3/16: TN bill on divorce draws national attention

The Tennessean: Bill on divorce would require equal custody of children

National attention is focused on a bill in Tennessee that would evenly split child custody in contentious divorce cases. Groups for and against the bill are divided along gender lines. On the one hand is a powerful alliance of women's groups, the Tennessee Bar Association, and some judges who say the change would make divorces harder to settle. On the other hand, fathers-rights groups say children are being deprived of full relationships with both parents, and this law could help that.

Observers say that, if the bill passes, Tennessee would become home of the most gender-neutral and revolutionary child custody law in the United States.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State court system to lay off more than 100 temporary employees

ARKANSAS: Appliance rebate program begins in state

FLORIDA: Legislature seeks property tax cuts, but this could cost local governments

GEORGIA: State lottery announces record profits for first half of 2010 budget year

KENTUCKY: U.S. Senate race includes stab at candidates with Duke degrees

LOUISIANA: Roads in Louisiana are worst in the nation, according to data

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour vetoes extension of wind pool bill

NORTH CAROLINA: State can't explain a 39% jump in 2008 cases of SIDS

SOUTH CAROLINA: Legislators use federal money to patch South Carolina's budget

VIRGINIA: A look at winners and losers in state budget talks

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

2/16: Urban, rural areas battle over prison population count

NPR: Urban, rural areas battle over who gets to count prison population in census

Prison inmates are counted as residents of the prisons where they are locked up, which can inflate the population of mostly white, rural towns with prisons. Activists say counting the prisoners in the census unfairly shifts political and economic power away from the poor, innercity areas where most inmates came from.

As reported last week in The New York Times, a number of states, including Florida, are considering legislation requiring that prisoners be counted at their last known address — for purposes of reapportionment, a change that would likely favor larger and mostly Democratic cities.

However, Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-Missouri), who is chairman of the census subcommittee, said the 2010 census “will again be counting incarcerated people as residents of the rural, predominantly white communities that contain prisons.”

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State Senate enters bingo battle -- to legalize or not

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe reports more than $1 million raised in January for campaign

FLORIDA: Editorial: Oil drilling could change Florida for the worse

GEORGIA: Gov. Perdue's plan to use lottery funds may be unconstitutional

KENTUCKY: New report shows Kentucky, Tennessee rank low in quality of life

LOUISIANA: Mardi Gras 2010 kicks off

MISSISSIPPI: State sees transition in farming from crops to tree farms

NORTH CAROLINA: Analysts say it'll be a tough election year for state Democrats

SOUTH CAROLINA: Naturalists worried about boom in feral hog population

TENNESSEE: Stimulus funds to pay for health information technology improvements

VIRGINIA: Lawmakers look to loosen firearm restrictions in state

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

2/10: Michelle Obama launches fight against childhood obesity

Washington Post: Michelle Obama launches fight against childhood obesity

First Lady Michelle Obama has released a national program to fight childhood obesity called "Let's Move!" The program will be backed by as much as $1 billion a year in federal funds for the next ten years.

At its core, the initiative has four pillars: more nutrition information, increased physical activity, easier access to healthy foods and, ultimately, personal responsibility. And, it has garnered bipartisan support.

Obama's initiative challenges the Food and Drug Administration to work with food and beverage producers, who have announced their support of Obama's proposals, to improve package labeling. And there will be a push to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act as a way of improving school meals.

It's something all states should get behind, especially those in traditionall overweight Southern states.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State to help laid-off casino workers even though casinos are illegal

ARKANSAS: House approves no-raise expenses bill

FLORIDA: Citrus growers lost 7.4 million boxes of fruit from freeze, agency says

GEORGIA: State has $1 billion in unclaimed funds

KENTUCKY: State to be the first to endorse new national education standards

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal says he won't raise state taxes

MISSISSIPPI: State Senate approves charter school plan

NORTH CAROLINA: Probe into private flights extended to all 2008 and 2004 gubernatorial candidates

SOUTH CAROLINA: Senate approves property tax break

TENNESSEE: Lottery sales surge with two new games available

VIRGINIA: Del. Cole wants to criminalize involuntary implantation of human microchips

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

2/3: Food hardship report: Poverty up in South

Examiner: Food hardship report shows increase in poverty in South

Ten of the eleven states the ThinkSouth blog covers are suffering the highest rates of hunger in America -- Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and Georgia.

Mississippi, the state with the highest incidence of food hardships report, saw their numbers increase when children under the age of 18 were factored into the statistics. Mississippi households without children held a hunger rating of 22.5 percent while Mississippi households with children held a hunger rating of 33.8 percent.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State Senate fails to pass $1 billion road construction bill

ARKANSAS: Counselors see increase in gambling addictions in Arkansas

FLORIDA: Including illegal immigrants in census count becomes an issue in Senate race

GEORGIA: PSC wants refund for taxpayers from abandoned Yucca Mtn. nuclear waste project

KENTUCKY: State highway plan could cost $11 billion from 2010-2016

LOUISIANA: Coastal restoration funds in President Obama's proposed 2011 budget

MISSISSIPPI: Commentary: Odds stacked against state lottery

NORTH CAROLINA: State has exhausted ability to borrow money according to new report

SOUTH CAROLINA: Study links port expansion to health problems

TENNESSEE: Nursing home care in state ranks very low

VIRGINIA: Under Gov. McDonnell, death penalty likely to expand

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

2/1: VA, MD want to trap pollutant-filled runoff

Washington Post: Virginia, Maryland want to trap pollutant-filled runoff in Chesapeake Bay

When rain falls on cities and suburbs in the Chesapeake Bay's watershed, it washes road grease, trash and pet waste into storm sewers and then into bay tributaries.

Virginia and Maryland want real estate developers to trap the runoff water, put it into grassy fields or gravelly pits and let it sink in naturally. Environmentalists are all for that idea. However, developers think new requirements set by the states are too tough -- and could backfire by encouraging sprawl.

In Virginia, former Gov. Kaine approved the new rules, but a state board has suspended them. A spokeswoman for Gov. McDonnell said on Friday that he will re-evaluate the issue. Maryland lawmakers haven't backed away from the idea as of yet. But developers are gearing up to lobby against the runoff rules.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State Senate moving slowly on bills -- none have passed yet

ARKANSAS: Legislative committee to consider lottery bill

FLORIDA: Hiaasen: Fast trains are cool...and very expensive

GEORGIA: Rules revolution in Georgia House

KENTUCKY: Governor's task force urges renewable energy requirement

LOUISIANA: State to pay CA firm $5.3 million to collect $460 million in back taxes

MISSISSIPPI: State senate committee considers reducing number of legislators

NORTH CAROLINA: State enforces gluten-free claims to cheers across the country

SOUTH CAROLINA: Senate uses parliamentary tactic on voter ID bill

TENNESSEE: State BOE approves Bible class for public schools

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

1/20: States upset over health care reform

Stateline: States upset over health care reform

State leaders are concerned that the health care overhaul will put more costs on already overburdened state budgets. Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen said he was “'moderately outraged” at the inconsistent treatment states could receive under the bill, according to the Nashville Business Journal. Bredesen, a former health care executive, estimated the Medicaid expansion could cost his state as much as $1.2 billion over five years at a time when the state is looking at a $1.5-billion budget gap.

Gov. Bob Riley of Alabama said the Nebraska deal “reeks to me of legalized bribery,” according to the Montgomery Advertiser, while attorneys general in more than a dozen states have threatened to sue, arguing the preferential treatment is unconstitutional.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: House passes ban on texting while driving

ARKANSAS: Legislators react to discrimination claim on lottery distribution

FLORIDA: New standards for tattoo industry to be taken up by legislators

GEORGIA: State's coastal aquifers could provide more water than currently provided

KENTUCKY: Ten Commandments back on wall of Kentucky courthouse

LOUISIANA: Casino revenue down 15.8% in December

MISSISSIPPI: State House wants governor to tap rainy-day and stimulus fund to balance budget

NORTH CAROLINA: State GOP leaders plan to block parts of health care bill

SOUTH CAROLINA: Legislators set to approve commercial property tax relief today

TENNESSEE: Gov. Bredesen wants to tie college funding to graduation rates

VIRGINIA: Gov. McDonnell outlines bold economic plan

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

1/5: States prepare for more belt-tightening

USA Today: States prepare for more belt-tightening

A USA Today survey shows that states across the nation are beginning the year facing tough budget shortfalls -- and this could mean additional service cuts, layoffs, furloughs, and an increase in fees.

In Georgia, legislators will debate cuts of about $1.3 billion, says state Sen. Jack Hill, appropriations committee chairman. "We won't have any money to spend for a long time," he says.

And in Virginia, legislators return Jan. 13 to deal with a shortfall estimated to reach $3.5 billion over two years. "We're hoping 2012 might be ... better in terms of revenue performance," says Betsey Daley, Senate Finance Committee staff director.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Commentary on proposed changes to state's paid tuition contracts

ARKANSAS: Medical marijuana proposal rejected by AG in Arkansas

FLORIDA: Freeze could harm state's citrus crop

GEORGIA: New forms of cyber stalking hard to prosecute

KENTUCKY: Legislators convene today; budget to be a top issue

LOUISIANA: Unemployment claims drop in Louisiana

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour says state will lead the nation in new technology

NORTH CAROLINA: State could soon offer Mega Millions tickets

SOUTH CAROLINA: State Supreme Court refuses to suspend cuts to disabled

TENNESSEE: Gov. Bredesen 'surprised' teachers' union balking at proposals

VIRGINIA: Gov.-elect McDonnell faces transportation quandry

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

12/9: Climate change in Ky. could bring poverty or growth

KENTUCKY: Experts say climate change could bring poverty or growth to Kentucky

A group of state and national experts met at the Kentucky Science & Technology Corp.'s climate change conference and said that the state could move toward increased poverty or see an opportunity for growth depending on the speed and direction of climate change.

If the weather changes, the energy costs could rise and coal industry could dry up. Or, if there's limited climate change, the state could benefit by gaining businesses that other states lose if the state beefs up education and infrastructure.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Bipartisan group wants further study of state's 2-year college system

ARKANSAS: In 71 days, lottery generates $25 million for scholarships

FLORIDA: Senate approves Tri-Rail funding plan by 27-10

GEORGIA: Green-building measure for Atlanta on hold for now

LOUISIANA: Editorial: Teamwork on coastal restoration

MISSISSIPPI: Next state health officer to face Ky. challenges: Obesity, heart disease, cancer

NORTH CAROLINA: Medical malpractice reports now available online

SOUTH CAROLINA: Public meeting on racial profiling to be held in Columbia

TENNESSEE: Obesity and diabetes rates go up in Tennessee counties

VIRGINIA: Governor-elect McDonnell doesn't want any tax hikes

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

12/7: Rendering a more balanced state tax structure

Statehouse Report: Andy Brack: Rendering a more balanced state tax structure

"With a quarter of the state’s population jobless, underemployed or fed up looking for work, a pretty good case can be made that if the state of South Carolina wants to move past the recession, it needs to seriously rethink its priorities.

"Instead of continuing to do things the same ways they’ve always been done, now might be the best time to shake things up a little. Perhaps it is time to focus more on underfunded areas that, if funded better, could generate real rewards."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Jobless hotline in state swamped with calls

ARKANSAS: State to get lottery vending machines in Spring 2010

FLORIDA: House lawmakers to vote on commuter rail today

GEORGIA: Spread of hemlock woolly adelgid worries Georgia foresters

KENTUCKY: State to adopt protocol for death row executions

LOUISIANA: Analysis: Gov. Jindal quiet on Medicaid fix he sought

MISSISSIPPI: Three cities legalize Sunday alcohol sales

NORTH CAROLINA: State Chamber of Commerce talks taxes with state policy makers

SOUTH CAROLINA: Five reasons why Sanford may remain state's governor

TENNESSEE: State improves on ranking of healthy states, moving from 48th to 44th

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine proposes expanding health benefits to partners

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

10/20: States track stimulus funds

Stateline: States track stimulus funds

The first big test of states’ oversight efforts comes this October when they must file the initial quarterly reports with the federal government on how they have spent those funds.

The federal law doesn’t require states to name point people or spell out their duties. But the Obama administration, which has czars for health care, energy, illegal drugs and even for cities, has asked states to name “implementation czars” to keep an eye on their share of the federal stimulus package. Governors are free to tap whomever they want for the post—if anyone at all. Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland and Texas have opted not to name a person.

An interactive map names the czars and websites for each state.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Rep. Artur Davis calls for rewrite of state constitution

ARKANSAS: State lottery repays $2.8 million loan to state

FLORIDA: State's senators talk about high speed rail

GEORGIA: State wants more training for daycare workers

KENTUCKY: Report puts price tag on pollution from coal plants

LOUISIANA: Graduation rates among La. high school students falls most

MISSISSIPPI: Opinion: State dilemma: Tax hike or more cuts?

NORTH CAROLINA: State's residents upset over plan to free inmates

SOUTH CAROLINA: Lawmakers to reconvene to discuss jobless benefits

TENNESSEE: Sen. Lamar Alexander, former secretary of education, pushes for 3-year college degrees

VIRGINIA: Candidates for Lt. Gov. embroiled in heated debate

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

9/14: House prepares to vote on rebuking Sen. Wilson of S.C.

New York Times: House prepares to vote on rebuking Sen. Wilson

The House is planning to vote on admonishing Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina for his commentary during President Obama's speech last week. On Sunday, Rep. Wilson said he would not apologize for heckling the president during his speech, which prompted Democrats to introduce a resolution formally holding Mr. Wilson in violation of House rules. Despite not wanting to give Mr. Wilson more attention, Democrats feel it's important to hold Mr. Wilson accountable for his remarks.

Republicans will be asked to rebuke Mr. Wilson, who has become a hero in conservative circles and among angry anti-Obama voters that the GOP is now aggressively courting. Voting with Democrats to rebuke their colleague could turn off those conservatives. However, most Republicans have also agreed that Mr. Wilson went beyond the bounds of acceptable behavior on the House floor and balking at the resolution could put them in the position of condoning his behavior.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: New state budgets likely to be cut from 4.5% to 10%

ARKANSAS: Lottery machines being installed statewide

FLORIDA: Taxpayers are funding security tab for politicians who visit Florida

GEORGIA: State sets up swine flu vaccine plan

KENTUCKY: Travel expenditures by legislature under scrutiny

LOUISIANA: Sen. Landrieu holds key position in health care reform

MISSISSIPPI: State GOP needs more signatures for voter ID ballot initiative

NORTH CAROLINA: A look at where the stimulus funds are going in the state

SOUTH CAROLINA: Sen. Graham says public option on health care is dead

TENNESSEE: Federal stimulus funds fuel weatherization projects

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine says state's largest conservation easement is complete

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