Morning Cup of Stimulus: Shovel Ready? Shovel Done

March 17, 2009, 7:49 a.m. EDT

This is the latest from our stimulus blog.

benderbending/Flickr; Krista Kjellman/ProPublica Shovels hit the ground Monday in the San Bernardino National Forest as California staked its claim to the first stimulus shovel. (As you prepare for that Trivial Pursuit game 20 years from now, dear reader, don't forget Tuscumbia, Mo. -- first stimulus project -- and Montgomery County, Md. -- first stimulus contract). Meanwhile, holdups like school bus routes are blunting shovels elsewhere.

The White House rejected a request by South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford to use money intended for schools and public safety to pay down state debt. And Pennsylvania and Arizona released their list of transportation projects.

Thought Vice President Joe Biden was tough on state officials last week? Well, local officials will get their dose of Joe tomorrow as the White House holds a workshop on implementing the stimulus.

Project of the day: The Chisholm/Hibbing Airport in northern Minnesota will receive $4.4 million to repair a runway.

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