Stateline Stories

Mississippi Faces Special Session; Oregon, North Carolina Near End

With legislators in Oregon and North Carolina working feverishly to wind up their 1999 sessions and Mississippi's governor calling back lawmakers for what promises to be a contentious special session on taxes, the count of legislatures still working remains at ten.

Southern, Western States Lag In Preventing Hunger

A report released this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture draws a map of a United States rimmed along the south and west by hunger, but increasingly plump and prosperous as you look north and east. As expected of the state that recently captured the unenviable title of the nation's poorest, New Mexico claims the highest rate of hunger. The upper Midwest boasts the most success in feeding the needy.

State Voters Face Range of Critical Issues Tuesday

On Tuesday, Nov. 2, off-year elections will decide if Maine bans late-term abortions, if St. Paul, Minnesota, tries to steal the Twins baseball club from Minneapolis and if Texas will provide $400 million in loans for college students. Kentucky and Mississippi will choose a governor, and voters in Virginia will determine if their legislature goes Republican for the first time since Reconstruction.

Republican Favored in Mississippi Gov's Race

When the race to succeed term-limited Republican Kirk Fordice as Mississippi governor began earlier this year, Democratic Lt. Gov. Ronnie Musgrove had a big lead in the polls. But that lead appears to have evaporated in the face of a relentlessly upbeat campaign by U.S. Rep Mike Parker, a Republican convert. Musgrove is hoping for a heavy turnout of African-American voters in Mississippi's Delta region to help him squeak to victory, but Parker is the favorite on the eve of the election.

Virginia GOP Seizes Legislature, Dem Re-elected Kentucky Gov

Voters in Virginia Tuesday gave Republican Gov. James S. Gilmore III something the Old Dominion has never seen before -- a state legislature completely controlled by the GOP. In Kentucky, Democrat Gov. Paul Patton coasted to re-election. But a Mississippi governor's race between Democrat Ronnie Musgrove and Republican Mike Parker was too close to call on Wednesday morning, and officials said it might take 10 days before final results are known. In Washington, voters scrapped a car tax and gave the electorate more say over future tax policy.

Mississippi Legislators To Choose Governor Next Month

Nearly a month after the balloting, the outcome of the Mississippi governor's election is still officially undecided. So the state House of Representatives will select the winner on January 4. Democrat Ronnie Musgrove is almost certain to be the lawmakers' choice, but Republican Mike Parker seems determined to hold out until the bitter end.

Mississippi Lawmakers Make Musgrove State's Governor

Mississippi's House of Representatives kicked off its 2000 legislative session Tuesday by making Democrat Ronnie Musgrove the Magnolia State's new governor.

America's Newest Governor Gets Delayed Start

Mississippi's new Gov. Ronnie Musgrove starts from behind when he takes office next Tuesday -- the state House of Representatives ratified Musgrove's election just this week after he and former Rep. Mike Parker, his Republican opponent, finished in a near-draw in the November election. What's ahead for the newest Democrat in a Deep South governor's mansion? Click on

Mississippi Inaugural Address 2000

JACKSON, Mississippi - Jan 11 - Following is the text of Gov. David Ronald Musgrove's 2000 Inaugural Address: When we ordered the weather for today, we had no idea the Lord would bless us with hot weather. But compared to those tremendous events that I've participated (in) in times past, I will take the hot we

Push For Ten Commandments To Return To Schools

The Ten Commandments are experiencing a renaissance in states debating bills that would display the Big 10 in schools alongside historical documents. Emphasizing history, not religion, is a strategy that Commandments backers hope will skirt court challenges.

Mississippi Poor Leave Welfare, But For What?

If the overhaul of the nation's welfare system meant poor families would replace public aid with paychecks, that has not occurred in Mississippi. If welfare reform meant states would make investments to help people move from welfare to work, that has not happened either. Under former Republican Gov. Kirk Fordice, Mississippi did not reform welfare, it practically dismantled it. A new administration headed by Democratic Gov. Ronnie Musgrove is moving to change things, but given the state's historical apathy toward its poorest citizens, it's unclear if the effort will succeed.

Mississippi Leads In Creating Service Industry Jobs

Mississippi led the way in increasing jobs and revenue in the service sector between 1992 and 1997, a new Census Bureau report shows. Service industry jobs, in hotels, restaurants, computer rental firms, technical training schools, temp agencies and other similar enterprises, accounted for more than half of all new jobs created nationwide in the non-farm private economy during the most recent five-year period for which complete information is available.

Health Of Nation Measured In Report Card

A national report card on health places New Hampshire at the top of the list of states that have healthy residents with decent access to healthcare. Mississippi ranked 50th in the study sponsored by the United Health Group of Minneapolis. Minnesota, Utah and Massachusetts also ranked high among states for all round good health and longevity. Louisiana, South Carolina and West Virginia joined Mississippi at the bottom of the list.

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.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2001

JACKSON, Mississippi - Jan. 4 - Following is the text of Gov. Ronnie Musgrove's 2001 State of the State Address: Governor Tuck. Mr. Speaker. Members of the Mississippi Legislature. Chief Justice Pittman and Justices of the Supreme Court. Elected Officials. Agency Directors. Distinguished Guests. My fello

Mississippi Flag Debate Heads Toward Showdown

With one eye on the turmoil endured by South Carolina, Mississippi business, athletic and religious leaders here uniting in an uphill battle to convince voters to retire this states controversial flag -- a banner that includes the Confederate battle flag in one corner. Voters go to the polls for a special, one-issue referendum Tuesday (4/17) to choose between the present flag and a new design that replaces the Confederate battle flag with 20 white stars on a blue field.

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.

Activists Call For Greater Federal Election Role

Civil and disability rights leaders want the federal government to take a more active role in elections, which would overturn a tradition of state and local control over voting. Testifying at a hearing of the National Commission on Federal Election Reform at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library on May 24, advocates of an expanded federal role in the electoral process evoked the name of LBJ and the landmark Voting Rights Act he shepherded.

Southern States Poorest, Census Says

Making ends meet is harder in Louisiana, West Virginia and Mississippi, states with the highest poverty rates in the country. State poverty rates range from 6.1 percent in New Hampshire to 20.3 percent in Louisiana, according to new figures from the U.S. Census Bureau based on a survey of 700,000 households. States with large minority populations tended to have above-average poverty rates including New York (13.5 percent), California (14 percent), and Texas (15.3 percent), according to an analysis of the survey data by the Washington-based Economic Policy Institute.

Listening Sessions Help Mississippi Gov Stay in Touch

Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove is taking political accessibility to a new level. Once each month, the Magnolia State Democrat sets aside time to meet with ordinary citizens. While its not clear that any of this interaction has resulted in tangible changes in policy, Musgrove says the meetings are nonetheless important. "Every time I have the opportunity to hear people across the state, I get a new appreciation for the concerns and challenges and problems people have," he says

State Revenue Report Finds Everything Slowing

State tax revenue growth last quarter was the weakest in eight years and the economic slowdown, which had been concentrated in the Midwest and the Southeast, has spread to nearly the entire country, according to a report published Wednesday by the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. "The trend now is toward slowing growth. The fear is that this continues and we start seeing negative growth," says Nicholas Jenny, a fiscal analyst at Rockefeller and one of the report's authors.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2002

JACKSON, Mississippi - Jan 16 - Following is the text of Gov. Ronnie Musgrove's State of the State Address: Governor Tuck. Mr. Speaker. President Pro Tem Little. Speaker Pro Tem Clark. Members of the Mississippi Legislature. Elected Officials and Distinguished Guests. My fellow Mississippians. Last Sunday, my

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.

Rising Unemployment Vexes States

The national unemployment rate hit six percent last month, its highest level since 1994. But joblessness is even higher in many states as foreign competition combines with the downturn in the business cycle to produce an economic double whammy.

Cities, Counties Hurt By Budget Cuts

Starved for cash due to slumping sales tax revenues and rising Medicaid costs, North Carolinas Mecklenburg County needs another revenue hit like a fish needs a bicycle. But thats exactly what it got in February. Through April of this year, 10 states Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and Washington have cut local revenue sharing dollars to balance fiscal year 2002 budgets.

Healthcare Crisis Feeds Mississippi Tort Reform Fight

Soaring medical malpractice insurance premiums are creating crises in many states as physicians abandon or limit their practices because of costs. In Mississippi, the legislature will hold a special session soon to tackle the issue, and theres growing public pressure for action.

Southern Governors Talk Conservation

More than a football field lost to the ocean every half-hour. Twenty-one thousand football fields lost each year. Such is the situation along Louisianas gulf coast, where rising seas and ongoing erosion are destroying wetlands and imperiling roads, towns and wildlife, according to the states governor, Mike Foster (R).

Southern Governors to Coordinate Emergency Response

With the nation approaching the first anniversary of last Septembers terrorist attacks, governors from across the South have unveiled a plan to link their health and emergency agencies to better coordinate response and relief efforts.

South Lags in Industry Research

The New South looks uncomfortably like the Old South, as industry research in the region - a key component of economic and wage growth - lags behind the rest of the country, a new report shows.

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.

Gubernatorial Candidates, Louisiana - North Dakota

Find a comprehensive list of gubernatorial candidates in Louisiana through North Dakota

'Choose Life' Car Tags Spark Debate

Legislators in seven states Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and South Carolina have authorized specialty license plates bearing the slogan "Choose Life," an action that has sparked controversy and several lawsuits. Though supporters say "Choose Life" is not a political message and is intended to promote adoption, the plates have been challenged by abortion rights groups whove gone to court to try to block them.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2003

JACKSON, Mississippi - Jan. 9 - Follwoing is the text of Gov. Ronnie Musgrove's 2003 State of the State Address: Lieutenant Governor Tuck, Speaker Ford, President Pro Tem Little, Speaker Pro Tem Clark. Elected officials and distinguished guests, my fellow Mississippians. We meet in troubled economic times. Like

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.

Gubernatorial Candidates Face Off in Southern States

With hotly contested races for governor in Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi, the South is home to three of this year's biggest political battles. While these races are far from the finish line, some analysts are already predicting that Republicans could be in for a good year.

Drinking and Driving Legal in Some States

Drunk driving may be a crime in every state, but drinking while driving is still legal in three of them Indiana, Mississippi and Montana -- as long as the driver is sober.

Southern States' Governors' Races Heat Up

Voters in Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi elect new governors this fall. With the races well underway, analysts say the best battle is in Mississippi, where incumbent Gov. Ronnie Musgrove (D) is squaring off against political power broker Haley Barbour (R).

States Use Driver's Education to Boost Organ Donation

Virginia is one of a handful of states that use drivers education as a vehicle to boost organ donation. At least eight others -- Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin have adopted similar policies in the past few years.

Southern Governors Oppose Federal Plan To Upgrade Grid

With an abundance of cheap, reliable electricity at their fingertips, governors from across the South are against federal plans to spread the costs of transmission grid upgrades among all the states. They say the proposal represents an assault on the South's economy, which depends on low cost energy to attract big manufacturers.

Democrats in Trouble as Kentucky, Mississippi Elect New Governors

Kentucky and Mississippi voters hit the polls Tuesday to elect new governors. Louisiana voters will do the same later in the month. These are the only regularly scheduled gubernatorial elections this year and Republicans are running strong in all of them.

History Might Repeat in Mississippi

Four years ago, the Mississippi governor's race was ultimately decided by the state legislature. Because of the tightness of this year's race and the peculiarities of the state's election process, some experts believe history might repeat itself.

Republicans Elect Governors in Kentucky, Mississippi

Republican candidates won the governors races in Kentucky and Mississippi Tuesday, continuing a decades-long trend toward Republican domination of the South.

State Attorney Generals Step Up Child Support Enforcement

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox is taking the fight to collect child support to the streets, where billboards will warn the states motorists to pay child support on time or do time. The billboards represent one facet of a large-scale effort by Cox to crackdown on Michigans deadbeat parentsa move that follows the lead of state Attorneys General across the country.

New Governors: Deficits Are 'Opportunities'

Even with the economy improving, many states are still struggling to recover from a fiscal hangover induced by two-plus years of program cuts, tax increases and layoffs. The governors-elect of Kentucky, Mississippi and Louisiana soon will lead such states and say they relish this challenge.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2004

JACKSON, Mississippi - Jan. 26 - Following is the text of Gov. Haley Barbour's 2004 state of the state address: Lieutenant Governor; Mr. Speaker; Fellow State officials, Members of the Legislature, Members of the Executive Council and fellow Mississippians. It is a humbling honor to come before you tonight for

Medical Liability Debate Still Roaring in Statehouses

Mississippi and New Jersey are among nearly a dozen states that made headway in addressing costly premiums for medical malpractice insurance by passing new laws during the 2004 legislative session. The issue sucked up time and energy in 42 statehouses this session as lawmakers debated claims that excessive damage awards are driving up physicians' liability insurance costs and threatening doctor shortages. Much of a recent upsurge in lobbying at the state level has been driven by doctors groups and trial lawyers battling over medical malpractice legislation.

Southeastern States Struggle with Teacher-Quality Rules

Southeastern states are lowering the bar for teacher qualifications and using federal rules under the No Child Left Behind Act as a maximum standard rather than a minimum, according to a report released today . The Southeast Center for Teacher Quality concludes that some states are focusing only on what teachers know and not how well they convey that knowledge to students.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2005

JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 11 - Following is the text of Gov. Haley Barbour's 2005 state of the state address: Governor Tuck, Speaker McCoy, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Legislature, fellow Mississippians: It is my privilege to report the State of our State is better today than it was last year but not as good as it will

Emergency! Declarations Help States Cope

If it seems as if the whole country is in a "state of emergency," that's because most of it is. And that's before Hurricane Rita makes landfall.

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.

Katrina Alters Vista for Barbour, Blanco

Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and Haley Barbour took their oaths as governors of Louisiana and Mississippi two days apart in January 2004. Twenty months later, Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Gulf states, tearing apart landscapes and lives and severely testing the leadership of both governors. This report is from "State of the States 2006," Stateline.org's annual overview of significant policy trends in the 50 states.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2006

JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 9 - Following is the full text of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's (R) 2006 state of the state address: "Thank you. Lt. Governor Tuck, Speaker McCoy, ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature, fellow Mississippians. Thank you for being here for my third State of the State address. I apologize fo

More states sanction deadly force

A year-old Florida law sanctioning the use of deadly force against muggers, carjackers or other assailants outside the home is rapidly being adopted by other states and already is being raised as a defense in at least three shootings in Florida.

States Promote Nursing, Protect Moms

Mississippi, the state with the lowest breastfeeding rate in the country, has passed a broad new law allowing mothers to nurse at work and in public. In addition, five other states - Arizona, Kentucky, Kansas, South Carolina and Alabama - passed laws protecting mothers from charges of indecent exposure when they nurse in public places.

Katrina, Rita Create Unexpected Boom

Despite dire forecasts that Gulf Coast governors would have to slash state budgets in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita one year ago, a new report finds that booming "hurricane economies" have fueled state revenue surpluses across the region.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2007

JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 15 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Haley Barbour's (R) 2007 state of the state address: Madam Lt. Governor, Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature, distinguished guests and fellow Mississippians: For the fourth time I'm honored to report to you on the State of our State.

States Try GPS to Protect Social Workers

Last year, a Kentucky social worker was murdered in the line of duty. Although fatalities are rare, this case and others like it are a call to arms for state child-welfare agencies already battling high worker-turnover rates and a nationwide shortage of skilled new social workers. Two states are equipping their frontline caseworkers with Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices to boost worker safety and efficiency.

GOP Eyes Possible Gains in '07 Races

Click here to see the 2007 state elections guide Location, location, location could make all the difference in the three governors' seats in play this year. All three gubernatorial races - in Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi - are in the South, the only region where Republicans made gains in state offices as Democrats in 2006 swept into a majority of governors' mansions and more statehouses than at any time since 1994.

AGs Aim to Make MySpace a Safe Space

Under pressure from state attorneys general, the popular social-networking Web site MySpace agreed Monday to turn over information on thousands of sex offenders it kicked off its site in early May.

Lawmakers Want to Pump Kids Up

Florida's school children next fall will be part of a trend reversal in which state lawmakers are starting to bring back physical education classes to combat childhood obesity.

States Urge Hurricane Awareness

The governors of Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia have declared official awareness periods to highlight the beginning of what forecasters say could be a dangerous hurricane season.

Bridge collapse points to national problem

The Minnesota bridge that collapsed this week is just one of 73,518 "structurally deficient" bridges across the country that state and federal inspectors have deemed in need of significant repairs.

Home Insurance Woes Mount in Coastal States

As private home insurers raise rates or pull out completely along the Gulf Coast and in other storm-prone areas of the country, states are scrambling to respond.

Colleges go on offense against binge drinking

To many college students, binge drinking is a rite of passage, as integral a part of the college experience as midterms and all-nighters. But to college administrators, drinking too much is a hazard to students' health and safety, and they're taking steps to curb it.

State pols catch sports fever

An attorney general candidate in Mississippi gets blitzed by the Dallas Cowboys. A Democratic governor chides his Republican counterparts over Major League Baseball. Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente wins support from the Pennsylvania General Assembly 35 years after his death. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Supreme Court stops Mississippi execution

For the third time in five weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court last night (Oct. 30) halted an execution while it considers whether lethal injection illegally inflicts cruel and unusual punishment. The postponement - 19 minutes before a Mississippi inmate was to be put to death - is the strongest signal to date that a national moratorium on lethal injection is taking hold.

Legislatures: before and after

Three states put their entire legislatures up for election Tuesday (Nov. 6). Democrats flipped control of legislative chambers in Virginia and Mississippi on Election Day and made gains in four of the six chambers with seats on the ballot, including adding one seat to their majority in the New Jersey Senate although they lost two seats in the Assembly.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2008

JACKSON, Miss. - Jan. 21 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Hayley Barbour's (R) 2008 state of the state address: Governor Bryant; Speaker McCoy; ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature; and fellow Mississippians: This is the fifth time you have allowed Marsha and me to join you in this historic chamber to r

WORTH NOTING: Fat Folks Uninvited

A Mississippi legislator wants restaurants to stop serving obese customers. Rooster owners in Riverside, Calif., must muffle cock-a-doodle-doing during daytime hours. And Florida lawmakers want to tax strip-club goers and give the money to poor nursing home residents. In case you missed any of those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Will Obama Have Coattails in the South?

High turnout among African-Americans and younger voters could reshape the Southern political landscape this fall. But Democrats may find gains in statewide contests thwarted by bad timing and a potential conservative backlash.

FEMA Change Sends States Searching For Ice

States looking for free ice from FEMA in the aftermath of a hurricane will be out of luck because of the agency's new policy.

Grand Old Party-Poopers

What VIPs are sending regrets to John McCain's convention bash?

Nasty Judicial Races Renew Complaints

Another bruising campaign season in judicial elections has spurred calls for reform from advocacy groups, lawyers and others in the legal community, but fierce debate persists over how exactly state judges should be chosen.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2009

JACKSON, Miss. - Jan. 13 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Haley Barbour's (R) 2009 state of the state address: Governor Bryant; Speaker McCoy; ladies and gentlemen of the Legislature; and fellow Mississippians: Tonight marks the sixth time you have allowed Marsha and me to join you here to report on th

Tracking the Recession – Much Ado About a Small Stimulus Pot

After weeks of speculation and intense political pressure, a reluctant Republican South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford on Friday (April 3) became the last governor to formally notify the White House that he plans to accept at least some federal dollars from the stimulus package - but the controversy is far from over.

Recession Ushers in More Tobacco Taxes

In a double-whammy for smokers, the federal government and seven states raised taxes on cigarettes this year. But the new taxes plus President Obama's vow to sign a bill imposing sweeping regulation of the tobacco industry threaten to shrink cigarette sales - and revenues for state coffers.

Weekly Wrap: Bullet Point Dramatizes Crisis

Mississippi's "down budget times" have led to the rationing of highway patrol ammo. Fallout from the recession is likely to mean higher fees for would-be Cal State students. It's delaying tax refunds in several states. Vermont had some good news - it ended the budget year that ended June 30 in the black. For a quick update on how the economic crisis is affecting states, read Stateline.org's "Weekly wrap."

States Draw Down Rainy Day Funds

Faced with historic revenue drops, lawmakers in states across the country tapped rainy day funds in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 at levels not seen since the recession following the 2001 terrorist attacks. And more seem poised to join them.

Report: 11 States Emerging From Recession

It's going to be a long, hard climb out of the current economic downturn for many recession-ridden states hit hard by the housing crash, unemployment and shrinking revenues. But as the national economy starts its slow recovery, 11 states and the District of Columbia are showing signs of emerging from the recession, according to a new report.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2010

JACKSON, Miss. - Jan. 18 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Haley Barbour's (R) 2010 state of the state address: Mr. Speaker, Governor Bryant, members of the Legislature, distinguished guests and fellow Mississippians: For the seventh time I'm honored to come before you to share my view of the State of o

Summary of the Mississippi State of the State Address

Republican Gov. Haley Barbour used his Jan. 18 state of the state address to urge the Democratic-led Legislature to approve a bill that would allow him to cut individual agency budgets up to 10 percent. He also called job creation and workforce training his No. 1 priorities and touted Mississippi's leadership in alternative energy production.

Weekly Wrap: Govs Seek to Prop Up Budget Reserve Funds

Depleted rainy day funds prompt review; Toyota's temporary sales suspension could impact state revenue; Ohio loses an iconic employer; and new studies released on recession, state stimulus web sites.

Amid Recall, Four Governors Defend Toyota

TODAY'S TAKE: The governors of Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky and Mississippi - all states that are home to Toyota plants -on Wednesday (Feb. 10) defended the Japanese automaker amid its worldwide recall of millions of cars.

Smaller Prison Count Breaks 38-Year Trend

State prisons have been a dynamic growth industry over the past four decades, with the number of inmates exploding by more than 700 percent. No longer. A survey released Wednesday (March 17) by the Pew Center on the States, the parent organization of Stateline.org, finds that the total number of prisoners in state custody declined last year for the first time since 1972.

Still Too Many Schools?

As states become determined to keep more school money inside the classroom, rather than in an administrative office, they are beginning to turn to the thorny issue of consolidation as a way to save on administrative costs. But consolidation of anything related to schools is notoriously difficult, and doesn't always turn out to provide the fiscal windfall states hope for. Implementation is fraught with complexities. Communities worry about the possibility of local schools closing even when it's promised that proposed changes would be largely administrative.

Tea on the Menu

Long-time advocates of limited government hope the anti-tax fervor of the Tea Party movement will breathe new life to initiatives aimed at reining in state spending and will reverse a string of ballot box defeats in recent years. Opponents speculate that tea partiers' influence on ballot measures may be limited since their focus is on Washington. Either way, no one is taking Tea Party activists lightly, and the first big test will come next month in Arizona, where voters will consider a temporary sales tax increase - anathema to Tea Party groups everywhere.

Subsidized Jobs: A Faint Echo of the New Deal

A small piece of the federal stimulus program is going toward funding jobs in the private sector. Even conservatives seem to like the idea.

A Tale of Two Governors

TODAY'S TAKE: One Mississippi governor talks down the damage of the Gulf oil spill. Another has been given the task of managing the cleanup.

Gulf States Fear Long-Term Fiscal Effects of Oil Disaster

The Gulf Coast states were hopeful that 2010 would be a year of economic revival. Now, one of the worst environmental tragedies in U.S. history is jeopardizing the future of the tourism, fishing and deep-water oil drilling industries. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida do not have the money to offset the revenue losses and are counting on BP to rescue them.

States Pressed to Fix Local Water Systems

American cities - including state capitals - are responsible for their own water systems. But when cities can't afford to make urgently needed repairs, some states are stepping beyond their traditional roles to help finance upgrades to the nation's aging water infrastructure.

Mississippi Budget Proposal: Sign of Those to Come?

TODAY'S TAKE: Mississippi's Haley Barbour on Monday (November 15) became one of the first governors to propose a state budget for the new year. The plan is full of deep cuts - and could resemble what other Republican governors will propose in the months ahead.

Mississippi Considers Pro Bono Mandate for Lawyers

Many poor people still lack adequate legal representation. Can a state court force private attorneys to provide it?

Texas Again Leads Nation in Executions; Ohio a Distant Second

TODAY'S TAKE: Texas executed more than twice as many inmates in 2010 as the next-closest state, Ohio, according to a new report. Nationally, states executed 46 prisoners this year, a 12-percent decline from last year.

Mississippi State of the State Address 2011

JACKSON, Mississippi - Jan. 11 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Haley Barbour's (R) 2011 state of the state address: Thank you Speaker McCoy and Governor Bryant, and thanks to you in the Legislature for your warm welcome. General Freeman is with us tonight. While we don't have as many of our National Guard

New Jersey Democrats Want to Roll Back Tunnel Tolls

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Some New Jersey legislators look to reduce driving costs… A major public works law in Illinois catches a break… Maryland's governor looks to deny driver's licenses to tax delinquents, and other transportation news.

Missouri is Toughest on Crack Cocaine

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: Missouri punishes crack dealers more severely than those who sell the powder version of the same drug… Police are stretched thin in one of the nation's most dangerous cities… The Colorado probation agency comes under scrutiny, and other public safety news.

Where Labor is Weak, State Workers Face Huge Cutbacks

As the nation debates collective bargaining in Wisconsin, public workers in Alabama, Texas and many other states are fighting over massive pay cuts, huge increases in health premiums and basic civil service protections.

In Mississippi, New Republican Power Collides With Black Quest for Seats

The always contentious process of seeking racially fair legislative districts in Mississippi is even more contentious this year as Republican power has added a new dimension to the calculation.See Stateline's redistricting page for the latest news

Mississippi Lieutenant Governor May Succeed His Boss

TODAY'S TAKE: Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant became the Republican choice for governor on Tuesday (August 2) and awaits the winner of a Democratic runoff election later this month.

Governor Candidate Makes History in Mississippi

TODAY'S TAKE: Johnny DuPree, the mayor of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, won a Democratic runoff for governor on Tuesday (August 23), making him the first African-American nominee for either party in state history.