Stateline.org Weekly News Digest March 11 - 18, 2004

Here are this week's top state news stories from Stateline.org.

Social policy: Bullying by school kids gets lawmakers' attention
It's no longer just parents and principals who are dealing with school bullies. State lawmakers are squaring off against juvenile behaviors such as taunting, teasing and threats once accepted as simply a part of growing up.

Economy & business: Legislators aim to protect value of popular gift cards
Gone are the days when gift certificates were seen as the ultimate lazy man's present. The latest incarnation -- plastic gift certificates shaped like credit cards—are increasingly popular because they're easy to give and fun to receive. But gift cards also are the focus of growing complaints from shoppers who sometimes feel they've been ripped off when their $25 gift card, let's say, isn't worth $25 at the cash register.

Education: U.S. Ed Dept set to ease teacher qual rules for rural schools
The U.S. Department of Education will loosen some teacher qualification requirements under the No Child Left Behind law as part of its ongoing effort to extinguish a national firestorm of criticism.

Health care: States aim at sound beginning for babies
Each year 12,000 American babies are born with hearing loss, making it the most common birth defect in the country, according to the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management. As state screening laws have become more common, the number of newborns tested has grown substantially.

2004 Governors' Races
Check out our updated rundown of the likely leading candidates for the nation's 11 governors' races. The official filing deadlines for most states are still months away and not all candidates listed have launched campaign Web sites.