12/29: TN legislators want to expand community colleges' mission

TENNESSEE: State legislators want to expand community colleges' mission

Gov. Phil Bredesen is developing an overhaul of the state's education system that could mean more students will attend four-year community college programs.

Lawmakers will open debate next month on a plan meant to cut costs and bolster Tennessee's graduation rate by realigning how the state's two-year colleges and four-year universities work together.

The plan would shift some course work from public universities to community colleges while also making it easier for students to transfer credits between schools.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley publishes book touting life in the state

ARKANSAS: New iPhone application lists state's laws

FLORIDA: State Supreme Court orders statewide managed mediation program for glut of foreclosures

GEORGIA: One analyst's look at health reform costs in Georgia

KENTUCKY: Schools await new state standards

LOUISIANA: State's first-time jobless claims drop

MISSISSIPPI: 'Most religious' state is Mississippi

NORTH CAROLINA: State to compete for high-speed rail funding

SOUTH CAROLINA: Little clarity in race to replace Gov. Sanford

VIRGINIA: Drop in 7% noted in state's manufacturing jobs

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12/11: Climate policies as job creators

Center for American Progress: Stronger climate policies will create low-carbon jobs worldwide

From John Podesta, Saya Kitasei and Andrew Light:

"This week, delegates from 192 countries arrived in Copenhagen to move forward on the terms of a new international agreement on curbing carbon pollution. Nevertheless, many countries, including the United States, are under severe attack that the measures they are taking to address climate change cannot be justified while their economies remain weakened by the global recession. The International Labor Organization estimates that global unemployment in 2009 will increase by between 18 million and 50 million relative to 2007. Stimulating growth, reducing unemployment, and maintaining competitiveness have become top priorities around the world.

"Yet growing evidence suggests that investing in a low-carbon economy will not only reduce our dependence on fossil fuels but generate new economic opportunities. In fact, the global recession has increased the urgency of building new industries that can support new jobs and sustainable growth during the 21st century. Policymakers around the world have seized this opportunity, creating renewable energy and energy efficiency provisions in domestic stimulus bills and designing climate legislation to produce dividends in employment and economic growth." More

And in the South:

ALABAMA: State's public schools spend savings to keep doors open

ARKANSAS: Group of medical professionals looks at how state will adjust to Medicaid changes

FLORIDA: Editorial: High-speed rail is on fast track

GEORGIA: Environmentalists say state could do more in water conservation

KENTUCKY: State revenue is up for first time in eleven months

LOUISIANA: Dramatic drop in number of Louisiana smokers noted

MISSISSIPPI: Economist says education was a factor in sluggish state economy

NORTH CAROLINA: Editorial: Keep the reform train rolling

SOUTH CAROLINA: New study shows manufacturing still a mainstay of state's economy

TENNESSEE: Group renews effort to block Tennessee's foster-care law

VIRGINIA: Wind power turbines now allowed in one Virginia county

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