Stateline Headlines

State Government Reporters Conference Set For Denver This Fall

"Power to the States - A Conference on Reporting State Government" will be held in Denver on October 7-10, 1999. This professional conference, which is being co-sponsored by stateline.org, is designed to help statehouse reporters and editors share innovative coverage techniques, develop a deeper grasp of specific issues and make policy stories smart, compelling and relevant. In this special report, conference organizer Genevieve Anton of the Colorado Springs Gazette provides more information.

Political Fallout Of Columbine Tragedy Still Uncertain

Just five months ago, Colorado was poised to become a poster child for the National Rifle Association. But in the aftermath of last April's massacre at Columbine High School, the political winds shifted. Gun-friendly proposals that had been expected to sail through the legislature were abruptly shelved. But it remains to be seen if the shooting spree that left 15 dead will have any long term impact. For more information, click on

Mega-Stores Hitting Political Flak In Several States

Preventing mega-stores such as Wal-Mart and Costco from chewing up competitors is on the agenda of more than just anti-growth groups and environmentalists these days. Policy makers in states and communities are considering restricting so-called "big-box" stores. California Gov. Gray Davis last week vetoed a bill aimed at limiting the growth of these stores. The issue has also been joined in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Denver Conference To Focus On State Government News Coverage

More than 100 journalists will gather in Denver starting Thursday to exchange ideas on how to strengthen news coverage of state government. The three-day conference, which is being sponsored in part by stateline.org, will include workshops and panel discussions with leading experts on top public policy issues. Its purpose is to help statehouse reporters engage more readers, viewers and listeners by taking fresh approach to stories about state political developments that directly affect people's lives.

Journalism Conference Focuses On Statehouse Coverage

More than 100 journalists from 34 states and the District of Columbia are meeting in Denver this weekend to examine the state of state government reporting and share ideas for improvements. The conference opened with a disturbing content analysis that suggests newspaper coverage of state government leans heavily toward politics, ignoring important policy issues and the citizens most effected by them.

Legislatures Continue to Wrestle With School Prayer

The U.S. constitutional tension between the right to freedom of religious expression and its limits has long posed thorny policy questions for politicians and educational officials, but in the last year those questions have grown more acute. The debate over rights and limits exploded with new force after last April 20 when two youths carried out the most violent and deadly school house massacre in the nation's history at Colorado's Columbine High School, killing 15 people including themselves.

High Court Hears States Rights' Case Involving Motorists

A policy that infuriated citizens in South Carolina, Florida and Colorado this year -- the disclosure of driver's license information -- is getting a U.S. Supreme Court review. At issue is whether the federal government can use the Driver's Privacy Protection Act to keep states from using motor vehicle records as they please.

Statehouse Reporters Share Info At Groundbreaking Conference

More than 100 statehouse reporters, editors and broadcasters gathered in Denver last month to swap professional tips and story ideas at the first conference of its kind for members of the news media who cover state government. For a comprehensive report on the meeting, which gave birth to a new national association of statehouse journalists, click on

Colorado State of the State Address 2000

DENVER, Colorado - Jan. 6 - Following is the partial text of Gov. Bill Owens' 2000 State of the State Address: President Powers, Speaker George, Honorable Senators and Representatives, distinguished guests, my fellow Coloradans: I am honored today to report that the State of Colorado is healthy and vibrant. Our

Gun Fight Vexes Colorado Lawmakers

The Colorado Legislature has been a focal point of the gun law debate in the aftermath of last April's shooting spree at Columbine High School. Fifteen people died in that tragedy, the worst outbreak of school violence in U.S. history -- 13 students, a teacher and the two young men responsible for the massacre. The debate has tied Colorado lawmakers in knots and split the state Republican Party.

Western Governors Wary of Federal Road-Free Forest Plan

A nervous group of Western governors says a Clinton administration proposal to make 54 million acres of national forest road-free would wreak havoc with logging, mining and tourism taking place on adjoining state and private property.

UPDATE: More States Decriminalize Safe Baby Abandonment

In February, Stateline.org reported that seven states were considering abandoned baby laws; that number has now climbed to at least 23. Since mid-April alone, Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, and West Virginia have enacted abandoned baby or "safe haven" laws, often in response to tragic stories of infants left in dumpsters, alleyways, shallow graves, public restrooms or parking lots. For an in-depth report on this policy trend, click on

Colorado Primary Makes Gov Nervous

If today's primary election follows traditional Colorado form, only about 20 percent of the state's eligible voters will turn out. Nevertheless, Gov. Bill Owens will watch the event with more than just a little interest. Owens, in the second year of his first four-year term, is particularly concerned that Ron May, a veteran House member from Colorado Springs, be elected to the state Senate.Owens is so worried about that particular race he has gone to May's district to campaign for him. That irks Douglas Bruce, businessman and political gadfly, who is May's Republican primary opponent.

Handicappers See State, Local Faces In A Gore Lineup

Should Al Gore and Joseph Lieberman make it to the White House, Gore would probably rely on congressional contacts to fill most of his cabinet slots, political analysts speculate. However, they say there are some state and local politicial leaders who could wind up in a Gore administration.

Gun Amendment Stirs Colorado Voters

Bullet holes and damage from the Eric Harris-Dylan Klebold shooting spree at Columbine High School had not been cleared away when a movement to tighten gun control was born in Colorado. Now, voters in the November general election will have an opportunity to vote on Amendment 22, which will close what gun control supporters call the "gun show loophole." It would bar weapons sales at gun shows until a background check has been completed.

Education On The Ballot In Several States

November 7 isn't just about electing the next President, Congress, governors or state legislature. It is also the day Americans vote on ballot initiatives that often show what issues have priority among citizens. In at least seven states, education is on the ballot.

Western States Launch Virtual University

Out West, where vast prairie lands and expansive desert highways bring new meaning to the term distance learning, governors have hopped on the bandwidth wagon and created an 18-state virtual university to bring higher education to far-flung populations at a reasonable price.

Tax Cut Plan Divides Colorado Voters

A controversial tax-cutting amendment continues to show support from a majority of Colorado voters, a recent poll shows, but support is down from the numbers shown early in the 2000 election year. That's good news to most state and local government officials opposing it, but prime sponsor Douglas Bruce, a Colorado Springs businessman and perpetual government critic, is still optimistic the plan will prevail on Nov. 7.

Colorado Dems Elect New Majority Officers

Colorado State Senate Democrats, who won a majority on Nov. 7 for the first time in 40 years, have picked their leaders for what may be a stormy 2001 legislative session. Sen. Stan Matsunaka, D-Loveland, was elected Senate president and Sen. Bill Thiebaut, D-Pueblo, was chosen majority leader by the Senate Democratic caucus. They will work in tandem to decide how their 18-member group will guide bills on taxation, development and other major issues in the upcoming session.

Voters Send Mixed Signals On Growth, Environment

Voters in 23 states considered ballot measures dealing with growth management and the environment on Nov. 7. Some of the most highly publicized proposals were rejected, but experts dismiss suggestions that the defeat of prominent "smart growth" measures in Arizona and Colorado means that interest in curbing sprawl has cooled.

Education Measures Get Pass or Fail Grades

Ballot measures dealing with education got a mixed reception from U.S. voters on Nov. 7. In some of the most closely-watched contests, far-reaching school voucher initiatives were defeated in California and Michigan, while a ban on bilingual education was approved in Arizona.

States To Brush Up On Childrens Oral Health

Representatives of eight states will gather in Charleston, S.C. next month for a closed-door policy workshop designed to strengthen oral health care initiatives for children.Selected from 28 states that applied for the workshop, delegations from Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina and Virginia will attend the National Governors Associations Policy Academy for State Officials on Improving Oral Health Care for Children Dec. 13-15.

Colorado Legislators Spell Out 2001 Priorities

Majority Republicans in the Colorado House of Representatives want to deal with growth, education and transportation, in that order, when the 2001 Legislature convenes Jan. 10. Majority Democrats in the state Senate put transportation at the top of the list, with educational improvement and attacking crime next.

States In South, West Big Winners In 2000 Census

The historic movement of Americans away from the northeastern states to the west and southwest continued over the last decade, the Census Bureau reported Thursday, and as of 2003, the make-up of the U.S. House of Representatives will be adjusted to reflect the population shift.

Colorado State of the State Address 2001

DENVER, Colorado - Jan. 11 - Following is the text of Gov. Bill Owens' 2001 State of the State Address: President Matsunaka, Speaker Dean, Lieutenant Governor Rogers, Attorney General Salazar, Secretary of State Davidson, State Treasurer Coffman, Honorable Senators and Representatives, distinguished guests, my fell

Tracking Election Reform: This Week's News

Despite last year's fiasco in Florida, several state legislatures this week defeated or pigeon-holed election reform measures, but others plunged into what could be a busy, contentious season of debates on overhauling how Americans vote. Maryland, Colorado and Utah were states where major proposals went nowhere, but there was action in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and Iowa. To read the first of a series of weekly reports on this issue, click on

Electoral College Reform Falls Flat

Doing away with the winner-take-all system of allotting Electoral College votes was among the reforms proposed on the op-ed pages of the nation's newspapers after last year's closely contested presidential election. But bills that would do that have been defeated in the first four state legislatures to consider them.

Budget Resolution Ignores Election Reform

Neither President Bush's or Congress budget blueprint includes a dime for election reform initiatives. Senators nixed an 11th hour, Democrat-backed spending plan that would have allotted $500 million for national election reform efforts, moments before a deadline to vote on the fiscal 2002 budget resolution. The House resolution also omitted any reference to election reform. Though non-binding, budget resolutions serve as the basis for the work of Capitol Hill appropriators.

Bush Leaves States Holding Environment Bag, Critics Say

President Bush's new budget gives states more responsibility to protect the environment and conserve natural resources, but state officials say it fails to give them much new cash to get the job done. State officials say theyd like more support from an administration that would scale back the federal regulatory role if Bush has his way.

Colorado Senate Leader A Precedent-Setter

When the vote was counted in last November's general election, Colorado's Democrats found themselves in a strange but not unwelcome position. After 40 years in the minority, the Democrats had won a one-seat majority in the State Senate. Two days later, Stan Matsunaka, a quiet, modest Asian-American lawmaker from Loveland, was elected by his caucus to be new Senate president.

On the Record: Colorado Medicaid Chief Richard Allen

Colorado's Richard Allen has had a pretty tough year. Like most Medicaid directors, he's had to cut numerous budget items to keep spending low. On top of that, the division he runs-- the Department of Health Policy and Financing-- was sued by several HMOs who claim they weren't paid enough to care for people on Medicaid. Despite those headaches and after more than 23 years in the state's Medicaid program, Allen still relishes his job. He recently sat down with Stateline.org to discuss the budget crunch, what's next for Colorado on prescription drugs and other issues.

States Make Strides on Medical Marijuana Programs

The U.S. Supreme Court's first-ever opinion on medical marijuana two months ago hasn't put a dent in state efforts to help seriously ill patients, as critics hoped it would. State medical marijuana programs in Alaska, Hawaii and Oregon are moving ahead despite the ruling.

Fear of Terror, Fraud Dogs Vote-By-Mail

Holding elections through the post office rather than the polling place is becoming popular in Western states. But fears of violations of privacy, widespread voter fraud, a failure to follow instructions and even terrorism are appearing to grow just as quickly, casting doubt on the future of vote-by-mail.

Colorado State of the State Address 2002

DENVER, Colorado - Jan. 10 - Following is the full text of Gov. Bill Owens' 2002 State of the State Address: Lt. Governor Rogers, Speaker Dean, President Matsunaka, Members of the Cabinet, Honorable Senators and Representatives, my fellow Coloradans: Three years ago I stood at this podium and gave my first Stat

Term Limits Hit Lawmakers In 11 States

Legislatures in 11 states face fallout from term limits in this year's elections with 330 lawmakers being forced to step down after 12 or fewer years in office. The Michigan state Senate, which will lose 27 of its 38 members, will be hardest hit. The Missouri Legislature will suffer heavily as well -- it bids farewell to 75 of its 163 House members and 12 of its 34 Senators

Colorado Gun Debate Comes Full Circle

Colorado may have suffered the anguish of being home to the worst school shooting in American history and spawned a nationwide drive to limit access to deadly firearms but its own gun laws have changed little since the tragedy of Columbine High School.

Govs' Travel Makes People Talk

Want to dodge congested airline ticket counters and long security lines? Fly on government aircraft or corporate jets? You might -- if you get yourself elected governor.

Immigrant Licensing: Security Vs Safety Concerns

After learning that most of the 19 hijackers responsible for the Sept. 11 terrorist attack had obtained drivers licenses in Florida, New Jersey or Virginia using faked credentials, many state lawmakers rushed to introduce legislation aimed at restricting licenses for immigrants as a security measure. Nine months later, most of those initiatives have stalled amid competing concerns over highway safety and anti-terror policy.

Death Penalty Rulings Raise Issues For Lawmakers

The Colorado Legislature will convene in special session July 8 in order to bring state law into line with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down the authority of judges to impose sentencing in death penalty cases. At least four other states directly affected by the decision may have to hold special sessions as well.

Debate Rages Over Light Transit's Value

Traffic congestion increases. Commuter frustration mounts. And debate continues about how much funding should be given to light rail systems that may or may not be effective a question that seems to depend on who you talk to.

Millions Potentially Affected By Medicaid Cuts

States are shrinking their healthcare programs for the poor to save money by eliminating services offered during the economically robust 1990s. So if youre an adult on Medicaid in Florida and you want dentures, you may soon be out of luck. Ditto if you get publicly financed home-based health care in Colorado and the state decides youre getting too many visits from caregivers. And if you live in Connecticut or Arkansas and you want a name-brand drug instead of a generic, the state may say "too bad."

Growing Parolee Numbers Stress State Resources

Federal and state laws that got tough on crime in the 1980s and filled the nations prisons are now producing an uneasy dividend for crime-conscious communities a floodtide of convicted felons who must be reintegrated into society. State parole officers, already burdened with more than 1.4 million active parolees nationwide, are largely overwhelmed

Budget Axe Fells State Programs

Programs to prevent youth violence in Colorado cancelled. Two-thirds of the school bus stops in Tulsa, Oklahoma eliminated. Stockpiles of the flu vaccine usually purchased by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reduced by nineteen percent. All are victims of state budget cuts. And each, in its own way, is indicative of the kinds of actions lawmakers in many states are taking to keep their budgets balanced in the face of declining tax revenues and a lagging national economy.

Colorado Democrats Have a Shot at Breaking GOP Lock

From a political standpoint, Colorado Springs and surrounding El Paso County are known around the country for one thing: conservative Republican politics. This year, however, Democrats have their best shot in years at breaking the GOP-lock, thanks largely to a reapportionment committee that was stacked in their favor.

Education Initiatives Take New Approach

Vouchers are out. After-school programs are in. Education reform is a perennial at the ballot box, but the initiatives that voters will examine Nov. 5 go beyond the standard subjects.

Manners Still Matter In Statehouses

Legislative customs vary from state to state, but when it comes to decorum on the statehouse floor, blazers are in, and cell phones are out.

States Scramble to Implement New Education Law

Scores of schools arent making the grade when it comes to complying with the new No Child Left Behind education law. Some states are reworking their policies to make it easier for students to pass muster while some districts are finding excuses not to take students from schools with poor marks.

Gubernatorial Candidates, Alabama-Kentucky

A comprehensive list of gubernatorial candidates in Alabama through Kentucky.

Women Call Shots in Colorado Legislature

Women have made history at the Colorado State Legislature this year, sweeping four of six top leadership positions, including speaker of the House, Senate majority leader and the minority leader posts in both the Senate and House. and Senate. Never have so many women wielded so much political power in this state.

Provisional Balloting Works Well in Initial Tests

Under the new federal election reform law, voters who claim to be registered but whose names are not on the rolls must be allowed to cast a provisional ballot starting in 2004. A handful of states implemented the new rule in the Nov. 5 election, and generally found that the system worked well.

Colorado State of the State Address 2003

DENVER, Colorado - Jan. 17 - Following is the text of Gov. Bill Owens' 2003 State of the State Address: It is a great pleasure to be greeted this morning by Colorado's first woman speaker. We know that Lola Spradley is one of the most effective legislators ever to serve in this body. And we know that she'll wield t

Few Governors Tout Bold Initiatives

In his state of the state address last month, Vermont Gov. James H. Douglas said that the state should track convicted drug dealers the same way it does sexual predators, by publicizing their names and addresses. This proposal is one of only a handful of truly innovative programs proposed by governors in their state of the state addresses this year.

States Struggle with Death-Penalty Process

Nine months have passed since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that only juries - not judges- can decide whether somebody deserves to be executed. Lawmakers in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Nebraska, all of which reserved the decision to judges alone, wasted no time passing legislation that brought their sentencing process into line with the ruling. But the fate of nearly 150 inmates on death row in these five states is still uncertain.

Land Preservation Programs Survive the Ax

Even though most states face major budget problems, voters and state government leaders have shown that preserving land from development is a top priority, no matter what the cost. All across the country, expensive land acquisition programs have survived the budget ax and continue to receive full funding.

Colorado Forecasting Fewer Fires, Return of Tourists

Despite ongoing budget concerns, Colorado legislators are breathing a little easier this summer than they were a year ago, when massive forest fires, stoked by a five-year drought, consumed hundreds of thousands of acres and turned tourism taxes to ash.

Five States Freeze CHIP Enrollment

Several cash-strapped states are opting to freeze enrollment in their childrens health insurance program (CHIP). Theyve turned to this measure as a way to stretch funds rather than tighten eligibility or cut back services for those who are already enrolled.

Colorado to Consider Constitutional Convention

Colorado lawmakers may try to call a constitutional convention to rewrite conflicting amendments that have been added since Colorado became a state in 1876. On Nov. 1, an interim legislative committee voted 12-6 to approve introduction of a bill that would set in motion the chain of events necessary.

Poor to Get Less Help with Heating Bills

State programs that help low-income residents pay their heating bills expect to spread less money among more needy recipients this winter due to higher jobless rates and heating fuel costs.

Colorado State of the State Address 2004

DENVER, Colorado - Jan. 8 - Following is the text of Gov. Bill Owen's 2004 state of the state address: Lieutenant Governor Norton, President Andrews, Speaker Spradley, Members of the Cabinet, Attorney General Salazar, Treasurer Coffman, Honorable Senators and Representatives, Mayor Hickenlooper, distinguished guest

Drilling Boom in Rockies Breeds Open-Range Conflict

A growing natural gas boom in the Rockies is changing traditional views and alliances on the open range and raising new concerns over air, water and habitat pollution. The result is a 21st-century rangeland clash between those who want to protect natural resources on the surface of federal and private lands and those who want to tap the wealth beneath.

Rocky Mountain Traffic Slows Commerce, Skiers

Colorados growth has led to a Rocky Mountain traffic nightmare. Interstate 70 from Denver to the ski areas gets so clogged that tourists and commerce slow to a crawl on this vital East-West link. Is the solution to widen the highway or install mass transit?

First State Last on 2008 Drunken Driving Law

Delaware is the last state in the nation to resist cracking down further on drunken drivers by lowering the blood-alcohol level that determines intoxication. Other holdout states -- Colorado and Minnesota -- joined the rest of the country last month in enacting laws to lower the blood-alcohol concentration threshold to .08 percent from .10 percent. Delaware is jeopardizing millions of dollars in federal highway construction funds if state lawmakers don't lower the limit this session. Opponents of .08 argue states' rights.

Ten states Identified as Legislative Battlegrounds

Political control of legislative bodies in 10 states could change in the November election, the National Conference of State Legislatures said in an analysis that identified the battleground states as Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

Bryant Case Spurs States to Fortify Rape Shield Laws

Two states have expanded protections for rape victims in the wake of the high-profile criminal case against Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant in a continuing effort by states to guard accusers identities and increase chances for successful prosecutions.

Provisional Ballots Source of Anxiety in Swing States

One of the central safeguards of a new federal law designed to tamp down controversies at the ballot box has spawned pre-election confusion and court fights reminiscent of the hanging-chad hullabaloo after the 2000 election.

Some Lawmakers Take Unusual Path to Power

Of the 5,804 state legislators elected on Nov. 2, a few stand out from the crowd. In 2004, voters elected three candidates on military duty abroad, the first Vietnamese-American legislator, a wife running to replace her term-limited husband, a daughter running to serve alongside her father and a Connecticut candidate who was both elected and rejected for the same office.

Eight States Raised Taxes in 2004

Only eight states had to resort to hiking taxes in 2004 to balance their books, a sign that states fiscal squeeze may finally be over, researchers said in a new report released Monday.

Drivers' Licenses Now a Tool for Homeland Security

Massachusetts and Colorado are ahead of other states in making their drivers licenses more secure since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Officials hope that state innovations in issuing drivers' licenses will serve as models as a new federal intelligence bill, signed Dec. 17 by President Bush, for the first time involves the federal government in setting nationwide standards for state-issued drivers documents.

Western Governors University Improves Its Grade

Western Governors University, an online academic institution established by 19 states in 1997, has more than doubled its enrollment in the past year to 3,000 students. The surge in enrollment came as e-learning at colleges and universities across the country recorded a dramatic rise. While the number of students taking courses on the Internet is increasing, academics and entrepreneurs disagree over whether the trend is good or bad.

Cloud Seedings' Silver Lining Hard to Prove

Colorado and Nevada shot skyward tiny particles of silver iodide, which has a similar crystalline structure to ice, hoping to fool the clouds into creating snow. Utah tested a rarer method of snowmaking: injecting clouds with super-cooled propane gas from mountaintop tanks.

Colorado State of the State Address 2005

DENVER, Colorado, Jan. 13, 2005 - Following is the text of Gov Bill Owens' 2005 state of the state address: Lieutenant Governor Norton, President Fitz-Gerald. Speaker Romanoff, Senator Salazar, Mayor Hickenlooper, Members of the Cabinet, Honorable Senators and Representatives, my fellow Coloradans: Let me begi

Western States See Natural Gas Drilling Boom

High prices, rising demand and static domestic supplies of cleaner-burning natural gas are fueling a drilling bonanza across the West and setting up a potential battle between gas companies and a coalition of ranchers and environmentalists.

Anti-Lying Laws Give Political Pinocchios Little to Fear

If you're sick of politicians lying, well, so are they. Eighteen states have some type of law against lying about a candidate. Yet come election season, untruths about opponents run rampant and few politicians are ever punished.

State AGs Fight Teen Smoking—Onscreen

More than 30 attorneys general are mounting a campaign to add anti-smoking ads to the beginning of films in which actors light up onscreen. The bid to fight teen smoking was prompted by a study that showed a marked increase in smoking among children who watch movie characters puffing away.

Colorado State of the State Address 2006

DENVER, Colo., Jan. 12 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Bill Owens' 2006 state of the state address: Lieutenant Governor Norton, President Fitz-Gerald, Speaker Romanoff, Secretary of State Dennis, Treasurer Hillman, Senator Salazar, Mayor Hickenlooper, Members of the Cabinet, Honorable Senators and Represen

Md. vote may pave way for 'Wal-Mart' bills

Round two in the battle over whether states should require large employers such as Wal-Mart to spend a certain amount on employee health benefits could get under way this week in Washington state. Workers' rights advocates, bolstered by enactment of a new Maryland law, plan to push similar measures in 30 other states this year.

Colorado is hot spot for politicking by 527s

More than a dozen political nonprofit groups, so-called 527s, are using their special federal tax status to circumvent Colorado's tight limits on campaign contributions. And they aren't alone. More than 300 527s are based in at least 45 states, raking in unlimited contributions and sometimes wresting control of the political landscape even from the parties and candidates they seek to promote.

Marches spark state migrant debates

While aimed at federal legislation, recent pro-immigration marches could influence state elections and provide a tipping point for nearly 400 immigration measures pending in statehouses across the country. In Arizona, Colorado and New York, state lawmakers used the demonstrations to rally their own bills and campaigns.

Colorado Elections in National Spotlight

DENVER - Colorado's election this year features a hot contest for control of the Legislature, an open governor's seat and litmus-test votes on gay marriage, illegal immigration and spending caps. Not only is it one of the most fascinating state elections of the year, but it will shed light on Colorado's emerging status as an important swing state.

Gay Activists Hopeful in Colo., S.D., Wis.

After a series of stinging judicial defeats for same-sex marriage this summer, both sides of the issue are looking to November's elections as a test of how far public attitudes have changed toward gay couples.

Democrats Have Edge in Statehouse Races

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Democrats are likely to make gains in state legislative races this year, but it's a toss-up whether the seats they win will be enough to overtake control of a handful of narrowly divided statehouses, a panel of election experts said at the National Conference of State Legislatures annual conference here.

Strictest Immigration Laws Put to the Test

Frustrated by the federal government's failure to stop illegal border crossings, state and local governments are experimenting with new -- and potentially unconstitutional -- ways to deter illegal immigrants, making it harder for them to get jobs, driver's licenses or housing. Some of the toughest new laws are coming out of city halls in towns like Hazleton, Pa., and Riverside, N.J.

Immigration Hardliners Trailing in Ariz., Colo.

A backlash over illegal immigration is seeping into state races even hundreds of miles from the Mexican border this election. But in two of the hottest flashpoints in the immigration debate -- Arizona and Colorado -- Republican state and congressional candidates taking the hard line on immigration aren't necessarily prevailing.

Three new govs look ahead to 2007

Three incoming governors have the bread-and-butter issues of schools, taxes and health care atop their agendas, but their state's role in making the United States more energy independent also ranks as a high priority. Stateline.org talks to the governors-elect of Colorado, Florida and Maryland about their legislative goals.

Are you a citizen? Prove it

Worries about voter fraud, terrorism and illegal immigration are driving a surge in stiff new identification requirements. To weed out the few, all Americans growingly need a paper trail to qualify for some of the perks of citizenship -- from driver's licenses to Medicaid help.

Colorado State of the State Address 2007

DENVER , Jan. 11 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Bill Ritter's (D) 2007 state of the state address: INTRODUCTION Lieutenant Governor O'Brien, President Fitz-Gerald, Speaker Romanoff, Mayor Hickenlooper, members of the Cabinet, the state Board of Education, Supreme Court justices, Treasurer Kennedy, Atto

Legislators Barring Electronic Distractions

Since 1997, when North Dakota state senators pioneered a ban on the use of electronic devices when their august body was open for business, the parliamentary rules of more and more legislatures require cell phones, computers and other high-tech distractions to be turned off or left at the door. Maine's House of Representatives is the latest to join the legislative rebellion against the myriad intrusions of the Digital Age.

Some Rookie Governors Fumble

From Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) indulging in $12,000 drapes for his office to Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) enraging labor supporters with his first veto, some of this year's freshmen governors have gotten off to a wobbly start.

States Say No to Teen Tanning

No smoking. No drinking. No talking on cell phones while driving. Now, the latest no-no in state laws aimed at underage teens is indoor tanning.

Toll Roads Hit Speed Bumps

As states increasingly look to toll roads and leases for quick road-funding fixes, the public, consumer advocates and motorist and trucking associations are putting up barriers to pay-as-you-drive proposals.

Colorado Rethinks $50 Gift Ban

Colorado is having second thoughts after changing its constitution last fall to forbid state employees from accepting gifts worth more than $50. State workers fear their children will have to turn down scholarships, and professors are told they can't accept academic prize money.

Toothless in Kentucky

Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) sounds off about an American Idol episode. A Florida law lets people take their pets with them to the grave. And New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) pays a fine for failing to wear a seat belt. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Va. Tech Tragedy Likely to Affect State Policy

Last month's shocking shooting at Virginia Tech - the nation's deadliest, with 33 killed - is likely to have lasting policy repercussions. A look at the legacy of the 1999 shootings at Colorado's Columbine High School shows how such tragic events have an impact on state laws and policies.

Leaving dog poop not a crime

A woman is found not guilty of a crime for leaving dog feces on a politician's doorstep. A porn star's blog led to the firing of a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper. And a Georgia lawmaker gets a DUI and "legislator of the year" award in the same week. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Sex Ed Landscape Shifting in States

While most states still stress abstinence in sex education, lately there has been a movement toward a comprehensive approach that also teaches about contraception.

Can ghost towns vanish?

Colorado ghost towns are figuratively dying off. Washington state has the best-dressed troopers. And Kentucky's gubernatorial rivals could rock out to the Rolling Stones, while discussing their favorite Star Wars scenes. In case you missed any of those stories, this week's Worth Noting fills you in.

In search of a gentler end

States are planning better ways to support dying and chronically ill children and their families who aren't always well-served by traditional hospice programs. But this specialized kind of care is still rare.

States' green-building laws 'lead by example'

While rarely requiring private developers to meet eco-aware standards enacted for public buildings, some states are offering builders tax breaks and other incentives to pursue energy-efficient construction. Long-term energy savings are a bonus.

States test pandemic plans with free flu shots

As flu season nears, some states are offering free immunization programs that double as tests of their emergency response plans for a flu pandemic or bioterrorism attack. Arkansas last month conducted the largest vaccination drive in the country, delivering more than 100,000 shots across the state in a three-day emergency response drill.

New Year ushers in new laws

At least 31 states will enforce new laws that take effect New Year's Day. So as you ring in the New Year, expect some facet of life to change, ranging from where you can smoke in Illinois to how much it costs to enter a strip club in Texas.