AL: Judge named to hear suit over state computer contract

By Bob Lowry, The Huntsville Times

Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb on Thursday appointed a Jefferson County judge to hear a lawsuit filed by a legislative committee trying to block a $13 million no-bid computer contract.
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CO: U.S. attorney nominee Villafuerte denies any role in accessing restricted database

By Karen Crummy, The Denver Post

President Barack Obama's nominee to be Colorado's next U.S. attorney has denied any involvement in the access of a restricted federal database to help Bill Ritter's 2006 campaign for governor.
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DE: Delaware asked to invest in wind company

By Aaron Nathans, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)

A startup company whose management includes former Lt. Gov. John Carney is seeking a state investment of $350,000 to establish an operation in Wilmington to manufacture support towers for wind turbines. Read More

IA: Iowa City stem cell company gets state grant

By Staff and Wire Reports, The Des Moines Register

Cellular Engineering Technologies of Iowa City received $50,000 from the state Thursday to develop a more efficient technology platform to make adult stem cells for use in medical research, drug development and clinical therapy. Read More

KY: Kentucky PSC recommends ways to prevent power outages

By Patrick Howington, The Courier-Journal (Louisville)

The Kentucky Public Service Commission offered a broad — and expensive — set of recommendations Thursday to limit power outages and ease recovery when the lights go out. Read More

ND: WiFi access available at 14 N.D. rest areas

By Staff Reports, The Forum (Fargo)

rivers in North Dakota now have access to wireless Internet at 14 visitors centers and rest areas along interstates 94 and 29 and other major roadways. Read More

NE: As pressure mounts, McClurg mum on stem cell vote

By Melissa Lee, Lincoln Journal Star

The man who holds the pivotal vote in today's embryonic stem cell research showdown is prepared to make a difficult decision. Read More

PA: State taking heat for 'chaotic' flu shots

By Steve Twedt, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In the last several weeks, as the H1N1 flu has swept through the nation and health officials scrambled to find scarce vaccine, questions have been raised about how Pennsylvania chose to handle the process of distributing the limited doses available. Read More

PA: Some don't report how stimulus funds spent

By Tom Fontaine, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Stung by criticism over data showing billions in federal stimulus money going to nonexistent congressional districts in Pennsylvania and other states, the government corrected its Web site created to track the money. Read More

RI: In Providence, a crescent of green business sprouts

By Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal

When Alteris Renewables decided to add another office in either Rhode Island or Southeastern Massachusetts, it considered Fall River, New Bedford and Bristol. Read More

TX: Settlement delay costs HISD $82 million

By Ericka Mellon, The Houston Chronicle

Houston ISD schools have gone without at least $82 million for technology upgrades while the district is under federal investigation for questionable deals with computer equipment vendors. Read More

WI: Suit over search-engine keywords tries new angle

By Dinesh Ramde, Wisconsin State Journal (Madison)

A lawsuit in Wisconsin is bringing a fresh challenge to the practice of paying for keywords on Google and other search engines to boost one company's link over a rival's. Read More

WV: W.Va. lawmakers mull ruling on e-mail secrecy

By The Associated Press

A state Supreme Court justice says West Virginia's Freedom of Information laws are too narrow to fully serve the public's right to know, and some lawmakers are willing to look at changing the code. Read More

WY: Don't blame wind, officials say

By Dustin Bleizeffer, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne)

Power producers have installed more than 500 megawatts of wind energy generation in Wyoming in the past year. Read More

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

All 50 states have Web sites, but some are more advanced than others. Utah, for example, has a 24-hour "chat" service to help residents trying to renew their car registration online or figure out more than 100 other applications available on that state's Web site.

AeA, formerly the American Electronics Association
This group represents the high-tech industry, including Internet and online services, systems integration and telecommunications services.

DNAresource.com
Includes database of current and past state legislation related to forensic DNA policy.

Electronic Privacy Information Center
Research and advocacy organization focusing on civil liberties in the digital age. Site includes frequently updated news section.

Government Performance Project
Analysis of how well each state is managed in four areas: money, people, infrastructure and information.

Government Technology
This site provides the latest developments concerning e-government, telecom, homeland security and other issues.

Information Technology Association of America
This group represents the broad spectrum of information technology, including Internet and online services, systems integration and telecommunications.

Slashdot.org Politics
Links to news articles and discussions about technology and politics.

Statescape's BillFinder
BillFinder helps users find any bill eligible for consideration in the current calendar year using either keywords and phrases or bill numbers.

Wisconsin Technology Council
The Tech Council is the science and technology advisor to the Governor and the Legislature. Launched in 2001, the Tech Council was created by a bipartisan act of the governor and the Legislature. It is an independent, non-profit and non-partisan board with members from tech companies, venture capital firms, all levels of education, research institutions, government and law.

ZDNet Government
Part of ZDNet.com's blog network, ZDNet Government reports on developments on information technology in federal, state and local governments.

Read the latest news, analysis and research on the economic crisis in the states in Stateline.org's new Recession and Recovery special section.

The Stimulus and the
States
Follow how states are managing the stimulus money and which programs are receiving funding as part of the recovery effort using Stateline.org's stimulus special section.

Click here to read summaries of action in all 50 states and major trends of the 2009 legislative session.

Read the full 2008 Legislative Review or state-by-state summaries

Read the full 2007 Legislative Review or state-by-state summaries

Read the full 2006 Legislative Review

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

Blogs organized by State

Stateline.org has put together a list of state public policy resources 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.

Go to the state public policy resources page

The Pew Charitable Trusts applies the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Pew's Center on the States identifies and advances state policy solutions.

Technology news

AL: Judge named to hear suit over state computer contract

CO: U.S. attorney nominee Villafuerte denies any role in accessing restricted database