The governor is very optimistic that the negotiations will get off on a positive foot. This is a plan B prompted by the interest by business leaders and other community leaders to have a voice if the budget process derails.

I think the changes on Washington are positive for the Beat Festival. The streets are safer, the district offers more options for dining before the event, and more residents means more attendance. The Beat Festival has always been an opportunity for people to check out everything Washington Avenue has to offer. Now there's just a lot more to check out.

The concerns we have on the House plan is that it's not long-term or statewide. The numbers appear squishy and there's a huge piece of it (the $552 million) that we don't know where they're getting that.

The governor thinks our children should be given some common-sense tools to protect themselves on the Internet.

You're starting to see elements of that coalition step forward.

When I was younger, I wanted to pattern my game after Tiger (Woods) and Freddie (Couples), but the more I matured, the more I realized that my game is like those guys (Leonard and Campbell) - straight down the middle, pretty good with the wedges and consistent with the putting,