States weigh bans on plastic grocery bags
From: feeds.stateline.org
"As California debates enacting the first statewide plastic bag ban, an environmental issue that started in city halls is taking a turn toward the statehouse. Grocers who opposed the movement against plastic bags now say they’d rather have one state law than a patchwork of local ordinances.
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AK: Industry, state still working to count fish crew
From: feeds.stateline.org
"ANCHORAGE, Alaska - No one really knows how many crewmembers work the fishing vessels operating in state waters. And that could be knocking the crews and their communities out of potentially millions of dollars in grants and potential fishing quotas, according to industry leaders.
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AK: Old Alaska built on promises to repay
From: feeds.stateline.org
"After the financial crisis of 2008, we heard a lot about badly regulated complex financial instruments. Collateralized debt obligations, for example.
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AK: State would be on the hook for some gas pipeline costs
From: feeds.stateline.org
"The state would almost certainly have to pay for some of the construction of a gas pipeline from the North Slope to Cook Inlet to keep gas rates reasonable for Southcentral consumers, a legislative panel was told Monday.
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AR: Pondering the 'Razorback Subsidy'
From: feeds.stateline.org
"This story encompasses everything right, wrong or in between with our politics. Key characters range from top White House officials to Arkansas farmers. So let's tell it.
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AZ: ADOT -- Buckled median no danger, so no repair
From: feeds.stateline.org
"A buckled concrete median that juts upward is on North Oracle Road near East Rancho Vistoso Boulevard in Oro Valley, and it has one taxpayer worried.
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AZ: Vanguard to purchase Arizona Heart Hospital, Institute
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Vanguard Health Systems on Monday announced a deal to purchase the Arizona Heart Hospital for about $32 million from North Carolina-based MedCath Corp. and a group of local physicians.
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AZ: Special session looking at union measure
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Lawmakers returned to the state Capitol on Monday for the first time in three months to revive a ballot measure that had been rejected by the courts.
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AZ: Pulte OKs settlement in Arizona loan probe
From: feeds.stateline.org
"One of Arizona's largest homebuilders, Pulte Home Corp., has agreed to pay $1.18 million to settle a state investigation into how it marketed mortgages to homebuyers.
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CA: Judge blocks Schwarzenegger from implementing furloughs
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Roughly 150,000 state workers could avoid unpaid furlough days set to begin Friday after an Alameda County Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order on Monday blocking Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger from forcing the mandatory time off.
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CA: Coastal plan irks fishermen
From: feeds.stateline.org
"LOS ANGELES—Brightly colored sea urchins are plentiful this year on the rocky seabed of Southern California, but divers may soon face new restrictions on where they can collect them. A state law is expected to take effect along the Southern California coast by the end of the year banning or limiting fishing and similar activities in 10% to 15% of the area from Santa Barbara County to the Mexican border.
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CO: Ritter, oil and gas industry to announce major wildlife accord
From: feeds.stateline.org
"State officials have struck a deal with Exxon Mobil, EnCana and other major oil and gas companies operating in the Piceance Basin of Colorado's Western Slope, agreeing to minimize impacts to wildlife when drilling in important habitat areas.
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CT: Greater Hartford home sales plunge in July, but prices still rise
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Watchers of the Greater Hartford housing market were expecting a drop in the number of sales of single-family houses in July now that the homebuyer tax credit has ended, but perhaps not to nearly 50-percent slide that was reported Monday.
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CT: Gold Coast slips but maintains huge national wealth lead
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Average Income Per Person In Southwestern Connecticut Fell By One Of The Biggest Margins In The Nation In 2009.
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CT: Topix.com agrees to stop fees for stopping abusive posts
From: feeds.stateline.org
"An Internet message board that charged a fee to people who flagged inappropriate content agreed Monday, under pressure from Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and others, to eliminate the charge and improve its efforts to review abusive postings.
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DE: Rebate program for energy efficiency switches gears
From: feeds.stateline.org
"With Delaware's appliance rebate program ending, the Sustainable Energy Utility is now turning its attention to more efficient heating, cooling and lighting. So far, 12,000 rebates have been processed, and qualifying appliances sold before Aug. 31 are still eligible for the stimulus-funded rebates of up to $200.
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DE: State releases report of $1.95M settlement with Valero
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Delaware has fined Valero Energy $1.95 million for nearly 200 pollution violations over the past decade at the Delaware City Refinery. State regulators quietly agreed to the settlement -- among the largest cash-only environmental penalties levied by Delaware in recent memory -- on May 28, days before Valero sold the refinery to a Connecticut firm.
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FL: USF says government tried to squelch their oil plume findings
From: feeds.stateline.org
"A month after the Deepwater Horizon disaster began, scientists from the University of South Florida made a startling announcement. They had found signs that the oil spewing from the well had formed a 6-mile-wide plume snaking along in the deepest recesses of the gulf. The reaction that USF announcement received from the Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the federal agencies that sponsored their research: Shut up.
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FL: Tampa Bay Host Committee reveals logo, website for GOP convention
From: feeds.stateline.org
"TAMPA, Fla. — The 2012 Republican National Convention will serve as the Tampa Bay area's own economic stimulus plan, promising an influx of nearly 50,000 people, local organizers say.
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FL: Gulf relief well down to final, tricky 100 feet
From: feeds.stateline.org
"The relief well being drilled to ensure crude never again spills into the ocean from BP's paralyzed well in the Gulf of Mexico has been dubbed the ultimate solution to the drama that's unfolded over the past three months.
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HI: Procurements done properly, review finds
From: feeds.stateline.org
"The state Procurement Office has found nothing to substantiate a complaint that Honolulu violated the procurement code in dozens of city contracts for professional services, including three related to the city's $5.5 billion rail project.
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IA: Regulations regarding breastfeeding will impact all businesses
From: feeds.stateline.org
"State officials say things have changed a bit in a recent federal clarification of the rules on a new requirement that employers provide time -- and a place -- for nursing mothers to express breast milk during work hours.
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IA: Vote in Congress could bring millions for schools
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Iowa school districts are likely to get about $96 million in federal money that would be used exclusively for salaries for teachers and other school employees, education officials said Monday.
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ID: Screw-up is needlessly starving providers, Idaho economy
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Everybody knows what it's like to get a new computer. Everybody knows how it is when you go through a computer upgrade. Everybody expects some glitches when you change vendors or install a new system.
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ID: Molina to make extra $55 million payment
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Medicaid billing company Molina Healthcare must pay $55 million to Idaho Medicaid providers to smooth out financial troubles caused by sporadic payments from the company, according to a release from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
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IL: Wheat crop is an afterthought in Illinois
From: feeds.stateline.org
"PEORIA, Ill. -- While wheat prices skyrocket across the globe, Illinois is coming off one of its worst wheat growing years ever.
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IL: NASCAR race in Illinois could add 500 jobs
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Gov. Pat Quinn says he's excited for the potential economic impact of NASCAR's Sprint Cup championship opening race at Chicagoland Speedway.
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IL: 29% of Chicago area mortgages underwater
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Almost 29 percent of all home mortgages in the Chicago area were underwater during the year's second quarter, an improvement from the 31.8 percent level recorded in the first quarter, Zillow reported Monday.
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IL: Stroger jobs program loses $2.7 million
From: feeds.stateline.org
"At a time when more than one out of 10 Chicago-area workers are unemployed, Cook County lost $2.7 million meant to teach job skills to hundreds of suburban residents because it failed to spend the federal money, state documents show.
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IN: Indiana Governor Daniels, democrats disagree on federal aid for states
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Democrats chided Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels on Monday for criticizing federal legislation that could send more than $434 million to Indiana to help prevent teacher layoffs and pay for expanded Medicaid costs.
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IN: Casinos starting to see green again
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Casino revenues showed signs of improvement in July, with all the Northwest Indiana casinos either holding their own or posting improved financial numbers.
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IN: Did Daniels flip-flop on stimulus money?
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Gov. Mitch Daniels says he is opposed to more federal stimulus money for Indiana, but six months ago he asked for just that.
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IN: Indiana counselor 'deeply concerned' about Duke plant
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Indiana's advocate for utility ratepayers said Monday he is "deeply concerned" about the mounting cost of a coal-gasification plant Duke Energy Corp. is building and urged state regulators to protect Duke's customers from the cost overruns.
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KY: Kentucky State Fair jobs draw long-term unemployed
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Kentucky State Fair jobs paying minimum wage for 11 days used to attract college students looking to pick up some spending money.
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LA: BP deposits $3 billion into fund for claims arising from Gulf of Mexico oil spill
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Having reached agreement with Justice Department lawyers, BP announced Monday that it has established a trust to pay "legitimate claims" arising from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and deposited the first $3 billion of the $20 billion it has committed to the fund.
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MA: UMass pact is target of complaint
From: feeds.stateline.org
"A group of nonunion contractors has filed a complaint with the State Ethics Commission alleging that a $750 million construction agreement at the University of Massachusetts Boston favored by organized labor violated the state's conflict of interest law when it was approved by a board that includes two union leaders.
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MA: For Amorello, a long slide
From: feeds.stateline.org
"HAVERHILL, Mass. — Since Matthew Amorello stepped down under pressure as Massachusetts Turnpike Authority chairman four years ago, his life has spiraled downward. His marriage ended. He lost his Wenham home to foreclosure. And he has been unable to find a job, according to friends. Yesterday, the man who once oversaw the Big Dig, the largest public works project in American history, saw his personal problems made glaringly public.
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MA: Rentals harder to find, afford
From: feeds.stateline.org
"The region's rental market has tightened in recent months, with apartment vacancies falling and rents rising for the first time since the beginning of the economic crisis.
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MD: Constellation aims to buy Boston plants for $1.1 billion
From: feeds.stateline.org
"In one of its largest acquisitions in years, Constellation Energy Group Inc. announced Monday it hopes to purchase five power plants in the Boston area that would boost its energy-producing capacity by a third. Constellation, parent company of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., wants to buy the plants from Boston Generating, a part of U.S. Power Generating Co. that is expected to file for bankruptcy protection in the fall.
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ME: State panel backs worker's claim of discrimination
From: feeds.stateline.org
"A human rights panel voted to find reasonable grounds Monday that a Clinton man whose job was terminated while he was out on sick leave was a victim of disability discrimination.
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ME: Bangor dispensary envisioned
From: feeds.stateline.org
"A California-based group that recently was awarded the license to operate a medical marijuana dispensary for Penobscot and Piscataquis counties would like to locate the facility in Bangor, the region's service center. The only question is where.
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ME: Some on task force question goals they set
From: feeds.stateline.org
"The Wind Energy Act of 2008, which gave developers a fast track for putting up wind turbines on some of the state's treasured high ground, was a piece of legislation passed at the time in the name of jobs, energy independence and climate change."There is tremendous potential for Maine to become a leader in clean, renewable energy, including wind energy," said Gov. John Baldacci, who appointed the task force whose report led to the bill. "This kind of investment would create jobs and help to expand Maine's economy."
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MI: Royal Oak says 'no' to state's largest marijuana warehouse; commissioner seeks permanent ban
From: feeds.stateline.org
"The Royal Oak City Commission on Monday night voted unanimously against an exception to the city's temporary medical marijuana moratorium for a local businessman seeking to turn his vacant warehouse into the state's largest grow facility.
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MI: Pay for Michigan educators raises questions -- Can state afford high salaries? Should pay be linked to performance?
From: feeds.stateline.org
"KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Long before he was a state senator for Michigan's southwestern corner, Ron Jelinek was a teacher, and, in 1967, he was a first-year teacher in Berrien County earning $5,600.
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MI: More underwater in metro homes
From: feeds.stateline.org
"The number of underwater homes fell in the second quarter nationally while the figure keeps rising in metro Detroit, according to Zillow.com data released Monday.
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MO: Missouri tries new concept for raising revenue- a fundraiser.
From: feeds.stateline.org
"During this year's Missouri legislative session, this page criticized the Legislature and Gov. Jay Nixon for their lack of imagination in dealing with the state budget crisis. So it's only fair to point out the state's imaginative approach to dealing with a $100,000 crisis at one of its state parks.
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MT: Republican former state senator from Laurel formally enters 2012 governor's race
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Former state Sen. Ken Miller, a Laurel businessman and Republican who ran unsuccessfully for Montana governor in 2004, today formally kicked off his campaign for governor in 2012.
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ND: Wind industry proves powerful again
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Innovation is the name of the game when it comes to this region's burgeoning wind industry.
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ND: N.D. should take pride in surging economy
From: feeds.stateline.org
"The Fedgazette is always good reading, and the latest issue, dated July, has lots of good things to say about North Dakota.
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ND: Advocates scramble to salvage N.D. pharmacy measure
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Advocates of an initiative petition to end North Dakota's restrictions on pharmacy ownership searched Monday for a way to salvage it after conceding supporters signed petitions that lacked a list of sponsors.
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ND: Warm, dry weather helps North Dakota crop
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Warm, dry weather helped North Dakota's crops mature and allowed farmers to begin harvesting some of their grains.
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NE: Wheat price ride in Nebraska stays on wild side
From: feeds.stateline.org
"The wild ride for Nebraska wheat prices continued Monday.
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NH: Ag secretary lends ear to landowners
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Since June, senior administration officials have held 18 listening sessions around the country as part of President Obama's "America's Great Outdoors" initiative.
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NJ: Sen. Lesniak proposed two plans to save Atlantic City casinos, horse racing
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak (D-Union) is offering two plans to improving casino gambling and saving horse racing in New Jersey that he describes as the optimal solution which will give Atlantic City the best chance to be a world class tourist attraction and a less than optimal solution, but one that will improving gambling operations.
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NM: Firm drops 'pay-to-police' Web policy
From: feeds.stateline.org
"In response to pressure from 34 state attorneys general, including New Mexico's Gary King, Topix.com, an online news aggregator that handles reader comments for news sites around the country, agreed Monday to stop its "pay-to-police" policy. Under the policy, Topix.com charged to expedite reviews of abusive or potentially libelous comments.
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NV: Silver State's incomes dive
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Foreclosures, unemployment and, as of Monday, personal income growth: Another economic indicator shows Nevada was hit harder by the nationwide recession than any other state.
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NV: Nevada's low taxes not always the best incentive, officials say
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Nevada has built its reputation as a low-tax haven to encourage companies to relocate their businesses here in recent years. But low taxes alone won't be enough to lure companies when rival states offset the low-tax advantage with economic incentives to move, a group studying the economic diversification of the state was told Monday.
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NY: Lazio -- Let's pull plug on mosque
From: feeds.stateline.org
"GOP gubernatorial hopeful Rick Lazio yesterday called on the Public Service Commission to zap the Ground Zero mosque because of the revelation that Con Ed owns half the site.
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NY: Public pay, special deals
From: feeds.stateline.org
"In the foothills of the struggling Catskills, Greene County legislators are up in arms that their county economic development chief is getting annual bonuses that dwarf his $130,000 salary. The pay structure was news to them. In the southern Adirondacks, elected leaders are reeling at the discovery that the top two job-creation professionals in Fulton County were each paid well above $500,000 in 2008.
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OH: Region's mass-layoff filings drop
From: feeds.stateline.org
"The economic health of northwest Ohio always gets expressed in numbers, so here is a key number: four.
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OH: 420 will lose jobs with closing of plant
From: feeds.stateline.org
"LEBANON, Ohio -- The city's second largest manufacturer will close by year's end, forcing more than 420 people to lose their jobs.
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OH: Taco Bell linked to salmonella outbreak in Ohio
From: feeds.stateline.org
"A salmonella outbreak linked to Taco Bell has sickened at least 25 Ohioans, 10 of whom were hospitalized.
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OH: Lawmaker seeks to cut off workers' comp council
From: feeds.stateline.org
"As the state moves toward a settlement with three workers fired from the Ohio Workers' Compensation Council, an Ohio House Democrat continues to push for eliminating all funding for the council, which is designed to advise lawmakers on Bureau of Workers' Compensation matters and bills.
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OK: Extra funds may pose dilemma for Oklahoma schools
From: feeds.stateline.org
"WASHINGTON -- Oklahoma schools would be expected to spend $119 million to save teacher jobs this year and not save the money to fill in budget gaps next year when stimulus dollars run out.
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OR: A fifth of Portland-area homeowners underwater on mortgage
From: feeds.stateline.org
"More than one in five, 22.6 percent, of Portland-area owners of single-family homes with mortgages were underwater at the end of second quarter, according to Zillow.com.
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OR: Electronic cigarette company barred from doing business in Oregon
From: feeds.stateline.org
"A Florida tobacco company that sold "electronic cigarettes" in Oregon has to pay the state more than $95,000.
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PA: Rendell works to fix state budget shortage
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Gov. Ed Rendell said he'll sit down with legislative leaders Wednesday to solve the $250 million question.
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PA: Profits up, jobs down ... what's in Pennsylvania's future?
From: feeds.stateline.org
"The Federal Reserve Board is widely expected to downgrade its growth projections for the American economy - something the panel has already done in 2010 - when it meets today in Washington.
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PA: State employee layoffs could be fewer than 200, Gov. Ed Rendell says
From: feeds.stateline.org
"State employee layoffs under this year's budget could total fewer than 200 rather than the 700 Gov. Ed Rendell estimated last month.
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SC: S.C. in line to get $280 million
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Congress will take up a bill today that could funnel an additional $280 million to South Carolina's cash-strapped state budget, its aim being to stem new teacher layoffs and provide health care to the poor.
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SD: S.D. unsure on taking $26M in aid
From: feeds.stateline.org
"The House of Representatives is set to vote today on another bailout proposal. It would send an additional $26.1 billion to the states with the intention of preventing teacher layoffs and sustaining medical care for poor people.
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SD: SD small grains harvest more than halfway done
From: feeds.stateline.org
"The small grains harvest is more than half done in South Dakota, but crops in some parts of the state were hindered by unwanted rain.
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US: House moves to help teachers, public workers
From: feeds.stateline.org
"WASHINGTON -- Hoping to show disenchanted voters that they are the party that cares about jobs, House Democrats are convening an emergency session to pass a bill aimed at saving hundreds of thousands of teachers and other public workers from unemployment.
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US: House to OK $26B in aid to states
From: feeds.stateline.org
"WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives plans Tuesday to approve funding that would save an estimated 161,000 teachers' jobs nationwide and pump billions of dollars into depleted state treasuries to help pay health benefits for the poor.
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UT: Utah ranks second on 'Gold Standard' list for pro-business states
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Utah ranks second on the list of Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States for 2010, marking the second year in a row the Beehive State has achieved that ranking.
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VA: Gates will eliminate Norfolk's Joint Forces Command
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called for the elimination of the Norfolk-based Joint Forces Command on Monday as part of a broader effort to reduce certain kinds of military spending - especially a growing reliance on defense contractors. "The culture of endless money that has taken hold must be replaced by a culture of savings and restraint," Gates said.
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VA: Politicians decry plan to close Hampton Roads' command
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, recommending hard-times spending and job cuts for the Pentagon, is targeting a command center in South Hampton Roads that employs about 6,300 people and spends nearly $704 million a year.
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VA: Pentagon to cut thousands of jobs, defense secretary says
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Monday that the Pentagon will cut thousands of jobs, including a substantial chunk of its private contractors and a major military command based in Norfolk, as part of an ongoing effort to streamline its operations and to stave off political pressure to slash defense spending in the years ahead.
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VA: New Va. panel aims to keep, attract military assets
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Gov. Bob McDonnell isn't content to simply fight to keep Norfolk's Joint Forces Command operational - he also wants to relocate military facilities to the state when possible.
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VA: McDonnell in Norfolk to pitch liquor-sales privatization plan
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Privatizing Virginia's liquor stores will reap more money for the state, increase competition and cut prices, Gov. Bob McDonnell said Monday at a forum at Old Dominion University.
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VT: Vermont regulators to get more details on Fairpoint bankruptcy plan
From: feeds.stateline.org
"FairPoint Communications Inc. will submit more information to Vermont regulators in hopes of getting them to reverse a previous decision and approve the company's plan to emerge from bankruptcy, a FairPoint executive said Monday.
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WA: Washington congressional delegation demands Obama stop NOAA move
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Washington state's two U.S. senators and seven of its nine House representatives are asking President Barack Obama to stop the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) move of its marine operations center-Pacific operations from Seattle's Lake Union to Oregon.
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WI: SBA lending in Wisconsin plunges in July
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Small Business Administration-backed lending in Wisconsin fell to mid-recession depths last month following the expiration of federal measures designed to stimulate loans and the economy.
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WI: Medical technology company moving to Madison
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Lured by state incentives, a small medical technology firm spun off from an Indiana company said Monday it will locate in Madison.
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WV: Lawmakers keep asking about outsourcing of 600 state IT jobs
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Legislators Monday continued to grill state Chief Technology Officer Kyle Schafer about prospects for outsourcing nearly 600 state information technology jobs -- and Schafer continued to stress that discussions are extremely preliminary.
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WV: Release of W.Va. quarter not due until 2016
From: feeds.stateline.org
"While five quarter-dollar coins in the U.S. Mint's new "America the Beautiful" series are being issued this year, West Virginians will have to wait until 2016 to see quarters commemorating Harpers Ferry National Historical Park turning up in their change.
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U.S. House returns to approve aid for states
From: feeds.stateline.org
"TODAY'S TAKE: The U.S. House of Representatives returns to Washington Tuesday (Aug. 10) during a previously scheduled recess in order to approve new money for cash-strapped states. Democrats who control the chamber say the measure will prevent teacher lay-offs and and head off cuts to Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor, but signs from the states indicate it may not be enough.
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States test whether public pension benefits given can be taken away
From: feeds.stateline.org
"Most changes made to shore up state pension funds have been aimed at new employees. Now, three states are targeting current retirees — a group that has been considered off limits.
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Visit the Stateline.org Economy & Business Page
From: feeds.stateline.org
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