Climate conference held in Washington

VIRGINIA: Climate symposium held in Washington

Gov. Kaine of Virginia took part in the one-day symposium on climate change, joined by former Prime Minister Tony Blair and other senators, governors, business leaders and academics.

"We know that the issues around global warming and climate change reach across party lines and across national boundaries, across state borders and communities," Kaine said in a statement.

In a Washington Post article, it was reported that negotiators at the summit said limits must be imposed this year by Congress and the Obama administration to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in order for the U.S. to play a leadership role in creating a global warming treaty.

Todd Stern, the Obama administration's envoy for climate talks, is pushing for a new U.S. law on global warming. "It's been a long time now that countries have been looking for the United States to lead and take action," he said. "I think nothing would give a more powerful signal to other countries in the world than to see a significant, major, mandatory American plan."

As noted in Getting Greener: Progressive Environmental Ideas for the American South, each Southern state should designate a leadership body on global warming to develop a statewide global warming emissions reduction plan. This would go a long way toward helping craft the U.S. plan.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Bill to help homebuyers approved by Alabama Senate

ARKANSAS: Bill would create Rock 'N Roll Highway in northeast Arkansas

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist optimistic in State of the State address

GEORGIA: State's budget shortfall to be made up with stimulus funds

KENTUCKY: Election reform bills proposed to change state's election process

LOUISIANA: Termite research center one of earmarks Sen. McCain is against

MISSISSIPPI: Voter ID and tax break for elderly die in state legislature

NORTH CAROLINA: Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign may be fined for violating donation rules

SOUTH CAROLINA: Rep. Gresham Barrett to run for governor in 2010

TENNESSEE: Poll shows most Tennesseans now approve of Obama, but racist jokes are rampant

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