4/8: New poll released on top states likely to add jobs

Morris News Service: New poll released on top states likely to add jobs

A report issued by the American Legislative Exchange Council puts four of the South's states in the top ten states most likely to grow jobs. Florida ranked 5th, Virginia ranked 8th, Georgia ranked 9th, and Tennessee ranked 10th.

Economist Arthur Laffer compared each state on 15 factors. Georgia fared in the middle of the pack when it comes to worker's compensation costs, property taxes and the top rate for personal income taxes. Its sales-tax burden as a share of personal income ranked in the bottom third.

One note: South Carolina, which currently is ranked 31st, could catapult toward the top of the list if state legislative efforts to eliminate the state income tax pass.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Editorial: An epidemic in Alabama

ARKANSAS: Parents get public school option under state law

FLORIDA: Legislature to take up gambling, education bills

GEORGIA: State sees big jump in number of Medicaid and food stamp applications

KENTUCKY: Mining officials in the state examine safety measures

LOUISIANA: University faculty, students question raising tuition

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour approves bill requiring quick records response

NORTH CAROLINA: Pollen rate hits 9,632 grains per cubic meter in Winston-Salem

SOUTH CAROLINA: Some S.C. politicians aim to take lead on knocking out health care reform

TENNESSEE: State drops about 100,000 from Medicaid rolls

VIRGINIA: Gov. McDonnell amends Confederate history proclamation to include slavery

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3/31: Redistricting to result from census

Stateline: Redistricting to result from census

Texas is expected to pick up three congressional seats when the census is finalized. Other states that are expected to pick up a seat in Congress and play a primary role in redrawing districts include Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina and Utah. Arizona and Washington are slated to pick up at least one new congressional seat, but these states use commissions to draw new lines.

The Constitution leaves it up to the state to determine the method it wants to use for redistricting. In all but about a dozen states, state legislators and governors play key roles in the process, while commissions are in charge in the other states.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: House passes Education Trust Fund budget

ARKANSAS: State agency threatened by new student loan law

FLORIDA: Massive protest aimed at education bill under consideration in FL legislature

GEORGIA: State to consider selling property surplus to save $230 million over five years

KENTUCKY: State wants to improve its chances on Race to the Top round two

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal tells legislators: "We will not raise taxes"

MISSISSIPPI: State tightens rules on release of mentally ill acquitted of crime

NORTH CAROLINA: State's poultry farms to increase

SOUTH CAROLINA: Debate over cigarette tax to begin today in legislature

TENNESSEE: House committee's surprise move ends attempt to ban mountaintop mining

VIRGINIA: President Obama to allow gas and oil drilling off VA coast

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1/8: New smog limits could be challenging for NC, US

News & Observer: New smog limits could be challenging for NC, US

Much of North Carolina would flunk the federal pollution standards in a nationwide proposal Thursday to require tougher limits on smog. The federal Environmental Protection Agency's new limits are the strictest so far.

The new standards will put hundreds of counties across the nation out of compliance and force local officials to find creative new ways to squeeze more pollution reductions from transportation, heavy industry and residents.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Opinion: How Alabama can meet justice needs

ARKANSAS: Schools in state scramble for federal money

FLORIDA: South Florida schools face mid-year budget crisis

GEORGIA: Homeowners in state could lose $13 billion in property values in next two years

KENTUCKY: New mining procedures to cut down on dumping of coal waste

LOUISIANA: Much of New Orleans area to be out of compliance with new EPA ozone standards

MISSISSIPPI: State denies Allstate's bid to raise insurance rates by 65%

SOUTH CAROLINA: State legislature says cigarette tax is likely this year

TENNESSEE: Legislative agenda's top issues: budget cuts, education

VIRGINIA: State tightens rules on car-title lending

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