A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

At Hawaii's Democratic convention this weekend, delegates approved a resolution requesting state lawmakers reconvene in a special summer session over the summer to do away with a peculiar constitutional amendment passed eight years ago. The amendment, which grew from a complex history of redrawn district lines in the early 1990s, basically allows for some incumbents in the state Senate to serve four-year terms if reelected but for victorious challengers to get only half that time for their first term.

"You know, the one I seen at dinner is a very intelligent man, animated, highly emotional. And yet the one I see on TV is drier than toast." Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, on Vice President Al Gore. Ventura said he could "walk in and steal" the election from Gore and George W. Bush if he so desired. (Star Tribune, May 28)

• Democrats Call for Special Session to Correct Inequity in Terms
(The Honolulu Advertiser, May 28)

Hawaii's veteran Sen. Daniel Inouye (D) briefly rained on the Democratic pep rally, however, by warning of an impending split in state Democrats that could lead to the loss of the party's controlling power in state politics. Gov. Ben Cayetano immediately disagreed with Inouye, saying Democrats will continue to dominate the state legislature.

• Inouye, Cayetano Differ on What Ails State's Democrats
(The Honolulu Advertiser, May 28)
• Democrats Confident but Wary of Polarization in Unions
(Honolulu Star-Bulletin, May 29)

Ill. Academia Gives Governor Bad Grade
Illinois Gov. George Ryan (R), still under the dark cloud of a state bribery scandal, is facing a new set of critics – the state's academic community. Some angry university professors and students are accusing the governor of playing political favorites for certain administrative positions.
• Universities Fault Ryan for What They See as Interference
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 30)

N.Y. Republicans to Make Lazio's Run Official
Anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 party leaders, observers and reporters are expected to attend Tuesday's GOP state convention in New York, where last-minute Senate candidate Rep. Rick Lazio will have have his official coming out party. Lazio, who will be nominated by Gov. George Pataki, will leave the convention in Buffalo on a three-day bus caravan across the state.
• Spotlight on Lazio
(The Buffalo News, May 30)
• GOP Officially Pins Hopes on Lazio
(Albany Times Union, May 30)
• Full Coverage: N.Y. Senate Race

Study Reveals High Level of Interest Conflicts by Tennessee Lawmakers
A recently concluded study by the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity found that nearly one-third of Tennessee lawmakers sit on state committees that could create a conflict of interest with personal business interests. Such concerns have received increased attention in the state recently, due to a federal investigation of private dealings by state Sen. John Ford (D).
• Lawmakers Have Stake in Businesses They Help Regulate
(The Tennessean, Nashville, Tenn., May 30)
• John Ford, Cherokee Link Shown
(The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn., March 5)