & Business Page
From: www.stateline.org
"Most governors recognize that they have the best political job in America. Most also would concede that the job is more satisfying when the economy is strong and revenues are growing than during an economic downturn, when cutting budgets becomes the major task. But even a recession can present opportunities for governors to make improvements that yield lasting benefits for their states."
Proactive tax planning to take advantage of timely tax saving opportunities.
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Individualized accounting system setup for new businesses.
State of the art payroll tax services and sales tax preparation.
Preparation of business and individual tax returns and financial
statements.
Budgeting and projection preparation and monitoring, facilitating the
creation and tracking of events.
Assistance in selection and installation of computer hardware and
software, ongoing monitoring and updating of systems.
