Gambling revenue helps fill state coffers the easy way, but reliance on it makes for lousy public policy.

Atlanta's getting back into the water business. After contracting with United Water four years ago to take over the operations and maintenance of its water and sewer systems, the city has changed its mind.

So far, it's Maine, zero; the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, two. The state's two attempts to pressure drug companies to extend lower Medicaid prices for medications to certain non-Medicaid recipients have been turned back by the courts.

Lawmakers are weighing ideas to fight obesity in children.

That reverberating vroom-vroom sound they've been hearing up in Maine may soon be reduced to a purr.