3/16: TN bill on divorce draws national attention

The Tennessean: Bill on divorce would require equal custody of children

National attention is focused on a bill in Tennessee that would evenly split child custody in contentious divorce cases. Groups for and against the bill are divided along gender lines. On the one hand is a powerful alliance of women's groups, the Tennessee Bar Association, and some judges who say the change would make divorces harder to settle. On the other hand, fathers-rights groups say children are being deprived of full relationships with both parents, and this law could help that.

Observers say that, if the bill passes, Tennessee would become home of the most gender-neutral and revolutionary child custody law in the United States.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State court system to lay off more than 100 temporary employees

ARKANSAS: Appliance rebate program begins in state

FLORIDA: Legislature seeks property tax cuts, but this could cost local governments

GEORGIA: State lottery announces record profits for first half of 2010 budget year

KENTUCKY: U.S. Senate race includes stab at candidates with Duke degrees

LOUISIANA: Roads in Louisiana are worst in the nation, according to data

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour vetoes extension of wind pool bill

NORTH CAROLINA: State can't explain a 39% jump in 2008 cases of SIDS

SOUTH CAROLINA: Legislators use federal money to patch South Carolina's budget

VIRGINIA: A look at winners and losers in state budget talks

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

2/23: It's time for state goverment to listen to the people

Anniston Star: Glen Browder: It’s time state government listens to ‘voice of the people’

"Vox populi is a fancy Latin term that means “voice of the people” and stresses the importance of listening to everyday citizens in public affairs. Coincidentally, it also is the motto of the Alabama House of Representatives.

"Unfortunately, public officials often have invoked fuzzy versions of the “voice of the people” to justify questionable causes and foist empty solutions upon their constituents. Maybe these politicians are just confused by the onslaught of ideas from loud activists and powerful special interests, all claiming to speak for the people.

"It’s also unfortunate that many citizens have opted out of civic dialogue and defaulted as responsible participants in the democratic process. Perhaps they’re just disgusted with endless attack ads, robo-calls and sales pitches disguised as public-opinion surveys." (More)

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Rep. Davis outlines economic plan if elected governor

ARKANSAS: Lottery-funded college scholarship bill advances in House

FLORIDA: Judge rules red-light cameras are illegal

GEORGIA: NE Georgia water departments apply for Homeland Security funds

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear announces Kentucky Saves Week

LOUISIANA: State to appeal gay adoption/birth certificate ruling

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour says governors should have say in health care debate

NORTH CAROLINA: State poll reveals most voters don't want health overhaul

SOUTH CAROLINA: State lawmakers build budget without considering federal money

TENNESSEE: State Senate opposes children's rights plan

VIRGINIA: Senate approves using coast drilling royalties for roads

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

2/12: Home heating aid shifts to the South

ABC News: Home heating aid shifts to the South

The recent cold snap in the Deep South has sucked federal emergency home heating dollars away from traditional cold-weather states, causing heating aid to dry up faster than usual in many northern states.

Last month, $490 million in emergency heating funds were released by the Obama administration once a formula that took into account colder-than-normal temperatures and, for the first time, unemployment levels. Both of these factors favored the South.

Emergency funding more than tripled for Florida and Georgia, and more than doubled in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Bill to create charter schools in state is tabled indefinitely

ARKANSAS: Fiscal session's first week ends with no-raise expense bill in place

FLORIDA: State sees decline in illegal immigrants

GEORGIA: Details on CRCT cheating at public schools released

KENTUCKY: Hundreds take part in rRally against mountaintop removal held in Frankfort

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal's $24 billion budget spares higher education

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour signs bill to restrict over-the-counter medicines used in meth making

NORTH CAROLINA: Editorial: Pressing for justice

SOUTH CAROLINA: Report shows state needs tougher jobless laws

TENNESSEE: State to resume enrollment in CoverKids, the uninsured children's program

VIRGINIA: State budget continues to be a mystery

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

2/8: States try to tax more services

Wall Street Journal: States try to tax more services

Faced with the worst budget crisis in a generation, many states are looking to expand sales taxes to services, such as lawn care or accountants' advice. The goal, legislators say, is to broaden the tax base to cover a broader swath of the economy as traditional sources of tax revenue decline.

In Kentucky, representatives have introduced a measure to extend sales taxes to some high-end services like limousines and balloon rides. In North Carolina, the legislature last year considered, but didn't pass, a proposal to tax services such as car repairs and lawn care.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Sen. Shelby blocks 70 Obama nominees to get defense contracts for Alabama

ARKANSAS: State begins first-ever fiscal session, as state starts annual budgeting process

FLORIDA: Fewer politicians rely on state to pay for flights

GEORGIA: Both parties upset over Gov. Perdue's plan to appoint four statewide officers

KENTUCKY: State has significant medical care gap

LOUISIANA: Education Secretary Duncan praises LA for reforms on state education

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour cuts $21 million in fourth round of budget cuts

NORTH CAROLINA: Commentary: Jim Hunt: More creativity in the classroom

SOUTH CAROLINA: Opinion: Andy Brack: Legislature should back off on search, ID bills

TENNESSEE: Mental health care cuts deepen in state

VIRGINIA: Medicaid funding for disabled could be cut in state

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

1/19: The state of King's dream across the South

Southern Political Report: The state of King's dream across the South on MLK Day

"What was the “State of the Dream” on Martin Luther King Day 2010? With an African American in the White House, an especially celebratory mood might have been expected as the national holiday was celebrated across the South. Yet mixed with the joy and pride, there seemed to be a cautionary or even admonitory tone in some of the messages commemorating what would have been King’s 81^st birthday.

"In King’s own Atlanta, Dr. Cornel West of Princeton University, a celebrated author, glazed his social and political message with evangelical passion as he urged the congregation at Ebenezer Baptist Church not to molder MLK’s memory and legacy by relegating the slain civil rights leader to the status of a museum piece. He cited the continuing presence of social oppression as a reason to “correct” President Obama when and if he strays from the mission of helping blacks and disadvantaged people.

"--Several thousand marched at the South Carolina State House in Columbia. Speakers and marchers called for removal of the Confederate battle flag from the capitol grounds, and called for more help for Haitian earthquake victims. " (More)

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State senate considers $1 billion for roads

ARKANSAS: Four, soon maybe five, cities hold urban deer hunts

FLORIDA: Freeze results in at least a 30% crop loss in Florida

GEORGIA: Nearly 600,000 without jobs in Georgia

KENTUCKY: Kentucky Center for African-American Heritage set to open in 2011

LOUISIANA: Number of swine flu cases drops in state

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour wants more authority to make discretionary spending cuts

NORTH CAROLINA: State law requires taxes on illegal substances

SOUTH CAROLINA: Realtors launch media campaign for state tax change

TENNESSEE: Hospital in state to stop hiring employees who smoke

VIRGINIA: Pro- and anti-gun rallies held at State Capitol draw crowds

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

1/11: Ga. bills would allow guns in more places, including church

GEORGIA: New House, Senate bills would allow guns in more places, including church

Four bills on guns are up for discussion during the legislative session that begins today in Georgia. One, House Bill 615, would make it a crime to take a firearm, knife or explosive into a building that has a courtroom, jail or prison. However, it would also remove existing restrictions on bringing a gun to a church or political rally, among other locations.

State Rep. Tim Bearden said his bill’s purpose is to clarify the definition of “public gathering” and get a head start on an expected future decision on the Second Amendment by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Lawmakers divided over furloughs for state workers

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe concerned about lottery's impact on state revenues

FLORIDA: An indepth look at Gov. Charlie Crist and his run for the Senate

KENTUCKY: Cow waste experiment nets power at Western Kentucky University

LOUISIANA: State plans to handle invasive Asian carp by putting them on dinner tables

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour wants to turn South Mississippi into container ship hub

NORTH CAROLINA: State's first ethanol plant to get first shipment of corn February 1

SOUTH CAROLINA: Commentary: More work needed on Palmetto Priorities

TENNESSEE: Teachers worried about education reform that would tie tenure to test scores

VIRGINIA: A look at the upcoming legislative session's biggest issue -- the budget

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

12/3: FDIC report released on bank accounts

AP: FDIC report says South's households more likely to live without banks

Nationwide, of the 1.3 million households that stopped having bank accounts in 2008, more than 31 percent said they closed them because of overdraft fees, service charges or high minimum balance rules. A slightly larger group, 34.1 percent, said they did not have enough money to need an account, the report says.

As noted in Southern Political Report, the South has the highest percentage of households which don't have checking or saving accounts, and Mississippi has the highest percentage in the country with 16.4 percent, followed by Georgia and Alabama.

Instead of banks, those without accounts rely on pawn shops, checking services, payday loans or similar non-bank instruments to meet their financial needs.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Two insurers to cut property owners' Gulf Coast wind coverage

ARKANSAS: 10% of Arkansas households have no bank account

FLORIDA: Rail project is the subject of today's special legislative session

GEORGIA: Ethics complaint considered against House Speaker Richardson

KENTUCKY: State extends unemployment benefits

LOUISIANA: Reasons for farmers to support action against global warming

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour to announce more budget cuts on Thursday

NORTH CAROLINA: New fund created to invest in state businesses

SOUTH CAROLINA: Economists say state's recession will last through 2010

TENNESSEE: Another candidate drops out of governor's race

VIRGINIA: Three days left on tax amnesty

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

10/29: In FL, public option in healthcare finding favor

Miami Herald: In Florida, public option in healthcare finding favor

At two very different forums on Wednesday, Florida doctors and nurses agreed that healthcare reform is desperately needed -- and they're not opposed to a public option as part of the package.

As a half-dozen speakers made clear on Wednesday, the issue is no longer whether there should be healthcare reform -- but what the details should include.

By Friday, it's expected that the House and the Senate will each have consolidated myriad proposals into a single bill in each chamber -- and each will have the option for government insurance.

Let's see what happens over the next 24 hours.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley announces grants to build new schools in state

ARKANSAS: Mass flu shot vaccination clinics begin in state

FLORIDA: State's 'smart power' program gets $200 million federal grant

GEORGIA: State creates new child care agency

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear says 'holiday tree' will go up at Capitol; Christian critics upset over nomenclature

LOUISIANA: Former Gov. Treen dies at 81

MISSISSIPPI: Economic special session postponed, says Gov. Barbour

NORTH CAROLINA: Rock-slide closure of I-40 to impact Asheville area's economy

SOUTH CAROLINA: Boeing chooses SC; Impact expected to be big

TENNESSEE: Vandal decides to censor 'dirty' words in library books

VIRGINIA: Voter mass mailing stopped over legal questions
If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org

9/4: Some parents don't want students seeing Obama video

New York Times: Some parents against airing Obama video to students on Tuesday

Some conservative parents across the nation are opposed to a planned speech by President Obama on Tuesday to public school students across the nation. They're accusing the president of trying to indoctrinate the students with socialist ideas and want school officials to excuse their children from listening.

In the speech, President Obama plans to urge students to work hard and stay in school.

The Republican Party chairman in Florida, Jim Greer, said he “was appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama’s socialist ideology.” Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday is urging superintendents to provide an alternative to the speech for those children whose parents don't want them hearing the speech.

Herb Garrett, executive director of the Georgia School Superintendents Association, said many of his members felt that the controversy had put them in an awkward situation, vulnerable to attacks from conservative talk-show hosts if they open up instructional time for Mr. Obama’s speech, and open to accusations that they have disrespected the president if they do not.

“It’s one of those no-wins,” Mr. Garrett said.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley plans industry hunting trip to Germany

ARKANSAS: Sen. Lincoln voices opposition now to public option on health reform

GEORGIA: State has limited success in making ethanol a viable alternative fuel

KENTUCKY: New loan program will make it easier for agencies to be 'green'

LOUISIANA: Today is start of state sales tax holiday for guns, ammunition

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour orders 2.9% budget cut

NORTH CAROLINA: Teacher turnover down in state schools

SOUTH CAROLINA: State agencies must cut 4% from budgets

TENNESSEE: Some state officials oppose ICE's plan to limit public information about detainees

VIRGINIA: Both sides pleased with new permit for coal-fired power plant

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

9/3: Speculation abounds over Justice Stevens' one hire

Washington Post: Speculation abounds over Justice Stevens' one hire

U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has hired only one clerk instead of the usual four for the term that begins in October 2010. Speculators believe Stevens, who is 89, may be preparing for retirement. Retired justices are entitled to one clerk.

If he retires, President Obama would have his second opportunity to appoint a justice.

And in the South:

ALABAMA: State's education budget likely won't get cut any more this year

ARKANSAS: Another candidate announces for U.S. Senate seat

FLORIDA: Seminole Tribe to pay state $6.8 billion over 20 years for gambling rights

GEORGIA: Gov. Perdue talks water at state tourism conference

KENTUCKY: State considers grasses, grains, wood products as potential fuel

LOUISIANA: Looking at Gov. Jindal's Sunday helicopter travel to churches

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour to announce major budget decisions today

NORTH CAROLINA: Schools fear 'dangerous' label

SOUTH CAROLINA: 22 counties in Upstate are back in drought conditions

TENNESSEE: Interim chief of University of Tennessee notes poor graduation rates

VIRGINIA: DNC to spend $5 million on Virginia's governor's race

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