3/12: LRA to close in four months with millions unspent

NOLA: Louisiana Recovery Authority to close in four months with millions unspent

The Louisiana Recovery Authority, the state agency set up after Hurricane Katrina to oversee billions in rebuilding aid to parishes and individuals, will shut down in four months.

While staffers don't know how much of the $13.7 billion the state received is left, it is clear that it's likely to be several hundred million dollars. The LRA board will outline how the money will be spent; however, the legislature will have the final say.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State senate approves $1 billion road and bridge program

ARKANSAS: Report says Arkansas students are eating healthier at schools

FLORIDA: Foreclosure filings go up again in Florida

GEORGIA: Revised budget proposal includes heavy fees on hospitals, smaller education cuts

KENTUCKY: Senate panel backs domestic violence bill

MISSISSIPPI: State officials deny needless institutionalization of children

NORTH CAROLINA: Charge of re-segregation at Wayne County high school

SOUTH CAROLINA: State waits on $200 million in federal stimulus funds

TENNESSEE: Officials from Georgia to help with threatened TN hemlocks

VIRGINIA: Car title lending reform passed by legislators

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10/16: GA street gangs going after cartel cash, drugs

GEORGIA: Street gangs go after cartel cash and drugs, increasing risk for law enforcement

Gang investigators in the state say that Mexican drug trafficking organizations are becoming targets of criminal street gangs.

The danger has increased for law enforcement officers, as cartels are arming themselves more heavily to deter the thefts. A small number of reporters were allowed to attend this month's Georgia Gang Investigators Association meeting – which is usually private – on the condition that they not identify the gang behind a string of recent drug rip-offs or disclose its country of origin.

Investigators said the Latino street gang that has been targeting Mexican cartels in the metro Atlanta area is violent, brash and increasing in numbers.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Foreclosures up 22% in September

ARKANSAS: No change on math scores for fourth, eighth graders

FLORIDA: State may ban both paper and plastic bags

KENTUCKY: State gets a 'D' on protecting children's legal rights

LOUISIANA: Interracial couple denied marriage license in state

MISSISSIPPI: State plans more budget cuts for 2010

NORTH CAROLINA: Baptist preacher plans to burn Bibles on Halloween

SOUTH CAROLINA: State's jobless fund is running out of money

TENNESSEE: Jobless rate in state drops to 10.5%

VIRGINIA: State's infrastructure gets poor rating

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