Whitney Jones

The Morning Cram [meet me tonight in atlantic city edition]

From NPR: It’s a month after Hurricane Sandy, and Atlantic City wants its visitors back. Very few of the tourist attractions like casinos and restaurants suffered damage although television coverage of the storm left many potential visitors with the idea that the boardwalk was destroyed. Now the city is taking action to show that all is well and up and running.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is releasing more than 90,000 rainbow trout in Middle and West Tennessee. The stocking continues through March and will provide many close-to-home trout fishing opportunities for anglers.

The Illinois House has not overridden Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget cuts that are forcing some prisons and other state facilities to close. The House did not consider an override vote Wednesday before adjourning the last day of veto session. House Speaker Michael Madigan did not think it was necessary to take action against the measure.

Projects using recycled waste tires in places like athletic fields and playgrounds could be eligible for an Energy and Environment Cabinet grant.  The funding comes from the Waste Tire Trust Fund that the General Assembly established in 1998 to receive fees collected from new tire sales.

The Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform meets today to share its recommendations with Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear. Beshear appointed the commission earlier this year to suggest ways to simplify the tax code and generate enough revenue to meet state needs and carry Kentuckians through the recession.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has ruled himself out as a potential challenger to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2014. Beshear says he has no interest in running against McConnell but he expects a credible Democratic challenger will step forward.

From NPR: Farmers are peering over a dairy cliff as they wait for Congress to pass the new farm bill. With this summer’s drought their feed is more valuable than the milk the cows produce after eating it.

A consumer advocacy groups says scams adding charges to people’s cell phone bills have almost doubled in Illinois this past year.  The Citizens Utility Board says scammers target cell users as wireless communication increases and new laws forbid cramming land lines. Cramming refers to third-party charges added to customers’ bills for services they never ordered.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam says excluding college campuses from a bill allowing employees to keep firearms in their vehicles at work is vital. Haslam says he expects lawmakers to compromise on the bill that caused consternation earlier this year. The business lobby opposes the National Rifle Association-backed measure because they say it intrudes on their property rights. Gun advocates argue banning guns in company lots leave workers unarmed during their commute.

Illinois lawmakers are bringing a new proposal on the table to fix the state’s multi-billion dollar pension crisis. Democratic Representative Elaine Nekritz and about a dozen other lawmakers are expected to announce new legislation today to repair Illinois' $95 billion pension liability. The plan calls for raising employee contributions and a tiered retirement age. It also would shift some of the costs for teachers' pensions to school districts.