Register online now for CPA's eighth annual Summit on the States at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C. Former Massachusetts Governor and Presidential nominee Michael Dukakis is the keynote speaker. The special hotel conference discount has been extended until this Friday, so reserve your hotel room today. Partial scholarships are available on a first-come first-serve basis. For more information, email Quinta Martin or call (202) 956-5132.

Reserve your tickets today! This year's Awards Dinner honors EMILY's List Founder and President Ellen Malcolm, Wisconsin State Senator G. Spencer Coggs, Demos Program Director Michael Lipsky, and the 2004 Class of Flemming Fellows. Register now for both the Summit and Dinner and receive a special package rate. For further information, or to place an advertisement in our Dinner Program, please email Chris Rutledge or call (202) 956-5151.

NCSL's initial analysis of the 2004 elections finds that Democrats picked up a few more legislative chambers than their GOP counterparts. They also overtook Republicans in total state legislators, leading by 12. Democrats won control of the Colorado House, Colorado Senate, Montana Senate, North Carolina House, Oregon Senate, Vermont House, and Washington Senate. Republicans won control of the Tennessee Senate and the Georgia, Oklahoma, and Indiana House of Representatives. Read more in NCSL's complete election breakdown.

According to the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC), progressive activists won huge policy victories with minimum wage increases in Florida and Nevada, renewable energy in Colorado (that likely helped U.S. Senate victor Ken Salazar), clean up of the Hanford nuclear plant in Washington, expansion of health care through tobacco taxes in Colorado, Montana and Oklahoma, stem cell research and mental health funding in California, and much more. Read BISC's full report.

This year, Senator Coggs will be named CPA's Legislator of the Year at the 2004 annual Awards Dinner. The Arthur S. Flemming Leadership Award is presented each year to the political leader who exemplifies the ideals of public service, and who is dedicated to finding and putting into action creative solutions to our country's most difficult problems. Read more.

As you may have noticed, some things have changed at www.stateaction.org. In response to your suggestions and ideas, we have redesigned our website to help you find the information you want more quickly and easily. The latest policy tools are still right at your fingertips. Your feedback on CPA's new look is welcome. Email webmaster@cfpa.org with your questions, comments, or suggestions.