In the aftermath of 9-11, states are taking definitive steps to tighten up how and to whom driver's licenses are issued.

Worried about a repeat of California's rolling blackouts, the feds have pushed the states to create new super-grids.

An election year is a notoriously awkward time to push contentious legislation. Why irritate powerful special interests--let alone some portion of the electorate--when your colleagues want everything to be as calm as possible?

When people think about Montana, "consensus" isn't the first idea that pops into their heads. "Conflict" would be more like it. The history of Big Sky Country is filled with epic confrontations between farmers and ranchers, miners and copper companies, environmentalists and property owners.

When states invest in IT, potent forces operating just below the surface of the technology itself usually fuel the decision.