Any expectation that state and local governments would use the worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression to reduce their biggest expenditures is proving to be wishful thinking. ...more

January 2, 2010

Offenders sentenced to wear ankle bracelets would have to pay for their own monitoring, up to about $3,300 a year, under a bill Florida lawmakers advanced Tuesday. ...more

April 1, 2009

With two Geo Trackers, a Lexus and a pickup, retired coal miner Bob Woll has many ways to zip around his southern Illinois town to visit friends, the fairgrounds or the frozen custard stand. These days, he prefers his electric golf cart. ...more

August 11, 2008

California on Friday became the first state to ban trans-fats from restaurant food, following several cities and major fast-food chains in erasing the artery-clogger from menus. ...more

July 26, 2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - To Celeste Tyler and her teenage friends, text-messaging is as effortless as tying their shoes. The high school senior can text without looking, sending messages on her red Samsung "slider" while it's behind her back, in her purse or under her desk at school, where cell phones are banned. So why not do it while driving? ...more

June 30, 2008

All of the talk among political candidates about a federal gas tax holiday to offset soaring prices at the pump misses a critical fact: state taxes are, for the most part, even more costly for drivers. ...more

June 9, 2008

Concerns that realistic-looking toy weapons are confusing police and threatening safety have led 15 states to attempt a new form of gun control by cracking down on fake firearms. ...more

May 4, 2008