During the 2003 legislative session, 16 states had to make a choice: join the rest of the country and comply with a federal requirement to set a .08 blood alcohol content standard for drunk driving or lose a substantial amount of federal highway money ["Slow to Toe the DUI Line," May 2003].

States and cities are focusing on ways to lower the high cost of keeping cars at the ready.

Colorado has set up a voucher program for higher ed. The new law also creates the nation's first fee-for-service system, in which colleges will contract with the state to provide various academic programs.

Building housing downtown is the latest trend, but it's hardly the return to the past that people think it is.