A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Monday, Feb. 23, 1998

Carson City, Nev., probably won its widest television audience as the centerpiece of the burning map at the beginning of every "Bonanza" episode. Lawmakers in the state capital, angling for similar exposure, recently approved $415,000 in public funds to buy satellite time and broadcast equipment.

Lawmakers hope to use the equipment to lure TV news crews to the state legislature for more live coverage. Two public television stations broadcast live legislative reports from Carson City, but no commercial station has kept a crew in town since 1989.

News managers have said broadcasts from Carson City are prohibitively expensive, but one skeptical lawmaker said he thought ratings were the issue. "They still would rather run reruns of 'Mork and Mindy,' than do news," said Democratic state Sen. Bob Coffin.

No word if lawmakers are hoping to further lure viewers with such titillating specials as "World's Most Dangerous Quorums" or "When Lobbyists Attack."

"As we move toward more democratization, we're moving away from good government." – Utah state Rep. Lloyd Frandsen (R), arguing on the House floor in favor of a bill which would make it tougher to get an initiative on the state ballot. (The Salt Lake Tribune, Feb. 23)

Legislature to Get Wired for TV News (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Feb. 23)
Legislature Used to Get More TV Time (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Feb. 23)
The lyrics from 'Bonanza', the most popular television show about Nevada. (The Fifties Web Site)

Calif. GOP Unites Behind Lungren
OK, so they voted to punish candidates who won't oppose late-term abortions and formally called for the impeachment of President Clinton and Vice President Gore. Otherwise, California Republicans presented a united front during their state convention this weekend. Gubernatorial candidate Dan Lungren continued to sound spiritual themes in his campaign message, and car alarm tycoon Darrell Issa made a strong showing among U.S. Senate candidates.
At Convention, GOP Says It's Excited, United (San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 23)
GOP Delegates Defy Lungren, Pass Resolution on Late Abortion (The Los Angeles Times, Feb. 23)
Sermons on the Campaign Trail (The Los Angeles Times, Feb. 23)

Maybe He Should Move to Nevada
While legislators in Nevada are making it easier for themselves to be seen and heard, North Dakota lawmakers are pulling the plug on a system that pipes a live audio feed of floor activity to the office of Republican Gov. Ed Schafer.
Legislative Leaders Pull Plug on Schafer (The Forum, N.D., Feb. 23)

N.Y.: Hynes Enters Governor's Race
Despite having a campaign war chest hundreds of thousands of dollars behind those of his opponents, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes is set to announce his candidacy today for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Four years ago, Hynes made what he calls a disastrous bid for state attorney general. Hynes faces Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey Ross and New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone in the Sept. 15 primary.
Hynes Set to Launch Bid for Governor (Albany Times-Union, Feb. 23)

Fla.: Bush Bankroll Bursting
Republican gubernatorial hopeful Jeb Bush, son of former president George Bush, raised more campaign money during the last four months of 1997 than his three Democratic opponents combined.
In Money, Bush Leads in More Ways Than One (St. Petersburg Times, Fla., Feb. 23)

Romer Says Controversy Isn't Sticking
Colorado Gov. Roy Romer (D) said Sunday that neither his defense of President Clinton nor his role as chairman of the Democratic National Committee has been compromised by his recent acknowledgement of an affectionate extra-marital relationship with a longtime aide.
Controversy Fails to Ruffle Romer (Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Feb. 23)