Stateline Stories

Legislatures In Nebraska, Oklahoma, Illinois and Tennessee Close Shop

Nebraska lawmakers recently ended their 1999 session, but not before Gov. Mike Johanns vetoed a bill that would have imposed a two-year moratorium on capital punishment. Oklahoma, Illinois and Tennessee were also scheduled to shut down their legislative sessions by week's end, bringing the tally of statehouse adjournments to 31. To read on, click here.

Tribes Follow States In Pursuit of Tobacco Money

Emboldened by the $206 billion tobacco lawsuit settlement that has enriched the coffers of 46 states, Native American tribes across the nation are following suit and bringing legal action themselves. In the most recent case, a coalition of 22 tribes from five states filed a federal lawsuit in California on June 3 claiming that the tribes should have gotten a share of the money. For more information, click on

Oklahoma State of the State Address 2000

OKLAHOMA CITY - Feb. 7 - Following is the partial text of Gov. Frank Keating's 2000 State of the State Address: Lieutenant Governor Fallin, President Pro Tempore Taylor, Speaker Benson, Members of the Judiciary, distinguished members of the House and Senate, my wife, and my fellow Oklahomans. Before I begin, I

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Commandments are experiencing a renaissance in states debating bills that would display the Big 10 in schools alongside historical documents.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.

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.

State Policymakers Chart Untested Waters Around RU-486

Abortion has long been a bitterly divisive political topic in the United States, and debate on the issue promises to intensify this year as state lawmakers confront the latest element in the philosophical and moral divide: a drug that ends an unwanted pregnancy. Known in this country by the brand name Mifeprex and the chemical compound name mifepristone, the drug is frequently referred to as RU-486, a term derived from its creator, French pharmaceutical giant Roussel Uclaf.

Oklahoma State of the State Address 2001

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma - Feb. 5 - Following is the full text of Gov. Frank Keating's 2001 State of the State Address: Thank you. Gentleman, ladies, hello. Thank you. Thank you. As a postscript to what Lieutenant Governor Fallin said, I think it is very impressive to have that handsome new face on the wall right be

Elections Aren't Broken, But Could Use Help, Study Says

Election administrators from around the country said Thursday (8/9) the nations system of voting is "not in crisis" as they presented findings of their own six-month task force look at election reform.

Seven States To Compete for Innovation Awards

Seven state-run programs in areas such as education, public safety, and the environment are among 15 policy initiatives competing for five $100,000 awards for being the most innovative programs in American government. The awards are given annually by the Institute for Government Innovation at Harvard Universitys John F. Kennedy School of Government in conjunction with the Council for Excellence in Government. The 15 finalists were chosen from 1,300 applicants, and each will receive a $20,000 grant.

Education, Public Safety Programs Win Innovation Awards

Two state-run programs on education and public safety are among five policy initiatives that won $100,000 awards for being the most innovative programs in American government.

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

Oklahoma State of the State Address 2002

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma - Feb. 4 - Following is the text of Gov. Frank Keating's 2002 State of the State Address: Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Leader Morgan, Leader Dunlap, Members of the House and Senate, Members of Judiciary, Members of the Cabinet, my fellow Oklahomans, this is the final time that we will have

State Support For Ending Cuban Embargo Growing

What do Illinois Gov. George Ryan and Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura have in common with Arkansas chicken producers, Texas rice growers and Utah medical companies? They'd all like to see an end to the 40-year-old U.S. embargo on trade with Cuba.

State Policymakers Push Marriage Education

A divorced California state senator thinks lovesick couples should know what theyre getting into before they tie the knot. So State Sen. Bill Morrow, now remarried, wants to cut the cost of the marriage license if altar-bound couples take a marriage education course before saying I do. Such measures are also under discussion in at least 18 other states.

Ventura, Other Govs Sing Red Ink Blues

Gov. Jesse Ventura, Minnesotas outspoken chief executive, is feuding with the legislature over his decision to close the governors mansion as a cost-cutting move. But even governors with more sympathetic legislatures are enduring cuts in office salaries and travel expenses in the face of budget crunches.

Govs, Media - A Love, Hate Relationship

Some governors love talking policy with reporters, and others thirst for the spotlight. But mostly governors want to control what voters read and hear about them.

State School Superintendent Hopefuls Hit Campaign Trail

Voters in eight states will be electing a new state school superintendent this November. Although the job entails sparing public education from the sharp blade of the budget scythe and being responsible for revamping schools to meet new federal demands, the field is full of hopefuls from major and minor political parties.

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).

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.

Gubernatorial Candidates, Ohio - Wyoming

For a comprehensive list of gubernatorial candidates in Ohio through Wyoming.

'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.

Oklahoma State of the State Address 2003

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma - Feb. 3 - Following is the full text of Gov. Brad Henry's State of the State Address: Members of the Senate and House, Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court, Lt. Gov. Fallin, distinguished elected officials, honored guests, and my fellow Oklahomans and friends: Two days ago, our natio

Oklahoma's Monson Is Political Pioneer

Angela Monson is about to chalk up another couple of firsts. The first female African-American to serve as president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Monson soon will be the first woman and first black to hold a leadership position in the Oklahoma State Senate.

Oklahoma State of the State Address 2004

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma - Feb. 2 - Following is the full text of Gov. Brad Henry's (D) 2004 State of the State Address: Members of the House and Senate, Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court, Lt. Governor Fallin, Speaker Adair, President Pro Tem Hobson, distinguished elected officials, honored guests and my fell

Three States Lead in Pre-School Programs

Georgia, New Jersey and Oklahoma outpace the nation in providing high-quality preschool for 3- and 4-year- olds. But most states lag in early education efforts needed to ensure that all students are ready to learn when they arrive in kindergarten, according to a new national study.

Rural States Plug Into Classroom Technology

South Dakota and Oklahoma lead the way in providing students with computer and Internet access, according to a new national survey. But the survey is bad news in one regard: It shows that the United States lags far behind other developed nations in using technology to enrich education.

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.

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.

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.

Oklahoma State of the State Address 2005

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma - Feb 7 - Following is the text of Gov. Brad Henry's 2005 state of the state address: Members of the House and Senate, Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court, Lt. Governor Fallin, Speaker Hiett, President Pro Tem Hobson, distinguished Cabinet and elected officials, honored gue

Oklahoma Sets Pace in Fighting Meth

Led by Oklahoma, at least eight states have new laws making it harder to buy medications containing pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient to making "meth," a highly addictive mind-altering drug. Besides reining in illegal drug use, Oklahoma's model also shows the potential cost benefit to states that curb homegrown production of the drug. An average meth case can cost $350,000, including $54,000 to treat the meth user, $12,000 in child welfare services and $3,500 to clean up the makeshift meth lab.

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.

Rising revenues spur tax cuts, spending

From Massachusetts to Hawaii, signs abound that the immense pressure placed on state budgets by the fiscal crisis early this decade has eased, opening the door for a wave of fresh tax cuts and new spending.

Oklahoma State of the State 2006

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Feb.6 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Brad Henry's 2006 state of the state address: Click here to visit the governor's Web site and read the address. Members of the House and Senate, Lt. Governor Fallin, President Pro Tem Morgan, Speaker Hiett, Honorable Justices of the Supreme Cou

Mumps outbreak tests pandemic plans

State officials in the Midwest are using an outbreak of mumps to test emergency health plans. The real-life exercise is critical for health officials, who have struggled to ready their systems for a possible flu pandemic in the near future.

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.

States Expand Fetal Homicide Laws

A wave of new state fetal homicide laws recognizing a fetus "of any gestational age" as a person and potential crime victim has abortion rights advocates worried the statutes could undermine a woman's right to end her pregnancy. Among the 37 states with laws making death of a fetus a separate crime, language giving legal status to a fetus at the earliest stages of pregnancy is proliferating.

Battles for gavels kick off 2007 sessions

The newly elected Democratic majority in the Pennyslvania House chose a speaker from the minority party for the first time in state history. Majority Republicans in the Tennessee Senate banded together to oust their Democratic leader, a 36-year veteran and the longest-serving presiding officer in the nation. Those are just two of the bruising leadership battles fought as all 50 state legislatures launch their lawmaking sessions.

Oklahoma State of the State Address 2007

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Feb. 5 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Brad Henry's (D) 2007 state of the state address. On the Move This is a historic time. On the cusp of our state's second century, we gather here, chosen by the people of Oklahoma to chart a course for our future: a course not solely for t

What will lawmakers think of next?

The Florida Legislature tackles toilet paper. Wisconsin lawmakers give beer lovers reason to cheer. And New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's political steamroller runs into a roadblock. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Real ID Dropouts Leave Security Holes

Defying Uncle Sam, four states have passed laws refusing to comply with federal rules to make driver's licenses more secure, casting further doubt on the future of the 2005 Real ID Act.

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.

WORTH NOTING: Lawmaker Loses to a Cockroach

A Kansas lawmaker settles a lawsuit for accosting a cockroach-costumed protester. An Oklahoma official tries to stop Christmas gifts for juveniles in state custody. And the South Dakota Legislature schedules a more work-friendly session. In case you missed any of those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Oklahoma State of the State Address 2008

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Feb. 4 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Brad Henry's (D) 2008 state of the state address: Members of the House and Senate, Lt. Governor Askins, President Pro Tempores Morgan and Coffee, Acting Speaker Blackwell, Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court, distinguished Cabinet and elected

Ultrasound at Center of State Abortion Wars

A new Oklahoma law slated to take effect Aug. 1 requires doctors to show a woman considering abortion an ultrasound image of her fetus and recite details of its development. Experts expect a slew of similar statutes next year as abortion foes push states to require the procedure for all abortions.

Final Convention News From State Delegations

Were Oklahoma's Ron Paul delegates disenfranchised?

WORTH NOTING: What Can You Do With a Knife?

Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge (D) says Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) isn't the only one who knows how to use a knife. It's union vs. union on the Oregon picket lines. And Oklahomans are looking for a new tune. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Slumping Economy Hits Prosperous States

With the fall in energy and farm prices, many well-off states are finding they can't escape the national recession.

War Veterans Benefit From New State Laws

New voter-approved laws will make it easier for veterans to make the transition from wartime service to everyday life. Some states now offer help to veterans applying for jobs, paying taxes and buying homes.

Oklahoma State of the State Address 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Feb. 2 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Brad Henry's (D) 2009 state of the state address: Members of the House and Senate, Lt. Governor Askins, President Pro Tempore Coffee, Speaker Benge, Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court, distinguished Cabinet and elected officials, honored g

Tracking the Recession: Buyouts Lure 9,000 State Workers Into Retirement

As layoffs and furloughs undermine the job security traditionally associated with state employment, at least six states are offering buyouts to tighten their belts without fracturing morale. But some worry this payroll-reduction technique may not save as much money as anticipated.

Weekly Wrap: Officials Hope to Dodge Pay Backlash

Top officials in several states took steps to show the public that they, too, are making do with less take-home pay. Meanwhile, state revenues decline for a fourth straight quarter, Oklahoma erects wind turbines among the oil derricks on its capitol grounds and Illinois halts all state lobbyist registration.

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.

Oklahoma State of the State Address 2010

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Feb. 1 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Brad Henry's (D) 2010 state of the state address: Members of the House and Senate, Lt. Governor Askins, President Pro Tempore Coffee, Speaker Benge, Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court, distinguished Cabinet and elected officials, honored g

Summary of the Oklahoma State of the State Address

Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat, urged members of Oklahoma's Republican-controlled legislature to avoid painful cuts in state services by tapping into the state's reserves to balance its budget.

Weekly Wrap: Fed Report Doubts Energy States Will Recover First

Revenues down in gas-producing states; Obama snubs Las Vegas-again; and economist Mark Zandi predicts start of economic expansion.

New Script for Sudafed?

Anyone in Oregon who wants to buy tablets of Sudafed or Claritin D must have a doctor's prescription to do so. Those who live in Oklahoma must submit to an instant online screening before they can walk out of a pharmacy with those products.The two states are taking aggressive but different approaches to a common and long-standing problem: the production of crystal meth, a highly addictive drug made with a decongestant found in several leading cold and allergy medicines, including Sudafed.Oregon's approach has alarmed the pharmaceuticals industry, which is lobbying hard in other states in favor of Oklahoma's approach - even offering to pay for it. Either way, the purchase of cold medicines by meth makers is likely to become much trickier.

New Meth Recipe Sidesteps State Laws

TODAY'S TAKE: A new method of making methamphetamine - a highly addictive street drug that has caused law enforcement and public health problems from Oregon to Kentucky - is circumventing tough state laws that had been making headway against production of the drug. The new method uses less of a key ingredient - pseudoephedrine - that states have made much harder to acquire.

Congress Weighs Stimulus for Schools

TODAY'S TAKE: Budget constraints are forcing many state lawmakers to consider deep cuts to K-12 education, prompting warnings from the Obama administration that teacher layoffs could exceed 100,000 if Congress doesn't offer help. Federal assistance may come in the form of new taxes on hedge funds and large financial institutions.

Abortion Returns to Center Stage

TODAY'S TAKE: The Florida Senate on Thursday (April 29) put the state budget, a property-insurance overhaul, an energy bill and other end-of-session legislation on hold while it debated imposing tough new abortion rules. If approved, the bill would become at least the third state measure in recent weeks to impose strict new regulations on women who seek abortions. Nebraska and Oklahoma passed abortion-related laws earlier this month.

Oklahoma Could Become 44th 'Open Carry' State

TODAY'S TAKE: Oklahoma legislators have sent Governor Brad Henry a bill that would make the state the 44th to allow residents to carry firearms openly in public. But the Democratic governor hasn't decided whether he will sign or veto the measure, which comes after open-carry supporters in California staged high-profile protests by carrying guns into Starbucks stores.

States Try New Tactics to Restrict Abortion

State legislatures across the country this year enacted groundbreaking abortion laws prodded, in large part, by national health care reform. Some of the new laws will dramatically change the circumstances women face when trying to end their pregnancies and at least one could lead to a challenge of Roe v. Wade.

States Eye License Plate Cameras as Source of Cash

States have used license plate readers to catch car thieves and toll cheats. Now, some are looking at using them to raise revenue by finding - and fining - uninsured drivers. Millions of dollars are at stake, but critics say the idea takes the use of surveillance cameras too far.

In a First, Oklahoma Uses Different Drug in Execution

TODAY'S TAKE: A nationwide shortage of a drug used in lethal injections led Oklahoma on Thursday (December 16) to execute an inmate with a substance more commonly used to euthanize animals instead. It's believed to be the first execution of its kind in U.S. history.

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.

Oklahoma's Ban on Sharia Law Gains Traction in More States

TODAY'S TAKE: In the wake of a controversial ballot measure last year that banned Oklahoma courts from applying Sharia law, at least seven states are considering similar legislation.

Oklahoma State of the State Address 2011

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Feb. 7 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Mary Fallin (R) 2011 state of the state address: Lieutenant Governor Lamb, statewide elected officials, Speaker Steele, President Pro Tem Bingman, members of the court, Honorable Senators and Representatives, cabinet members, distinguished gues

Health Exchange Head Start Reaps Dollars

Every state must have a health insurance exchange in operation by 2014. A few have received rewards for running ahead of schedule.

State Hiring Freezes Tend to Melt Away

It's easy for a governor to announce a halt to new state employment. It's very difficult to maintain it.

After Standoff, Illinois Road Construction Continues

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Illinois senators agree to back off in a budget fight that threatened to halt the state's summer road building season … Nevada clears the way for its first and only tollroad … Digital billboards could soon be legal in Missouri and Oregon, and other transportation news.

As Shuttle Program Ends, States Step Up Roles in Space

With NASA focused on deep-space missions, the federal government is increasingly turning to private companies to handle more routine flights. Now, states are competing to lure the space entrepreneurs-and the high-tech jobs they promise-to their new or refashioned launch facilities.

Alternatives to Incarceration Prevail in Some States

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: Kentucky, Ohio and Oklahoma all approved bipartisan legislation to address overcrowding in their prison systems this year. But in California - the state with a crowding problem so bad it was deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court- Democrats and Republicans could not agree on what to do.

Health Care Law is Bigger Challenge for Some States

TODAY'S TAKE: Eight states will face the greatest difficulties in handling the influx of new Medicaid patients expected after the federal Affordable Care Act goes into full effect in 2014, a new study says.

Workers' Comp Systems Getting Stricter

States are changing the rules for employees claiming benefits as a result of injuries suffered on the job.

'Bottle Bills' Draw Renewed Interest in Legislatures

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT BEAT: Hoping to increase recycling rates, environmentalists are returning to the old idea of a deposit-and-return system for beverage containers.

Abolishing a State Income Tax Is Easier Said Than Done

Conservatives in several states are hatching plans to take income taxes off the books. The question they must answer is whether they would replace lost revenues with other taxes or simply cut services.

'Castle Doctrine' Laws Provoke Heated Debate

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: Most states give citizens an explicit right to protect themselves in thier homes. But just how far does that right extend? A number of states are pondering that question.

Obama Decision Denies Keystone XL Permit

TODAY'S TAKE: A controversial oil pipeline project is put on hold as its route through Nebraska remains a subject of fierce debate.

Oklahoma State of the State Address 2012

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma - Feb. 6 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Mary Fallin (R) 2012 state of the state address: Lieutenant Governor Lamb, statewide elected officials, Speaker Steele, President Pro Tem Bingman, members of the court, Honorable Senators and Representatives, cabinet m

States Try to Help Veterans Find Jobs

With U.S forces out of Iraq and combat troops slated to leave Afghanistan in 2013, states are readying for an influx of returning troops who will be looking for work.

Ten States Join Effort to Buy Natural Gas Vehicles

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Last fall, the governors of Oklahoma and Colorado announced a plan to get states to buy 5,000 vehicles powered by natural gas. So far, 10 states have joined the effort.

Changes to Unemployment System Could Be in the Offing

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: Contained in a tentative congressional deal to extend the federal payroll tax cut are possible changes to the unemployment insurance program in the states.

What Do Record Low Natural Gas Prices Mean for States?

Newly abundant and cheap natural gas has slashed home heating bills for many Americans. But in some states, the continued price drop has thinned state budgets and shifted energy production.

Business Gets Its Way in Republican Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY - Republicans have complete control of state government for the first time ever in Oklahoma and are using their power to make sweeping changes.

Abortion Ultrasound Debate Intensifies

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: The debate in Virginia whether to require every woman seeking an abortion get an ultrasound is flaring up in a half dozen other statehouses.

Best of #StateReads: California Legislators Flip-Flop When the Voting's Done

This week's extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Governors Push Natural Gas-Powered Vehicles

With oil prices still high, group of 13 governors on Monday (April 30) asked automakers for input on how states might boost demand for natural gas-powered vehicles.

Kansas and Oklahoma Income Tax Cuts Won’t Reach Zero

Kansas may soon finish a large tax cut and Oklahoma is likely to approve a smaller one, but both will be short of some lawmakers’ initial aspirations: ending the income tax entirely.

Oklahoma Rejects Bonding for Capitol Renovation

As the legislature adjourns, repairs for the Capitol and state office buildings are put off another year.

Natural Gas Growth Adds Strain to State Regulators

To keep pace with a surge of natural gas drilling, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is looking to triple its staff of well inspectors. In many other states, inspection teams remain small while wells go unchecked.

Several U.S. States Deemed Best Global Oil and Gas Investments

Oklahoma is the best place on earth to invest in oil and gas development, according to a survey of energy executives. Six other states joined it in the top 10.

Farmers, Frackers and Scarce Water

Hydraulic fracturing by energy drillers may not be the heaviest consumer of water on parched land. But environmentalists and some farmers are starting to worry about it.

Florida Poised to Elect First Openly Gay State Lawmaker

With a narrow victory in the Democratic primary, a Miami Beach CPA is set to become Florida’s first openly gay state legislator.

Wind Subsidies Raise a Storm in Heartland States

Wind-energy has been a booming industry in many states the past few years. But the federal tax credits that have helped fuel that growth is likely to disappear in a few months.

Oklahoma Looks for Ways to Keep Mentally Ill Ex-offenders Out of Prison

The mentally ill account for an ever-greater portion of prison populations. Oklahoma has had success in preventing former inmates with mental problems from being incarcerated again.

High Court Declines Oklahoma “Personhood” Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision to block a ballot measure that would outlaw abortion in the state.

Oklahoma Among States Limiting Property Taxes

Lowering property taxes is always popular, and results from the November 6 elections show this year was no exemption

Tax Breaks for Sale: Transferable Tax Credits Explained

States offer billions of dollars of tax incentives that businesses can sell to other businesses. Here’s why they do it and how it works.

Issue To Watch: School Testing

A number of states are pushing to up the stakes on reading tests for younger students and assign letter grades to schools.

Oklahoma State of the State Address 2013

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma Feb. 4 Following is the prepared text of Gov. Mary Fallin's (R) 2013 State of the State Address