• Kansas to Start Teaching Evolution, Climate Change in Kindergarten
• Source: AP/Kansas City Star   |   Kansas   |   June 12, 2013
• The Kansas school board has approved new multistate science standards for public schools that treat evolution and climate change as key concepts to be taught from kindergarten through the 12th grade.
• 2 Comments

• Thousands Evacuated as Wildfire Burns Through Colorado
• Source: CNN   |   Colorado   |   June 12, 2013
• More than 3,600 people were evacuated as a wildfire in east central Colorado burned quickly through dry timber Tuesday.

• Tea Party Group Threatens Support for Gov. Snyder over Medicaid Expansion
• Source: Detroit Free Press   |   Michigan   |   June 12, 2013
• A coalition of tea party groups sent an open letter to Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday, saying he risks losing their support for re-election for his embrace of Medicaid expansion as part of the federal Affordable Care Act.

• Transportation Funding Added to Texas' Special Session Agenda
• BY: The Texas Tribune   |   Texas   |   June 11, 2013
• Gov. Rick Perry has asked the legislature to consider the funding of transportation infrastructure projects during their current special session.

• Statewide Workplace Smoking Ban Fails in Texas
• BY: The Texas Tribune   |   Texas   |   June 11, 2013
• For a fourth consecutive legislative session, a proposed statewide ban on smoking in public workplaces fell short, as critics argued that such a ban could unconstitutionally curtail businesses’ freedom.
• 2 Comments

• California Budget Deal a Victory for Governor
• BY: McClatchy News   |   California   |   June 11, 2013
• Gov. Jerry Brown and top lawmakers have reached agreement on some of the most contentious issues in the state budget, granting the governor significant victories on the redistribution of school money and expectations of revenue.

• Colorado Asks Judge to Strike Down New Limits to Marijuana-Magazine Sales
• Source: Denver Post   |   Colorado   |   June 11, 2013
• The law says magazines about marijuana must be sold behind the counter at stores where people under 21 are allowed to enter. On Monday, Lawyers for the state joined attorneys for marijuana-themed magazines and booksellers and filed a joint request for an order declaring the law unconstitutional.

• Mississippi's Entire Medicaid Program at Stake in Expansion Debate
• Source: Politico   |   Mississippi   |   June 11, 2013
• Numerous states have battled over expanding Medicaid under Obamacare. But in Mississippi, it’s playing out in a way that threatens the entire program, not just the 300,000 who could get covered if the state expanded.

• Medicaid-Expansion Defeat Sets Up Showdown in Arizona House
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   June 11, 2013
• The Arizona House could consider Medicaid expansion as early as today, less than 24 hours after Republicans in a key committee defeated Gov. Jan Brewer’s top legislative priority.

• Poll: Booker Leads Democratic Primary Field for New Jersey Senate Seat
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   June 11, 2013
• The Rutgers-Eagleton survey found that more than half of New Jersey voters have a positive opinion of Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

• Washington State May Restrict Sales Tax Exemption for Out-of-Staters
• Source: Oregonian   |   Northwest   |   June 11, 2013
• A bill that passed the Washington House and is now in the Senate would require Oregon customers -- as well as those from Alaska, Montana and other states that shun the sales tax -- to pay full tax on all their purchases. Under the proposal, they could eventually get a refund by sending a form to the state.

• Cuomo Bill Eyes Public-Financed Elections
• Source: Albany Times-Union   |   New Jersey   |   June 11, 2013
• With just seven days left in the legislative session, Gov. Andrew Cuomo will introduce a bill calling for public financing of elections and limits on "soft-money" donations to political parties.

• Ex-White House Chief of Staff Forms Committee to Challenge Illinois Governor
• Source: Chicago Tribune   |   Illinois   |   June 11, 2013
• Former White House chief of staff Bill Daley plans to announce Tuesday that he's forming an exploratory committee as he weighs a Democratic primary challenge to Gov. Pat Quinn.

• Massachusetts Considers Raising Its Minimum Wage
• Source: Boston Globe   |   Massachusetts   |   June 11, 2013
• Massachusetts legislators are considering a substantial increase in the state minimum wage for the first time in four years, setting up a showdown between advocates backing low-wage earners and business activists, both still struggling from the slow economy.

• EPA Report: $384B Needed to Improve U.S. Water Infrastructure
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Nation   |   June 10, 2013
• California, New York and Texas are in need of billions to fix aging water systems over the next two decades, according to a federal survey that placed them at the top of a national list of water infrastructure needs.

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Comments

• 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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