9/10: New Ag chairwoman may not change committee's position on climate bill

New York Times: New Ag chairwoman may not change committee's position on climate bill

Even though Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) is an outspoken critic of the cap-and-trade bill, it's not likely that her new position as chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee will significantly alter how the Senate deals with farm concerns in the climate bill.

Concerned that the cap-and-trade bill may increase costs for farmers too much, Lincoln recommended that the Senate instead take a more narrow approach with renewable energy legislation by taking up the energy bill the Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed this summer.

Now as head of one of the more than six committees that could weigh in on global warming this fall, Sen. Lincoln brings a different voice to the climate and farmland conservation discussions than the previous chairman. It will be interesting to watch.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: University of Alabama researchers tout kudzu's dietary value

ARKANSAS: Sen. Lincoln named head of Senate agriculture committee

FLORIDA: George LeMieux gets ready to be Florida's newest senator

GEORGIA: Three GOP elected officials don't like public option for health care

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear urges Congress to extend unemployment benefits

LOUISIANA: State's politicians comment on President Obama's speech

MISSISSIPPI: ACLU files lawsuit against state agency for religious overtones to event

NORTH CAROLINA: State lottery doing well despite general downturn in gambling

SOUTH CAROLINA: Rep. Joe Wilson heckles President Obama during speech

TENNESSEE: Child advocacy group works to block new state foster-care law

VIRGINIA: Now, Gov. Kaine says nearly 600 state employees to be laid off

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9/9: H1N1 flu cases rising in Southeasat

Miami Herald: H1N1 flu cases rising in Southeast

Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC says, "It's widespread in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.'' Schuchat said the agency was aware of "24 localities" in Georgia, Indiana, Missouri and Tennessee dismissing elementary and high schools on Friday, affecting 25,000 students.

Asked why the increases are biggest in the Southeast, Schuchat said: "We don't know exactly. One possibility is that schools started earlier there. Another is that the Southeast states were not that heavily hit in the spring, and they're just getting their spring wave now."

Also on Tuesday, the CDC put out new guidelines that say the flu medicines Tamiflu and Relenza should only be used to treat people who are sick with the flu and at high risk for complications.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State's tax amnesty program raises more than $8.1 million

ARKANSAS: Could soda pop tax as seen in Arkansas go national?

GEORGIA: The Clean Air Campaign's Diesel Idling Reduction program has 60 companies signed on

KENTUCKY: Bill would cancel $12 million prison food contract

LOUISIANA: ACLU lawsuit filed over single-sex classes in Lafayette

MISSISSIPPI: State has a shortage of school nurses

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue ready to sign consumer protection law

SOUTH CAROLINA: Decision is near on off-shore oil and natural gas drilling

TENNESSEE: Rep. Kelsey to resign House seat after Senate primary to keep seat in party

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine cuts 929 jobs to make up for budget shortfall

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