A potential corridor for passenger trains between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area has become part of a federal initiative to modernize rail networks and develop high-speed service between cities. But that announcement may doom a 30-year-old proposal to build a magnetic levitation, or "maglev," train from Anaheim to Las Vegas if U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada gets his way.

State and local-government police and firefighter unions filed twin class-action lawsuits against the state, arguing that a new law designed to curb pension abuse illegally strips them of benefits guaranteed by the state constitution and federal law. Public-safety employees have been rushing to retire before the new rules took effect.

At least 62 convicted sex offenders were erroneously released from Detroit prisons last week and were on the loose for days before the mistake was noticed and they were taken back into custody. The prisoners had served their minimum sentences and had just completed treatment programs.

The county council approved an ordinance that prohibits businesses and organizations from discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender identity, exempting religious, charitable and fraternal organizations. The ordinance also establishes a seven-member commission to investigate discrimination allegations.

Nearly every school system in Florida has eviscerated or eliminated summer school this year, and officials are reporting sweeping cuts in states from North Carolina and Delaware to California and Washington. The federal stimulus law is channeling $100 billion to public education, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan has repeatedly urged states and districts to spend part it to keep schools open this summer.

County Executive Anthony H. Griffin suggested that it might be time for his urbanizing community to become a full-fledged city, a move that would require a referendum and approval by the legislature. Griffin told the board of supervisors that city status would allow Fairfax greater autonomy over taxes and transportation. With 1 million residents, a new Fairfax City would dwarf the nearby District of Columbia.

Spurred by religious, labor and immigrant groups, the city council overwhelmingly passed a resolution to add two of the most important Muslim holy days to the public schools’ holiday calendar. But Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who has the final say to designate the days off, has said he is resolutely opposed to the idea.

The sale of $306 million in bonds to pay for a new baseball stadium for the Florida Marlins fell short, prompting a last-minute pledge by the Marlins to cover the $6.2 million difference. County Manager George Burgess said a portion of the bonds fetched a higher-than-expected interest rate, reducing the proceeds to the county.

As the economic crisis drags on, city leaders around the country say fireworks are a luxury they can no longer afford. Big and small, urban and rural, the skies will remain dark over at least four dozen communities come July 4. The news has sparked protests among residents who long to preserve a tradition that dates to 1777.

The White House is mounting a summer-long effort to help tailor the administration's agenda to small-town America. President Obama announced a rural tour that will see Cabinet secretaries fan out across the country to discuss issues including broadband deployment, rural health, economic development and agriculture.