3/25: AL's Gov. Riley says health care plan costs too much for state

Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama governor says health care plan costs too much for state

Gov. Bob Riley said the federal health care plan passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama could cost the state an additional $60 million to $100 million a year -- money taken from an already cash-strapped General Fund.

Riley said there are currently 900,000 to a million people on Medicaid in Alabama. He said the federal plan passed over the weekend expanded the qualifications and would add another 400,000 people to the rolls. Riley said the state has a difficult enough time paying for Medicaid now.

Also in the South:

ARKANSAS: Little change to reading scores of 4th and 8th graders since 2007

FLORIDA: State AG says Medicare costs will soar with new health care reform

GEORGIA: State Senate votes to allow guns on university campuses, churches, bars

KENTUCKY: New law mandates sowing flowers on mountaintop mine areas

LOUISIANA: State could lose a seat in Congress with new census data

MISSISSIPPI: House fails to extend legislative session

NORTH CAROLINA: Busing to end in Wake County -- school diversity at risk?

SOUTH CAROLINA: Bill would ban sex offenders from state parks

TENNESSEE: Rep. Bell introduces "Tennessee Health Freedom Act"

VIRGINIA: Gov. McDonnell says health care bill is "truly bi-partisan"

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12/21: EPA pushes farmers to use coal waste on fields

New York Times: EPA pushes farmers to use coal waste on fields

A synthetic gypsum created as a waste product from coal-fired power plants is being pushed by the EPA as a field enhancer - as a fertilizer and soil loosener. The EPA says the synthetic gypsum, which contains mercury, arsenic, lead and other heavy metals, has levels of toxins too low to cause any threat to crops, surface water or humans.

However, some environmentalists say not enough is known about how the material, called flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGD gypsum), affects crops and human health.

Currently, FGD gypsum is widely used in the South as a less expensive alternative to mined gypsum, said Glen Harris, a soil scientist at the University of Georgia's Tifton campus. Farmers in states such as Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas have long spread mined gypsum on their fields, where its calcium spurs the growth of peanuts.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Alabama Education Association opposes State BOE's charter school push

ARKANSAS: Sen. Lincoln says health care reform bill would cover more than 400,000 uninsured residents

FLORIDA: South Florida seniors concerned about proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage

GEORGIA: New state mental health agency now must cut budget, programs

KENTUCKY: Many in Eastern Kentucky without power following winter storm

LOUISIANA: Health care debate shows Louisiana politicians have much at stake

MISSISSIPPI: Opinion: Task force: Best way of improving state's quality of life is education

NORTH CAROLINA: New landfill gas-to-energy plant opens in Durham

SOUTH CAROLINA: Jobless rate in S.C. reaches new high of 12.3%

TENNESSEE: Control of Congress may be in Tennessee's hands

VIRGINIA: Rep. Scott's Prison Reform Act aims to change cruel prison conditions

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12/10: Anti-smoking program funding drops in South

Anti-smoking program funding drops in South

Tennessee is the worst in the nation at funding anti-smoking programs aimed at children. In the current budget crisis, the state cut its spending by 96% this year, putting the state in the lowest spot as reported by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Tennessee (51st), Georgia (50th), Alabama (47th), South Carolina (44th) and Kentucky(40th) rank in the bottom of the rankings. Kentucky's anti-smoking spending continues to be low, as it spends about 6.9% of the amount recommended on cessation programs as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And, tobacco companies are spending $20 to market products for every $1 the state spends to fight tobacco use.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Inmate attorneys say state underreports violence at prison

ARKANSAS: Sens. Lincoln and Pryor tout health care proposal

FLORIDA: State is ranked #2 for number of foreclosures in November

GEORGIA: Atlanta's mayoral race settled with recount: Kasim Reed wins

LOUISIANA: State's doctors oppose Medicare expansion proposed in Senate

MISSISSIPPI: Companies in Washington County seek 'free port exemption'

NORTH CAROLINA: Video games playing bigger role in education

SOUTH CAROLINA: House panel votes against impeachment of Gov. Sanford

VIRGINIA: State to get federal aid for disaster areas

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12/4: More on Georgia's water problem

Gov. Perdue may turn to reservoirs for metro Atlanta water

A task force has been put together to help solve Georgia's water problems. A federal judge has set a 2012 deadline for Georgia to come up with a solution with Alabama and Florida; if a deal isn't reached, Georgia could be cut off from using millions of gallons of water from Lake Lanier.

The controversial practices of interbasin transfers or piping water from far-away rivers and lakes is are also being considered, to the dismay of environmentalists and rural lawmakers. And, currently a state law strictly prohibits river basin water transfers, so a battle over water resources within the state is sure to come.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley backs off on ban of no-bid contract deals

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe speaks with Washington governor about interstate parolee system

FLORIDA: State senators split on Medicare

GEORGIA: Speaker of the House resigns

KENTUCKY: Parts of eastern Kentucky to be targeted by MSHA due to black lung disease

LOUISIANA: State's federal funding dependence challenged by Rep. Darrell Issa

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour cuts $54.3 million in second round of budget cuts

NORTH CAROLINA: Judge considers arguments on NC's 'life' sentences for prisoners

SOUTH CAROLINA: Attorney General expects good news in Carolinas' water war

TENNESSEE: State to open adult health plan to sickest children

VIRGINIA: Study on safety of uranium mining to begin this winter

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