• 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.

• Illinois Lawmakers Fail to Pass Pension Reform, Gay Marriage Bills
• Source: Chicago Tribune   |   Illinois   |   June 3, 2013
• But lawmakers did pass measures to expand Medicaid, make Illinois the last state to allow concealed carry, and legalize medical marijuana.

• States' Mental Health Overhaul Concern Advocates
• Source: Politico   |   Nation   |   June 3, 2013
• There’s not much controversy among advocates when it comes to restoring funding that states had slashed during the economic lean years. But changing policies on involuntary commitment, or requiring therapists to report potentially dangerous patients, are stirring fears that well-intentioned policies could increase stigma and deter the very people who most need treatment from getting it.

• Major Democratic Donors Flock to Gov. Christie
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   June 3, 2013
• The checks are flying into the Republican governor’s war chest from all sorts of unlikely places.

• 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.
• 1 Comments

• Being Communist no Longer Legal Ground for Firing People in Nevada
• Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal   |   Nevada   |   June 3, 2013
• Gov. Brian Sandoval on Wednesday signed Senate Bill 506, which removes archaic language from a 1950s law passed during the Cold War era that allowed Nevada employees to fire anyone they expected might be a communist.

• Illinois Treasurer Rutherford Joins Governor's Race
• Source: Chicago Tribune   |   Illinois   |   June 3, 2013
• State Treasurer Dan Rutherford kicked off a campaign for the 2014 Republican governor nomination Sunday, touting himself as the only statewide officeholder among the GOP field.

• 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.

• Florida Enacts Laws to Aid Human Trafficking Victims
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Florida   |   May 31, 2013
• Gov. Rick Scott signed into law two bills aimed at helping victims of sex trafficking clear their names for crimes like drug use or prostitution that are tied to their forced servitude.

• California Assembly Approves Minimum Wage Increase
• BY: McClatchy News   |   California   |   May 31, 2013
• The California Assembly passed a bill to raise California's minimum wage from $8 to $9.25 an hour over the next three years. The bill also requires future increases to keep pace with inflation
• 1 Comments

• Ex-Microsoft Exec Plans to Create 1st U.S. Marijuana Brand
• Source: Reuters   |   Nation   |   May 31, 2013
• A former Microsoft executive plans to create the first U.S. national marijuana brand and said he was kicking off his business by acquiring medical pot dispensaries in three U.S. states.

• 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.

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• Supreme Court to Reexamine Church-State Separation at Government Meetings
  
  "There is everything in the constituation that says laws may not be written such that your..."
• Texas Enacts Unemployment Drug-Testing Law
  
  "How about testing for alcohol too?
  How about testing for smoking too? People on unemployment..."
• Report: U.S. Teacher Training System is Broken
  
  "The education establishment is an industry unto itself. Between insular teacher "training&quot..."
• Maine Gov. LePage Vetoes Medicaid Expansion Bill
  
  "It's frustrating when politicians (and demagogues)avoid explaining their rationale. So,..."
• Bill to Keep Dead, Imprisoned People Off Welfare Becomes Michigan Law
  
  "Snyder should also make sure to sign a law restricting dead people from getting driver's..."

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