• At Immigration Hearing, Mayor Julian Castro Spars with House Committee
• BY: J.B. Wogan   |   Nation   |   February 6, 2013
• In its first hearing of 2013 on immigration reform, Republicans on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee sparred with San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro over the merits of comprehensive immigration reform.
• 3 Comments

• Some Illegal Immigrants to Qualify for Driver's Licenses in Michigan
• Source: Detroit News   |   Michigan   |   February 4, 2013
• After the federal government clarified language on deferred action two weeks ago, the state reversed itself and agreed to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants who were brought into the country as children.

• Cuomo Hopes to Buy Homes Wrecked by Sandy But Not Rebuild
• Source: New York Times   |   New York   |   February 4, 2013
• Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is proposing to spend as much as $400 million to purchase homes wrecked by Hurricane Sandy, have them demolished and then preserve the flood-prone land permanently, as undeveloped coastline.

• Lessons from Immigration Reform in 1986
• Source: Washington Post   |   Nation   |   February 4, 2013
• As President Obama and lawmakers from both parties begin to take their first tentative steps toward again rewriting the nation’s immigration laws, opponents warn that they are repeating the mistakes of the 1986 act, which failed to solve the problems that it set out to address.

• Post-Disaster New Zealand Finds Use for Vacant Spaces
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   February 2013
• A town destroyed by two earthquakes shows U.S. states and cities what they can do with areas decimated by natural disasters.

• Arizona Gov. Brewer Not Sold on Bipartisan Immigration Plan
• Source: East Valley Tribune   |   Arizona   |   January 30, 2013
• Gov. Jan Brewer said she is glad the plan unveiled includes a focus on border security, but that was promised before.

• The 4 Points of Senators' Bipartisan Immigration Plan
• Source: USA Today   |   Nation   |   January 29, 2013
• As President Obama prepares to lay out his immigration plan during a speech in Las Vegas on Tuesday, a group of bipartisan senators has reached agreement on a framework to overhaul the nation's immigration system.

• Sandy Aid Package Passes Congress, Obama to Sign it
• Source: AP/Newark Star-Ledger   |   Nation   |   January 29, 2013
• President Barack Obama said he'll sign a $50.5 billion emergency relief measure for Superstorm Sandy victims as soon as it lands on his desk.

• Illegal Immigrant Driver's Licenses to be Available as Illinois Gov. Quinn Signs Bill
• Source: Chicago Tribune   |   Illinois   |   January 28, 2013
• Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill into law Sunday allowing illegal immigrants to get temporary driver's licenses, but it will be at least another 10 months before they'll start being issued. The permits will vary from traditional licenses in several ways.
• 2 Comments

• Bipartisan Immigration Reform Plan to be Unveiled by U.S. Senators
• Source: Washington Post   |   Nation   |   January 28, 2013
• A key group of senators from both parties will unveil the framework of a broad overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws, a bipartisan push that would have been unimaginable just months ago on one of the country’s most emotionally divisive issues.

• New Mexico Governor Renews Fight to Repeal Immigrant-License Law
• BY: Stateline   |   New Mexico   |   January 25, 2013
• New Mexico is one of two states that issues unrestricted licenses to undocumented immigrants.
• 1 Comments

• Jersey Shore Residents Forced to Raise Homes to Ward Against Another Sandy
• Source: Philadelphia Inquirer   |   New Jersey   |   January 25, 2013
• Gov. Christie announced that the state would adopt the Federal Emergency Management Agency's new floodplain maps, which are likely to face challenges from local officials.

• States Save Millions Helping Veterans Get Federal Aid
• BY: Government Technology   |   Nation   |   January 24, 2013
• Using an existing reporting tool, states are moving vets off Medicaid rolls by connecting them to better federal benefits they may not have known about.
• 3 Comments

• After Federal Order, Iowa DOT Reverses Immigrant License Decision
• Source: Des Moines Register   |   Iowa   |   January 24, 2013
• The agency had angered immigration activists late last month by determining that state law prohibited it from issuing licenses to people granted “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival Status” by President Barack Obama’s administration.

• This is the Year for Immigrant Driver's Licenses, Say California Advocates
• Source: Sacramento Bee   |   California   |   January 23, 2013
• For fourteen years, proponents have pushed bills unsuccessfully to grant driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants. But a changing political climate gives this year's measure a fighting chance to become state law, supporters say.