1/28: Pres. Obama announces high-speed rail projects

New York Times: President Obama announces high-speed rail projects

Today, President Obama visited Florida to announce an investment of $8 billion for high-speed rail projects, the first of several initiatives to boost job growth across the country.

“One in 10 Americans is out of jobs,” Mr. Obama said. “That’s why creating jobs has to be our No. 1 priority in 2010.”

Mr. Obama and Vice President Biden were in Florida to announce the projects and the high-speed rail could run from Tampa to Orlando.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Senate panel approves Alabama constitutional convention

ARKANSAS: Crop loss in 2009 estimated at $397 million

GEORGIA: Legislators offer to take six more furlough days

KENTUCKY: State's stimulus Web site, Kentucky at Work, ranked No. 2 nationally

LOUISIANA: State Board of Regents to cut 28 programs to save money

MISSISSIPPI: House approves restoration of $100 million of budget cuts

NORTH CAROLINA: $545 million allocated for high-speed rail in NC

SOUTH CAROLINA: Photo ID vote could affect 178,000 South Carolinians

TENNESSEE: Senate rejects Gov. Bredesen's veto on menu labeling

VIRGINIA: Gov. McDonnell gives GOP response to State of the Union address

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11/25: Southern farmers see crops get washed out

New York Times: Southern farmers' hopes for bumper crops get dashed

In August, Southern farmers thought they'd have a bumper crop -- the best in years. But then the rains came in September, and it continued raining through October, a usually dry month. Soybeans shriveled on the vine, cotton hardened, sweet potatoes rotted underground. And, once combines could take to the fields, they scarred them with deep ruts that will make next year's planting more expensive.

The rain has affected farmers in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, eastern Arkansas and parts of Louisiana. Mississippi and Georgia have requested disaster declarations from the USDA, and Alabama is likely to follow suit. But help from Washington, in the form of low-interest loans, often takes a year or more to reach the farmers who need it.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State gambling dispute heads for 'showdown'

ARKANSAS: Farmers detail crop losses from flooding

FLORIDA: Sen. LeMieux comments on 'culture of corruption' in South Florida

GEORGIA: State's 'food insecurity' among worst in nation

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear named chairman of the Southern Growth Policies Board

LOUISIANA: Farm runoff from 41 watersheds in 12 states hits Mississippi River

MISSISSIPPI: Two Mississippi Senators introduce crop disaster bill

NORTH CAROLINA: Poverty rates in state considered 'staggering'

SOUTH CAROLINA: School exit exam scores drop in state

TENNESSEE: 'Food insecurity' in Tennessee ranks 40th in nation

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine urges nonviolent offenders to seek rights restoration

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