• Seattle Plans to be Carbon Neutral by 2050
• Source: Seattle Times   |   Seattle   |   May 6, 2013
• City leaders this month are unveiling an ambitious Climate Action Plan, with the goal of making Seattle carbon neutral (zero net emissions of greenhouse gases) by 2050

• Appreciating Public Servants in an Age of Cynicism
• BY: Mark Funkhouser   |   May 6, 2013
• In the aftermath of the Boston bombings, something interesting and unusual happened: People applauded their public employees.
• 1 Comments

• Looking Back at Howard Dean's 50-State Strategy
• BY: Louis Jacobson   |   May 6, 2013
• Despite opposition from national Democrats, the former Vermont governor's bid to build up party infrastructure in every state was a success in the unlikeliest of places -- at least while it lasted.
• 2 Comments

• Jobs Report Exceeds Expectations as Unemployment Rate Falls
• BY: Mike Maciag   |   May 3, 2013
• The economy added 165,000 jobs last month while the unemployment rate fell slightly to 7.5 percent.

• Florida Court Forces Police to Obtain Warrant for Cell-Phone Searches
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Florida   |   May 3, 2013
• The Florida Supreme Court, in a 5-2 decision, has ruled that police must obtain a search warrant to view the contents of a person's cellphone when they are taken into custody.
• 3 Comments

• Feds Seek Stronger Cybersecurity Partnerships with States
• BY: Stateline   |   Nation   |   May 3, 2013
• With cybersecurity legislation stalled in Congress, the White House is looking to partner with states to protect critical infrastructure from attacks.
• 1 Comments

• Thousands Denied Food Stamps When Tied to Assets
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Pennsylvania   |   May 3, 2013
• Advocates for the poor now say that by weeding out a relatively small number of people with too many assets, the Department of Public Welfare made getting food stamps so complicated that deserving low-income people became inundated by paperwork and lost their benefits.
• 2 Comments

• U.S. AG Holder, Gov. Brownback Spar over Kansas' New Gun Law
• Source: AP/Wichita Eagle   |   Kansas   |   May 3, 2013
• U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has told Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback that a new state law attempting to block federal regulation of some guns is unconstitutional and that the federal government is willing to go to court over the issue.
• 22 Comments

• As Amtrak Aid Ends, States Face Funding Decisions
• Source: New York Times   |   Nation   |   May 3, 2013
• Under pressure from Congress to reduce its dependence on federal subsidies, Amtrak is looking at either closing 28 short-haul routes or getting 19 states to cover the costs. Most of the states have already agreed to pick up the costs.

• Most Bike-Friendly State is Washington for 6th Year
• Source: USA Today   |   Nation   |   May 3, 2013
• The rankings are bestowed by the League of American Bicyclists and are based on funding for biking legislation, bike programs and policies, infrastructure, education and planning.

• D.C. Mayor Gray Proposes Giving Driver's Licenses to Immigrants
• Source: Washington Post   |   District of Columbia   |   May 3, 2013
• Mayor Vincent C. Gray unveiled his proposal to allow illegal immigrants to apply for District driver’s licenses.

• Arizona Gov. Brewer Vetoes Gold Currency Bill
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   May 3, 2013
• Gov. Jan Brewervetoed a bill that would have made Arizona the second state to allow gold and silver coins to be used as legal tender.

• Rhode Island Becomes 10th State to Legalize Gay Marriage
• Source: Providence Journal   |   Rhode Island   |   May 3, 2013
• The bills allow same-sex weddings and also allow couples who joined in civil unions to change their status to married.

• Colorado Offers 23 Recommendations to Improve Child Welfare
• Source: Denver Post   |   Colorado   |   May 3, 2013
• The summary report — released by the Colorado Department of Human Services, the first required under a law passed last year — examines cases of child fatalities, near fatalities and incidents of egregious abuse or neglect from 2012.

• California Tax Revenue Yields Multibillion-Dollar Surplus
• Source: Los Angeles Times   |   California   |   May 3, 2013
• After years of budget cuts, and after voters approved Gov. Jerry Brown's tax hike in November, the pressure on the governor will be intense from lawmakers and advocates eager to restore money to programs that were sliced to close deficits.