Sample State Executive Branch Releases - by Targeted News Service

GOV. BUSH ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING SUNSHINE STATE STANDARDS FOR SCIENCE

Copyright © HT Media Ltd. 2005

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Dec. 30 -- Gov. Jeb E. Bush, R-Fla., issued the following statement:

"A national debate is ensuing about whether evolution or intelligent design should be taught in science classes. Some confusion about my position on this issue has emerged in recent weeks.

"I am a practicing Catholic and my own personal belief is God created man and all life on earth. However, I do not believe an individual's personal beliefs should be the basis for determining Florida's Sunshine State Standards.

"The Sunshine State Standards, approved by the State Board of Education nearly a decade ago, establish the expectations for student achievement in our state - essentially what our students need to know when they complete each grade. The framework provides flexibility to school districts and teachers in designing curriculum, including what specific topics should be taught in each class.

"Within the next three years, the Department of Education will begin an open process to revise Florida's science standards. These standards need to be made more rigorous to ensure our children will have the knowledge necessary to successfully compete in an increasingly global marketplace. As Florida continues to raise the bar for education, I am confident our educators will rise to the challenge and establish standards that improve students' learning of science.

"Perhaps more importantly, we should encourage the vigorous discussion of varying viewpoints in our classrooms. A healthy debate of issues challenges our students' minds."

GOV. KEMPTHORNE PRAISES GRANT, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S WORK ON ROADLESS ISSUE

Copyright © HT Media Ltd. 2005

BOISE, Idaho, Dec. 20 -- Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, R-Idaho, issued the following press release:

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne offered the following statement regarding today's announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service that Idaho will receive $150,000 in federal money to help in the development of a petition regarding the management of inventoried roadless areas in the state:

"This money will help defray the costs to counties and the state as we work collaboratively to develop an inventoried roadless petition for submission to the Secretary," Kempthorne said. "This announcement is just one more example of how the Bush Administration is working closely with the states on this matter. I would like to thank the President and Secretary Johanns for their efforts to involve Idaho in developing a national inventoried roadless area policy."

Idaho's roadless petition to the Secretary of Agriculture will identify areas the state believes should be managed as inventoried roadless areas, as well as ways to protect public health and safety, reduce wildfire risks to communities and critical wildlife habitat, maintain critical infrastructure, such as dams and utilities, and assure citizens access to private property in those areas.

In June, Governor Kempthorne announced he was enlisting the local communities around Idaho in drafting the petition. Since then, the 41 counties in Idaho affected by the roadless process have been engaged in the petition process.

Idaho has approximately 9.3 million acres of inventoried roadless areas in eight national forests and grasslands. For more information, visit http://www.roadless.fs.fed.us.

GOV. HOEVEN: NORTH DAKOTA ADOLESCENT SUICIDE PREVENTION PROJECT RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Copyright © HT Media Ltd. 2005

BISMARCK, N.D., Dec. 23 -- Gov. John Hoeven, R-N.D., issued the following press release:

Gov. John Hoeven today announced that the North Dakota Adolescent Suicide Prevention Project has received the 2005 Public Health Practice Award from the American Public Health Association. The award recognizes the project's innovative and creative public health approaches and its role in a sustained 35 percent reduction in the number of suicide fatalities among young North Dakotans.

"The Mental Health Association in North Dakota and the state Department of Health have worked hard to promote adolescent suicide prevention across the state, and now are seeing the results of those efforts," Hoeven said. "By reaching out to our youth, schools and communities, this partnership is making a real difference for our young people and ensuring that they will be an important part of North Dakota's future."

Over the past five years, North Dakota has sustained a 35 percent reduction in suicide fatalities among young people between the ages of 10 and 24, compared to the ten-year average in the 1990s, according to Hoeven. In addition, the North Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey, comparing the years 1999 and 2003, shows a 29 percent reduction in teens having seriously thought about suicide, a 20 percent reduction in teens having made a suicide plan, and a 20 percent reduction in teens having made suicide attempts that required medical attention.

"Suicide is the second leading cause of death for children in our state," said Dr. Terry Dwelle, state health officer. "That is why it is so important for the Suicide Prevention Project and other organizations across North Dakota to continue their efforts to reduce the number of suicide fatalities among our young people."

The North Dakota Adolescent Suicide Prevention Project works closely with the North Dakota Suicide Prevention Task Force and several tribal and rural partners throughout the state. Since its inception in 2000, more than 40,000 North Dakotans have been trained in suicide prevention strategies, including 7,000 teen leaders, 8,000 professionals and 1,500 faith-based partners.

E-mail comments to the Governor at: governor@state.nd.us.