>> Floridians oppose scholarship cuts

(This marks the first of a continuing installment of top news from across the South)

FLORIDA: Taxpayers oppose cuts to "Bright Futures" scholarships, poll says

A new poll by Quinnipiac University shows Florida voters opposed cuts to the Bright Futures Scholarship program started in 1997 to reward students with scholarships based on merit.

The poll also showed Floridians would rather smokers pay more for cigarettes and opposed an old law that bans gay adoption.

According to the Tallahassee Democrat, "voters opposed any cuts in the state's Bright Futures Scholarship program, 72 percent to 17 percent. They supported a cigarette-tax hike, 71 percent to 26 percent and opposed the gay-adoption ban 55 percent to 39 percent, the poll said.

"There may be a lot of opinion leaders talking about the need to reign in Bright Futures because of its cost in these times of tight budgets, but it is hard to imagine a less popular idea for cuts with the voting public," Quinnipiac researcher Peter Brown told the newspaper.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Legislators support removing sales tax on groceries, poll shows

ARKANSAS: Lawmakers readying for debate on first statewide trauma system

GEORGIA: State can't afford property tax relief grant program, governor says

KENTUCKY: Governor pushing for cigarette tax hike

LOUISIANA: Obama gives hope to Katrina activists

MISSISSIPPI: MS Center for Justice sues Waveland over cottages

NORTH CAROLINA: Competition fierce for open jobs in NC

SOUTH CAROLINA: Rex to outline long-term school funding vision

TENNESSEE: Nashville defeats English-only measure

VIRGINIA: Redistricting bill dies in VA House

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