Evergreens, Oh Evergreens...

Greetings, regionals! For the few of you working this week, we bring you a sampling of the evergreens and other fabulous stories our hardworking Washington reporters are doing this holiday season!

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Jake Thompson in the Omaha World-Herald examines why presidential hopefuls Chris Dodd and Joe Biden are languishing in the second tier; Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Star reports on Hoosiers going to the primaries; Bill Theobold in the Commercial Appeal reports on Fred Thompson's reaction to the Bhutto assassination; Jerry Zremski reports in the Buffalo News that Democrats in Iowa are still undecided with just a week to go before the presidential caucuses; Wes Allison in the St. Petersburg Times goes down to South Carolina to report on the bell weather role the state will play for Republicans in the presidential elections; and Deborah Barfield Berry reports for Gannett on confusing Voter ID laws some charge are a means of blocking voter turnout.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL PROFILES: Mike Madden profiles Mike Huckabee for Gannett; Craig Gilbert in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel profiles Hillary Clinton's "secret weapon" -- Iowa organizer Teresa Vilmain; and Josh Drobnyk in the Allentown Morning Call profiles Ron Paul, otherwise known as ``Dr. No.''

LOCAL RACES: How to get a job in Congress? If you're from Pennsylvania, don't take the statehouse route, Josh Drobnyk reports in the Allentown Morning Call; Will Republicans retake the House? Boehner thinks so, but he seems to be the only one, Malia Rulon reports in the Cincinati Enquirer.

UDALL DYNASTY: Keith Chu in the Bend Bulletin profiles the Western political dynasty. If Reps. Mark Udall, D-Colo., and Tom Udall, D-N.M., join Gordon Smith, R-Oregon in the U.S. Senate, it will be the first time three members of one family served in the body at once.

BHUTTO ASSASINATION: Aaron Sadler for Stephens Media reports on reaction to the assassination from three leading Arkansas officials with ties to Bhuttos.

THIS IS A HOLD UP: Jim Myers in the Tulsa World reports on Sen. Tom Coburn's 80 holds on various legislation, and what one of them means to a paralyzed Oklahoma woman.

JEFFERSON: Bruce Alpert in the Times-Picayune reports on how a lobbyist and a Florida businesswoman enlisted Rep. William Jefferson's help winning contracts in Western Africa. The Louisiana congressman's trial on bribery charges is scheduled to begin next month.

IMPEACHMENT: Lesley Clark in the Miami Herald reports on Rep. Robert Wexler's online movement to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney.

PORN SECURITY BREACH: Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News reports on a major security breach in the pornography industry, letting loose thousands of personal e-mails.

MLK STATUE - MADE IN CHINA?: Bartholomew Sullivan reports on the controversy in the Commercial Appeal.

IRAQ: Lisa Mascaro in the Las Vegas Sun looks at the Democrats' changing tune on the Iraq surge through the lens of Rep. Shelley Berkley.

ORNAMENTS: Lisa Friedman reports in the Los Angeles Daily News on the gift that keeps on giving _ the White House ornament story.

CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR: Alicia Mundy in the Seattle Times reports on Rep. Norm Dicks' recollections of the carousing Texas lawmaker portrayed by Tom Hanks in the new movie.

WRAP-UPS: Raju Chebium for Gannett, Keith Chu for Wescom New Service and Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News assess the Dem's first year back in control of Congress; and Faith Bremner for Gannett reports that the Montana delegation is touting legislative successes for farmers, veterans and students.

YEAR-END PROFILES: Noelle Straub in the Missoulian assesses Sen. John Tester's first year in office; and Ellyn Ferguson for Gannett wraps up David Obey's first year as Appropriations Committee chairman.

Dec. 21: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Lesley Clark reports in the Miami Herald on the presidential candidates trying to play nice for the holidays; Wyoming has an early primary? Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune reports the absence of media attention to the second contest of 2008.

MORE OMNIBUS: Regionals continue to pore over the $516 billion omnibus, pulling out the local tidbits. Josh Drobnyk in the Allentown Morning Call; Ed Felker for the Small Newspaper Group; Raju Chebium for Gannett; and Trish Choate for Scripps Howard News Service.

ENERGY BILL: Brett Lieberman in the Patriot-News reports on a New York Republican lawmaker's support of the energy bill; and Lisa Mascaro in the Las Vegas Sun reports on a Nevada Republican's opposition.

MISC. BILLS: Sean Reilly reports on legislation making it a federal crime to fraudulently receive disaster aid heading to the president's deks.

WRAP-UP: Democrats claim victories and Republicans slam Democrats as they all leave town, Lisa Friedman reports in the Los Angeles Daily News.

Dec. 20: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Bill Theobold in the Commercial Appeal reports on Fred Thompson's 'bitter medicine' Iowa bus tour.

AMT: Jerry Zremski in the Buffalo News, Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret News, Matt Canham in the Salt Lake Tribune and Raju Chebium for Gannett report on Congress' last-minute patch of the Alternative Minimum Tax.

OMNIBUS: More regional coverage of the $516 billion budget bill from Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record; Noelle Straub in the Billings Gazette; and Bruce Alpert in the Times-Picayune.

OMNIBUS ETHICS: Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune reports that Sen. Orrin Hatch abstained from voting on the budget bill when he discovered an earmark he had requested for a Utah town might benefit his son, a registered lobbyist for the municipality.

OMNIBUS ODDS AND ENDS: Noelle Straub in the Billings Gazette reports that the massive budget bill includes trademark protection for the Montana motto "The Last Best Place"; and Steve Tetreault for Stephens Media reports that the cuts could impact Nevada's Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.

GLOBAL WARMING: Nicole Guadiano in the Wilmington News Journal reports on Sen. Tom Carper's role in the energy bill; and Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News reports on the EPA denial of California a long-awaited waiver to limit tailpipe emissions.

BILLS, HEARINGS AND SPEECHES: Sylvia Smith in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette and Aaron Sadler for Stephens Media report on the debate over an 11-hour day for truckers; Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Star reports on the Senate confirmation of an Indiana judge; Faith Bremner reports in the Argus Leader that a group of Lakota activists announced they will work to create a new nation; and Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret News reports on former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt's speech Wednesday on Chinese imports.

Investigation of the Week

Check out Sean Reilly's piece in today's Mobile Register, tracing through FOIAs and extensive interviews where $1.5 million in federal funds to study an Alabama waterway really went.

Dec. 19: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Bill Theobold for Gannett profiles Fred Thompson's history in the Republican Party, and reports on Thompson's assertion that his challengers don't have his foreign policy experience; Sabrina Eaton in the Cleveland Plain Dealer follows Dennis Kucinich's biodeisel peace train; What's an Iowa caucus-goer to do? Craig Gilbert asks in the Milkwauke Journal-Sentinel.

OMNIBUS: Bruce Alpert covers the local impact of the $516 billion catch-all spending bill in the Times-Picayune; Aaron Sadler looks at local Arkansas projects for Stephens Media; Larry Lipman reports on Florida's take in the Palm Beach Post; Edward Felker in the Rochester Post-Bulletin looks at Minnesota's projects; and Lisa Friedman reports on California projects in the Los Angeles Daily News.

ENERGY BILL: Ellyn Ferguson in the Appleton Post-Crescent reports on the Wisconsin delegation's votes on the energy bill; and Joseph Morton reports in the Omaha World-Herald on Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry's role in crafting the fuel efficiency standards.

SPEECHES AND PROFILES: Sylvia Smith in the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette and Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Star cover Sen. Richard Lugar's speech on energy security before the Brookings Institution; Groppe also reports on the House honoring Rep. Julia Carson, who died of cancer last week.

SCHIP: Matt Canham reports in the Salt Lake Tribune that the Senate agreed to put off children's health insurance expansion until after Bush leaves office.

TRAFFIC: Raju Chebium for Gannett reports that New Jersey lawmakers are cautiously optimistic about the Bush administration's plan to ease summer traffic in the region.

Dec. 18: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Bill Theobold in the Tennessean reports on Fred Thompson's Iowa blitz; Lesley Clark reports in the Miami Herald that church leaders are asking presidential candidates not to demonize illegal immigrants; and Mike Madden for Gannett finds Arkansans liked the job Mike Huckabee did as governor.

FARM BILL: Edward Felker reports for the Small Newspaper Group on the stagnation of the farm bill.

OMNIBUS: Raju Chebium for Gannett, Sean Reilly in the Mobile Register and Bartholomew Sullivan in the Commercial Appeal report on local projects in the $516 billion omnibus bill.

MALL SHOOTING: Joseph Morton in the Omaha World-Herald reports on unanimous resolution the House passed Monday offering condolences to the city in the wake of the Dec. 5 shopping mall shooting.

Dec. 17: Regionals in Today's News

GUN POLITICS: Jake Thompson in the Omaham World-Herald reports on the stagnation of gun control legislation in Congress.

DTV POLITICS: Rob Hotakainen in the Kanasas City Star reports on the impact of the switch to digital TV.

FEATURES AND INVESTIGATIONS: Sylvia Smith in the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette examines the troubled corporate management of Indiana's Emmis Broadcasting, where Sen. Evan Bayh's wife Susan serves as the lead board director; Brett Lieberman in the Patriot News looks back at Sen. Bob Casey's first year in office; and Josh Drobnyk reports in the Allentown Morning Call on the growing popularity of telephonic town hall meetings.

SUBSIDY POLITICS: Aaron Sadler for Stephens Media reports on the backlash against Sen. Blanche Lincoln for supporting subsidies in the Farm Bill.

Dec. 15-16: Regionals in the Weekend News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune reports on Western Democrats' feelings about Hillary Clinton; Wes Allison in the St. Petersburg Times analyzes the campaign rhetoric about the gap between rich and poor; and Jerry Zremski reports in the Buffalo News on Rudy Giuliani's 57 percent unfavorability rating in the city he one ruled.

FARM BILL: Bartholomew Sullivan reports in the Commercial Appeal on the farm bill's impact in Tennessee.

HILL AIDES: Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret Morning News that Sen. Orrin Hatch's chief of staff is stepping down.

BASEBALL POLITICS: Sylvia Smith reports in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette that Indiana Rep. Mark Souder is warning baseball to voluntarily tighten its drug policies before Congress does it for them.

TAX POLITICS: Matt Canham reports in the Salt Lake Tribune on the fight over fixing the Alternative Minimum Tax and its impact on Utah.

THE MEMBERS: Noelle Straub reports in the Casper Star Tribune that Rep. Barbara Cubin is still missing votes and the congresswoman, whose husband is ill, won't return calls to discuss her plans; and Lisa Friedman reports in the Los Angeles Daily News that Rep. Gary Miller has not returned to Washington since the California congessman's daughter died in November.

PILOTS: Josh Drobnyk reports on the House passage of legislation raising pilots' retirement age.

DEFENSE BILL: Nicole Guadiano reports that a defense bill heading to President Bush's desk includes a provision by Sen. Joseph Biden supporting a federalist government in Iraq; and Brett Lieberman in the Patriot News reports on the bill's increase in GI benfits for reservists.

HOLLYWOOD: Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News reports on the 60th anniversary of Hollywood blacklisting.

Dec. 14 Redux: the ones we didn't catch the first time

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Jerry Zremski in the Buffalo News reports on Mike Huckabee's apology to Mitt Romney for a disparaging remark about Mormons.

ENERGY BILL: Noelle Straub in the Helena Independent Record reports that renewable energy incentives pushed by Sen. Max Baucus were stripped out of the Senate energy bill; and Faith Bremner in the Argus Leader reports on the energy bill's ethanol provisions.

FARM BILL: The Senate voted down a measure by Sen. John Tester to prevent manipulation in the meatpacking industry, Noelle Straub reports in the Billings Gazette; and Ellyn Ferguson in the Oshkosh Northwestern reports on the farm bill's impact in Wisconsin.

DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION: Sen. Russ Feingold opposed the defense authorization because it included $189.4 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan, Ellyn Ferguson reports in the Oshkosh Northwestern.

YUCCA MOUNTAIN: Steve Tetreault for Stephens Media reports that a panel of judges threw out a legal attempt by the state to block the Energy Department from licensing a nuclear waste repository in Nevada; and Lisa Mascaro in the Las Vegas Sun reports on what the setback means for Sen. Harry Reid.

'Tis the Season

It’s that time of year again when chestnuts are roasting on an open stove, children are all tucked snug in their beds ... and journalists are wondering what the heck to write about.

If you've done a great story that other regionals can do for their part of the country or have any other bright ideas, please pass them along!

Dec. 14: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Fred Thompson is launching a fast-paced campaign bus tour, Bill Theobold reports in the Tennessean; Arkansas travelers hit Iowa with different accounts of Mike Huckabee, Aaron Sadler reports for Stephens Media; and Jerry Zremski reports in the Buffalo News on Thursday's final Democratic debate before the Iowa caucus.

ENERGY BILL: Maureen Groppe reports in the Indianapolis Star on Indiana lawmakers' positions on the Senate-passed energy bill.

FARM BILL: Aaron Sadler reports for Stephens Media on a failed Farm Bill amendment that would have slashed subsidies.

BILLS, HEARINGS AND MARK-UPS: Sen. Evan Bayh wants to increase penalties against those who smuggle illegal immigrants into the country, Maureen Groppe reports in the Indianapolis Star.

IRAN: Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News reports on local lawmakers' attempt to keep the public focused on an Iranian nuclear threat despite a recent intel report finding no nuke program.

STUDIES AND REPORTS: Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record reports on a GAO audit criticizing EPA regulations enacted last year that changed disclosure rules for chemicals released into the air, soil and water.

FEATURED STORY: Yea for getting off Capitol Hill! Lesley Clark has a nice piece in the Miami Herald on a local man's private collection of historic documents now on display at the Library of Congress.

Dec. 13: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune reports that Mike Huckabee appears to be using Mitt Romney's Mormonism as a wedge issue to attract evangelical voters; and Craig Gilbert in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports on Huckabee's new position in the spotlight.

BILLS, HEARINGS AND MARK-UPS: Malia Rulon for Gannett News Service reports that Rep. Lincoln Davis wants to ban gambling on foriegn military bases; Leo Shane III reports in Stars and Stripes that Senate Armed Services Committee members are questioning projected savings from military base closures; and Noelle Straub in the Billings Gazette reports on legislation that would require a permit and fee for some photography in national parks and forests.

ENERGY BILL: Sen. Harry Reid is using Great Basin National Park to block a proposed coal energy plant, Steve Teatreault and John Edwards report for Stephens Media.

REPORTS AND SURVEYS: Lesley Clark in the Miami Herald reports on a new national poll that found African Americans, Hispanics and Asians stereotypes one another; and Ellyn Ferguson reports in the Green Bay Press Gazette that Wisconsin leads the nation in the increase of schoolchildren receiving school-subsidized breakfasts.

JOHNSON'S RECOVERY: Faith Bremner for Gannett News Service reports on Sen. Tim Johnson's first news confernce since returning to Congress after sufferng a brain hemmorage one year ago.

DEFENSE BILL: Aaron Sadler for Stephens Media reports on new benefits for reservists in a defense spending bill the House passed Wednesday.

SCHIP: Matt Canham reports in the Salt Lake Tribune on President Bush's veto of a second children's health insurance bill.

Dec. 12: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune reports that Romney changed few minds about Mormons with his faith speech last week.

FARM BILL: Sylvia Smith in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Star rand Raju Chebium for Gannett eported on the U.S. Senate's rejection of an amendment by Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Richard Lugar to cut farm subsidies.

HEARINGS, BILLS AND REPORTS: Aaron Sadler for Stephens Media reports on a hearing examining the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba; and Matt Canham in the Salt Lake Tribune reports on a Forest Service survey that finds out-of-control off-highway vehicle use on public lands is the top problem for western lands.

Dec. 11: Regionals in Today's News

MEDICARE: Larry Lipman in the Palm Beach Post reports the AARP is disappointed in Bush's warning he might veto a Medicare bill.

SANCTIONS: Sylvia Smith in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reports on First Lady Laura Bush speaking out against Myanmar junta.

FARM BILL: Trish Choate reports in the Witchita Falls Times Record News on the Farm Bill's impact in North Texas.

EARMARKS: Matt Canham in the Salt Lake Tribune reports on Utah Sen. Bob Bennett's refusal to disclose earmarks.

FEATURED STORY: Who is in charge of regulating ham and cheese sandwiches? Read Bill Adair's piece in the St. Petersburg Times and find out!

Do It For Your Paper!

Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Star has a great story today on college tuition increases and the debate over whether universities should use their substantial endowments to offset the costs for students. She's got charts, numbers, all kinds of good stuff that could be re-localized.

Dec. 8-10: Regionals in the Weekend and Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Aaron Sadler for Stephens Media reports on the sparring between Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee; Craig Gilbert reports in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that as the Iowa caucuses approach no none really has any idea what will happen; congressional aides are starting to leave the Hill for the campaign trail, Noelle Straub reports in the Billings Gazette; Sabrina Eaton profiles Dennis Kucinich in the Cleveland Plain Dealer; and Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune gets reaction to Romney's Mormon speech.

ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX: Raju Chebium for Gannett reports and Sylvia Smith in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette report on the AMT's potential impact in their states and the impasse between Congress and the White House; and Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News uses IRS zip code data to show how many Southern Californians have been hit already and what may come if Congress doesn't pass the patch.

SEN. TIM JOHNSON: Faith Bremer in the Argus Leader has a Q&A with Sen. Tim Johnson, who returned to Congress in September after a severe brain hemorrhage.

STURGEON POLITICS: Sean Reilly in the Mobile Press-Register reports on the near-extinction of Alabama sturgeon and the policies that led there.

EARMARKS: Alicia Mundy in the Seattle Times reports on Taxpayers for Common Sense's latest earmark study that found Washington state lawmakers raked in the pork.

Dec. 7: Regionals (Belatedly) in Friday's News.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Florida Sen. Mel Martinez says he might not endorse in the GOP primary, Larry Lipman reports in the Palm Beach Post; Aaron Sadler for Stephens Media reports on predictions that Huckabee's momentum will slow; and Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune reports on Romney's Mormon speech.

BILLS, HEARINGS AND MARK-UPS: Ellyn Ferguson reports in the Appleton Post-Crescent on legislation that would block people from contributing to presidential campaigns when they file annual tax returns; House lawmakers are looking for changes in fisheries regulations, Sean Reilly reports in the Mobile Press-Register; and Bartholomew Sullivan in the Commercial Appeal reports on a local congressman's support for legislation banning nooses; In Indiana, "Do Not Call" laws apply to politicians too, Sylvia Smith reports in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.

COBURN HOLD 'EM: JimMyers in the Tulsa World reports on Sen. Tom Coburn's penchant for putting holds on bills to which he objects.

ENERGY BILL: Coverage of the energy bill from: Ed Felker in the Rochester Post-Bulletin; Faith Bremner in the Great Falls Tribune; Noelle Straub in the Jackson Hole Star-Tribune; Nicole Guadiano in the Wilmington News-Journal; Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Star; and Ellyn Ferguson in the Appleton Post-Crescent.

OMAHA MALL SHOOTING : Joseph Morton in the Omaha World-Herald reports on Bush and congressional reaction the shootings.

TREE-LIGHTING: Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret News finds local angles to the National Christmas Tree lighting.

YUCCA MOUNTAIN: Steve Teatreault in the Parhump Valley Times reports on a contract to manage the Nevada nuclear waste site that has raised concern among lawmakers.

ABANDONED MINE POLITICS: Noelle Straub in the Jackson Hole Star-Tribune reports that lawmkaers are furious that the Office of Surface Mining is reinterpreting a law to repay state money.

Some business to attend to...

The RRA Board needs a new member! Jerome Sherman of the Pittsburg Post-Gazette will be returning to Pennsylvania, leaving the board one member short. Please e-mail RRA President Suzanne Struglinski at Suzanne@desnews.com if you are interested and we can hold a “special election.”

Also... Mark you calendars for Jan. 17. RRA will be hosting a “How to Cover the federal budget” workshop along with the National Press Foundation and the Wilson Center in the Ronald Reagan Building. If you think you have great budget tips to share, please e-mail Suzanne, who will be putting together a panel of reporters to talk about how they have covered the budget. More details to come.

Dec. 6: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Josh Drobnyk in the Allentown Morning Call reports on Huckabee's surge in the polls; meanwhile, Californians are donating to presidential campaigns in record numbers, Lisa Friedman reports for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group.

BILLS, HEARINGS AND MARK-UPS: Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret Morning News that a House panel investigating a Utah mine disaster in August has moved to depose witnesses; the Senate passed legislation giving Nebraska another judge, Joe Morton reports in the Omaha World-Herald; and Brett Lieberman in the Patriot News reports on new food safety legislation.

Dec. 5: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Craig Gilbert covers the Democratic radio debate for the Milkwaukee Journal-Sentinel; and Thomas Burr reports in the Salt Lake Tribune on Mitt Romney's upcoming Mormon speech.

HEARINGS, BILLS AND MARK-UPS: Nicole Guadiano in the Wilmington News Journal reports on a Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations probe into credit card rate hikes; Larry Lipman reports in the Austin American Statesman on kidney care lobbying in an upcoming Medicare bill; a House committee investigating the August mine disaster in Utah wants to compel witness depositions, Thomas Burr reports in the Salt Lake Tribune; and Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News reports on a park bill the House passed Tuesday and also advances a markup on major climate change legislation in the Senate.

BUDGET BATTLES: Noelle Straub reports in the Billings Gazette that a program to replace Yellowstone's visitor center is likely to fall victim to funding battles in Congress.

DNA DONATION: Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record reports on New Jersey Rep. Rob Andrews who volunteered his DNA to participate in a groundbreaking "personalized medicine" project.

ENERGY BILL: Josh Drobnyk in the Allentown Morning Call reports that the energy bill coming up in the House will not include a loan guarantee that a Pennsylvania company says it needs to build a nuclear reactor.

SUPREME COURT: Bruce Alpert in the Times-Picayune covers arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on the disqualification of all five black members of a jury pool in 1996.

INTEL COMMITTEE: Larry Lipman reports in the Palm Beach Post that Alcee Hastings is stepping down from the House Select Committee on Intelligence.

Interested in some freelance work?

Hey guys!

I am editing the 20th edition of the Almanac of the Unelected this year, and I still need a few freelancers. The Almanac folks love turning to RRA members for writers because we know it's a pool of talented, solid, responsible writers - so if you're interested, we'd love to have you.

If you're not familiar with the Almanac, it's one of those pricey books that lobbyist buy, and it has profiles of House and Senate committee staffers as well as leadership aides. New writers are paid $40 to update an existing profile and $70 for new ones. Returning writers are paid $55/85. It's not a ton of work, and you can make some nice money.

If you're interested in writing for us this year, please let me know ASAP, ok? Thanks, and hope to hear from you!

Best,

Lisa Friedman

phone: 202-662-8731
e-mail: lisa.friedman@langnews.com

Hey, regionals! Interested in some freelance work?

Dec. 4: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Transplanted New Yorkers in Florida are pushing Rudy ahead of the pack, Jerry Zremski reports in the Buffalo News; Craig Gilbert in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports on Clinton's attacks on Obama in Iowa, as well as Huckabee's surge; Aaron Sadler for Stephens Media looks at Huckabee's position on immigration; and Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune analyzes Romney's plan to speak tonight on his Mormon faith.

LEADERSHIP: Noelle Straub reports in the Billings Gazette that Sen. Mike Enzi has his eye on a Senate Finance Committee slot opening with the retirement of Sen. Trent Lott.

SEX SCANDAL!: Alicia Mundy in the Seattle Times reports on the arrest of an aide to Sen. Maria Cantwell on charges of soliciting sex with a 13-year-old boy.

HEALTH CARE: Larry Lipman in the Palm Beach Post reports on the findings of a national health care commission that the U.S. is not prepared to deal with its aging populaton.

Dec. 3: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune advances Mitt Romney's upcoming "Mormon" speech; Bill Adair touts the St. Petersburg Times' Truth-o-Meter; and Nicole Guadiano reports in the Wilmington News Journal on the fallout from the Clinton hostage situation.

LOCAL RACES: Noelle Straub in the Billings Gazette analyzes Sen. Max Baucus' political contributions; congressional candidates in North Texas are ready to file, Trish Coate reports in the Wichita Falls Times Record News.

PROFILES: Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record profiles 84-year-old New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg's efforts to stay young; Josh Drobnyk in the Allentown Morning Call profiles Rep. Patrick Murphy's efforts to get Democrat Iraq war veterans to run for Congress; and Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Star profiles departing White House economic advisor Al Hubbard.

FARM BILL: Aaron Sadler for Stephens Media looks at the Farm Bill's likely impact on Arkansas.

WRAPPING IT ALL UP: Lisa Mascaro in the Las Vegas Sun wraps up the week's news with some great Nevada-oriented analysis.

Do It For Your Paper

Regionals did some great features and policy analysis pieces this weekend. Many of them are pieces that you can do for your own paper. Hope they offer some good ideas and inspiration!

AMT: Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record delves into IRS data to show that a growing number of New Jersey families are paying the alternative minimum tax and reports on efforts in Congress to reform it.

IRAQ: Sadly, the number of wounded soldiers as well as the casualties keep growing in Iraq. Larry Lipman in the Palm Beach Post profiles a local soldier who has undergone 14 surgeries to repair his shattered bones and muscles. This story is also a great example in incorporating audio/video.

SENTENCING GUIDELINES: Sylvia Smith in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reports on potential new sentencing guidelines, using state-by-state numbers to show what would happen to Indiana prisoners. The state numbers can be found HERE.

THE GREAT COIN CONTROVERSY: This is a doosey. Coin collectors are pissed off at the State Department for a new restriction against the importation of ancient coins. Who knew? Check out Rob Hotakainen's piece for McClatchy.

ORNAMENT FEACH: Perfect for a slow holiday news day - check out Noelle Straub's piece in the Jackson Hole Star Tribune.

Regional Holiday Features

Check out Suzanne Struglinski's story in today's Deseret Morning News on the White House Christmas Tree and Utah's role in beautifying it. This year the White House theme is Naitonal Parks, and if your state has one, there's a good chance it's represented on a pretty little silver ball. The White House reception was yesterday, but there's sitll plenty of time to pull a slow-day feature story out of this. Enjoy!

Nov. 30: Regionals in Today's News

ENERGY POLITICS: Ed Felker in the Rochester (Minn.) Post-Bulletin reports on Rep. Tim Walz's attempt to win support from both environmentalists and energy producers.

ETHANOL POLITICS: Faith Bremner in the Argus Leader reports on progress on a stalled energy bill that could deliver a boon to ethanol producers.

IRAQ: Lawmakers return from Iraq trips with opinions, Alicia Mundy reports in the Seattle Times.

EARMARKS: Raju Chebium for Gannett looks at defense earmarks for New Jersey.

NUCLEAR MELTDOWN: Lisa Friedman for the Los Angeles Daily News reports on findings of 1959 wind data that could shed light on a nuclear reactor meltdown.

CHURCH FALL-OUT: Rob Hotakainen for McClatchy Newspapers advances today's closing arguments in the case against a Kansas church whose members picket military funerals.

Looking for a Story?

If you haven't already checked to see if your state has nursing homes on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services list of 54 worst-performing facilities, do it now.

Here's the link -- click on Special Focus Facility Public List for details.

Nov. 29: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Wes Allison in the St. Petersburg Times reports on last night's YouTube debate; and Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune reports that Barack Obama is making moves to win Utah.

NURSING HOME REPORT: Ellyn Ferguson in the Green Bay Press Gazette looks at Wisconsin nursing homes that are among the nation's worst facilities, according to a new report.

FLYING FILNER: The airport baggage who says she was assaulted by Rep. Bob Filner said she is not satisfied with the court-ordered apology she received and may file a civil suit, Dana Wilkie reports in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

RESIGNATION: Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Tribune reports that Indiana businessman Al Hubbard is stepping down as Bush's top economic advisor.

OFF THE HILL: Suzanne Struglinski reports on the 30th annual Festival of Lights at the LDS Church in Kensington, Md., for the Deseret Morning News.

Nov. 28: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune reports that Mitt Romney's Mormon faith will be a focus of several questions in tonight's YouTube debate; Mike Huckabee vows to increase funding for the Delta Regional Authority if elected president, Aaron Sadler reports for Stephens Media; Will the real conservative please stand up? Wes Allison reports in the St. Petersburg Times on the search for the "right" man.

LEADERSHIP: Bartholomew Sullivan in the Commercial Appeal reports on political maneuverings in the wake of Trent Lott's retirement annoucement; and Todd Gillman in the Dallas Morning News reports on Texas Sen. Kay Baily Hutchison's leadership ambitions.

WATER POLITICS: Faith Bremner reports in the Great Falls Tribune on a dirth of federal funding for Montana water projects.

MORTGAGE MESS: Bill Theobold in the Tennessean reports on the mortgage crisis' impact in Nashville.

OKLAHOMA QUARTERS: Jim Myers reports on the new Oklahoma quarter in the Tulsa World.

FIRE POLITICS: California Sen. Dianne Feinstein wants national standards for building in fire-prone areas, Dana Wilkie reports in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Nov. 27: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Pennsylvania is important in the presidential elections, Josh Drobnyk reports in the Allentown Morning Call; meanwhile, a Kucinich-Paul ticket? Sabrina Eaton and Stephen Koff report in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

LEADERSHIP POLITICS: Sen. Lamar Alexander will try again for Senate Minority Whip now that Trent Lott is retiring, Bill Theobald reports for Gannett; Sen. John Thune also may run, reports Faith Bremner in the Argus Leader.

MIDEAST POLITICS: Sen. Chuck Hagel is hopeful as talks in Annapolis begin between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Jake Thompson reports in the Omaha World Herald.

Some Great Holiday Feaches

check 'em out...

• Rob Hotakainen in the Kansas City Star reports on the "center aisle" caucus which tries to find bipartisanship over bowls of chicken lo mein.
• What does a small business have to do to land a federal contract? An awful lot, according to Keith Chu in the Bend (Oregon) Bulletin, who followed a local hand creme company's quest.
• Leo Shane III in Stars and Stripes tells the story of a father and son who reunited after 19 years - in Baghdad.
• Josh Drobnyk has an Odd Couple piece in the Allentown Morning Call on Reps. Charlie Dent and Jim Gerlach.

crap. here's what happens when a blogger takes a vacation

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Was Romney behind his own smear campaign? A Utah polling firm denies ties to the campaign, Thomas Burr reports in the Salt Lake Tribune; a Pennsylvania congressman is working against Mike Huckabee, Josh Drobnyk reports in the Allentown Morning Call; A panel finds New Orleans hasn't recovered sufficiently to host a presidential debate, Bruce Alpert reports in the Times-Picayune; women could put Clinton in the White House, Jerry Zremski reports in the Buffalo News; and Fred Thompson keeps trying to convince people he's not lazy, by Bill Theobold in the Tennessean.

PRIMARY POLITICS: Howard Dean claims Wisconsin's primary matters, Craig Gilbert reports in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel; meanwhile, people in Utah think their state will also matter in the primary, Thomas Burr reports in the Salt Lake Tribune.

LOCAL RACES: Ed Felker in the Rochester Post-Bulletin looks at who blogs and who doesn't in a Minnesota congressional race; Rep. Mike Ferguson won't seek reelection, Raju Chebium reports for Gannett; and New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg's son is getting into politics, Herb Jackson reports in the Bergen Record.

>IRAQ: Lisa Mascaro in the Las Vegas Sun reports on Nevada Sen. John Porter, who is holding fast in his support of the war.

SCHIP: States are running out of money for children's health insurance, Faith Bremner reports in the Argus Leader.

APPROPS: Congress and the President fight over spending, report Ellyn Ferguson for Gannett, Sean Reilly in the Mobile Press-Register, Jake Thompson in the Omaha World Herald and Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News; meanwhile, Brian Tumulty looks at the presidential candidates' earmarking ability in the Hudson Journal News.

MINE DISASTER: The owner of a Utah mine in which six workers were trapped in August was subpoenaed to appear before a Senate investigative committee, Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret News.

DRUNK DRIVING: Noelle Straub reports in the Billings Gazette on Montana's drunk driving ranking from MADD.

CODELS: Rep. Zach Space is paying for a CODEL to Greece out of his own pocket after the trip raised questions at home, Ellyn Ferguson reports for Gannett; Ferguson also reports on a border trip that lawmakers said showed a need for more agents.

GAMBLING POLITICS: Lawmakers are pushing the Bush administration to relax laws against Internet gambling, Steve Tetreault reports in the Casino City Times.

FDA: Alicia Mundy in the Seattle Times reports on the FDA's relationship with the pharmaceutical industry.

LEAD TOYS: Lead tops the reasons for toy recalls, Deborah Barfield Berry reports for Gannett.

DANGEROUS CITY REPORT: Dana Wilkie in the San Diego Union Tribune examines the PC tensions behind a controversial study that found Detroit to be the most dangerous city in the country.

ASTEROID POLITICS: Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News reports on lawmakers' attempt to get funding to study plummeting asteroids.

Excellent Tip

This just in from Herb Jackson, Bergen Record:

Maybe everyone else knows about it, but just in case, I made a discoverylast night I wanted to share.I was ticked to learn that the PDF versions of the conference reports on theapprops bills had images of the pages, rather than searchable text. Thatmade finding the final amounts for the earmarks for "my" guys tougher. Well,it made it practically impossible because I wasn't going to page thru 185pages of blurry text.But looking at the Transportation-HUD bill last night, I noticed a link onthe bill summary report on Thomas for the text as published in theCongressional Record.To see what I mean, click the link that says "in Congressional Record" fromthis pagehttp://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.03074:Then ask for "printer friendly display."You can either search that page in your web browser for members names'; orwith a little work you can cut and paste the entire table with the earmarklistings into an Excel spreadsheet.

Nov. 16: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Jerry Zremski in the Buffalo News covers last night's Democratic debate in Nevada; and Barack Obama is setting up a field office in Utah, Thomas Burr reports in the Salt Lake Tribune.

LOCAL RACES: An ex-congressman endorses Rep. Julia Carson's grandson for a House seat next year, Maureen Groppe reports in the Indianapolis Star.

APPROPRIATIONS WARS: Noelle Straub reports in the Helena (Montana) Independent Record on a House Republican maneuver to block all earmarks until a special panel holds hearings on the process.

FARM BILL: Faith Bremner in the Argus Leader covers the partisan maneuverings surrounding the Farm Bill.

MORTGAGE MESS: Malia Rulon in the Cincinnati Enquirer covers the House passage of new mortgage regulations.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Western governors are creating a TV ad on climate change, Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret Morning News.

ARMY DEATH: Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Star reports on the Army's response to the death of a local soldier at an Army treatment facility.

ENERGY CORRIDORS: The Bush administration is proposing energy corridors in 11 Western states, prompting concerns from environmentalists, Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret Morning News.

GRANTS & AWARDS: Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune covered the 2007 William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence, granted to Utah's Supreme Court chief justice.

and finally...

PASTRAMI VS. TURKEY: Did Rep. Souder storm out of a Capitol Hill cafe when a worker failed to toast his bread? Check out Sylvia Smith's piece in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.

Office X-mas Party Locales?

This request in from Steve Tetreault, Stephens Washington Bureau Chief:

We at the Stephens Media bureau are looking for a fresh place to have our Christmas party, which for a small group of six to eight tends to be a Saturday night dinner at a decent restaurant in or around town.... Any recommendations? A couple of us have been here quite a while, and as we try to find someplace different each year we have gone to most of the obvious places.... We look for places that have a bit of a varied menu ..... and usually try to find someplace that can sit us at a round table ( a tradition)... Any ideas most welcomed.

Steve Tetreault