Skyscraper Capitols

A majority of the state capitol buildings in the US look like variations of the national one in Washington, DC. A typical one has a dome in the middle over a rotunda with two main wings  on either side of the center section.

Alaska’s Capitol

There are significant exceptions. Alaska’s resembles an older corporate headquarters of a medium-sized company. And New York’s could pass for a Dutch government ministry which may previously have been a royal palace.

But four of the nonconformist capitols were designed in an innovative architectural style which was born and nurtured in the United States — the skyscraper.

The first ever skyscraper was the Home Insurance Building in Chicago. This steel framed structure was completed in 1885 After some augmentation in 1890 it stood 180 feet/55 meters tall.

The skyscraper gained popularity in the early decades of the 20th century. It was only a matter of time before it was adopted for use by the public sector. Four states which built new capitols in the 20th century chose skyscraper designs.

New US Laws Taking effect in 2015

The Guardian has taken the time to round up some of the new state laws across the US that will take effect on January 1, 2015.

New US state laws taking effect on Thursday give livestock in California more living room, approve direct-to-consumer wine shipments in Massachusetts and levy the ultimate punishment on wannabe teenage drivers in Nevada by denying them licenses if they skip too much school.

Other laws will allow Louisiana teens as young as 16 to register to vote, crack down on meth dealers in Michigan, end tax breaks for Hollywood in North Carolina and raise the minimum wage in Ohio, New York, Rhode Island and elsewhere.

And, although it doesn’t take effect until early February, a new New York law takes out this year’s “Who knew?” prize by banning tiger selfies, which have been used by young men as profile photos on social media and dating sites.

via New York to ban tiger selfies – and
other new laws taking effect in 2015.

Some of the highlights from their extensive list:

• In Utah, cities and towns can no longer ban specific dog breeds within their limits. At least 10 cities now have restrictions that ban ownership of breeds such as pit bulls.
• In Louisiana, law enforcement agencies must provide a tally of the number of untested rape kits on their shelves. The state has a huge backlog of untested kits that, if tested and added to existing databases,  could go a long ways towards getting repeat rapists off the streets.
• State police in Michigan will be required add methamphetamines makers to a national database to help end current practices by meth makers of jumping from state to state to avoid capture.
• North Carolinians selling their homes will have to disclose if the mineral rights under the property have already been sold or leased to a gas or oil extractor.
• And my favorite:  in Louisiana, citizens aged 16 or 17 can register to vote when getting their a driver’s license. Of course, they still won’t be able to vote until after they turn 18.