State News articles from November 2004

State News archives from November 2004

Recognizing state innovations.(inside story)
November 1, 2004... Innovations grow from meeting challenges and if this year's CSG Innovations Awards winners are any indication, states are seizing the chance to turn those challenges into opportunities. This month we present CSG's eight national winners of...

Florida looks to cut excess credit hours to save money.(tool box)
November 1, 2004... Students in Florida's state university system are taking more classes than they need for graduation and it's costing the state millions of dollars. That's the conclusion of a report released this summer by the Office of Program Policy Analysis...

Survey shows wariness of online pharmacies.(tool box)
November 1, 2004... Lawmakers in state capitols across the country are debating prescription drugs. Whether they are considering importation plans or trying to cut the costs of state health plans, few topics occupy more time on the front burner. As officials...

Top 10 states for business.(state sources)
November 1, 2004... A new study by the Tax Foundation ranks each state's tax system based on how business-friendly it is. The goal of the State Business Tax Climate Index, according to a press release, is "to focus lawmakers on good-tax fundamentals in their...

Tool for trends trackers.(state sources)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... How does your state compare to other states and to the national average? Morgan Quinto Press has released the first edition of State Trends, an annual publication designed to track trends in crime, K-12 education, economy, health,...

K-12 still largest spending category, Medicaid is close second.(state sources)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The National Association of State Budget Officers released its annual report on state spending in October. According to the 2003 State Expenditure Report, states spent a total of $1.1 trillion in fiscal 2003, a 4.5 percent increase from the...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2004... The "State Snapshots" department in the October 2004 issue of State News incorrectly listed the voting statistics for Delaware's 2000 gubernatorial election. The correct numbers are Republican--117,595 votes (35.31 percent), Democrat--145,829...

Breaking down barriers between law enforcement and immigrants.(trends alert)
November 1, 2004... Each year, thousands of people emigrate to the United States to start new lives. However, they may not have a clear understanding of American federal, state and local laws. This lack of knowledge, combined with cultural and linguistic...

Summary of federal government expenditure, by state and outlying area: FY 2003.(state snapshots)(Illustration)
November 1, 2004... Summary of Federal Government Expenditure, by State and Outlying Area: FY 2003 in millions of dollars State and Retirement and Other direct outlying area Total disability ...

Saving our oceans: federal commission recommends state involvement in protecting coastal waters.(Cover Story)
November 1, 2004... IN THEIR FURY, oceans can topple homes, flood streets and erode beachfronts. Despite all their physical power, however, oceans are a fragile resource that is in danger, according to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. The commission,...

Consumption concerns: state advisories against eating mercury-laden fish are on the rise.
November 1, 2004... THE MERCURY IS rising--or more accurately, the number of state fish consumption advisories related to mercury rose this past year. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's latest comprehensive analysis of state fish consumption...

CSG honors winners: despite budget crunch, states continue to find innovative solutions to challenges.(2004 Innovations Awards Program)(Counsil of State Government)
November 1, 2004... ALTHOUGH THE FISCAL climate has begun to improve, state governments nationwide still face severe challenges and difficult choices. After nearly four years of scrambling to balance their budgets, however, state officials continue to come up with...

Trends to watch in 2005.(state trends)(Counsil of State Government)
November 1, 2004... PART OF The Council of State Governments' mission is to interpret changing national and international conditions to prepare state leaders for the future. To further that goal, members of CSG's task forces track current and emerging trends and...

CSG Associates recognized for critical trends work.(CSG spotlight)(Counsil of State Government)
November 1, 2004... Excellence and trends in private sector/state government relationships were the focus of the awards luncheon at CSG's Annual State Trends and Leadership Forum in Anchorage, Alaska September 28. Delaware Governor and incoming CSG President Ruth...

Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership class of 2004.(CSG spotlight)
November 1, 2004... Thirty-six lawmakers from the 11 member states and three Canadian affiliate members of the Midwestern Legislative Conference graduated in August from the 10th annual Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development. The five-day...

CSG Governing Board endorses resolutions.(CSG spotlight)(Counsil of State Government)
November 1, 2004... On September 29, CSG's Governing Board passed the following resolutions at the 2004 State Trends and Leadership Forum. For the full text of the resolutions, visit www.csg.org (keyword: resolutions). Resolution on Animal Guardianship and...

Western legislators learn about "dealing with an angry public".(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... At their annual continuing education seminar held this year at the CSG-WEST/CSG national annual meetings in Anchorage, Alaska September 25-29, alumni of the Western Legislative Academy hosted an afternoon training session on media strategies...

New National Center for Interstate Compacts.(CSG spotlight)
November 1, 2004... Today, states are facing issues that are not confined to geographical boundaries or jurisdictional lines. As we become more integrated socially, culturally and economically, the number of these issues will only increase. Interstate compacts may...

New Agricultural Trade database helps exporters.(CSG spotlight)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... CSG's new online Agricultural Trade and Exports database helps simplify the complexities of international trade. Users can access information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Commerce, among others, to identify the documentation and...

Conference calendar.(Calendar)
November 1, 2004... This calendar lists meetings as designated by CSG's 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. Other...

Timeline.
November 1, 2004... 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...