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Ritter Funds Higher Education Construction, Scholarships

Colorado – Gov. Bill Ritter signed a law that will provide one-time assistance to colleges and universities for building projects. The bill established a process to identify capital construction projects for universities, colleges and vocational schools statewide to be funded from federal mineral lease money. Ritter also signed a bill that sets up a scholarship program for teachers in high-demand subjects, including math, science, special education and English language training. “Scholarships for student-teachers are an effective way to address teacher shortages in high-demand areas such as math, science, special education and English Language Acquisition,” Ritter said.
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CAMPAIGN NEWS

DGA Chair Gov. Joe Manchin discussed the West Virginia Primary with CNN’s John Roberts.
Watch the video here

WA – Gregoire Doubles Opponent in April Fundraising. Official monthly summary reports filed with the Public Disclosure Commission show Gov. Chris Gregoire raised twice what her Republican challenger raised during the month of April. Gregoire raised more than $1.3 million to her opponent’s $640,000.
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GENERAL NEWS

NY – Paterson Promises Help for Farmers. Gov. David Paterson said he would get back to work in Albany and buy a plane ticket to Washington to advance agricultural issues he heard about in a meeting with farmers. Paterson and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer attended a town meeting on agricultural issues with about 200 people from around western New York. Most questions focused on a federal program that attempts to provide legal immigrant workers for farm labor. “Growers and farmers here today have a problem because they’re not able to find workers,” Paterson said. He said the federal farm bill now under consideration may alleviate that problem. He also promised to talk with state agencies that have balked at new ideas to boost agriculture, such as allowing maple producers to tap trees on state lands.
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NC – Easley Seeks Funds for Mental Health System. Gov. Mike Easley’s proposed budget seeks to improve the state’s troubled mental health system, shoring up local services and state hospital care. But Easley, legislators and others concerned about mental health services said still more needs to be done. Easley proposed spending an additional $68 million for mental health. The money, which would come mostly from alcohol taxes, would pay for more than 430 jobs in state hospitals and local mental health offices.
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OK – Henry Encourages Bioenergy Funding. Gov. Brad Henry is asking lawmakers to again appropriate $10 million for the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center. The center was established a year ago in an initiative to bolster renewable energy, promote environmental protection and help reduce dependence on foreign oil. The center coordinates biofuels research and development being conducted at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and the Ardmore-based Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. In its first six months of existence, the OBC has already attracted $10 million in federal funding to match the $10 million that the state appropriated to it last year.
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WI – Doyle Signs Global Warming Agreement with Great Britain. Wisconsin has a new memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom on global warming. Gov. Jim Doyle says it can help the state generate new technologies, new businesses and new jobs. The agreement encourages collaboration between the state and the United Kingdom in researching and sharing solutions to global warming, as well as efforts to educate the public on the issue. The main focus is reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the economy.
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