• California Launches New Program to Revamp Parks
• BY: McClatchy News   |   California   |   June 5, 2013
• California officials have launched a new program called Parks Forward to analyze and overhaul the state parks system. It will be led by a volunteer commission.

• Bill to Give Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants' Kids in Fla. Vetoed
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Florida   |   June 5, 2013
• Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would have allowed children of undocumented immigrants to get temporary Florida driver’s licenses, a decision that may bolster his standing among immigration hard-liners but could hurt him among Hispanic voters.

• Jefferson County Reaches Deal to End Biggest U.S. Municipal Bankruptcy
• Source: Bloomberg News   |   Jefferson County, Ala.   |   June 5, 2013
• Jefferson County, Alabama, reached an agreement to pay its largest creditors $1.84 billion, or 60 percent of what they’re owed.

• Violent Crime Rises for 1st Time Since 2006
• Source: New York Times   |   Nation   |   June 5, 2013
• Violent crime rose in the United States in 2012 for the first time in six years, led by an increase in major crimes in large cities, according to preliminary data released Monday by the F.B.I.
• 2 Comments

• Blacks 4 Times as Likely to be Arrested for Marijuana
• Source: New York Times   |   Nation   |   June 5, 2013
• Black Americans were nearly four times as likely as whites to be arrested on charges of marijuana possession in 2010, even though the two groups used the drug at similar rates, according to new federal data.

• Christie Calls Special Election for Lautenberg's Senate Seat
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   June 5, 2013
• Gov. Chris Christie called for a special election in October to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Frank Lautenberg, spurring an all-out sprint for the office and drawing fire from Democrats.

• Revived NCLB Bill Gives States More Options
• Source: Huffington Post   |   Nation   |   June 5, 2013
• On Tuesday, Sen. Tom Harkin, the retiring chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released a new 1,150-page bill to update No Child Left Behind Act.

• Gun Lobbying Restricted under New Kansas Law
• Source: Sedgwick County Post   |   Kansas   |   June 5, 2013
• Gov. Sam Brownback signed legislation Friday to restrict the use of state tax dollars to promote or oppose gun control policies, a measure championed by gun-rights supporters but seen by critics as endangering free-speech rights.

• Newtown Privacy Bill Easily Passes Connecticut Senate, House
• Source: Hartford Courant   |   Connecticut   |   June 5, 2013
• The state Senate and House, after short debates, voted overwhelmingly early Wednesday to approve a bill blocking public disclosure of photos of homicide victims and some other records in reaction to the Newtown school massacre.

• Oregon's Foreclosure Mediation Program Expanded
• Source: Oregonian   |   Oregon   |   June 5, 2013
• Gov. John Kitzhaber on Tuesday signed a bill expanding state's foreclosure mediation program, which had been largely bypassed by mortgage lenders.

• Municipally Owned Bridges in Worse Condition Than State-Owned Ones
• BY: Mike Maciag   |   Nation   |   June 4, 2013
• Bridges localities own are more than twice as likely to be considered structurally deficient as those on state roads. View detailed bridge inspection data for your state.
• 1 Comments

• Michigan Governor Declares Financial Emergency in Hamtramck
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Michigan   |   June 4, 2013
• Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder declared a financial emergency Monday in Hamtramck, a step that could lead to the appointment of an emergency manager.

• Wind Industry Expands in Midwestern States
• BY: Stateline   |   Nation   |   June 4, 2013
• Despite the still uncertain long-term fate of the wind energy tax credit, the industry has plans to develop more turbines in states like Iowa and Nebraska.

• Minnesota to Use $300 Million Tax Windfall for Schools, Reserves
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Minnesota   |   June 4, 2013
• Stronger-than-expected tax collections have left the state with an extra $300 million which the state will use to fully replenish its reserves and pay down money it still owes local school districts.

• Emergency Services Workers Face Budget Cuts, Pay Disparity
• BY: Stateline   |   Nation   |   June 4, 2013
• EMTs and paramedics are governed by a haphazard patchwork of rules that vary widely by city and state and in tough economic times, emergency services often are on the chopping block.
• 2 Comments

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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..."
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  "How about testing for alcohol too?
  How about testing for smoking too? People on unemployment..."
• Report: U.S. Teacher Training System is Broken
  
  "What part does a local school board play into all this? These are local people who also..."
• Maine Gov. LePage Vetoes Medicaid Expansion Bill
  
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