Kansas Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson will not run for governor in 2010, leaving the Democrats with one less candidate to replace Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

People in Connecticut don't seem to be drowning their economic blues in brews, booze or Beaujolais. Slumping tax collections suggest folks are buying less beer, liquor and wine amid some of the most depressing times since the Great Depression.

Budget cuts would mean shorter prison sentences, earlier release and less post-release supervision for some Washington inmates. But officials say the proposed changes won't jeopardize public safety.

South Dakota's state government has hundreds of active contracts worth millions of dollars for professional services ranging from legal work to health care to advertising, and most are provided by private-sector businesses and individuals who are awarded the jobs without going through a competitive bid process.

NEW YORK - To help offset state budget cuts, a group of Democratic governors urged the federal government Friday to pass a $1 trillion economic stimulus package, significantly larger than the one under discussion in Congress.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has withdrawn as President-elect Barack Obama 's choice to be Commerce Secretary amid reports that a federal grand jury has been looking into whether a California company won a state contract after contributing to Richardson's political causes.

Support for property-tax rollbacks is building from Arizona to New York, fueled by angry homeowners in some locales who are seeing rising tax bills despite plunging home prices.

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will become chairman of the Democratic National Committee later this month, serving as the top political messenger for Barack Obama's administration even while finishing his final year in the governor's mansion, several sources said.

PORTLAND, Ore. - For years, Oregon has been diligent about reducing the state's dependence on fossil fuels, but its environmental consciousness has come at a stunning price -- gas tax revenue is down $4.8 million a year compared with 2006.

That 52-inch, flat-screen television on the family room wall may have a terrific picture, but there's a big drawback: It's an energy hog.

With a promise to end partisan clashes, newcomer and moderate Republican Joe Straus of San Antonio is poised to become the new Texas House speaker after 40-year veteran Tom Craddick withdrew from contention.

Massachusetts officially decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana yesterday, but many police departments across the state were essentially ignoring the voter-passed law, saying they would not even bother to ticket people they see smoking marijuana.

CHICAGO — President-elect Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats are considering major expansions of government-assisted health care insurance and unemployment compensation as they begin intensive work this week on a two-year economic recovery package.

The federal corruption probe that has shone a national spotlight on Gov. Blagojevich now has his brother -- who chairs his campaign fund -- increasingly under the microscope.

Launching a spring ethics push, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn has asked the same lawyer who prosecuted former Gov. George Ryan to recommend ways to "fumigate" state government.

Some state employees could be required to take up to 24 days of unpaid leave in the next two years, according to draft legislation submitted last week by Gov. Steve Beshear to legislative leaders.

PHOENIX -- Arizona could run out of money to pay its bills as early as next month and may have to borrow money in the short term for the first time since WWII, state Treasurer Dean Martin said.

Republicans take control of the state Senate for the first time in Oklahoma history Tuesday when legislators return to the Capitol for a one-day organizational session.

Here's the bad news for Virginia Republicans, who once ruled the commonwealth politically: There are no limits whatsoever on how much a person or union, say, can give to any one candidate.