4/15: Tea party leaders worried about extremists at rallies

AP: Tea Party leaders worried about extremists at rallies

As tax-day tea parties gear up for their biggest day of the year, leaders are concerned their efforts may draw extremists who could disrupt the movement's message.

Some rally organizers have canceled controversial speakers, increased security and have urged participants to bring cameras to snap photos of any disrupters. "We don't want to be misrepresented, whether it's by someone who is not part of the group and has their own agenda, or whether it's by some fringe extremist who may actually be a racist," said Jim Hoft, a political blogger and tea party activist who is one of the speakers for a rally in suburban St. Louis.

The National Tea Party Federation, a newly formed coalition of regional tea party groups, estimates that between 1,700 and 2,000 tax-day rallies are occurring Thursday in communities across the country.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gubernatorial candidate Artur Davis rebuffs black political groups

ARKANSAS: Tea Party leaders worried about today's rally

FLORIDA: School voucher plan makes strides in legislature

GEORGIA: GA may be first state to eliminate state arts council

KENTUCKY: Q&A: What happens if there's no state budget?

LOUISIANA: Legislature to discuss healthcare lawsuits, swine control today

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour unveils new spending proposal

NORTH CAROLINA: Charlotte school system may lay off 1,000 because of budget problems

SOUTH CAROLINA: Senate approves 50-cent increase in cigarette tax

TENNESSEE: State's environmental regulatory agency hit from both sides

VIRGINIA: No vetoes by Gov. McDonnell on any legislation sent by 2010 General Assembly

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

12/30: SPR: Where America really ranks in health care

Southern Political Report: Where America really ranks in health care and hospitals

A report by John Tures of LaGrange College on where the country ranks in health care and hospitals. An excerpt:

"The most cited data comes from the World Health Organization (WHO) which compares countries’ health systems. Data comes from preventable deaths, healthy life expectancy, health performance, and health expenditures, as a percentage of GDP over the last decade.

"Unfortunately, the USA doesn’t fare as we would like it to perform. It currently ranks 37^th in the world, out of 190 countries. France finished first, followed by Italy (2^nd), Spain (7^th), Japan (10^th), Norway (11^th), United Kingdom (18^th), Colombia (22^nd), Germany (25^th), Saudi Arabia (26 ^th), Canada (30^th), Australia (32^nd) and Costa Rica (36^th). We’re two spots ahead of Cuba."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Rep. Artur Davis faces unlikely critics in run for governor

ARKANSAS: New laws go into effect January 1

FLORIDA: Attorney General investigates legality of health insurance mandate

GEORGIA: State tallies cost of DUIs

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear says state budget outlook is far worse than expected

LOUISIANA: Regulation of greenhouse gases protested by Gov. Jindal

MISSISSIPPI: Third year of declining revenue could mean fewer state employees

NORTH CAROLINA: Smoking ban to begin Saturday

SOUTH CAROLINA: State lawmakers sued by residents with disabilities

TENNESSEE: Legislators may delay workers' compensation law

VIRGINIA: Gov.-elect McDonnell urges offshore drilling in state

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