Washington, DC, USA. Criticism of the Washington state Democratic Party for an attack ad that linked an Italian-American politician to fictional organized crime. The Pennsylvania Senate ponders expansion of bathroom access to people with bowel disorders. North Carolina's motor vehicle department embarrassed by a sample license plate on its Web site.

In case you missed those stories this week, Worth Noting fills you in.

The Washington state Democratic Party has had to literally change its tune. The party was criticized for an attack ad on Republican gubernatorial candidate and Italian-American Dino Rossi that played the theme song to “The Sopranos,” the hit show about an Italian-American mafia family (sidebar). The Italian Club of Seattle called the ad “racist” and “beyond offensive,” The Seattle Times reports. The party apologized and re-released the ad to different music (sidebar).

Call it especially urgent legislation. The Patriot-News (Harrisburg) reports that the Pennsylvania Senate is considering a bill to require retail stores to open their bathrooms, even if they’re not for public use, to people with bowel disorders, including Crohn’

Washington, DC, USA. Alabama state Rep. Ken Guin’s (D) nutrition bill was dead from the start.

So dead, in fact, that he won the Legislature’s “shroud” award, a gag honor that for three decades has marked the end of the session for lawmakers in Montgomery.

Alabama and many other states conclude their sessions with traditions that are funny, bizarre and even poignant. With half of state legislatures concluding in the past two months, and several more to adjourn within a few weeks, the celebrations are in full swing.

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Lawmakers mark adjournment of their legislative sessions with a circus of ceremonies, from handing out tomato plants and heaving paper skyward, to singing state songs and awarding senator superlatives.

Washington, DC, USA. The Colorado Lottery turns to scratch-and-sniff. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley evicts Scout, one of his family’s dogs, from the governor’s mansion. Georgia puts mental health on the Xerox. A Florida prisoner bids for the state House. And the Quaker State slams its door on Muslims. In case you missed those stories this week, Worth Noting fills you in.

Scratch-and-sniff technology made the jump from stickers to lottery tickets, The Denver Post notes. The Colorado Lottery announced plans to sell crossword tickets that smell like coffee, chocolate and flower bouquets. The scented cards are aimed at women, who already buy 70 percent of the crossword tickets.

Doggone! Scout is out of the Maryland governor’s mansion. Scout, a four-year-old mutt, got the boot after biting the 5-year-old son of Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley, reports The (Annapolis) Capital.

Scout, who’s been in the doghouse for his bark as well as his bite, moved in with O’Malley family friends. He may get to come back to State Circle for a visit later this summer.

There’s plenty of reasons Jose N. Vazquez is a long shot for a seat in the Florida House. F