9/22: Climate conference opens at United Nations

New York Times: Climate conference opens at United Nations

Today, an unprecedented daylong conference on combating climate change is taking place at the United Nations and more than 100 heads of state are in attendance.

President Obama said the world “cannot allow the old divisions that have characterized the climate debate for so many years to block our progress. It is a journey that will require each of us to persevere through setback, and fight for every inch of progress, even when it comes in fits and starts." Mr. Obama said the world had been too slow to recognize the gathering danger from rising temperatures: “It is true of my own country as well; we recognize that.”

Mr. Obama said he was committed to the United States making its largest-ever investment in renewable energy, new standards for reducing pollution from vehicles and making clean energy profitable, among other initiatives.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Lawmakers struggle to keep college tuition program afloat

ARKANSAS: RNC chairman says his party must win over black voters

FLORIDA: Pari-mutuels, tracks seek special legislative session to boost revenue

GEORGIA: Gov. Perdue declares state of emergency in 17 counties over flooding

KENTUCKY: State gets a 'D' in financial security report

LOUISIANA: State to toughen stance on truancy

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Haley Barbour orders state funding cut from ACORN

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue forms panel to look at offshore energy -- oil, natural gas, wind

SOUTH CAROLINA: NAACP to boycott South Carolina for ninth year in a row

TENNESSEE: Megasite in West Tennessee plagued with political feuding

VIRGINIA: State's tax amnesty program launched with a smiley face

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9/11: States continue to streamline budgets

Stateline: States continue to streamline budgets

In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal this year created a new panel to address the question of where the state can find savings.

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has announced he would lay off 593 state employees, The Roanoke Times reported. Tens of thousands of other state workers will be forced to take an unpaid furlough day in May. The moves come as Kaine tries to address a $1.5 billion shortfall; it’s the fourth time in the current two-year budget cycle that the governor has had to resort to cuts in spending.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State drops high school graduation tests

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe says state can be major player in wind energy industry

FLORIDA: State's economic recovery lags behind other states

GEORGIA: Georgia Works program grows, acts as model for other states

KENTUCKY: Marijuana farming rebounds in tough economy

LOUISIANA: More Louisiana students test at the 'basic' level

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour announces initiative for small businesses

NORTH CAROLINA: Census report shows drop in poverty in state

SOUTH CAROLINA: Constituents comment on Rep. Wilson's outburst

TENNESSEE: State delays approval of megasite, but still supports project

VIRGINIA: Governor's race issues: Taxes, electricity rates

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