• Former Calif. Lt. Gov. Criticizes State's Prison Policies
• BY: McClatchy News   |   California   |   May 9, 2013
• In a speech where he hinted at a possible run for governor, former Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado called out Gov. Jerry Brown for his handling of prison crowding in the state, calling the policies being pursued an "early release" program.

• 'Caylee's Law' on Missing Children Sent to North Carolina Governor
• Source: AP/Raleigh News & Observer   |   North Carolina   |   May 9, 2013
• The bill, inspired by the case of Caylee Anthony, makes it a felony when parents knowingly fail to report to police their child has been missing for at least 24 hours.

• D.C. to Open Hybrid Traditional-Charter School
• Source: Washington Post   |   District of Columbia   |   May 9, 2013
• D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson described the effort as a first-of-its-kind partnership that will produce neither a traditional school nor a charter school but something in between.

• Medical Marijuana Regulations Finalized in Massachusetts
• Source: Boston Globe   |   Massachusetts   |   May 9, 2013
• Companies hoping to sell marijuana for medical use in Massachusetts will be required to hire an independent lab to test their products for contaminants, under final rules that regulators approved by unanimous vote.

• Bills to Increase Oversight of Oil and Gas Industry Fail in Colorado
• Source: Denver Post   |   Colorado   |   May 9, 2013
• The administration of Gov. John Hickenlooper, as well as the oil and gas industry, opposed several of the bills.

• Oregon Secretary of State Tweaks Automatic Voter-Registration Bill in Search of Support
• Source: Oregonian   |   Oregon   |   May 9, 2013
• Kate Brown said she has agreed to changes to address privacy concerns, as well as worries from minor political parties faced with rapidly increasing their numbers to keep their ballot status.

• Arizona May Join States Offering Foster Kids Free Tuition
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   May 9, 2013
• Seventeen other states have tuition waivers for foster children.

• Audit Shows Detroit Fire Dept. Violated Drug Policies
• Source: Detroit Free Press   |   Detroit   |   May 9, 2013
• Four employees who tested positive for cocaine or high blood-alcohol levels — but faced no disciplinary actions — were among a handful of incidents described in an auditor general’s report.

• Minimum-Wage Battle Waged Among Minnesota House, Senate
• Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune   |   Minnesota   |   May 9, 2013
• The Minnesota Senate narrowly approved a modest increase to the state’s minimum wage that directly contrasts with the higher wage hike approved by the House and endorsed by Gov. Mark Dayton.

• Voter ID Bill Rejected in Iowa Senate
• Source: Des Moines Register   |   Iowa   |   May 9, 2013
• The effort failed on a 26-24 vote with Democrats against and Republicans in support.

• A New Way to Tame the Public-Pension Beast?
• BY: Charles Chieppo   |   May 8, 2013
• Adjustable pension plans could help governments control both risk and their out-of-control retiree-benefit costs.
• 34 Comments

• North Carolina Carefully Weighs Fracking Options
• BY: Stateline   |   May 8, 2013
• As the legislature considers lifting a decades long ban on unconventional drilling which would allow hydraulic fracturing the state's unique geography is prompting concerns about disposal of the wastewater the drilling produces.
• 1 Comments

• Food-Stamp Bill to Encourage Healthy Purchases Advances in Wisconsin
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Wisconsin   |   May 8, 2013
• The Wisconsin legislature has passed a bill requiring recipients of food stamps to spend at least two-thirds of their assistance money on state-defined healthy foods. A separate bill re-addressing food stamp fraud was also passed.

• Are Governments Ignoring Their Short-Term Workers?
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   May 8, 2013
• One wonders what incentive there is to work for a government at all unless you’re in it for the long haul.
• 6 Comments

• GAO Report Paints Bleak Fiscal Outlook for States, Local Governments
• BY: Mike Maciag   |   May 8, 2013
• A new report by the Government Accountability Office forecasts a gloomy outlook for state and local government budgets, finding an ever-widening gap between projected revenues and expenses for years to come.
• 1 Comments