3/1: Analysis of NC voters shows allegiances are shifting

Washington Daily News: Analysis of NC voters shows allegiances are shifting

According to the nonpartisan Democracy North Carolina, a county-by-county analysis of North Carolina voters points to dramatic shifts in the past decade that will likely influence campaign strategy for elections this year.

Statewide, unaffiliated numbers advanced by 627,547, showing 83-percent growth from 2000 through the first month of 2010. During the same decade, Democratic ranks expanded by 11 percent, while Republicans grew their party by 16 percent.

These major shifts in registration have unsettled some key figures in the two major parties. The state Democratic and Republican parties allow unaffiliated registrants to vote in their primaries.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: 2010 session at midpoint; legislators have yet to work on budget

ARKANSAS: Opinion: Hard to judge merits of Legislature's fiscal session

FLORIDA: Few dentists in state are willing to deal with Medicaid

GEORGIA: U.S. Rep. Linder will not seek re-election

KENTUCKY: Legislative committee stalls prison food bill

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal says he'll take second stimulus package, even as he speaks against it

MISSISSIPPI: First Lady Michelle Obama to visit state this week to work against childhood obesity

SOUTH CAROLINA: Opinion: Jailhouse rocked? Legislators facing a tough funding choice

TENNESSEE: SBI report finds gang activity in schools across the state

VIRGINIA: Officials say rail is state's transportation future

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12/14: States haunted by scary budget scenarios

Stateline: States haunted by scary budget scenarios

Budgets in most states will be facing service cuts, tax hikes, IOUs, layoffs, furloughs and political gridlock. In Virginia, outgoing Gov. Tim Kaine is putting together a budget that his successor, Bob McDonnell, will have to finalize. Said Kaine, "The things that get put in front of me in terms of cuts are ... tougher and tougher, and somewhere in whittling down that $3.6 billion number, I know I am going to get a cut that I don't want to make."

Arkansas has seen worse budgets over the years, including the hit the state took in 1930 when a third of the state flooded -- it was already reeling from budget problems before the Great Depression. In 1933, Arkansas defaulted on its bonds — the only state to do so during the Great Depression — and its state government essentially functioned on federal money for two years. It started digging itself out only when it passed a sales tax, and even then, the state had to stop building roads for 16 years.

To avoid a repeat, state leaders will have to be strong and offer solid plans to weather the budget problems.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Some of the state's schools are still segregated, according to study

ARKANSAS: Crop losses in the state estimated at $309 million by economists

FLORIDA: Judicial Ethics Committee advises judged not to befriend attorneys on Facebook

GEORGIA: Savannah worried about Atlanta's water plans and impact on coast

KENTUCKY: Abuse statistics considered 'alarming' in Kentucky

LOUISIANA: Commission on Streamlining Government works on state expenses

MISSISSIPPI: Some legislators want to change the way the budget is written

NORTH CAROLINA: Asheville councilman's atheism causing a huge stir across nation

SOUTH CAROLINA: Gubernatorial candidates outline jobs programs

TENNESSEE: Opinion: It's time Tennessee slams jail door shut

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine prepares Virginia budget

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