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"Twitter is a vital tool for more than just casual and business-related communication. Residents rely on official state accounts in times of emergency, or during big local news stories. Tourists might use an account to find information before visiting. \nMost states are aware of this importance. Every Senator is on Twitter, and so are nearly all members of the House of Representatives.  \nIt might seem like a no-brainer, then, to consider your state's Twitter handle. Yet out of the 50 states, only four have acquired their actual name as a verified account. Others have less obvious verified accounts, like @AlabamaEMA or TravelWI.\nSEE ALSO: Pew: Twitter Not a Reliable Indicator of Public Opinion\nWhy haven't state officials taken advantage of their own usernames? Mostly because of travel spam and unofficial news curators, which explains why many of these accounts have been suspended. \nThe current \"state of the union\" on Twitter is looking pretty grim. Come on, states, get it together. This is America \u2014 USA! USA!\nAlabama\n\nAlaska\n\nAlaska Air Awards $88 Million in 2012 Bonuses. bit.ly/VaQSbz\n\u2014 Alaska News (@Alaska) February 27, 2013\n\nArizona\n\nArkansas\n\nI think I'll be turning this thing on next week for SXSW, if anyone cares.\n\u2014 Jack Pate (@arkansas) February 27, 2013\n\nCalifornia\n\nAll of our California peeps ready for the 49'ers game? Give us some predictions!\n\u2014 California (@california) January 20, 2013\n\nColorado\n\nWith all of our great dining and beverages, you may need to get in a workout. Snowshoeing is a great way to do that!\n\u2014 Visit Colorado (@Colorado) February 27, 2013\n\nConnecticut\n\nHoboken, NJ: 40% Off Every 2nd Night, Luxury W Hotel - $242 - bit.ly/JEjW4h\n\u2014 Connecticut (@connecticut) May 15, 2012\n\nOfficial account: @CTvisit\nDelaware\n\nNew York City: The Franklin Hotel - $179 - bit.ly/VrpyGO\n\u2014 Delaware (@Delaware) October 23, 2012\n\nOfficial account: @delaware_gov\nFlorida\n\nGeorgia\n\nMyrtle Beach: Anderson Ocean Club and Spa - $67 - bit.ly/RW2oS5\n\u2014 Georgia (@georgia) October 24, 2012\n\nOfficial account: GeorgiaGov\nHawaii\n\n@wngm Can you skip the eating altogether if you are, yourself, nuts?\n\u2014 Ryan Ozawa (@hawaii) February 27, 2013\n\nIdaho\n\nIntegrating Online with Bricks\n\u2014 idaho (@idaho) June 16, 2007\n\nIllinois\n\nIndiana\n\nIowa\n\nKansas\n\nKentucky\n\nLouisiana\n\nMaine\n\nNew York City: Hilton Garden Inn New York/West 35th Street - $119 - bit.ly/OT0oNt\n\u2014 Maine (@maine) October 23, 2012\n\nMinnesota\n\nMississippi\n\nMissouri\n\nMontana\n\n@loujie_a \u061F\n\u2014 montana (@montana) December 6, 2012\n\n\nNevada\n\nPhotos: CeeLo Green's Las Vegas arrival is a first-ever Strip spectacle. bit.ly/VaNr4z\n\u2014 Nevada News (@Nevada) February 27, 2013\n\nNew Hampshire\n\nNew Hampshire deals, deals, deals - lift tickets, lodging and more! ow.ly/f0SgM\n\u2014 New Hampshire (@newhampshire) November 5, 2012\n\nNew Jersey\n\nNew York City: Park South Hotel - $179 - bit.ly/RisTCq\n\u2014 New Jersey (@newjersey) October 23, 2012\n\nNew Mexico\n\nNew York\n\nAin't nuthin happenin' but the rent.\n\u2014 New York (@NewYork) January 13, 2013\n\nNorth Carolina\n\nBlumenthal Performing Arts Center is presenting Les Miserables tonight at 5:00 p.m! Tickets starting at $20. ow.ly/hN4H3 #NC\n\u2014 North Carolina (@northcarolina) February 17, 2013\n\nNorth Dakota\n\nNorth Dakota's robust #tourism industry continues growth in 2012. ow.ly/i71qx @ustravel @usatodaytravel @timestravel #travel\n\u2014 North Dakota Tourism (@NorthDakota) February 27, 2013\n\nOhio\n\nChinese brush painting focus of next Art Smart Sunday - Ledger Independent: Chinese brush painting focus ... by.vg/QtPM8 #Art\n\u2014 Ohio (@Ohio) February 27, 2013\n\n(P.S. Ohio's Twitter bio links to this very official website.)\nOklahoma\n\nOregon\n\nReno: Staybridge Suites Reno - $80 - bit.ly/TasvUz\n\u2014 Oregon (@oregon) October 24, 2012\n\nPennsylvania\n\nNew York City: The MAve NYC - $179 - bit.ly/VqZuf4\n\u2014 Pennsylvania (@pennsylvania) October 23, 2012\n\nRhode Island\n\nNew York City: Hilton Garden Inn New York/West 35th Street - $119 - bit.ly/OSRYFF\n\u2014 Rhode Island (@rhodeisland) October 23, 2012\n\nSouth Carolina\n\nSpringmaid Beach Resort 44% Off - $69, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina bit.ly/R7Fbf5\n\u2014 South Carolina (@southcarolina) October 26, 2012\n\nSouth Dakota\n\nThe great outdoors is waiting in South Dakota - how will you experience it? ow.ly/hKW4P\n\u2014 South Dakota Tourism (@southdakota) February 27, 2013\n\nTennessee\n\nDamn...\n\u2014 Mark (@Tennessee) October 2, 2010\n\nTexas\n\nYou know your shoe game is on point when you walk into a Nike store and get mobbed by employees checking out your kicks\n\u2014 Mathew Walker (@Texas) February 23, 2013\n\nUtah\n\n@adventurevida wth dude, have you been looking at my bank account again?\n\u2014 Utah (@Utah) October 8, 2012\n\nVermont\n\nVirginia\n\nMatt is killing it on Vine RT @yelldesign: #magic Banana Dolphins #loop #vine #stopmotion vine.co/v/bgFpvDVglBZ\n\u2014 Virginia Murdoch (@virginia) February 26, 2013\n\nOfficial account: @VisitVirginia\nWashington\n\nReno: Residence Inn By Marriott Reno - $109 - bit.ly/XddSp9\n\u2014 Washington (@washington) October 24, 2012\n\nWest Virginia\n\nWisconsin\n\nWyoming\n\nMashable composite, images courtesy of iStockphoto, nale, Twitter\n      window._msla=window.loadScriptAsync||function(src,id){if(document.getElementById(id))return;var js=document.createElement('script');js.id=id;js.src=src;document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0].parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);};\n_msla(\"//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\",\"twitter_jssdk\");"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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