Stateline Headlines

Welfare Crisis Looms in Pennsylvania

Taped to a wall where Tanya McFadden waits for her caseworker is a somber reminder of how far welfare reform has come in Pennsylvania. "One Check Left," the sign says. For McFadden and thousands of others like her, March spells the beginning of the end. Statewide, 37,734 adults -- mostly single mothers -- will hit their two-year limit for public assistance. Under Pennsylvania law, they are required to work for 20 hours a week, or else lose welfare benefits for the whole family. Some 25,876 of them, nearly 70 percent, live in the Philadelphia area.

Connecticut Tops in Teacher Pay, Educators' Union Says

Teachers in Connecticut continue to earn more than their peers in other states, a survey by the American Federation of Teachers, a union that represents more than one million educators, shows. The average Connecticut teacher's salary during the 1997-1998 school year - the latest time period for which there are figures - was $51, 727. South Dakota had the lowest average teacher salary -- $27, 839. The national average teacher's salary was $39,347, the AFT said.

Drought Worsens, States Take Emergency Measures

The governors of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware have ordered water rationing and other mesaures to deal with the drought. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman this week designated West Virginia and other parts of the eastern seaboard disaster areas due to excessive heat and lack of rain, making farmers in those areas eligible to apply for emergency loans when drought-related losses are calculated at season's end. For more information, click on

New Jersey Learns From Other States On Electric Deregulation

On Aug. 1, New Jersey became one of a handful of states to begin implementing electric utility deregulation. Before opening their borders to competition, officials in the Garden State studied how California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island implemented deregulation, then sought to replicate successful policies and avoid those that bombed.

California Lawmakers Adjourn, Others Face Special Sessions

As California wrapped up its legislative season, lawmakers in Missouri, Alaska and Delaware were preparing for special sessions. In California, landmark legislation was approved that will lead to sweeping nursing home reforms.

Pennsylvania's Electric Deregulation Seen As Success Story

Shaped by conflict and confrontation, Pennsylvania's electric utility deregulation program has become a model for its ability to entice consumers to switch power providers. Not so enthusiastic are investor-owned utilities, which grumble that Pennsylvania short-circuits the free enterprise system by helping to establish the price of electricity.

States Embracing Use of 'Green Power'

Demand for "green power" -- electricity generated by renewable energy sources such as wind and water -- is slowly rising. The movement owes its momentum to state policies. Texas, for example, recently passed an electric utility deregulation law stipulating that a certain percentage of Lone Star electricity must be made with green power. For more information, click on

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.

States On Guard For West Nile Virus

This week, New York City renews its war on the West Nile virus -- the mosquito-borne disease that killed 7 New Yorkers and sickened 55 others without warning last summer. As the city gears up to ward off another outbreak, states on the Eastern Seaboard and in the southeast are putting plans into place to guard against the virus as well.

Pennsylvania, Washington Take Different Paths To E-Government

Microsoft and Pennsylvania. Bill Gates and Gov. Tom Ridge. Their state web site development partnership is stirring up controversy in the Keystone State. Should states partner with private Internet companies to develop their web sites? Or should they follow the example of Gates' home state, Washington, and go it alone?

On The Record: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge's name is often mentioned when political handicappers try to guess whom Texas Gov. George W. Bush wants as his Republican vice presidential running mate. However, GOP conservatives abhor Ridge's pro-choice stance on abortion, prompting an unflattering article in the National Review. Ridge discussed that article and other matters with Stateline.org Senior Writer Blair S. Walker during the National Governors' Association meeting at Penn State University earlier this month.

State Leaders To Discuss Regional Problems, Solutions

As Republicans clear out of Philadelphia humming with the good vibes of their harmonic convergence and the Democrats gear up for their convention in Los Angeles later this month, thousands of state leaders will gather this weekend to talk about regional problems and solutions at bipartisan meetings of the Council of State Governments in Providence, R.I., Biloxi, Miss., Minneapolis, Minn., and Colorado Springs, Colo.

States Showcase Successes, Pitch New Vision

Confronted with a new set of environmental challenges, states are leading the public policy charge toward a cleaner, healthier America. But the current structures of cooperation linking environmental protection authorities are doing more harm than good to their efforts, a handful of top state officials and analysts testified to a Congressional committee.

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.

Pennsylvania Executive Budget Address 2001

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania - Feb. 5 - Following is the text of Gov. Tom Ridge's 2001 Executive Budget Address: Thank you, Lieutenant Governor Schweiker and Speaker Ryan. We the People, in order to form a more perfect union.... I told you this would be a good speech! Of course, those words belong not to me, but to

Pennsylvania College Redefines Brownfields Reclamation

The reclamation of abandoned, polluted industrial sites has won the endorsement of virtually every governor in the country, including two of that groups most distinguished recent alumni, President George W. Bush and EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman. But if the dual goal of brownfield cleanups is economic vitality and environmental protection, then removing contamination is only the first step. And thats just one of several lessons that faculty and students at tiny Allegheny College in the heart of Pennsylvanias Rust Belt are teaching state officials, reputed national leaders in brownfield restoration.

State Brownfields Programs Take National Stage

When Kentuckys Democratic-controlled House and Republican-led Senate both voted unanimously to expand brownfields programs last week, they committed the Bluegrass State to a decade-long push to make investment in cleaning up abandoned industrial sites more attractive to private redevelopers. They also signed on to one of the few nationwide environmental causes to generate real interest in both major political parties since Congress first acted to protect natural resources and public health and set up the Environmental Protection Agency over 30 years ago.

Eco-Terrorists Targeted By Get Tough State Laws

Boise Cascade Inc. recently dedicated its newest timber and wood products office in Monmouth, Ore. The imposing building is a steel-capped, cinderblock fortress. That's because the original log-cabin office was burned to the ground on Christmas Day, 1999, by a fringe environmentalist group called the Earth Liberation Front (ELF).

Western Cities Most Efficient With Land, Sprawl Report Says

Metropolitan population trends documented by the 2000 Census confirmed what land use analysts have known for a long time: most of the nations cities are eating up land for new development much faster than theyre gaining new residents.

State Commemorative Quarters Boost Coin Collecting

Two years into the U.S. Mint's State Commemorative Quarter program, the mint estimates that millions of Americans are collecting the coins. Many of the twenty-five cent pieces put into circulation so far have been subjects of public debates, so states that are still designing their coins are trying to submit proposals that are unique and non-controversial.

Schweiker Takes Charge as Pennsylvania Governor

Serving as lieutenant governor can sometimes be a thankless job. Most state residents, polls show, can't even remember the name of their second in command. But in Pennsylvania, Mark Schweiker doesn't have that problem. If he's not well known now, he will be soon since he drops the 'lieutenant' from the title he's held for nearly seven years Friday (10/5) and replaces the departing Tom Ridge.

Electricity Deregulation Deadline Nears In Some States

Undeterred by the California power crisis, four states will complete their own electricity deregulation efforts in 2002 as they seek to give customers a greater choice of providers and new industry players a better shot at making money.

Census Releases Data on Homeless

Census-takers counted more people sleeping in homeless shelters in California and New York last year than in any other state. Nationally, 170,706 people were in emergency and homeless shelters on March 27, 2000, according to a controversial Census Bureau report released last month. (10/30).

Lawmakers Press Solicitor General on Maine Rx Case

An eight-state coalition wants the U.S. Solicitor General to support Maine in a controversial prescription drug case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. The group, known as the Northeast Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices, wants the federal government's chief lawyer to weigh in heavily on behalf of states trying to curb prescription costs.

Pennsylvania Acts to Staunch 'Brain Drain'

Pennsylvania faces a "brain drain" problem -- the loss of college-educated workers so critical to the New Economy. So the Keystone State has just launched a $9 million campaign to attract and retain the kind of talent needed for high tech jobs.

States Share Latest On Rx Programs

Officials from Florida, Maine, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia will provide updates on their Medicaid and state employee prescription drug programs at a forum in Pittsburgh Friday (1/11).

Technology Helps States Boost Efficiency

More and more states are using electronic tools ranging from web portals to interagency data sharing to make delivery of government services all a taxpayer could hope for, according to two recent studies on the use of digital technologies.

Pennsylvania To Test New School Management

Over the objections of a coalition of 40 community groups, a Pennsylvania school reform panel has voted to hire several for-profit education management firms to run Philadelphias failing schools. The panel hopes these firms will help turn the struggling schools into laboratories of student achievement while cutting costs.

Pennsylvania Hosts Suspenseful Democratic Primary

Pennsylvania Democrats appear headed for a cliffhanger primary Tuesday to decide the partys candidate for governor. Auditor Bob Casey Jr. and former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell are running neck and neck for the right to take on Republican Mike Fisher in the November election.

New Jersey E-ZPass System A Financial Debacle

New Jerseys electronic toll collection system may save motorists time, money and fuel, but lawmakers and transportation authorities are learning that the E-ZPass system will not pay for itself.

Aging Prison Populations Drive Up State Costs

Longer sentences and repeat offenders mean states now have aging prison populations, requiring special care for elderly inmates and driving up costs to the taxpayers. It costs about three times as much as the norm to incarcerate elderly inmates, according to the National Institute of Corrections.

States Strive to Protect E-Gov Gains Post-9-11

For states in the vanguard of e-government the delivery of government services via the Internet -- post 9/11 security concerns are posing new challenges at a time when the fiscal squeeze felt by most of the states is affecting information technology budgets.

Governors Launch Anti-Terror Network

Declaring that direction of future national homeland security efforts "has to come from the governors," a leading member of the National Governors' Association has announced plans for a multistate interagency anti-terror information network. Its purpose: To help officials operate more effectively across all levels of government and the private sector to prevent or respond to terrorist activity.

Mystery Web Site Tracks New Jersey Politics

Politicsnj.com, a New Jersey Web site that dishes up political news, regularly scoops the mainstream media and now is being replicated outside the Garden State. But politicsnj.com is a story in itself because nobody seems to know whos behind it.

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.

Gubernatorial Candidates, Ohio - Wyoming

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

Keystone State Voters Betting on Slots

Pennsylvania voters know one thing for sure about the November elections -- expanded gambling is coming to the Keystone State despite opposition from religious leaders. Regardless of which major party candidate for governor they select Republican Michael Fisher or Democrat Edward Rendell, they will, in essence, be voting for slot machines.

Democratic Governors Push Agenda

Seeking to play a larger role in the national political arena, Democratic governors met in Washington, DC, Monday to weigh in on the debate over economic stimulus, saying the economy needs greater public investment in roads and schools and not just more tax cuts.

Virginia Out to Widen Use of Life-Saving Devices

Twenty year-old medical technology could save hundreds of thousands of Americans who die from cardiac arrest each year, but legal barriers have stymied its use. Now Virginia is taking the lead in trying to remove these barriers.

Pennsylvania Land Program Gets Kudos, Knocks

Pennsylvania is in the forefront of an environmental movement to preserve farmland from development, but the Keystone State program is controversial. Proponents say natural resources are being protected, but the programs critics call it a money machine for cash-strapped landowners.

Pennsylvania Liquor Stores Get More Competitive

In an effort to boost its bottom-line, Pennsylvania is trying to entice more people to purchase alcohol in Pennsylvania instead of neighboring states by making its state-owned liquor stores more customer-friendly.

Northeastern States Seek Terrorist-Intelligence Sharing

Homeland security officials in 10 northeastern states want to establish intelligence-sharing centers that would better disseminate terrorist-related information between federal law enforcement and local police officers. Mark Cohen, who heads the New York State Office of Public Security, said the ability to share intelligence in real time is the most critical component for homeland security in the states.

Keystone State Extends Same-Sex Benefits

Pennsylvania recently became the sixth state to allow gay and lesbian employees to use family or sick leave time to care for their domestic partner. The provision allowing use of sick leave, which had been on the table in union negotiations for more than a decade, was included in a four-year contract between the state and 13,000 unionized workers.

State Lawmakers Form Great Lakes Caucus

Forty lawmakers representing eight states have launched the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus to create uniform laws in their respective states to curb water pollution, regulate water diversion projects and control non-native organisms that threaten the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Ten States Lose Federal Education Money for Poor Children

Federal money to educate poor children is increasing, but 10 states and more than half of the nation's school districts will see a drop in their share of the dollars in the next school year, according to a report released June 15. Overall, nearly 56 percent of school districts will get less federal money, despite a $647 million increase in the Title I program that allocates money for low-income students.

Governors

What would a Kerry administration mean for states? Heres a sampling of responses collected by Stateline.org from governors attending the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Inmates Gladly Take on Odd Jobs for Low or No Pay

Gone are the days of the chain gang. Today, states are finding more creative uses for felons, from saving retired thoroughbreds in Kentucky to growing poinsettias for state buildings in Iowa to fighting mudslides in California. The work saves millions for states and gives inmates something worthwhile to do.

States Challenge New Mercury Rules

Several Northeastern states are mounting legal and legislative challenges to new federal rules on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, charging that relaxed standards ignore serious health hazards and undermine their own environmental efforts.

Budget Deadline Looms Large in 10 States

The clock is ticking in 10 states that still have not adopted budgets for the fiscal year that begins July 1, with an eleventh-hour showdown threatening a partial government shutdown in Minnesota. Some - but not all - of those states are expected to wrap up their budget process this week.

Pennyslvania Gaming Expansion Roils Historic Site

About four miles from one of America's most sacred sites -- the Civil War battlefield here -- developers energized by a new Pennsylvania law that authorizes the largest expansion of gambling in state history want to build a slot machine casino.

Dogfight Looms over Air Guard Units

In July, the governors of Illinois and Pennsylvania sued to stop the Pentagon from eliminating Air National Guard units in their states. At risk are jobs and security, the governors contend. But legal experts said the outcome of these lawsuits could alter something bigger: how federal and state officials share the National Guard.

States Ask Hospitals to Come Clean

Faced with a modern-day medical challenge, states increasingly are taking steps to track the number of patients who acquire serious infections while hospitalized. Eight states -- including four with new laws this year -- now require hospitals to tally their infection rates, amid indications that the cost of these medical complications -- in both dollars and lives -- is mounting.

Winter Heating Prices Scare States

Sticker shock at the gas pump isn't the only energy problem confronting states after Hurricane Katrina. The fear of a natural gas spike is spurring officials to seek more money to help low-income residents pay for heating this winter, while others are encouraging energy efficiency, and in the case of Connecticut, challenging the way that utilities charge customers.

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.

Pennsylvania Executive Budget Address 2006

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 8 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. Ed Rendell's 2006 executive budget address: Good morning. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, Madame President, Members of the 189th Legislature, distinguished guests, my Fellow Pennsylvanians. Today marks the fourth year I have been privileged to p

Pa. Gov's Race in Spotlight

With neither candidate facing an opponent in Tuesday's primary election, the race for Pennsylvania governor has already started with the incumbent, Democrat Ed Rendell, facing Republican Lynn Swann, a pro football great who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Primaries Feed Incumbents' Jitters

In the latest sign that an anti-incumbent mood may be spreading through the electorate, voters in Pennsylvania and four other states with early primaries have booted 25 incumbents --including six high-ranking leaders -- out of the legislature. While national polls show a growing disenchantment with Congress, primary elections yield the first indication that officeholders at the state level also may have reason to worry about re-election.

State DOTs Hope Drivers See Dots

Test programs in Maryland, Minnesota and Pennsylvania aim to curb tailgating by using road markers that alert motorists to distances between vehicles. The markers serve as a tangible reminder of commonly taught driving guidelines such as the "two-second rule," which urges drivers to stay at least two seconds behind the car ahead.

Lame Ducks Ruffle Feathers in 3 Statehouses

Lame-duck legislators are feeling some heat in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where some groups are calling for changes to post-Election Day legislative sessions that let departing lawmakers cast key votes just before their replacements take over. In Utah, legislative leaders have banned lame ducks from taking taxpayer-sponsored trips.

Pa., N.C. Results Solidify Dems' Control

(Updated 1:05 p.m. EST, Nov. 29, 2006)Three hotly-contested statehouse races were decided on Tuesday (Nov. 28), giving Democrats control of the Pennsylvania state House race for the first time in 12 years, and moving the Montana House from a dead-even tie to a slim GOP majority. In North Carolina, embattled House Speaker Jim Black (D) also was certified as the winner in his bid for an 11th term. But recounts are still pending in four Indiana races where the outcome could shift the partisan control of that state House.

Boomers Answer Call to Service

Pa. Rep.-elect Frank Andrews Shimkus (D) Frank Andrews Shimkus, 54, is a former local TV broadcaster turned freshman Pennsylvania legislator. He is one of more than 1,200 new faces in statehouses across the country and part of a new political breed -- baby boomers who want to make a difference.

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.

Pennsylvania Executive Budget Address 2007

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb 6. - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Ed Rendell's (D) 2007 executive budget address. Good morning. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, Madame President, Members of the 190th Legislature, distinguished guests, my fellow Pennsylvanians. It has become a solemn tradition for all of us over

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.

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.

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.

Politically Uncorrected: The next big one

Pennsylvania has conducted some big elections lately: big presidential races, big gubernatorial races, and big congressional races. Indeed, big, important, and eventful elections have become a regular feature of the State's political landscape.

Ohio gov defends LeBron in a big way

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) stops efforts to take down a 10-story banner of basketball star LeBron James in Cleveland. Nevada lawmakers blow a deadline, but just barely. And Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) skips town after telling legislators to stay. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

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.

Taking a Second Look at Rendell for Second Place

TIME Magazine, in what may be another sign that the Democratic presidential race is becoming a rout, has recently published a speculative listing of prospective candidates for the vice-presidential nomination. Notably absent from Time's list is Pennsylvania's two- term Governor, Ed Rendell.

Keystone State's Gov Looms Large

PHILADELPHIA - Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell is charting an ambitious course in Pennsylvania. Think super-size, both on policy - health care, gambling, tax increases - and in personality.

Transcript of 'Out There's' Pennsylvania Roundtable

PHILADELPHIA - Now in his fifth year as governor, Democrat Ed Rendell has left his imprint both on policy and politics in Pennsylvania. On Aug. 3, Out There discussed Rendell's legacy with a roundtable of Keystone State political observers. Below are edited excerpts from that conversation.

Judge calls Illinois Statehouse feud 'ridiculous'

A judge throws out the Illinois governor's lawsuit against the House speaker. Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) gets hit with a blizzard of information requests from the GOP. And Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) and his wife prepare to move into a $9,900 per month temporary residence while the governor's mansion is being renovated. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Federal Spending Plan Slashes Anti-Crime Grants

Law enforcement officials across the country are lambasting the federal spending plan approved by President Bush on Dec. 26, warning that a 67-percent decrease in funding for targeted state and local criminal justice initiatives imperils public safety.

Immigration Roils States

States took the lead on immigration reform in 2006 enacting a record 78 immigration-control laws in 33 states. Immigration will continue to dominate state politics this year even as a new Democratically-controlled Congress considers taking up the issue.

Report: States Seeking Prison Solutions

State governments, facing leaner budgets this year as the national economy struggles, are exploring strategies to contain surging prison populations without building costly new correctional facilities, according to a report released Wednesday (Jan. 23).

Pennsylvania Executive Budget Address

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Feb. 4 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Ed Rendell's (D) 2009 executive budget address: Good morning. I am pleased to be with you today to present my proposed FY2009-2010 state budget. But before we do so, let us take a moment to pay tribute to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who refused to

States Lead Push for Paid Sick Days

In the midst of this year's flu epidemic, nearly half of all U.S. workers who fall ill or have sick kids must decide whether to stay home and lose wages or go to work sick and expose others, a choice many say no one should have to make. Lawmakers in 12 states and the District of Columbia are considering bills that would make paid sick days a minimum labor standard.

On Health Care, Govs Are Tightening Belts

While still charting a course toward universal health insurance, governors this year are increasingly trying to keep just their current health programs afloat. They are reacting to a souring economy and new Bush administration policies that are threatening budgets for Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

WORTH NOTING: What not to joke about

An April Fool's Day gag falls flat in Arizona. Pennsylvania's governor is polled about ... Pennsylvania's governor. And several states compete for subway cars to be dumped in the ocean. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

'Don't Forget Us,' PA Candidates Tell Voters

As Pennsylvanians prepare to go to the polls tomorrow to cast ballots in the April 22 presidential primary, experts wonder how the surge in registered voters will affect little-noticed state legislative races, particularly those in the House, where Democrats cling to a one-seat majority.

WORTH NOTING: Voters' Guide Promotes Phone Sex

An Oregon voters' guide lists a very wrong number. California's governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

WORTH NOTING: Illinois Treasurer Shows His Knowledge of Charges

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) endures a bruising charge from Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D). A new Utah law stirs Salt Lake City bartenders to create a new drink. And Louisiana prison guards get outside help to prevent escapes. In case you missed those stories this week, Worth Noting fills you in.

States Wager on Racetrack Slots

States are betting that adding slots to racetracks will help get them through a faltering economy and dwindling cash reserves

WORTH NOTING: Scout Takes a Hike from Maryland Mansion

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley evicts Scout, one of his family's dogs, from the governor's mansion. The Colorado Lottery turns to scratch-and-sniff to attract customers. And a Florida prisoner launches a bid for the state House. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

WORTH NOTING: Washington Dems Sing a Different Tune

The Washington state Democratic Party gets criticized for an attack ad linking an Italian-American politician to the Sopranos. The Pennsylvania Senate considers a bill to expand bathroom access to people with bowel disorders. And North Carolina's motor vehicle department is embarrassed by a sample license plate on its Web site. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

WORTH NOTING: R.I. Sweeps Out Cleaning Staff

The Rhode Island attorney general's office is duped by a janitor. A South Carolina lawmaker gets defensive over an incriminating photo. And Ohio cracks down on very tiny, but unwanted overnight guests. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Great Lakes States Protect Their Water

Congress begins work Wednesday (July 30) on the Great Lakes Compact, an agreement among eight states designed to preserve their drinking water and promote shipping, electric power and tourism by restricting water diversion from the lakes.

Delegates Speak: On the Pocketbook

Aug. 28, 2008, 6:00 p.m. EDT Q. What serious issue in your state would you like the next president to address? Florida on the mortgage crisisI live in Florida, so where should I start? The mortgage crisis, the insurance crisis, the lack of confidence in FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) being there to help people in an emergency … It just doesn't seem like McCain gets it, that these are real problems, that they affect real people. I guess if you have seven houses and one of the mortgages get foreclosed on, you just go to one of your other ones. I don't think (McCain) has thought through the mortgage crisis and the ramifications it has. If people are foreclosed, then neighborhoods go into decline. Just because I still have my job and my house is occupied and my neighbor loses his, suddenly the yard isn't cut and it becomes a haven for crime. It affects everybody and everything. It affects the schools in the area. I just don't think he gets that. -Florida delegate Lisa King, 45, of Jacksonville, interviewed by Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Pennsylvania on the economyWe come from a rural area mainly, in Adams County, Pennsylvania. We have farmlands etc. and working families struggling to pay for gas, food, clothing for their children and health care. Most people don't have health care in this region. We need to fix the economy and Barack Obama has promised us, and we have the faith that he will do this for us. -Pennsylvania delegate Patricia Manning, 66, Hamilton Township, interviewed by Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org AFTER THE JUMP: Audio from the Stateline.org interviews with King and Manning Comments

Voters in Pa, Colo., and NM Could Have Trouble at Polls

Sept. 3, 2008, 4:15 p.m. EDTMINNEAPOLIS - Which states will see problems at the polls in November? Some advocates expect voting glitches in a few key swing states where tight contests are expected between presidential candidates Barack Obama (D) and John McCain (R). The battleground states of New Mexico, Colorado, Wisconsin, Ohio and south Florida all have a history of problems administering elections and are the states to watch in 2008, said Mike Slater, executive director of Project Vote, a Washington, D.C.,-based group that aims to get more low-income and minority Americans to vote. "All of this counts when the votes are very close," Slater said. As Stateline.org reported in a story earlier this summer, this year's presidential primaries showed that the problems that made headlines in the past - with voter registration rolls, identification requirements and voting machines - have been upstaged by a new difficulty. The huge turnout during the primaries overwhelmed some states and counties. "I think Pennsylvania is the real sleeper," said Pamela Smith, president of Verified Voting, which advocates for voter-verified paper ballots for all U.S. elections. She said that while Florida last year added paper trails to electronic voting machines and Ohio is addressing security issues, only about a dozen counties in Pennsylvania have systems that allow votes to be verified. Slater and Smith made their comments during a Sept. 1 panel session here convened by electionline.org, a project of the Pew Center on the States that tracks election reform efforts. Both electionline.org and Stateline.org are funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts. - Pamela M. PrahComments

Newest States in the Union Get top Billing

With Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's addition to the Republican national ticket, all of the last three states admitted to the Union - Hawaii, Alaska and Arizona - can boast of being the home to major party candidates in this presidential election.

Cash-Strapped N.J.: Pay up for State Police

Facing tough times financially, New Jersey recently started billing some of its smallest communities for a service they have enjoyed free for nearly 90 years: regular state police patrols that help towns without local police respond to crime, car accidents and other emergencies. Pennsylvania is considering doing the same.

Parties Battle for Control of Statehouses

Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are in the national spotlight as states that could swing either Republican or Democrat in November's presidential elections. But they are also among the top 10 battleground states where political control could turn over in at least one chamber of the state legislature, according to a new analysis.

WORTH NOTING: Idaho kids get a new state history book

Idaho's first lady publishes "Ida Visits the Capitol." Wine drinkers have mixed feelings about a syrah named Palin. And Marylanders are urged to take a walk after eating the state cake. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Report: Voting Glitches Could Disrupt Election

In two weeks, the American voting system will be stressed as never before with record voter registration and expected large turnouts. But the greatest pressure will fall on 11 battleground states whose stars are aligned for an election debacle: tight races coupled with radical changes in their voting systems.

State Leaders Struggle With Tough Cuts

The recession is forcing governors and legislators to cut services and raise taxes and fees. They'd rather make a difference in other ways.

Study: Why Pa. Turnpike Plan Failed

As states consider public-private partnerships to pay for transportation projects, a new report assesses Pennsylvania's unsuccessful plan to lease its turnpike to a private operator.

States Advance With Patient-Centered Care

As President Obama pushes for widespread health care reform, state-based programs for chronically ill patients that focus on prevention and improving long-term health - and cutting costs - are emerging as working models.

States Roll Out Plans for 'Smarter' Roads

Nearly half the states plan to use some of their federal stimulus funds to pay for high-tech gadgets that will reduce congestion, help the environment and create jobs quickly.

Tax-Hike Plan Fuels Pa. Budget Standoff

California this week closed a staggering $24 billion budget deficit. But in a handful of other state capitals, like this one two hours west of Philadelphia, deeply unpopular fiscal choices still loom for lawmakers who have failed to pass long-overdue spending plans.