In Your Backyard

 

ALASKA
More Visitors Mean More Dollars-Fairbanks' businesses are calling for more state funding for tourism marketing. They said that a recent decline in tourism marketing dollars has been particularly hard on smaller companies, which rely on travelers who come to the state on their own rather than with cruises or tours.
Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

 

MAINE
Paid Sick Leave Debated-Lawmakers are considering a bill that would require all businesses with 25 or more employees to offer paid sick leave. The bill would allow full-time workers to earn sick leave at the rate of 1 hour per 30 hours worked, which equals nine days per year.
Source: The Portland Press Herald

 

MARYLAND
Governor Signs Living Wage Law-Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) signed a first-in-the-nation living wage law, setting minimum wages at $11.30 per hour for employees of state contractors in the Baltimore-Washington area and $8.50 per hour in the rest of the state.
Source: The Baltimore Sun

 

NEVADA
Business Tax Breaks Unlikely-Gov. Jim Gibbons' (R) proposal to give tax breaks to businesses is in jeopardy because the state's financial picture is worse than he has portrayed, say Democratic lawmakers. The state faces a $137 million budget shortfall over the next two years. 
Source: The Las Vegas Sun

 

TENNESSEE
Senate Passes Regulatory Relief Bill-A bill to ease regulations for small businesses unanimously passed the Senate. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 2007 would require each state agency and department to submit an economic impact statement before adopting a proposed regulation.
Source: The Business Journal of Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia