State News articles from January 2006

State News archives from January 2006

Are states ready for the avian flu?(inside story)
January 1, 2006... This promises to be an eventful year. With more than 83 percent of the nation's state legislative seats up for election plus 36 races for governor, Americans will hear a lot about taxes, education and other issues. Perhaps one topic that...

Changes in NCLB performance measurement.(toolbox)(No Child Left Behind Act of 2001)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... State officials' complaints led to the Department of Education's announcement that it will allow up to 10 states to measure how students' scholastic performance progresses over time. This experimental change in the enforcement of the No Child...

CSG releases tool kit on prescription drug benefit.(toolbox)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... A recent poll from USA Today and Gallup indicates that only 37 percent of seniors understand the new prescription drug program at least somewhat and many do not plan to sign up. With that confusion in mind, CSG and the Centers for Medicare and...

U.S. income decline projected if education levels not increased.(state sources)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... New research anticipates that Americans can expect a decrease in personal income over the next 15 years if states do not increase the education levels of their residents. The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education released...

School violence decreases; students' marijuana use increases.(state sources)
January 1, 2006... Incidents of school violence are down by about half, compared to statistics from 10 years ago, but student consumption of alcohol and marijuana has increased since 2000. The U.S. Departments of Justice and Education conducted the study,...

Number of uninsured outgrows spending on health care safety net.(state sources)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... From 2001 to 2004, the number of Americans without insurance increased by 4.6 million and federal safety net spending per uninsured person fell from $546 to $498. The result is an 8.9-percent decline in spending by the federal government per...

Report suggests collaboration for inmate re-entry success.(state sources)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Ninety-seven percent of incarcerated individuals in prisons and nearly every person incarcerated in jails in the United States eventually will be released. Spending on corrections has increased from $9 billion a year in 1982 to $60 billion in...

State grades 2004.(state snapshots)
January 1, 2006... State Grades 2004 Preparation Participation Affordability Alabama D- C F Alaska B- C F Arizona D B+ ...

Tour de force: states reap revenue from $600 billion travel industry.(Cover story)
January 1, 2006... Every state wants to hook visitors contemplating where to spend their hard-earned vacation days, but Missouri decided to do more than just tout its award-winning wineries or the fun of seeing the Cardinals play in St. Louis. The state took...

State insurance oversight at crossroads: few can doubt that state insurance regulation is at a crossroads, where the success of the current system faces challenge from law-makers in Washington, D.C., who claim an interest in "reforming" insurance oversight.(perspective)
January 1, 2006... Federal efforts to pre-empt state authority endanger some of the fundamental goals of state regulation--ensuring that consumers are treated fairly, that they have access to affordable insurance that meets their needs, and that they have timely...

2006 executive officials.
January 1, 2006... 2006 Executive Officials State Governor Alabama Bob Riley (R) Alaska Frank Murkowski (R) American Samoa Togiola Tulafono (D) Arizona Janet Napolitano (D)...

2006 legislative sessions.
January 1, 2006... 2006 Legislative Sessions State Convene Length in days Adjourn Alabama Jan. 10 30 L in 105 C April 24 Alaska Jan. 9 121 C May 9 American Samoa Jan....

Are states ready for the flu? How to find out if your state is prepared for health emergencies such as a pandemic flu.
January 1, 2006... As Americans hear daily media reports about a potential killer flu outbreak, there is growing concern about governments' preparedness to deal with a national health emergency. According to a November 2005 report from the Trust for...

2005 Western Legislative Academy builds skills and institutions.(csg spotlight)
January 1, 2006... When 38 state legislators from the Western region of the Council of State Governments gathered in Colorado Springs November 15-18, they spent three and a half days in an intensive course designed to boost personal legislative skills and build...

MLC officers installed.(csg spotlight)(Midwestern Legislative Conference)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Four state lawmakers have been installed as Midwestern Legislative Conference officers and will lead the nonprofit, nonpartisan association over the next year. Illinois Sen. Donne Trotter will serve as the MLC chair in 2006. A member of...

Bowhay institute deadline March 31.(csg spotlight)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... The deadline to apply for a fellowship with the Bowhay Institute for Legislative leadership Development (BILLD) is March 31. The only training program designed exclusively for Midwestern legislators, BILLD helps newer legislators develop...

Legislative Service Agency directors and fiscal officers receive briefing on federal issues affecting states.(csg spotlight)
January 1, 2006... Legislative Service Agency directors and fiscal officers from the Eastern Regional Conference visited Washington, D.C., in November. In Washington, they had the opportunity to hear from federal officials from the Department of Health and Human...

Gov. Douglas CSG President for 2006: West Virginia Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin to serve as Chair.(The Council of State Governments)
January 1, 2006... Gov. Jim Douglas of Vermont was elected 2006 President of The Council of State Governments at the CSG Annual Trends and Leadership Forum in Wilmington, Delaware.. Gov. Douglas assumed his new office January I, succeeding Gov. Ruth Ann...

Conference calendar.(Council of State Governments)(Calendar)
January 1, 2006... This calendar lists meetings as designated by CSG's This Annual Meeting Committee. For details of a meeting, call the number listed. "CSG/" denotes affiliate organizations of CSG. Visit www.csg.org for updates and more extensive listings. ...

Timeline.(Chronology)
January 1, 2006... Although the federal government tends to get more attention, state officials are often on the front lines of cutting-edge trends and issues. On the other hand, sometimes in the community of state governments, the more things change, the more...