Stateline Stories

Western State Reporters Say Taxes, Education Top 2000 Agenda

Reporters from eight Western states identified tax policy, education funding, health care reforms and apportionment of the states' tobacco settlement funds as the most pressing issues likely to be addressed by their states in the next legislative year. Over 50 journalists from Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming repeatedly mentioned those topics during a recent statehouse reporters' conference in Boise, Idaho.

No Child Left Behind: Not Dead Yet

Most states have received waivers from the federal No Child Left Behind law, but some have found flexibility harder to come by.

Tensions Rise Amid Demise of Utah-Nevada Water Pact

Will Las Vegas’ thirst spark a water war between Utah and Nevada?

With Health Care Lawsuits, States Hope for Victory but Plan for Defeat

Even as 21 states are suing to stop the federal health care overhaul from taking effect, each one is also taking concrete measures to implement the law.

Conservatives Battle for Tennessee House Speakership

TRANSITION WATCH: The Tea Party becomes involved in the race for Tennessee House speaker, Arizona contemplates a flat tax and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Payday Lenders Catch Lawmakers' Attention

Legislators in Nevada, New Mexico and Oregon recently have clamped down on the short-term, high-interest lending industry, blaming it for saddling residents with dangerous levels of debt.

A Crack in the Prison Door

The recession is forcing lawmakers in some states to search for savings in places that might have been unthinkable a few years ago, including in their prison systems. One of those states is Oregon, where lawmakers last year approved a measure that will result in about 3,500 inmates being released from prison earlier than scheduled.But a recent backlash over the law serves as a reminder of the political sensitivity surrounding "early releases" as a money-saving effort. California, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin are among the other states that have recently accelerated prisoner releases or are considering doing so.

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.

All Public Sector Employees in New Jersey Will Have to Live In-State

MANAGEMENT BEAT: No more commuting from New York and Philadelphia for New Jersey workers … Governments are spending more time collecting and organizing data than using it … A collective bargaining showdown in Nevada, and other management news.

Four States Consider Income Tax; Four States Reject It

Facing education funding woes and a variety of budget shortfalls, lawmakers in New Hampshire and three other states that do not collect income taxes considered reversing course this year--and in each case defeated or abandoned those plans for fear of retribution from the voters. To read about this politically perilous policy issue, click on

Pay Boost on the Horizon for Some State Workers

Far fewer people are working for state governments than before the recession began, but those who remain may get modest salary increases this year.

Nevada and New Jersey Jockey for Online Gambling Revenue

One day after Governor Chris Christie gave conditional support to a bill that would open up New Jersey to gambling on the Internet, Governor Brian Sandoval Friday released a statement saying “the need to act quickly has become even more important.”

Nevada State of the State Address 2013

CARSON CITY, Nevada -- Jan. 16 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. Brian Sandoval's (R) 2013 State of the State Address:

Dollars in the Desert: Nevada State Senate Contest Rakes in Big Money

Outside money is pouring into the most expensive state legislative campaign in Nevada. Will it determine the outcome?

Nevada State of the State Address 2011

CARSON CITY, Nevada - Jan. 24 - Following is the text of Gov. Brian Sandoval's (R) 2011 state of the state address: Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Distinguished Members of the Legislature, Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court, Constitutional Officers…My Fellow Nevadans: It is a special honor to be here for my firs

Nevada State of the State Address 2010

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Feb. 8 - Following is the text of Gov. Jim Gibbons' (R) 2010 state of the state address: Hello, I'm Governor Jim Gibbons. I am always honored to speak directly to you. But the truth is, I would rather that the circumstances did not compel me to address you tonight. The great inventor and

North Dakota Voters Sidestep Controversies

On an Election Day that featured intraparty legislative races in several states, North Dakota voters shied away from several controversies over the University of North Dakota's “Fighting Sioux” nickname, protections for religious liberty and local property taxes.

While Congress Stalls, States Worry About Highway Funds

A three-year standoff in Congress makes planning transportation projects harder for states.

Nevada State of the State Address 2009

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Jan. 15 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Jim Gibbons' (R) 2009 state of the state address: Speaker Buckley, Majority Leader Horsford, Lt. Governor Krolicki, members of the Senate and the Assembly, Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court, Constitutional Officers, distinguished guests, an

Nevada State of the State Address 2007

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Jan. 22 - Following is the prepared text of Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbon's (R) 2007 state of the state address. Click here to access the governor's Web page and view the address. Speaker Buckley, Majority Leader Raggio, Lieutenant Governor Krolicki, members of the Senate and Assembly, honorable Ju

Nevada State of the State Address 2005

CARSON CITY, Nevada - Jan. 24 - Following is the text of Gov. Kenny Guinn's 2005 state of the state address: Speaker Perkins; Majority Leader Raggio; Lieutenant Governor Hunt; members of the Senate and Assembly; honorable Justices of the Supreme Court; constitutional officers; distinguished guests; and my fellow ci

Nevada State of the States Address 2003

CARSON CITY, Nevada - Jan. 20 - Following is the text of Gov. Kenny Guinn's 2003 State of the State Address: Mr. Speaker; Madame Lieutenant Governor; members of the Senate and Assembly; honorable Justices of the Supreme Court; elected officers; distinguished guests; and my fellow Nevadans: We come together

Nevada State of the State Address 2001

CARSON CITY, Nevada - Jan. 22 - Following is the full text of Gov. Kenny Guinn's 2001 State of the State Address: Mr. Speaker; Madame Lieutenant Governor; members of the Senate and Assembly; honorable Justices of the Supreme Court; distinguished guests; and my fellow Nevadans: Good evening. I am proud to say tha

Nevada Is Fastest Growing State

Nevada was No. 1 among states for the 18th consecutive year with a growth rate of 4.1 percent, according to federal population estimates released today.

High Court Gives Congress Rare Federalism Victory

The U.S. Supreme Court has generally sided with the states in recent years in cases testing state versus federal powers. But it departed from that pattern in ruling last week that states must obey the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act. In this report, a constitutional law expert who will soon become Dean of the University of Richmond School of Law explains the meaning of Nevada v Hibbs.

Nevada Legislatures Web site Ranks First

Some state legislatures do a better job than others connecting their citizens to statehouse developments. A new report ranks the top 10 and puts Nevada on top.

Transporting Nuclear Waste May Be Bumpy Ride

The U.S. Congress has approved locating the nations nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain and President Bush signed the legislation this week. But the question remains, how will spent nuclear reactor fuel be safely and efficiently shipped to Nevada?

State, Local Governments Receive Kudos for Web Sites

Since 1995, Government Technology has singled out state and local governments that host particularly innovative Web sites. North Carolina and Georgia were winners, as was a tiny county in Nevada.

Texas, Nevada Legislatures Close Shop, Leaving 19 States In Session

Texas and Nevada ended their 1999 legislative sessions this week, with education issues and tax cuts topping the agenda for the Lone Star state and several new crime bills and privatization of the workers compensation program the major accomplishments in Nevada. Both states paved the way for electric utility deregulation. Of the 16 state legislatures still in session, nine -- California, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin -- meet for most, or all, of the year.

Western Govs Assn Helps Boost Region's Economy

Boasting such high-profile members as Texas' George W. Bush, Utah's Mike Leavitt and California's Gray Davis, the Western Governors Association has quietly built itself into a force in national politics and a boon for the regions economies. Its most recent coup came at its winter meeting in Las Vegas, where Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano, the current WGA chairman, announced a high-tech alliance between Western states and universities and massive technology firms like Intel and Silicon Graphics.

Nevada Fastest-Growing State, Census Data Shows

Nevada is the fastest-growing state in the nation with a population increase of 3.8 percent last year, new Census Data shows. Overall, the population of western states grew by 1.5 percent, compared with a national average of less than one percent. The five largest states in the country now are California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois.

WORTH NOTING: Nevada ed official out after making out

A Nevada education official resigns after smooching with his wife at a board meeting. A religious group in West Virginia balks at new driver's license security measures. And a trio of MIT students are in trouble for hacking the Boston subway. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Final Convention News From State Delegations

Were Oklahoma's Ron Paul delegates disenfranchised?

Speakers get schooled in statesmanship

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Interested in a quick course on how to excel as a state legislative leader? Here's what you would learn: Be involved and inclusive; stay focused on your goals and personal values; be humble.

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.

Last dance for provocative plate

A woman's name proves too racy for a license plate in North Las Vegas. West Virginia lawmakers debate how to dress up ground beef . And a Missouri state senator gets busted for entering a casino illegally. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

States' green-building laws 'lead by example'

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

Summary of the Nevada State of the State Address

Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) started off his state of the state address Feb. 8 by rattling off a series of statistics that he said reflects the recession's "crippling hold on Nevada," including: a 13 percent unemployment rate, a 24.5 percent drop in home values over the third quarter of 2009, a 17 percent fall in state revenues last year and a $1 billion hole in a $6 billion budget.

Nevada Closes 22 Percent Budget Gap

TODAY'S TAKE: Nevada lawmakers and Governor Jim Gibbons on Sunday (Feb. 28) agreed to a plan of deep cuts and fee increases to close a shortfall that amounts to 22 percent of the state's current two-year budget. But the agreement is just a prelude to what will likely be even deeper problems a year from now in a state that has repeatedly slashed its already-lean budget.

Fee Hikes OK For Some Anti-Tax Govs

TODAY'S TAKE: Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell both are Republicans who have vowed not to raise taxes. Gibbons even has said that he would rather cut his way out of a projected $3 billion budget shortfall next year - or about half the state's two-year budget - than raise taxes. But both governors are eyeing fee increases as a part of their budget solutions.

Nevada GOP Sends Legislative Icon Packing

TODAY'S TAKE: Bill Raggio has for years been the most powerful man in the Nevada Legislature. But on Thursday (Nov. 4), the leader of Nevada's Senate Republicans for nearly three decades was stripped of that post by his own party - because of his support for Democratic U.S. Senator Harry Reid and his willingness to reach across the aisle.

Court Ruling Upends Nevada Governor's No-Tax Stand

TODAY'S TAKE: A Nevada Supreme Court ruling ripped a $656 million hole in the state budget Thursday (May 26). Republican Governor Brian Sandoval, who has denounced tax increases, now says he will go along with tax extensions sought by Democrats.

Will Nevada Diversify Its Boom-and-Bust Economy?

ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: The state that leads the nation in unemployment and foreclosures is doing some soul-searching over how to control its volatile economic cycles.

Nevada Gamble: Lawmaker Resigns to Help Her Party

TODAY'S TAKE: A Nevada state senator from a safely Democratic district has resigned to run in a more competitive one, hoping to oust an incumbent Republican and keep her party in control of her narrowly divided chamber.

Job Numbers Show Nevada Economy Finally Turning a Corner

TODAY'S TAKE: For the first time in five years, Nevada added more private-sector jobs than it lost in 2011, according to figures the state released Tuesday (February 28).

Nevada Governor Moves to Political Center on Taxes

TODAY'S TAKE: Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, a Republican elected on a strict no-tax platform, angered conservatives last year when he extended a series of temporary tax increases that were scheduled to expire. On Tuesday (March 13), Sandoval announced that he wants to extend them again.

Political Ad Tells Latinos Not to Vote

TODAY'S TAKE: As a backlash brews over the controversial advertisement in Nevada, the question is whether it will have any impact on Hispanic turnout on November 2.

More Water for Las Vegas Means More Resentment in Rural Areas

Will Las Vegas, Nevada's economic engine, get permission to draw extra water from underneath the state's rural eastern counties? One state bureaucrat has the power to decide a question that has long concerned environmentalists and has aggravated a statewide political rift.

Nevada Has Head Start as States React to Federal Gambling Decision

States all over the country can act quickly now that the federal government has reversed its outright ban on Internet gambling. But one state may have an advantage over the others in gearing up for the new system.

How a Court Ruling Ended Nevada Budget Fight

With just days remaining in the legislative session, Nevada's Republican governor and Democratic-led Legislature were locked in a stalemate over the state budget. That's when the Nevada Supreme Court stepped in with a ruling that may change the way all future Nevada budgets are built.

Nevada Law Frees Hands but Clogs Shoulders

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Nevada police started enforcing a law banning drivers from using handheld devices, but discovered some motorists are taking risks to comply with the new rule.

States Beginning to Rethink Indigent Defense Systems

Governments can save on legal costs by setting flat fees for those who defend the poor. But many wonder if the practice is fair to defendants.

States' Casino Tax Revenue Tops $7 Billion

Gambling expansion meant a sizeable amount of extra money for some states last year - but it meant a declining take for others.

Bill Raggio: Master of Nevada Politics

RENO, Nev. - Bill Raggio is the master of the Nevada Senate, and has been the key player in much of state government for nearly 40 years. More dealmaker than dictator, he retains his influence even though his party is no longer in the legislative majority. Some say he has as much power as the governor. Others say that's wrong - he has more.

Five More Governor's Races Set for Fall

TODAY'S TAKE: Voters in five states chose their major-party candidates for governor on Tuesday (June 8), while the Republican contenders in a sixth - South Carolina - are headed for a runoff. Among the prominent headlines: Nevada's Jim Gibbons became the first sitting governor in state history to be rejected in a primary, and former Iowa governor Terry Branstad is one step closer to a return.

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.

Business Tax Cuts Pass in Michigan But Falter Elsewhere

Republican governors are trying to make good on their promises to cut corporate taxes, but some are finding a bit more resistance than they may have expected.

Term Limits Will Create Rookie League in Some Legislatures

Many anti-incumbent voters eager to oust their state legislators in 2010 will find term limits doing it for them. Nearly 400 lawmakers in 14 states are being forced by law to retire this year, including a fifth of the nation's house speakers and other key leadership figures. That has raised worries about how newcomers will deal with governing during a budget crisis.

Study Grades States On Higher Education

Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, Minnesota, Kansas and Massachusetts get the highest grades in a new state-by-state report card that measures performance in higher education. According to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, these six states do the best job of preparing students for post-high school education, providing academic opportunities, making them affordable, attaining a high graduation rate and reaping the benefits of an educated workforce. The lowest grades in the report entitled Measuring Up 2000 went to Arkansas, Louisiana, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Casinos, Online Poker Get State Attention

Massachusetts is planning new resort-style gambling casinos, and Florida and New York may open their first commercial casinos as a way to generate more tax revenue. Meanwhile, states that already have casinos are looking at new ways to tap the gambling that takes place online illegally.

SPECIAL REPORT: States Mull Suit Against Drug Companies

In an action modeled on their 1998 class action lawsuit against the tobacco industry, at least six states are poised to go to court to try to force pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription prices, law enforcement and health care officials tell Stateline.org. "The goal is nothing less than changing the way the industry does business," says Mark Schlein, director of Florida's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Attorney General's office.

Gubernatorial Candidates, Louisiana - North Dakota

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

State Officials Try to Redefine 'Adequate' Education

EDUCATION BEAT: Kansas and New Hampshire look for a new definition of "adequate" public education ... An Indiana Senate committee advances a bill limiting collective bargaining for teachers ... Nevada's governor proposes cuts to higher education and K-12 budgets, and other education news.

Illinois Follows Nevada with Highest Unemployment

State unemployment numbers fluctuate and once again Nevada tops the country, but the state that comes in second is new.

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.

A sagebrush state shows its spirit

Idaho's governor this month has drummed up support for a statewide, citizen-led volunteer effort to rehabilitate vast areas of wildfire- scorched earth - double what has burned in California this week - by replanting the land with millions of seeds of a native shrub.

Medical Malpractice Fights Go to Voters in Four States

Voters in four states will pick sides Nov. 2 in the contentious debate over costly malpractice insurance premiums for doctors, an issue rife in statehouses across the country this year. Physicians and health insurance groups in Florida, Nevada, Oregon and Wyoming are lobbying voters to approve tort reform ballot measures, in the face of fierce resistance from trial lawyer groups. The issue also is being raised in three governors races and other state contests.

Tourism States Brace for Potential Gulf War

The nations most tourism-dependent states could suffer a crippling decline in revenue if a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq scares would-be travelers away from the countrys most popular vacation and business destinations.

Few States Regulate Outside Campaign Money

Out-of-state money is pouring into Florida to influence the outcome of the race for governor in the Sunshine State, which political experts regard as a a bellwether for the 2002 election and possibly the 2004 presidential race. It's a phenomenon that occurs in most states in election years.

Tourist States Suffering But Hopeful

Las Vegas and Reno were reduced to ghost towns the weekend after the attacks of September 11. Hotels that rarely see weekend vacancies were left wondering if they could even fill every other room. The next weekend, Las Vegas' hotel occupancy rate was up to 80 percent, not far from its usual 95 percent mark, and Reno could boast a 100 percent occupancy rate. This weekend? Well, no one knows what to expect. But Bruce Bommarito, the head of Nevada's Commission on Tourism, thinks the safe bet is on continued improvement.

Seven States Win Federal Tax-Break Extension

Taxpayers in seven states without income taxes are poised to keep a federal tax break while four Gulf Coast states stand to gain millions of dollars in new oil royalties, thanks to the outgoing Republican-controlled Congress.

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.

Attacks on Homeless Spur New Laws

A nationwide surge in violence against homeless people has at least six states considering stiffer punishments by adding attacks on the homeless to state hate crime laws.

Congressional Wrangling Leaves Sales Tax Deduction in Question

TODAY'S TAKE: Residents of seven states without an individual income tax are watching the budget debate on Capitol Hill to see whether they will be able to keep writing off state sales taxes on goods they purchase.

Private-School Vouchers Return to Education Agenda

In several states, newly elected Republican governors are reviving the idea of using taxpayer money to send students to private schools.

Governors Target Rules at Businesses' Behest

Newly elected Republicans - and some Democrats - have made rethinking regulations a top priority. That has environmentalists and consumer advocates nervous.

Cloud Seedings' Silver Lining Hard to Prove

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

Tax Supporters Turn to the Ballot Box

As it becomes more difficult to get state legislatures to pass tax increases, people who think cash-strapped states have cut budgets too much are taking their case straight to voters.

States in Recovery: Housing

The housing crisis that threw states into economic free fall is helping them climb back out.

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.

Governors Propose Major Tax Hikes

The first few weeks of 2003 have seen a spate of proposed tax increases from governors across the political spectrum and around the country. To date, the governors of Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada and Ohio, have proposed tax increases to balance state books.

Six States Miss Budget Deadlines

California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Nevada, Oregon and Rhode Island all missed budget deadlines as of 12:01 AM Tuesday because of partisan bickering over taxing and spending. A handful of other states, including Missouri, New Jersey and North Carolina, flirted with blown deadlines but reached budget agreements before July 1, the dawn of the new fiscal year in all but four states.

States Make Strides on Medical Marijuana Programs

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

States Move To Deal With Attack Effects

Gov. James Gilmore of Virginia Wednesday lifted the one-week waiting period for unemployment benefits so workers hurt by the closing of Reagan-National Airport can get immediate financial help. Gilmore also announced establishment of the Virginia Post-Attack Economic Response Task Force to assess the adverse impact on the state's economy and develop a plan for dealing with it. A similar task force is contemplated by Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano, who scheduled a special meeting with local officials and business leaders Wednesday about the potential impact of revenue losses on businesses directly related to the state's travel and tourism industry.

Mega-Stores Hitting Political Flak In Several States

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

WORTH NOTING: Partying, Politicking and Parrying at Governors' Pads

Some governors can't get away from prying eyes, even in their own mansions. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) is embarrassed when word leaks out of his son's birthday beer bash on the premises; California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) can barely get a GOP sign on his own yard; and Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) is fighting to get the keys to his mansion from his soon-to-be ex-wife. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

WORTH NOTING: Gibbons Used State Cell Phone to Text 'Another Woman'

Nevada state telephone records show embattled Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) sent hundreds of text messages to his alleged paramour on a state-owned cell phone, often late at night. Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee rescues a North Carolina lawmaker. And Vermont becomes the 29th state to make Juneteenth a state holiday. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Three Western Governors Float Tax Hikes

Frequently the option of last resort, tax increases are on the table in California, Nevada and Oregon as more states try to confront budget problems and the ailing economy.

Leaving dog poop not a crime

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

Weekly Wrap: Tax Panels Focus on States' Long Term Fiscal Health

States are creating commissions to examine the future financing of government. A new Census report highlights foreclosure rates, median housing values in states.

Tuesday's Primaries: What to Watch

TODAY'S TAKE: In the busiest primary election day of the year, voters in 10 states will go to the polls Tuesday (June 8) to decide a wide range of questions from whether Maine will reform its tax code to which Republican will face off against Jerry Brown in the California governor's race. Stateline outlines key themes to watch in the state-level contests.

Reducing California's Car Fleet a Tough Sell

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: California is well short of Governor Jerry Brown's goal of selling half the state's fleet of cars… A national safety group tells states not to outlaw driving while talking on the phone… Utah adds a designation for veterans on its driver's licenses, and other transportation news.

Oklahoma House Republicans Question Leader's Conservatism

TRANSITION WATCH: Kris Steele's focus on economic issues angers some right-leaning Oklahoma Republicans, Connecticut's new governor is likely to dictate the fate of tens of millions of state e-mails, and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

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.

Jerry Brown's Tax Plans Come into Focus

California's governor-elect wants to extend income, sales and vehicle tax increases, Nevada's incoming governor finally quits his day job, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Governors Races Attract The Colorful

If a former pro wrestler nicknamed The Body can be elected governor, then why not a comedian, an ex-stripper, or a pistol packing candidate? They are among the more colorful contenders for high office this year.

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.

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).

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.

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