A new online news service aims to keep policy makers, journalists and the public informed about state government public policy issues.

Called Stateline.org, the service has been developed by the Pew Center on the States, a research organization administered by the University of Richmond and funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts. The service will track the development of major issues as they appear on the public agenda in state capitols, the Philanthropy News Digest reports.

Initially, the site will cover topics including welfare reform, utility deregulation, budget issues and tax legislation, health care (particularly as it relates to children and the right to die), and education and public school financing.

Stateline.org offers daily news from state capitols around the country as well as general information on each state, background information and statistical data on selected issues, a press room for members of the news media, a news alert e-mail service and an event calendar.