3/12: LRA to close in four months with millions unspent

NOLA: Louisiana Recovery Authority to close in four months with millions unspent

The Louisiana Recovery Authority, the state agency set up after Hurricane Katrina to oversee billions in rebuilding aid to parishes and individuals, will shut down in four months.

While staffers don't know how much of the $13.7 billion the state received is left, it is clear that it's likely to be several hundred million dollars. The LRA board will outline how the money will be spent; however, the legislature will have the final say.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State senate approves $1 billion road and bridge program

ARKANSAS: Report says Arkansas students are eating healthier at schools

FLORIDA: Foreclosure filings go up again in Florida

GEORGIA: Revised budget proposal includes heavy fees on hospitals, smaller education cuts

KENTUCKY: Senate panel backs domestic violence bill

MISSISSIPPI: State officials deny needless institutionalization of children

NORTH CAROLINA: Charge of re-segregation at Wayne County high school

SOUTH CAROLINA: State waits on $200 million in federal stimulus funds

TENNESSEE: Officials from Georgia to help with threatened TN hemlocks

VIRGINIA: Car title lending reform passed by legislators

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org

3/11: Record unemployment rates in the South

New York Times: Four Southern states posted record unemployment rates in January

Unemployment rose in 30 states in January according to the Labor Department, and of the top five states, four are in the South: South Carolina, 12.6 percent; Florida, 11.9 percent; North Carolina, 11.1 percent; and Georgia, 10.4 percent.

In South Carolina, the unemployment rate is expected to pass 13% this year. "The worst is not over," said Sam McClary, a labor analyst for the South Carolina employment commission.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State's infant mortality rate, out-of-wedlock births are up

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe responds to Justice Department's action on mass institution

FLORIDA: Bill to ban texting while driving moves forward in legislature

GEORGIA: RehydrateUS.org launched by Savannah man

KENTUCKY: Political signs banned from state highways

LOUISIANA: State would benefit from cap-and-trade proposal

MISSISSIPPI: State faces federal lawsuit over children's mental health

NORTH CAROLINA: Foreclosure filings up 54% from February 2009

SOUTH CAROLINA: Payback of $2.5 billion in federal loans could take state 5-9 years

TENNESSEE: Racist e-mail from Nashville hospitality CEO could hurt state's tourism industry

VIRGINIA: State is first to ban mandatory health insurance

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org

3/10: Ga. leaders may increase fees dramatically

Macon Telegraph: State leaders may increase fees dramatically to balance budget

Georgia legislators are working to balance the budget, and they're considering raising fees to do that. Some fees will be raised substantially. And the annual sales-tax-free, back-to school shopping weekend will likely not take place this year.

The idea is to take many of the 1,800-plus fees the state charges for various licenses, court costs and inspections and raise them until they fully — or close to fully — fund that government function. Many fees haven’t changed in decades, something the state Department of Audits has pointed out more than once in recent years. For instance, the Georgia Department of Transportation charges just $10 to license a new airport.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Unemployment rate in state rises to 11.1%

ARKANSAS: State as 'ground zero' for climate politics as Lincoln vs. Halter heats up

FLORIDA: Norovirus clusters found across the state

GEORGIA: State leaders may increase fees dramatically to balance budget

KENTUCKY: House passes $3.4 billion transportation bill

LOUISIANA: State still has a problem with underground cockfighting

MISSISSIPPI: House approves legislation to create 12 charter schools

NORTH CAROLINA: Researchers find higher price on junk food means less consumed

SOUTH CAROLINA: State spending cuts could mean 2,300 fewer state employees

TENNESSEE: Toddler dies after mistaking loaded gun for Wii game controller

VIRGINIA: Editorial: In Virginia, legalized discrimination is alive and well

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org

3/9: Census directs federal funds to states

Charlotte Observer: Census directs federal funds to states

A Brookings Institution study was designed to underscore the importance of ensuring an accurate count. "The hope is that it stimulates participation in the census, that people recognize that there's a connection between their participation and the amount of federal money and federally funded goods and services their community receives," said Andrew Reamer, the report's author.

The report found that North Carolina got $11.8 billion and South Carolina $5.5 billion. (See the report here.)

Most of the money - nearly 60 percent in North Carolina - went to health programs such as Medicaid. Housing, highways and education accounted for the next-largest allocations.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Editorial: Alabama takes hit in tanker decision

ARKANSAS: State BOE approves merging school districts

FLORIDA: Bill has teacher merit pay provision

GEORGIA: Lawmakers scramble to stop Hustler Magazine from getting slain hiker photos

KENTUCKY: Legislator wants cellphone, landline users to pay equally for 911 service

LOUISIANA: State to cut at-risk youth services

MISSISSIPPI: Voter ID to be on November 2011 ballot

NORTH CAROLINA: State hospital inspection data kept from the public

SOUTH CAROLINA: Three groups to get federal funds for renewable energy projects

TENNESSEE: State has huge financial stake in getting accurate Census count

VIRGINIA: Bills would increase financial incentives to companies moving into state

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org

3/8: NC's Gov. Perdue wants census count change

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue wants a census change on how deployed troops are counted

Gov. Beverly Perdue is focusing on changing the way deployed troops are counted. Currently, military personnel in the United States are counted as living in their barracks or off-base residence where they spend most of their time. But deployed soldiers are counted by either their home state, their legal residence or the last base they were assigned to before deploying.

Gov. Perdue wants deployed soldiers counted by their base assignments, which could mean more federal money coming to the state (up to $641.5 million over the next ten years).

While it's not likely to change for this census count, it could be considered for the 2020 census.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Experts say alternative energy could boost Alabama's revenue

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe: Making Arkansas count

FLORIDA: South Florida tourism aims to appeal to Chinese tourists

GEORGIA: State's use of medical reprieves for inmates on the rise

KENTUCKY: General Assembly enters tenth week of 2010 session

LOUISIANA: Civil Service Commission backs pay-raise plan for 61,000 state workers

MISSISSIPPI: Education and prisons at the top of budget discussions at Capitol

SOUTH CAROLINA: State's budget more dependent on fines, fees than one would think

TENNESSEE: State proposes tax on free hotel breakfasts

VIRGINIA: State AG tells colleges to end gay protections

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org

3/5: Seven Southern states make finals for education fund

Wall Street Journal: Seven Southern states picked as finalists for education funds

The Obama administration has chosen 16 finalists for extra federal education funds. Included in the $4.35 billion Race to the Top competition are Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The administration defended the surprisingly large number of finalists, saying that all states whose applications cleared a pre-set score automatically advanced to the next round.

Independent evaluators have given especially high marks to three states on the list—Florida, Tennessee and Louisiana—for their accountability standards and for implementing systems to track student performance. All three have also pushed to expand the growth of charter schools, which are publicly funded but independently run.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Legislature overrides veto on TVA funds

ARKANSAS: Legislative session formally ends in Arkansas

FLORIDA: All state lawmakers to sign letter of objection to new NASA plan

GEORGIA: Gov. Perdue chides legislators over proposed college cuts

KENTUCKY: Jobless rate in state is highest in 26 years

LOUISIANA: Sen. Vitter wants probe into deaths of ten living with toxic Chinese drywall

MISSISSIPPI: Meth's huge toll on state will mean move to prescription pseudoephedrine

NORTH CAROLINA: Editorial: State shows signs of slipping

SOUTH CAROLINA: State has a problem with school dropouts

TENNESSEE: Opinion: Tennessee can't afford to opt out of health-care reform

VIRGINIA: Senate panel kills proposal on gun restrictions

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org