• Penn State Sanctions over Sandusky Prompt Gov. Corbett to Sue NCAA
• Source: Philadelphia Inquirer   |   Pennsylvania   |   January 2, 2013
• Gov. Corbett is expected to file a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the NCAA over what he contends are illegal sanctions that the organization imposed on Pennsylvania State University following the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal.

• Wisconsin Gov. Walker Has Yet to Issue Pardons or Set Up Pardon Board
• Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel   |   AP/Wisconsin   |   January 2, 2013
• Gov. Scott Walker's lack of action stands in stark contrast to his predecessor.

• Indiana to Appeal Ruling on Student Counts
• Source: AP/Indianapolis Star   |   Indiana   |   January 2, 2013
• The Indiana Department of Education plans to appeal a court ruling in which it was found to have improperly counted students.

• Top 10 Legislative Issues to Watch in 2013
• BY: Dylan Scott,Ryan Holeywell   |   January 2013
• Here are 10 of the biggest topics states will tackle in the year ahead.
• 2 Comments

• Supreme Court Refuses to Block Health Law's Contraception Mandate
• Source: The Hill   |   Nation   |   December 27, 2012
• The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to block the Obama administration's contraception mandate from taking effect.
• 2 Comments

• State Education Funding On Trial, Again
• BY: Stateline   |   Nation   |   December 21, 2012
• Ten states have school finance challenges working their way through the courts, and four other states recently wrapped up legal challenges. But school-funding advocates have found that winning a lawsuit doesn’t necessarily improve the quality of education.
• 1 Comments

• Gun Control Debate Heating up in Statehouses
• Source: AP/ABC News   |   Nation   |   December 21, 2012
• As President Barack Obama urges tighter federal gun laws, state legislators around the country have responded to the Connecticut school shooting with a flurry of their own ideas that are likely to produce fights over gun control in their upcoming sessions.

• Washington Failing to Fund Education Enough, Rules State Supreme Court
• Source: AP/Seattle Times   |   Washington state   |   December 21, 2012
• The high court told lawmakers they must have something better to report after they finish their work in spring 2013.

• CDC: Gun-Violence Research Restricted by Politics
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Georgia   |   December 20, 2012
• At one time, the Centers for Disease Control was dedicated to addressing gun violence as a matter of public health. But gun rights advocates accused the CDC of practicing politics rather than science, and Congress stripped the agency of funding for gun-related research.

• Medical Marijuana Battle Heads to Court
• Source: Los Angeles Times   |   California   |   December 20, 2012
• A showdown over the fate of the country's largest medical marijuana dispensary heads to federal court, and the outcome could hint at what lies ahead as a growing number of states opt for legalization.

• As Obama Creates Gun Task Force, a Plethora of Proposals Already Introduced
• Source: Roll Call   |   Nation   |   December 20, 2012
• President Barack Obama called for quick action on proposals to prevent gun violence, but congressional Democrats have already offered numerous ideas since the Connecticut school shooting last week.
• 1 Comments

• Seattle Police Dept. Relaxes Hiring Policy on Pot Use
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Seattle   |   December 19, 2012
• The Seattle Police Department said that it will relax its hiring standards for officers in light of Washington's new marijuana-legalization law -- applicants will now be disqualified for past pot use within one year instead of three years.

• Michigan Gov. Snyder Vetoes Bill That Would Have Allowed Guns in Schools
• Source: Detroit Free Press   |   Michigan   |   December 19, 2012
• In his veto letter, Gov. Rick Snyder said the bill had a fatal loophole that didn't allow for those public institutions to opt out of the new legislation and prohibit weapons from their buildings.
• 1 Comments

• Gas Industry Sues Colorado City over Fracking Ban
• Source: Denver Post   |   Longmont, Colo.   |   December 19, 2012
• The oil and gas industry hit Longmont with a lawsuit to kill voters' recent ban on fracking within city limits.

• Georgia Debuts New Tax Court
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Georgia   |   December 18, 2012
• Created last year by the Legislature, the specialized court is intended to resolve tax disputes in a more efficient and predictable manner.