3/3: FL spends nearly $10 billion a year on food-borne illnesses

Tampa Tribune: Florida spends nearly $10 billion a year on food-borne illnesses

A nationwide review on contaminated food has been released today by the Produce Safety Project, an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts. In the U.S., food-borne illnesses such as e. Coli and salmonella cost the nation $152 billion a year. Florida's portion of that is nearly $10 billion, representing 4.9 million people. The average cost of treating a patient with a food-borne illness is $1,984, the second-highest in the nation.

This report comes as the U.S. Senate considers legislation that would require more government inspections of food manufacturers and give the FDA new authority to order recalls, among other things.

"The takeaway message from the report is that this estimate demonstrates that food-borne illness is a serious burden to our society," said Sandra Eskin, director of Pew's food safety campaign.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State Senate votes 19-16 in favor of legalizing electronic bingo

ARKANSAS: State officials say sexual assault claims are under-reported

GEORGIA: Poll says voters prefer increased tobacco tax over cuts in education

KENTUCKY: U.S. Sen. Bunning backs down from blockade on unemployment benefits

LOUISIANA: Glitch keeps state out of 17-state education alliance to improve graduation rates

MISSISSIPPI: Residents upset over prospect of no Saturday postal service

NORTH CAROLINA: Long standing school diversity policy voted down in Wake County

SOUTH CAROLINA: State's electric co-ops to study most cost-effective home energy solutions

TENNESSEE: State gets new reputation as a leader in education reform

VIRGINIA: House budget would cut 19 judgeships

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

12/15: Environmentalists target soft toilet paper

Tennessean: Environmentalists target soft toilet paper

Environmentalists say the super-soft toilet paper pushed by manufacturers like Kimberly-Clark and Procter & Gamble are anti-green. Greenpeace, the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental groups are urging these companies to stop using wood from virgin forests to make tissue products. But, even as Americans say they support green initiatives, they also say in surveys that they don't want to sacrifice comfort.

Darby Hoover, a senior resource specialist with the Natural Resources Defense Council, understands the pressure of customer demand but wonders: Do we really need toilet paper to be as soft as it can be or do we need it just soft enough? Other countries — particularly in South America, Africa and Asia — seem to be OK with "soft enough."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Lawmakers say state can't maintain retirees' benefits as they are

ARKANSAS: Judge allows non-religious display at Arkansas Capitol

FLORIDA: Federal grant may mean up to $700 million to Florida schools

GEORGIA: Tri-state water talks begin today between Georgia, Florida and Alabama governors

KENTUCKY: State has highest cancer death rate in the nation

LOUISIANA: State serves as a model in teacher assessment under new initiative

MISSISSIPPI: Food stamp program in state shows big increase in participation

NORTH CAROLINA: Commentary: Should an atheist councilman in NC be allowed to serve public office?

SOUTH CAROLINA: Racial health disparities outlined in South Carolina report

TENNESSEE: State's judges often judged in secret by judicial officials

VIRGINIA: Group says increase in gas tax could help solve budget problem

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