• California DNA Law Still Faces Challenges After U.S. Supreme Court Ruling
• Source: Los Angeles Times   |   California   |   June 4, 2013
• Monday's ruling protected California's right to collect DNA during arrests, but civil libertarians said they would continue to challenge the California program as overly broad. Challenges of the California program are pending in the California Supreme Court and the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Police Dogs Not Sniffing for Marijuana Anymore Where It's Legal
• Source: AP/Seattle Times   |   Washington state   |   June 4, 2013
• The newest drug-sniffing dog on a police force in Washington state is one of a few that are not trained to point out pot during searches. Other police departments are considering or in the midst of re-training their dogs to ignore pot as well, part of the new reality in a state where voters last fall legalized marijuana use.

• D.C. Officials at Odds with Carefirst over Health Exchange
• Source: Washington Post   |   District of Columbia   |   June 4, 2013
• The city accused CareFirst -- the city’s dominant private health insurer -- of drastically cutting the number of small-business plans it will offer on the insurance exchange.

• Education Reforms Become Iowa Law
• Source: Des Moines Register   |   Iowa   |   June 4, 2013
• Gov. Terry Branstad called the education reform bill he signed into law Monday “a turning point in Iowa history,” but it lacks many of the provisions included in the administration’s initial pitch for improved schools.

• U.S. Supreme Court: Police Can Take Post-Arrest DNA Samples
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Nation   |   June 3, 2013
• More than half of the states now require a DNA mouth swab when people are charged with a serious crime, and many of the others were awaiting a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of the practice.

• Boston Fire Chief Resigns Amid Bombing Bombings Controversy
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Boston   |   June 3, 2013
• Steve Abraira has come under fire from his underlings after he refused to take charge at the Boston Marathon bombing scene.

• Bankrupt Insurance Companies Cost Florida Taxpayers
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Florida   |   June 3, 2013
• Despite Florida having no major hurricanes in the last seven years, one-third of the insurance companies that have taken over policies previously held by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. have gone belly up -- and cost taxpayers $400 million.

• Teacher Evaluations Extending to Art, Gym Teachers in New York
• Source: New York Times   |   New York   |   June 3, 2013
• A new system for evaluating educators, announced by the state on Saturday, will reshape how teachers are hired and fired in the city. It will also have a profound effect on students, who will take part in a series of new exams designed to help administrators grade teachers in specialized subjects.

• Tennessee Schools Not Taking Advantage of New Law Allowing Armed Teachers
• Source: Tennessean   |   Tennessee   |   June 3, 2013
• Education officials from all over the state are saying they don’t anticipate using the law, and many are adamant that the proposal won’t come up in their community.
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• More Law Enforcement Agencies Using Bikes in Iowa
• Source: Des Moines Register   |   Iowa   |   June 3, 2013
• Patrol cars are fast and convenient, but in some cases pedal power is more discreet and economical, Iowa law enforcement officials say.

• Moody's Warns Against Bills Awaiting Iowa Governor's Signature
• Source: Des Moines Register   |   Iowa   |   June 3, 2013
• Two pieces of new, high-profile legislation approved by the Iowa Legislature last month could result in downgraded credit ratings and higher borrowing costs in the years to come for the state’s cities and universities, the credit-rating agency Moody’s warned last week.

• Local Governments Participate in National Day of Civic Hacking
• BY: Government Technology   |   Nation   |   May 31, 2013
• This weekend 95 affiliated events across the country will be a part of National Day of Civic Hacking, which is aimed at advancing the principles of transparency, participation and collaboration with regards to government and its use of technology.

• Recall Effort Against Arizona Sheriff Arpaio Fails
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   May 31, 2013
• Organizers fell short Thursday in gathering the required number of valid signatures to recall Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was recently found guilty by the courts of engaging in racial profiling.

• Massachusetts Sues Feds over Fishing Cuts
• Source: Boston Globe   |   Massachusetts   |   May 31, 2013
• Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has filed a lawsuit against federal regulators, alleging that new rules reducing the number of ground-feeding fish that can be caught for the rest of the year will be a “death sentence” for the industry.

• Boston Fire Chief Threatens to Sue Staff in Wake of Bombings
• Source: Boston Globe   |   Boston   |   May 31, 2013
• Embattled Boston Fire Chief Steve E. Abraira, facing sharp criticism from his command staff over his management style and response to the Boston Marathon bombings, is threatening to sue his deputy chiefs if they continue launching what his lawyer claims are “defamatory” attacks.

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Comments

• Water Fluoridation Debate Divides Portland, Oregon
  
  "Portland only advocates for rich white people things, like bike lanes...."
• Chicago Police Tactics Reverse Rising Homicide Rate
  
  "Sorry Doc but you're short on facts (again). Its not about gun control laws, its about..."
• Detroit EM Proposes End to Retirees' Health Coverage
  
  "This was so predictable.
  It won't end here this will spread
  across the Country. No more..."
• California School Suspensions Seen as Caused by 'Defiance'
  
  "I find it interesting that if a person makes too much noise, or is disruptive in a movie..."
• Portland Voters Reject Fluoridation for the 4th Time Since 1956
  
  "Biking is the best medicine?
  
  Or, it just might knock out all your teeth?
  
  Or, no fluoride..."