Series 2558: Constituent Correspondence, 2000-2003
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From: "In the News" <inthenews@csg.org> BC: Governor Musgrove Created: 8/16/2001 3:17 PM Subject: August 16, 2001 Message: National Inmates in U.S. increase by 77% The number of people behind bars in the United States grew by nearly 77 percent in the 1990s, but the rise in the nation's prison population seems to be leveling off, a Justice Department study released Sunday said. The study of inmates in local, state, federal and private prisons said more than 2 million people were incarcerated at the end of 2000. In 2000, there were 478 prisoners serving sentences of a year or more per 100,000 U.S. residents. At the end of 1990, the number was 292 prisoners per 100,000 residents. Mississippi and four other mostly rural states had increases of more than 10 percent in their incarceration rates in 2000: Idaho, North Dakota, Vermont, and Iowa. Read the story: "Inmates in U.S. increase by 77%" - The Clarion-Ledger <http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm> http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm#nationally <http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm> See the resources: "Prisoners in 2000" - U.S. Department of Justice <http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/p00.htm>"The economics of crime" - Spectrum, The Journal of State Government, Summer, 2001 <http://stars.csg.org/spectrum/2000/summer/su00spec5.pdf>, a CSG publication. CSG members click here <http://www.statesnews.org/stars/index.html> to receive a free password to view the story in our STARS database, a vast collection of periodicals, research and analysis pertaining to state government. Others may purchase a password to the database by calling (800) 800-1910. Corrections overview - Corrections Corporation of America <http://www.correctionscorp.com/overview/correctionsoverview.html> East Massachusetts: AG and headlines remind youths of Internet dangers Just days after a kidnapped Wrentham teenager was rescued from a week of alleged brutal sexual abuse by a man she met online, Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly delivered a reinvigorated warning yesterday on Internet safety to a group of children in Springfield. Krystian Perez, 9, said that after Reilly's talk at the Springfield Boys and Girls Club, he was alarmed enough by the attorney general's stern caution that he will be wary the next time he logs on. ''I learned that if you go on a chat line, maybe dozens of people will know,'' said Perez. ''And then they will try to find you.'' Read the story: "AG and headlines remind youths of Internet dangers" - The Boston Globe <http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm> http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm#East <http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm> See the resources: "A parent's guide to children's privacy online" - Center for Media Education <http://www.kidsprivacy.org/index.html>"Doyle's Internet Task Force protects Wisconsin children" - State of Wisconsin Department of Justice <http://www.doj.state.wi.us/news/nr021201.asp>"Principles for children's online activity" - Online Privacy Alliance <http://www.privacyalliance.org/kidsprivacy/> West California: Governor OKs online wagering In a stark reversal from a message he sent last year, Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation Monday allowing Californians to bet on horse races over the Internet and telephone. The bill, AB 471, marks a victory for racetracks facing declining revenues, as well as for labor groups seeking to unionize backstretch workers and ensure regulation of their housing and workplace conditions. Gambling critics, however, assailed the Democratic governor for his about-face from last year, when he vetoed a similar measure that he said would have expanded wagering too far. In a two-page message released Monday, Davis said he reversed his position primarily because of a December 2000 federal law change explicitly permitting Internet gambling. Read the story: "Governor Oks online wagering" - The Sacramento Bee <http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm> http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm#West <http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm> See the resources: "Warning letters sent to three companies in connection with illegal wagering on horse races through the Internet" - Michigan Department of Attorney General <http://www.ag.state.mi.us/press_release/pr10225.htm> <http://www.michigan.gov/eMI/CDA/eMI_CDA_Frame/1,1307,,00.html?frameURL=http://www.ag.state.mi.us>"Internet gambling," - Solutions <http://stars.csg.org/solutions/1998/gaming/1098sol33.pdf>, a CSG publication (1998). CSG members click here <http://www.statesnews.org/stars/index.html> to receive a free password to view the story in our STARS database, a vast collection of periodicals, research and analysis pertaining to state government. Others may purchase a password to the database by calling (800) 800-1910. Midwest Kansas short 492 teachers as school starts Kansas school administrators are making tough decisions as they deal with nearly 500 teacher vacancies at the start of the new school year. According to a Kansas Department of Education survey, there are 492 teacher positions unfilled in 125 districts, with the bulk of the openings in elementary grades and special education. "They'll hire substitutes or combine classes," said Dale Dennis, deputy commissioner of education. "There may be some cases where classes will not be offered." Read the story: "Kansas short 492 teachers as school starts" - The Capital-Journal <http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm> http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm#Midwest <http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm> See the resources: "Ready or not: A national teaching shortage looms," - National Education Association <http://www.nea.org/teaching/shortage.html> <http://www.nea.org/teaching/shortage.html>"A raise in pay" - Stateline Midwest, July, 2001 <http://stars.csg.org/csg-midwest/stateline/2001/july/0701mwsl01.pdf>, a CSG publication. CSG members click here <http://www.statesnews.org/stars/index.html> to receive a free password to view the story in our STARS database, a vast collection of periodicals, research and analysis pertaining to state government. Others may purchase a password to the database by calling (800) 800-1910. South North Carolina: House panel approves HMO reform The House Health Committee on Tuesday unanimously endorsed a managed-care reform bill -- the so-called patients' bill of rights -- and voted to have its provisions cover some elements of the state employee healthh plan. The bill would require HMOs to give patients more freedom in choosing their primary-care doctors and would allow patients to sue the companies in state court. The bill also sets out a process for having outside panels resolve some conflicts between patients and the companies. "What you have before you today is the most comprehensive, strong and far-reaching patient protection this body has ever had before it, and probably the strongest consumer-rights bill in the country," said Rep. Phil Baddour, the Democratic majority leader from Goldsboro who sponsored the House version of the bill. Read the story: "House panel approves HMO reform" - The News & Observer <http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm> http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm#South <http://www.statesnews.org/weekly/weeklymail.htm> See the resources: "Care coordination and Medicaid managed care: Emerging issues for states and managed care organizations" - Spectrum, The Journal of State Government <http://stars.csg.org/spectrum/2000/fall/fa00spectrum01.pdf>, a CSG publication. CSG members click here <http://www.statesnews.org/stars/index.html> to receive a free password to view the story in our STARS database, a vast collection of periodicals, research and analysis pertaining to state government. Others may purchase a password to the database by calling (800) 800-1910. "Northern Light Special Edition: Managed care" - Northern Light <http://special.northernlight.com/managedcare/>"A user's guide to managed care health insurance in Maine" - Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation/Bureau of Insurance <http://www.state.me.us/pfr/ins/hmo.htm> - Attachment Filename: C:\archives\governor\mail\Governor Musgrove\_attach\August 16, 2001\TEXT.htm - Attachment Filename: C:\archives\governor\mail\Governor Musgrove\_attach\August 16, 2001\Mime.822