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- Stateline Story
New Year ushers in new laws
At least 31 states will enforce new laws that take effect New Year's Day. So as you ring in the New Year, expect some facet of life to change, ranging from where you can smoke in Illinois to how much it costs to enter a strip club in Texas.more -
- Stateline Story
Tobacco case could limit state powers
Forty state laws regulating Internet sales of tobacco products - and many more governing the sale and shipment of dangerous products from explosives to wild animals - are at stake in a challenge to a Maine law that the U.S. Supreme Court heard Wednesday (Nov. 28).more -
- Stateline Story
Maine and South Carolina Try Different Tacks with Big-Box Stores
For years, local governments have either tried to lure big box stores for jobs and cheap goods -- or discouraged them to preserve local businesses and small-town character. Maine and South Carolina have just weighed in on the issue, taking widely divergent approaches.more -
- Stateline Story
Sex Ed Landscape Shifting in States
While most states still stress abstinence in sex education, lately there has been a movement toward a comprehensive approach that also teaches about contraception.more -
- Stateline Story
States Go After Smoking in Vehicles With Kids
More than a dozen states are considering following Arkansas, Louisiana and the city of Bangor, Maine, in outlawing smoking in vehicles if children are present. Opponents call it an invasion of privacy, and even anti-smoking groups aren't climbing on the bandwagon.more -
- Stateline Story
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.more -
- Stateline Story
Maine State of the State Address 2007
AUGUSTA, Maine, Jan. 5 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. John Baldacci (D) 2007 state of the state address and budget message: Hello. I am Governor John Baldacci. Thank you for joining me tonight. Thank you to the tv and radio stations for carrying this live. Today I delivered to the Legislature my proposed
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- Stateline Story
Violence in Sudan Pushes States to Act
Sudan's bloody crackdown on African tribesmen in the Darfur region has inspired six states to enact laws they hope will stem the attacks by cutting off financial backing for the Sudanese government. And lawmakers in at least 15 more states plan to propose similar bills when their legislatures convene in January.more -
- Stateline Story
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.more -
- Stateline Story
Results of June 13 Primary
Maine Gov. John E. Baldacci (D) and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) easily won their nominations in the June 13 primary. Sanford will face state Sen. Thomas I. Moore (D) this November while in Maine, state Sen. Chandler Woodcock is leading the GOP field in the race to square off against Baldacci. North Dakota voters approved two constitutional measures, including one that removes language limiting membership to the state's National Guard to men aged 18 to 45. Here is a sampling of local news coverage of the results in races for state offices in the June 13 primaries. Check out Stateline.org's Election issue page for a state-by-state round: AR: Halter wins nomination for No. 2 spotME: Woodcock eyes GOP victory in primaryND: Constitutional changes approvedSC: Sanford will face Moore in Novembermore
