This state park brought to you by...
From: www.stateline.org
"Faced with the prospect of closing parks or facilities, some states are turning to a funding opportunity long considered taboo: sponsorship agreements with corporations."
AK: UAF Study to look at market interest in reindeer
From: juneauempire.com
"For most hungry Alaskans, reindeer meat doesn't represent much more than a spicy sausage link. "
AL: Riley fears BP won't pay state's 1st oil spill claim of $148M
From: www.montgomeryadvertiser.com
"Gov. Bob Riley said the state of Alabama filed a $148 million claim for lost revenue with BP last week, but he is concerned that the state might not receive money for years because of a lawsuit the attorney general filed against the oil giant."
AR: $2.2 million to help state's national cemeteries
From: arkansasnews.com
"Arkansas will receive $2.2. million in federal stimulus funding to help refurbish the state's three national cemeteries, the state's congressional delegation announced today."
AZ: 3 Arizona for-profit schools fare well
From: www.azcentral.com
"The University of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University and Universal Technical Institute fared relatively well in a government report on student-loan repayment rates, shielding their stocks from the beating many of their competitors took Monday."
AZ: FTC orders shutdown of Phoenix Internet marketer
From: www.azcentral.com
"A district court ordered a Phoenix internet marketer of weight loss pills and colon cleansers to temporarily halt business, after hearing Federal Trade Commission allegations of deceptive advertising and unfair billing practices that scammed consumers out of $30 million or more in 2009.
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AZ: Arizona's illegal immigrants can easily avoid E-verify system
From: www.azcentral.com
"Companies have opportunities to make sure they aren't hiring illegal immigrants.
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CA: California housing industry's economic output down 80% since 2005
From: www.latimes.com
"The housing bust has cost California plenty."
CT: Slot revenues are up, but the casinos keep it in perspective
From: theday.com
"Connecticut's casinos reported Monday that their slot-machine revenue was up in July compared to the same month the previous year. "
CT: Used-car market booming for assessors, too
From: www.courant.com
"Sticker shock is hitting the used-car market big-time."
CT: GOP's Foley walks into Democratic stronghold
From: ctmirror.com
"Democrat Dan Malloy visited the Connecticut AFL-CIO on Monday to seal the deal on the labor federation's endorsement today of his candidacy for governor. Republican Tom Foley came with no expectations."
CT: Top state lawmakers aren't worried about federal aid shortfall
From: ctmirror.com
"Top state lawmakers are optimistic that even if new federal stimulus rules punch a $156 million hole into the new state budget, rebounding tax revenues will cover most of the gap."
DE: Del. Blue Cross Blue Shield seeks partner
From: www.delawareonline.com
"Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, the state's largest and most influential health insurance company, is actively seeking to partner with a larger, deeper-pocketed Blue Cross plan, the company has confirmed. "
FL: Federal government, states nearing agreement on oil cleanup strategy
From: www.tampabay.com
"Now that the well that spewed oil from the Deepwater Horizon rig for three months has been plugged, the federal government is completing agreements with states, including Florida, on defining "how clean is clean.""
FL: Auditor -- Miami misusing millions in gas taxes
From: www.miamiherald.com
"Already in the sights of federal investigators over questionable money transfers, Miami's fragile financial picture took another hit Monday: The city auditor found yet another series of multimillion dollar moves to balance Miami's sinking books.
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GA: Hills named Georgia's next treasurer
From: atlanta.bizjournals.com
"Gov. Sonny Perdue said late Monday Tommy Hills, the state's first-ever chief financial officer, will become the Peach State's next treasurer."
GA: State has just weeks to use or lose $7.6 million
From: www.ajc.com
"Georgia officials didn't apply for federal stimulus funding to help struggling low-income families keep their homes until more than a year after Congress made the money available through the Recovery Act."
IA: Branstad launches jobs tour
From: qctimes.com
"Former Gov. Terry Branstad, who has set goals of spurring the creation of 200,000 private-sector jobs and increasing family income 25 percent, will lay out the "how" of his economic development plan during an 11-city "Ready to Create Jobs" tour this week."
IA: Register Soapbox -- Iowa's unions are too weak, Democrats too focused on the rich
From: blogs.desmoinesregister.com
"David Rosenfeld of the Socialist Workers Party is running for Iowa governor. He appeared this afternoon at the Register's Iowa State Fair Soapbox. "
IA: State rules exasperate entrepreneurs-to-be
From: www.desmoinesregister.com
"HONEY CREEK, Iowa -- The use of two tablespoons of bleach to clean equipment nearly prevented Sharon Oamek from opening her goat cheese business."
ID: Gov. Butch Otter- Idaho's F-35 campaign isn't 'history'
From: www.idahostatesman.com
"Idaho got some disappointing news recently when the Air Force announced its "preferred alternatives" for basing the new F-35 fighter, and neither Idaho base was on the list. But I also was surprised and disappointed by the Statesman's interpretation, in an Aug. 1 editorial, that the project is "history" for Idaho.
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IL: Illinois gets $1 mil for health insurance rate review
From: www.dailyherald.com
"The Illinois Department of Insurance has been awarded a $1 million federal grant to put more muscle into its review of health insurance premium increases."
IL: Six cities vying to become part of FutureGen 2.0
From: www.herald-review.com
"With an eye on getting a significant influx of federal stimulus dollars and at least 75 jobs, officials from at least six Central Illinois communities say they are considering applying to become part of the revamped FutureGen proposal."
IL: State tax credit helps small businesses create jobs
From: www.suntimes.com
"Pawel Witkowski is excited about his new job as a design consultant, and handled with aplomb his appearance at a news conference Monday to explain that the job came with a tax credit for small businesses."
IL: Mortgage closing costs jump 40% in Illinois
From: chicagobreakingbusiness.com
"Average mortgage closing costs have jumped 40 percent in Illinois this year, according to an online survey by personal finance company Bankrate Inc."
IL: Quinn calls Brady 'expert at layoffs'
From: www.chicagotribune.com
"Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn attacked his Republican challenger's business acumen on Monday, calling state Sen. Bill Brady "an expert at layoffs.""
IL: Proposed slaughterhouse stirs controversy in Quad Cities
From: www.chicagotribune.com
"A giant slaughterhouse in the Illinois river town of East Moline is creating a big stink -- and it hasn't even been built yet."
IL: 8 years after partnership, promise of destination oases remains elusive
From: www.chicagotribune.com
"Lease to run oases could be auctioned off in court as early as next week."
IN: State schools await $207 million in stimulus funds
From: www.indystar.com
"Indiana's school superintendents don't know how much of it they'll get or how it will be distributed, but they're already salivating to get their hands on $207 million in stimulus money approved by Congress."
KY: Judge hears testimony against Kentucky worker furloughs
From: www.courier-journal.com
"A Franklin Circuit judge heard arguments Monday from six state workers who are attempting to stop Gov. Steve Beshear from furloughing some workers to save money."
KY: Kentucky levies $410,000 in fines on Alliance Coal subsidiary for straying beyond mine boundaries
From: www.courier-journal.com
"Kentucky officials have levied $410,000 in fines against an Alliance Coal subsidiary for mining lands outside the limits set by a controversial mine permit the company was granted last year."
LA: Unallayed by tests, fishermen greet start of gulf shrimp harvest with suspicion
From: www.washingtonpost.com
"On Monday, Louisiana's shrimpers could shrimp again. On the first day of the state's fall season, boats began unloading their catch at bayou-side docks, and processors began peeling, freezing and packaging the shellfish for the long trip to America's dinner plates."
LA: Gone fishing -- Louisiana shrimpers get back to work
From: online.wsj.com
"Shrimpers began trawling big stretches of Louisiana coastal waters Monday as the fall season got under way, in the latest sign that the Gulf of Mexico's fishing industry is starting to bounce back from a massive oil spill."
LA: Georgia scientists say 80 percent of spilled BP oil remains in Gulf of Mexico
From: www.nola.com
"Georgia scientists say their analysis shows that most of that BP oil the government said was gone from the Gulf of Mexico is still there."
LA: Louisiana mental health care gets $15 million from BP in wake of oil spill
From: www.nola.com
"BP said Monday it will provide $15 million to underwrite mental health services for oil spill-beleaguered families along the Louisiana coast, and while one major relief organization welcomed the grant, it said many families still need other basics like food and rent assistance, which the grant doesn't cover."
LA: Pressure worries stall relief well for damaged Gulf of Mexico oil well
From: www.nola.com
"BP engineers and the U.S. government's science team met Monday afternoon to figure out the best way to relieve pressure in the outer shell of the Macondo well before BP is allowed to complete the relief well, the ultimate step in permanently sealing the exploded oil well in the Gulf of Mexico."
LA: Shrimpers return to gulf; tests say seafood is safe
From: www.tampabay.com
"Fishermen who spent much of the summer mopping up oil from BP's disastrous spill got back to work as the fall shrimping season in Louisiana's coastal waters opened Monday."
MA: Gov. Deval Patrick -- Ethics rules in T chief's favor
From: www.bostonherald.com
"Gov. Deval Patrick acknowledged yesterday that the MBTA has a lot riding on the outcome of a lawsuit seeking to halt the proposed Fenway Center - a case that features the wife of the T's general manager as lead counsel for the plaintiffs."
MA: Coalition for Massachusetts attack Brown's record on jobs
From: www.boston.com
"A new advocacy group made up of community organizations and local unions, including the powerful 1199 Service Employees International Union, are blasting Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown's record on jobs."
MD: Days of 'legal pot' could be numbered in Baltimore County
From: www.baltimoresun.com
"The Peace of Sunshine store off the main drag in Catonsville has lately been making more than half its weekly sales in K2, a "legal pot" known also as "spice." But owner Lawrence J. Zwick says he has sold his last bag. As soon as he heard Monday morning that Baltimore County might make it a crime to sell the smokable leaf, he says, he packed up his inventory of two boxes and shipped it back to the distributor."
MD: BGE to move ahead with 'smart grid' plan
From: www.baltimoresun.com
"Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. will deploy its "smart meter" technology intended to save customers money by helping them control energy use, agreeing Monday to terms set by state regulators on how the utility can pass on infrastructure costs to ratepayers."
ME: $1M grant to help tighten insurance rules
From: www.bangordailynews.com
"Maine has received a $1 million grant from the federal Department of Health and Human Services to help hold down the cost of health insurance premiums."
MI: Southeast Michigan lost more than $16 billion in taxable property value in year, SEMCOG reports
From: www.crainsdetroit.com
"A study of the taxable value of real estate shows that Southeast Michigan lost $16 billion in value between 2009 and 2010 -- with nearly half that loss from Oakland County property. "
MI: Metro area property tax values fall 10%
From: detnews.com
"Metro Detroit lost nearly 10 percent of its taxable value -- $16 billion -- in the past year because of a real-estate crash that keeps claiming victims, according to a Monday report.
"
MN: Minnesota's overworked, understaffed public defenders ask -- Is justice being served?
From: www.twincities.com
"When it comes to keeping the wheels of justice rolling, all is not well in Minnesota's 3rd Judicial District, and public defenders across the state are standing up to take shuddering notice. "
MN: Hopefuls for Minn. governor debate in business den
From: ap.brainerddispatch.com
"NISSWA, Minn. — Business leaders have a chance to assess the three main candidates for Minnesota governor, although their umbrella trade group has already taken sides."
MS: State to get $47M for education
From: www.hattiesburgamerican.com
"U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan says Mississippi will receive $47 million to help improve the state's most low-performing schools."
ND: Ag remains state's big payday
From: www.bismarcktribune.com
"While many North Dakotans have had their heads turned by the promise of sweet Bakken crude and a skyline dominated by towering wind turbines, plenty of moisture has pushed up lush fields of wheat and other small grains."
ND: USDA should have been on the alert for sugar ruling
From: www.grandforksherald.com
"Here's a case where regulators didn't respond early enough to criticisms that they heard often enough -- and that a judge took seriously enough to risk disruption in the supply of a crop that plays a major role in American eating habits. "
ND: Crop update -- Spring wheat, barley behind in N.D.
From: www.grandforksherald.com
"The spring wheat and barley harvests remain behind normal in North Dakota and well ahead of normal in Minnesota, where the crops aren't as big a deal."
ND: Beet farmers ponder GMO beet seed ruling
From: www.grandforksherald.com
"It'll be up to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service whether to implement interim rules and procedures that may allow growers to plant Roundup Ready sugar beets in 2011."
ND: North Dakota sits at the top of many lists
From: www.bismarcktribune.com
"Seventh best business climate; second best small city for business; first in state economic growth -- what is North Dakota to make of all the fuss?"
NE: Nebraska getting $1M to monitor health insurance rates
From: journalstar.com
"Nebraska is getting $1 million to monitor health insurance premium increases, federal officials said Monday."
NE: Tough seat-belt law would mean $7.8 million for Nebraska
From: journalstar.com
"Kansas got $11.2 million from the federal government last week for adopting a tougher seat-belt law. So how much would Nebraska get if it approved a similar law?"
NH: Worker theft law lost in interpretation
From: www.concordmonitor.com
"Ludicrous. Unbelievable. Against basic laws of humanity. These are among the words that New Hampshire business owners - led by Republican state Senate candidate Andy Sanborn of Henniker - are using to describe a new state law. "
NH: State releases first hospital infection report
From: www.theunionleader.com
"The state released its first report yesterday on hospital infections, showing that patients developed 134 infections last year while being treated for another condition -- a number lower than expected, based on national data."
NH: Auto parts plant begins hiring again
From: www.concordmonitor.com
"When the U.S. auto industry cratered in 2008 and 2009, the Freudenberg-NOK plant in Bristol felt the strain. The facility, which makes components for automotive seals, dropped shifts and slashed about half its workforce. But Detroit's Big Three and foreign automakers have slowly regained their footing, and so has the international network of companies, including Freudenberg-NOK, that make parts for cars, trucks and other vehicles."
NJ: N.J. cigarette tax bonds are cut to lowest investment-grade as consumption declines
From: www.nj.com
"New Jersey Cigarette Tax Revenue Bonds issued in 2004 were cut to Baa3 by Moody's Investors Service, its lowest investment-grade level, with a negative outlook because declining consumption may threaten repayment."
NJ: N.J. lawmakers approve allowing towns, counties to issue bonds without 5-percent down payment
From: www.nj.com
"A state Senate committee today voted along party lines on a bill that would let towns and counties issue bonds without the current requirement to make up-front payments of 5 percent. The bill next heads to the full Senate."
NM: Health insurance companies give big to NM politicians
From: newmexicoindependent.com
"Health insurers showered New Mexico elected officials with nearly $428,000 in campaign contributions during the 2004, 2006 and 2008 election cycles, according to campaign finance data analyzed by The Independent.
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NM: Attorney- Cutting emissions won't kill N.M. economy
From: www.santafenewmexican.com
"A proposal aimed at curbing greenhouse-gas emissions from New Mexico's coal-fired power plants and parts of the oil and natural gas industry would not destroy the state's economy as critics of the plan fear, an attorney told state regulators Monday at the start of a weeklong hearing. "
NY: N.Y. manufacturers' conditions improve
From: www.democratandchronicle.com
"A survey of New York manufacturers by the Federal Reserve found that conditions improved modestly in August, but not by as much as economists had forecast."
OH: Survey -- Ohio most expensive in Midwest for home closing costs
From: dayton.bizjournals.com
"Ohio is the most expensive state in the Midwest to close on a home purchase, with costs approaching $4,000 on a $200,000 mortgage, according to a new Bankrate survey.
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OH: Some businesses are backing out of the Tea Party Exchange program
From: www.daytondailynews.com
"DAYTON, Ohio -- Tea Party Exchange founder Donald Hutchinson's website touts the advantages of using "local, tea party owned" small businesses. But when he needed a database programmer for the site, Hutchinson outsourced the work to India. "
OH: Corn yields up, soybeans down from '09 in Ohio
From: www.toledoblade.com
"U.S. corn and soybean farmers are expected to produce record crops this year, but weather-related issues might have hampered Ohio's soybean forecast."
OH: Edward Jones plans to add 115 offices in central Ohio
From: www.dispatch.com
"The financial-services firm Edward Jones will accelerate its growth and triple its presence in central Ohio over the next five to 10 years, adding more than 115 offices."
OH: Ex-state workers nickeled, dimed over exhausted leave time
From: www.dispatch.com
"State officials have scoured the files of thousands of former employees to find that more than 750 owe money -- mere pennies in some cases -- for more than exhausting their allotment of personal leave."
OK: Some Oklahoma farmers left with grapes, wrath
From: www.newsok.com
"Harvest is under way at Oklahoma vineyards, but some grapes will be left to rot on the vine because of poor sales, growers said."
OR: Oregon holds corporations accountable
From: www.oregonlive.com
"One of my highest priorities as Oregon's attorney general is to hold powerful corporations accountable when they violate our laws."
OR: State lawmaker proposes change in home-brewing law
From: www.statesmanjournal.com
"EUGENE, Ore. -- A state lawmaker who brews his own beer says it's time to change Oregon law to allow malty and frothy beverages to do a little traveling, and even compete again."
OR: Jobs at Oregon State Fair get lots of interest
From: www.statesmanjournal.com
"Hundreds of people lined up in sweltering heat outside a small tan trailer Monday, vying for temporary jobs as ride operators and concessions workers at this year's Oregon State Fair.
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OR: Home prices inch up in July; Sales stumble
From: www.portlandtribune.com
"Portland-area home prices went up slightly in July, but closed sales fell nearly 30 percent from June, the RMLS Real Estate group reported Monday."
PA: Owe Pennsylvania taxes? Read all about it online.
From: www.post-gazette.com
"If offering a break on penalties and interest didn't help, maybe publishing the remaining list of 39,000 state tax scofflaws will.
"
RI: RIPTA considers additional charge for 'premium' service
From: www.projo.com
"The state transit system is looking into improving its balance sheet by charging more for "premium" service. The additional charge, for riding longer distances faster, would be in addition to the rate increase that is to go into effect Sept. 1."
RI: SEC investigating West Warwick Pension Board
From: www.projo.com
"WEST WARWICK, R.I. — The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the West Warwick Pension Board and has ordered it to release 21 records in reference to the board's investment in an Arizona-based real estate firm."
SD: Cities want sales tax issues fixed
From: www.argusleader.com
"City officials from about 70 communities across South Dakota will meet with state officials beginning today during a policy committee meeting to discuss, among other items, complications with the sales tax system."
TN: Sen. Bob Corker proposes cap on spending to control U.S. debt
From: www.tennessean.com
"Barnstorming the state during a congressional break, Corker said Monday in Nashville that he is working to build support in Tennessee for a bill that would tie spending by the federal government to the size of the nation's economy."
TX: Lawmaker threatens breakup of Pedernales Electric Cooperative
From: www.statesman.com
"State Sen. Troy Fraser suggested Monday that the Legislature may consider breaking up the Pedernales Electric Cooperative unless the member-owned utility makes further reforms."
US: States can no longer dodge the budget axe
From: online.wsj.com
"When President Obama signed H.R. 1586 — the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act — last Tuesday, sending $26 billion in aid to the states, Democrats called it an economic stimulus plan necessary to save jobs. Republicans said it allows states to postpone making tough decisions to balance their budgets. The truth? It does both."
US: About-face -- More states accept stimulus funds
From: www.npr.org
"Remember all those governors who objected to taking $7 billion in stimulus money set aside to help the unemployed? It turns out many of them changed their minds."
UT: State says a deal is close in pesticide-poisoning case
From: www.sltrib.com
"The Utah Department of Agriculture said Monday it is close to reaching a settlement with the pesticide company linked to the pesticide-poisoning deaths in February of two Layton girls.
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VA: Virginia officials make case for Gates to keep Joint Forces Command open
From: www.washingtonpost.com
"Could 1,000 Defense Department civilians stand between Secretary Robert M. Gates and his plan to shut down the military's Joint Forces Command, based in the Hampton Roads section of Virginia? Maybe so, says Sen. James Webb. "
VA: Past JFCOM leaders could fight closure, Nye told
From: hamptonroads.com
"A military affairs group set up by U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye advised him Monday to seek out the testimony of past Joint Forces Command officers to help build a defense against closing the command."
VA: Webb asks for Senate hearing on closing JFCOM
From: hamptonroads.com
"Virginia Sen. Jim Webb is asking for a full Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing on the possible recommendation to eliminate the Norfolk-based Joint Forces Command."
VA: As housing market swoons, rentals boom in Norfolk
From: hamptonroads.com
"The housing market may be struggling, but apartment construction in Norfolk continues to boom."
VT: FairPoint CEO asked to step down
From: www.burlingtonfreepress.com
"FairPoint Communications' secured creditors have asked CEO David Hauser to resign, less than 14 months after he came aboard in a failed effort to steer the firm away from insolvency, the company said in bankruptcy court papers Monday. The company said it was seeking approval to appoint Paul H. Sunu as its new chief executive.
"
WI: Obama visit aims to pump up party
From: www.jsonline.com
"When President Obama told workers Monday at ZBB Energy Corp. that he's "fighting on all fronts" to get the economy back on track, he could have been talking about his party's dicey political fortunes as well."
WI: Attendance is up at Wisconsin State Fair
From: host.madison.com
"Attendance was up this year at the Wisconsin State Fair, but cream puff sales were slightly down."
WV: State exports on track to break record
From: wvgazette.com
"The state Department of Commerce says West Virginia's exports are up 39.5 percent in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2009."
Visit the Stateline.org Economy & Business Page
From: www.stateline.org
"The state Department of Commerce says West Virginia's exports are up 39.5 percent in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2009."
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