3/9: Census directs federal funds to states

Charlotte Observer: Census directs federal funds to states

A Brookings Institution study was designed to underscore the importance of ensuring an accurate count. "The hope is that it stimulates participation in the census, that people recognize that there's a connection between their participation and the amount of federal money and federally funded goods and services their community receives," said Andrew Reamer, the report's author.

The report found that North Carolina got $11.8 billion and South Carolina $5.5 billion. (See the report here.)

Most of the money - nearly 60 percent in North Carolina - went to health programs such as Medicaid. Housing, highways and education accounted for the next-largest allocations.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Editorial: Alabama takes hit in tanker decision

ARKANSAS: State BOE approves merging school districts

FLORIDA: Bill has teacher merit pay provision

GEORGIA: Lawmakers scramble to stop Hustler Magazine from getting slain hiker photos

KENTUCKY: Legislator wants cellphone, landline users to pay equally for 911 service

LOUISIANA: State to cut at-risk youth services

MISSISSIPPI: Voter ID to be on November 2011 ballot

NORTH CAROLINA: State hospital inspection data kept from the public

SOUTH CAROLINA: Three groups to get federal funds for renewable energy projects

TENNESSEE: State has huge financial stake in getting accurate Census count

VIRGINIA: Bills would increase financial incentives to companies moving into state

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

11/16: Study shows FL at risk for fiscal calamity

Orlando Sentinel: Study shows Florida is at risk for fiscal calamity

Florida, with an economy built on rapid growth, is experiencing a worse slowdown in its economy than other states. A study last week by the Pew Center on the States identified Florida as one of the states at risk of fiscal calamity and cited its reliance on population growth as contributing to its economic woes.

"Florida's population is shrinking -- a disturbing trend for a state that has built its economy, and structured its state budget, on the assumption that throngs of new residents will move to its sunny shores each year," said the report.

However, what might seem like slow growth for Florida is still higher than in much of the rest of the nation, William Frey of The Brookings Institution said. Even if Florida growth slows to 2 percent a year, that's still twice the national average.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Study says state may not recover jobs until 2013

ARKANSAS: State gets research edge with tobacco funds

FLORIDA: Sink says state ban on gay adoption must go

GEORGIA: State House speaker says he tried to commit suicide

KENTUCKY: Anonymous online attacks seen in state's Senate race

LOUISIANA: Committee to consider lifting oyster moratorium

MISSISSIPPI: State BOE to vote on school accountability plan this week

NORTH CAROLINA: Fees at community colleges jump nearly three times over last year

SOUTH CAROLINA: Lawmakers consider new property tax rules

TENNESSEE: State's H1N1 immunization system is model for others

VIRGINIA: New leaders elected to state's Democratic House caucus

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