4/22: Forty years after the first Earth Day, new threats arise

New York Times: Forty years after first Earth Day, new threats arise

When the first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970, pollution was a tangible, visible problem. Now, forty years later, smog levels nationwide have dropped about 25% and lead levels in the air are down 90%. But threats are still out there -- largely invisible.

Issues such as climate change are less obvious to the naked eye. Since the first Earth Day, carbon dioxide levels in the air have increased by 19 percent, pushing the average annual world temperature up about 1 degree Fahrenheit, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

''We've cleaned up what you can see and left everything else in limbo,'' said Kathleen Rogers, president of the Earth Day Network.

Let's keep working on it.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Voters to decide on $1 billion roads bill in November

ARKANSAS: State NAACP gives most in congressional delegation an "F"

FLORIDA: Pay cuts could be on the horizon for state workers

GEORGIA: Editorial: Georgia governor's race looks to be a wild one

KENTUCKY: State's worst-performing schools get $56 million in federal funds

LOUISIANA: 11 still missing in aftermath of offshore oil rig explosion

MISSISSIPPI: Legislative session dominated by budget bills

NORTH CAROLINA: State extends appliance rebate program through weekend

SOUTH CAROLINA: Legislators talk about trash-to-power legislation

TENNESSEE: Al Gore launches "Inconvenient Youth" program on Earth Day

VIRGINIA: House rebuffs Gov. McDonnell's proposal to cut public broadcasting

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

4/9: Al Gore speaks at Duke on climate crisis

News & Observer: Al Gore speaks at Duke on climate crisis

Speaking at the spring Duke Environment and Society Lecture presented by the Nicholas School of the Environment, the Nobel Prize winner said it takes bigger changes "than just light bulbs" to counteract climate change. He argued for changing laws, from those that influence environmental impact to those that regulate lobbying and campaign contributions.

Gore spent less time presenting evidence for global warming, focusing instead on possible solutions and ways to involve communities. In addition to solar energy, he discussed possibilities for wind power, geothermal power and other renewable energy sources.

The largest source of new energy is efficiency, he said, noting only 10 percent of the gasoline used in vehicles is used to power them.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: House rejects proposal to drop sales tax on groceries

ARKANSAS: Wind turbine plant to be built by Mitsubishi in Arkansas

FLORIDA: Lawmakers approve sweeping school changes

GEORGIA: Gov. Perdue says AG should sue over voting check

KENTUCKY: Impasse over state budget could impact upcoming elections

LOUISIANA: State's two public university systems spent millions on D.C. lobbying

MISSISSIPPI: State nursing home groups file lawsuit over Medicaid cuts

SOUTH CAROLINA: State is 'fine' with accepting out-of-state nuclear waste, temporarily

TENNESSEE: House increases prison time for armed robbery

VIRGINIA: State restructures troubled IT outsourcing contract

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