Weekly Southern news roundup

Here's a roundup of news from the past week from each Southern state that you might find interesting:

AL: Fight to restore oyster reefs faces dilemmas in Alabama
Experts argue that oysters' niche as the original filter feeders of Gulf Coast waters and recommend their restoration to the rocky Gulf reefs to maintain a healthy coast and that the cleaner waters are invaluable to the cultivation of sport fish in the area. However, conservation officials are concerned that the expected success of the new reefs may introduce public health issues, with the abundant population of new oysters being a magnet for illegal harvesting from areas not approved for harvest.

AR: Slate conference in Little Rock
After 10 years, online magazine Slate is celebrating with a conference set to kick off from the Clinton Library in Little Rock this week. The conference's featured speakers include many from the magazine's list of elite philanthropists, the "Slate 60."

FL: Everglades employ seven slithery secret agents
In an effort to eradicate giant pythons from Florida's Everglades, officials are sending other pythons-wired for surveillance-into the swamp to seek out the predatory reptiles.

GA: State Superintendent expenditures
In GA, winners of State Superintendent elections were both outspent by their opponents. Take a look at campaign expenditure forms from GA State Superintendent elect Kathy Burgess, who spent about $0.19 per vote after all was said and done. (In SC, winner Jim Rex was outspent 2:1 by challenger Karen Floyd.)

KY: In the name of achievement, we're dumbing down our education
To columnist David Hawpe of the [Louisville] Courier-Journal, the debate over the appointment of a new Jacksonville County school superintendent has exposed many indications that Kentucky schools may be heading down a dark path.

LA: State maps plan for coastal projects
State officials unveiled a sweeping plan Wednesday that they say will protect New Orleans and other south Louisiana communities from major hurricanes while rebuilding coastal wetlands. If implemented, the plan would dramatically change the shape of the state's coastline at a cost estimated to reach the tens of billions of dollars.

MS: Chevron Pascagoula applies for environmental permits
The oil refinery recently submitted paperwork to allow a 15 percent increase in their production of oil off the Mississippi coast. The request would bump up production by about 75,000 gallons a day.

NC: Old, sick, poor
With the life expectancy of Americans growing, the strain of a larger and larger portion of elderly Americans who are dependent on Medicaid grows everyday. The [Raleigh] News & Observer examines the trend and solutions that are circulating to prevent a future Medicaid crisis.

SC: Tax collections give boost to S.C. budget
The S.C. Board of Economic Advisors credits their conservative approach to spending for an additional $180 million in tax revenue added to the state's coffers. State economists expect almost a 5 percent rise in growth this year due.

TN: Tax cap: Some possible pitfalls
A referendum passed on November 7 that requires voters to approve any future increase in property tax may not be all voters hoped. Using California's groundbreaking Proposition 13 (1978) as background, the Memphis Commercial-Appeal examines some of the unintended consequences possible in the Volunteer State.

VA: Cigarette curbs more likely
In the next legislative session, Virginia-based Phillip Morris USA and N.C.'s R.J. Reynolds may see an attempt at tighter FDA regulations on its products. In 2004, the GOP-controlled Congress blocked sweeping FDA controls over tobacco products. While not a lock, Democratic control of Congress certainly makes reform prospects much brighter than in previous sessions.