2/4: States face challenge of IT improvements

Stateline: A look at how states are dealing with IT improvements

Improving Information Technology systems at the state level is an issue facing most states these days. But many can't afford to update them, due to pressing budget problems. Some states have systems that are more than 30 years old and written in outdated computer code. Then there's the problem of slow computer networks, prone to crashes and agency incompatibility.

In Virginia, officials are a year behind on creating a new multi-agency IT infrastructure. It has suffered repeated network interruptions, adding to the cost of the five-year, $2.4 billion project.

However, in Georgia, revamping the IT structure seems to be on course. So far, the $1.2 billion, eight-year contract with IBM and AT&T has hit all of its deadlines with little difficulty. The vendors have successfully taken over the state’s IT infrastructure and are now in the process of consolidating all agencies into a single statewide system.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Editorial: Alabama needs water-saving strategy

ARKANSAS: State under hazardous weather warning today and Friday

FLORIDA: Opinion: Florida, we have a problem

GEORGIA: Gov. Perdue pushes conservation measures for long-term water savings

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear urges Pres. Obama to help protect coal states

LOUISIANA: State to privatize prisoner medications

MISSISSIPPI: State House votes to sell the state's private jet

NORTH CAROLINA: Settlement on "road to nowhere" to cost feds $52 million

SOUTH CAROLINA: Senate approves photo ID requirement for voting

TENNESSEE: State law protects elderly and disabled from abuse

VIRGINIA: State AG wants more outpatient treatment for mentally ill

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

10/27: Survey shows where those without health insurance live

New York Times: Survey shows where those without health insurance live

The Census Bureau conducted a survey last year to find out where those without health insurance live. It was the first survey of its kind.

Red state residents (especially low-income Democrats) are less likely to have health insurance, and more likely to have legislators unwilling to provide it. A chart details coverage by state, showing red states -- like Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and South Carolina -- have low rates of health coverage for all age groups. This chart considers a "red state" one that voted for John McCain for president and with representation by two Republican senators; a "blue state" is one that voted predominantly for Barack Obama with representation by two Democratic senators.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State delays H1N1 vaccines given by school clinics to after Thanksgiving

ARKANSAS: Broadband access across state to be mapped by Connect Arkansas

FLORIDA: State House split over offshore drilling

GEORGIA: Georgia delegation to talk water with Florida, Alabama leaders

KENTUCKY: Opinion: Brad Luttrell: Coal issues need balanced debate

LOUISIANA: This is final week for state's 'tax amnesty' program

MISSISSIPPI: Chevron reports molten sulfur leak into Bayou Casotte

NORTH CAROLINA: Federal investigation of former Gov. Easley begins

SOUTH CAROLINA: State's graduation rate is near bottom in new report

TENNESSEE: Sen. Alexander calls climate change bill a 'job killer'

VIRGINIA: Serious gang crime down, but a rise in middle school offenses has officials concerned

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

10/26: GA, TN senators not thrilled about new climate bill

Times Free-Press: GA, TN senators not thrilled about new climate bill

The bill calls for a 20% cut in greenhouse gases by 2020, a rule that senators from Georgia and Tennessee say could increase the cost of energy. Electric utilities, especially ones that use coal-powered plants that produce greenhouse gases, are expected to have to buy more allowances. That cost would be passed on to customers.

“I am concerned that some in Congress and the administration are rushing to judgment on a cap-and-trade system to regulate carbon,” said Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. “Cap-and-trade will raise the cost of energy to all Georgians, especially those who rely on electric energy.”

Said U.S. Sen. Bob Corker: "If we would focus solely on climate change, and people wouldn't view this as a mechanism to expand government and line the pockets of interest groups, this whole process would probably be much different."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley, Gov. Barbour to announce multi-state aerospace alliance today

ARKANSAS: Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln considered vulnerable for next election

FLORIDA: Largest solar power plant in U.S. to go online in Florida

GEORGIA: State is third in the nation for total number of meth users between 12 and 17

KENTUCKY: Coal still important to Kentucky, nation

LOUISIANA: School superintendents complain about forced charter school funding

MISSISSIPPI: Opinion: School consolidation can work in Mississippi

NORTH CAROLINA: State blocks release of dangerous inmates

SOUTH CAROLINA: SC to participate in Appalachian Regional conference on alternative energy

TENNESSEE: State's schools rank high in cutting junk food

VIRGINIA: State considers returning elk to mountains

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

9/1: Georgia is first state to impose teacher furloughs

New York Times: Georgia is first state to impose teacher furloughs

Georgia is the first state to put teacher furloughs into effect as a way of saving state budget money. The furloughs for all state employees includes teachers for the first time in more than 25 years. The forced days off will save about $135 million, with the majority of that coming from salaries for 128,000 educators.

Several other states are considering the same action, including Florida.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: New problem created by moving toxic coal ash from TN to poor town in AL

ARKANSAS: Lt. Gov. Halter signs 'letter of intent' with officials of Henan province

FLORIDA: Jobless rate in Florida could stay high until 2018

KENTUCKY: State employees offer Gov. Beshear ways to cut budget

LOUISIANA: State GOP chairman sounds alarm about census counting illegal immigrants

MISSISSIPPI: State offers job help online and at nine access points

NORTH CAROLINA: Sen. Burr's health forum to include Sen. John McCain, Sen. Mitch McConnell

SOUTH CAROLINA: A look at a legislative poll on impeachment of Gov. Sanford

TENNESSEE: State Democrats target 12 House seats to take over

VIRGINIA: Governor's race ignites over GOP candidate McDonnell's past views

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

8/31: Open access at risk as Internet turns 40

Clarion Ledger -- Open access at risk as Internet turns 40

The researchers who created the Internet (no, not Al Gore) intended the open network to be a place for freely exchanging information. Now, 40 years later, despite developments in social networking like the World Wide Web and Facebook, the openness may be breaking down.

To blame: Spam and hacking force network operators to put up security firewalls. Some governments block access to the Internet within their borders. And some commercial applications create policies to thwart their competition, further limiting what some devices can do.

Already, there is evidence of controls at workplaces and service providers slowing the uptake of file-sharing and collaboration tools. Video could be next if consumers shun higher-quality and longer clips for fear of incurring extra bandwidth fees. It'll be interesting where the Internet goes in the next 40 years.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: H1N1 virus hits Alabama college campuses

ARKANSAS: Arkansas Medicaid launches adult dental program

FLORIDA: Little done to enforce state hotel regulations on pest infestation

GEORGIA: Average global temperatures up, but not in Georgia

KENTUCKY: Reclaimed coal strip-mining sites being used for agriculture

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal orders state agencies to buy Louisiana shrimp

MISSISSIPPI: State to pilot civil rights courses for K-12 students

NORTH CAROLINA: OLF environmental impact study delayed in the state

SOUTH CAROLINA: State seeks innovative way to rebuild reefs for oyster beds

TENNESSEE: Cigarette waste the target of a new pollution study in the state

VIRGINIA: 19-tower wind tower project in Virginia draws criticism from neighboring state

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

8/21: Older Americans' concerns over health care not irrational

8/21: New York Times: Older Americans' concerns over health care not irrational

Bills in Congress, if passed, would "squeeze savings out of Medicare on the assumption that doctors and hospitals can be more efficient." President Obama has also said Medicare and private insurers could improve care and save money by following advice from a new federal panel of medical experts on “what treatments work best.”

Mr. Obama has repeatedly said, “Nobody is talking about cutting Medicare benefits.” At the same time, he wants to eliminate what he describes as “unwarranted subsidies” and giveaways to private Medicare Advantage plans, which use some of the money to provide extra benefits.

Knowing that Medicare itself faces a financial crisis, many older Americans object to Congress’s tapping the program to help pay for coverage of the uninsured.

This debate will likely continue for some time.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley named chairman of Southern Governors' Association

ARKANSAS: Prisoners provide labor for food bank programs

FLORIDA: State leads nation in rate of mortgage problems

GEORGIA: State's only corn ethanol plant faces bankruptcy

KENTUCKY: Jobless rate hits 11% in state

LOUISIANA: State to propose help for hurricane-damaged homes

MISSISSIPPI: Big stimulus grant goes to SmartSynch to help manage energy use at public facilities

NORTH CAROLINA: Labor unions invest in state's Democrats

SOUTH CAROLINA: New deal may end push for planned coal-burning power plant

TENNESSEE: TVA to increase electric rates, borrow billions

VIRGINIA: Creigh Deeds' speech set to brand him as moderate pragmatist

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

Coal's big year

Looking back on 2007, Grist has posted this collection of stories that show a nationwide movement away from coal power by default. Stories from down south include:

Seminole Electric Power Cooperative's Seminole 3 Generating Station (Florida) - proposed 750 MW plant rejected by Florida Department of Environmental Protection on the grounds that the plant would not minimize environmental and public health impacts, and would not serve the public interest. August 2007.

Peabody Coal Company's Thoroughbred Generating Station (Kentucky) - air permit for 1500 MW plant reversed by Franklin Circuit Court due to inadequate air pollution control analysis. August 2007.

Florida Municipal Power Agency's Taylor Energy Center (Florida) - proposed 800 MW plant withdrawn by applicant shortly after Florida PSC denied application for Glades Power Plant. July 2007.

In other news, President Bush has nominated the former chief operating officer of mining company Massey Energy, Stanley Suboleski, to be the Department of Energy's assistant secretary of fossil energy.