4/7: GA's public defender system may revert back to county control

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia's public defender system may revert back to county control

In 2003, Gov. Perdue signed the Georgia Indigent Defense Act into law, which created a new statewide network of public defender offices to replace an uneven system of county-run indigent defense programs, many of which were found unable to protect the rights of poor people accused of crimes.

But now, key state lawmakers and the governor are considering proposals that would transfer a large chunk of the state system back to county control.

Norman Fletcher, a former chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, called any plan to return part of the system back to county control "a terrible idea."

"It would be taking us back to essentially where we were in 2003," Fletcher said. "I think it would be a disastrous step and ultimately lead to litigation in state or federal court to make sure this system is the constitutional duty of the state, not the counties."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State's shellfish waters closed over fears of contamination

ARKANSAS: AG McDaniel rejects health care ballot measure for second time

FLORIDA: Legislators consider allowing corporations to contribute to fund for private schools

KENTUCKY: U.S. Senate race heats up in both parties

LOUISIANA: Wildlife refuge in La. suffers spill of thousands of gallons of crude oil

MISSISSIPPI: Federal permission for state to cut Medicaid payments still pending

NORTH CAROLINA: Fight over state road-building funds leaves no one happy

SOUTH CAROLINA: Congressmen take questions from 400 business leaders on health care

TENNESSEE: Opinion: Should teens be on sex registry?

VIRGINIA: State lost 21,200 construction jobs over the last year

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4/1: Elusive Mississippians show distrust of census

New York Times: Elusive Mississippians show distrust of census

As the deadline for returning census forms hits today, the difficulty of getting
census forms returned is highlighted. In Mississippi's Issaquena County, only 21% of residents have returned their forms, compared with 52% nationally.

The county and entire Delta area is plagued by poverty and illiteracy. People misstrust census takers for a variety of reasons, including a belief that the government is trying to catch them doing something illegal like misrepresenting the number of people in their household, which could impact benefits such as food stamps.

In the last census, the numbers showed there was one person per 116-acres in Issaquena County.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Bill to end grocery tax hits state legislature

ARKANSAS: Researcher says state's way of identifying grade inflation is flawed

FLORIDA: Offshore oil drilling plan spares South Florida

GEORGIA: Study shows small soda taxes don't impact obesity

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear says more jobs are coming to the state

LOUISIANA: Black Caucus to fight lawsuit challenging health care reform law

MISSISSIPPI: Opinion: Budget -- Avoid 'irrational exuberance'

NORTH CAROLINA: Offshore oil drilling will include North Carolina coast

SOUTH CAROLINA: Senate approves 50-cent increase on cigarette tax

TENNESSEE: Tennessee Health Freedom Act passes key vote in legislature

VIRGINIA: State lags behind others in census response

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

3/24: New study shows cost of China trade to states

Atlanta Business Chronicle: New study shows cost of China trade to states

The report from the Economic Policy Institute shows the U.S. is bleeding millions of jobs as a result of the nation's growing trade deficit, primarily with China.

Since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, 2.4 million jobs have been lost or displaced in the U.S. as a result of the trade deficit with that nation, the report said. Georgia was among the hardest-hit states, losing 78,100 jobs over the seven-year period (2001-2008) covered by the EPI study.

In North Carolina, 95,100 jobs have been lost over the last decade, making it the second hardest-hit state in the nation.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State lawmakers begin working on budget

ARKANSAS: Review of foster care system in state complete

FLORIDA: Senate Bill 6 could hurt teaching profession in state

KENTUCKY: House panel approves superintendent evaluation bill

LOUISIANA: Health care reform could benefit Louisiana more than most states

MISSISSIPPI: State House drops plan for session hiatus

NORTH CAROLINA: State faces $65 billion shortfall for roads over next 20 years

SOUTH CAROLINA: Study shows SC's income tax among the weakest in nation

TENNESSEE: Meth use a big problem across Tennessee

VIRGINIA: Gov. McDonnell to sign legislation outlawing federal government's health care bill

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2/26: KY gets a 'C' for dental programs

KENTUCKY: State gets a 'C' for dental programs

The Pew Center On The States issued a report on the dental health of children across the nation, and Kentucky got a 'C' for meeting basic benchmarks on dental health.

"One in five U.S. children each year go without dental care, and states vary widely in their use of Medicaid and other programs for pediatric oral health," said researchers at Pew Center on the States. "A 50-state report card shows that just six states earned an A and that 36 states received a C or lower. Much of the problem is in rural areas."

The Pew analysis found four successful strategies states are using: "Preventive strategies such as school sealant programs and water fluoridation; expansion of Medicaid; workforce innovations that can expand the pool of providers; and tracking and analysis of data to measure and drive progress."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: High school graduation rates are rising, but still low

ARKANSAS: Lawmakers recess state's first-ever fiscal session

FLORIDA: Judge rules red-light camera tickets are illegal

GEORGIA: Spouses seek state's two highest offices

LOUISIANA: Some say Senate jobs bill unfairly favors Louisiana

MISSISSIPPI: Editorial: Mississippi school funding woes

NORTH CAROLINA: Distressed voters in state concerned about economy

SOUTH CAROLINA: Retirees now picking SC over NC, FL

TENNESSEE: University of Tennessee considers raising tuition rates for in-demand majors

VIRGINIA: State House passes budget that eliminates state arts commission

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2/25: Florida considered a 'growing gang capital'

FLORIDA: State is considered a 'growing gang capital'

There are an estimated 49,000 gang members living in Florida, making up 1,100 gangs.

South Florida has the most gang members at 19,685, with Palm Beach County considered a hotbed of gang activity.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Jerry Bailey says data sharing among different agencies and departments is helping bust more bad guys, but adds there is room for improvement.

"We're going to have to be able to talk better, to share more of the information, but the big thing is getting it all into a centralized database so that gang that's working today in Palm Beach County and tomorrow in Leon County, that we can better track their movements and their activities," says Bailey.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State has spent only 7% of $71.8 million stimulus package

ARKANSAS: Legislators prepare to cast final votes on spending plan today

GEORGIA: Pew Center study shows state's children need better dental care

KENTUCKY: Cockfighting supporters want the practice legalized

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal proposes bill to give colleges control over tuition

MISSISSIPPI: Budget battle enhanced by $14 million federal funds windfall

NORTH CAROLINA: Editorial: Governor's order might help create jobs

SOUTH CAROLINA: State House committee passes tobacco tax increase

TENNESSEE: State is ranked #2 in credit card debt

VIRGINIA: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield customers to see double-digit rate increases

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

2/24: Illegal immigrant numbers rise in the Southeast

AP: Illegal immigrant numbers rise in Southeast

A new federal report shows that Georgia had the greatest percentage increase among the 10 states with the biggest illegal immigrant populations during 2000-2009, with more than 480,000 immigrants noted during that period. In 1990, Georgia had just 35,000 illegal immigrants.

North Carolina is also one of the top 10 states for the sheer size of its illegal immigrant population, estimated at about 370,000 in January 2009 as compared to 260,000 in 2000, according to the report by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Immigration Statistics.

As recently as the 1980s, Southeastern states with the exception of Florida had very few immigrants, legal or illegal, Jeff Passel of the Pew Hispanic Center said. A recession in California in the early 1990s, and a ready supply of low-skilled jobs in other regions prompted immigrants to look elsewhere, especially the Southeast, Passel said.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Lawmakers consider ban on public release of 911 calls

ARKANSAS: International students boost state's economy by more than $23 million

FLORIDA: Supreme Court approves Florida's version of Miranda rights warnings

GEORGIA: Statewide campaign -- Exit 2 Text It -- aimed at teen motorists

KENTUCKY: Group rallies against payday lenders

LOUISIANA: State to get $77 million more in stimulus money for health care

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour gives President Obama advice -- 'jobs, jobs, jobs' should be priority

NORTH CAROLINA: State lags behind on disclosing hospital infections

SOUTH CAROLINA: State considers early release of 3,000 prisoners as way to save money

TENNESSEE: New biorefinery to convert wood products into diesel or jet fuel

VIRGINIA: Primary victims of state budget: Education and Medicaid

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2/9: States face big costs from winter snow

Wall Street Journal: States face big costs from winter snow

State and local governments along the East Coast are struggling to figure out how to pay the bills for snow cleanup. More snow is predicted today and tomorrow for Eastern U.S. states.

In Virginia, the state DOT had budgeted $79 million for snow removal in the fiscal year that ends in June, with a $25 million emergency fund on top of that. Officials estimated that both pools of money had already been spent even before this past weekend's storm.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Sen. Shelby releases holds on 70 Obama nominees

ARKANSAS: Senate, House split over campaign fundraising

FLORIDA: State's top economist says unemployment will peak this summer

GEORGIA: Gov. Perdue says teachers support merit pay

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear announces expansion of energy efficiency program

LOUISIANA: Opinion: Plan could kill jobs in Louisiana

MISSISSIPPI: Lawmakers consider allowing advertising in and on school buses

NORTH CAROLINA: Legislature to redraw district maps based on this year's census

SOUTH CAROLINA: Segregation prompted state's school building spree in the 1950s

TENNESSEE: Hospitals push for temporary tax to cover cuts to TennCare

VIRGINIA: Senate passes anti-discrimination bill for state workers

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

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

12/23: Census reports slow growth in states

USAToday: Census reports slow growth in states

New state population estimates show Louisiana added 40,563 residents, a 0.9% increase -- nearly to the population level before Hurricane Katrina.

In the South, Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina saw increases of 16% or more, and Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and Louisiana saw growth of under 10% as compared with population numbers recorded in 2000.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith announces he'll switch parties

ARKANSAS: Immigrant population expanding in state

FLORIDA: State leaders plan statewide conference on job creation

GEORGIA: Task force says Lake Lanier is Atlanta's best source for drinking water

KENTUCKY: State's Race to the Top program doesn't include charter schools

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal balances budget by cutting $248 million from state agencies

MISSISSIPPI: Special Gulf Coast census under consideration

NORTH CAROLINA: Sen. Kay Hagan defends health care bill tradeoffs

SOUTH CAROLINA: New poll says electorate is tired of Sanford drama

TENNESSEE: Attorney General to appeal the guns-in-bars decision

VIRGINIA: Incoming governor names Sean Connaughton as state's transportation secretary

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

11/16: Study shows FL at risk for fiscal calamity

Orlando Sentinel: Study shows Florida is at risk for fiscal calamity

Florida, with an economy built on rapid growth, is experiencing a worse slowdown in its economy than other states. A study last week by the Pew Center on the States identified Florida as one of the states at risk of fiscal calamity and cited its reliance on population growth as contributing to its economic woes.

"Florida's population is shrinking -- a disturbing trend for a state that has built its economy, and structured its state budget, on the assumption that throngs of new residents will move to its sunny shores each year," said the report.

However, what might seem like slow growth for Florida is still higher than in much of the rest of the nation, William Frey of The Brookings Institution said. Even if Florida growth slows to 2 percent a year, that's still twice the national average.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Study says state may not recover jobs until 2013

ARKANSAS: State gets research edge with tobacco funds

FLORIDA: Sink says state ban on gay adoption must go

GEORGIA: State House speaker says he tried to commit suicide

KENTUCKY: Anonymous online attacks seen in state's Senate race

LOUISIANA: Committee to consider lifting oyster moratorium

MISSISSIPPI: State BOE to vote on school accountability plan this week

NORTH CAROLINA: Fees at community colleges jump nearly three times over last year

SOUTH CAROLINA: Lawmakers consider new property tax rules

TENNESSEE: State's H1N1 immunization system is model for others

VIRGINIA: New leaders elected to state's Democratic House caucus

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

10/21: Surge in meth labs may change pharmacy offerings

Wall Street Journal: Surge in meth labs may change pharmacy offerings

State and federal lawmakers are considering copying an Oregon law requiring a prescription for many cold medications, a move opposed by major drug manufacturers.

Oregon's 2005 law requires a doctor's prescription for medicines with pseudoephedrine, a major component in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Federal laws in place now limit the amount of cold medicines that can be purchased at one time; the Oregon law goes further.

This issue will be interesting to watch, especially as we enter the cold and flu season.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State ranks sixth in nation for percentage of adults without health insurance after losing jobs

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe to cut $100 million from current fiscal year budget

FLORIDA: State may become first bagless state

GEORGIA: State workers put together class action suit against Georgia for raises

KENTUCKY: Study finds KY leads nation in rate of child abuse and neglect deaths

LOUISIANA: Interracial couple sues judge for refusing to marry them

MISSISSIPPI: Conference set for Friday on impact of public policies on low-to-middle class Mississippi families

NORTH CAROLINA: Solar energy rooftops to be launched by Duke Energy

SOUTH CAROLINA: Lawmakers say changes to unemployment system will have to wait

TENNESSEE: Legislative panel wants to reassert 'state sovereignty' over federal government's reach

VIRGINIA: State Supreme Court's drunk driving ruling blasted by U.S. Chief Justice

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

10/8: Homeowners with tainted Chinese drywall could lose insurance

Miami Herald: Homeowners with tainted Chinese drywall could lose insurance coverage

Chinese drywall is causing lots of problems, besides the rotten-egg smell and health issues that include troubled breathing, nosebleeds and headaches.

In Florida, many homeowners have filed claims with their home insurers to repair the drywall damage. That's turning out to be a dead end: Most property insurers are denying the claims because homeowners policies don't cover contamination or building material defects. But once an insurer knows there is drywall damage in a home, the existing damage could be the trigger for not renewing a policy unless repairs are made.

Thousands of homes in the nation are affected, as noted by The New York Times.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State gets $27 million in energy stimulus funds

ARKANSAS: European companies can give state good economic opportunities, says Gov. Beebe

GEORGIA: 80-member water 'contingencies' task force meets

KENTUCKY: State lawmakers want more info available to public on government spending

LOUISIANA: 35,800 new jobs forecast over next two years in Louisiana

MISSISSIPPI: Health care scorecard puts Mississippi at bottom of list

NORTH CAROLINA: State health plan will penalize smokers and the obese

SOUTH CAROLINA: Public hearing set for offshore wind energy

TENNESSEE: State ranks 39th in health care study

VIRGINIA: "Book club" gatherings a new campaigning trick for Deeds in governor's race

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

10/1: La., Miss. to get grants to add uninsured children to health plans

AP: More uninsured children to be added to La., Miss. health plans

Nearly $2.2 million will go to Louisiana and Mississippi agencies to help find uninsured children who are eligible for either of two programs and enroll them. The aim is to get the children into Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.

The grant money will cover a two year period, ending December 31, 2011.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Advocates for the poor say state's census figures are wrong

ARKANSAS: Police prepare to enforce new texting, cellphone-while-driving laws

FLORIDA: Home insurance rates could go up in Florida

GEORGIA: Federal judge rejects state's plan to fix mental hospitals

KENTUCKY: State gets grant to help create jobs

NORTH CAROLINA: Beginning today, it's illegal in NC not to recycle plastic bottles

SOUTH CAROLINA: Gov. Sanford doesn't want ethics report released

TENNESSEE: Number of uninsured could soar in state if health system not changed

VIRGINIA: Study shows high return on state's investment in higher education

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

9/17: Dixie Democrats key to labor bill

Southern Political Report: Hastings Wyman: Dixie Democrats key to labor bill

"The AFL-CIO and other unions began a major lobbying push earlier this month to pass the Employee Freedom of Choice Act (EFCA), which would make it easier for unions to organize non-union concerns. However, EFCA’s chief backer, US Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), has since told a union audience that the bill will not likely come up for a vote this year. The death of Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), who supported the measure, as well as the opposition of at least one Democratic senator -- Blanche Lincoln (AR) -- means that Harkin doesn’t have the 60 votes necessary to stop a filibuster against the measure.

"But even that is not a sure thing. On September 15, recently minted Democrat Arlen Specter (PA) told a national AFL-CIO meeting in Philadelphia that a compromise is in the works which will be “totally acceptable to labor” and will pass Congress before the year is out. The revised bill will reportedly omit the controversial “card check” provision which would allow unionization of a company without an actual election. If the card check is deleted, some wavering Democrats might decide to support the bill." More...

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Infant mortality rate declines during 2008 in Alabama

ARKANSAS: State's workers won't be affected by federal takeover of pension plans

FLORIDA: State criticized again for ignoring suggestions on fixing death penalty

GEORGIA: Tax breaks draw film industry to Georgia, boosting economy

KENTUCKY: 47 jobs eliminated by state judicial branch

LOUISIANA: Tom Baxter: It's no easy task, tackling corruption in New Orleans

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour defends budget cuts to statewide audience

NORTH CAROLINA: State educators to vote on immigrant policy

SOUTH CAROLINA: Report says state could gain jobs, revenue with offshore drilling

TENNESSEE: State AG fights misleading 'notario publico' ads aimed at Hispanics

VIRGINIA: Another 200 state workers face layoffs

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

9/16: Florida's health insurance program has no clients

St. Petersburg Times: Florida's health insurance program has no clients

Florida Health Choices, a program touted as a solution to the state's high rate of uninsured last year by the GOP House leaders, still has no insurers or businesses signed up.

A program created by Gov. Crist at the same time, "Cover Florida," has only 4,130 policies while the number of uninsured in the state has grown to 3.6 million.

These results mean neither Gov. Crist nor Marco Rubio, his opponent in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate, can use these programs as campaign fodder.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Poultry industry in Alabama closely watching trade battle with China

ARKANSAS: Problem gambler program sets up in state as lottery gears up for first day

GEORGIA: President Carter comments on Rep. Wilson's outburst: "(It's) based on racism"

KENTUCKY: Electric vehicles to be built in state by Global Green Cars

LOUISIANA: Federal health officials say state owes $362 million for Medicaid overpayments

MISSISSIPPI: Proposed $43 million program could create 4,800 jobs in state

NORTH CAROLINA: State expands foreclosure prevention program

SOUTH CAROLINA: Rep. Wilson's son defends dad's outburst

TENNESSEE: State solar project gets federal approval

VIRGINIA: Tax collections down 6.6% in August

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