State-by-state Round Up

Published April 19, 2009 @ 09:00AM PT

I'm headed back to MA today, flying across the country for most of the day. Here's what's been happening in states around the nation this week:

Illinois, Maine, Texas and New Mexico are suing Oppenheimer Funds for mishandling higher ed related investments;

FLA universities may require all students to have health insurance, with the cost incurred by the students. Also going on in FL: phone line deregulation may lead to annual cost increases for customers (BAD) and vacant developments may become public parks (GOOD?).

Los Angeles Unified School District to cut 5,000 teachers and staff. Also, a rare moment of wisdom from the Governator: undocumented immigrants not to blame for state budget woes. One group that is a problem, though? College grads. The state doesn't have enough to fill workforce shortages.

Elderly residents evicted in New Jersey due to rent increases.

In South Carolina and Texas, lawmakers are working to access stimulus funds despite the plans of their governors.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania plans to build 3 new prisons. Great. In similarly "good" news, casinos are back on the table in Massachusetts. And, Lenders Thwart Ohio Law Intended to Limit High Interest on Payday Loans.

Finally, a slightly upbeat note: Thousands benefit from free dental care in New Haven.

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The California governor is full of it.... wish he would go back to making fictional movies.

He is now going to cut medicare/medical, social security, the disabled, schools, and who knows what else. We will loose most of Obama's stimulus money because of these cuts.

Posted by Sharon Blasingame on 05/21/2009 @ 08:43PM PT
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Leigh is a PhD candidate in urban planning at MIT, and a consultant on U.S. Gulf Coast recovery. She sits on the Board of the Allston-Brighton Community Development Corporation in Boston, and has worked with non-profits, foundations and local governments on policies and programs aimed at reducing urban poverty and inequality.