Tennessee officials waste almost $8 million in December

By Meghan Tisinger  /  January 17, 2012  /  News  /  No Comments

By CHRISTOPHER BUTLER
Officials throughout Tennessee abused or misspent $7.8 million of taxpayer money during December, according to documents that the state Comptroller’s Office released last month.
Comptrollers faulted 33 different municipalities or entities for items such as expenditures exceeding appropriations, deficits, lack of competitive bidding, official misconduct, and theft.

• Jackson County

• The General Fund [...]

SW Minnesota Town Says $15 Million Stimulus Broadband Project May Be Shelved

By Meghan Tisinger  /  January 13, 2012  /  News  /  No Comments

The recipient of a major federal stimulus grant and loan in southwestern Minnesota appears to be having second thoughts about proceeding with a broadband project spread out over three counties. The $15 million project which planned to expand broadband service in 15 communities may be in danger of going into the financial red zone, apparently [...]

Fake Tea Party Scam Ends In Fraud Convictions

By Meghan Tisinger  /  January 13, 2012  /  News  /  No Comments

Jason Bauer, a former Oakland Country Democratic Party official, was sentenced to one year of probation and $2,600 in fines for his involvement with a 2010 fake Tea Party scheme. Bauer is the second person involved in the plot to be sentenced. Former Oakland County Democratic Party Chair Mike McGuinness pleaded no contest in October to [...]

Connecticut threatens to use Latino scholarship donations to balance budget

By Meghan Tisinger  /  January 13, 2012  /  News  /  No Comments

By Zachary Janowski
During the contentious Connecticut budget debates of 2011, a Latino advocacy commission had to award all the money in a small scholarship fund containing private donations to avoid losing it in a budget-balancing sweep of the account.
Going into the budget debate, Connecticut faced a $3.5 billion deficit – give or take. Newly-elected Gov. [...]

Business execs laud new Kansas tax plan, but ag leaders seek more details

By Meghan Tisinger  /  January 13, 2012  /  News  /  No Comments

By Gene Meyer
TOPEKA — Business owner Ken Daniel, of Topeka, was beaming Thursday as he listened to members of Gov.Sam Brownback’s cabinet explain to lawmakers details of the administration’s latest tax and budget plans.
“I’m really happy with the tax plan,” said Daniel, chairman of Midway Wholesale, a building materials distributor, and part owner of various other local small [...]