• Kansas Enacts Law to Drug Test Welfare Recipients
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Kansas   |   April 17, 2013
• One of dozens of legislatures considering such bills this year, Kansas has joined the few states that require some recipients of public aid to take drug tests. Florida's law, meanwhile, has been halted by the court.
• 1 Comments

• How Many Clicks Does it Take to Get to State Tax Info Online?
• BY: Government Technology   |   Nation   |   April 16, 2013
• A tax-related research body took a look at how prominently states featured key tax data on their websites.

• Report Urges Texas to Divert Prostitutes from Jail
• BY: The Texas Tribune   |   Texas   |   April 16, 2013
• A new report shows that reducing penalties for prostitution and sending more defendants to diversion programs would decrease the practice and save the state money. A bill that would follow that recommendation is under consideration by the legislature.

• After Boston Marathon Bombings, Cities Beef Up Security Nationwide
• Source: AP/Boston Globe   |   Nation   |   April 16, 2013
• Police in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Detroit, San Diego and Las Vegas monitored landmarks, government buildings, transit hubs and sporting events. Meanwhile, New York City deployed its critical response teams, and California activated its statewide threat assessment system.
• 4 Comments

• Court's Refusal to Hear Gun Case Could Lead to Strict Concealed-Carry Limits in Illinois
• Source: Chicago Tribune   |   Illinois   |   April 16, 2013
• Gov. Pat Quinn and Attorney General Lisa Madigan both suggested that the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to turn down an appeal of New York's tough gun law could boost Illinois lawmakers' attempts to set strict limits on who gets to carry concealed weapons.

• Minnesota Lawmakers to See 1st Pay Raise in 15 Years
• Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune   |   Minnesota   |   April 16, 2013
• The Minnesota Senate is set to approve salary increases for legislators and the governor, who have had their pay frozen since 1999.
• 3 Comments

• Judge Blocks Closure of Only Abortion Clinic in Mississippi
• Source: Clarion-Ledger   |   Mississippi   |   April 16, 2013
• The ruling prevents the state from closing the clinic while it has a federal lawsuit pending to challenge a 2012 law requiring the clinic’s physicians to have hospital privileges.

• Bill to Repeal City-Run School District Ban Sent to Tennessee Governor
• Source: Tennessean   |   Tennessee   |   April 16, 2013
• A bill headed to the governor's desk would let Tennessee cities once again set up their own districts, provided they meet size requirements and have been approved by local voters.

• Oregon Gov. Kitzhaber Wants Public Buy-In for Any Sales Tax Reform
• Source: Oregonian   |   Oregon   |   April 16, 2013
• The governor wants to find out where the public thinks the tax code is broken and tailor a new one to fix it.

• Arizona Gov. Brewer's Budget Axes Public-Defender Funds
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   April 16, 2013
• Gov. Jan Brewer’s budget proposal would permanently end state aid to indigent defendants while keeping the prosecutors’ portion of the program in place.
• 2 Comments

• Ohio's Oil Dream Fades as Drillers Pack Up
• Source: Bloomberg   |   Ohio   |   April 16, 2013
• Four of the biggest stakeholders in untapped deposits known as the Utica Shale have put up all or part of their acreage for sale, as prices fall by a third in some cases.

• Supreme Court Declines to Hear Challenge to New York Gun Law
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Nation   |   April 15, 2013
• The Supreme Court declined to hear a Second Amendment challenge to a New York law that strictly limits who can carry a gun in public, leaving states and cities, at least for now, with broad authority to regulate guns outside of homes.

• Say Goodbye to Welfare?
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Pennsylvania   |   April 15, 2013
• Pennsylvania is one of just two states in the nation that still use the word welfare in the name of the massive agency that serves mainly the elderly, disabled, and children.
• 1 Comments

• Unions Seek New Ways to Combat Declining Membership
• BY: Stateline   |   Nation   |   April 15, 2013
• No longer in denial about its dwindling numbers and diminished political power, organized labor unions are exploring new, potentially risky approaches for growing their memberships.
• 6 Comments

• Denver Mayor's Plan to Phase-In Marijuana Unfair, Critics Say
• Source: Denver Post   |   Denver   |   April 15, 2013
• A state task force recommended a one-year phase-in period, but a state committee later reduced it to three months. And now Mayor Michael Hancock says the city should impose a two-year wait.

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• U.S. AG Holder, Gov. Brownback Spar over Kansas' New Gun Law
  
  "RE: your response to me - I understand your confusion. Our tendency to devalue historical..."
• Felons' Voting Rights Could Impact 2012 Election
  
  "well that exulated quickly......"
• Motorcycle Deaths Rise as States Rethink Helmet Laws
  
  "How many more lives would be saved if automobile riders would wear helmets. We are talking..."
• Colorado Becomes 14th State to Offer Undocumented Immigrants In-State Tuition
  
  "Finally, while I do agree with you that people who cheat the system should not be given..."
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