Beth LeBlanc The Detroit News Published 8:59 AM EST Feb 6, 2019 Lansing — Michigan's new transportation director advocated for changing how state and local road aid is distributed and an additional $1.5 billion in funding for just state trunklines as he addressed state senators Tuesday. The state is still calculating how much it needs to repair Michigan’s state, county and city roads and make good on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s campaign promise to “fix the damn roads.” But Director Paul Ajegba told senators the figure likely hovers around $1.5 billion without taking into account the expected additional cost for city and county roads. “The resources we have right now are not meeting our needs,” he said, noting that the state has a real need to “grow the pie.” A 29-year veteran of the department, Ajegba answered questions from lawmakers for an hour and a half. He is the first of several Whitmer … [Read more...] about MDOT leader: At least $1.5B more needed for just state trunklines
Senators for each state
Price hike set for Colorado state parks
Entrance fees for Colorado state parks will increase Jan. 1, the first price hike since 2010.The revised fees will help to fund increased operating costs, provide adequate staffing and address park maintenance needs, a news release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife said.Daily vehicle and individual passes will each increase a dollar. The price of annual passes will also bump up by $5.Colorado Parks and Wildlife also will roll out a new pass option that is attached to the individual rather than the vehicle. The changes approved in May in Senate Bill 18-142.State parks in Colorado have seen record visitation, with nearly 15 million visitor in 2017.Since 2010, state parks have not received funding from state general tax dollars except occasional small amounts (less than 1 percent of the budget) for special projects. Colorado Parks and Wildlife relies heavily on park fees.Financial woes are also affecting parks at the federal level. The National Park Service announced in Oct. 2017 … [Read more...] about Price hike set for Colorado state parks
Here’s how much a marriage licence costs in each state
Getting married requires you to pay a fee for a marriage licence. These fees vary greatly state by state. Even within states, the fees sometimes vary country by county. Whether or not you’re a resident of the county can also impact how much you pay. Weddings can be so beautiful, yet so expensive. The dress, the venue, invitations, food, the list goes on. But before you can walk down the aisle, there’s one thing you must do: get a marriage licence. It’s the golden ticket to authorizing a marriage union. Here’s how much it costs to obtain a marriage licence in all 50 states, plus the nation’s capital: In Alabama, it costs $US40-$US80 to get a marriage licence. In the state of Alabama, you can receive a marriage licence from any county, regardless of where you live or are getting married (within the state). The cost of the licence ranges but starts at $US43.35, according to AL.com. Alaska’s has a flat fee for marriage licenses of $US60. Before … [Read more...] about Here’s how much a marriage licence costs in each state
Mississippi Democrat says he’d be ‘senator for everybody’
Emily Wagster Pettus, Associated Press Updated 6:59 am PDT, Saturday, October 20, 2018 In this Oct. 5, 2018 photograph, Mike Espy, a former congressman and former U.S. agriculture secretary, speaks to college and high school students in a small forum on education in Jackson, Miss. Espy hopes to unseat appointed U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., and serve the last two years of the six-year term vacated when Republican Thad Cochran retired for health reasons. There are two other opponents in the non-partisan race. less In this Oct. 5, 2018 photograph, Mike Espy, a former congressman and former U.S. agriculture secretary, speaks to college and high school students in a small forum on education in Jackson, Miss. Espy hopes to ... more Photo: Rogelio V. Solis, AP In this Oct. 5, 2018 photograph, Mike Espy, a former congressman and former U.S. agriculture secretary, speaks to college and high school students, … [Read more...] about Mississippi Democrat says he’d be ‘senator for everybody’
1½-year sentence starts for ex-state senator after guilty plea on fraud, money laundering charges
Former state Sen. Jake Files of Fort Smith spent his first full day in federal prison Friday on an 18-month sentence after pleading guilty to wire fraud, money laundering and bank fraud. According to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Files, registration number 14956-010, reported Thursday morning to the Satellite Prison Camp, a minimum-security facility adjacent to the Federal Correctional Institute at El Reno, Okla. In a minimum-security prison, according to the bureau’s Program Statement, Files is eligible for the two lowest custody levels, described as “community,” the lowest, and “out,” the second-lowest. Under the designations, Files could be assigned to the lowest- or near-lowest-security housing, including any that is outside the prison’s perimeter; may work on outside details with minimal supervision; and, in some cases, may participate in community-based programs. At the out level, he would be under two-hour intermittent staff supervision. Files … [Read more...] about 1½-year sentence starts for ex-state senator after guilty plea on fraud, money laundering charges