Hank Aaron's impact

Christian Science Monitor: What Hank Aaron and Barack Obama have in common

"Thirty-five years ago yesterday, on a cool evening at Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Hank Aaron shattered the most hallowed record in sports: Babe Ruth's career home run mark of 714. Yet Mr. Aaron's feat was remarkable not for its dethroning of a mythic American hero, but for its legacy of grace under fire – a legacy that would be invoked decades later in a race for the White House.

"When Aaron swung at a fastball from the Dodgers' Al Downing and ran around the bases for the 715th time, he didn't feel like celebrating. "I was just glad it was over," Number 44 recalled many years later. Aaron, a black man, had just endured nearly two years of death threats, and literally tons of vicious hate mail – simply for daring to challenge the Babe."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Tax collections continue to fall in the state

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe to sign budget plan

FLORIDA: Cigarette sales by tribes may be targeted next by state

GEORGIA: Statewide unemployment numbers jump 126.3% in March

KENTUCKY: Early U.S. Senate race poll shows Bunning behind challengers

LOUISIANA: Youth prison costs under scrutiny by lawmakers

MISSISSIPPI: Gaming summit to feature Gov. Barbour

NORTH CAROLINA: AARP comes out against bill that would restrict elderly drivers

SOUTH CAROLINA: Sen. Sheheen's bill would force governor to accept stimulus funds

TENNESSEE: Editorial: Economy no excuse to ignore global warming

VIRGINIA: Most of Gov. Kaine's vetoes upheld

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