1/4: A look at the top ten jobs for the upcoming decade

NPR: A look at the top ten jobs for the upcoming decade

The first decade of this century ended as a disaster for employment. Since the recession began two years ago, the U.S. has lost more than 7 million jobs. So where are the jobs going to be?

In healthcare (R.N.s, home health aides, nursing aides/orderlies), customer service, food preparation, personal and home care aides, retail sales, office clerks, accountants, and post-secondary education teachers, according to Harvard economist Lawrence Katz.

The shocker -- six of the top seven fastest-growing occupations are considered low-skill, low wage jobs.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley to recruit businesses at Tide BCS football game

ARKANSAS: State's homeless programs get $4.2 million in federal funds

FLORIDA: Laid-off workers having trouble keeping COBRA health coverage

GEORGIA: Editorial: Damage to education is self-inflicted

KENTUCKY: General Assembly begins Tuesday: Budget, gambling to top talks

LOUISIANA: State is third most expensive homeowner's insurance market

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour defends budget proposal

NORTH CAROLINA: Opinion: It's time to fix the state health plan

SOUTH CAROLINA: Voters want lawmakers to look at jobs, public education

TENNESSEE: TVA: Battle brewing over natural gas drilling

VIRGINIA: State payday loans promoted by Virginia

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

11/17: Electric car coalition launched by top businessmen

Associated Press: Electric car coalition launched by top businessmen

The new coalition is aimed at getting the federal government to make a major investment in electric transportation, pointing to electric cars as the best way to confront the nation's dependence on imported oil. Businessmen from Nissan Motor Co., Fedex Corp., PG&E, and battery developers A124 Systems and Johnson Controls-Saft are involved.

The coalition is urging Congress to pass a series of tax credits and loan guarantees to bring 14 million electric cars to the road by 2020 and more than 100 million by 2030. The group envisions a network of electric vehicles in six to eight cities in the short term and an expansion across the country, making 75 percent of all vehicle miles traveled powered by electricity by 2040.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Timber theft a growing problem in the state

ARKANSAS: Sen. Lincoln gets pressure from all sides as Senate vote on health care reform nears

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist looks at special session for high-speed rail discussion

GEORGIA: Nonprofit studies GA's large rural student population, notes low graduation rates

KENTUCKY: AARP rallies against further state budget cuts

LOUISIANA: State's politics complicated in national health care debate

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour proposes merging eight universities into five

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue says jobless rate to rise even as economy gets better

SOUTH CAROLINA: 2009 Homeless County reveals depth of problem in SC

TENNESSEE: State's budget gap could reach $1.5 billion next year

VIRGINIA: Delegate Hamilton quits House, which may end ethics probe

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

11/11: The Dixie Diet

Like the Dew: The Dixie Diet

A look at prison spending on inmate food -- Some state prisons spend between $1.13 and $1.75 a day. In Tennessee, U.S. District Judge Todd Campbell heard more than five days of testimony, during which inmates stepped on scales in the courtroom to document their weight, with one inmate losing 100 pounds in the 19 months he was incarcerated.

In Alabama, there's a law that allows sheriffs to decide how much of their budgets will go to feed county inmates; they get to pocket the rest. In Georgia, prisoners don't get lunch on the weekends or on Fridays.

What will it take to change this system?

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gubernatorial candidates Davis, Sparks split on health care bill

ARKANSAS: Poll shows Southerners worried about job loss and the economy

FLORIDA: Decision on energy-conservation goals delayed by PSC

GEORGIA: Number of homeless veterans in Georgia is down

KENTUCKY: State lags behind in protecting date-violence victims

LOUISIANA: State sets 2010 taxable wage base

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour says budget could have 'dramatic' restructuring

NORTH CAROLINA: Goldsboro school sells test points for $20 as fundraiser

SOUTH CAROLINA: Judge rules "I Believe" license plates unconstitutional

TENNESSEE: Green energy projects urged by Gov. Bredesen

VIRGINIA: State spent 74% more money in most recent budget due to inflation, population growth

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