• 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.

• Colorado Parole Chief Fired in Wake of Corrections Chief's Murder
• Source: Denver Post   |   Colorado   |   June 14, 2013
• The Department of Corrections has fired State Parole Chief Tim Hand in the wake of the murder of corrections chief Tom Clements, whom officials believe was killed by a parolee.
• 1 Comments

• Gov. Scott Heads to Paris in Search of Jobs to Bring to Florida
• Source: Miami Herald   |   Florida   |   June 14, 2013
• Gov. Rick Scott heads overseas again on Friday, this time to Paris as the leader of a trade mission aimed at bringing more aerospace jobs to Florida.

• Legal Fight over Drilling Money Seeps into Virginia Governor’s Race
• Source: Washington Post   |   Virginia   |   June 14, 2013
• A complex legal dispute over mineral rights in Virginia’s coal country has become the latest battleground in the state’s bitterly fought gubernatorial race, with Democrats accusing Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II of improperly siding with out-of-state energy companies against Virginians who say the firms cheated them out of natural gas royalties.

• Pennsylvania Reconsiders Requiring People to Report Missing Guns
• BY: J.B. Wogan   |   June 14, 2013
• After 30 municipalities passed laws requiring residents to tell police when their guns disappear, the legislature is reconsidering a statewide proposal that failed in 2008 to do just that.
• 7 Comments

• Record-Breaking Colorado Fire Kills 2, Burns 379 Homes
• Source: Denver Post   |   Colorado   |   June 14, 2013
• Rich Harvey, the commander of the federal incident-management team that took over firefighting duties early Thursday, estimated containment at 5 percent.

• Most Graduation Requirements Don't Align with Common Core, Report Says
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   Nation   |   June 13, 2013
• Most of the 45 states that adopted the Common Core State Standards haven’t updated their high school graduation requirements to comply with the new K-12 academic standards, according to a new report.
• 1 Comments

• A New, Sometimes Not-So-Nice Outlook for the Muni Market
• BY: Penelope Lemov   |   June 13, 2013
• Despite some positive developments, it seems the SEC and IRS are cracking down on the municipal bond market.
• 1 Comments

• Teacher Quality and the Lake Wobegon Factor
• BY: Charles Chieppo   |   June 13, 2013
• Teacher education programs have long set a low bar for students seeking to enter the profession. That is finally beginning to change.
• 1 Comments

• Don't Get Too Excited About State Surpluses
• BY: Ryan Holeywell   |   June 13, 2013
• A new report forecasts that most states will end the fiscal year in the black. But it may be too early to celebrate.

• Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Oklahoma in Water War with Texas
• BY: The Texas Tribune   |   Texas   |   June 13, 2013
• In a unanimous ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has sided with Oklahoma over the Tarrant Regional Water District of Texas in a case that could have national implications for water supplies.

• Aging Counties Population Map
• BY: Michael Maciag   |   June 13, 2013
• Map shows counties growing oldest the fastest.