2/17: States withhold funds from municipal gov'ts

Stateline: States withhold funds to cities, counties across nation

As budget shortfalls continue to make headlines, some states are withholding funds owed to municipal governments as a way to balance state books.

In North Carolina, about 7% of the proceeds from the state's corporate income tax had routinely been transferred to local governments for school capital costs, but starting this year, legislatorss decided to put that money -- about $125 million over two years -- towards the state's budget
deficit.

The withholding of funds is not without protest -- in some states, including Florida, lawsuits have been filed to get the funds reinstated.

It's an interesting situation to watch.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State Senate committee to vote on Gov. Riley's charter school plan

ARKANSAS: State lawmakers want more control over Medicaid program cuts

FLORIDA: State panel debates plastic bag ban, but offers no answer

GEORGIA: Nuclear reactors in Georgia to get $8.3 billon federal loan guarantee

KENTUCKY: State's economy could get boost from underused Earned Income Tax Credit

LOUISIANA: State prison system sues death row inmates to stall lethal injection lawsuit

MISSISSIPPI: 'Personhood' initiative filed to get abortion issue on statewide ballot

NORTH CAROLINA: State education officials change minds about altering history curriculum

SOUTH CAROLINA: Landfill in S.C. to store dangerous chemicals from Pickens County river

TENNESSEE: White Nose Syndrome blamed for deaths of Tennessee bats

VIRGINIA: In private, Gov. McDonnell pushes for deeper budget cuts of more than $1 billion

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

12/21: EPA pushes farmers to use coal waste on fields

New York Times: EPA pushes farmers to use coal waste on fields

A synthetic gypsum created as a waste product from coal-fired power plants is being pushed by the EPA as a field enhancer - as a fertilizer and soil loosener. The EPA says the synthetic gypsum, which contains mercury, arsenic, lead and other heavy metals, has levels of toxins too low to cause any threat to crops, surface water or humans.

However, some environmentalists say not enough is known about how the material, called flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGD gypsum), affects crops and human health.

Currently, FGD gypsum is widely used in the South as a less expensive alternative to mined gypsum, said Glen Harris, a soil scientist at the University of Georgia's Tifton campus. Farmers in states such as Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas have long spread mined gypsum on their fields, where its calcium spurs the growth of peanuts.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Alabama Education Association opposes State BOE's charter school push

ARKANSAS: Sen. Lincoln says health care reform bill would cover more than 400,000 uninsured residents

FLORIDA: South Florida seniors concerned about proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage

GEORGIA: New state mental health agency now must cut budget, programs

KENTUCKY: Many in Eastern Kentucky without power following winter storm

LOUISIANA: Health care debate shows Louisiana politicians have much at stake

MISSISSIPPI: Opinion: Task force: Best way of improving state's quality of life is education

NORTH CAROLINA: New landfill gas-to-energy plant opens in Durham

SOUTH CAROLINA: Jobless rate in S.C. reaches new high of 12.3%

TENNESSEE: Control of Congress may be in Tennessee's hands

VIRGINIA: Rep. Scott's Prison Reform Act aims to change cruel prison conditions

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

11/30: Commentary on Electoral College and the South

Southern Political Report: John Tures: Electoral College is stacked against the South

"How many times have you heard that a candidate can't win the Electoral College without winning the South, only to find somebody prevails by only taking a handful of states below the Mason-Dixon Line? Well, you may be surprised to learn that the South is largely disenfranchised by the Electoral College. In layman's terms, Dixie is getting gypped out of a lot of votes in the Presidential Election.

"Most Southerners I talk to about the subject don't even realize what's happened. After all, they have some of the largest states in the Electoral College, like Texas (34), Florida (27), Georgia (15) and North Carolina (15). Take those four alone and you're about a third of the way to the White House."

(For more, click here)

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Editorial: Who will lead Alabama recovery?

ARKANSAS: State ranks 40th in overall health as smoking and obesity still problems

FLORIDA: 2009 hurricane season mild for Florida

GEORGIA: State takes more careful approach to public-private toll road planning

KENTUCKY: 'Sin taxes' bring in new revenue for some towns

LOUISIANA: Educators in New Orleans fight hunger in schools

MISSISSIPPI: Alliance built among Southern states to win federal tanker deal

NORTH CAROLINA: State officials see big increase in fake ID labs

SOUTH CAROLINA: A look at state trends in senior tax breaks

TENNESSEE: Lawmakers questioning state program allowing radioactive waste in landfills

VIRGINIA: State's new smoking ban begins December 1

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