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US: Largest public pensions face trillion gap, Moody’s says
States and cities are contending with underfunded worker retirement systems after the 18-month recession wiped out asset values and forced cuts to contributions. Now, liabilities are crowding out spending for services, roads and schools, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
NY: New York leaders discount terror threat
Some of New York’s top state and city government officials took to the nation’s largest subway system in New York City Thursday, urging calm just hours after Iraq’s prime minister said captive Islamic State militants told intelligence agents of a plot to attack subways in the U.S. and Paris.
PA: Rally calls for Pennsylvania hate-crimes law change
The Philadelphia rally supported an expansion of the state’s hate-crimes law to include crimes motivated by sexual orientation. It was spurred by the Sept. 11 assault on a gay couple in the city.
DC: District of Columbia studies roots of dropout crisis
Forty percent of District ninth-graders will not graduate in four years. A new report asks why that rate is so high.
IA: Iowa audit says pay given, but no proof of work
State officials are reviewing whether Iowa can reclaim any of the nearly ,000 paid to six secretary of state employees after an audit showed they were allowed to continue to collect state checks in 2012 after their positions were eliminated.
MD: Survey shows teachers don’t believe new evaluation system is going well
A survey of Maryland’s public educators shows that teachers believe the new system, which ties their performance to student achievement, is problematic because it was one of many reforms being undertaken at the same time.
KS: Kansas budget chief finds million state can save
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s top budget adviser says the administration has identified million in savings to help the state reduce a million budget shortfall predicted for July 2016.
WI: Federal court lifts injunction against investigation into Scott Walker, conservative groups
A federal appeals court has overturned a ruling that halted an investigation into illegal campaign activity involving Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign and a number of conservative groups.
CA: State prisons to conduct stricter searches of visitors, staff
The policy is intended to crack down on smuggled goods that fuel gang activity behind bars, but prisoners’ rights advocates raised concerns that more invasive searches could discourage visitors, who can aid inmates’ rehabilitation.
MI: Michigan disaster declaration will provide flood damage aid for metro Detroit
President Barack Obama issued a disaster declaration for the state of Michigan because of damage sustained during last month’s massive flooding in metro Detroit. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder said the cost of cleanup and repair was estimated at more than .1 billion.
NM: State could save million by boosting graduation rate
The benefits would come primarily from increased earnings, crime reduction and health care savings, a legislative report said.
UT: Utah to appeal ruling in ‘Sister Wives’ case
Utah’s attorney general will appeal a ruling striking down parts of the state’s anti-polygamy law in a lawsuit brought by the family on the television reality show “Sister Wives.”
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