Stateline Headlines

Ga. Rep. Brooks of Atlanta indicted for wire fraud

Brady Campaign sues Nelson, Ga. over mandatory gun law

Deal -- State is serious about boating safety

Georgia's jobless rate drops to 8.2 percent

Gov. Deal signs order addressing Common Core standards

Regents working to clarify colleges’ missions

Georgia Tech will offer master’s degree online

Georgia number two for identity theft

After voting for ban, legislators take free tickets

Georgia GOP to convene on Athens

Lawsuit over Ga. open records law dismissed

State pays civil rights group for trying to overcharge for records

Coca-Cola pledges money for Georgia health programs

Georgia tax collections up 13% in April

New law eases sheriff-candidate requirements

New law limits red drum to recreational fishing

Georgia home brewers can legally make more, transport

Gov. Deal signs teacher evaluations bill

Deal signs $19.9 billion budget for fiscal 2014

Deal vetoes 2 bills after legislator’s motives questioned

Governor signs $19.9 billion spending plan for coming year

Democrats set out to find another recruit after Barrow’s decision

Deal signs Georgia Archives bill

Schools prepare to get their grades

Deal signs Fulton property tax cap bill

State Supreme Court upholds law on tree-cutting for billboards

Report looks at numbers of child deaths in Georgia

Republican lawmaker to seek Jack Kingston's seat

Deal signs into law bill limiting lobbyists' gifts

Georgia bat population under threat

Most Georgians unhealthy, but still ranks well in Southeast

Georgia coroners not reporting suicides, audit finds

State doled out incentives despite red flags

Senate bill lets states tax Internet purchases

Lax forfeiture law loaded with potential for abuse

NFL Plays Offense to Get Public Money for Stadiums

Why are so many teams asking taxpayers to build new pro football stadiums this year?

Sequester Cuts at Justice Department Threaten Local Drug Investigations

The partisan gridlock in Washington, D.C. threatens to curb drug investigations in rural communities.

Transit Repair Backlog Will Get Renewed Focus

The condition of bus and train transit systems will soon draw more attention because of a new federal law. The extra scrutiny could put pressure on state lawmakers to address their share of a $78 billion national backlog of transit repairs and upgrades.

Georgia State of the State Address 2013

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Jan. 17 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. Nathan Deal's (R) 2013 State of the State Address:

U.S. Senate Committee Probes “School-to-Prison Pipeline”

Education, civil rights and public safety leaders discussed ways to dismantle the “school-to-prison pipeline” on Capitol Hill this week.

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.

Best of #StateReads: California Leads U.S. Pay Giveaway

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

Best of #StateReads: “State Faces Major Doctor Shortage”

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

Dam Inspectors Fear the Deluge

Each year, more dams in the United States show signs of disrepair. Meanwhile, the money to fix them grows harder to find.

Best of #StateReads: Michigan Confronts Crime by Parolees and Probationers

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

State Scholarship Changes Could Cost Students

Legislators in Arkansas are considering tying scholarship levels to academic progress.

Best of #StateReads: Kentucky Judges Review Child-Abuse List

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

Best of #StateReads: On Further Review, Georgia Dropout Rate Doubles

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

Federal Court Blocks Parts of Anti-Immigration Law in Alabama, Georgia

A federal appeals court on Monday blocked several provisions of anti-immigration laws in Alabama and Georgia, while leaving intact each state’s so-called “so me your papers” policies.

Transportation Tax Fails in Atlanta, Much of Georgia

Metro Atlanta voters soundly rejected a $7.2 billion plan that supporters said was needed to “untie” the region’s gridlocked transportation system and attract a wealth of young talent. Voters in most other Georgia districts followed suit.

Campus Mergers Bring Big Changes but Questionable Savings

Georgia and New Jersey are hoping to build major public research universities through mergers. Will they work?

Georgia Ponders Spending Billions on Roads and Rails

Voters will decide July 31 whether to pay more sales taxes to pay for dozens of road and rail improvements aimed at reducing congestion.

Questions Swirl Around Nuclear Cost Recovery

Charging ratepayers for nuclear plant construction made sense to many legislatures a few years ago. Attitudes have shifted since then.

Best of #StateReads: Dangerous Times in New Jersey Halfway Houses

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

Public School Alternatives Gather Steam in States

Louisiana gave advocates of charter schools, vouchers and other publicly funded education alternatives everything they could have asked for, but opposition remained fierce elsewhere.

Troubled Times at the State Fair

State Fairs are facing a budget crunch, and one solution is to turn them over to private ownership.

Best of #StateReads: Inside Deals for Louisiana Oil Leases Last Decades

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

Two States, Two Different Paths on Charter Schools

Legislators in Georgia want to the state to be able to create new charter schools without local approval, while legislators in New Jersey would like to slow down the process by requiring local consent.

Labor Shortages Lead Businesses to Support Help for Undocumented Workers

Business groups, especially in agriculture, are pushing several state measures to aid immigrant laborers who are in the country illegally. But many of those efforts are treading on uncertain legal ground.

Georgia Senate Approves Limits on Protests

MANAGEMENT BEAT: A new measure would ban mass pickets at private residences and near businesses and impose penalties.

States Push to Shake Up Personnel Practices

Civil service rules that haven't changed in decades are being re-assessed by several governors bent on major changes in the system.

Georgia State of the State Address 2012

ATLANTA, Georgia - January 10 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Nathan Deal's (R) 2012 state of the state address: Lt. Governor, Mr. Speaker, President Pro Tem Williams, Speaker Pro Tem Jones, Members of the General Assembly, Constitutional Officers, Members of the Judiciary,

Infographic: Southern Strength

Republican dominance in the South started with presidential elections and only later came to statehouses.

Troy Davis Case Prompts Second Look at Eyewitness Identification Rules

Research overwhelmingly suggests that people aren't very good at picking criminals out of a police lineup. State legislatures, the courts and police departments have been slow to respond but are starting to adjust their practices.

Cyber Cafe Gambling Gets Close Scrutiny

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: Are Internet cafes that offer games with prizes really fronts for illegal gambling? From Ohio to Florida, states are vowing to crack down on what they worry is unlawful gaming activity.

Georgia Work$ Jobs Program Holds Lessons for Obama

President Obama next week is expected to propose a national version of Georgia Work$, an eight-year-old state program that places Georgia residents receiving unemployment checks into unpaid training positions in an effort to get them full-time jobs. The program is popular on both sides of the aisle, including with congressional Republicans, but it comes with its own set of challenges.

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.

Coming This Fall: Big Tuition Hikes

More than half the states cut funding for higher education this year, in some cases by more than 20 percent. The result will be double-digit tuition increases for hundreds of thousands of students and their families.

Georgia Wins Water Wars Victory in Court

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT BEAT: Appeals court aids Georgia in water dispute with Alabama and Florida ... California delays cap-and-trade ... New York moves toward allowing natural gas drilling and more energy and environment news.

Georgia Rewrites Its Trial Rules, Replacing a 19th Century System

A little-noticed new law in Georgia amounts to a homework assignment for the state's 34,000 lawyers and judges: learn a new set of courtroom procedures by the end of next year.

California, New Jersey Offer Low-Fee Unemployment Cards

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: California and New Jersey offer the best prepaid cards with the fewest fees to access unemployment benefits … Florida uses Twitter to help find homes for foster children ... Nine states could face penalties for missing welfare's work participation thresholds, and other social policy news.

States Boost Security After bin Laden Raid

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: Homeland security officials warn of possible reprisals after the U.S. killing of terror leader Osama bin Laden … California Governor Jerry Brown grants parole to convicted killers … A major court overhaul moves ahead in Florida, and other public safety news.

Interstate Compacts Offer New Weapon Against Health Care Plan

An obscure provision in the U.S. Constitution allows states to join together and ask Congress to supersede a federal law. Some conservatives are trying to use that method to derail the Obama health care act.

Indiana Legislature Approves Sweeping School Voucher Bill

EDUCATION BEAT: Pupil vouchers on the way in Indiana ... Georgia cuts pre-kindergarten programs ... Oregon House considers new high school graduation requirements, and other state education news.

Georgia Shows the Pitfalls of Modernizing a State Tax Code

Economists agree that a broader tax base with lower rates is a good idea. But try getting it enacted.

Road Funding a Big Issue in Contest for Governor of West Virginia

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Highways emerge as a crucial topic in West Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial primary … Atlanta area officials have a long wish list of transit projects … Kansas and Texas move forward with plans for higher speed limits, and other transportation news.

Georgia Set to Pass Arizona-Style Immigration Law

TODAY'S TAKE: Georgia concludes its 40-day legislative session today (April 14), but not before lawmakers debate an Arizona-style immigration crackdown. Supporters and critics of the proposal agree that some form of the measure will pass.

Georgia Has Infrastructure Money in the Bank

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Georgia's transportation fund has made only one loan in three years … Ohio moves again to shift money from mass transit … Washington State debates how much money to give ferries and other transportation news.

Illinois Debates School Consolidation

EDUCATION BEAT: School consolidation plan earns mixed reviews in Illinois ... Georgia's first-of-its-kind HOPE scholarships are in danger of running out of money ... Budget cuts could force some Michigan colleges and universities to close, and more education news from the states.

Rendell Proposal: Allow Prisoners to Care for Dogs

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: Pennsylvania's former governor plans a statewide initiative to pair stray dogs with prisoners … Arizona weighs upping corrections spending even as it dramatically slashes funding elsewhere … Michigan considers allowing guns in hospitals, casinos and stadiums, and other public safety news.

Movement to Shrink Class Size Falters Amid Budget Austerity

A decade ago, it was an article of faith around the country that pupils learn better in less crowded classrooms. That idea is proving to be a casualty of the recession.

Christian Health Co-Ops Cater to 'Obamacare' Opponents

Religious groups that help members pay for medical treatment are exempt from key provisions of the new federal health law. As their popularity grows, some state officials are warning consumers to be wary of these unlicensed operators, while others see them as a welcome alternative to traditional health insurance.

Scott Puts Road Projects on Hold During Review

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Florida's governor delays $500 million for transportation projects ... the Texas DOT could be in for a remaking ... mayors seek Great Lakes basin study, and other transportation news.

Georgia State of the State Address 2011

ATLANTA, Georgia - Jan. 12 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Nathan Deal's (R) 2011 state of the state address: Lt. Governor, Mr. Speaker, President Pro Tem Williams, Speaker Pro Tem Jones, Members of the General Assembly, Constitutional Officers, Members of the Judiciary, my fellow Georgians: The addre

Jerry Brown to Abolish California Inspector General Office

TRANSITION WATCH: California's governor-elect kills a watchdog office to save $700,000, Nevada's incoming governor considers budget plans that trouble local governments and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

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.

Alabama Ethics Law Angers Teachers Union

TRANSITION WATCH: Alabama Republicans restrict payroll deductions used to boost a leading teachers' group, Wisconsin Democrats' last gasp at contracts for public workers fails and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Party Switch Gives Texas House Republicans Supermajority

TRANSITION WATCH: Two-thirds control of the House means Texas Republicans can overcome Democratic delaying tactics, outgoing governors issue their final pardons, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Governors-Elect Plan Low-Budget Inaugural Celebrations

TRANSITION WATCH: New governors arrange no-frills inaugurations as acts of symbolism, redistricting roles are reversed in Ohio, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Pat Quinn Rehires His Old Chief of Staff as an Adviser

TRANSITION WATCH: Jerry Stermer returns three months after he resigned in Illinois, charges of nepotism in South Dakota and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Georgia's Nathan Deal Hands Off Personal Finances

TRANSITION WATCH: Georgia's incoming governor creates a blind trust, Ohio's new governor tries to keep Race to the Top money and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Trickle of Democratic Legislators Become Republicans

TRANSITION WATCH: Fewer state-level Democrats are becoming Republicans than in 1994, new Speakers of the House are elected in Montana and Tennessee and other news of the historic shift in power in the states

Rick Snyder Picks a Democrat

TRANSITION WATCH: Michigan's Republican governor-elect reaches across the aisle for a top appointment, Georgia's governor-elect picks a controversial chief of staff, and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Early and Absentee Voting Erode Election Day Tradition

Polling day at the court house may be a revered institution of American democracy, but it's one that is steadily fading away.

How Many Ex-Governors Will Win?

TODAY'S TAKE: In a campaign season marked by an anti-establishment mood, five former governors with a combined 40 years in office will be on the ballot next week, potentially bucking the trend. But at least one, Maryland Republican Robert Ehrlich, has substantial ground to make up. The others appear to be ahead or are locked in close contests.

Governor Debates Heat Up

TODAY'S TAKE: With less than three weeks to go until Election Day, hostility is on the rise in campaigns for governor. The sharper edge has been on display in several debates this week.

Fatal Accident Rattles Georgia Governor Race

TODAY'S TAKE: A car collision that killed a teenage driver and injured the daughter and two granddaughters of Georgia gubernatorial candidate Roy Barnes has temporarily placed his campaign on hold.

Georgia Work$ Expands

A nationally recognized re-employment program called Georgia Work$ is expanding to include all jobless workers, whether they're receiving unemployment benefits or not. New Hampshire and Missouri have copied the successful on-the-job training program that already has given thousands of job seekers a chance at a new career.

Roy Barnes' Campaign of Contrition

ATLANTA -- In the 2002 governor's race, incumbent Roy Barnes lost to Sonny Perdue in one of the biggest upsets in Georgia political history. Now, as Barnes campaigns to win back his old office, can he pull off an upset of his own?

This State Park Brought to You By...

Faced with the prospect of closing parks or facilities, some states are turning to a funding opportunity long considered taboo: sponsorship agreements with corporations.