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

1/13: TN higher education plan pushes state's economic needs

TENNESSEE: Higher education proposal pushes state's economic needs

Higher education reforms proposed by Gov. Phil Bredesen would require the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to address the state's economy in developing its master plans.

The Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010 would require the commission’s master plans to “address the state’s economic development, work force development and research needs.”

The act would create a new higher education funding formula based on student success rather than enrollment, and a statewide transfer policy allowing students who graduate from a two-year community college to move on to a four-year university as a junior.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley calls on lawmakers to pass ethics reform, approve charter schools

ARKANSAS: State DOE says 58 schools inflated students' grades

FLORIDA: State leaders lobby for rail funding

GEORGIA: Activists push for immigration reform in state

KENTUCKY: State senate begins deliberating on education bill

LOUISIANA: Public schools will have to meet higher standards next year

MISSISSIPPI: Lawmaker considers making changes to state retirement system

NORTH CAROLINA: State gets 171 complaints about smoking ban violations

SOUTH CAROLINA: Report says racial profiling could be a major problem in the state

VIRGINIA: Delegate Marsden narrowly wins special Senate election

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

11/12: Obstacles exist for electric car use

Tennessean: Obstacles exist for electric car use

A few cities in the U.S. will be targeted in an electric vehicle push and a program is being launched to provide a network of recharging stations. Included in these cities is Nashville, and there's concern about consumer hesitance to the vehicles.

"If every one of us had a car or two in the garage that was charging every night, could that be handled?" said Joe Hoagland, TVA's vice president for environmental policy, science and technology. "I'm not sure." If people want to fast-charge vehicles at the same time, it could mean transformers blow.

Efforts to stagger charges or build larger transformers are being pursued, as are ways to improve batteries, figure out the best way to give electric cars a 100-mile range, and establish ways for people to pay if they need to plug in while visiting a friend or shopping.

It'll have to be convenient to get the public's buy-in.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State's aversion to charter schools may be over as federal dollars available

ARKANSAS: Agriculture in state could be taking $650 million hit this harvest

FLORIDA: State ranks 7th on Pew Center's list of 'States in Fiscal Peril'

GEORGIA: State may raise fees for public services & licenses instead of raising taxes

KENTUCKY: Q&A with Rand Paul, candidate for U.S. Senate seat

LOUISIANA: Opinion: Senator fails to keep immigrants out of 2010 Census

MISSISSIPPI: Opinion: Justice too slow for death row inmates

NORTH CAROLINA: No more test points for cash in Goldsboro school, say officials

SOUTH CAROLINA: New study shows state could save $5 billion if more energy efficient

TENNESSEE: Gov. Bredesen open to furloughs and contract freezes

VIRGINIA: State to work with Delaware and Maryland on off-shore wind energy

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

9/28: Arkansas finally sells a scratch-off

SPR: Tom Baxter: Arkansas finally sells a scratch-off

"They've waited longer than four of their neighbors, voted on it and argued over how it will be administered. But at 12:01 a.m. Monday at the Murphy USA gas station in West Little Rock, the first scratch-off ticket was purchased a ceremony to begin the Arkansas lottery.

"Arkansas gamblers won't get Powerball until Oct. 31, but as of today they will be able to purchase instant games at 1,500 locations around the state. Arkansas is playing catch-up with four of its neighboring states, but lottery director Ernie Passailaigue -- a former South Carolina state senator who ran that state's lottery before being hired away by Arkansas -- has predicted the state will raise $400,000 million a year for college scholarships."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State's GOP, Democratic congressmen cautious about health care reforms

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe plans trade mission to Europe

FLORIDA: Weekend crash total at 131 vehicles

GEORGIA: Homeless sex offenders directed to woods as last resort in Marietta

KENTUCKY: EPA sets up plan for surface coal mining study

LOUISIANA: Population shift could alter congressional districts

MISSISSIPPI: Too early to tell if state will raise tuition for universities

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue's administration has fewer women in Cabinet than any other governor

SOUTH CAROLINA: State comptroller says stimulus is growing government, not economy

TENNESSEE: State Rep. Kelsey resigns to run for state senate seat

VIRGINIA: Candidates for governor debate tactics for state's economic stimulus

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

9/9: H1N1 flu cases rising in Southeasat

Miami Herald: H1N1 flu cases rising in Southeast

Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC says, "It's widespread in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.'' Schuchat said the agency was aware of "24 localities" in Georgia, Indiana, Missouri and Tennessee dismissing elementary and high schools on Friday, affecting 25,000 students.

Asked why the increases are biggest in the Southeast, Schuchat said: "We don't know exactly. One possibility is that schools started earlier there. Another is that the Southeast states were not that heavily hit in the spring, and they're just getting their spring wave now."

Also on Tuesday, the CDC put out new guidelines that say the flu medicines Tamiflu and Relenza should only be used to treat people who are sick with the flu and at high risk for complications.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State's tax amnesty program raises more than $8.1 million

ARKANSAS: Could soda pop tax as seen in Arkansas go national?

GEORGIA: The Clean Air Campaign's Diesel Idling Reduction program has 60 companies signed on

KENTUCKY: Bill would cancel $12 million prison food contract

LOUISIANA: ACLU lawsuit filed over single-sex classes in Lafayette

MISSISSIPPI: State has a shortage of school nurses

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue ready to sign consumer protection law

SOUTH CAROLINA: Decision is near on off-shore oil and natural gas drilling

TENNESSEE: Rep. Kelsey to resign House seat after Senate primary to keep seat in party

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine cuts 929 jobs to make up for budget shortfall

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