IFAC CEO speaks

to worldwide government accounting reforms necessary, and taking an active stance.  http://opinion.publicfinanceinternational.org/2012/05/damned-lies-and-government-accounts/#.T8gjn8V2OuI

Check out your State's report card

Much data is available from this website.   Click and see how your state is doing.   Interesting dimensions included such as auditing, procurement, pension fund management, ethics, state budgeting.   http://www.stateintegrity.org/
Article highlights the concerns and absence of "teeth" in ethics laws and disclosures.   And yes there were some F's given. http://www.stateintegrity.org/state_integrity_invesitgation_overview_story

Social Capital and NFPs

Report from CGMA pertaining to performance measurement and management control systems in NFPs.
http://blog.aicpa.org/2012/05/creating-social-capital-for-not-for-profit-support.html

Illinois "Amazon" law found

unconstitutional; expectations are that it will be appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/News/20125681.htm

GASB 63 summary

GASB 63 has been effective since the end of 2011.   Notice a new name to a particular financial statement and different elements included in the statement (deferred inflows and deferred outflows).  This short summary form BKD highlights the changes therein.   http://www.bkd.com/articles/2012/gasb-issues-statement-number-63.htm

Rita Crundwell pleads Not Guilty

Pictures and story accessible from Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/07/rita-crundwell-dixon-illi_2_n_1497624.html

This tag to the Quad City archives has interesting pictures and related topics.  Including whether questions about some money had surfaced earlier.
http://wqad.com/tag/rita-crundwell/

As covered by the Equine Chronicle http://www.equinechronicle.com/breaking-news/grand-jury-indicts-rita-crundwell-for-allegedly-stealing-53-million-311-quarter-horses-subject-to-forfeiture.html

What's new for nonprofits

Remarks from a speech made by the director of IRS Exempt Organizations

http://www.guidestar.org/rxa/news/articles/2012/insights-from-irs-on-nonprofits.aspx?hq_e=el&hq_m=1615743&hq_l=28&hq_v=5f5a877490

Dixon IL misappropriation Rita Crundwell

Now the $30 million over 6 years is $53 million over 20 years.
Here is the local news links
http://www.kwqc.com/story/17526287/employee-accused-of-stealing-30-million-from-dixon-il

Tribune coverage
 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-indictment-dixon-finance-chief-stole-53-million-since-1990-20120501,0,5768887.story

going concern blogger had been coverning over last few weeks - most recent post
http://goingconcern.com/post/oh-look-dixon-illinois-fraud-way-bigger-everyone-thought

Copy of the restraining order and other documents are available from this site.  For example the horse inventory listing has names of the horses.   There is a document from the city about the rules for the public meeting in Illinois  - three minute max to talk.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/92001283/Rita-A-Crundwell-Restraining-Order

The bank account was close to home
http://wqad.com/2012/05/01/dixon-worker-allegedly-took-city-mail/

City Auditor in Pennsylvania required to be a CPA

by vote this was approved by citizens.  http://accounting.smartpros.com/x73722.xml

Americans view of federal and state government

per the Pew Reporthttp://www.people-press.org/files/legacy-pdf/4-26-12%20Govt%20Favorability.pdf

62% of Americans surveyed have an unfavorable view of the Federal government.   Lowest rate in 15 years...