3/26: Ga.'s Gov. Perdue to name special AG for lawsuit

Savannah Morning News: Gov. Perdue to name special AG for health reform lawsuit

Gov. Sonny Perdue says he'll appoint a special attorney general to sue the federal government over the new federal health care reform law. A team of pro bono lawyers will file the lawsuit following the refusal of Attorney General Thurbert Baker to sue.

Baker wrote in a letter to the governor Wednesday that the state doesn't have "a viable legal claim" and that he didn't want to waste state resources in a time of budget crisis.

Following Baker's refusal to sue, the state constitution gives the governor the right to appoint a special attorney general who will have the same power as the state attorney general in this specific matter, Perdue said.

Georgia probably will not join the lawsuit filed by attorneys general in 14 other states who are challenging what they deem an unconstitutional overreach of federal power, but will likely file a separate suit, Perdue said.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Alabama is one of three states to allow controversial judicial override

ARKANSAS: Lawmakers concerned over required flood insurance by FEMA

FLORIDA: Senate approves Florida class size amendment

KENTUCKY: State unemployment rate rose to 10.9% in February

LOUISIANA: Higher education in 'precarious situation' as legislative session set to begin

MISSISSIPPI: State's lawmakers to finish budget in late April

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue wants to lift film incentives gap

SOUTH CAROLINA: Senate agrees on prison sentencing reform

TENNESSEE: Online map tracks census returns, finds Tennessee is lagging behind

VIRGINIA: Gov. McDonnell says no 'rampant discrimination' against gay employees evident

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9/25: WIC nutrition program to be overhauled

The Tennessean: WIC nutrition program to be overhauled

The federal nutrition program for women, infants and children (WIC) will get its first overhaul in thirty years. With the changes, participants will be able to get fresh produce and whole grains for the first time.

The goal is to get people to eat a healthier diet by reducing saturated fat while increasing fiber and protein. That means participants will get reduced-fat milk instead of whole, fewer juices, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, and whole-grain cereals and breads. Also, the program supports breastfeeding mothers by giving them more items.

In 2008, the WIC program had more than 8.7 million participants each month. The changes go into effect Thursday.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Judge strikes down a portion of sex offender law in Alabama

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe says he won't play lottery, but Lt. Gov. Halter will

FLORIDA: CFO Alex Sink tries to rescind civil rights of ex-cons

GEORGIA: North Georgia under flash flood watch as more heavy rain expected

KENTUCKY: Jobless rate up in all Kentucky counties

LOUISIANA: More than 400 fugitives rounded up in 'Operation Big Easy'

MISSISSIPPI: Fight continues over Medicaid's coverage of speech therapy

NORTH CAROLINA: Residents asked to recycle by state

SOUTH CAROLINA: DHEC chief says putting governor in charge of agency would be a mistake

VIRGINIA: Former governor Douglas Wilder refuses to endorse anyone for governor

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9/22: Climate conference opens at United Nations

New York Times: Climate conference opens at United Nations

Today, an unprecedented daylong conference on combating climate change is taking place at the United Nations and more than 100 heads of state are in attendance.

President Obama said the world “cannot allow the old divisions that have characterized the climate debate for so many years to block our progress. It is a journey that will require each of us to persevere through setback, and fight for every inch of progress, even when it comes in fits and starts." Mr. Obama said the world had been too slow to recognize the gathering danger from rising temperatures: “It is true of my own country as well; we recognize that.”

Mr. Obama said he was committed to the United States making its largest-ever investment in renewable energy, new standards for reducing pollution from vehicles and making clean energy profitable, among other initiatives.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Lawmakers struggle to keep college tuition program afloat

ARKANSAS: RNC chairman says his party must win over black voters

FLORIDA: Pari-mutuels, tracks seek special legislative session to boost revenue

GEORGIA: Gov. Perdue declares state of emergency in 17 counties over flooding

KENTUCKY: State gets a 'D' in financial security report

LOUISIANA: State to toughen stance on truancy

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Haley Barbour orders state funding cut from ACORN

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue forms panel to look at offshore energy -- oil, natural gas, wind

SOUTH CAROLINA: NAACP to boycott South Carolina for ninth year in a row

TENNESSEE: Megasite in West Tennessee plagued with political feuding

VIRGINIA: State's tax amnesty program launched with a smiley face

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