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Arkansas

Senator discloses new felony animal-cruelty proposal


State Sen. Sue Madison on Wednesday unveiled the latest draft of her proposal to make first-offense animal cruelty a felony crime and told lawmakers that she?s willing to do ?some fine-tuning? if they have suggestions.
Read More
Floods, tornados destroy $27 million in infrastructure


Severe storms and flooding this spring have caused at least $27 million in damage to Arkansas infrastructure alone, according to a federal estimate provided to Gov. Mike Beebe's office Wednesday.
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Ark. court to review LR superintendent's firing, buyout


The Little Rock School Board's racially split vote last year to fire its superintendent and pay him $635,000 has prompted a review by Arkansas' highest court on whether such buyouts violate the state's constitution.   Read More
Beebe tours his 17th community in ruins


STUTTGART, Ark. - Gov. Mike Beebe on Monday toured his 17th storm-tossed community in 2008, this one in the Arkansas prairie, as Stuttgart residents continued to clean up after a nasty twister that dismantled the city's commercial district.   Read More
Revised animal-cruelty bill headed to Ark. Legislature


Some legislators expressed support Wednesday for a revised bill that would make animal cruelty a felony in Arkansas, although others said the wording may be so broad the state could prosecute humane pet owners and farmers who put a suffering animal out of its misery.   Read More
Sponsor unveils revised animal cruelty measure


Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said Wednesday he plans to include an anti-animal cruelty bill in his proposed legislation for the 2009 regular legislative session.   Read More
States to enforce molester law on tribal land
By John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writer

A little-noticed provision in a 2006 federal sex-offender law is rankling American Indian tribes in six states — Alaska, California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon and Wisconsin — because it would give state law enforcers unprecedented authority to monitor child molesters living on tribal land.   Read More
WORTH NOTING: South Carolina's shampoo specialists
By John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writer

The Palmetto State cleans up a law requiring hairstylists to get more training than cops. Frog legs are frowned upon by Florida health officials. And an aide to Utah's lieutenant governor gets way ahead of his boss. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.   Read More
WORTH NOTING: Illinois treasurer shows his knowledge of charges
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) endures a bruising charge from Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D). A new Utah law stirs Salt Lake City bartenders to create a new drink. And Louisiana prison guards get outside help to prevent escapes. In case you missed those stories this week, Worth Noting fills you in.   Read More
States, locals swamp immigration program
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Sudden demand by state and local police to join the federal 287(g) initiative, which lets local police start deportation proceedings for suspects and criminals who are illegal immigrants, is overwhelming the federal government. That means long waits and alternative programs offered to police departments that want to join.   Read More
In school sports, who makes the call?
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer

A shot at the buzzer of a high school championship game — was it in time or not? — led the South Carolina Legislature to consider a bill to require referees to watch video replays. It was hardly the first example of armchair quarterbacking by lawmakers.
  Read More
Neutral govs to remain on sidelines
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

In the homestretch of an unprecedented presidential primary season, spinning with competing sound-bites and endless rhetoric, voters still heading to the polls in four states can’t look to their governors for any pre-election advice. These governors plan to wait until after their states vote to make their own endorsements.   Read More
Silver Alert helps rescue lost seniors
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer

(Updated 9:30 a.m EST, May 8, 2008)

When an elderly person with dementia is lost, eight states can trigger an alert to let the community know. Proposals in Congress would expand the successful missing persons program to all 50 states.
  Read More
At-risk gubernatorial seats increase
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

After a pair of hard-fought primaries, North Carolina joins Missouri, Washington and Indiana on Out There's list of states where partisan control of the governorship could flip this fall.
  Read More
Will states fix 2012 primary process?
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

While voters in Indiana and North Carolina go to the polls today (May 6) to help Democrats pick Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as their nominee and Republicans rally behind John McCain, party insiders and state election officials are in informal talks to improve the presidential nominating contests for 2012 and beyond.
  Read More
Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
By Kim Mendelsohn, Special to Stateline.org

Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state.   Read More
WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer

An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in.   Read More
Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
By John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views.   Read More
Seeds of social issues dot 2008 elections
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

With a sagging economy and a divisive war occupying Americans’ minds, will social issues be overshadowed in state elections in 2008?
  Read More
Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

For the past several election cycles, the Democrats have been on a roll in legislative elections. This year, the party is well-positioned to hold its majority of chambers — but greatly expanding Democratic control may not be in the cards.
  Read More
'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

The national polls point to a tight presidential race in November. But Democrats have a bit more to cheer about than Republicans do, regardless of who wins the Democratic primary, according to the latest state-by-state electoral-vote projections by “Out There.”
  Read More
Governors pitch ambitious programs
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Billion-dollar deficits in California, New York and Arizona haven’t stopped governors there and elsewhere from proposing big-ticket items for 2008. Stateline.org looks at proposals from governors’ 2008 "state of the state" speeches and provides an exclusive summary of all the addresses so far.
  Read More
Commentary: Govs beat White House hopefuls as agents of change
By Gene Gibbons, Stateline.org Executive Editor

This column was published simultaneously by The Politico.
It took a while for most of the presidential candidates to figure out that voters want “change” and action on a variety of issues that affect their lives. They might have gotten it sooner if they had noticed the way that many states, led by innovative governors, are moving forward in areas like health care, immigration and global warming.
  Read More
Iraq casts shadow on 2008 state races
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

Not a single governor or state legislator wields authority over the conduct of the Iraq War, yet a broad range of party strategists and political analysts agree that state races in 2008 will be shaped, mostly indirectly, by public attitudes towards that conflict. Unless there’s a sea change in public opinion, that’s bad news for Republicans.
  Read More
WORTH NOTING: Illinois gov runs up travel tab
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s commuting costs start to add up. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds settles a dispute with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a cranky game warden. California corrections officials install “flushometers” to control wasteful toilet flushing in prisons. In case you missed any of those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.   Read More
Governor Photo
 

Gov. Mike Beebe (D)
Elected: November 2006
Term expires: January 2011

 

State capital: Little Rock
State nickname: The Natural State
Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D)
Secretary of State Charlie Daniels (D)
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel (D)
Senate President Pro Tem: Jack Critcher (D)
House Speaker: Benny C. Petrus (D)

 



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NGA celebrates centennial

The National Governors Association was born 100 years ago this week. In his latest commentary for Stateline.org, NGA Executive Director Raymond C. Scheppach recounts how governors in the past century have played a key role in shaping national policy.


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