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New Hampshire Named Safest in the Nation.

CQ Press named New Hampshire the “Safest State” in the nation for 2008. New Hampshire boasts the nation’s lowest murder rate and second-lowest rates for aggravated assault and burglary. “New Hampshire has long been one of the safest states in the nation, and our low crime rate is part of what makes this such a great place to live and work. As a state, we are routinely recognized as a national leader and I can think of no better category to lead the nation than in the safety of our citizens,” Gov. John Lynch said. “With this recognition, we should take time to thank the hard-working men and women of New Hampshire law enforcement who help keep us all safe.” Read more

ENERGY NEWS

CO – Ritter: Pepsi Center Goes Green. Gov. Bill Ritter announced that the Pepsi Center is the first arena in the country to go 100 percent green. New solar panels are being installed. He also unveiled renewable energy and recycling programs for the Democratic National Convention, which will be hosted at the Pepsi Center. Ritter’s announcement is part of an ongoing effort by city and convention officials to be environmentally friendly during the four-day August event. A spokesman for the company that owns the Pepsi Center, says it will be the first sports arena in the country to operate completely on renewable energy through the wind energy they bought. Read more

MI – Granholm Promotes Renewable Energy, Job Creation. The quickest way to create jobs is in the renewable energy industry, according to Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Granholm was in Pontiac Monday touting a combination of approaches in her proposed economic stimulus package, designed to pull the state out of the employment doldrums. “Michigan can lead the nation in renewables,” Granholm said. Read more

NM – Richardson: State Becoming a Model for Green Businesses. New Mexico is taking a manifold approach to establishing itself as an environmentally conscious state. New governmental mandates, lucrative grants, and film production incentives have combined to create an oasis of green business in a state carved out of desert. In January, New Mexico began requiring industries to report their greenhouse gas emissions. This measure, approved by the state’s Environmental Improvement Board, forces the largest industrial companies, including power plants and oil/gas refineries, to provide a record of their air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. Gov. Bill Richardson calls this effort “one of the most comprehensive mandatory greenhouse gas reporting programs in the nation,” and hopes the measures taken will lead to the curtailment of harmful emissions affecting the state and global climate. Read more

GENERAL NEWS

AR – Beebe: School Fund for Parents a Likely Boon. Arkansas can raise its dismal college graduation rate by earmarking state-scholarship money for single parents, Gov. Mike Beebe said. The governor’s comments came at a news conference that presented the results of a study on the effectiveness of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund. The study found that nearly all the nonprofit program’s graduates are employed fulltime and making more money than other single parents. Also, 77 percent of Arkansas participants in 2006 either completed their education or were still in school. That’s an impressive success rate considering only 19 percent of the state’s adults over age 25 have a bachelor’s degree, Beebe said. Beebe, who was raised by a single mother, said devoting a small portion of scholarships from every school in the state to single parents — perhaps through the fund specifically — would yield significant returns. The success rate there so outstrips the other success rates that it can, in very short order, turn lives around,” he said. Read more

MD – Editorial: O’Malley Adult Education Plan Has Merit. In a system fixated on K through 12, adult education often gets short shrift. That’s why there is merit in a proposal by Gov. Martin O’Malley to create a comprehensive workforce development system that would devote more attention to the critical needs of adults. Mr. O’Malley’s plan would transfer adult education and literacy, correctional education and general equivalency diploma testing services from the Education Department to the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The idea is to align all the programs with workforce creation efforts so that resources are used more effectively and outcomes are improved. That could mean that an inmate who earned a GED would also be trained in a skill, coached in how to get a job and even put in touch with potential employers. Read more

OH – Strickland Welcomes New Jobs. A global information technology firm that plans to create up to 1,000 jobs in Clermont County said at least half of those jobs are expected to come from the local work force. “Ohio is home not only to some of the largest and oldest industries, but we are home to some of the newest and fastest-growing sectors of the economy,” Strickland said. “This is a great company, and I believe and I hope that Tata’s choice clearly shows that the jobs of tomorrow are coming to Ohio.” The more-than-$20-million facility will serve as the primary software development and delivery center for Tata’s North American customers. Read more

WA – Gregoire OKs Public Financing for Local Campaigns. Gov. Chris Gregoire on Monday signed Democratic-sponsored legislation to allow voter-approved public financing of some local races. The measure, approved during the recent legislative session with only Democratic votes, removes a 16-year-old ban on use of tax money to help finance campaigns for local office. “The governor supports this bill because it allows for a voter-approved local public financing system allowing people who can’t afford to run for office the opportunity to do just that,” a spokesman said. Read more

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