Stateline Headlines

Primaries Set Gov Races in Wisc., N.C.

Voters Tuesday (May 8) formally picked candidates for governors' races in four states while North Carolina voters approved a ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage in the state.

The Not-So-Fast Track for High-Speed Rail

The last time intercity passenger trains served Madison, Wisconsin's capital city, students at the University of Wisconsin campus there were protesting the Vietnam War. The trains stopped running when Amtrak took over passenger service around the country in 1971. But last month, the federal government announced it would give the state $810 million in stimulus money to return passenger trains to Wisconsin's second-biggest city for the first time in more than four decades.The $8 billion in federal stimulus money billed as "high-speed rail" funding that will pay for the Wisconsin improvements is going to 31 states to improve service on trains of all speeds. But as even the straightforward case of Wisconsin shows, the path for states to actually build high-speed rail promises to be long, costly and, in some cases, politically contentious.

Virginia Weighs an End to Its 31-Year-Old Uranium Mining Ban

In Virginia, home to one of the world’s largest deposits of uranium, state lawmakers must decide whether to overturn the state’s 31-year-old ban on mining.

Weekly Wrap: States Could Hand Off Liquor Stores

Three states weigh privatizing liquor sales; Lawmakers take aim at shorter, fewer sessions.

Study Finds Details Lacking in Economic Development Deals

TODAY'S TAKE: Governors are placing a premium on economic development, moving aggressively to lure more private-sector jobs to their states. The public, however, often is kept in the dark about the state tax breaks, grants and other incentives that are often at the center of such deals, according to a new study.

Democrats Have Edge in Statehouse Races

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Democrats are likely to make gains in state legislative races this year, but it's a toss-up whether the seats they win will be enough to overtake control of a handful of narrowly divided statehouses, a panel of election experts said at the National Conference of State Legislatures annual conference here.

States Push to Convert Interstate Highways into Toll Roads

Interstates need money for repairs, and charging toll fees can bring in a lot of it. But the federal government is cool to the idea.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Legislators Barring Electronic Distractions

Since 1997, when North Dakota state senators pioneered a ban on the use of electronic devices when their august body was open for business, the parliamentary rules of more and more legislatures require cell phones, computers and other high-tech distractions to be turned off or left at the door. Maine's House of Representatives is the latest to join the legislative rebellion against the myriad intrusions of the Digital Age.

North Dakota Up, North Carolina Down in Growth Index

TODAY'S TAKE: A Bloomberg evaluation of how states are faring in the aftermath of the Great Recession shows North Dakota powering forward and North Carolina lagging behind, in part because of Bank of America's woes.

Amendment to NC auto insurance bill rekindles industry feud

House and Senate leaders hope to strike deal on a major tax bill

NC Democratic Party leader Voller says it’s time for party to unify

NC House members worry that 75 mph speed limit really means 85 mph

Report -- Most teacher ed programs are substandard

Rural hay making

Ex-North Carolina Gov. Jim Holshouser dies at 78

Oklahoma Corrections Department director to resign

NC Superintendent Atkinson’s suggestion for a teacher tax exemption flops

Perdue to launch education consulting business

Holshouser a trailblazer

NC House votes to end campaign financing checkoff

McCrory -- Budget deal may not happen by July 1

NC NAACP protest ends with more than 80 arrests

NC Senate expected to take final tax overhaul vote

Speed-loving legislators would lift N.C. limit to 75 mph

Airport bill could see action this week

Some States Speed Up Death Penalty

The slow pace of the death penalty prompted states to fix it or quit it this year.

Proposal calls for statewide telepsychiatry program by next year

2007 law discouraging non-NC trash getting review

No good reason to get rid of NC Child Fatality Task Force

Report -- N.C. gets C on infrastructure report card

NC NAACP prepares for seventh week of protests

Trouble for Voller continues to mount

Politicians and the powerful touch NC Rural Center cash

N.C. GOP is rolling back decades-long era of Democratic laws

Let the Racial Justice Act stand

State budget plans expand rural-urban divide

New transportation money formula clears N.C. Senate

Immigrant advocates in NC get word out about proposed NC immigration reforms

As Senate tax bill moves forward, Rucho breaks with Berger

Berger wants non-profit N.C. hospitals to pay sales tax

NC Senate tax overhaul heading for floor vote

Racial Justice Act repeal heads to NC Gov. McCrory(2)

Racial Justice Act repeal heads to NC Gov. McCrory

Private school vouchers at center of House budget debate

More NC offenders head to juvenile court in bill

Out-of-state spending likely swayed some state judge elections(2)

Private school vouchers at center of budget debate

McCrory signs 39 bills that become NC law

House considers NC budget again before final vote

In North Carolina, political protesters welcome arrest

NC House to debate budget proposal Wednesday

McCrory tosses ball, catches controversy

Senate’s new tax plan avoids expanding tax on services

NC bill would do away with handgun permits

Weekly protests in North Carolina challenge conservative shift in state politics

NC budget moving through House this week

NC House gives its final OK to tax overhaul

NC Republicans ignore Tillis, say no to tolls

NC Dems' No. 2 official resigning amid conflict

NC governor says he won't back down to protesters

NC House expected to complete tax overhaul OK

States look to tax hybrids to recoup road funding

N.C. GOP stresses unity in bid to oust Kay Hagan in 2014

NC House-Senate budgets -- Numbers close, priorities aren’t

Racial injustice in North Carolina

A test case for Republican lower-taxes rhetoric

NC House 'fracking' bill heading to House floor

Retooled NC tax package OK'd by House budget panel

NC needs to look again at Medicaid expansion

NC infrastructure gets mostly C grades from engineers

Impact of proposed NC tax bill outlined

North Carolina’s Racial Justice Act another step closer to repeal

NC House Republicans go back to original tax plan

Redistricting hearing over NC maps' legality over

N.C. House panel keeps fracking moratorium

Cap on mortgage deductions is back in House tax bill

Study -- N.C. bridges, dams need repair

Court ruling will allow N.C. DNA database to grow

Gov. McCrory -- Public school students take too many tests

North Carolina repeals law allowing racial bias claim in death penalty challenges