1/26: EPA issues new air quality standards

Wall Street Journal: EPA issues new air quality standards

Stricter limits on the amount of nitrogen dioxide along busy roads have been set, which will require states to install monitoring equipment in big urban areas in order to reduce pollution during periods of high traffic.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued the new standard Monday, seven months after first proposing new short-term limits. Businesses said the new standard is too strict while environmentalists said it didn't go far enough.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State's prepaid tuition program considered by legislature this week

ARKANSAS: Class action suit alleges state sold personal information

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist seeks budget increase for public schools

GEORGIA: Bill would require DNA samples with felony arrest

KENTUCKY: House passes patient-protection bill, now bill heads to Senate

LOUISIANA: State reaches agreement on repaying two federal loans

MISSISSIPPI: Higher education to cost more in MS this fall

NORTH CAROLINA: Number of independent voters in the state up 83% since 2000

SOUTH CAROLINA: Lt. Gov. Bauer's welfare remarks called 'immoral'

TENNESSEE: Analysis: Unlikely allies altering education in Tennessee

VIRGINIA: Bill on not forcing Virginians to buy health care advances

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

12/17: Tainted, toxic -- but legal -- tap water

New York Times: Tainted, toxic -- but legal -- tap water

A 35-year old federal law regulating tap water is very out-of-date -- and scientists say that what Americans are drinking from the tap can pose serious health risks, but still be legal in the eyes of the government. Only 91 contaminants are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, yet there are more than 60,000 chemicals used in the U.S. which can find their way into the drinking water.

A study found that various contaminants were often associated with increased incidents of disease. However, that research — like all large-scale studies of human illnesses — sometimes cannot definitively say that chemicals in drinking water were the sole cause of disease.

Take a look at water quality, state-by-state. This may drive filter sales.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State's 2011 education funding request considered 'unrealistic'

ARKANSAS: State enacts tougher penalties for animal abusers

FLORIDA: Rail bill signed by Gov. Crist

GEORGIA: V. P. Biden to announce funds for high-speed internet to rural areas

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear bans text messaging by workers driving state-owned vehicles

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal's office to push legislation to give board of ethics appeal power

MISSISSIPPI: Lawmakers say fees may spike, not taxes

NORTH CAROLINA: State is #1 in number of certified teachers for 14th year in a row

SOUTH CAROLINA: House panel votes down Sanford impeachment plan

TENNESSEE: State leaders and advocacy groups participate in Copenhagen climate conference

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine may renew car tax debate

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

11/13:Southern voters: A snapshot

The Atlantic: Southern voters: A snapshot

"Winthrop has a poll out today of 866 respondents in 11 Southern states--Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia--and what we can glean from it is: independents in the South disapprove of President Obama, Southerners as a whole don't like Democratic health care reforms, and they are generally ambivalent about the stimulus package."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State education board wants teachers to pay more for benefits

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe authorizes release of flood funds

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist faces problems in Florida

GEORGIA: Prison health care costs go up as inmates age and get sicker

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear works to simplify enrollment process for children in health care system

LOUISIANA: House speaker challenges governor on amnesty payment plans

MISSISSIPPI: State's economic council ends 12-city tour

NORTH CAROLINA: Study says state's budget is relatively healthy

SOUTH CAROLINA: Gubernatorial candidates take questions about agribusiness, politics

TENNESSEE: TVA challenged over wastewater permits by environmentalists

VIRGINIA: State's lawmakers go after expansion of F-22 fleet

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

10/9: Nobel Peace Prize goes to President Obama

New York Times: Nobel Peace Prize goes to President Obama

President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for Diplomacy just nine months into his presidency. The award committee noted "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”

In particular, Obama's effort to reduce the world's nuclear arsenal was noted. However, the announcement still stunned everyone. "There has been no discussion, nothing at all,” said Rahm Emanuel, the president’s chief of staff, in a brief telephone interview.

And in the South:

ALABAMA: Vaccine for swine flu arrives in Alabama

ARKANSAS: State's lethal injection rules considered by Supreme Court

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist draws in millions for Senate race

GEORGIA: SBA disaster loans to be key to flood recovery

KENTUCKY: Anti-price gouging law upheld in Kentucky

LOUISIANA: Big-chain restaurant commits to sell Louisiana shrimp

MISSISSIPPI: State hospitals reject swine flu nasal spray

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue says state will keep offering incentive packages

SOUTH CAROLINA: Smart growth conference set for October 20-21 in Columbia

TENNESSEE: State ranks 48th for childhood health

VIRGINIA: Prison magazine sues state

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

10/5: Prepaid state college plans may not cover all costs

New York Times: Prepaid state college plans may not cover all costs

In the last year, the slump in the stock market and rising college costs have put all but two of the 18 prepaid college savings plans in the red.

South Carolina’s plan overseers have developed doomsday scenarios, capping how much a family would get if the program shut down completely.

Alabama closed its program to new enrollees because the fund lost almost half of its assets — more than $300 million — in the stock market in the last year, and the state might have to put its own money in to keep it solvent.

Between them, the 18 state funds serve nearly 1.6 million families and hold $23.8 billion in assets, ranging from Tennessee’s small $80 million fund serving 9,700 families to Florida’s massive $8.7 billion fund that serves about 850,000 families.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Military retirees stunned by 21% inpatient fee hike

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe responds to $55.8 million shortfall in revenue

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist gets bad media coverage lately

GEORGIA: State gets another blow in water wars as drinking water not considered in study

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear heads to China, Japan on trade mission

LOUISIANA: Autism numbers more prevalent than previously thought

MISSISSIPPI: Revenues down dramatically in September

NORTH CAROLINA: State asks for $5.3 billion for trains

SOUTH CAROLINA: Water Wars, Part Two: SC, NC battle over Catawba River

VIRGINIA: DNC to pump another $1 million into gubernatorial race

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

8/13: Anger continues at health care town hall meetings

New York Times: Anger continues at health care town hall meetings

Constituents worried about health care changes have peppered their legislators with questions and have emphasized their concern at town hall meetings. In Georgia, Sen. Johnny Isakson said at a meeting in Tifton, “The question is whether the government should make health care an entitlement and a right or should the government establish a level playing field for private providers.”

In South Carolina, U.S. Rep. John Spratt is being urged to hold a town hall meeting, even though he's recuperating from foot surgery. It may be a few weeks before he can host such a meeting, he says. North Carolina's Rep. Heath Shuler plans two tele-town halls, but no in-person town hall meetings this August. Alabama's Rep. John Tanner answered questions at a Rotary Club meeting; today, constituents plan to urge him to hold a town hall meeting.

Expect more meetings during the recess.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: House passes bill to extend unemployment compensation for 20 weeks

ARKANSAS: Economic competitiveness of state ranked at 12th best

FLORIDA: Opinion: Matt Towery: Vulnerable Crist may be GOP's test case

GEORGIA: State's colleges to furlough employees for six days

KENTUCKY: Cold medicine restriction may continue due to meth lab prevalence

LOUISIANA: Revised price-gouging protection laws go into effect August 15

MISSISSIPPI: State's higher education challenge -- budgets

NORTH CAROLINA: Older population in state to suffer most from budget cuts

SOUTH CAROLINA: State must deal with $200 million in budget cuts

TENNESSEE: State gets $22 million grant for charter schools

VIRGINIA: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deeds says he'll sign tax increase bill

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

Lawmakers defensive over health care reform

New York Times: Lawmakers on the defensive over health care reform debates

Lawmakers are returning home for their August recess and many are facing angry crowds. In Georgia, Rep. Hank Johnson told his constituents not to be deterred by reports of ''town halls gone wild,'' but the Democrat wasn't taking any chances at his first health care forum as three times the normal security detail was in position to thwart any problems. Conflicting reports from a Clarkston forum -- one said the meeting featured angry voters and booing, while another report on the same forum said the nearly 2,000 attendees stayed calm. And Tom Baxter, of Southern Political Report, says there was a little pot-stirring, but not a big rumble as expected.

In North Carolina, Rep. Brad Miller, D-N.C., said he will not host any town halls this month because he received a phone call threatening his life. Instead, he said he will hold one-on-one meetings with constituents.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Time ticking on governors in water wars -- all three leave office in 2010

ARKANSAS: Groundbreaking set for wood pellet plant on August 13

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist feeling the pressure over slow movement of stimulus funds

KENTUCKY: State to consider shifting prison funds to other areas

LOUISIANA: Medicaid cuts to cost Central Louisiana $5.3 million

MISSISSIPPI: U.S. Sen. Wicker to talk health care reform with medical students

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue to sign significant death penalty law

SOUTH CAROLINA: Democrats seek probe into Sanford's use of state planes

TENNESSEE: TVA to use dry storage for coal ash

VIRGINIA: Congressmen to hold town hall meetings on health care reform

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