4/19: Simpler, smaller "one pot" meth labs found in LA

LOUISIANA: Simpler, smaller "one pot" meth labs found in Louisiana

Law enforcement officials say a new "one pot" method of manufacturing methamphetamine is springing up across the U.S. The smaller meth operations are not only reduced in size, these "cooking" facilities also require much less in the way of equipment, chemicals, and source material such as cold medicine.

Louisiana State Police Lt. Doug Cain said, "It can happen just about anywhere. In a hotel room, in an apartment, right in the middle of town, in somebody's car."

Cain said that the new method of cooking meth leaves behind toxic trash in addition to the risk of explosion. "If they're thrown out in the trash in an apartment building, or they're thrown into a neighborhood ditch, that causes problems for citizens in that area," he said.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Needs of some disabled persons not met by state programs

ARKANSAS: Unemployment rate continues to rise in state

FLORIDA: Former Governor Jeb Bush's influence seen in this legislative session

GEORGIA: State begins to sell assets, imperiling city, county governments

KENTUCKY: Both sides blame budget impasse on the other

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour backs VA Gov. McDonnell on 'Confederate History' declaration

NORTH CAROLINA: State AG won't challenge health care reform

SOUTH CAROLINA: WhatWorksSC looks at best ideas for South Carolina's schools

TENNESSEE: TN's coal ash transferred to Alabama site and causes health problems

VIRGINIA: Budget may cut public broadcasting funds

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3/30: TN wins "Race to the Top" education funds

Times-Free Press: Tennessee wins "Race to the Top" federal education funds

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said that the fact that every district in the state agreed to participate in "Race to the Top" is a big reason why Tennessee was awarded the $500 million for which officials applied.

Race to the Top is a federal competition designed to reward states for education reform. The $4.35 billion fund, which is part of President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, was announced about a year ago.

Georgia ranked third in the competition, but only had 23 of the state's 180 school districts signed on to participate.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey shows AL ranks 47th for 'legal climate'

ARKANSAS: State stays out of health-care fight, remembering 1957 events

FLORIDA: Appliance rebate program funds expected to run out in one day

GEORGIA: Tom Baxter: Minimalist Ga. governor going out with audacious bang?

KENTUCKY: Bill under consideration would increase income tax by 1%

LOUISIANA: Over 2,500 acres of wetlands restored and protected

MISSISSIPPI: State's meth lab busts for 2010 already surpass all of 2009

NORTH CAROLINA: Jobless rate in NC rises to 11.2%

SOUTH CAROLINA: Senators consider eliminating corporate income tax

VIRGINIA: Gov. McDonnell to launch aggressive campaign to reshape government

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

3/23: States consider reducing number of schools

Stateline: States consider reducing number of schools

In Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour has asked a blue-ribbon commission to come up with a plan for reducing the state’s number of school districts by a third. “If you picture a state with 82 counties and 152 school districts you start to see part of the problem,” says Dan Turner, a spokesman for Barbour. “This is both an educational opportunity and an economic necessity.” The governor’s office claims that the change will save $65 million, but acknowledges that as a “guesstimate.”

In Arkansas, school districts in many small towns include only one school, so district consolidation and school consolidation are often synonymous. Julie Thompson, director of communications for the state Department of Education, says that consolidation has helped provide students in some small towns with academic opportunities they wouldn’t have had otherwise. But she concedes there are serious problems. “Anecdotally, there have been administrative type savings, but it hasn’t always been easy,” she says. “There have been some very painful transitions that communities have gone through as school buildings have closed down. But it's the only way that they can afford to provide a quality education for their students.”

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Sen. Shelby says 'health care turned upside down'

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe says state will abide by health care reform

FLORIDA: "Fast train" will make five stops along 84-mile route

GEORGIA: Georgia Hospital Asso. reverses stance to support Gov. Perdue's tax proposal

KENTUCKY: Senate approves spending plan; House calls it a 'budget buster'

LOUISIANA: Report says federal funds for raising Katrina homes have been misused

MISSISSIPPI: Narcotics Task Force busts 21 meth labs in 8 days in Jackson County

NORTH CAROLINA: UNC study says NC could produce 100% of power from off-shore wind turbines

SOUTH CAROLINA: SC Student Loan Corp. to take a big hit with health care passage

TENNESSEE: State lawmakers look at costs of federal health care bill

VIRGINIA: State AG ready to challenge health care law

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3/5: Seven Southern states make finals for education fund

Wall Street Journal: Seven Southern states picked as finalists for education funds

The Obama administration has chosen 16 finalists for extra federal education funds. Included in the $4.35 billion Race to the Top competition are Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The administration defended the surprisingly large number of finalists, saying that all states whose applications cleared a pre-set score automatically advanced to the next round.

Independent evaluators have given especially high marks to three states on the list—Florida, Tennessee and Louisiana—for their accountability standards and for implementing systems to track student performance. All three have also pushed to expand the growth of charter schools, which are publicly funded but independently run.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Legislature overrides veto on TVA funds

ARKANSAS: Legislative session formally ends in Arkansas

FLORIDA: All state lawmakers to sign letter of objection to new NASA plan

GEORGIA: Gov. Perdue chides legislators over proposed college cuts

KENTUCKY: Jobless rate in state is highest in 26 years

LOUISIANA: Sen. Vitter wants probe into deaths of ten living with toxic Chinese drywall

MISSISSIPPI: Meth's huge toll on state will mean move to prescription pseudoephedrine

NORTH CAROLINA: Editorial: State shows signs of slipping

SOUTH CAROLINA: State has a problem with school dropouts

TENNESSEE: Opinion: Tennessee can't afford to opt out of health-care reform

VIRGINIA: Senate panel kills proposal on gun restrictions

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8/13: Anger continues at health care town hall meetings

New York Times: Anger continues at health care town hall meetings

Constituents worried about health care changes have peppered their legislators with questions and have emphasized their concern at town hall meetings. In Georgia, Sen. Johnny Isakson said at a meeting in Tifton, “The question is whether the government should make health care an entitlement and a right or should the government establish a level playing field for private providers.”

In South Carolina, U.S. Rep. John Spratt is being urged to hold a town hall meeting, even though he's recuperating from foot surgery. It may be a few weeks before he can host such a meeting, he says. North Carolina's Rep. Heath Shuler plans two tele-town halls, but no in-person town hall meetings this August. Alabama's Rep. John Tanner answered questions at a Rotary Club meeting; today, constituents plan to urge him to hold a town hall meeting.

Expect more meetings during the recess.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: House passes bill to extend unemployment compensation for 20 weeks

ARKANSAS: Economic competitiveness of state ranked at 12th best

FLORIDA: Opinion: Matt Towery: Vulnerable Crist may be GOP's test case

GEORGIA: State's colleges to furlough employees for six days

KENTUCKY: Cold medicine restriction may continue due to meth lab prevalence

LOUISIANA: Revised price-gouging protection laws go into effect August 15

MISSISSIPPI: State's higher education challenge -- budgets

NORTH CAROLINA: Older population in state to suffer most from budget cuts

SOUTH CAROLINA: State must deal with $200 million in budget cuts

TENNESSEE: State gets $22 million grant for charter schools

VIRGINIA: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deeds says he'll sign tax increase bill

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