Obama visit to Disney appeals for visitors, voters

Too bad Christmas has passed. Here’s a gift idea for that hard-to-buy-for person on your list:

Bonnie and Clyde’s Tommy gun.

On Saturday, Mayo Auction & Realty of Kansas City will sell a .45-caliber Thompson sub-machine gun along with a 12-gauge shotgun, both supposedly left behind when the infamous duo shot it out with police in April 1933 in Joplin.

The auction will begin at 10 a.m. Jan. 21 at the Mayo Auction gallery at 8253 Wornall Road. Bids also may be placed online.

Interested? Well, get your special government permit — the Tommy gun is fully automatic and fully operational — and bring money. Maybe a bunch of it.

Auctioneer Robert Mayo declined to predict what the Thompson may bring, but safe to say it could go for more than Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow ever got away with in any bank job.

Maybe all of them combined.

Mayo said potential bidders will come from two camps: Guns and history.

First off, guns. The Tommy gun is a Model 1921A, produced in the early 1920s and made famous by law enforcement, military and legendary criminals of the Roaring ’20s and The Great Depression.

John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd blasted away with it as well as the Barrow Gang. With some models capable of firing more than a thousand rounds a minute, it was nicknamed early on the “Chicago typewriter.”

So regardless of past owners, a working Thompson is coveted by collectors, particularly those of fully automatic firearms.

“There are people who do that,” Mayo said.

According to the National Rifle Association, the National Firearms Act of 1934 requires that anyone wishing to own a fully automatic weapon must pay a fee to the IRS and then be approved by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Read more at kansascity.com

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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has now surged ahead of Mitt Romney in the final Rasmussen Reports survey of the South Carolina Republican Primary race with the vote just two days away.

The latest telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary Voters in the state finds Gingrich with 33% support to Romney’s 31%. Two days ago, before the last debate, it was Romney by 14 percentage points.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul now runs third with 15% of the vote, followed by former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum at 11%. Paul’s support is steady while Santorum’s support has dropped five points since Monday. At the beginning of the month, just after Santorum’s strong showing in the Iowa caucuses, he ran second to Romney with 24% of the vote.

Texas Governor Rick Perry continues to run last with two percent (2%) support. He has dropped out of the race today and endorsed Gingrich. One percent (1%) of likely primary voters like some other candidate in the contest, and six percent (6%) remain undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The new findings come following Gingrich’s strong performance in a debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Monday night. Sarah Palin also signaled support for Gingrich which could have a significant impact in South Carolina. Two years ago, her endorsement of Nikki Haley transformed the race for governor. Ironically, now that Haley is governor, she has endorsed Romney while Palin is backing Gingrich for the moment.

The candidates will debate again in South Carolina this evening.

The race for the Republican presidential nomination is now nearly even nationally with Romney still on top with 30% support but Gingrich just three points behind at 27%. Santorum who was running second has dropped to 15%.

Read more at rasmussenreports.com

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Paraphrasing Marianne Gingrich’s account, Mr. Ross said, “He came to her and said I want to stay married to you and still have an affair with Callista.” Marianne said Mr. Gingrich asked her “share” him, Mr. Ross said. That was unacceptable to her and the marriage ended.

Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people seeking unemployment benefits plummeted last week to 352,000, the fewest since April 2008. The decline added to evidence that the job market is strengthening.

Applications fell 50,000, the biggest drop in the seasonally adjusted figure in more than six years, the Labor Department said Thursday. The four-week average, which smooths out fluctuations, dropped to 379,000. That’s the second-lowest such figure in more than three years.

Read more at finance.yahoo.com

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AK: Alaska governor seeks ‘meaningful tax reform’ to boost oil production By Matt Buxton, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Gov. Sean Parnell called on legislators Wednesday to pass “meaningful tax reform” to boost Alaska’s oil production and outlined an aggressive timeline for an in-state natural gas pipeline.

AK: Parnell asks lawmakers for ‘meaningful’ reform  By The Associated Press, Anchorage Daily NewsGov. Sean Parnell is seeking “meaningful” tax reform in this legislative session. It’s a phrase he used often during Wednesday’s State of the State address to lawmakers in Juneau.

AK: Lawmakers react to governor’s address  By The Associated Press, Anchorage Daily NewsAlaska Senate President Gary Stevens says many of Gov. Sean Parnell’s priorities fit with those of his bipartisan coalition.

AR: Commissioner to sit out vote to fill lottery helm  By Michael Wickline, Northwest Arkansas TimesArkansas Lottery Commissioner Bruce Engstrom said Wednesday night that he won’t vote when the nine-member lottery commission picks its next director, after a state lawmaker hinted that two applicants Engstrom has had contact with should withdraw.

AZ: Gun proposal is loaded with blanks  By E.J. Montini, The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)State Sen. Ron Gould is pushing a state law that would allow Arizona citizens with permits to carry concealed weapons on college campuses.

AZ: Arizona school-voucher push is revived  By Pat Kossan, The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)As he has before, Rep. Jack Harper proposed a bill this month that would let voters decide whether to change the Arizona Constitution to permit the use of school vouchers.

AZ: Regulations considered by Congress lead prominent sites to shut down for a day  By J. Craig Anderson and Erin Kelly, The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)Users of several popular websites, including Wikipedia, Reddit and Boing Boing, are likely to find those sites “blacked out” today in protest against proposed federal legislation intended to thwart online piracy.

AZ: Lawmaker seeks ban on selling hookah pipes to those under 18  By Cale Ottens, Arizona Capitol Times (Phoenix)Manning the counter at Herb N’Legends, a north Phoenix smoke shop, Bob Wools said minors come in at least every other day trying to buy hookah pipes. And even though there’s no law against selling them to those under 18, his shop won’t, he said.

AZ: Bill would ban cell phone use by teen drivers with learner’s permits  By Howard Fischer, East Valley TribuneUnable to get a broader ban, state lawmakers moved Wednesday to crack down on cell phone use on one group unable to vote: new teen drivers.

AZ: Bill would require shadowy political groups to list donors  By Ivy Morris, Cronkite News ServiceBacked by Arizona’s secretary of state and attorney general, a lawmaker is pushing to require corporations established to influence elections to disclose where their money comes from.

AZ: Lawmaker — Alert licensing boards in suspect medical pot cases  By Brittany Smith, Cronkite News ServiceA lawmaker wants to make it clear that state officials can notify licensing boards when medical professionals are suspected of improperly recommending marijuana for patients.

AZ: Bill seeks a cap on salary of Commerce Authority leader  By Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Betty Beard, The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)A state lawmaker has introduced a bill that aims to limit the salary of the chief executive officer of the Arizona Commerce Authority, the public-private organization that aims to boost jobs in the state.

AZ: Arizona lawmaker — Elevate Indian Affairs post  By Cecilia Chan, The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)A state lawmaker at the 17th annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day on Tuesday said he aims to raise the profile of Indian issues at the state Capitol.

AZ: Arizona panel OKs legislative, congressional maps  By Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission capped nine months of work Tuesday and approved new congressional and legislative lines that could reshape the state’s political landscape.

CA: Jerry Brown’s defiant State of the State: California is still golden  , The Christian Science MonitorWith chronic budget woes engulfing California, many analysts had expected a ‘gloom and doom’ State of the State address from Gov. Jerry Brown. They got nothing of the sort.

CA: Brown asks California to cheer rail project  By Adam Nagourney, The New York TimesSACRAMENTO — Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday threw his unequivocal support behind a $100 billion high-speed rail line that has come under fire here in California and across the country, embracing it in a strikingly optimistic State of the State speech in which he asserted that government should pursue ambitious ventures even during times of economic strife.

CA: Brown shows he’s thinking beyond the budget  By Brian Joseph, The Orange County RegisterWhile balancing the budget will remain a top priority, Gov. Jerry Brown indicated in his State of the State address Wednesday that he also intends to pursue an ambitious agenda of reform and capital investment during his second year in office.

CA: State of state hopeful, but high-speed rail needs to sidetrack  By Editorial Board, The Mercury News (San Jose)Gov. Jerry Brown’s indomitable optimism shone Wednesday through his second State of the State speech, and we hope he’s right about California’s resilience. However, in defense of those “dystopian,” “declinist” naysayers he scorned — wait, was he talking about us? — we will note that the governor went on to outline massive barriers to resurgent prosperity.

CA: Brown lashes out at high-speed rail foes in State of the State address  By Steven Harmon, The Mercury News (San Jose)The two sides of Gov. Jerry Brown’s political persona have come into clear view this month. Two weeks ago, it was the austere and pragmatic Brown, as he released his slash-away state budget.

CA: California could be model for ‘super PAC’ disclosure  By Josh Richman, The Mercury News (San Jose)Faster than a speeding regulator, more powerful than a traditional campaign — look, up on your television screen: It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s … super PAC!

CA: Brown needs to flesh out his 2012 agenda  By Editorial Board, The Sacramento BeeGov. Jerry Brown delivered a classic Jerry Brown State of the State speech Wednesday.

CA: Jerry Brown puts his contradictions on display  By Dan Walters, The Sacramento BeeJerry Brown devoted much of Wednesday’s State of the State speech to dissing “declinists” who portray California as failing because they don’t understand that “California is turbulent, less predictable and, well, different.”

CA: Jerry Brown pitches higher taxes, budget cuts and and more public works spending  By David Siders, The Sacramento BeeGov. Jerry Brown, calling on lawmakers and voters to help him prove “the declinists about California are wrong,” on Wednesday launched his campaign for higher taxes and urged billions in spending on infrastructure and schools.

CO: Rep complains about stalled projects  By Patrick Malone, The Pueblo ChieftainTaking severance tax funds to balance the state’s budget has delayed water projects in the state, including work on a San Luis Valley reservoir, according to Rep. Ed Vigil.

CT: SEEC postpones action on Giuliano appointment  By Mark Pazniokas, The Connecticut MirrorThe State Elections Enforcement Commission today postponed acting on a controversial plan to appoint a recently defeated politician, former Mayor Sebastian N. Giuliano of Middletown, as the new executive director and general counsel of the elections oversight agency.

CT: Solving the way schools are funded without pouring in new dollars  By Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, The Connecticut MirrorGov. Dannel P. Malloy wants a solution to the “broken” way the state funds education without an influx of new money.

CT: Malloy launches express job-growth program with South Windsor company  By Keith M. Phaneuf, The Connecticut MirrorSouth Windsor — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy used one of the new job creation tools Wednesday that state lawmakers authorized during last fall’s special session, tapping a South Windsor company to launch the new Small Business Express Program.

CT: Citing psychiatric patient safety concerns, state disciplines Waterbury Hospital  By Arielle Levin Becker, The Connecticut MirrorState regulators have disciplined Waterbury Hospital after unannounced visits found multiple violations of care standards, including the continued use of psychiatric patient beds with side rails in the days after a patient used one to attempt suicide by hanging. The patient ultimately died.

CT: Connecticut mayors seek help from Washington  By Ana Radelat, The Connecticut MirrorWashington — The Occupy protesters huddled in McPherson Square and the 250 U.S. mayors meeting a block away this week have at least one thing in common: They are both reacting to the economic hardship wrought by the recession.

CT: State regulators to weigh NU/NSTAR merger  By Brian Lockhart, Connecticut PostIt’s been more than a year since Hartford-based Northeast Utilities proposed merging with Massachusetts’ NSTAR, and the latter state’s regulators are still weighing if and how the union should proceed.

DE: Democratic leaders on House committee defeat voter ID bill  By Chad Livengood, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)Democratic leaders on a House committee defeated legislation Wednesday seeking to make Delaware’s photographic-identification law mandatory for all voters.

DE: Gattis agrees to commutation conditions  By Sean O’Sullivan, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)Under the mechanics of Delaware’s death penalty, Wednesday would have been the day that Robert A. Gattis was moved from his cell on death row to one in the building where his lethal injection was to be carried out early Friday morning. Instead, the 49-year-old Gattis appeared in New Castle County Superior Court, dressed in his orange Department of Correction jumpsuit, to formally accept the conditional commutation that Gov. Jack Markell offered him on Tuesday.

DE: Electoral voting effort stalls  By Chad Livengood, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)An effort to award Delaware’s three Electoral College votes in presidential elections to the winner of the national popular vote stalled Wednesday in a Senate committee.

FL: Florida law would ban bias by at-home patients  By Diane C. Lade, Sun Sentinel, The Miami HeraldFloridians receiving professional home healthcare could become among the few in the nation with their own bill of rights. Among the guarantees: Appointment times that are honored, disclosure of out-of-pocket costs and high-quality care.

FL: State pension chief wants to double down on investment strategy  By Katie Sanders, The Miami HeraldThe official managing Florida’s $120 billion pension fund wants lawmakers to double the amount of money his agency can set aside for special investments that critics say are harder to value and carry more risk than traditional stocks and securities.

FL: President Obama will be at Disney today to announce tourism initiatives  By Mark K. Matthews, The Orlando SentinelWith his daughters back at the White House, President Barack Obama heads to Walt Disney World on Thursday for a trip that’s pure business: an announcement of several initiatives aimed at luring more foreign travelers to Florida and other U.S. hot spots.

FL: Florida’s roadblocks to caring for poor children cost millions  By Staff, Tampa Bay TimesGov. Rick Scott likes to talk about eliminating government rules for businesses, but when it comes to helping Florida’s poorest children enroll in government-funded health insurance, he doesn’t mind the red tape.

FL: House casino bill sponsor proposes changes to reduce gambling options  By Mary Ellen Klas, The Miami HeraldThe House sponsor of the bill to bring three mega resort casinos to Florida unveiled a series of amendments Wednesday to make the measure more palatable to his conservative, anti-gambling colleagues.

FL: Gov. Rick Scott picks former state official, lobbyist as next elections chief  By Steve Bousquet, The Miami HeraldGov. Rick Scott on Wednesday named Ken Detzner, a former state official and onetime lobbyist, to be Florida’s secretary of state — a post he briefly held nearly a decade ago under former Gov. Jeb Bush.

FL: Florida lawmakers: Get tough on ALFs  By Michael Sallah and Carol Marbin Miller, The Miami HeraldAfter years of stripping away critical protections at assisted-living facilities, Florida lawmakers are radically changing course in what could lead to one of the toughest laws in the nation against abusive caretakers.

GA: Rep. James Beverly seeks job tax credits in poorest neighborhoods  By Maggie Lee, The Macon TelegraphState Rep. James Beverly, D-Macon, in office for less than a year, has filed his first bill, and it’s got some heavyweight signatures on it.

GA: Macon-Bibb consolidation bill could be ready by Monday  By Maggie Lee, The Macon TelegraphA proposal to marry Macon and Bibb County governments is almost done, say the state legislators drafting it. It’s with attorneys now, who are fine-tuning the measure, looking for mistakes and reviewing county commission maps.

HI: Hawaii’s Senate makes procedural changes  By Staff, Pacific Business News (Honolulu)Hawaii’s 2012 legislative session got under way Wednesday, and with it some changes to the way the Senate does business.

IA: Iowa GOP will release certified caucus vote totals  By The Associated Press, The Muscatine JournalThe Iowa Republican Party says it will release the certified vote totals for the Jan. 3 caucuses that initially showed Mitt Romney narrowly edging out Rick Santorum.

IA: Teacher evaluation changes concern Iowa lawmakers  By The Associated Press, The Muscatine JournalSome Iowa lawmakers are concerned about details of the governor’s education reform plan.

IA: Bill encouraging employee stock option plans moves forward  By Jason Noble, The Des Moines RegisterA bill providing state tax breaks for business owners who sell their companies to their employees won committee approval this afternoon, but several more steps remain.

IA: Branstad pledges to sign traffic-camera ban if sent to his desk  By Rod Boshart, Sioux City JournalGov. Terry Branstad said Wednesday he would sign legislation to ban traffic-monitoring devices if the General Assembly sent him a bill this session.

IA: Lawmakers asked to crack down on under-age drinking  By Rod Boshart, Sioux City JournalIowa lawmakers are being asked to crack down on hosts who provide alcohol to minors and under-age drinkers who consume alcoholic beverages.

ID: Bill to evict Occupy Boise wouldn’t infringe on free-speech rights, lawmaker says  By John Miller, The Idaho Statesman (Boise)About two dozen supporters of the Occupy Boise movement that’s erected tents on state property listened quietly as a Republican lawmaker introduced a measure to evict them from the site across from the Capitol.

ID: Let’s see if legislators get the message in 2012  By Staff, The Idaho Statesman (Boise)Lawmakers shouldn’t rush into something rash like a texting-while-driving law. It’s not like 87 percent of their constituents want one or anything.

IL: IL lawmakers set to push for school vouchers — again  By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse NewsRiding the wave of a victory in school reform last year, education activists are gearing up for another push this spring, this time for school vouchers.

IL: Ill. backlog of unpaid bills nears $8.5 billion  By The Associated Press, Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)The Illinois comptroller’s office is sitting on nearly $4.3 billion in overdue bills and other departments are behind on their bills because the state doesn’t have the money to make good on its debts, Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka said Wednesday.

IL: Illinois strict with business on tax subsidies, study says  By Paul Merrion, Crain’s Chicago BusinessIllinois is tougher than most other states on companies that don’t deliver on job-creation subsidies, a new study finds.

IN: Indiana Senate bill would protect teens reporting underage alcohol abuse  By Zach Osowski, Evansville Courier and PressA bill debated Wednesday in an Indiana Senate committee seeks to prevent alcohol-related deaths among minors.

IN: Indiana Senate committee OKs illegal entry bill  By Shelby Salazar, Evansville Courier and PressAfter heated debate, an Indiana Senate committee approved a measure Tuesday that defines when residents can use force to prevent a police officer from entering their homes, but not before amending the bill.

IN: Pence raises $5M, Gregg nets $1.7M in gov. race  By The Associated Press, Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)Republican Rep. Mike Pence is dominating the money race for the Indiana governor’s office.

IN: Indiana unveils its first license plate for gay youth  By The Associated Press, North Lake Tahoe BonanzaIndiana’s first specialty license plate that benefits gay causes is now available for purchase.

IN: Ind. Republicans OK fines on boycotting Democrats  By The Associated Press, Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)Indiana House Republicans are hoping $1,000-a-day fines they voted to impose Wednesday break the boycott by Democratic legislators who are fighting the divisive right-to-work bill.

IN: Constitution appears to ban referendums on state laws  By Dan Carden, Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)The Indiana Constitution likely does not allow the General Assembly to make a state law contingent on approval by Hoosier voters, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency.

IN: Democrats file legal challenge to Ind. House fines  By The Associated Press, Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)Indiana House Democrats are seeking a restraining order against the $1,000-a-day fines they face for their legislative boycott over the right-to-work bill.

KS: Kobach representing self in federal court about how state treats small political parties  By John Hanna, The Associated Press, The Lawrence Journal-WorldSecretary of State Kris Kobach was both the defendant and his own attorney Wednesday in a lawsuit now before a federal appeals court over how Kansas deals with small political parties.

KS: Proposed bill would allow Kansans to donate to arts when paying taxes  By The Associated Press, The Lawrence Journal-WorldKansas taxpayers would be able to make a donation to support the arts while they are filling out their tax returns under a bill to create a Kansas Arts Commission Checkoff Fund.

KS: Ministers to deliver petitions calling on Kansas Speaker O’Neal to step down  By Scott Rothschild, The Lawrence Journal-WorldTwo pastors will deliver more than 30,000 petition signatures calling for the resignation of House Speaker Mike O’Neal for an email he forwarded that referred to President Barack Obama and a Bible verse that states, “Let his days be few and brief.”

KY: Beshear budget could survive largely intact  By Tom Loftus, The Courier-Journal (Louisville)Despite its highly unpopular cuts to education and other key state programs, the budget Gov. Steve Beshear proposed Tuesday may see few changes as it proceeds through the normally bumpy legislative process, lawmakers said Wednesday.

KY: House passes bill to allow ads on school buses  By The Associated Press, Bowling Green Daily NewsSchool districts could allow advertising on school buses under a bill that has passed the state House and now heads to the Senate.

LA: Engineers say major improvements needed  By Will Sentell, The Advocate (Baton Rouge)Louisiana’s roads, bridges and other infrastructure are in dire need of improvements, officials of the state branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers said Wednesday. The report gave letter grades in nine areas, with the state’s roads getting a “D” and its bridges a “D-plus.”

LA: Gulf of Mexico oil spill claimants who settle, but don’t sue, exempted from paying into lawyer fund  By Rebecca Mowbray, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)People settling oil spill claims against BP who are not also involved in lawsuits will not have to set aside 6 percent of the settlement to pay lawyers, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

MA: Casino bids a test for small-town resources  By Mark Arsenault, The Boston GlobeWhile about 700 people waited last month for Foxborough selectmen to open debate on a $1 billion casino, the board took care of some other business – deciding whether a golden retriever needed to be restrained.

MA: Sheriff slams prison overhaul  By Laurel J. Sweet and Chris Cassidy, Boston HeraldGov. Deval Patrick wants to build two to three assisted-living centers with bars for golden-ager inmates to serve their time in comfort, as part of an ambitious overhaul of the state’s prison system due to be released today, the Herald has learned.

MA: Suffolk University names Baruch College provost James McCarthy as new president  By Mary Carmichael, The Boston GlobeSuffolk University has appointed a new leader with a mandate to transform the Beacon Hill school.

MD: O’Malley defends plan to raise taxes  By Annie Linskey and Michael Dresser, The Sun (Baltimore)Gov. Martin O’Malley on Wednesday defended his proposal to ask 20 percent of Marylanders to pay more income taxes, calling his budget plan “a balanced approach” that preserves funding for priorities such as education.

MD: Maryland governor defends plan to raise taxes  By Aaron C. Davis, The Washington PostMaryland Gov. Martin O’Malley on Wednesday defended his plan to raise taxes on residents who earn six-figure salaries or more, saying he considered it the “fairest way” to help close the state’s latest budget shortfall.

MD: O’Malley reveals 2013 budget  By Earl Kelly, The Capital (Annapolis)Gov. Martin O’Malley this morning released a $35.9 billion state operating budget that shifts $293 million to the counties to pay for teachers’ pensions.

MD: Congressional Republicans to meet in Baltimore  By John Fritze, The Sun (Baltimore)Republicans in the House of Representatives, still reeling from last month’s fight over extending a popular payroll tax cut, will converge on Baltimore Thursday for a retreat intended to map out a new political strategy that can bind their unwieldy caucus together.

MD: Poll finds Marylanders divided over issue of same-sex marriage  By Pamela Wood, The Capital (Annapolis)As state lawmakers consider legalizing same-sex marriage, Marylanders remain sharply divided on the issue, according to a new poll.

ME: Online gambling may grow quickly, Maine lawmakers say  By Eric Russell, Bangor Daily NewsLawmakers said the expansion of online gambling allowed by a recent U.S. Department of Justice ruling will spread quickly to Maine and urged the establishment of regulations just as quickly to address that inevitability.

ME: Panel of Maine lawmakers deadlocks on health exchange bills  By Jackie Farwell, Bangor Daily NewsMembers of a legislative committee disagreed Wednesday over how the state should structure and oversee a new health insurance exchange.

ME: LePage challenges backers of Maine renewable energy initiative  By Eric Russell and Mal Leary, Bangor Daily NewsA battle is under way between the governor’s office and supporters of a citizens’ initiative that seeks to expand Maine’s renewable energy portfolio and focus more on energy efficiency. Maine Citizens for Clean Energy held an event Wednesday at the State House to announce that the group is nearly ready to submit the necessary signatures to force a statewide vote in November .

ME: Oakfield wind-to-energy project gets Maine DEP permit  By Nick Sambides Jr., Bangor Daily NewsOAKFIELD, Maine — The state’s top environmental agency approved a 150-megawatt industrial wind site on Oakfield Hills on Wednesday that will cost about $360 million.

ME: Legislature taking up Caylee Anthony-inspired bills  By The Associated Press, Bangor Daily NewsA legislative committee is holding hearings on a pair of bills requiring notification to authorities when a child is missing. Both bills before the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Thursday afternoon are modeled after “Caylee’s Law,” which is being considered in Florida.

MI: Michigan jobless rate falls to 9.3% — lowest in 3.5 years  By John Gallagher, Lansing State JournalMichigan’s unemployment rate in December declined another half-percentage point to 9.3%, the state’s lowest rate since the 8.9% rate recorded in September 2008.

MI: Occupy Lansing — Gov. Rick Snyder hasn’t been honest with people of Michigan  By Angela Wittrock, mlive.comOccupy Lansing, the Occupy Wall Street offshoot demonstrating on the lawn of the State Capitol during Wednesday’s State of the State speech, has released its own analysis of the conditions in Michigan.

MI: Report — Gov. Snyder could be looking at fixing Michigan’s roads  By Rob South, mlive.comMichigan’s roads are among the worst in the nation and there a have been numerous calls to fix them and fix the way they’re funded. Gov. Snyder could address that problem tonight in his State of the State address.

MI: State of the State — Snyder vows to focus on lowering crime rates  By Troy Reimink, mlive.comSome attention-grabbing remarks from Gov. Rick Snyder’s State of the State Address: Snyder heralded Michigan’s declining rate while noting that four of the 10 most dangerous cities in America are in Michigan.

MI: State of the State — Sen. Mike Green says he liked positive focus on Gov. Rick Snyder’s speech  By Shannon Murphy, mlive.comState Sen. Mike Green, R-Mayville, said tonight he was impressed with Gov. Rick Snyder’s State of the State address and glad it highlighted the positive changes in Michigan.

MI: Schneider — Lett’s keeps customers in mind during closure  By John Schneider, Lansing State JournalLansing lawyer Scott Chernich said Tuesday the Lett’s Bridal & Formal situation has “a lot of moving parts.”

MI: Snyder focus on jobs in 2nd State of State address  By Kathy Barks Hoffman, The Associated Press, Lansing State JournalGov. Rick Snyder said tonight in his second State of the State address that after a year of sweeping and sometimes controversial changes to public services and taxes he wants to focus in 2012 on completing projects that will boost Michigan’s economy, including building a new bridge between Detroit and Canada.

MI: Red to blue? Democrats target one Michigan soon-to-be district  By Todd Spangler, Detroit Free PressWASHINGTON – Only one of Michigan’s soon-to-be 14 congressional districts has been specifically targeted at this point by Democrats in Washington – the 1st, comprised largely of the Upper Peninsula and the northern lower peninsula.

MI: Snyder pushes for stricter ethics, lobbying and campaign finance laws  By Paul Egan, Detroit Free PressGov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday called for stricter ethics, lobbying and campaign finance laws, including tighter controls on officials who leave state government to go work for contractors they dealt with in their official capacities.

MI: State Sen. Mike Kowall to suspend campaign for Congress  By Kathleen Gray, Detroit Free PressState Sen. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake, decided today to suspend his campaign for the 11th Congressional district seat.

MI: Snyder — We can build on successes of 2011, keep growing jobs  By Dawson Bell and Paul Egan, Detroit Free PressGov. Rick Snyder called for a consolidation of gains made in 2011 and a commitment to his trademark “relentless, positive action.”

MI: Gov. Snyder previews State of the State in YouTube clip  By Paul Egan, Detroit Free PressGov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday posted a preview of his State of the State address on YouTube, several hours before he is scheduled to deliver his speech in the state Capitol.

MI: White House — States should move forward on health insurance exchanges  By Patricia Anstett, Detroit Free PressMichigan and other states opposed to federal health reforms still can — and should — move ahead to create exchanges to sell health insurance in 2014, federal officials said today.

MI: Lansing pundits put their spin on Snyder’s speech  By Kathleen Gray, Detroit Free PressWhat Lansing pundits had to say about Gov. Snyder’s State of the State speech tonight:

MN: Dayton and Vikings warm to Linden Av. stadium site  By Mike Kaszuba, Rachel E. Stassen-Berger and Rochelle Olson, Minneapolis Star TribuneGov. Mark Dayton on Wednesday said he is leaning toward Minneapolis’ Linden Avenue site near the Basilica of St. Mary for a new Vikings stadium, and the team is giving fresh indications that it is warming to that spot.

MN: Dayton opts not to endorse Vikings stadium site  By Madeleine Baran, Minnesota Public Radio (St. Paul)Gov. Mark Dayton declined to endorse a specific site for the proposed new Vikings stadium Wednesday and said questions remain about the financial viability of the Vikings-preferred site in Arden Hills.

MN: Sviggum’s GOP gig is news to University of Minnesota regents  By Mila Koumpilova, St. Paul Pioneer PressThe University of Minnesota Board of Regents chair and the U’s general counsel released a statement Wednesday saying that contrary to what media reports suggested, Regent Steve Sviggum did not consult them before taking a job with the Senate GOP.

MN: State worker severance packages scrutinized  By MaryJo Webster, St. Paul Pioneer PressMinnesota lawmakers today will begin looking into the issue of payments for unused sick and vacation time to retiring state employees.

MN: Veteran Rep. Greiling won’t run again in Minn.  By The Associated Press, Brainerd Daily DispatchDemocratic state Rep. Mindy Greiling says Minnesota Legislature’s 2012 session will be her last.

MN: Dayton — Vikings stadium ‘jeopardized’ by unknowns  By Patrick Condon, the Associated Press, Brainerd Daily DispatchGov. Mark Dayton said Wednesday that a legislative vote on a Minnesota Vikings stadium package could be in jeopardy unless lingering questions are answered about all three main potential sites.

MO: Missouri leadership lacks big ideas  By Staff, St. Louis Post-DispatchA Missouri resident who might wander into the state Capitol this week would get a pretty good sense of the priorities of the state Legislature, which enacts laws that affect our daily lives.

MO: Gov. Jay Nixon should do more to improve Missouri  By Staff, Kansas City StarJay Nixon’s latest budget presentation and State of the State address say two things about Missouri’s governor. He is a good manager and an even better politician. He is determined to play it safe, even when he shouldn’t.

MS: Why I released 26 prisoners  By Haley Barbour, former Mississippi governor, The Washington PostThe furor over the pardons I recently granted as governor of Mississippi initially focused on numbers. I would like to set the record straight.

MS: Gov. Bryant’s team  By Elizabeth Crisp, The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson)Gov. Phil Bryant’s staff is still getting settled into the governor’s office at the top of Jackson’s Sillers Building. I thought now might be a good time to introduce some members of the new administration.

MS: Miss. Senate off to fast start  By Editorial Board, Hattiesburg AmericanAlready a number of bills have been introduced in the state Senate, which is off to a faster start this legislation session than the House.

MS: Legislature to being legislating soon  By Bobby Harrison, The Daily Journal (Tupelo)The Mississippi Legislature will get down to the business of legislating next week.

MT: Governor seeks to replace Commissioner of Political Practices  By John S. Adams, Great Falls TribuneGov. Brian Schweitzer asked legislative leaders Wednesday to send him a list of nominations for a new Commissioner of Political Practices.

NC: Marriage ban battle in N.C. heats up  By Staff, The News & Observer (Raleigh)Both sides of the proposed state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage have begun ramping up their campaigns in what is expected to be an expensive and bitter fight from now until the May 8 referendum.

NC: Campaign to reject gay marriage ban begins  By Staff, The Charlotte ObserverOpponents of a gay marriage ban on statewide ballots in May said their campaign starting Wednesday to defeat the proposed constitutional amendment aims at persuading voters the change would have broad consequences beyond discriminating against same-sex couples.

ND: Goettle touts background in ag, law, business  By R. Johnson, Grand Forks HeraldShane Goettle said Wednesday that his background in agriculture, law and small business issues have helped prepare him to stand out in the crowded race for the Republican endorsement for North Dakota’s open U.S. House seat.

ND: Former AG Heidi Heitkamp hasn’t announced Senate bid, but GOP is on offensive  By Ryan Johnson, Grand Forks HeraldRepublican attacks on Heidi Heitkamp began Thursday, even before the former North Dakota Attorney General and possible U.S. Senate candidate has announced if she will run for office next fall.

ND: Minot flood recovery getting $1 million FEMA grant  By The Associated Press, The Forum (Fargo)North Dakota’s congressional delegation says the Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing a $1 million grant toward flood recovery in Minot.

ND: Rural North Dakota GOP activist makes last-minute plea for more lawmakers  By Dale Wetzel, The Associated Press, The Forum (Fargo)A former Ward County commissioner and Republican activist made a last-minute appeal Tuesday to increase the size of the North Dakota Legislature, saying it would help prevent rural districts from becoming too large under a new redistricting plan.

NE: Bill would allow officials to vet public comment agenda at hearings  By Kevin O’Hanlon, Lincoln Journal StarSen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber introduced a measure Wednesday that some people likely will view as an attempt to put up a roadblock to citizens who want to speak public meetings.

NH: NH House votes to bar funding to groups performing elective abortions  By Staff, The Union Leader (Manchester)The House voted 207-147 Wednesday to prohibit any organization that performs elective abortions such as Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and some hospitals to receive any state or federal funds.

NH: NH House votes 257-101 for amendment banning income tax  By Staff, The Union Leader (Manchester)The House voted 257-101 Wednesday to prevent future lawmakers from instituting a tax on personal income and sent the proposed constitutional amendment to the Senate.

NH: Ward Bird case brings revised law  By Staff, The Union Leader (Manchester)A bill inspired by the conviction and imprisonment of Moultonborough farmer Ward Bird — who pointed a gun at trespasser — has passed the Senate.

NH: Candidates for open governor’s post already gearing up  By John DiStaso, The Union Leader (Manchester)With the presidential primary history, New Hampshire politics now turns local, with the top race being the first open race for governor since 2002. Announced Democratic candidate for governor and former state Sen. Maggie Hassan on Wednesday announced a full team of campaign staff and advisers, to be managed by veteran operative Matt Burgess.

NH: Misdialed number to blame for state building’s burst pipes  By Staff, The Union Leader (Manchester)A sensor detected a problem with the heating system in the Health and Human Services and Environmental Services building, but dialed the wrong number to alert the maintenance department, a state official said.

NJ: Christie approves 57 bills, pocket vetoes 42 others  By Staff, newjerseynewsroom.comGov. Chris Christie on Tuesday took took action on 99 bills sent to him by the Democratic-controlled Legislature, approving 57 and vetoing the remaining 42.

NJ: Gov. Chris Christie says ‘New Jersey is back.’ Is it?  By Staff, The Star-Ledger (Newark)Don’t you hate it when the preview to the movie is actually better than the movie? The governor’s blockbuster trailer about the “Jersey Comeback,” released right before his state of the state address, had us all pumped up.

NJ: Survey- N.J. Dems might have enough votes in state Senate to approve gay marriage  By Staff, The Star-Ledger (Newark)As state lawmakers gathered Tuesday to usher in a new session with their high hopes and soaring phrases, an informal survey showed that a majority of senators support the idea of same-sex marriage, though some said they wanted to review the details of newly proposed legislation.

NJ: Sweeney- N.J. bill allowing towns to post legal ads online rather than in newspapers won’t advance for at least 2 years  By Matt Friedman, The Star-Ledger (Newark)A bill to allow towns to post legal ads online rather than in newspapers will not advance in the state Senate for at least the next two years, Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said today.

NV: Gifts add up for some Nevada politicians By Ed Vogel, Las Vegas Review-JournalSome of Nevada’s leading politicians accepted thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts in 2011, including tickets, clothing and travel accommodations, according to financial disclosure statements filed with the secretary of state.

NY: Mobsters ‘bettor’ stay away — Cuomo  By Erik Kriss, New York PostGov. Cuomo had a warning for “wise guys” who might look for a cut of New York’s legal gambling action — stay out! And to make sure that the state’s growing gambling industry remains on the straight and narrow, he envisions a Nevada-style state gambling commission that would regulate New York casino gambling, which he hopes lawmakers and state voters approve by late next year.

NY: Ball on gas drilling — Billionaires, gazillionaires have all the access  By Casey Seiler, Times Union (Albany)State Sen. Greg Ball, a Republican known for his maverick sensibility, enhanced that reputation further with his introduction Wednesday of a proposed moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, the controversial natural gas drilling technique better known as hydrofracking that’s under review by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

NY: Coalition spends millions pushing Cuomo’s agenda  By Thomas Kaplan, The New York TimesGov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Wednesday unveiled a new Web site promoting his proposed state budget, featuring a photograph of the smiling governor, his sleeves rolled up, greeting farmers in a flood-stricken upstate community.

NY: Pay cap curbs cost of services  By Casey Seiler, Times Union (Albany)A day after rolling out the idea as part of his budget proposal, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday signed an executive order to rein in administrative costs and executive compensation packages at state-funded service providers.

NY: School aid lament — ‘It’s not enough’  By Scott Waldman, Times Union (Albany)When Gov. Andrew Cuomo presented his budget to the state on Tuesday, he promised a windfall of school aid for poor districts.

OH: Anti-bully bill gets Ohio Senate’s approval  By Jim Siegel, The Columbus DispatchThe Ohio Senate overwhelmingly approved the Jessica Logan Act yesterday. The bill is designed to enhance schools’ anti-bullying policies and improve parental notification.

OH: State to boost training of doctors in patient-centered system  By Cathering, The Columbus DispatchOhio will invest $1 million to train medical professionals in a health-care system where patients have greater access to their doctors and the focus is on staying healthy.

OH: Kasich taking State of State on road  By Joe Vardon, The Columbus DispatchHaving learned a hard lesson in 2011 about building a narrative and a consensus for major policy initiatives, Gov. John Kasich will deliver his 2012 State of the State address at a successful public elementary school in Steubenville, which is in a region where shale drilling is king.

OH: Ohio voters evenly split on ‘heartbeat bill’ By Darrel Rowland, The Columbus DispatchOhio voters are almost evenly split on whether abortions should be banned once a fetal heartbeat in detected, a new poll shows.

OH: Ohio Sen. Portman endorses Romney for president  By Anthony Shoemaker, Dayton Daily NewsSen. Rob Portman will endorse Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney and appear Thursday with the former Massachusetts governor at a campaign rally in Charleston on the eve of Saturday’s crucial South Carolina Republican primary.

OH: Romney leads GOP contenders in Ohio  By Laura Bischoff, Dayton Daily NewsFormer Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads the field of Republican primary contenders in Ohio and 51 percent of Ohio voters say President Obama does not deserve a second term in the White House, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday.

OH: Voters divided on heartbeat bill, want animal ban and hold on fracking  By Laura Bischoff, Dayton Daily NewsA new poll released Thursday found that Ohioans are divided over the ‘heartbeat’ bill, want hydro-fracking put on hold until its impact is studied and favor a ban on private ownership of exotic animals.

OH: Dems introduce bills for rape victims  By Laura Bischoff, Dayton Daily NewsOhio hospitals would be required to offer emergency contraception to female patients who have been raped under two bills being introduced in the House and Senate by Democratic lawmakers.

OH: Kasich to deliver state of state address in Steubenville  By Laura Bischoff, Dayton Daily NewsGov. John Kasich will deliver his 2012 State of the State address on Feb. 7 at Wells Academy in Steubenville, which sits on the Ohio River next to West Virginia.

OH: Only 3 of 16 districts competitive in new map  By William Hershey, Dayton Daily NewsMontgomery and Greene counties are part of something unusual in Ohio — a competitive U.S. House district.

OK: Holt wants Legislature under open meeting, records laws  By Staff, Shawnee News-StarSen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, has filed legislation to make the Oklahoma Legislature subject to the Open Meetings and Open Records Acts. Those two statutes have long provided transparency to all levels of government, but not the Legislature, which exempted itself.

OK: Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb reports what is on the minds of Oklahomans  By Michael McNutt, The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)Ideas and comments from Oklahomans that Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb has collected during his travels across the state have been given to the governor and legislative leaders.

OK: Code of conduct for House members is discussed  By Michael McNutt, The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)As emails are being circulated that include name-calling and accusations against House members, the House Ethics Committee gave tentative approval Wednesday to an ethics code that would punish members who distribute false material.

OK: Former Oklahoma House minority leader won’t seek re-election  By Michael McNutt, The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)Citing more demands of his family business, Rep. Danny Morgan, who served four years as House minority leader, is not seeking re-election this year.

OR: Home-care workers stage Salem protest  By Peter Wong, Statesman Journal (Salem)More than 100 unionized home-care workers, some of them accompanied by their clients, staged a protest Wednesday in the governor’s office against current and pending cuts to hours and health benefits.

OR: U.S. Postal Service cuts could slow Oregon’s mail voting in November  By Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian (Portland)Oregon Elections Director Stephen Trout says pending cuts by the U.S. Postal Service won’t affect the state’s May primary, but that it could slow ballot delivery and returns for many Oregonians in the November election.

OR: Oregon Republican lawmakers release their plans to grow jobs, cut state government  By Michelle Cole, The Oregonian (Portland)Republicans serving in the Oregon House think the state could create 50,000 new jobs over five years by cutting taxes on corporations and families, expanding industrial land development and making more use of Oregon water and timber resources.

OR: Oregon Legislature will consider capping mercury in fluorescent bulbs  By Scott Learn, The Oregonian (Portland)Oregon’s Legislature will consider a scaled-back proposal next month to address mercury in compact-fluorescent light bulbs, including a cap on the amount of the toxic metal in each bulb sold in the state.

PA: Penn State’s trustees recall painful decision to fire Paterno  By Pete Thamel and Mark Viera, The New York TimesIt was growing late on the night of Nov. 9, 2011. John P. Surma, the chief executive of U.S. Steel and the vice chairman of Penn State University’s board of trustees, sat at a rectangular table at the Penn Stater Hotel. Gov. Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania was on the speaker phone. Other trustees were present, many emotionally spent.

RI: Study — RI faces ‘severe’ gambling losses from Mass. casinos  By Katherine Gregg, The Providence JournalCasino gambling in Massachusetts could siphon more than $100 million annually out of the Rhode Island treasury, according to a newly released study commissioned by Governor Chafee.

RI: Change in basis for R.I. vehicle tax comes with costs  By Staff, The Providence JournalA proposal to change the way the state values vehicles for tax purposes will probably address concerns that ignited taxpayer protests, but will have financial consequences for municipalities and also shine a spotlight on other vehicle tax inequities in Rhode Island.

SC: Haley — ‘Our state is surging’  By Gina Smith, The State (Columbia)Gov. Nikki Haley promised Wednesday to fight for more S.C. jobs, block unions from expanding in the state and pressed lawmakers to pass her budget during her second annual State of the State address.

SC: Gov. Haley calls for tax cuts, tort reform, spending caps in State of the State speech  By Seanna Adcox, the Associated Press, Spartanburg Herald-JournalSouth Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley asked legislators in her second State of the State address Wednesday evening to reduce income taxes, further clamp down on unions, restructure government, and pass a loser-pays provision on civil lawsuits.

SD: Residents of SD county sue over early voting  By The Associated Press, Rapid City JournalTwenty-five residents are suing South Dakota’s secretary of state and other government officials to extend the early voting period in Shannon County, claiming current provisions violate the Constitution.

SD: Labor Dept. penalizes SD state park resort  By The Associated Press, Rapid City JournalThe federal Labor Department has ordered Custer State Park Resort to pay $93,000 in back wages to 72 workers employed at the resort in South Dakota’s Black Hills, along with $65,000 in civil penalties.

SD: Bishop describes anonymous help Janklow provided  By The Associated Press, Rapid City JournalBishop David Zellmer says he knows four families who benefited from help provided by former Gov. Bill Janklow and his wife.

SD: Sides spar over what’s in or out  By John Hunt, Argus Leader (Sioux Falls)Lawyers on both sides in the capital murder case of inmate Rodney Berget hammered out final details Wednesday in the run-up to the weeklong hearing that will determine whether he lives or dies.

SD: Farewell to risk-taking governor  By Jon Walker, Argus Leader (Sioux Falls)A final word on Bill Janklow at his funeral Wednesday cast him as an inspiring, stubborn and fallible man who, in the end, tried to reconcile past conflicts and stay true to his friends.

TN: Tennessee teachers urge evaluation changes  By Chas Sisk, The Tennessean (Nashville)The Tennessee Education Association is calling on Gov. Bill Haslam and state lawmakers to revise the state’s new teacher evaluation system and throw out the results from this year.

TN: Former Gov. Phil Bredesen advocates data as way to improve schools  By Elizabeth Bewley, The Tennessean (Nashville)Former Gov. Phil Bredesen shared a stage with some big names in education Wednesday, including Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Michelle Rhee, Washington’s controversial former education chancellor. Bredesen, a Democrat, praised the power of data in reforming schools at a roundtable held by the Data Quality Campaign at a downtown Washington hotel.

TN: TN’s job-creation subsidies lack scrutiny, study finds  By Duane Marsteller, The Tennessean (Nashville)Tennessee is slightly below average in how well it monitors, verifies and enforces the terms of its job-creation subsidies, an economic-incentive watchdog group said in a study released Wednesday.

TX: Perry campaign struggles in polls as primary looms  By David Dykes, The Greenville NewsWhile Rick Perry insists his Republican presidential campaign still has some giddy-up, the latest polls and some political analysts say the Texas governor is fading into the political sunset as South Carolina’s primary approaches.

TX: State rep’s ties to indicted lawyer damaging  By Brian Chasnoff, The San Antonio Express-NewsAt the moment, Marc Rosenthal’s legal career is like a dose of hemlock: It’s giving an odor of untimely demise.

TX: Protesters clomp to Capitol to oppose state’s feral burro policy  By Patrick Beach, The Austin American-StatesmanAt a Statehouse dominated by elephants, the donkey got some love in a short parade in downtown Austin on Wednesday.

VA: Senate panel backs crackdown on texting while driving  By Jim Nolan, Richmond Times-DispatchTexting while driving is against the law in Virginia. Now, a bill passed by a Senate committee would give police the authority to pull over a motorist for doing it.

VA: Report — Virginia, other states, regressing on tobacco prevention  By John Reid Blackwell, Richmond Times-DispatchDespite collecting billions of dollars from tobacco taxes and a legal settlement with the cigarette industry, most states are moving backward in tobacco-prevention funding and policies, a health advocacy group says in report released today.

VA: National Guard general warns of dwindling resources  By Wesley P. Hester, Richmond Times-DispatchScattered camouflage stood out against the usual sea of dark business suits at the state Capitol on Wednesday as members of the Virginia Army National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force visited the General Assembly.

VA: Va. House bill would let motorcyclists ride side by side  By Bill Sizemore, The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)Legislation to allow motorcycles to travel two abreast in a single lane is advancing in the House of Delegates.

VA: Supporters of Sunday hunting take aim at ending ban  By Mike Sluss and Mark Taylor, The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)Will the Capitol remain a killing field for legislation that would allow hunting on Sunday? Virginia is one of 11 states to prohibit or restrict hunting on Sunday. Lawmakers have resisted efforts to roll back a ban that has survived as Sunday “blue laws” were swept into the dust bin of history.

VT: Vermont state revenues fall short  By Nancy Remsen, Burlington Free PressIt’s a good thing revenues from Vermont’s tax on cigarettes are coming in strong — likely $2 million over the target for the current year. When the House begins debate today on a midyear budget adjustment bill, the House Appropriations Committee will propose that the $2 million in extra cigaratte taxes be used to plug a newly identified $1.8 million budget hole.

VT: Vermont looks at Montpelier site for new state building  By Terri Hallenbeck, Burlington Free PressPicture this: A new state office building looming off to the left as you head into Montpelier from Interstate 89. Architects who are analyzing options for replacing the flooded-out Waterbury state office complex will include construction of new offices on the grounds of the state Labor Department building as one of those options.

VT: Vermont to receive $8.7 million in flood aid  By The Associated Press, Burlington Free PressThe nation’s top agriculture official on Wednesday announced more than $300 million in emergency assistance to 33 states and Puerto Rico to help them recover from an unusually intense year for natural disasters across the U.S. Vermont will receive nearly $8.7 million.

WA: Lawmakers seek path to improve medical pot patients’ access  By Mike Baker, The Associated Press, The OlympianState lawmakers pursued a new plan Wednesday to provide medical marijuana patients with easier access to the drug and the governor’s office said staff members were contributing to the bill just months after she vetoed a different proposal.

WA: Law would make inappropriate spitting, urinating on ferries a misdemeanor  By The Associated Press, The OlympianThe Washington State Patrol is requesting a law to help troopers control inappropriate behavior on state ferries.

WA: State raffle for veterans falls short of money goal  By Jordan Schrader, The Seattle TimesVeterans will receive some money from a state raffle held in their honor, but much less than was predicted before extra advertising ate into profits.

WA: Bill would require costly ballot initiatives to identify a funding source  By Stephanie Kim, The Seattle TimesA bipartisan group of lawmakers is trying to prevent voters from approving costly ballot initiatives without sponsors first identifying a way to pay for them.

WA: Snow fails to freeze out activity at Capitol  By Alexis Krell and Jordan Schrader, The News Tribune (Tacoma)Although the state Capitol was near the epicenter of a heavy regional snowstorm, it was business as usual there Wednesday – as usual as can be expected, that is, when legislators sleep on office couches and others get snowed in at home.

WI: Wisconsin recall effort heats up  By Allysia Finley, The Wall Street JournalWisconsin Democrats yesterday ballyhooed their collection of more than a million signatures to force a recall of Republican Gov. Scott Walker, nearly twice as many as are necessary to get their petition on the ballot. But now the hard part for them begins: selecting a candidate to carry the union banner.

WI: Possible recall election spurs potential candidates  By Scott Bauer, The Associated Press, The Post-Crescent (Appleton)A Democrat widely viewed as a union favorite emerged Wednesday to challenge Gov. Scott Walker, a day after petition circulators spurred by anger over the Republican’s moves against organized labor said they submitted more than enough signatures to force a recall election.

WI: Crowded primary could precede recall  By Patrick Marley and Jason Stein, Milwaukee Journal SentinelA Democratic primary appears all but certain in a likely recall election for Gov. Scott Walker, as the first big-name Democratic candidate jumped in the race Wednesday and a field of others mulled the idea.

WI: Webcam set up for recall signature review  By The Associated Press, La Crosse TribuneState workers processing the petition signatures to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker have an Internet audience.

WI: Walker says he wants recall election soon  By The Associated Press, La Crosse TribuneWisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says he believes petition circulators have enough valid signatures to force a recall election against him, and he wants it to happen sooner rather than later.

WI: GOP-backed bill on sex ed headed for Assembly vote  By The Associated Press, La Crosse TribuneA contentious Republican-backed proposal that would stress abstinence education over contraception use is headed for a vote in the Wisconsin state Assembly.

WI: Walker turning down $37 million for health care  By The Associated Press, La Crosse TribuneWisconsin will turn down $37 million from the federal government that had been awarded to help implement health care exchanges under President Barack Obama’s health care reform law, Gov. Scott Walker said today.

WV: House lawmakers fix FOIA loophole  By Jared Hunt, Charleston Daily MailHouse lawmakers unanimously passed a fix to the state’s Freedom of Information Act Wednesday following a failed attempt by Republicans to include far greater changes in the bill.

Falk launches campaign for governor  By The Associated Press, La Crosse TribuneA Democrat widely viewed as a union favorite emerged today to challenge Gov. Scott Walker, a day after petition circulators spurred by anger over the Republican’s moves against organized labor said they submitted more than enough signatures to force a recall election.