Birth rates high in 2007

New York Times: Highest level of births in U.S. occurred in 2007

The National Center for Health Statistics has released its report on birth rates, and the number is high -- 4,317,000 births, slightly higher than the previous record in the 'baby boom' year of 1957.

There were also a record number of births in 2007 to unmarried women, and, for the second year in a row, an increase in births to teenagers. In Georgia, the teen birth rate reflected this trend, as it was up for the second year in a row. In nine states, mostly in the South and Southwest, 25% or more are projected to have a child before age 20.

Because teenage births carry higher risks of medical problems and poverty for mother and child, state health agencies, schools and private groups have mounted educational campaigns to deter teenage pregnancy.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Tax amnesty program generates a lot of calls

ARKANSAS: House votes 99-0 to create state-run lottery and scholarship program

FLORIDA: Thousands rally to protest cuts in state school funding

GEORGIA: House budget writers vote to restore Medicaid funding

KENTUCKY: New records policy under development by chief justice

LOUISIANA: Population of New Orleans tops 300,000 for first time since Katrina

MISSISSIPPI: Jackson mayor barred from re-election

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue's budget cuts mental health funding

SOUTH CAROLINA: Last-minute cuts made as state revenue comes up short

TENNESSEE: 100 most powerful people in Tennessee named

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine testifies for federal recognition of six Virginia Indian tribes

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