4/15: Tea party leaders worried about extremists at rallies

AP: Tea Party leaders worried about extremists at rallies

As tax-day tea parties gear up for their biggest day of the year, leaders are concerned their efforts may draw extremists who could disrupt the movement's message.

Some rally organizers have canceled controversial speakers, increased security and have urged participants to bring cameras to snap photos of any disrupters. "We don't want to be misrepresented, whether it's by someone who is not part of the group and has their own agenda, or whether it's by some fringe extremist who may actually be a racist," said Jim Hoft, a political blogger and tea party activist who is one of the speakers for a rally in suburban St. Louis.

The National Tea Party Federation, a newly formed coalition of regional tea party groups, estimates that between 1,700 and 2,000 tax-day rallies are occurring Thursday in communities across the country.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gubernatorial candidate Artur Davis rebuffs black political groups

ARKANSAS: Tea Party leaders worried about today's rally

FLORIDA: School voucher plan makes strides in legislature

GEORGIA: GA may be first state to eliminate state arts council

KENTUCKY: Q&A: What happens if there's no state budget?

LOUISIANA: Legislature to discuss healthcare lawsuits, swine control today

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour unveils new spending proposal

NORTH CAROLINA: Charlotte school system may lay off 1,000 because of budget problems

SOUTH CAROLINA: Senate approves 50-cent increase in cigarette tax

TENNESSEE: State's environmental regulatory agency hit from both sides

VIRGINIA: No vetoes by Gov. McDonnell on any legislation sent by 2010 General Assembly

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

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"

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

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

2/19: States consider Medicaid cuts as enrollment grows

New York Times: States consider Medicaid cuts as enrollment grows

Because states are temporarily barred from reducing eligibility, they have been left to cut “optional benefits,” like dental and vision care, and reduce payments to doctors and other health care providers.

In Georgia, Gov. Sonny Perdue assumed in his budget proposal that the additional federal money would be provided, but that the state would still face a Medicaid imbalance of $608 million, said Dr. Rhonda M. Medows, the commissioner of community health. Mr. Perdue decided it would be unwise to cut optional benefits because that might drive Medicaid patients into expensive emergency rooms. He proposed instead to levy a 1.6 percent tax on hospital and managed care revenues and to cut payments to many providers by nearly 2 percent.

Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee is proposing the largest cuts in the history of TennCare, his state’s Medicaid program. To trim 9 percent of the TennCare budget, he would establish a $10,000 cap on inpatient hospital services for nonpregnant adults and would limit coverage of X-rays, laboratory services and doctor’s office visits.

Concerns about health care costs are likely to dominate the winter meeting of the National Governors Association, which begins Saturday in Washington.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Shooting puts spotlight on university tenure process

ARKANSAS: Poultry companies in state accused of polluting sensitive watershed

FLORIDA: Lawmakers scramble to save Florida's space businesses

GEORGIA: Lawmakers take two-week break to tackle $1 billion budget deficit

KENTUCKY: Army plans to blow up stored chemical weapons in Richmond, KY

LOUISIANA: State's per capital debt grows

MISSISSIPPI: State Senate restores budget cuts, Gov. Barbour says he'll veto

NORTH CAROLINA: Charter school debate heats up in NC

SOUTH CAROLINA: State to sue over Yucca Mountain nuclear dump

TENNESSEE: TVA to buy wind power from Iowa

VIRGINIA: State AG files challenge to EPA greenhouse gas regulation

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

2/10: Michelle Obama launches fight against childhood obesity

Washington Post: Michelle Obama launches fight against childhood obesity

First Lady Michelle Obama has released a national program to fight childhood obesity called "Let's Move!" The program will be backed by as much as $1 billion a year in federal funds for the next ten years.

At its core, the initiative has four pillars: more nutrition information, increased physical activity, easier access to healthy foods and, ultimately, personal responsibility. And, it has garnered bipartisan support.

Obama's initiative challenges the Food and Drug Administration to work with food and beverage producers, who have announced their support of Obama's proposals, to improve package labeling. And there will be a push to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act as a way of improving school meals.

It's something all states should get behind, especially those in traditionall overweight Southern states.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State to help laid-off casino workers even though casinos are illegal

ARKANSAS: House approves no-raise expenses bill

FLORIDA: Citrus growers lost 7.4 million boxes of fruit from freeze, agency says

GEORGIA: State has $1 billion in unclaimed funds

KENTUCKY: State to be the first to endorse new national education standards

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal says he won't raise state taxes

MISSISSIPPI: State Senate approves charter school plan

NORTH CAROLINA: Probe into private flights extended to all 2008 and 2004 gubernatorial candidates

SOUTH CAROLINA: Senate approves property tax break

TENNESSEE: Lottery sales surge with two new games available

VIRGINIA: Del. Cole wants to criminalize involuntary implantation of human microchips

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

12/22: Survey shows Southerners lead in religious devotion

USA Today: Survey shows Southerners lead in religious devotion

Southerners, and Mississipians in particular, are most active in their religious practices and beliefs according to a new survey from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

Five other states had at least seven in 10 people stating that religion holds that kind of importance for them: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State agencies worried about 2011 General Fund budget

ARKANSAS: Two-year college enrollment booming in Arkansas

FLORIDA: Senate candidates agree one one thing -- Cuba

GEORGIA: Biofuel demonstration plant to be built in Tifton

KENTUCKY: Number of children in foster care rises in state

LOUISIANA: Editorial: Keep ban on drilling in Lake Pontchartrain

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour names panel to study school district consolidation

NORTH CAROLINA: Foreclosure prevention program helps more than 2,500 in state

SOUTH CAROLINA: Lawmakers consider reassessment cap which could hurt local governments

TENNESSEE: A year later, TVA coal ash spill still unresolved

VIRGINIA: State could see $20 million increase by taking in Pennsylvania convicts

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

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

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

12/8: EPA says greenhouse gases hazardous to health

Christian Science Monitor: EPA says greenhouse gases are hazardous to human health

The Environmental Protection Agency's announcement on greenhouse gases was made on the first day of the climate talks in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Environmentalists applauded the move. "This means the US can go to Copenhagen and negotiate from a position of strength. It shows the world that the Obama administration is serious about tackling the climate problem even if legislation in the Senate falls flat,” says Frank O’Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch, an environmental watchdog group. “It’s also a reminder to the Senate that if they sit on their hands, the Obama EPA is going to do something to regulate these emissions.”

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Governors of Georgia, Florida and Alabama to meet over water rights

ARKANSAS: Education advocate, former state senator Jodie Mahony dies

FLORIDA: State's high court may require more specific Miranda warnings

GEORGIA: Ethics reform to be a big topic of 2010 legislature

KENTUCKY: Control of state Senate to be decided in today's special election

LOUISIANA: Tax amnesty brings in $466 million, three times more than expected

MISSISSIPPI: "Green" Grand Bay Coastal Resources center dedicated

NORTH CAROLINA: Drunk driving fatality rate drops in state

SOUTH CAROLINA: State lawmakers want to outlaw texting while driving

TENNESSEE: Editorial: Local clinics could vanish along with state funding

VIRGINIA: State's charter school law gets 'fail' from education reform group

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

11/27: Some states sell or lease public buildings for budget-building

Stateline: Some states sell or lease public buildings for budget-boosting

While it's a quick way of raising cash, some say the strategy of selling or leasing public property is a short-term fix that delays making more difficult budget decisions.

Todd Haggerty, a National Conference of State Legislatures policy associate, said: “States are having to look at anything and everything to close these (budget) gaps. For the most part, easy decisions have already been made, so states are now looking at more difficult options.”

And in the South:

ALABAMA: Editorial: Alabama needs charter schools

ARKANSAS: State approves electric power rate increase

FLORIDA: Congressional primary rescheduled due to Passover conflict

GEORGIA: State is failing to make progress in lung cancer battle

KENTUCKY: Executions suspended by state's highest court

LOUISIANA: Public option on healthcare not likely in Louisiana, some say

MISSISSIPPI: State program aims to keep diabetics out of the hospital

NORTH CAROLINA: Proposed port has small town worried about traffic, noise

SOUTH CAROLINA: Tax-free 'Second Amendment' weekend likely to mean higher gun sales

TENNESSEE: Sex offender tracking gets trickier with wireless devices in use

VIRGINIA: Tobacco-rich Virginia goes smoke-free in restaurants Dec. 1

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