10/23: Senate adds sexual orientation to hate crimes law

Miami Herald: Senate adds sexual orientation, gender ID to hate crimes law

The groundbreaking vote on Thursday added sexual orientation to the hate crimes law, giving the Justice Department the power to prosecute bias-motivated crimes against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Although Florida and many other states already have hate-crime laws encompassing sexual orientation, the new law allows federal prosecution, which for the first time would provide a means for criminal action in states without such a law.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State may increase cost of benefits for teachers

ARKANSAS: Lawmakers want lottery scholarship changes

GEORGIA: 174 pounds of meth seized in Lawrenceville subdivision raid

KENTUCKY: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks out on health care

LOUISIANA: State to delay $101 million computer software upgrade

MISSISSIPPI: First Environmental Education Conference to be held in state

NORTH CAROLINA: UNC researchers close to turning methane gas into liquid fuel

SOUTH CAROLINA: State lawmakers pass handicap parking reform

TENNESSEE: TVA to buy wind power from the Great Plains

VIRGINIA: Va. man arrested for being naked in his own home

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