Several big hitters, including no fewer than four of Germany's state premiers, still favour delaying the euro.

ECONOMIST: The single currency

Previous state takeover attempts were fought in court, sometimes delaying the process for years.

WSJ: State Control Weighed for Camden's Schools

But the state of the economy means that many customers are delaying making big purchases.

BBC: Dell's profits slump by 47% on weak sales

They included the failure at Pontefract to identify Mrs Shelton's groin injury, delaying her treatment, and the failure to assess her psychiatric state.

BBC: Pinderfields Hospital

"The state is so late with our payments so we keep delaying payments to wholesalers, " says Kamberis.

CNN: Sick man of Europe: Life-support drugs run short in Greece

In South Dakota, Secretary of State Jason Gant said more than two dozen cities and school districts informed him they were delaying elections for a week.

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