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ND: Bill would allow North Dakota elected officials to conceal and carry
Elected officials would be able to carry concealed weapons in the North Dakota Capitol if legislators approve a bill sponsored by a dozen Republicans.
MS: Identity thieves target Mississippi school districts
The Mississippi attorney general’s office is investigating an identity theft scam in which fraudsters are stealing school district employees’ unemployment benefits.
CA: Critics accuse governor of neglecting California’s poor
A debate, which has simmered for years as Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown worked to stamp out deficits by keeping a lid on spending, threatens to boil over as liberal lawmakers make clear their desire to use the state’s rebound to increase aid to people passed over by the economic turnaround.
WV: West Virginia revisits science standards
Members of the West Virginia Board of Education will take up the teaching of climate science after accusations that the curriculum had been revamped to appease the state’s fossil fuel industry.
OK: Governor says Oklahoma cannot continue to rank worst in health
For the past several years, Oklahoma has ranked among the worst in the nation for high rates of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and a long list of other health issues.
MA: Olympic bid spurs talk of balancing Massachusetts priorities
The most difficult task confronting Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, a Democrat, and Republican Gov. Charlie Baker in Boston’s pursuit of the Olympic Games may be ensuring that an Olympics quest does not devour promises to dramatically expand early education, fix crumbling schools or curb the gap between rich and poor.
ID: Governor proposes boosting education funding to pre-recession levels
Republican Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has proposed .47 billion to fund Idaho schools, making it his highest proposed education hike since 2008.
AZ: ‘Stop paying lawyers and start paying teachers’
Newly elected Republican Gov. Doug Ducey told lawmakers to brace for a new era of austerity as he proposed ambitious education reforms and challenged legislators to avoid a constitutional crisis by settling an expensive school-funding lawsuit.
NM: Governor’s .3 billion budget puts focus on schools, jobs
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez said spending for New Mexico public schools and job-creation programs must be bolstered despite an uncertain state revenue picture.
OR: Transportation chair says governor fired her for rejecting coal subsidy
Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber has fired the chairwoman of the powerful Oregon Transportation Commission, she said, over her refusal to approve state money for a controversial coal export project.
MS: Two Democrats propose making Bible the state book
There’s a state bird, a state nut, a state shell and more, but what about a book? A couple of Mississippi lawmakers are hoping to make the Bible the official book of the state.
KS: Brownback: America suffers ‘crisis of the family’
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback used his second inaugural address Monday to focus on social and religious issues, declaring that America suffers from a “crisis of the family.”
AR: Governor wants to keep focus on jobs as he takes office
After a heated campaign in which he touted himself as the candidate best prepared to be the “jobs governor,” Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson says boosting Arkansas’ economy will be his focus as takes over the state’s top office.
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