• 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.

• More Police Agencies Collecting DNA Records
• Source: New York Times   |   Nation   |   June 13, 2013
• The trend — coming at a time of heightened privacy concerns after recent revelations of secret federal surveillance of telephone calls and Internet traffic — is expected only to accelerate after the Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding a Maryland statute allowing the authorities to collect DNA samples from those arrested for serious crimes.

• Arizona House OKs Medicaid Expansion in Final Days
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   June 13, 2013
• The vote moves Arizona one step closer to becoming the 21st state to expand Medicaid.

• Indiana Lawmakers Override Gov. Pence's Income-Tax Veto
• Source: Indianapolis Star   |   Indiana   |   June 13, 2013
• The votes defied the normal political alliances, with most Democrats backing the Republican governor, and most Republicans voting to reject his veto.

• Bloomberg's Plan to Fight Climate Change Faces Obstacles
• Source: New York Times   |   New York City   |   June 13, 2013
• The projects will have to pass through an array of government agencies, billions of dollars in financing must be secured; and of course the mayor is leaving office at the end of the year, and there is no guarantee that his successors will embrace all of the components.

• Maryland Gov. O'Malley Endorses Booker for N.J. Senate
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   June 13, 2013
• In the first of what is likely to be a string of national endorsements, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley said he is endorsing Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s candidacy to replace U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

• FEMA Rejects Texas' Request for More Aid After Plant Blast
• Source: Dallas Morning News   |   West, Texas   |   June 13, 2013
• Officials across Texas are scrambling to reverse the federal government’s decision not to free up more funds to help rebuild the town, where a fertilizer plant explosion killed 15 and destroyed schools and homes.
• 3 Comments

• Bid to Legalize Marijuana in Arizona Begins
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   June 13, 2013
• The initiative needs 259,213 valid signatures by July 3, 2014, to qualify for the November 2014 ballot.

• Judge Rules Tennessee Violated Occupy Nashville's 1st Amendment Rights
• Source: Tennessean   |   Tennessee   |   June 13, 2013
• Occupy protests spread around the country in 2011, mostly by citizens who were taking aim at the country’s income disparities and what they saw as an overly cozy relationship between federal politicians and Wall Street financiers.

• Making Obamacare Work in the States
• BY: Robert K. Ross   |   June 13, 2013
• In creating its health-benefit exchange under the Affordable Care Act, California has gotten off to an encouraging start
• 4 Comments

• Jersey Shore Town Bans Baggy Pants on Boardwalk
• Source: Press of Atlantic City   |   Wildwood, N.J.   |   June 13, 2013
• The Wildwood City Commission on Wednesday adopted new "decency standards" for the Boardwalk to outlaw sagging pants and to require shirts during the evening hours.

• What Areas Are Growing Oldest the Fastest?
• BY: Mike Maciag   |   June 13, 2013
• New Census data shows most regions are seeing their age 65 and older population climb. But for some jurisdictions, the growth has been far more pronounced than others. View new demographic data for states and counties.
• 1 Comments

• Will the NSA Leak Hinder Open-Data Efforts?
• BY: Government Technology   |   June 13, 2013
• The controversy surrounding the National Security Agency's online spying program, PRISM, has some state and local open-data proponents concerned it will negatively impact their image.
• 3 Comments