• Police Increasingly Using State Photo-ID Databases
• Source: The Washington Post   |   Nation   |   June 17, 2013
• The faces of more than 120 million people are in searchable photo databases that state officials assembled to prevent driver’s-license fraud but that increasingly are used by police to identify suspects, accomplices and even innocent bystanders in a wide range of criminal investigations.

• Nevada to Give Tax Credits to Filmmakers
• Source: The Reno Gazette   |   Nevada   |   June 17, 2013
• Gov. Brian Sandoval’s signature Tuesday means filmmakers will now be granted transferrable tax credits in a move he hopes will bring jobs and a new industry to the state.

• Bloomberg Explores Requiring Food Composting in NYC
• Source: The New York Times   |   New York City   |   June 17, 2013
• Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who has tried to curb soda consumption, ban smoking in parks and encourage bike riding, is taking on a new cause: requiring New Yorkers to separate their food scraps for composting.

• Washington Congressional Delegation Not Attempting Reconciliation of Pot Laws
• Source: The Seattle Times   |   Seattle, Wash.   |   June 17, 2013
• Seven months after Washington voters legalized recreational pot, supporters are growing increasingly aggrieved over the dearth of effort by the state’s congressional lawmakers to reconcile the state law with the federal prohibition against marijuana.

• Indiana's Gay Marriage Fight Could Continue Beyond Supreme Court Ruling
• Source: The Indianapolis Star   |   Indiana   |   June 17, 2013
• The state legislature has delayed debate on an amendment banning gay marriage in the state while it waits to see the outcome of the pending Supreme Court ruling. But barring a sweeping decision by the court, both sides expect the fight over the proposed change to the state constitution to continue.

• Detroit EM Proposes End to Retirees' Health Coverage
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   Detroit   |   June 14, 2013
• Following in Chicago's footsteps, the city's emergency manager wants to send retired public employees to Obamacare’s health insurance marketplaces to buy coverage -- a plan that's likely to face lawsuits.
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• EPA Orders Minnesota to Increase Water Pollution Prevention Efforts
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Minnesota   |   June 14, 2013
• About a dozen states face similar petitions pending at the EPA, most filed by citizen groups that say state regulators are not doing enough to enforce the Clean Water Act.

• California's High-Speed Rail Exempt from Federal Oversight
• BY: McClatchy News   |   California   |   June 14, 2013
• California's bullet train agency won a key legal ruling Thursday, obtaining an exemption from regulatory oversight by the federal Surface Transportation Board for construction of the first segment of the rail system that would run 220 mph trains from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

• 2 Former Governors Say Immigration Reform Would Save States Money
• BY: J.B. Wogan   |   Nation   |   June 14, 2013
• Immigration reform could save states money and boost the economy, said former governors Haley Barbour and Jeb Bush at a recent forum.

• Signed Michigan Budget Doesn't Address Gov. Snyder's Top Priorities
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Michigan   |   June 14, 2013
• Gov. Rick Snyder signed a 2013-14 state budget that doesn't address two of his major priorities -- expanded Medicaid coverage and raising more than $1 billion in extra revenues for repair and maintenance of state roads and bridges.

• Private Preschools See More Public Funds as Classes Grow
• Source: New York Times   |   Nation   |   June 14, 2013
• Across the country, states and districts are increasingly funneling public funds to religious schools, private nursery schools and a variety of community-based nonprofit organizations that conduct preschool classes.

• Nevada Gov. Sandoval Vetoes Universal Background Checks
• Source: AP/Reno Gazette-Journal   |   Nevada   |   June 14, 2013
• In his veto message, Gov. Brian Sandoval said the universal background checks provision "imposes unreasonable burdens and harsh penalties upon law-abiding Nevadans, while doing little to prevent criminals from unlawfully obtaining firearms."

• Arizona's GOP Gov. Brewer Wins Medicaid-Expansion Battle
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   June 14, 2013
• Whether it was exhaustion, resignation or a decision to save the fight for another day, the bitter tirades that dominated the budget and Medicaid fight on Wednesday and into Thursday morning were replaced by hugs and handshakes.

• Philadelphia Council OKs New Property, Cigarette Taxes
• Source: Philadelphia Inquirer   |   Philadelphia   |   June 14, 2013
• Regarding school funding, Council unanimously passed a new $2-per-pack cigarette tax as part of Mayor Nutter's plan to help the school district close a $304 million budget hole.

• Court Allows Christie's Special Election
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   June 14, 2013
• A three-judge appellate panel has rejected a challenge to Gov. Chris Christie’s decision to call a special election to fill the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s seat in October, three weeks before the regularly scheduled November election.