Gov. Barbour takes over GOP Governors Association

The State: Fallout continues from S.C. Gov. Sanford's confession of affair

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford resigned from his post as chairman of the Republican Governors Association following his admission to a marital scandal and confusion over where he was for a period of six days. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, the incoming RGA chairman, was elevated to chairman of the group Wednesday.

Said Barbour, "I've been around politics for 40 years, and I've always made it a policy that I don't talk about people's personal problems. I don't think it's polite. I don't think it's appropriate, and I don't think there's anything to be gained from it. But I will tell you that the Republican Governors Association is very focused, and we're going to keep going in the direction we're going."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State Treasurer Kay Ivey to run for GOP nomination in governor's race

ARKANSAS: Court of Appeals rejects coal power plant for SW Arkansas

FLORIDA: Insurance deregulation bill vetoed by Gov. Crist

GEORGIA: State agencies will have to cut spending again by 3%

KENTUCKY: Special session ends up with last-minute tax breaks

LOUISIANA: Final day of legislative session and budget is still in limbo

MISSISSIPPI: State's largest hospital group says Medicaid patients may have to pay costs

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue's popularity slumps in polls after pushing for tax increase

SOUTH CAROLINA: U.S. Sen. DeMint introduces new health care bill

TENNESSEE: State health lab tracks diseases in Tennessee

VIRGINIA: Ban on partial-birth abortions upheld

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