Legislators question need for $1,200 checks
From: juneauempire.com
"Gov. Sarah Palin's package of energy relief measures may be facing a rougher road than her controversial gas pipeline."
Alabama tax holiday offers savings during an economic downturn
From: www.al.com
"The tax holiday, which runs Friday through Sunday, is designed to give consumers a break on back-to-school shopping. Certain items of clothing up to $100 per item, computers up to $750, school supplies up to $50 and books up to $30 are exempt from sales tax."
Alabama turning to 4-day weeks
From: www.al.com
"High gas prices are driving some state agencies to switch to four-day workweeks, and more could follow soon, according to state officials."
Beebe to convene education-economic development summit
From: www.arkansasnews.com
"Gov. Mike Beebe's first summit on education and economic development will coincide with the 80th annual conference of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce - Associated Industries of Arkansas.
"
A giveaway in Arkansas - two bridges, old and plain
From: www.nytimes.com
"CASH, Ark. - Neither could be confused with the Brooklyn Bridge or the Golden Gate. Only an engineer could truly love them. "
7-state cap-and-trade plan targets greenhouse gases
From: www.azstarnet.com
"Arizona utilities, gasoline distributors and other industries would start cutting carbon dioxide emissions in four to seven years under a proposed program aimed at curbing climate change."
Candidates vow climate initiatives
From: www.azcentral.com
"No matter who moves into the White House on Jan. 20, one thing is certain: The new administration's position on global warming won't be the same as the old one"
Will gays' boycott turn the tables?
From: www.signonsandiego.com
"Gay rights groups and their union allies are trying to turn the tables by targeting the Manchester Grand Hyatt and the Grand Del Mar because the hotels' owner, Doug Manchester, gave $125,000 to Proposition 8, a November ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage in California. It's the first time in recent memory that a boycott has been introduced into California's expensive ballot battles."
Governor vetoes climate change curriculum
From: www.mercurynews.com
"California public students will stick to reading, writing and arithmetic, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger decided as he vetoed a bill late Friday that would have required climate change be added to schools' curriculum."
Mortgage insurers tightening rules
From: www.mercurynews.com
"Prices of some homes may be falling, but one piece of the mortgage transaction is getting more expensive, not to mention impossible for some buyers to obtain: mortgage insurance."
State panel recommends strict measures to reduce plastic marine debris in California
From: www.latimes.com
"California's leaders should ban smoking on beaches, forbid fast-food joints from distributing polystyrene cups and containers and require markets to recycle plastic bags or ban them outright as part of an aggressive campaign to reduce plastic marine debris."
California food industry fears impact of Bush's worker ID order
From: www.sacbee.com
"A new White House order that federal contractors verify employees' identity documents has some businesses sweating over the potential impact - especially California's huge food industry."
Eateries soon will be trans fat free
From: www.sacbee.com
"California became the first state to ban restaurants from using trans fats Friday, targeting a substance tied to coronary heart disease and a host of other killers."
Assemblyman doesn't want to live with housing covenants that endorsed segregation
From: www.latimes.com
"Though the decades-old contracts are illegal, their rules are still attached to some deeds. State legislator Hector De La Torre has introduced a bill that would clear them from public records."
State pay cut is not governor's call, legal aide says
From: www.sacbee.com
"The Legislature's legal adviser is siding with Controller John Chiang in his defiance of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to cut state workers to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour."
Health, labor join forces to battle for bucks in California budget standoff
From: www.sacbee.com
"Karen Kroeter and Normajean Janssen, two classroom teachers, appear on TV screens and say it's time for state lawmakers to "invest in education" - especially in an economic downturn."
Cutting health care will hurt, activists argue
From: www.sacbee.com
"Labor and health care activists are weighing in on the state budget fight with a new television ad seeking to avoid further cuts to health care. Following is the text of the ad and an analysis."
State's business lobby wants labor laws adjusted along with budget
From: www.sacbee.com
"Companies like UPS would like their California truck drivers to decide when to take their lunch breaks. The world's largest package delivery service has spent $804,169 lobbying its cause at the Capitol since 2004. Now, business groups and like-minded Republicans have added relief from the meal and rest period rules to the list of things they want approved with the state budget."
To solve budget woes, California eyes higher taxes on the rich
From: www.csmonitor.com
"Facing a $15 billion budget shortfall, Californian legislators are calling for tax hikes on the rich. That's despite the Golden State already having one of the most progressive tax structures, meaning the wealthy pay much higher rates than the poorest."
Eateries soon will be trans fat free
From: www.sacbee.com
"California became the first state to ban restaurants from using trans fats Friday, targeting a substance tied to coronary heart disease and a host of other killers."
Calif. becomes 1st state to enact trans fat ban
From: www.washingtonpost.com
"California became the first state in the country to ban artery-clogging trans fats yesterday when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law a measure to phase them out in restaurants beginning in 2010 and from baked goods by 2011."
Transportation project costs mushrooming
From: www.theday.com
"The state's new transportation commissioner has warned legislators that skyrocketing construction material costs are affecting nearly every state transportation project."
Experts - Heating oil prices a lock
From: www.rep-am.com
"It's one of the most important financial decisions a homeowner will make this year: Should you lock in or cap your price for next winter's heating oil?"
Cromwell development highlights state's struggle to preserve farmland
From: www.courant.com
"CROMWELL, Conn. - Although the town wants to develop about 300 acres on the eastern side of Shunpike Road into an industrial park, the state Department of Agriculture laments the loss of soil described as "prime" for agricultural uses."
Del. beaches a hot spot for politicians, making it the 'Nation's Summer Capital'
From: www.delawareonline.com
"North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad's purchase of a home in Bethany Beach made him part of a wave of Beltway residents, attracted by the quaint towns and low property taxes, who have flocked to the Delaware beaches -- a migration that led Rehoboth Beach to become known as the "Nation's Summer Capital.""
Pollution monitors installed near Claymont Steel plant
From: www.delawareonline.com
"Volunteers helped install two new pollution monitors near Claymont Steel on Friday, part of an independent check on soot and metal particle emissions from the troubled complex."
Babcock Ranch works for sustainability
From: floridacapitalnews.com
"A major step in Florida's foray into balancing "sustainable" ranching with environmental protection at Southwest Florida's Babcock Ranch will be decided this week by the governor and Cabinet."
Environmental elites are a force behind Glades
From: www.miamiherald.com
"The little-known but well-connected Florida Everglades Foundation is a major player in the restoration of the Florida Everglades."
State Democrats take aim at Crist's travels which keep him away from Tallahassee
From: www.orlandosentinel.com
"Tallahassee's oppressively hot summers have always sent state officials fleeing for other "official" things to do. Gov. Charlie Crist is no exception. Last year, no one criticized the then-new governor when he took off on a goodwill mission to Israel, hosted a global climate-change summit in Miami in July and spent a week in August fishing in southwest Florida on his boat, Freedom. But this summer, his travels are fodder for Democrats eager to try and paint the Republican chief executive as out of touch with the dinner-table tribulations of working folks."
State regulator defends role in mortgage mess
From: www.miamiherald.com
"Facing calls for his ouster after allowing thousands of criminals to sell home loans in Florida, the state's embattled chief mortgage regulator proposed changes that would toughen the law to help keep felons out of the industry."
Tomato farmers see prime crop go to waste
From: www.ajc.com
"FACEVILLE, Ga. - This was the year the money was going to roll in, the once-every-five-years crop that lets South Georgia tomato growers forget the tropical heat, ear-clogging gnats and fickle finances that worry them to no end."
Kama'aina deals grow as hotels feel the pinch
From: www.honoluluadvertiser.com
"Hawaii hotels are turning to a market in their own backyard as they try to combat a dip in guests from the Mainland and Japan."
Classes pave way to a new career
From: www.honoluluadvertiser.com
"As classes resume in schools across the state, some institutions are welcoming a new breed of students: hundreds of laid-off employees."
Hearings set for proposed natural gas increase
From: www.radioiowa.com
"Public hearings will begin next week on a proposed natural gas rate increase for some 120,000 Iowans. Iowa Utilities Board Spokesman Rob Hillesland says the first hearing will be conducted over the Iowa Communications Network."
Outdated Glenwood care plan was OK'd by judge
From: www.desmoinesregister.com
"A plan to fix problems at a state-run home for the disabled where two residents recently died was approved by a federal judge who later discovered that many of the most crucial provisions were outdated and virtually meaningless.
"
Iowa case raises question -- Is stripping an art?
From: www.qctimes.com
"Iowa doesn't have any all-nude strip clubs - but it does have performing arts centers where women dance naked."
'08 flooding -- What worked, what didn't
From: www.press-citizen.com
"For the most part, the more than one million sandbags used around the Iowa City area to combat floodwaters helped, but it wasn't a perfect solution."
Community colleges key for at-risk students
From: www.idahostatesman.com
"As the College of Western Idaho prepares to open next year, a national group of education executives says community colleges can play a key role in bolstering the number of students who get some higher education and help the U.S. better compete in a global economy."
Chicago, state see Q2 foreclosure filings jump
From: www.chicagobusiness.com
"The number of households facing the foreclosure process more than doubled in the second quarter compared to a year ago, according to data released Friday. Nationwide, 739,714 homes received at least one foreclosure-related notice during the quarter, or one in every 171 U.S. households, Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac Inc. said. That's up 121 percent from the second quarter of 2007."
Daley -- State needs compromise on capital program
From: www.chicagotribune.com
"Chicago Mayor Richard Daley says he hopes the Illinois legislature will stop stalling and compromise on a state capital program. "
Prison guards pushed to the limit
From: www.sj-r.com
"Guards at state prisons in Hillsboro and Centralia recently got a new menu for lunch - more work."
Hurdle looms for IDOT move
From: www.sj-r.com
"Gov. Rod Blagojevich made quite a splash this spring when his administration announced it was moving the traffic safety division of the Illinois Department of Transportation from Springfield to southern Illinois. "
Unions slow to back Long Thompson
From: www.journalgazette.net
"A battle among organized labor is costing Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson money and volunteers in her bid to upset incumbent Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels."
Quality of life study -- Live longer, prosper elsewhere
From: www.nwitimes.com
"Northwest Indiana and the Hoosier state as a whole rank near the bottom third of the nation in a new measure of quality of life."
Floods rob Midwest farms of topsoil
From: www.indystar.com
"MARTINSVILLE, Ind. -- Jim Lankford's corn crops used to stretch to the White River. Now the river has stretched itself through his crops."
Sebelius -- Aviation still strong in state
From: www.kansas.com
"Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Friday that the Kansas aviation industry remains well-positioned in the global market."
Casino board faces tough decisions
From: www2.ljworld.com
"Awarding contracts for state-owned casinos in Sumner and Cherokee counties won't be easy after the state review board received a wealth of information about applicants, the board's chairman said Friday."
Sebelius -- Gas tax increase not likely
From: www2.ljworld.com
"Sensing the public would not tolerate an increase in the state gasoline tax at a time of record gasoline prices, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has pretty much closed the door on raising the levy."
Lawmakers who switch jobs get pension boost
From: www.kentucky.com
"Thanks to a provision lawmakers quietly approved in 2005, many former legislators who switch to judicial or executive branch jobs will see their annual retirement benefits double, quadruple or even increase six-fold."
State looking for next historical markers
From: www.kentucky.com
"Col. William Sudduth, a surveyor who helped settle Clark County in the 1700s, wrote in his memoirs of adventures in the Kentucky countryside:"
Years of effort led to Ford deal
From: www.courier-journal.com
"After dozens of meetings and conference calls over the past 2 years and an April visit to Michigan, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson can pinpoint the moment he knew that Thursday's news from Ford would be all good for the city."
Freedom Hall to get digitized displays
From: www.courier-journal.com
"The Kentucky State Fair Board has approved a deal with a North Carolina company to upgrade the video-display equipment in Freedom Hall, including the large overhead basketball scoreboard."
Border Patrol looks to beef up ranks
From: www.courier-journal.com
"After three years of wondering, Mark Grube finally found out what it means to be a Border Patrol agent."
Kennedy launches attack on Landrieu
From: www.2theadvocate.com
"WASHINGTON - State Treasurer John Kennedy launched his first major attack against incumbent U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and it is on her home turf issue: oil drilling."
Jindal fears spill's impact; river reopens for shipping
From: www.2theadvocate.com
"The Mississippi River reopened Friday for shipping after being closed two days by a massive oil spill. Gov. Bobby Jindal on Friday voiced concern about the spill's short-term impact on the region's drinking water and the long-term impact on its economy."
State police hit the gas on fuel-saving measures
From: bostonherald.com
"Faced with budget-busting fuel costs that have increased by more than $4 million in three years, the Massachusetts State Police is becoming more fuel efficient."
Riders flock to T in record numbers
From: www.boston.com
"In a world of $4-a-gallon gasoline prices, grocery bills that break the family piggy bank, a seemingly endless home foreclosure crisis, and rising anxiety about the unsettled state of the US economy, there is at least one winner: the MBTA."
State eyes untapped coal, natural-gas reserves
From: www.washingtontimes.com
"FROSTBURG, Md. - State Business and Economic Development Secretary David W. Edgerley has given his support to using Western Maryland's untapped coal and natural-gas reserves to generate electricity and serve an energy-technology research park in Garrett County. "
Md. grants for solar installations tapped out
From: www.baltimoresun.com
"The Maryland Energy Administration says all grant money available this year to homeowners installing solar and geothermal energy systems has been awarded."
Rural Maryland faces shortage of doctors
From: www.baltimoresun.com
"CUMBERLAND, Md. - Maryland's rural areas are likely to have a serious shortage of doctors in coming years, the state's medical establishment has warned."
Mainers view economy as black cloud with no silver lining
From: pressherald.mainetoday.com
"If you think the economy has tanked in the past year, you're not alone. More than nine of 10 Mainers feel the same way, according to a new statewide opinion survey."
Maine dealers to get promised pellet stoves
From: pressherald.mainetoday.com
"More than a week after they were told orders for hundreds of pellet stoves would go unfilled, Harman dealers around the state now believe they will eventually receive the stoves they were promised."
Tackling risks of thermal systems
From: pressherald.mainetoday.com
"Hundreds of geothermal systems are believed scattered across Maine, heating and cooling homes, businesses and public buildings via wells that plunge more than 300 feet below ground."
Gov. Baldacci talks energy
From: bangornews.com
"Gov. John Baldacci drew attention to a "dangerous" winter ahead in his weekly radio address, while Republicans looked only as far into the future as Election Day."
State fair wristband giveaways boost Red Cross blood donations
From: bangornews.com
"BANGOR, Maine - Wristbands good for unlimited rides at the Bangor State Fair proved a major incentive this week for area blood donors, including many who rolled up their sleeves for the first time."
Cost of fuel might hurt State Fair attendance
From: bangornews.com
"BANGOR, Maine - Though it's too early to tell how the high cost of fuel will affect families attending this week's Bangor State Fair, ride operators, vendors and agricultural exhibitors already are feeling the pinch."
Programs to feed Maine schoolchildren
From: bangornews.com
"Maine schoolchildren from kindergarten through grade 12 have access to a variety of subsidized public nutrition programs, including school lunch, school breakfast, before- and after-school snacks, and community-based summer nutrition programs. Some nursery schools, day care providers and summer camps also take advantage of nutrition programs."
Food stamps help 177,966 Mainers
From: bangornews.com
"When household budgets are tight, individuals and families may find themselves short on food. Sometimes filling hungry bellies may seem more important than paying attention to good nutrition. But the federal Food Stamp Program, administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, aims to make it possible to do both."
State officials to meet over June fish kill
From: www.detnews.com
"Department of Natural Resources officials will meet this week with the Attorney General's Office over a fish kill on the Pigeon River caused by a massive release of sediment from an impoundment on a private ranch near Vanderbilt."
No protests as Xcel ramps up nuclear plans
From: www.startribune.com
"As Xcel Energy makes plans to begin storing spent nuclear fuel in dry casks at its nuclear power plant in Monticello next month and pursues hopes of launching a $100 million expansion of the generating capacity at the 38-year-old facility next year, one element is missing: Protests."
Minn. in 27th place on list of states with most foreclosures
From: minnesota.publicradio.org
"A survey by foreclosure research firm RealtyTrac found that, nationally, one in every 171 households received at least one foreclosure-related notice between April and June."
Analysis - facts often get blurred in the heat of political campaigns
From: www.columbiamissourian.com
"A nonprofit group that promotes artisan handicrafts made in the Appalachian region of rural North Carolina has become a point of contention in a Missouri governor's race where the candidates are grasping for a "gotcha" moment.
Treasurer Sarah Steelman has made the North Carolina project a symbol of why she says Congressman Kenny Hulshof can't be trusted to conservatively manage Missouri's budget as governor."
Missouri sues to shut down funeral home in Columbia
From: www.stltoday.com
"The attorney general's office accused a mid-Missouri funeral home on Friday of improperly handling bodies, including storing one body in an electrical room for 10 months without being embalmed or refrigerated."
Wind farm puts Missouri town on alternative-energy map
From: www.stltoday.com
"ROCK PORT, Mo. - Vehicles in this northwest Missouri farm community are likely to be pickups, and "green" is the color of a John Deere tractor."
In 10-day tour, Hulshof shares views on business, economy
From: www.kansascity.com
"Republican gubernatorial candidate Kenny Hulshof took his 10-day business tour to the Northland on Sunday, praising overhauls that he said had created a friendlier business climate in Missouri."
Funeral workers offered training
From: www.clarionledger.com
"Training for crematory operators around the state begins next month, the first visible sign of reform since allegations four months ago of a Jackson operator commingling remains tarnished the industry's credibility."
Brewers frothing about tap-room proposal
From: www.billingsgazette.net
"A proposed change in rules governing microbrewery tap rooms has created a brouhaha among Montana brewers."
Foes of biodefense lab take root, grow
From: www.newsobserver.com
"A year ago, the idea of a $450 million defense lab in Butner triggered hardly a hint of opposition. But this week, supporters and opponents will square off one last time in a noisy debate that has likely altered the state's chances of landing the federal project."
Annuity sales to elderly worry regulators
From: www.newsobserver.com
"Raleigh resident Rosalie Whittington was 80 and had dementia when an insurance agent sold her more than $200,000 worth of annuities designed to provide monthly income -- when she was 105."
State opens hearings on utility's energy-conservation plan
From: www2.journalnow.com
"State regulators open hearings today on an energy-conservation program Duke Energy says will save money for customers and the company."
New Hampshire minimum wage increasing
From: www.fosters.com
"The New Hampshire Department of Labor has announced that due to a change in federal law, there will be an increase in the minimum wage from $6.50 per hour to $6.55 per hour effective July 24. On Sept. 1, minimum wage will increase to $7.25 per hour due to a change in state law."
Negative' firms worry N.H. Employment Security board
From: www.fosters.com
"With unemployment taxes likely to go up, lawmakers are feeling more pressure to do something about "negative-rated employers" -- seasonal companies whose workers get more in unemployment benefits than they pay in unemployment taxes."
NH warns storm-hit homeowners to beware of scams
From: www.fosters.com
"New Hampshire's Insurance Department is warning homeowners whose property was damaged by Thursday's storms to beware of fly-by-night repair companies."
Big dough -- Pizzerias look to bring other costs down as gas prices rise
From: www.fosters.com
"SOMERSWORTH, N.H. -- Tom Kefalas grew up in Greece, where he said pizza shops historically have been able to avoid some of the negative effects of high gas prices because nearly all use gas-sipping motorbikes for deliveries."
N.H. farmers say ethanol bringing higher feed prices
From: www.concordmonitor.com
"When a load of grain arrived at Steve Taylor's dairy farm last week, it cost him $346 a ton. "That's about $120 higher than it was a year ago," said Taylor, who recently stepped down as the state's commissioner of agriculture."
Some cancer patients at N.J. center may have to move
From: www.nj.com
"A bureaucratic tangle in the complex world of health insurance means 1,000 cancer patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering's new center in Basking Ridge may be forced to find new doctors."
Reminders of New Jersey throughout Corzine's trade mission to Israel
From: www.nj.com
"As he soaked up the sights and culture of Israel during a five-day trade mission halfway around the world last week, Gov. Jon Corzine often felt like New Jersey was just a Turnpike exit away."
Schools chief faces questions from state
From: www.nj.com
"In nearly four decades since he arrived at Long Branch public schools, Superintendent Joseph Ferraina has become one of the most effective, outspoken and best-paid school administrators in New Jersey. Now, State Education Commissioner Lucille Davy has raised questions about a series of business dealings between Ferraina and both district employees and a prominent school board member, citing possible ethics violations."
Tracking devices to cut car insurance rates
From: www.nj.com
"A new concept in determining auto insurance bills is coming to the state with the nation's highest average rates: pay-as-you-drive."
Eight assisted living facilities probed on discharge policies
From: www.nj.com
"More than 500 current and former residents of eight assisted living facilities in South Jersey are being contacted by the New Jersey Public Advocate as part of an investigation into alleged "involuntary discharge practices" on the part of the owner, authorities said yesterday."
State sets limits for property 'finders'
From: www.santafenewmexican.com
"The Taxation and Revenue Department says it is changing how a small but seemingly lucrative industry is operating in the state. "
Major construction to continue into school year
From: www.daily-times.com
"With the first day of classes looming just weeks away, students in Bloomfield, Aztec and Farmington can expect to see major construction on campuses when they return to school. "
Court refuses to rehear 'comp' meals decision
From: www.nevadaappeal.com
"The Nevada Supreme Court has refused to reconsider its ruling exempting complimentary casino meals from taxation."
Lack of resources blocks treatment
From: www.lasvegassun.com
"She's a mother of three, a hairdresser and on the brink of divorce, and this is how addicted she is to prescription narcotics: She gets so stressed just at the thought of quitting the drugs, she sweats and trembles, making her customers uncomfortable."
OTB head bets on video-lottery terminals
From: www.nypost.com
"Video-lottery terminals are among the ideas being considered by the new head of the Off-Track Betting corporation.
These terminals - which would require legislative approval - could lead to entertainment complexes in the city created by casino bigs like Steve Wynn and Donald Trump."
Unanimous yes vote advances gorge wind farm development
From: www.oregonlive.com
"Shepherds Flat, touted by its developers as the world's largest wind farm, received a unanimous nod Friday from a state committee approving its site in the Columbia River Gorge."
Evans' calls stressed black casino ownership
From: www.post-gazette.com
"State Gaming Control Board Chairwoman Mary D. Colins said she didn't feel "intimidated or threatened" by a 60-second phone call from state Rep. Dwight Evans, who stressed the importance of continued black ownership in a planned Pittsburgh casino."
Casino facing critical deadline
From: www.post-gazette.com
"After a series of starts and stops, the future of the proposed North Shore casino faces its most critical deadline this week."
Time on Bluhm's side in slots deal
From: www.pittsburghlive.com
"For someone who has taken such grief from lawmakers while working overtime to take over a casino on the verge of bankruptcy, Neil Bluhm has a lot to smile about."
Carcieri rejects talks with Council 94
From: www.projo.com
"Governor Carcieri issued a statement yesterday flatly refusing to negotiate with the state's largest employee union, a day after members rejected a four-year contract proposal that the Republican governor brokered to help balance the state budget."
Lawyers for suspected illegal immigrants face challenges
From: www.projo.com
"Nearly two weeks after federal agents arrested dozens of suspected illegal immigrants who clean the state's courthouses, lawyers are still not sure where all of the detainees are being held."
Union vote to reject contract offer puts state budget in doubt
From: www.projo.com
"On paper, the State of Rhode Island has a balanced budget. But just 27 days into the budget year, there are signs that bureaucratic delays and a recent rebellion by rank-and-file union members may knock the state's 2008-09 spending plan out of whack, further weakening Rhode Island's economic health."
Lobbying expenses criticized
From: www.charleston.net
"In the lobby between the stately chambers of the House and Senate, they stand, 200, 300 of them, packed in like freshmen at a frat party. Each waiting, watching with an agenda."
VW backs increased mileage standards
From: www.timesfreepress.com
"WASHINGTON -- When Congress raised auto mileage standards last year for the first time in decades, the Big Three domestic automakers, along with Toyota, vigorously lobbied against the changes they said would raise their costs and force job cuts. Volkswagen, however, had no complaints about the bill, according to Tennessee lawmakers. "
College graduates can't put degrees to work
From: www.tennessean.com
"When Kenny Lyons graduated seven months ago with degrees in finance and real estate from the University of Mississippi, he had plans to work as a broker raking in lucrative commissions at a real estate firm."
UT banking on profit from oil land deals
From: www.chron.com
"The University of Texas System is looking to trade on high oil prices - and potentially raise up to $1 billion for its endowment - by selling future production from land it manages in West Texas."
Floods strip Midwest of tons of valuable topsoil
From: www.journalstar.com
"The flooding that swamped large areas of the Midwest took with it some of the region's most valuable resource: soil. Now farmers and environmentalists are at odds over what to do with erosion-prone land - take their chances planting crops on marginal land in hopes of good yields and high grain prices, or plant trees, native grasses or ground cover that act as a natural flood buffer."
Great Lakes water deal to get hearing this week
From: www.freep.com
"WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee this week takes up a compact to prevent the diversion of water from the Great Lakes, one of the world's largest sources of fresh water."
Why do sick people go to work? Unhealthy fear
From: www.npr.org
"A lot of people come to work sick, according to a new poll conducted by NPR, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health."
New battles erupt over gun laws
From: www.chicagotribune.com
"ATLANTA-Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a ban on handguns, gun opponents are fighting to preserve or expand gun-free zones, igniting battles over whether civilians should be allowed to carry loaded weapons to places such as airports, public parks and even the Magic Kingdom."
Special-interest lobbies pour cast into judicial races
From: www.chicagotribune.com
"Special-interest lobbies - from business groups to labor unions and trial lawyers - know very well who is running for state Supreme Court seats around the nation because they are pouring unprecedented millions of dollars into these formerly obscure races, with the intent of electing justices who will advance or protect their financial interests."
Libraries adapted to digital age
From: www.usatoday.com
"The Internet was supposed to send America's public libraries the way of eight-track tapes and pay phones. But it turns out, they're busier than ever."
Toll roads take cashless route
From: www.usatoday.com
"The American tollbooth is sliding toward oblivion as the nation moves toward pay-to-drive highways that don't accept cash."
For many student athletes, game over
From: www.nytimes.com
"MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. - Student athletes in maroon and gold uniforms filled their water coolers with more than $19,000 in donations last weekend by standing on street corners here to ask friends, neighbors and strangers alike to help revive the school district's $1.1 million athletic program, which was eliminated last month in budget cuts."
Utah's largest coal producer cuts mining short
From: www.deseretnews.com
"Utah's largest coal producer will bypass $100 million of coal to avoid the kind of danger that led to the collapse at Crandall Canyon."
Foreclosure rate in Utah jumps more than 113%
From: www.deseretnews.com
"Utah ranked 14th in the nation in the rate of foreclosure filings in the second quarter of this year, up from 18th during the first quarter, according to a report released Thursday."
Governor consulted few over work plan
From: www.deseretnews.com
"Giving state workers a say in setting up the new four-day workweek that begins Aug. 4 wouldn't have lessened the level of concern about the schedule shift, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said."
Did senator pull strings for his son?
From: www.sltrib.com
"It looks bad. But those who made the decision claim that nothing inappropriate occurred when Kelly Stowell was hired as the new executive director of Kane County's Center for Education, Business and the Arts (CEBA)."
State employees can't double dip on retirement
From: www.sltrib.com
"State employees who concurrently work two government jobs are not allowed to double-count their years of service toward retirement, the Utah Court of Appeals ruled Friday."
Utah home sales down 28 percent
From: www.heraldextra.com
"The housing market along the Wasatch Front is slowing, but prices are not following the downward trend."
Utah ranks 14th in foreclosure filings
From: www.heraldextra.com
"Utah's foreclosure rate has increased 113 percent over the same period last year."
Tax-free holiday: To shop or not to shop?
From: www.inrich.com
"King William County resident Teresa Petty said the statewide tax-free holiday on school supplies later this week isn't enough incentive to warrant a shopping trip."
Va. seafood port is ranked high
From: www.inrich.com
"NORFOLK, Va. - Hampton Roads ranked as the fifth-wealthiest seafood port in the country in 2007 in the latest federal statistics, despite environmental concerns about fish and shellfish levels in Virginia waters."
Va. jails to report foreign inmates
From: www.washingtonpost.com
"A year after Prince William County launched a crackdown on illegal immigrants, Virginia has implemented a law that requires something similar for every jurisdiction in the state. "
Vermont Yankee radiation rises
From: burlingtonfreepress.com
"The Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant emitted higher levels of radiation in 2007 than in previous years, an expected result of its boosted power output, but the amount remained below the state's limits to protect public health, according to a Vermont Department of Health report issued Friday."
Judges question feds, Vermont Yankee owners
From: burlingtonfreepress.com
"NEWFANE, Vt. -- A hearing on the proposed re-licensing of Vermont Yankee nuclear plant wrapped up with federal regulators and the plant's owners testifying about a computer model designed to predict the effects of aging on the plant's piping."
Study -- Yankee radiation up 30%
From: www.timesargus.com
"BRATTLEBORO, Vt. - Vermont Yankee nuclear plant is releasing 30 percent more radiation into the environment since it boosted power production by 20 percent two years ago, according to a study from the Department of Health released Friday."
Talk of state job cuts echoes 1950s report
From: www.rutlandherald.com
"You don't have to read all 115 pages of the Commission to Study State Government's report to understand its concern about growing staff and spending or its call for immediate cuts."
Bar revenues in Wash. rebound despite smoking ban
From: www.theolympian.com
"It's noon on a Wednesday afternoon when the regulars begin trickling into Bill's Place. They enjoy the tavern's $1 cheeseburgers with one of the beers on tap. Many say the tavern on South Third Avenue offers the coldest brews around."
Grazing on public land -- helpful to ranchers, but harmful to habitat?
From: seattletimes.nwsource.com
"State Department of Fish and Wildlife programs to allow some grazing on publicly owned habitat land have drawn criticism from those who say the cattle are damaging the fragile ecosystems."
Nursing homes' quality, safety can be hard to gauge
From: www.jsonline.com
"Checking a nursing home's background is crucial in determining if Mom or Grandpa will receive good care. Has the home been in trouble before? Are there enough nurses? Are residents safe? Yet it is easier for a consumer to find the repair and ownership history of a used car."
Development groups weigh impact of verdict
From: www.jsonline.com
"A state Supreme Court ruling that a Beaver Dam economic development group is a quasi-governmental organization and must obey the state's open meetings and open records laws has been hailed as a victory for open government and criticized as a threat to economic development."
Officials announce new $800 million coal-to-gasoline plant
From: www.dailymail.com
"Two companies have formed a joint venture that will build an $800 million coal-to-gasoline plant -- the state's first -- at Benwood, Marshall County, officials announced today."
State benefits from regional construction slowdown
From: www.casperstartribune.com
"The state is getting some breaks on construction bids on its raft of projects in Cheyenne and Laramie. State construction officials speculate that contractors in other states are vying for Wyoming jobs as work slows down elsewhere, especially along the Front Range in Colorado."
Residents vacationing closer to home
From: www.casperstartribune.com
"Many Wyoming residents are vacationing closer to home because of high gasoline prices, state park officials say."
Wyoming gets share of drug pricing settlement
From: www.casperstartribune.com
"Wyoming is one of 43 states sharing in a $389 million settlement between the federal government and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company to resolve claims of illegal drug marketing and prescription prices paid by Medicaid."
Louisiana touts its off-shore oil drilling
From: www.stateline.org
"
NEW ORLEANS — While coastal states nationwide debate whether to drill for oil and natural gas off their shores, Louisiana and three other Gulf Coast states are offering their off-shore drilling operations as proof that they can mine oil and gas without hurting the environment.
"
States worry about dwindling road funds
From: www.stateline.org
"(Updated 12:30 p.m. EDT, July 24, 2008)
Drivers are buying less gasoline, draining the federal Highway Trust Fund and jeopardizing thousands of major road and transit projects around the country."
Govs turn to fixing infrastructure
From: www.stateline.org
"PHILADELPHIA — Improving the nation’s crumbling bridges, roads and sewage systems is a $1.6 trillion problem that governors intend to explore in the next year."
Social issues crowd state ballots
From: www.stateline.org
"
Besides electing a president on Nov. 4, voters in some key battleground states also will face divisive social policy choices, including whether to ban gay marriage in Florida and restrict affirmative action and abortion in Colorado."
WORTH NOTING: R.I. sweeps out cleaning staff
From: www.stateline.org
"The Rhode Island attorney general’s office is duped by a janitor. A South Carolina lawmaker gets defensive over an incriminating photo. And Ohio cracks down on very tiny, but unwanted overnight guests. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in."
WORTH NOTING: Cream pie on gov's 4th of July
From: www.stateline.org
"Vermont
’s governor unexpectedly gets pie in the eye. Ohio State University, a runner-up in football and basketball, earns a dubious top ranking in something else. And the National Football League raids the Pennsylvania State Police for talent. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in."
Budget gaps triple for '09
From: www.stateline.org
"
The drumbeat of bad fiscal news from statehouses is intensifying. States collectively faced deficits of $40.3 billion in writing their current budgets — triple the $13 billion shortfall states weathered the previous year, a new report released July 23 shows.
"
NCSL Conference focuses on floods, energy
From: www.stateline.org
"As state lawmakers gather in New Orleans this week for a policy conference, they’ll be reminded often of what can happen if public works are allowed to deteriorate."
Sour economy limits states' options in '08
From: www.stateline.org
"
(Updated 5:38 p.m. EDT, July 17, 2008)
For many states, 2008 will be remembered for record numbers of home foreclosures, $4-a-gallon gasoline and the beginning of a slide into new fiscal woes after two years of overflowing coffers.
Stateline.org’s annual state-by-state look at legislative accomplishments, covering 39 states so far, discerns the trends and precedents emerging from state capitals this year."
2008 state-by-state summary
From: www.stateline.org
"
(Updated 2:26 p.m. EDT, July 18, 2008)
Here’s
Stateline.org's state-by-state rundown of significant legislative action in 2008."
States avoid slashing higher ed money
From: www.stateline.org
"Despite a tough economic year, several states are attempting to hold the line on college tuition — or at least not let increases get out of control — by avoiding deep cuts to higher education, an area that states have been quick to slash in past years when funds were low."
States move to regulate senior guardians
From: www.stateline.org
"
As the U.S. population ages and families scatter across the country, the frail elderly increasingly end up relying on court-appointed guardians when they can no longer take care of their personal affairs. California just joined six other states in watching over these professionals charged with protecting society’s most vulnerable adults.
"
Jobs are at risk if Congress doesn't fix the Highway Fund
From: www.stateline.org
"State budgets and nearly 400,000 jobs are at risk if Congress fails to replenish the Highway Trust Fund, John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials, writes in a commentary for
Stateline.org."
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."
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