Check back often for the latest news.
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2009 could be crucial year for changes in schools, nationally and in Milwaukee
Jan 5, 2009 — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Education will be a big subject as the state budget process is launched in coming weeks. --Milwaukee Public Schools. Milwaukee teacher residency rules? Wait and see. Milwaukee --Milwaukee School Board elections. Most likely, the biggest news about Milwaukee schools will be made in Madison this year.
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Hong Kong as gateway to China
Jan 5, 2009 — Washington Times, A1
Hong Kong led Heritage's 2008 rankings as well. CEPA provides a window of opportunity for Hong Kong-based businesses to gain greater access to the mainland market. A 2007 survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (AmCham) found mixed feelings toward CEPA.
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Senate to take on child welfare Reforms, transparency at top of agenda
Jan 5, 2009 — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The state's Department of Children and Families has planned sweeping reforms, including having nurses evaluate young children in foster care. Denise Revels Robinson, who served as director of the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare at the time of Christopher's death, asked to be transferred. Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee), who serves with Darling on the Milwaukee Child Welfare Partnership Council, said public access to information and government accountability go hand in hand.
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Smooth vote doesn't quiet critics
Jan 5, 2009 — The Columbus Dispatch
...meltdowns. Steve Harsman, director of the Montgomery County Board of Elections and a former president of the Ohio Association of Election Officials, said the 122 directives that Brunner issued last year were overwhelming at times but needed. "You have to say the success of Ohio's election was due in part to Secretary Brunner's efforts," said Harsman, a Democrat. Linda D. Lalley, president of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, which has sued the state to force election...
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What readers want from Obama health, education, economic progress
Jan 5, 2009 — Lexington Herald-Leader
Mitch McConnell. But it went deeper than that, showing that Kentuckians worry about our state's future -- and the fragile foundations, both educational and economic, on which it rests. He wanted the post-Election Day Chicago Tribune, by first-class mail, and complained that the cost of having it overnighted would be $11.
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As Bush term winds down, his Texas team gets graded
Jan 4, 2009 — Houston Chronicle
Bush's top education staffer in Texas, Spellings came to Washington with the new president and rose from top domestic policy adviser to U.S. education secretary. Evans "probably left too soon," said Steven Schier, a political scientist at Carleton College. Political future: Business. His future is in business. Rod Paige Bush's first education secretary carried out the administration's No Child Left Behind reforms.
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Budget woes await lawmakers in Missouri, Kansas
Jan 4, 2009 — The Kansas City Star
And now consumer spending declines have sent tax revenues dropping sharply. But the odds of a shortfall are "better than 50-50," said Senate budget committee chairman Gary Nodler, a Joplin Republican. The budget pain is being felt in Kansas. The Missouri Budget Project estimates a shortfall of $900 million or more, although others say they think revenues may stay positive.
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Colo. Senate Replacement Named
Jan 4, 2009 — Washington Post
By Shailagh Murray In a surprise choice, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) appointed Denver schools Superintendent Michael Bennet to fill the Senate seat vacated by Ken Salazar, who is slated to become interior secretary in Barack Obama's administration. Bennet has also worked as managing director of Anschutz Investment in Denver, as a lawyer in the Clinton Justice Department and as Hickenlooper's chief of staff.
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Elder-care facilities seek tax exemption
Jan 4, 2009 — Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Redstone operates three facilities in Hempfield, North Huntingdon and Murrysville. Lebanon and Chartiers Valley school districts are appealing decisions by the Allegheny County Board of Assessment Appeals that exempted Asbury Health Center in Mt. Tina Raybold, spokeswoman for Masonic Villages of Sewickley in Allegheny County, said her organization qualifies as a public charity but won't seek an exemption.
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In Auto Business, Firing the Coach Would Be Unsportsmanlike
Jan 4, 2009 — Washington Post
A few nanny-nanny-boo-boo types objected. That strategy made money for Toyota, but it cost Toyota money, too. Both Watanabe and Wagoner have played the game well.
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New leave policy raises questions
Jan 4, 2009 — The Buffalo News
The new manual had been shelved since last January. Union leaders said last week they have yet to see the new handbook. He said that the new rules will thus be in effect by early March. McDonald said, "They're within the law, but they haven't done it for 15 years.
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Obama Considers Major Expansion in Aid to Jobless
Jan 4, 2009 — New York Times, A1
Obama advisers have said the package will carry a total cost of at least $775 billion. Obama has called “shovel ready.” But Mr. Such changes could carry permanent costs for new energy, education, health care and tax policies.
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Pushing more people into college won't help
Jan 4, 2009 — Arkansas Democrat Gazette
But for those who aren’t academically inclined, college coursework - even if it leads to a degree - is often an expensive mistake. In short, we have oversold college education. George Leef is Director of Research at the John W. Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, Raleigh, NC.
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State legislator Charles Key wants to limit federal power HOUSE MEMBER SAYS RESOLUTION ON 10TH AMENDMENT ISN'T ABOUT PARTISANSHIP
Jan 4, 2009 — The Daily Oklahoman
Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, is optimistic fellow senators will pass the measure. The No Child Left Behind initiative, a 2002 program requires, states to measure performance and offer alternatives in cases where schools are failing.
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The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Clytie Bunyan column Wind maven, Kylah McNabb, wants to see Oklahoma's power
Jan 4, 2009 — The Daily Oklahoman
With the nationwide push toward renewable energy, experts predict growth in wind farm development. Commerce Secretary Natalie Shirley said the industry could create 7,000 jobs in the next five years. State colleges already offer courses that would allow people to specialize in operations.
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Tips for green investing in 2009
Jan 4, 2009 — Los Angeles Times
Think sub-sectors The green sector is so new that it's hard to even figure out what companies belong in it. Another sub-sector of the so-called green economy involves water. One way to find funds that invest in green companies is to contact socially responsible investing organizations.
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Tone May Be Key to Obama's Agenda
Jan 4, 2009 — Washington Post
Conservative House Democrats want to include statutory deficit-reduction language in a economic stimulus package that could cost $1 trillion. Over the past 15 years, during which a large majority of current lawmakers were first elected to Congress, partisan feuding has reduced Congress's output to a bare minimum of must-pass measures. Ben Nelson (Neb.), a leading centrist Democrat.
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Tone May Empower Obama's Agenda
Jan 4, 2009 — Washington Post
Beginning with the stimulus debate in early January, Obama will push for Republicans to be included in major policy negotiations as they unfold, senior Democratic aides said. But many Blue Dogs are pushing for an early imposition of pay-go rules, even if it creates problems for funding future initiatives such as health-care reform. Overhauling the nation's health-care system, to make it more efficient while extending coverage to more people, may represent Obama's biggest policy challenge.
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Transformation of Chicago schools could be model for US
Jan 4, 2009 — Boston Globe
Duncan, a longtime Obama friend and basketball buddy, helped shape the incoming administration's education platform. As education secretary, he will be Obama's point man for carrying out the No Child Left Behind law and negotiating revisions with Congress. Many educators in Chicago say Duncan's efforts have upended school culture, building a record of progress, although the high-poverty system has far to go. "This is no utopia.
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Union recognition
Jan 4, 2009 — Pittsburgh Tribune Review
The NLRB then orders a secret ballot election in which the employees accept or reject the union. "Is it really free choice when the recognition process does not include a secret ballot election? The Bush-Reagan National Labor Relations boards have launched systematic attacks on workers right to organize," Gerard said. Even so, NLRB statistics show that unions nationwide won 59.2 percent of the 1,514 secret ballot representation elections from October 2006 to October 2007.
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Why Obama's green jobs plan might work
Jan 4, 2009 — Los Angeles Times
This is the home of Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. The costs of wind and solar power are dropping fast. Michigan's brightest renewable stars are in solar.
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Beyond Publicity, What Is Rhee Producing?
Jan 3, 2009 — Washington Post
Rhee's "epic struggle" with the teachers union bears watching. A Rhee victory would send a message to public schools nationwide. The city must know where Rhee is going.
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For Utah agriculture, energy efficiency, paperwork sophistication are keys to modern-day survival.
Jan 3, 2009 — The Salt Lake Tribune
In the 1970s, U.S. producers switched from gasoline to diesel-powered farm equipment. Today, his farm power bills are about $200 a month. About three years ago, Tuft began making his own bio -diesel when a cousin opened a Winger's restaurant in Richfield. They could plant safflower, which could be used as a rotation crop on dry (non-irrigated) wheat farms, as well as camelina, canola or sunflower, said David Drake, Sevier County Extension agent.
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Garbage going green: Landfill's methane gas could be made into energy
Jan 3, 2009 — Detroit News
Methane makes up 50 percent of landfill gases and has been converted to a source of alternative energy for decades. In Sumpter Township, the Carleton Farms Landfill has a 14-engine plant generating electricity to power about 10,000 homes. The credits represent proof that electricity was generated from eligible renewable energy sources including wind, solar, biomass or landfill gas.
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Missourians wanting to power their own homes are finding it difficult
Jan 3, 2009 — The Kansas City Star
Karen Dillon Jan. 3, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- That solar panel you were planning to install? It allows customers to install renewable energy sources such as wind and solar generators and an inverter that converts the direct current coming into the house to an alternating current.
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PSC: Expand 'clean energy' The staff of the state's Public Service Commission has recommended redefining renewable energy to help meet a goal set by Gov. Charlie Crist.
Jan 3, 2009 — The Miami Herald
Almost all of that is from biomass and hydroelectric dams. Gov. Charlie Crist has said repeatedly that he would like to see the state get to 20 percent by 2020.
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Time for Homeowners to Prepare for Taxes
Jan 3, 2009 — Washington Post
Should you file your federal income tax return now, to get an early refund, or should you wait and file on April 15? Recently, the IRS announced that it has significantly updated "Your Federal Income Tax," Publication 17. Benny L. Kass is a Washington lawyer.
