10/22: Report card released on states' energy efficiency

Atlanta Business Chronicle: Report card released on states' energy efficiency

Georgia is among the states that need to improve energy efficiency, ranking 44th in the nation.

Other Southern states that need improvement include Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. No Southern state made the top ten.

The scorecard examines six state energy efficiency policy areas: utility-sector and public benefits policies, transportation policies, building energy codes, combined heat and power, state government initiatives, and appliance efficiency standards.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: GOP legislator to unveil bills on pre-paid tuition program

ARKANSAS: Jobless rate held steady at 7.1% in September

FLORIDA: House wants federal government to stop casino games on reservations

KENTUCKY: State's social workers say they -- and the children -- still aren't safe

LOUISIANA: Opinion: Does Bardwell incident show Louisiana politics is still land of David Duke?

MISSISSIPPI: Third most polluted river in the country is Mississippi River

NORTH CAROLINA: Judge says Kinston must have party affiliations on ballot to protect rights of black voters

SOUTH CAROLINA: Economy expected to remain stagnant until 2012 in SC

TENNESSEE: State sets up new rules for municipal bond deals for cities, counties

VIRGINIA: State's graduation and drop out rates improve over last year

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org