HOME RSS FEEDS ARCHIVES ABOUT US SITE MAP PUBLICATIONS
Search using      Advanced
Thursday, July 24, 2008
ISSUES
CRIME & COURTS
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
EDUCATION
ELECTIONS
ENERGY
ENVIRONMENT
GOVS' SPEECHES
HEALTH CARE
HOMELAND SECURITY
POLITICS
SOCIAL POLICY
TAXES & BUDGET
TECHNOLOGY
TRANSPORTATION
SECTIONS
COMMENTARY
CORRECTIONS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
RESOURCES
STATE SPEECHES
NEWS ALERTS
ARCHIVES
Registration Required Subscription Required
Audio Video


Register to comment on Stateline.org Stories

Utah

Utah -- Home-sales numbers show bubble bursting


Home-sales numbers released Wednesday indicate that the Wasatch Front's housing bubble has truly begun to burst: 61 of 81 ZIP codes in four counties saw decreases in median home prices during the second quarter of 2008, compared with the same period last year.
Read More
Four-day week spreading from state to counties


A trend toward 10-hour days and shorter workweeks is sweeping through Utah's counties -- not coincidentally because of the state's push to save power and petroleum by shutting down its offices one day early.
Read More
Budget gaps triple for '09
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

The drumbeat of bad fiscal news from statehouses is intensifying. States collectively faced deficits of $40.3 billion in writing their current budgets — triple the $13 billion shortfall states weathered the previous year, a new report released July 23 shows.
  Read More
Social issues crowd state ballots
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Besides electing a president on Nov. 4, voters in some key battleground states also will face divisive social policy choices, including whether to ban gay marriage in Florida and restrict affirmative action and abortion in Colorado.
  Read More
Huntsman formally endorses Chaffetz


Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. on Wednesday formally endorsed his former chief of staff and fellow Republican, Jason Chaffetz, for the 3rd Congressional District.   Read More
Utah polygamists in D.C. for hearing


WASHINGTON - Even without an invitation, members of Utah's polygamous communities plan to appear at today's U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on crimes associated with polygamy.   Read More
State may replace the merit system


The merit system for state employees may need to be replaced, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said, because the job security it offers is seen as leading to a "calcified" work force.   Read More
Texas still looking for 5 indicted FLDS men


ELDORADO, Texas -- The search continues for five members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church who were indicted by a grand jury here.   Read More
Educators look to boost minority graduation


American Indian and other minority students sometimes drop out of school partly because they don't feel connected enough to their cultures from an early age, an expert on identifying dropout behaviors told educators Wednesday.   Read More
GOP leaders embrace 'outsider'


The Republican Party establishment, which took a few shots from 3rd District candidate Jason Chaffetz earlier in the campaign, is now embracing Chaffetz after his defeat of Rep. Chris Cannon in the June primary.   Read More
Rocky to open for Ralph Nader at U. of U.


At age 74, liberal activist Ralph Nader is waging his fifth presidential campaign.   Read More
U. to conduct shrimp-allergy study


University of Utah medical researchers are looking for 50 people who are allergic to shrimp for a study aimed at creating a vaccine.   Read More
Polygamous sect to defend 6 members in court and its practices on Capitol Hill


DALLAS -- Texas Rangers and prosecutors prepared Wednesday to arrest five members of a polygamous sect indicted the day before with their imprisoned leader on charges relating to under-age marriages and bigamy. Also Wednesday, supporters and critics of the sect converged on Washington for a Senate committee hearing on "crimes associated with polygamy."   Read More
States slammed by tax shortfalls  Subscription Required


The stumbling U.S. economy is forcing states to slash spending and cut jobs in order to close a projected $40 billion shortfall in the current fiscal year.   Read More
AMBER Alerts continue decline


The number of AMBER Alerts, public announcements of a child's abduction, is falling as police use them only for kids in the most danger.   Read More
Minimum-wage hike a lift for seniors, too  Audio


The federal minimum wage increases by 70 cents on Thursday to $6.55 an hour. About one quarter of the people who work for a minimum wage are teenagers, but most are adults like 63-year-old Shirley Golliday.   Read More
Prisoners' time spent on death row doubles


The time prisoners spend on death row has nearly doubled during the past two decades. Legal experts predict it will rise further as states review execution procedures and prisoners pursue lengthy appeals.   Read More
Group proposes climate-saving strategy


Tired of a lack of leadership at the national level, Western leaders are taking charge on curbing climate change by proposing a plan for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The Western Climate Initiative -- a coalition of seven states, including Washington and four Canadian provinces -- on Wednesday released a draft strategy to "cap and trade" releases of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases.   Read More
Gas conservation threatens road funding  Subscription Required


WASHINGTON -- The House passed legislation that would steer $8 billion to highway projects next year, in a prelude to a broader debate over how much to invest in roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure.   Read More
Housing bill will extend federal role in markets  Subscription Required


WASHINGTON -- A sprawling bill that reaches deep into the U.S. housing industry is close to becoming law, in what will likely stand as the federal government's most expansive effort to stabilize the mortgage and financial markets.   Read More
Huge housing bill set to become law  Registration Required


The House yesterday easily approved legislation that seeks to slow the steepest slide in house prices in a generation, rescue hundreds of thousands of homeowners at risk of foreclosure and reassure global markets that mortgage-finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will not be allowed to fail.   Read More
California joins big carbon-trade partnership


California, six other Western states and four Canadian provinces launched plans on Wednesday for one of the world's largest carbon-trading systems, a sweeping effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.   Read More
States worry about dwindling road funds
By Stephen C. Fehr, Stateline.org Staff Writer

(Updated 12:30 p.m. EDT, July 24, 2008)

Drivers are buying less gasoline, draining the federal Highway Trust Fund and jeopardizing thousands of major road and transit projects around the country.
  Read More
NCSL Conference focuses on floods, energy
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer

As state lawmakers gather in New Orleans this week for a policy conference, they’ll be reminded often of what can  happen if public works are allowed to deteriorate.   Read More
AMBER Alerts on the decline
By Nathaniel Weixel, Special to Stateline.org

AMBER Alerts have become less frequent, and state officials say that's not a bad thing.   Read More
States' hottest laws take on new threats
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer

The mosaic of laws passed by state legislatures this year reveals a country grappling with threats, from a faltering economy and record-high gasoline prices to global warming and lead-tainted toys from China.

For further analysis of the important developments in this year’s legislative sessions, see “Sour economy limits state options in ‘08” and Stateline.org’s exclusive state-by-state summaries of 2008 legislative actions.  
  Read More
States avoid slashing higher ed money
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Despite a tough economic year, several states are attempting to hold the line on college tuition — or at least not let increases get out of control — by avoiding deep cuts to higher education, an area that states have been quick to slash in past years when funds were low.   Read More
States move to regulate senior guardians
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer

As the U.S. population ages and families scatter across the country, the frail elderly increasingly end up relying on court-appointed guardians when they can no longer take care of their personal affairs. California just joined six other states in watching over these professionals charged with protecting society’s most vulnerable adults.
  Read More
Govs turn to fixing infrastructure
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA — Improving the nation’s crumbling bridges, roads and sewage systems is a $1.6 trillion problem that governors intend to explore in the next year.   Read More
Govs celebrate past, look to '09
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

While 70 current and former governors hobnob and reminisce in Philadelphia July 11-14 during the National Governors Association's 100th anniversary celebration, the sitting governors also plan to strategize on how to influence the next president on policies ranging from energy to health care.   Read More
Govs find their popularity might not transfer
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

At a time when the presidential candidates are feverishly trying to flip red and blue states, a group of governors is finding that switching a state’s partisan leaning is no easy matter.
  Read More
Sour economy limits states' options in '08
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer

(Updated 5:38 p.m. EDT, July 17, 2008)

For many states, 2008 will be remembered for record numbers of home foreclosures, $4-a-gallon gasoline and the beginning of a slide into new fiscal woes after two years of overflowing coffers.

Stateline.org’s annual state-by-state look at legislative accomplishments, covering 39 states so far, discerns the trends and precedents emerging from state capitals this year.
  Read More
2008 state-by-state summary
By The Stateline.org Staff

(Updated 2:26 p.m. EDT, July 18, 2008)

Here’s Stateline.org's state-by-state rundown of significant legislative action in 2008.
  Read More
State by state, it's still a tight race
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

Finally, the last primary votes have been cast, and Barack Obama and John McCain are jousting with each other. But even as Obama opens up double-digit leads in two national polls, the election is still poised to be decided in a half-dozen toss-up states.
  Read More
Jobs are at risk if Congress doesn't fix the Highway Fund
By John Horsley, AASHTO Executive Director

State budgets and nearly 400,000 jobs are at risk if Congress fails to replenish the Highway Trust Fund,  John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials, writes in a commentary for Stateline.org.   Read More
Calif. gay marriage ruling sparks new debate
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer

(Updated 5 p.m EDT, June 12, 2008)
The California Supreme Court reignited a political wildfire with its ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in the most populous state in the union, but the issue already has burned out in more than half the states.
  Read More
Will Obama have coattails in the South?
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

High turnout among African-Americans and younger voters could reshape the Southern political landscape this fall. But Democrats may find gains in statewide contests thwarted by bad timing and a potential conservative backlash.
  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 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
Obama's friends in unlikely places
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

Barack Obama is striking an unlikely connection with voters in the reddest of red states. However the Democratic presidential contest plays out, the Illinois senator has breathed new energy and resources into several long-forsaken state parties.
  Read More
Governor Photo
Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. (R)
Elected: November 2004
Term expires: January 2009

 

State capital: Salt Lake City
State nickname: The Beehive State
Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert (R)
Utah has no secretary of state position
Attorney General Mark Shurtleff (R)
Senate President: John Valentine (R)
House Speaker: Greg J. Curtis (R)





USEFUL LINKS
Rescue plan
for road funding

The U.S. House just voted to divert $8 billion to keep the federal Highway Trust Fund out of the red. Read more about the trust fund’s problems and the perils facing state road building: States worry about dwindling road funds


Access Stateline.org’s resources wherever you go on the web. The free and customizable toolbar includes the latest state news, search tools, important events, links to key players, and more.

On the Go? Download and Print our weekly PDF to stay on top of important stories.

 Weekly Original Content.
 Weekly Content Archive
Stateline.org has compiled an extensive list of state issue political blogs to make it convenient for you to follow state government.

If a blog you find interesting and informative is not on our list, tell us about it by sending an email to editor@stateline.org.
Blogs organized by Issue
lineBlogs organized by State
Stateline.org has put together a list of state data organized by issue. Here, you will find useful links to essential information from government, academia, and think tanks. If you have a link to add, please email us.
Stateline.org graphics


“Out There” is a new regular column on Stateline.org focused on political trends. Click here to learn more.