Survey: State Laws Do Little to Stop Texting While Driving
TODAY'S TAKE: A new survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds that motorists consider texting while driving dangerous, except when they do it themselves.
View ArticleBig Firms Avoid Billions in State Taxes, Study Ffinds
ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: Dozens of profitable Fortune 500 companies paid little or no state corporate income taxes over the last three years, according to a new report that claims states are...
View ArticleShort-Staffed and Budget-Bare, Overwhelmed State Agencies Are Unable to Keep Up
PART ONE OF THREE: States across the country are seeing growing backlogs of work, as shrinking staffs struggle to meet rising demand for some services. From public housing to crime labs, restaurant...
View ArticleReport: Confusion Over 'Homelessness' Can Mean Less Food Aid to Needy
SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: A little-known policy gives extra food stamp benefits to homeless people who live in shelters or pay to stay with a friend. But not all potential recipients know just what the...
View ArticleOvercoming a Backlog: How Texas Conquered a Mountain of Food Stamps Applications
PART THREE OF THREE: Not long ago, Texas was slower than any other state at telling people whether they could receive food stamps. Today, the state ranks near the top. Here's how Texas did it.
View ArticleMore Schools Fail to Meet NCLB Requirements
EDUCATION BEAT: With 39 states planning to apply for waivers from some of the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law, a report finds that 48 percent of schools across the country likely...
View ArticleInfographic: Death Penalty Decline
Fewer people have been sentenced to die in 2011 than in any year since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976. Many states that allow for use of the death penalty use it infrequently, if ever.
View ArticleProposal to Ban Cell Phones While Driving Gets Cool Reception in Some States
TODAY'S TAKE: This week's recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board to ban the use of cell phones while driving has sparked a discussion in the states, though many lawmakers see the...
View ArticleHas State Revenue Recovered? It Depends on the Numbers
TAX AND BUDGET BEAT: By some calculations, state tax revenue is back above pre-recession numbers. By other calculations, it's not.
View ArticleFive Lessons From Overwhelmed Agencies
Last week, Stateline took an in-depth look at what's causing growing backlogs of work at state agencies across the country. Here are five lessons gleaned from dozens of interviews with state officials,...
View ArticleHome Heating Help Slashed by $1 Billion
SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: Some residents of the Northeast will feel a deeper chill this winter as the result of a congressional decision to reduce by more than $1 billion the money sent to states to help...
View ArticleDuncan Wants to See Race to the Top Results
EDUCATION BEAT: More than 20 states have been awarded federal grants in exchange for making education changes in a variety of areas, but not all states have been living up to the promises they made in...
View ArticleReport: State Environmental Enforcement Slips Under EPA's Watch
ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY BEAT: With inconsistent EPA guidance, states have been lax in carrying out federal law governing water, air and hazardous waste, according an inspector general's report.
View Article25 States Have High Child Poverty Rates
SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: While child poverty rates vary dramatically across the states, nationwide, one in five children lives in poverty - even in states that might surprise you.
View ArticleSchedule and Texts of 2012 State of the State Speeches
Full text archives from 2012 Governor's state of the state speeches. Video links also available.
View ArticleHealth Law Explained: The States Gain New Flexibility in Setting Policies
Ever since the Affordable Care Act passed, states have worried that the federal government would set a rigid national standard for health benefits. Now it's clear that won't happen.
View ArticleStates Struggle With National Sex Offender Law
Federal law requires states to impose strict guidelines for registering sex offenders, or risk a financial penalty. But some would rather pay the penalty than bear the costs of revamping their rules.
View ArticleInteractive: Balance of Power
In 2011, Republicans built on their previous state electoral gains. They took complete control of legislatures in Missisippi and Virginia.
View ArticleAfter a Contentious Political Year, Republicans May Moderate Their Approach
PART ONE OF FIVE: With the 2012 election drawing near, Republican leaders in much of the country are sounding less combative on the legislative front than they did in 2011.
View Article2012 State Legislative Calendar
Inside, are the opening and closing dates for each state's 2012 legislative session and which party controls the state legislature.
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