TOP TEN STORIES

• GEORGIA
  Lawmakers are urged to restructure tax system to save critical services.
  

• ILLINOIS
  Financial peril ahead: Tax collections plunge as unemployment rises.
  

• MASSACHUSETTS
  Surprising upset gives GOP 41st vote in U.S. Senate.
  

• MICHIGAN
  SeniorBrigade.com offers consumer-friendly resources.
  

• NORTH CAROLINA
  One state senator can make a difference.
  

• OHIO
  Poll shows strong support for state spending on in-home care for older people.
  

• TENNESSEE
  Here’s a good way to save money: learn safe driving tips.
  

• VIRGINIA
  Can electricity be “smart”? The pros and cons of new “smart meters.”
  

• WASHINGTON
  Tough choices: Cut programs for the most vulnerable or raise taxes.
  

• WISCONSIN
  Payday loans can lead to ruin. AARP seeks interest rate cap.