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

Nov. 15: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Giuliani is planning a $1,000-per-plate luncheon in Bethlehem Township, Pa., Josh Drobnyk reports in the Morning Call.

LOCAL RACES: A New Jersey rabbi plans to challenge Rep. Scott Garrett, Herb Jackson reports in the Bergen Record.

BILLS, HEARINGS & MARK-UPS: Warren Buffett teams up with ranchers to testify on the estate tax in the Senate, Noelle Straub reports in the Billings Gazette and Faith Bremner in the Argus Leader; and American Medical Association testifies against allowing pharmacies to sell behind-the-counter drugs without a doctor's prescription, Nicole Guadiano reports in the Wilmington News Journal.

APPROPS: Bush signs Defense Budget, Leo Shane III reports in Stars and Stripes.

More from Nov. 14...

MEDICARE: Larry Lipman in the Austin American Statesman reports on audit findings that generic drugs are keeping Medicare Part D costs down.

Nov. 14: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: The National Right to Life Committee endorsed Fred Thompson, Bill Theobold reports in the Clarksville (Tenn.) Leaf Chronicle.

APPROPS: Ellyn Ferguson in the Green Bay Press Gazette reports on local money in the Defense and Labor/HHS bills.

HEARINGS, BILLS AND MARK-UPS: Faith Bremner in the Coloradan reports on a hearing into a federal agreement that could lead to designating much of Rocky Mountain National Park as a wilderness area; Noelle Straub in the Helena Independent Record reports on a hearing that examined ways to stem the shortcomings in the customs and border patrol detection system; and Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record reports on a hearing to boost a Lautenberg bill that would beef up cigarette labeling.

FARM BILL: Sylvia Smith in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has a commentary piece on Farm Bill subsidies.

More from Nov. 13...

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Lesley Clark in the Miami Herald profiles Bill Richardson's journey between countries and cultures; and Edward Felker in the Rochester (Minn.) Post Bulletin examines some local congressional races.

FARM BILL: Joseph Morton in the Omaha World Herald reports on the fate of ethanol in the farm bill.

If you use FedSpending.org...

... you won't want to miss this. (and if you don't use it, you should!)

Sent to us by the folks at OMB watch:
--------------------------------
To mark the one-year anniversary of FedSpending.org's successful launch and celebrate its first exciting year, OMB Watch and the Sunlight Foundation are hosting an informal gathering to announce new features on the website and look to what lies ahead for FedSpending.org.

Come see OMB Watch experts present new FedSpending.org features, such as:
Mapping capabilities
Expandable Summary Page views
Groundbreaking SuperSearch functions
Complete FAADS data from FY 2006

Take a "test drive" of the new features on the site.

Hear about plans for FedSpending.org for 2008, including:
A new Master Search function allowing simultaneous searches of both the contracts and assistance databases
An inflation calculator
Additional "per capita" functions for data displays
Inclusion of additional data sets, such as demographics data, lobbying records, or contractor/grantee misconduct
Continued data updates throughout the year

Celebrate the one-year anniversary of FedSpending.org with OMB Watch and Sunlight Foundation staff, congressional allies, reporters, and colleagues.. A reception will follow the presentation.

Thursday, November 29, 4-6 pmat OMB Watch
2040 S St. NW
Washington, DC 20009


Please RSVP by Monday, Nov. 26 (space is limited)
to Brian Gumm, bgumm@ombwatch.org, (202) 234-8494

Nov. 13: Seriously? You guys found things to write about yesterday? Impressive...

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Fred Thompson picks up the National Right to Life endorsement, Bill Theobold reports in the Tennessean.

BILLS, HEARINGS AND MARK-UPS: Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret Morning News on Utah contractors still waiting for the government to pay them for work on the Grand Canyon for years ago.

FEATURES: Suzanne Struglinski also has a nifty feach on a DEA exhibit on drugged-out mice with roots in Utah; and Sylvia Smith examined in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette the nationwide spike in charitable demand, even as contributions remain stagnant.

And I just noticed this one!

REGOINALS WRITE SPORTS: Aaron Sadler in the Pine Bluff Commercial Appeal spent Sunday at the Eagles-Redskins game and came away with a story on offensive lineman (and Arkansas native!) Shawn Andrews for the Pine Bluff Commercial.

Not seeing your stories?

Let's figure out why not!

Either e-mail me directly at lisa.friedman@langnews.com

or through RRA at

regionalreporters@gmail.com

Thanks!

Featured Stories

Check 'em out....

Two interesting pieces from the weekend: Alicia Mundy in the Seattle Times explores the tension between gender and politics in a story about why Washington State's three top Democratic women have not endorsed Hillary Clinton; and Rob Hotkainen in the Kansas City Star has a take-out on the impact in Missouri of the Supreme Court's questioning of lethal injections.

Nov. 12: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Hillary Clinton fires back at critics, Jerry Zremski reports in the Buffalo News.

IMMIGRATION: Two top lawmakers declare immigration reform totally, officially dead, Lisa Friedman reports in the Torrance Daily Breeze; and Jake Thompson in the Omaha World Herald explores the immigration law surrounding an 13-year-old boy whose parents brought him to the U.S. illegally and who is unable to reenter the U.S. after being sexually assaulted and kidnapped to Mexico by a teacher.

Nov. 10-11: Regionals in the Weekend News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Florida doesn't like George Bush anymore according to new polling, Lesley Clark reports in the Miami Herald; Mitt Romney may or may not give a speech about his Mormon faith, Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune and Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret News report; Meanwhile, McCain's mother makes some unintelligible slam on Romney's religion, Thomas Burr also reports in the Salt Lake Tribune. Fred Thompson has a plan for Social Security, Bill Theobold reports in the Tennessean; and finally, Aaron Sadler in the Arkansas News Bureau has a profile on Janet Huckabee.

VETERANS DAY STORIES: Aaron Sadler in the Northwest Arkansas Daily News tells the story of Vietnam War soldier whose name was misspelled on the wall, and whose family has been trying for years to get it fixed; and Leo Shane in Stars and Stripes reports on a recent veterans' convention.

AMT: Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record and Jim Myers in the Tulsa World report on alternative minimum tax legislation that passed the House on Friday.

ETHANOL POLITICS: Ellyn Ferguson in the Argus Leader reports on the impact of proposed gasoline legislation on the ethanol industry.

BILLS, MARK-UPS AND HEARINGS: Josh Drobnyk in the Allentown Morning Call reports on legislation requiring private prisons to release the same information as those run by governments.

MONEY STUFF: Utah will get fire grant funding, Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret News; Louisiana just had a $12 billion day, Gerard Shields reports in the Baton Rouge Advocate; and Cincinati will get funding from the Labor/HHS bill, Malia Rulon reports in the Cincinati Enquirer.

Nov. 9: Regionals in Today's News

STILL MORE WATER: Congress on Thursday successfully overrode President Bush's veto of a the Water Resources Development Act. Lots of states are getting water pork and are very, very happy. Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record; Raju Chebium in the Courier (N.J.) Post; Lesley Clark in the Miami Herald; Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Star; Bruce Alpert in the Times-Picayune; Noelle Straub in the Helena Independent Record; Larry Lipman in the Palm Beach Post; and Malia Rulon in the Cincinati Enquirer.

RETIREMENTS: Another Republican - Jim Saxon of New Jersey - announces a retirement, Raju Chebium reports in the Vineland (N.J.) Daily Journal.

VITTER: This story just keeps getting better. Gerard Shields reports in the Baton Rouge Advocate reports that a prostitute who claims Sen. Vitter was a regular client is appearing in Hustler. She says his chief rule was: no perfumes, no body lotions.

BILLS, HEARINGS AND MARK-UPS: The House on Thursday approved a plan to create a federal disaster program, Larry Lipman reports in the Palm Beach Post.

MUSEUM THEFT: Thousands of mementos are missing from the Reagan Presidential Library. Or maybe not. Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News.

Nov. 8: Regionals in Today's News

WATER WIN: More coverage of the Water Resources Development Act and the Senate vote today to override President Bush's veto. Raju Chebium in the Home News Tribune; Bruce Alpert in the Times-Picayune; and Lisa Friedman in the Los Angeles Daily News.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Buffalo News reporter Jerry Zremski reports on Giuliani's endorsement by Pat Robertson.

FARM BILL: Jake Thompson in the Omaha World Herald examines the impact of the Farm Bill on food bank operators.

AMBASSADOR SWEARING-IN: Regional coverage of a Wisconsin native being sworn in as ambassador to Greece, by Ellyn Ferguson in the Green Bay Press-Gazette and Craig Gilbert in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

BORDER SECURITY: Mike Madden in the Arizona Republic reports that partisan budget battles could mean a loss for border security funding.

BILLS, HEARINGS AND MARK-UPS: A Senate panel looks at storing and capturing carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired plants, Noelle Straub reports in the Billings Gazette.

MUKASEY: Noelle Straub in the Helena Independent Record reports that Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester will vote against Michael Mukasey as the next Attorney General.

SLAVE COMMEMORATION: Aaron Sadler in the Arkansas News Bureau reports on a task force recommendation to erect a permanent marker in the U.S. Capitol to commemorate the slaves who built it.

ANIMAL POLITICS: God and four-legged creatures come together in lobbying for animal compassion, Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret Morning News.

Nov. 7: Regionals in Today's News

WRDA: Check out regional coverage of Tuesday's House override of the Water Resources Development Act - Jim Myers in the Tulsa World; Gerard Shields in the Baton Rouge Advocate; Bruce Alpert in the Times-Picayune; Larry Lipman in the Palm Beach Post; and Faith Bremner in the Great Falls Tribune.

HEARINGS, BILLS AND MARK-UPS: Noelle Straub in the Billings Gazette reports on two Montana tribal leaders who testified at a Senate hearing on federal aid for fighting methamphetamine use; Gerard Shields in the Baton Rouge Advocate reports that appropriators have agreed to spend $3 billion on a Louisiana rebuilding program; and Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah has introduced toy safety legislation, Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret Morning News.

REPORTS: Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret Morning News reports on findings from the Brookings Institution that presidential candidates need to focus more on metropolitan areas.

FRANCE IS REGIONAL: Bartholomew Sullivan in the Commercial Appeal reports on French President Nicolas Sarkozy's appearance before the American Business Council.

PAKISTAN IS REGIONAL: Nicole Guadiano in the Wilmington News Journal reports that presidential hopeful and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Joe Biden personally urged Pakistani President Pervez Musharaff to hold elections.

More from Nov. 6...

MUKASEY: Democrat Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold both voted against Judge Michael Mukasey for AG, Ellyn Ferguson reports in the Oshkosh Northwestern.

IMMIGRATION: Anti-illegal immigration hardliners introduce new legislation beefing up employer verification and border patrol, Ellyn Ferguson reports in the Green Bay Press Gazette.

Featured Story

Check out Noelle Straub's profile in the Billings Gazette of a Montana soldier injured in the Iraq War.

Nov. 6: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Buffalo News reporter Jerry Zremski contrasts Giuliani's presidential race with his run for U.S. Senate in 2000.

WATER BILL: Oklahoma Sen. Tom Cole will vote to override President Bush's veto of a $23 billion water bill, Jim Myers reports in the Tulsa World. So Will South Dakota lawmakers, Faith Bremner reports in the Argus Leader.

MEDALS OF FREEDOM: Bartholomew Sullivan the Commercial Appeal and Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Star covered the awards ceremony.

TRADE PACT: Ellyn Ferguson in the Green Bay Press Gazette explores the impact of new trade pacts on the local textile industry.

ATTORNEY GENERAL VOTE: Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson will vote to confirm Michael Mukasey as attorney general, Jake Thompson reports in the Omaha World Herald.

Nov. 5: Regionals in Today's News

FARM BILL: Faith Bremner in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader advances today's Senate debate; and Jake Thompson in the Omaha World Herald reports on immigration politics in the farm bill.

Nov. 3-4: Regionals in the Weekend News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: The Christian conservative vote is still up for grabs in Louisiana, Gerard Shields reports in the Baton Rouge Advocate.

D.C. MADAME: The D.C. Madam wants Sen. David Vitter to testify and applied in federal court for a subpoena to make it happen, Gerard Shields reports in the Baton Rouge Advocate.

COLD CASE INVESTIGATION: Syracuse law students are trying to crack a never-solved 43-year-old murder case in Lousiana, Bruce Alpert reports in the Times-Picayune.

WATER VETO CONT.: More coverage of Bush's veto of a massive water resources bill. Gerard Shields in the Baton Rouge Advocate; Ellyn Ferguson in the Green Bay Press-Gazette; Jim Myers in the Tulsa World; and Larry Lipman in the Palm Beach Post; Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record.

COMBAT SHIP POLITICS: Contractors point fingers in the Navy cancellation of a combat ship that was to be constructed in Mobile, Sean Reilly reports in the Mobile Register.

HEALTH CARE: Larry Lipman in the Palm Beach Post reports on the growing health risk of diabetes.

POLITICAL PROFILE: Alicia Mundy in the Seattle Times profiles Sen. Patty Murphy as an emerging leader on veterans' issues.

BILLS, HEARINGS AND MARK-UPS: Utah Rep. Chris Cannon wants Congress to investigate foreign service agents who are questioning orders they be sent to Iraq, Thomas Burr reports in the Salt Lake Tribune; and a Virginia senator is calling for more research into mine communication resources, Suzanne Struglinski reports in the Deseret News.

<p>CORN POLITICS: Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Star examines fallout from the new "King Corn" documentary.

INTERNET TAX: Tony Batt in the Northwest Arkansas Morning News reports on the ban's extension, which passed the House last week.

Nov. 2: Regionals in Today's News

WATER POLITICS: Great Lakes lawmakers are looking for a compromise on legislation regulating ship ballast water, Ellyn Ferguson reports in the Green Bay Press Gazette; meanwhile, Larry Lipman in the Palm Beach Post reports that governors of Florida, Georgia and Alabama met in Washington to duke out their own water disputes.

AMT: Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record looks at how pending legislation to address the Alternative Minimum Tax will affect New Jersey residents.

COMBAT SHIP CANCELED: Sean Reilly in the Mobile Press-Register reports on the Navy's cancellation of a ship that was to be constructed in Mobile.

HEARINGS, BILLS AND MARK-UPS: A Cincinati exec testifies in favor of free trade deals, Malia Rulon reports in the Cincinati Enquirer; Noelle Straub reports in the Helena Independent Record on expert testimony before Congress that climate change will increase and intensify wildfires.

WATER VETO: President Bush on Friday vetoed a massive water resources bill funding water projects in every state. Bruce Alpert reports in the Times-Picayune; Trish Choate in the Witchita Times Record-News; and Malia Rulon in the Cincinati Enquirer.

LOCAL RACES: Patriot-Ledger reporter Brett Lieberman blogs on the Pennsylvania governor's race to succeed Ed Rendell.

More from Nov. 1:

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Utah Rep. Chris Cannon endorses Romney, Thomas Burr reports in the Salt Lake Tribune and Suzanne Struglinski in the Deseret News; and Jerry Zremski in the Buffalo News reports on the flap over Hillary Clinton's position on illegal immigrants obtaining drivers licenses.

TRADE BILL: Ellyn Ferguson in the Green Bay Press Gazette reports on new House-passed legislation creating a federal aid program for employees who lose jobs because of international trade.

NOMINATIONS: The Senate Judiciary Committee isn't having nearly as much trouble with U.S. District Judge John Daniel Tinder's nomination as they are with Mukasey's. The paenl unanimously approved Tinder to the federal appeals court, Maureen Groppe reports in the Indianapolis Star.

MINE SAFETY: A "bounce" in a Utah coal mine has prompted a federal investigation, Thomas Burr reports in the Salt Lake Tribune.

PER DIEM POLITICS: Bruce Alpert in the Times-Picayune reports that the GSA's decision to lower the federal per-diem rate for hotels threatens to hurt still-struggling New Orleans.

More Media General Layoffs? Query from Trish Choate

just heard that Media General's Bureau is laying off regionals.
Know anything about that?

Trish Choate
Scripps Howard News Service

Nov. 1: Regionals in Today's News

FARM BILL: Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record and Raju Chebium for Gannett News Service examine attempts to change the subsidy system in a way that benefits New Jersey farmer.

LOCAL RACES: Ohio Rep. Jean Schmidt accuses her opponent of violating House ethics rules for using House floor video in a political ad. But her opponent isn't a member of the House yet. Malia Rulon in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

USDA APPOINTMENT: Maureen Groppe in the Indianapolis Star notes that Bush passed over Hoosier Chuck Conner when he tapped Edward Schafer to be the new head of USDA.

BILLS, HEARINGS AND MARK-UPS: Gerard Shields in the Baton Rouge Advocate covers a Senate hearing on post-Hurricane mental health; Noelle Straub in the Billings Gazette covers a hearing on ending exemptions from environmental and health regulations to the oil and gas industry; and a Senate committee is moving forward with imposing mining taxes, Tony Batt reports for Stephens Media.

MINE SAFETY: Legislation aimed at improving coal mining safety passed the House on Wednesday, Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune and Suzane Struglinski in the Deseret News report.

MEDICARE: A new health report calls the value of Medicare D into question, Larry Lipman reports in the Palm Beach Post.

Just caught from yesterday's news:

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Rudy and Biden get nasty, Nicole Guadiano reports in for Gannett News Service; and Huckabee is gaining momentum, Aaron Sadler reports for Arkansas News Bureau.

COURT CASE: Rob Hotakainen for McClatchy covers the $11 million in damages jurors awarded to the family of a Maryland Marine whose funeral was picketed by members of a church.