Oct. 31: Regionals in Today's News

PORN POLITICS: Lesley Clark for McClatchy News Service covers the Supreme Court arguments in the case of a former Florida police seargent in prison for posession of child pornography.

RACIAL POLITICS: Deborah Barfield Berry in the Montgomery Advertiser reports on the apologies Justice Department's voting rights chief John Tanner made Tuesday for insensitive comments, including saying new voter ID laws won't disenfranchise elderly minority voters because "minorities don't become elderly the way white people do. They die first."

BILLS, HEARINGS AND MARKUPS: Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret News and Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune reports on a water conservation bill sponsored by Rep. Jim Matheson.

AMTRAK: Faith Bremner in the Great Falls Tribune reports on an amendment Sen. John Tester attached to the Amtrak bill ordering the company to reinstate passenger rail service through Southern Montana; and Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record reports on the Amtrak bill's implications for New Jersey.

LOCAL RACES: Democrats are targeting Louisiana Republican Rep. Richard Baker for his vote against expanding the children's health insurance program, Gerard Shields reports in the Baton Rouge Advocate; meanwhile, Democrats in Florida are fighting amonst themselves over primary rules, Wes Allison reports in the St. Petersburg Times.

Getting Shut Out: A Query From Marc Heller

Does anyone have stories to tell… published or not… about being shut out from congressional offices’ press shops (no more releases, advisories, etc.) after writing unflattering but accurate stories? I appear to be going through this now, for the second time in the course of a year, after writing that our local congressman, a perennial champion of clean air legislation, has for the first time taken campaign money from a major acid rain polluter.

Oh, and the day before, I wrote about how his press office, in an “In My Own Words” column in the moderate GOP congressman’s name, explained why he’s siding with the Dems on SCHIP – then used the rather partisan term “the Democrat majority,” which his press secretary explained by saying, “It was a run of the mill typo. I forgot to add the ‘ic.’”)

Anyway, I’m curious about other folks’ experience. And if I hear something good, I might call and ask if I can mention it in a story about government-media relations.



Marc Heller
Watertown (NY) Daily Times

A comment on Census stats:

Trish Choate of Scripps sent us this post today:

An editor mentioned he wanted me to do a story on some sort of report on federal funds, doesn't know much about it or what it's called ...
Then shazaam! There it was on our blog, a story by Herb on that very report, plus a link to it.
Yea!

Trish Choate
Scripps Howard News Service

Oct. 30: Regionals in Today's News

BILLS, HEARINGS AND MARK-UPS: Alicia Mundy in the Seattle Times reports on state implications of a bill strengthening the Consumer Product Safety Commission; Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune and Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret News report on mine safety bills that passed the House on Monday; and Bartholomew Sullivan reports in the Commercial Appeal on a Tennessee congressman's pledge to seek increased investment in Haiti.

GLOBAL WARMING: California Sen. Barbara Boxer and Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe duke it out over global warming, Jim Myers reports in the Tulsa World.

LOCAL RACES: Faith Bremner in the Great Falls (Montana) Tribune reports on an upcoming GOP fundraising trip in Arizona to raise money from coal and energy companies.

Oct. 29: Regionals in Today's News

FARM BILL: Is Congress causing obestity in America? Rob Hotakainen reports for McClatchy News on the debate over subsidization of high-fat foods.

LOCAL RACES: President Bush heads to Ohio to campaign for Rep. Steve Chabot, Malia Rulon reports in the Coshohoctin Tribune; and as many as 10 Republicans are eyeing the Lousiana congressional seat that Bobby Jindal occupied before he was elected governor earlier this month, Gerard Shields reports in the Baton Rouge Advocate.

BILLS, HEARINGS AND MARK-UPS: Sen. Jim Bunning voted against the Labor/HHS spending bill because he opposes pork projects - except his own, Malia Rulon reports in the Cincinati Enquirer.

FEDERAL FUNDING: Lisa Friedman reports on California's declining share of federal funds in the Inland Daily Bulletin.

Regionals in the Weekend News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Bruce Alpert in the Louisiana Times-Picayune examines Giuliani's standing with Christian conservatives; and Thomas Burr reports on the Utah connection to Hillary Clinton's fundraising scandal.

DREAM ACT: Lisa Mascaro in the Las Vegas Sun reports on the demise of the Dream Act and so many other Democratic initiatives that have been blocked in the U.S. Senate.

MOVE-ON IS MOVING ON: Congress' condemnation of MoveOn.org's New York Times ad has energized hte liberal group, Wes Allison reports in the St. Petersburg Times.

FARM BILL: Maureen Groppe in the Lafayette Journal & Courier reports on King Corn's future in the farm bill; and Aron Saadler reports in the (Arkansas) Morning News on the expected showdown over crop subsidies.

INTERNET TAXES: Sen. Mary Landrieu faces attacks for her position on the Internet tax ban, Gerard Shields reports in the Baton Rouge Advocate.

FEC AUDIT: Josh Drobnyk blogs for the Allentown Morning Call on a $58,000 payment Sen. Arlen Specter made to a law firm to deal with an FEC audit related to his 2004 campaign.

AMTRAK: The Senate will consider an Amtrak bill this week, Raju Chebium reports in the Clarion Ledger.

NUCLEAR POLITICS: Former Nevada Test Site workers with radiation exposure claims have hit a setback, Steve Tetreault reports in the Pahrump Valley Times.

GLOBAL WARMING: Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe warns of global warming "alarmism," Jim Meyers reports in the Tulsa World.

DON'T MISS THESE!

Craig Gilbert has a great piece this weekend in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on the politics of terrorism rhetoric; and Mike Madden has a really interesting article in the Statesman Journal on the possibility of a "North American" union.

08 primary coverage

Since New Hampshire seems set on not setting a primary date for a while, anybody have any ideas on how to cover the early states in the presidential race? The National Association of Secretaries of States has an updated calendar of the schedule so far, but of course, N.H. is still in play.

Is anyone out there reserving hotel rooms, buying tickets, making plans to sleep at a hostel? Let us know how you plan to cover the primaries. Comment away...

Oct. 26: Regionals in Today's News

SCHIP REDUX: The House passed a revised children's health insurance bill Thursday, but failed to get the two-thirds majority needed for a veto override while also angering California Republicans, many of whom were at home dealing with raging fires in their districts - Raju Chebium in the Home News Tribune and Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Delaware Sen. Joe Biden trips over his own tongue again and is forced to clarifiy remarks he made about minorities and low-performing school systems, Nicole Guadiano reports in the Delmarva Daily Times.

LOCAL RACES: Don't expect t0 see too many congressional challenges in Tennessee, Bill Theobold reports in the Tennessean; and the Wisconsin GOP is raising money for a challenge against Democrat Rep. Steve Kage, Ellyn Ferguson reports in the Appleton Post-Crescent.

BILL INTRODUCTIONS, HEARINGS AND MARKUPS: Noelle Straub reports in the Billings Gazette on legislation by Sen. John Barrasso to block energy development on 1.2 million acres of the Wyoming Range; and Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons was not invited to testify at a Yucca Mountain Senate hearing, Steve Tetreault reports in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

FARM BILL: Raju Chebium reports in the Vineland Daily Journal on a New Jersey Senator's proposal to create a crop-loss insurance program while eliminating ag subsidies.

GENOCIDE POLITICS: The House won't call up until at least next year a resolution delcaring the massacres of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey a genocide, Lisa Friedman reports in the Los Angeles Daily News.

POKER POLITICS: Lisa Mascaro in the Las Vegas Sun reports on the growing political presence of online poker players.

Oct. 25: Regionals in Today's News

DREAM ACT DEFERRED AGAIN: Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret News and Maureen Groppe in the Lafayette Journal & Courier.

HEARINGS, MARK-UPS AND RANDOM BILLS: Jerry Zremski reports in the Buffalo News on House-passed legislation creating a national heritage area in Niagra Falls; a House panel approved legislation to advance deep mine communication systems, reports Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune and Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret News.

FIRE POLITICS: Has FEMA really learned from Hurricane Katrina? Dana Wilkie in the San Diego Tribune reports on the federal government's response to California's wildfires. Meanwhile, are the fires draining California's long-term water supply? Lisa Friedman reports in the Torrance Daily Breeze.

FARM BILL: Senators began debating the new farm bill Wednesday, Faith Bremner reports in the Great Falls Tribune.

GENOCIDE POLITICS: Legislation calling the massacres of Armenians between 1915 and 1923 appears doomed, Lisa Friedman reports in the Los Angeles Daily News.

LOCAL RACES: Bartholomew Sullivan reports in the Memphis Commercial Appeal on racial controversy in the 9th congressional district race against incumbent Rep. Steve Cohen.

Can there be a more boring word...

than cloture?

We think not. So what's your method for writing around it? Particularly when you're writing about a cloture vote, as anyone reporting on the Dream Act today is doing. Submit tips if you've got 'em! Thanks!

Oct. 24: Regionals in Today's News

LOCAL CAMPAIGNS: Former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey says he won't run for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Chuck Hagel, Jake Thompson reports in the Omaha Herald.

FARM BILL: Debate openend Tuesday in the Senate Agriculture Committee on the farm bill, reports Faith Bremmer reports in the Argus Leader; Noelle Straub in the Helena Independent Record.

HEARINGS, MARK-UPS AND BILL INTRODUCTIONS: Sean Reilly in the Mobile Register reports on allegations in the House Judciary Committee that the Bush administration singled out Democrats for criminal investigations, including former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman; Salt Lake Tribune reporter Tommy Burr is actually glowing a little bit ever since he returned from Tuesday's hearing on the slow cleanup of uranium mines; and Noelle Straub reports in the Billings Gazette on a mining royalties bill that passed the House Natural Resources Committee.

CALIFORNIA BURNING: Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News reports on Bush's trip tomorrow to view the fire-ravaged state.

DREAM ACT: Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret News reports on the Senate's newest attempt to grant legal status to college or military-bound students in the U.S. illegally.

Oct. 23: Regoinals in Today's News

HEARINGS, MARK-UPS AND BILL BILL INTRODUCTIONS: Rob Hotakainen in the Kansas City Star reports on the House Judiciary Committee's inveestigation into allegations of "political profiling'' at the Justice Department.

FARM SUBSIDIES: Maureen Groppe in the Lafayette (Ind.) Journal & Courier reports on reaction to a proposal by Sen. Richard Lugar to overhaul the federal farm subsidy system.

LOCAL RACES: Ellyn Ferguson in the Appleton (Wisc.) Post reports on a new Republican fundraising group aimed at winning back control of the House.

EARLY PRIMARY CONTROVERSY: Wes Allison in the St. Petersburg Times reports on the National Republican Party moving to decrease the number of Florida delegates to the national convention because of the state's early primary.

FLOOD INSURANCE: Louisiana Sen. David Vitter is blocking action on flood insurance overhaul, Sean Reilly reports in the Mobile Register.

CENSUS STATS!: Trish Choate in the Witchita Times New Record looks at the newest census data on federal funding to find which counties raked in the most per capita.

Get Off the Hill!

The Smithsonian museums, the National Archives, the Library of Congress... there are so many great places to find stories in Washington away from Capitol Hill. Check out Alicia Mundy's story in today's Seattle Times on a Seattle man's photo collection that is now the subject of a major exhibit at the National Gallery.

Oct. 22: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMAPAIGN TRAIL: Bill Adair in the St. Pete Times reports on the speed and sticking power of online campaign rumors; Joe Biden is hurting for cash, Nicole Guadiano reports in the Wilmington News Journal; and Craig Gilbert in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune report on the candidates' attempts to sway "values voters"'

REGIONALS CAN BE INTERNATIONAL: Wes Allison in the St. Pete Times does a Q&A with the president of the Iraqi Red Crescent Organization.

FEC REPORTS: How did local members of Congress spend campaign cash this quarter? A look at some of the continued regional coverage of Federal Election Commission reports out last week by Malia Rulon in the Cincinati Enquirer.

SENATOR SELLS STOCK: Sen. Jeff Sessions is selling his stock in Compass Bancshares Inc., and Citigroup Inc., in the wake of a Wall Street Journal report that legislation he is pushing would benefit those banks. Sean Reilly reports in the Mobile Register.

JENA SIX: Gerard Shields writes a political analysis on the Jenz Six case, in the Baton Rouge Advocate.

CREATIONISM POLITICS: Education advocates worried that a religious group promoting creationism will get federal funding, despite a pledge from U.S. Sen David Vitter that it won't, Gerard Shields reports in the Baton Rouge Advocate.

And over the weekend...

MARTINEZ RESIGNATION: Florida Sen. Mel Martinez resigns as Republican Party Chairman, Lesley Clark reports in the Miami Herald and Larry Lipman in the Palm Beach Post.

LOCAL RACES: Herb Jackson reports on a possible run for U.S. Senate by Republican Cliff Sobel in the Bergen Record; and Rep. Barbara Cubin decides whether to run for reelection, reports Noelle Straub in the Billings Gazette.

CHARITY LOBBYING: Jerry Zremski reports in the Buffalo News on a $200,000 privately-funded lobbying effort by the Buffalo City Mission that yeilded no federal aid.

REID GOES TO KENTUCKY: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid talks war in Louisville, by Lisa Mascaro in the Las Vegas Sun.

HOUSING POLITICS: Deborah Barfield Berry continues to examine housing discrimination, looking at online ads that violate fair housing laws. For Gannett News Service in the Tennessean.

BILLS, MARKUPS AND FEDERAL FUNDING: Okahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe proposes a tax-free development plan for the Arkansas River, Jim Myers reports in the Tulsa World; Bruce Alpert in the Times-Picayune reports on an amendment to a Senate measure that could help a Louisiana mental health program; Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret News on Utah reactions to a sales-tax proposal; and Jake Thompson explains the AMT debate in the Omaha World Herald.

MINING POLITICS: Tony Batt in the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Lisa Mascaro in the Las Vegas Sun report on Nevada reaction to a mining bill that would impose royalty taxes on new and existing mines; meanwhile, Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret News reports on a $1 million federal study on pillary mining proposed by Utah Senators.

SCHIP: How did we cover it?

How did regional reporters cover yesterday's failed veto override attempt on the children's health insurance bill? Take a look at some of our coverage:

Sean Reilly in the Mobile Press-Register.

Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record.

Bill Theobold in the Tennessean.

Aaron Sadler in the Arkansas News Bureau.

Faith Bremmer in the Argus Leader.

Noelle Straub in the Billings Gazette.

Bartholomew Sullivan in the Commerical Appeal.

Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Star.

Raju Chebium in the Home News Tribune.

Oct. 19: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: The Southern Baptist Convention not sold on Fred Thompson, Bill Theobold reports in the Leaf Chronicle.

LOCAL RACES: Regionals are continuing to comb through FEC reports, reading the tea leaves on individual congressional races. Ellen Ferguson in the Oshkosh (Wisc.) Northwestern; and Ben Stein is helping fellow comedian Al Franken campaign despite their political differences, Frederick Fromer reports in the Post Bulletin.

APPOINTMENTS: A retired Utah police chief will be FEMA's new law enforcement advisor, reports Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret News and Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune.

HEARINGS AND MARKUPS: Noelle Straub in the Missoulian reports on a contentious hearing to examine deignating as wilderness 23 million acres of land in five Western states; Lesley Clark in the Miami Herald covers a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on human trafficking; Aaron Sadler in the Arkansas News Bureau reports on support for research & technology centers; Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record reports on a hearing to examine the EPA cleanup of some contaminated New Jersey sites; and Steve Teatreault reports in the Las Vegas Review-Journal on the Senate Environment and Public Works plan to examine the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project.

BILL INTRODUCTIONS: Malia Rulon reports in the Cincinati Enquirer on proposed legislation to allow a historic Ohio and Mississippi river steamboat to stay afloat.

FENCE POLITICS: Members of Congress want to keep Mexicans from illegally entering the country, and they want to do it with U.S. steel, Brett Lieberman reports in the Patriot-News.

What's the local angle?

With the CHIP override vote in the House today, please post a comment below on how you are localizing the story. Are you just writing about how your members vote or something else?

Today's news brought to you by RRA members!

Here is the latest round-up of regional stories written by RRA members.

CHIP, CHIP, CHIP: The latest acronym in Washington getting plenty of stories as the House will vote on the veto override today. Maureen Groppe of the Indianapolis Star, localzing the story with Bush bringing in an Indiana businessman to help work on a compromise. Meanwhile, Wes Allison of the St. Petersburg Times has a local toddler serving as the face of the fight.

FEDERAL SPENDING: Tony Batt of the Stephens Media Washington Bureau writes in the Ely Times (Nevada) about a Tuesday report released by the Census Bureau that showed how much federal dollars went to the state.

MORE CAMPAIGN DOLLARS: Josh Drobnyk writes in the Allentown Morning Call about a congressional challenger's fundraising goals. Bill Theobald writes about Sen. Lamar Alexandar's campaign cash in the Leaf Chronicle (Tennessee).

SLOGAN WARS: Noelle Straub writes in the Missoulian about the Senate preventing Montana's unofficial slogan "The Last Best Place" from being trademarked.

FLOODS AND OTHER DISASTERS: Sean Reilly writes in the Press-Register about movement on the federal flood insurance legislation and plans for a relief center. Larry Lipman of the Palm Beach Post focuses on windstorm coverage.

PASSPORT PROBLEMS: Jerry Zremski of the Buffalo News wrote on Oc. 10 about REAL ID and issues for upstate New Yorkers.

Regionals in today's news

Blogging live from the Senate Judiciary confirmation hearing! Here is a round-up of today's stories by RRA members --Special thanks to Lisa Friedman who caught up with the blog late last night while traveling. Today is my (Suzanne Struglinski) first shot at trying this. Here is what our Google News Alerts brought us today:

VETERANS' BENEFITS: Malia Rulon writes in the Zanesville Times Recorder (Ohio) about a local man who came to testify about regional discrepancies in disability payments.

ROMNEY'S RELIGION: Suzanne Struglinski of the Deseret Morning News and Thomas Burr of the Salt Lake Tribune write about a religion question posed to presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a conference Tuesday.

HARRY VISITS MITCH'S TURF: Lisa Mascaro wrote a Sunday piece on Senate Majority Leader Harry Ried, D-Nev., lecturing in Kentucky --home state of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

HOUSE APPROVES SHIELD LAW: Maureen Groppe writes in the Indianapolis Star about the movement of the media shield law that Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind. is sponsoring.

CAMPAIGN DONATIONS: Stories from Monday's FEC deadline continue! Maureen Groppe writes in the Indianapolis Star found that Hoosiers gave most to Sen. Barrack Obama, D-Ill. and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani as well at a look at the congressional war chests. Ed Felker also looks at the local cash in the Rochester Post-Bulletin.

Herb Jackson writes in The Record that Giuliani and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. get the most from New Jersey donors.

Aaron Sadler looks at major Arkansas company's donations for Stephens Media's Washington Bureau.

What's your local angle?

In addition to keeping you plugged into what fellow regionals are writing about, RRA also is starting a section called “What’s Your Local Angle?” in which we keep an eye out for great stories that can be easily re-localized. Feel free to come up with a better title. Please.

DISTRICT ANALYSIS: Check out this piece by Lisa Mascaro in the Las Vegas Sun analyzing the changing winds in a Nevada district, and a representative's attemp to blow with them. While we're not including this as an example of something that can be relocalized (it's obviously pretty specific to the circumstances in a particular region) it's a great read.

LOCALIZE THE SOCIAL SECURITY CRISIS: Trish Choate in the Witchita Times Record News has been writing periodically on the Social Security crisis, and the stories are great. This piece is very advice-oriented, but jam packed with Witchita statistics that you can easily find for your own local.

Regionals in today's (and yesterday's!) news

(sorry for the delay, guys! still working out the kinks...)

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Fred Thompson is raking in big bucks, despite only being officially a candidate for a few months, Bill Theobold reports in the Tennessean; and Utahns are still giving big to Romney, Thomas Burr reports in the Salt Lake Tribune.

LOCAL RACES: Check out how regionals covered the latest FEC filings: Malia Rulon in the Cincinati Enquirer; Sean Reilly in the Mobile Register; and Raju Chebium in the (New Jersey) Home News Tribune; Edward Felker in the Post Bulletin.

POLITICAL PROFILE: Lisa Mascaro in the Las Vegas Sun profiles Rep. Shelley Berkley and the Las Vegas Democrat's international world view.

BUSH IN MEMHIS: Bartholomew Sullivan reports on the president's visit to support Sen. Lamar Alexander, who in turn has been add odds with the president on Iraq.

ENERGY POLITICS: Kansas energy producers are accusing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of not allowing them a voice in proposed energy legislation, by Trish Choate in Witchita Times Record News.

TV POLITICS: Utah Rep. Chris Cannon wants to tax satellite television the same as cable, Suzanne Struglinski writes in the Deseret News.

GUN POLITICS: Gun control advocates are trying to work around Oklahoma Sen. Ton Coburn, Jim Myers reports in the Tulsa World.

CONGRESSIONAL ABSENCE: Maureen Groppe reports in the Indiana Star on Indiana Rep. Julia Carson's continued absence from the House due to a leg infection.

Part-time reporter opening

RRA member Bill Adair sends along this post:

PolitiFact, the new fact-checking Web site run by the St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly, is looking for a part-time reporter. The job is 24-32 hours per week and is a temporary position, probably through the November 2008 election. We’re looking for someone experienced at covering presidential campaigns who can write clearly. We’d like someone who is skeptical (but not cynical), someone who enjoys fact-checking and doesn’t mind digging into the weeds to find a good story. Contact Bill Adair, Washington Bureau Chief for the St. Petersburg Times, at adair@sptimes.com

Regionals in the weekend news

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Tommy Burr explores the historic link between Mormons and the White House in the Salt Lake Tribune; Craig Gilbert reports on presidential hopefuls in Wisconsin for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel; Pennsylvania independents unlikely to vote for Hillary, Josh Drobnyk reports in the Allentown Morning Call; and the Louisiana campaign cash likely to go to Giuliani, Gerard Shields reports in the Baton Rouge Advocate.

THE NEVER-ENDING SCHIP STORY: Jim Myers in the Tulsa World and Raju Chebium in the Home News Tribune advance Thursday's veto override attempt in the House; and Montana Sen. Max Baucus will give the Democratic radio response on SCHIP, Noelle Straub reports in the Helena Independent Record.

PRIVATE IRS DEBT-COLLECTION: Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record and Tony Batt for Stephens Media cover the House vote to bar private companies from acting as IRS debt-collectors.

FARM BILL: Noelle Straub examines Max Baucus' role in the farm bill debate, Helena Independent Record.

TRADE: Maureen Groppe in the Indiana Star examines a pending trade deal with Peru and the implications for Indiana.

MINE DISASTER: Why aren't Utah congressman leading the charge in investigating the Crandall Canyon mine disaster? Tommy Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune.

What's Your Local Angle?

In addition to keeping you plugged into what fellow regionals are writing about, RRA also is starting a section called “What’s Your Local Angle?” in which we keep an eye out for great stories that can be easily re-localized. Feel free to come up with a better title. Please.

• This in from RRA President Suzanne Struglinski: check out the piece today by former regional Lee Davidson (Deseret News) about the number of Google searches for "naked girls" coming from Utah. Wanna see what kind of smut searches are being performed by people in your state? Read his piece and find out how!

Regionals in Todays News

• ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Tommy Burr Salt Lake Tribune examines Mitt Romney's less-than-pleased reaction to his recent Newsweek cover story; and Aaron Sadler is keeping an eye on Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor's fundraising for the Arksanas News Bureau.

• HURRICANE INSURANCE: Sean Reilly in the Sun Herald examines soaring insurance rates along the Gulf Coast in the wake of 2004 and 2005 hurricanes.

• MEDICARE: New website to help Medicare beneficiaries choose a private plan, Larry Lipman writes in today's Palm Beach Post.

• SCHIP: New Jersey Republican Rep. Jim Saxton isn't cowed by Democratic attacks on his vote against SCHIP, Raju Chebium reports for Gannett News Service.

• STILL A REPUBLICAN: Colorado Rep. Marilyn Musgrave is still solidly Republican, nothwithstanding her bipartisan attempts of late, Faith Bremmer reports in the Fort Collins Coloradan.

• INDIANA AIR IMPROVING: So saYs the EPA, which designated the counties surrounding Indianapolis as compliant with ozone standards, Maureen Groppe reports in the Indiana Star.

• SCARY BOOT CAMPS: House members called on the administration to investigate wilderness therapy programs on federal land, Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret News.

The Future of News Industry Jobs

Sign up now for “The Future of News Industry Jobs” Conference

When: October 26-27, 2007

Where: The Inn and Conference Center, The University of Maryland

In the midst of significant changes in the media industries, how arepeople’s jobs changing and where will the jobs be in the future? This symposium will gather news workers, managers, owners, new mediadevelopers, advertising experts, futurists and industry advocates todiscuss the changing work environment, the changing media landscape, andwhere we might be headed. Results of a national survey of news workerswill be released at the conference, to kick off the discussion.

PANELS AND PANELISTS:

• The Changing Industry: Tom Rosentiel, Project for Excellence in Journalism; Bruce Shapiro, Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma; Liza Gross, Miami Herald; Linda Foley, President, Newspaper Guild--CWA
• Tools and Sources: Peter Perl, The Washington Post; Andrea Lynn, NaplesNews.com; EdFoster-Simeon, USA Today; Don Villar, WLS-Televsion
• Where are the Jobs?: Holly Nielsen, Gannett; Ju-Don Roberts, Washington Post, NewsweekInteractive; Michelle Hord, ABC News; Jan Schaffer, J-Lab, TheInstitute for Interactive Journalism; James Joyce, NABET-CWA
• Economics and the Future: Jane Scholz, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services; Ben Scott, FreePress.net; Mark Cooper, Consumers Federation; Ted Venetoulis, Baltimore Media Group; Mark Walsh, Ruxton Ventures LLC, GeniusRocket, Inc.; Jeff Johnson, Former Publisher Los Angeles Times
• Keynote Speaker: Mark Deuze, Indiana University
• Saturday Workshop: Training for the Future

Make room Reservations as soon as possible! Call 1-800–676–6137 and bookyour room at the Inn and Conference Center at U.M.U.C. in College Park, MD. Rooms are available the evenings of Oct. 25 and 26 at a special$159/night conference rate through October 4. This conference issponsored by the Philip Merrill College of Journalism and CommunicationWorkers of America.

REGISTRATION: The conference registration fee is $50. Checks only. Please make checks out to University of Maryland. Print and completethis form and mail it with your payment to: Future of News Conference,Philip Merrill College of Journalism, 1117 Journalism Building,University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.

Name:_______________________________________Email:_____________________________________________Address:_____________________________________Telephone:_________________________________________

Don't see your stories?

Let me know! I have been doing Google "news alerts" for all members, but sometimes stories show up a few days late online, or perhaps I'm are searching for your nickname but you use a more formal name for a byline. In any case, if your stories aren't appearing here and you want them to, just e-mail me at regionalreporters@gmail.com, or send me a link if there's one you particularly want to make sure gets on the blog.

Thanks for playing!

Lisa

Regionals in Todays News

• THE NEVER-ENDING SCHIP STORY: Gerard Shields in the Baton Rouge Advocate reports on the squeeze being put on Republican lawmakers from constituents concerned about the children's health insurance program; and Sean Reilly in the Press-Register compares Alabama GOP votes against the SCHIP program in context with their vote four years ago on the Medicare prescription drug benefit, which analysts said underscores the power imbalance between seniors and kids.

• ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Law-and-Order actor Fred Thompson would get a juicy role as president, but would take a hit to the pocketbook, Malia Rulon reports in the Tennessean.

• GLOBAL WARMING: New Jersey power companies warn Congress of rising electricity costs if they have to cut emissions, Herb Jackson reports in the Bergen Record.

• ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News and Wes Allison in the St. Petersburg Times report on the contentious committee vote to declare the deaths of Armenians in post-Word War I Ottoman Turkey a genocide.

What's Your Local Angle?

In addition to keeping you plugged into what fellow regionals are writing about, RRA also is starting a section called “What’s Your Local Angle?” in which we keep an eye out for great stories that can be easily re-localized. Feel free to come up with a better title. Please.

• Check out Herb Jackson's story on federal funding in today's Bergen Record. Jackson used the latest consolidated federal fund reports from the Census Bureau to do a short piece showing that New Jersey is not getting its fair share of federal funding. The data contains a wealth of info for not just every state, but every county. Countless storie are at your fingertips with this report, and it can be used to cull local numbers on national stories on everything from food stamps to juvenile justice grant funding.

Regionals in Todays News

• ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Fred Thompson did OK in yesterday's Republican debate, Bill Theobold reports in today's Jackson Sun; Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh is going to campaign for Hillary in Iowa, Maureen Groppe reports in the Indiana Star; Groppe also is reporting in the Star on the congressional race in Indiana's 9th district, which is already heating up.

• ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION: Lisa Friedman writes in the Los Angeles Daily News about today's historic vote and controversy over a flip-flopping California congresswoman; and Alicia Mundy reports in the Seattle Times on the resolution's impact on Tacoma Democrat Rep. Adam Smith.

• FEDERAL FUNDING: Josh Drobnyk reports in the Allentown Morning Call on a controversy over a $100,000 federal grant to a local non-profit; and Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record examined the Census Bureau's new consolidated federal fund reports to find that New Jersey lags in federal funding.

• HURRICANE RECOVERY: Gerard Shields reports in the Baton Rouge Advocate on HUD's decision to delay its takeover of hurricane recovery housing.

• REAL ID: Jerry Zremski reports in the Buffalo News on the impact of Gov. Eliot Spitzer to allow illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses, which could lead to New Yorkers being forced to show a passport on domestic flights.

• JEFFERSON TRIAL: The case of Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, is running into delays over morning bathroom time. Yes, really. Bruce Alpert reports in the Times-Picayune.

• TAX PROPOSALS: Craig Gilbert in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel examines of Wisconsin Republican's plan to eliminate the alternative minimum tax.

• BOOT CAMP: Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret News reports on federal inquiries into the deaths of five teens at a Utah-based wilderness therapy program.

Regionals in the Weekend News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Bill Theobold profiles Fred Thompson in the Commercial Appeal.

MORTGAGE CRISIS: Raju Chebium reports in the Courier Post on House-passed legislation written by New Jersey Rep. Rob Andrews to help people who lost homes to foreclosure; and Lisa Friedman reports in the Los Angeles Daily News on various congressional proposals to address the mortgage mess.

IRAQ FOR REGIONALS: Lisa Mascaro explores in the Las Vegas Sun proposals for a World War II-style income surtax to pay for the war; and Leo Shane reports in Stars and Stripes on a controversy over lack of racial diversity among military flag officers.

SCHIP: Which Republicans will join the effort to override Bush's veto of the children's health insurance program? At least one in Wisconsin, Craig Gilbert reports in the Milwaukee Setinel-Journal.

SUPREME COURT: The court will hear a Louisiana sex offender death penalty case, Gerard Shields writes in the Baton Rouge Advocate.

FLOOD INSURANCE: Trish Choate reports in the Witchita Times Record News on propsed legislation to expand coverage limits.

YUCCA MOUNTAIN: The DOE is proposing to double the size of the controverisal, planned Nevada nuclear waste desository, Steve Teatrault reports in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

MINE DISASTER INVESTIGATION: The Labor Department says it can't meet a House deadline demand for documents related to the Crandall Canyon Mine accident, reports Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret Morning News and Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune.

Regionals in Todays News

IRAQ FOR REGIONALS: Bartholomew Sullivan in the Commercial Appeal and Wes Allison in the St. Petersburg Times both report on congressional trips to Iraq.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Fred Thompson goes prime-time tonight in the Republican debate, Bill Theobald reports in the Tennessean; He's also reporting on Thompson's call to extend Bush's tax cuts.

SCHIP: Herb Jackson reports in the Bergen Record on the administration's defense of vetoing the children's health insurance program; and Faith Bremmer in the Fort Collins Coloradan t looks at possible repercussions against Colorado Republican Rep. Marilyn Musgrave.

HOUSING DISCRIMINATION: Gannett News Service's Deborah Barryfield Berry's expose on housing discrimination continues with a piece on "testers" who pose as renters looking for evidence of discrmination; and a how-to on filing a complaint.

Regionals in Todays News

FLORIDA DEMS SUE THEIR PARTY: Lesley Clark reports in the Miami Herald on a lawsuit brought by Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Alcee Hastings accusing the Democratic Party of massive voter disenfranchisement.

HULL BOAT PIRACY: Legislation to protect Wisconsin hull boat designs from piracy passes the Senate Judiciary Committee, Ellyn Ferguson reports in the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

INDUSTRIAL LOANS: Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret News on efforts to prevent retail companies from getting into the banking business, legislation that would impact Utah.

THE SCHIP THAT WON'T SINK: Jerry Zremski covers the impact of Bush's voto of children's health legislation on New York lawmakers in today's Buffalo News; and Raju Chebium reports for Gannett on the pressure New Jersey Republicans are coming under.

FOLLOW THE MONEY: Aaron Sadler writes in the Arkansas News Bureau about local funding in the Defense Appropriations bill.

Get your entries in for the Dirksen Award!

Reminder from the The National Press Foundation! Entries for the 2007 awards for accomplishment in journalism are due FRIDAY. Awards include the $5,000 Dirksen Awards for Coverage of Congress by print and broadcast journalists, the $2,500 Berryman Award for editorial cartoonists, and the $2,500 Excellence in Online Journalism Award. The awards will be presented at the 25th NPF Annual Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C. on February 28, 2008. At left is last year's Dirksen Award winner, Brody Mullins, of the Wall Street Journal, giving his acceptance speech at the 24th Annual Awards Dinner. Entries for the 2007 awards must be received by Friday, October 5.

Regionals in Todays News

TOM COBURN'S GOT A HOLD ON... A LOT: Jim Myers reports in the Tulsa World on the Oklahoma Senator's hold on more than 80 bills.

ON THE RAILS: Ellyn Fergeson reports for Gannett News Service on legislation to end anti-trust protections for railorads.

MINE HEARINGS: Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune and Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret News cover Day 2 of the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster hearings.

POST-KATRINA: Gerard Shields reports in the Baton Rouge Advocate that Louisiana was shortchanged in funding for a pilot program to build disaster housing alternatives to trailers.

VETERANS: Aaron Sadler reports for Stephens Media on health care for older veterans.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Wes Allison reports on Sen. John McCain's renewed criticism of the Bush administration in today's St. Petersburg Times.

SUPREME COURT: Jerry Zremski reports in the Buffalo News on arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on New York judicial candidate selection.

Regionals in Todays News

FEMA COVERAGE: Sean Reilly reports in the Mobile Register on the Federal Emergency Mangagement Agency's inability to launch a flood insurance program that Congress mandated three years ago.

MINE DISASTER INVESTIGATION: Tommy Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune and Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret Morning News cover the back-to-back House and Senate hearings on Utah's Crandall Canyon Mine disaster.

ALONG THE BORDER: Dana Wilkie reports in the San Diego Union-Tribune about the possibilty of a third border-crossing into Tiujuana.

GANG LEGISLATION: Lisa Friedman covers consideration of anti-gang legislation for the Los Angeles Daily News.

REGIONALS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Jerry Zremski in the Buffalo News covers allegations that Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton is helping to oursource American jobs.

Regionals in Todays News

FEATURE PROFILE: Noelle Straub reports on Sen. John Barrasso's first 100 days in the Jackson Hole Star Tribune.

HEARINGS & INVESTIGATIONS: Suzanne Struglinski is covering the Crandall Canyon mine collapse hearings in front of the Senate Health Labor Committee today for the Deseret News; and Aaron Sadler reports on congressional moves to investigate housing construction delays at Little Rock Air Force Base for the Arkansas News Bureau.

What's Your Local Angle?

In addition to keeping you plugged into what fellow regionals are writing about, RRA also is starting a section called “What’s Your Local Angle?” in which we keep an eye out for great stories that can be easily re-localized. Feel free to come up with a better title. Please.

MORE EARMARKS: Los Angeles Daily News regional Lisa Friedman found that when it comes to earmark disclosure, members of both parties are big hypocrites. Shocking, huh? The earmark story is an easy one to do for any delegation and a good way to get them on the record about an important issue.

GOT A LOBBYIST?: Check out this piece by Herb Jackson in this weekend's Bergen Record on the amount of money municipalities and public institutions spend on lobbyists, and what the taxpayers get in return.