The federal stimulus package has received ample attention from the media in recent weeks. However, a future stage in the stimulus story will focus on the battle among the states to get their shares, as well as what projects each governor decides to fund.

Covering that story might pose a challenge for news organizations because outlets began trimming their statehouse staffs years ago.
 
“Capital reporters are almost the canaries in the coal mine because we've been seeing declines in numbers since ...