4/6: Four Southern states considered marijuana legislation

Stateline: Four Southern states considered marijuana legislation

States across the nation are considering legalization of marijuana as a way of generating tax funds during cash-strapped times.

Eighteen states, including North Carolina, Alabama, Virginia and Tennessee, considered legislation to legalize medical marijuana this year, an unusually high number. California is the state to watch, as this year's ballot will include a question to allow local governments to legalize and tax marijuana.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Legislator says cash offered by lobbyist for bingo vote

ARKANSAS: Sexual violence reports up in Arkansas

FLORIDA: State Supreme Court begins using Twitter

GEORGIA: Voter fraud can be reported online now

KENTUCKY: State Attorney General says he won't sue over health care

LOUISIANA: Opinion: Equitable funding will improve all Louisiana public schools

MISSISSIPPI: State to allow guns in parks

NORTH CAROLINA: Western NC hunger report shows 'pandemic of poverty'

SOUTH CAROLINA: Gov. Sanford to sign unemployment agency overhaul law

TENNESSEE: Opinion: Sentencing fix would make Tennessee a safer place

VIRGINIA: State AG to challenge new fuel efficiency standards in court

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9/4: Some parents don't want students seeing Obama video

New York Times: Some parents against airing Obama video to students on Tuesday

Some conservative parents across the nation are opposed to a planned speech by President Obama on Tuesday to public school students across the nation. They're accusing the president of trying to indoctrinate the students with socialist ideas and want school officials to excuse their children from listening.

In the speech, President Obama plans to urge students to work hard and stay in school.

The Republican Party chairman in Florida, Jim Greer, said he “was appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama’s socialist ideology.” Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday is urging superintendents to provide an alternative to the speech for those children whose parents don't want them hearing the speech.

Herb Garrett, executive director of the Georgia School Superintendents Association, said many of his members felt that the controversy had put them in an awkward situation, vulnerable to attacks from conservative talk-show hosts if they open up instructional time for Mr. Obama’s speech, and open to accusations that they have disrespected the president if they do not.

“It’s one of those no-wins,” Mr. Garrett said.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley plans industry hunting trip to Germany

ARKANSAS: Sen. Lincoln voices opposition now to public option on health reform

GEORGIA: State has limited success in making ethanol a viable alternative fuel

KENTUCKY: New loan program will make it easier for agencies to be 'green'

LOUISIANA: Today is start of state sales tax holiday for guns, ammunition

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour orders 2.9% budget cut

NORTH CAROLINA: Teacher turnover down in state schools

SOUTH CAROLINA: State agencies must cut 4% from budgets

TENNESSEE: Some state officials oppose ICE's plan to limit public information about detainees

VIRGINIA: Both sides pleased with new permit for coal-fired power plant

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9/3: Speculation abounds over Justice Stevens' one hire

Washington Post: Speculation abounds over Justice Stevens' one hire

U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has hired only one clerk instead of the usual four for the term that begins in October 2010. Speculators believe Stevens, who is 89, may be preparing for retirement. Retired justices are entitled to one clerk.

If he retires, President Obama would have his second opportunity to appoint a justice.

And in the South:

ALABAMA: State's education budget likely won't get cut any more this year

ARKANSAS: Another candidate announces for U.S. Senate seat

FLORIDA: Seminole Tribe to pay state $6.8 billion over 20 years for gambling rights

GEORGIA: Gov. Perdue talks water at state tourism conference

KENTUCKY: State considers grasses, grains, wood products as potential fuel

LOUISIANA: Looking at Gov. Jindal's Sunday helicopter travel to churches

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour to announce major budget decisions today

NORTH CAROLINA: Schools fear 'dangerous' label

SOUTH CAROLINA: 22 counties in Upstate are back in drought conditions

TENNESSEE: Interim chief of University of Tennessee notes poor graduation rates

VIRGINIA: DNC to spend $5 million on Virginia's governor's race

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8/26: SAT results are in

News roundup: SAT results are in

Mississippi students did well on the SAT and AP program tests, scoring higher than the national average. However, only 996 high school seniors took the SAT out of 1.5 million nationwide; most students in the state take the ACT, which is required by the state's universities.

In South Carolina, average scores dropped nine points compared with last year's results yp 1,452, 57 points below the national average. South Carolina now ranks 47th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Virginia students posted higher reading scores this year, but were slightly below the national average on math scores. The scores were nearly identical to those posted last year. Forty percent of Virginia's SAT test takers were minority students. Black students were the largest minority in the state taking the test, accounting for 20 percent of all test takers, compared to 13 percent nationwide.

In Kentucky, more students are taking AP exams and doing well on them, and scores improved overall on the SAT. Georgia students didn't fare as well, as average scores for the state's students fell for the third year in a row.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: U.S. Rep. Bright uses telephone town halls to inform constituents

ARKANSAS: AG McDaniel wants lawmakers to phase out $60 million in desegregation funds

FLORIDA: State's ban on gay adoptions headed to appeals court

GEORGIA: Environmental groups opposed to proposed dock rule from DNR

KENTUCKY: Democrat Rep. Webb wins NE Kentucky senate seat formerly controlled by GOP

LOUISIANA: State shrimpers to protest low shrimp prices at Capitol today

MISSISSIPPI: Nearly 5,000 DUI tickets issued in first three days of crackdown

NORTH CAROLINA: Panel meets to create better state budget

SOUTH CAROLINA: Housing in the state to be boosted with $118 million in federal funds

TENNESSEE: Methanol fuel cells to be used by Nissan plant to haul parts

VIRGINIA: DUI bill introduced in Virginia

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