New Jersey
Cost of Living Rising Faster Than Income
Most New Jersey families struggle to keep up with the state's rising cost of living, according to a poll released by Monmouth University/New Jersey Monthly. According to the poll, 60% of respondents said their family's income is falling behind the cost of living, with only 30% saying they're able to keep pace and just 6% reporting incomes increasing faster than the cost of living.
Source: Associated Press

New York
State Sets Record for Natural Gas Production
In 2006, New York wells produced 55 billion cubic feet of natural gas, the highest in state history-breaking the record set in 2005, according to state officials. Natural gas produced last year was enough to supply nearly 800,000 homes for one year. Statewide production has been climbing for years as more wells were sunk around the Finger Lakes and the Southern Tier. Those wells are tapping pockets of gas trapped a mile or more below the surface in the Trenton-Black River reservoir.
Source: Dow Jones Newswires

South Carolina
Roads Rated Among the Best in the Nation
South Carolina roads ranked among the most cost-effective in the United States, according to the study conducted by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The study ranked the cost-effectiveness of highway systems based on several factors, including: traffic fatalities, congestion, pavement condition, bridge condition, highway maintenance, and administrative costs. The top five states according to the study are North Dakota, South Carolina, Kansas, New Mexico, and Montana. The bottom five states are New Jersey, Alaska, New York, Rhode Island, and Hawaii. The state-by-state evaluation, based on data from 1984 through 2005, also found that while road conditions have improved in recent years, traffic congestion and highway fatalities have increased slightly.
Source: Associated Press

Tennessee
Targeting Workforce Skills
Hamilton County business leaders told Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) that high school graduates seeking jobs with local companies need stronger basic math and English skills. New hires often lack communication skills and knowledge of how to deal with management and clients. At the roundtable hosted by Gov. Bredesen, local business executives recommended that schools put greater emphasis on geography, spelling, grammar, and sentence structure.
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press

Minnesota
Xcel Asks for Permission to Build Wind Farm
Xcel Energy asked state regulators for permission to build and own a 100-megawatt wind farm in southeastern Minnesota. If approved, the Wind Farm is scheduled to start operating by the end of next year. It will have the capacity to generate 100 megawatts of power—enough to power 25,000 to 30,000 homes. This would help the state meet its new renewable energy standard.
Source: The Post Chronicle

Nebraska
Armyworm Moths Pose Threat to Crops
Entomologists issued a warning that the swarms of armyworm moths that have been spotted in the state could damage corn and wheat crops. A moth invasion of such a large scale hasn't been reported in several years. Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln warned farmers to regularly check their fields for an increased number of caterpillars. The farmers should use pesticides to eradicate the insects only if more than half of their crops are damaged and if there is a large number of larvae present.
Source: Lincoln Journal Star

Alaska
State's Online Connection Speed Ranked as Slowest
A report by the Communications Workers of America placed Alaska last, among all states, in Internet connection speeds. The study ranks the states based on data collected from 80,000 users nationwide. In Rhode Island, the state with the fastest speeds, it took only 15 seconds to download a 10-megabyte file. It took two and a half minutes for the same file to download in Alaska.
Source: Anchorage Daily News

Washington
Global Health Efforts Contribute to the State Economy
A University of Washington study showed that state activities focused on improving global health are creating $4.1 billion in business activity and supporting 44,000 jobs. The research examined the work done by nonprofits, businesses, universities, and government in medical biotechnology, infectious diseases, reproductive health, and family planning areas. According to the study, this work accounts for $1.8 billion in labor income and $141 million in state tax revenues.
Source: The Seattle Times