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O'Malley Stays Green, Signs New Measures

Maryland – Gov. Martin O’Malley kept up the Earth Day theme he’s been advocating this week by signing more than 20 new laws that are designed to protect the Chesapeake Bay, curb development of its shoreline, reduce energy consumption, encourage conservation and promote the construction of environmentally friendly buildings. Among the Bay bills was legislation specifying how $25 million in the new 2010 Trust Fund will be used to reduce runoff pollution from farms and commercial development.
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AR – Beebe Welcomes New Jobs. TETRA Technologies, an oil and gas services company based outside Houston, will locate a $100 million calcium chloride processing plant in El Dorado, where it will eventually employ 50 people. Approximately 400 people will be employed in construction of the 500,000-square-foot plant, which is expected to be completed by late 2009. “TETRA’s arrival in Union County will continue the strong tradition of oil-and-gas investment in South Arkansas,” Gov. Mike Beebe said.
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CO – Ritter Invests in Bioscience. Gov. Bill Ritter signed a bill that will put $26.5 million into the state’s bioscience community over the next five years. At least 30 percent of the money will go to university and research institution technology transfer offices. Another 30 percent or more will go to startup bioscience companies that are commercializing technologies. The remainder will help support other public and private efforts to commercialize bioscience research.
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MA – Patrick Creates Youth Council. Gov. Deval Patrick is starting a statewide youth council to involve young people in politics. He would like to even go further and create opportunities for residents across the Commonwealth. The Governor was in a Mission Hill community center where he met with kids from all over the state. Twenty-eight kids, 2 from each county around the state, will be involved in making a difference in not only their own neighborhoods, but state politics as well. Watch the clip here:
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NM – Richardson Announces New Education Initiatives. Gov. Bill Richardson has a message for New Mexico’s teenagers: If you want to be eligible for a driver’s license, you better be attending class and getting decent grades. The requirements are among several education initiatives announced by the governor during a visit to Sandia High School in Albuquerque. Richardson describes the initiatives as creative ways for the state to improve graduation rates, classroom instruction and community involvement. Starting next year, eighth-graders must demonstrate nearing proficiency or proficiency and beyond on state standardized tests to be eligible for a driver’s license when they reach 16.
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NY – Paterson Works to Reform Health Care System. Gov. David Paterson applauded the work of New York’s hospitals this week and called them critical partners in continuing the State’s push to improve access to quality and preventive health care. The Governor also stressed the progress the State made with the passage of the Enacted Budget emphasizing the State’s commitment to reforming New York’s health care system and providing increased access to care for all New Yorkers. “We need more primary and preventive care. We need greater access to affordable health insurance. We need to fix our medical malpractice system. We need more effective public health programs. We need a system that offers every New Yorker access to high-quality health care at a price they can afford,” said Paterson.
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WI – Doyle Awards Grant to Fresh Start Program. Portage-based Renewal Unlimited Inc. was one of nine Wisconsin agencies to receive funding from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for Fresh Start, a program that offers people ages 16 to 24 the opportunity to receive education while building affordable homes. The $169,300 allocation, together with a recent grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, will allow Renewal Unlimited to operate two construction crews in Portage, where participants have completed construction of eight homes since the program’s 1999 inception. Gov. Jim Doyle announced that the nine agencies would share a total of $1.017 million for Operation Fresh Start programs, with individual allocations ranging from $19,000 to $241,380.
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