Stateline Headlines

No Clear Favorite Seen in Virginia's Governor's Race

Virginia and New Jersey are the only states to elect governors in 2005. In the first of two stories, Stateline.org looks at the personalities and policy issues in the race to replace Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D), the only governor in the nation limited to one four-year term. Tomorrow's story will focus on New Jersey.

2009 Elections — Small But Significant

This year may be the quiet before the surge of 36 gubernatorial races in 2010, but the results of the few statewide elections in November could preview what's to come.

Few Governors Tout Bold Initiatives

In his state of the state address last month, Vermont Gov. James H. Douglas said that the state should track convicted drug dealers the same way it does sexual predators, by publicizing their names and addresses. This proposal is one of only a handful of truly innovative programs proposed by governors in their state of the state addresses this year.

Snow Puts Strain on State and Local Budgets

TODAY'S TAKE: The heavy snowfall that has blanketed much of the mid-Atlantic region in recent days already has exhausted an entire winter's worth of state and local cleanup budgets in some places.

Utah Lawmakers Could Override Transportation Veto

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Utah's governor faces a rare veto override as lawmakers try to designate sales tax money for transportation … New Jersey won't use a private firm to collect tolls after all … A key U.S. senator suggests states will have to raise gas taxes-not depend on the feds-for new revenue, and other transportation news.

States Suing Feds Over Seniors' Rx Costs

Fifteen states want the U.S. Supreme Court to block the federal government's plan to bill them for a portion of costs for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit passed by Congress. The states call the law "an unprecedented intrusion into each state's sovereignty."

High School Athletes Next for Steroid Tests

(Updated 12:45 p.m. EDT, Monday, June 18)A year after New Jersey became the first state to mandate random steroid testing for high school athletes, Texas and Florida are on the verge of launching their own testing programs, and Illinois may not be far behind.

Could lower DUI standards be decades away in Pa., N.J.?

End of coal? NRG Energy to shutter coal-fired electricity plants in PA and New Jersey

The SEC's Harrisburg settlement looms as a warning for other towns, experts say

After Sandy, Some Homeowners Spared from Costly Hurricane Deductibles

Governor Tom Corbett added Pennsylvania to the growing list of states — including Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey and New York — where governors and insurance regulators have told insurers to spare homeowners from the costly deductibles after the superstorm whirled across the East Coast, causing heavy wind and flood damage to property and leaving millions without power.

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.

'Jock Tax' Boosts Revenue in Pa., N.J.

TODAY'S TAKE: Philadelphia football fans may jeer when the New York Giants come to town, but city and state budget officials are likely to cheer. That's because Philadelphia and Pennsylvania -- as well as neighboring New Jersey -- tax the income of visiting athletes.

Budget Progress in Several States

TODAY'S TAKE: Forty-six states face budget deadlines today (June 30). Unlike last year, when 10 states approached the new fiscal year without spending plans in place, there has been considerable progress this week in states without budgets. Even in Pennsylvania- where Governor Ed Rendell hasn't signed a budget on time in his more than seven years in office - lawmakers appear close to an agreement.

Lame-Duck Session Scheduled in Pennsylvania

TODAY'S TAKE: The Democratic-led Pennsylvania House of Representatives, which will fall under Republican control in January, will convene for a special voting session on Monday (November 15). The lame-duck meeting will give outgoing Democrats the chance to pass legislation before Republicans take over state government, including the governor's office, next year.

Cities, Counties Hurt By Budget Cuts

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

States Face Up To Realities Of Police Racial Profiling

As four men, three black and one Latino, made their way down the New Jersey Turnpike toward a North Carolina university where they were planning on trying out for the basketball team in April 1998, they had no way of knowing that three of them would end up at a hospital with police inflicted bullet wounds before they reached the state line. Their attorneys, bolstered by an outraged public, argue that the young men were stopped because they were minorities - a practice known as racial profiling. Read this stateline.org report to learn what states are doing to battle this practice.

Report: Sandy Inundated East Coast With Sewage

Hurricane Sandy’s floodwaters last October inundated East Coast with sewage. Researchers have now estimated how much flowed from crippled treatment plants.

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.

Govs Start to Back 2008 Candidates

Eleven governors have made endorsements in the 2008 presidential race so far, and the leading beneficiaries of early skirmishing for support from state leaders are Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton and Republican hopeful John McCain.

Budget Deal Means Prison Closures in New York

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: The governor of New York follows through on a pledge to close prisons, even if they provide employment in rural communities…California's governor orders thousands of state inmates transferred to local facilities, despite a lack of funding for the plan…Michigan is proving more reluctant than other states to grant parole, and other public safety news.

Motorists Face an 'Avalanche' of Higher Tolls

Toll rates are climbing on highways, bridges and tunnels across the country, but it is not just because of the economy. Many big toll hikes are helping to pay for new construction.

Food Banks Drawing Statewide Attention

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: Emergency food banks are attracting increased interest from state officials this year, but what many of them would like is more money.

Toll Hike Plan Puts Heat on Cuomo and Christie

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Governors Andrew Cuomo of New York and Chris Christie of New Jersey both lashed out at a proposal to increase tolls on bridges and tunnels between their states. But both governors stopped short of saying they would veto the hikes.

Exemption Debate Looms Over Cuomo's Property Tax Cap

TRANSITION WATCH: New York will consider how far property taxes can rise to pay public employee benefits, Ohio struggles with a tug-of-war over appointments, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Christie is all that's stopping same sex marriage in NJ

Court should keep Gov. Christie's hands off housing trust funds

Proposal to raise N.J. tobacco sales age to 21 is well-intentioned, but unnecessary

Chris Christie spotted at Goldman Sachs

New Jersey unemployment rate drops to 8.7 percent

NJ bill would require employers to provide paid sick days

NJ lawmakers eye upping cigarette-buying age to 21

Christie announces $300M program to buy flood-prone homes by next spring

N.J.'s outdated formula cuts into property tax relief

NJ Transit storm plan was sparse for Superstorm Sandy

NJEA names new president, officers

State will reimburse Princeton $464,000 for consolidation costs

N.J. revenues slightly beat Gov. Christie's expectations last month

Bucco denounces Sweeney for cancelling hearing on his bill to close Roxbury landfill

Sandy-hit homeowners can apply for $150,000 federal grant starting May 24, Christie says

Christie says residents should 'get together' to decide on buyouts in Sandy-ravaged towns

State leaders praise approval of Bayonne Bridge-raising project

Behind N.J.'s jobless rate: A Q&A with Rutgers economist Joseph Seneca

N.J.'s COAH money grab is the latest raid on property taxpayers

Buono films commercial at salon in Hackensack

Christie administration says language is 'boilerplate,' not threat to pension payments

N.J. Supreme Court rules fatal crash victim's failure to wear seat belt can't excuse driver's recklessness

Post-Sandy counseling program receives $11.5M federal grant

Dems object as Christie clan stars in publicly funded tourism ads

NJ bill would require employers to provide paid sick days

N.J. accuses ex-candidate from Paterson of failing to report $700,000 in campaign spending

Former Gov. Florio - 'Current extreme economic division raises social as well as economic threats'

Candidates for New Jersey's state seats have raised $30.5 million

In mob case decision, N.J. Supreme Court tightens rules for representation by public defenders

Fruit from the 'poisonous tree' - judge dismisses DWI, refusal charges against Assemblyman Paul Moriarty

N.J. interest groups form coalition to take on electric utilities' planned rate increases

Budget scramble

NJ court halts Christie administration from using affordable housing money to balance budget

At event in Princeton, Governor Christe opens up about his struggle with weight

Prince Harry tours storm-damaged N.J. Shore

Report: Property taxes hit new high in New Jersey

Chris Christie's broken promise

A governor and a prince, down at the shore

Christie camp strikes gold in California

N.J. transit under fire of Sandy

Gov. Christie's veto of early voting bill makes no sense

Christie fires blanks at study on rising property taxes

NJ Transit's secrets

Bill regulating privatization contracts passes N.J. Senate, Assembly committee

N.J. Senate advances gun legislation, but 2 key measures stalled

Flood insurance sticker shock as lawmakers try to reverse federal cuts made before Sandy

A growing gulf for money as Christie outpaces Buono

Christie picks up endorsement from Manville's Democratic mayor

Cory Booker backs Buono's call for stricter gun control measures

Christie defends negative ads against Democratic challenger Buono

Christie dismisses report on rising tax burden

State's largest teacher union forms Super PAC

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno visits Hoboken ShopRite that was ravaged by Sandy

N.J. Assembly Democrats now open to moving Senate's gun legislation

N.J. Assembly panel advances bill to require residents be told of sewage overflows

State officials keeping close watch on Harvey Cedars dune case before Supreme Court

Military veterans protest Christie's proposed changes to N.J. civil service system

Two governors find common ground

Christie's early voting veto will hurt turnout

Christie vetoes voting bill that would've helped minorities

Christie balances budget at the expense of the environment

N.J. construction industry finds sudden surge after recession-laden stagnation

N.J.'s plan to seize $142M in unspent COAH money from towns is 'a real slap in the face to property taxpayers'

Christie's promise not to talk more about weight loss surgery lasted two days

Bergen exec asks AG to investigate sheriff's handling of live mortar rounds turned in at gun buyback

Gov. Christie's Lap-Band surgeon named in malpractice, death suits

Battle over compensation for losing view to dunes moves to state Supreme Court today