1/22: Lobbyists get strong weapon in campaign finance ruling

New York Times: Lobbyists get strong weapon in campaign finance ruling

A lobbyist can now tell any elected official: if you vote wrong, my company, labor union or interest group will spend unlimited sums explicitly advertising against your re-election.

The decision seeks to let voters choose for themselves among a multitude of voices and ideas when they go to the polls, but it will also increase the power of organized interest groups at the expense of candidates and political parties. It could also have a big impact on state and local governments, where a few million dollars can have more influence on elections.

In North Carolina, a state law similar to a federal law that had barred corporations and unions from using money from their general funds to produce and run campaign ads to endorse or oppose a candidate now appears unenforceable. This could impact future elections.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: American Indian remains found at construction site of Oxford sports complex

ARKANSAS: Housing market in state shows signs of improvement

FLORIDA: Cost of fruits and vegetables skyrockets due to Florida freeze

GEORGIA: State faces $506 million Medicaid gap

KENTUCKY: Senate defeats amendment that would expand gambling

LOUISIANA: Sen. Landrieu works to block EPA's greenhouse gas decision

MISSISSIPPI: State lawmakers consider making cold medications prescription-only

SOUTH CAROLINA: Businesses in state want to keep DHEC out of governor's control

TENNESSEE: Lawmakers pass higher-education bill, easing transfer requirements

VIRGINIA: House rejects former Gov. Kaine's proposed tax increase plan

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

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

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