1/7: Schools in the South show two majorities

New York Times: Schools in the South show two majorities

The South is the first region in the country where more than half of public school students are poor and more than half are members of minorities, according to a new report by the Southern Education Foundation.

The shift is due to an influx of Latinos and other minorities, the return of blacks to the South and higher birth rates among black and Latino families.

The report says the new numbers mark a milestone for the South -- "the only section of the United States where racial slavery, white supremacy and racial segregation of schools were enforced through law and social custom."

The South will face an enormous challenge in tackling on such a broad scale the lower achievement rates among poor and minority students, who score lower than average on tests and drop out more frequently than whites.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Bill pre-filed to ban driver text-messaging

ARKANSAS: State unveils universal scholarship application, replacing 20+ separate forms

FLORIDA: State emergency management division allegations continue

GEORGIA: GA, SC to meet for talks on water

KENTUCKY: State's food prices dropped 5.6% in 2009

LOUISIANA: Undeveloped business sectors to be focus for 2010 in state

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour issues state of emergency covering entire state

NORTH CAROLINA: Foreclosure filings up by 17% in 2009

SOUTH CAROLINA: More than $1 billion in stimulus funds have come to state agencies

TENNESSEE: Budget trimming 'devastating' to state's TennCare Medicaid program

VIRGINIA: More than $4 billion to be cut when legislators return to Capitol next week

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