2/11: Pew Center releases State of the States 2010

Stateline: Pew Center releases State of the States 2010

The State of the States 2010 report looks at the larger trends that have the potential to change state government in lasting ways. The report says that states still are working to find the bottom of a fiscal crisis prolonged by historic revenue drops, eye-popping budget deficits, double-digit unemployment in more than a dozen states and rising demands for social services.

The report could help inform choices made by policy makers and voters in the upcoming year.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: New report says more black students taking AP exams

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe's spending plan for upcoming year stalls in Senate

FLORIDA: Congressman promotes U.S. Senate campaign by sponsoring NASCAR vehicle

GEORGIA: "Suspicious" school test scores widespread across state

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear, three others defend Toyota

LOUISIANA: State says State Farm's 19% rate hike is 'unreasonable'

MISSISSIPPI: Legislature gives first OK to guns in parks, restaurants

NORTH CAROLINA: Foreclosures in state rose 32% from a year ago

SOUTH CAROLINA: Bill to give students healthier foods advances in legislature

TENNESSEE: Lawmaker pushes for juvenile sex offender registry

VIRGINIA: Gov. McDonnell wants state to have more charter schools

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

12/18: Louisiana ranks as the happiest state, says CDC

AP: Louisiana ranks as the happiest state, says CDC

A new study comparing self-described pleasant feelings with objective measures of good living found that those living in sunny, outdoorsy states generally have reason to feel fine.

The happiness ratings were based on a survey of 1.3 million people across the country by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It used data collected over four years that included a question asking people how satisfied they are with their lives.

Ranking No. 1 in happiness was Louisiana; however, one researcher urged a bit of caution in that ranking, noting that part of the happiness survey occurred before Hurricane Katrina struck the state, and part of it took place later. Nevertheless, he said, "We have no explicit reason to think there is a problem" with the ranking.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Cities, towns in Alabama see census as crucial for federal dollars, power

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe wants panel to gauge racial profiling problem in Arkansas

FLORIDA: Ausley considers dropping Senate bid and running for state CFO instead

GEORGIA: State to spend $42 million on fiber optic loop for rural Internet

KENTUCKY: State's unemployment rate drops to 10.6%

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour slams health reform bill

NORTH CAROLINA: Judge rules state's sex offender law unconstitutional

SOUTH CAROLINA: State economists say revenues are meeting expectations

TENNESSEE: Ethnic groups say 'white' isn't descriptive enough on census

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine to deliver budget news today

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

11/27: Some states sell or lease public buildings for budget-building

Stateline: Some states sell or lease public buildings for budget-boosting

While it's a quick way of raising cash, some say the strategy of selling or leasing public property is a short-term fix that delays making more difficult budget decisions.

Todd Haggerty, a National Conference of State Legislatures policy associate, said: “States are having to look at anything and everything to close these (budget) gaps. For the most part, easy decisions have already been made, so states are now looking at more difficult options.”

And in the South:

ALABAMA: Editorial: Alabama needs charter schools

ARKANSAS: State approves electric power rate increase

FLORIDA: Congressional primary rescheduled due to Passover conflict

GEORGIA: State is failing to make progress in lung cancer battle

KENTUCKY: Executions suspended by state's highest court

LOUISIANA: Public option on healthcare not likely in Louisiana, some say

MISSISSIPPI: State program aims to keep diabetics out of the hospital

NORTH CAROLINA: Proposed port has small town worried about traffic, noise

SOUTH CAROLINA: Tax-free 'Second Amendment' weekend likely to mean higher gun sales

TENNESSEE: Sex offender tracking gets trickier with wireless devices in use

VIRGINIA: Tobacco-rich Virginia goes smoke-free in restaurants Dec. 1

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

11/4: Stimulus funds used to give raises in some cases

New York Times: Stimulus funds used to give raises in some cases

Errors in the government's latest effort to track the effectiveness of the $787 billion stimulus plan are showing that funds were used not just to create or save jobs, but to fund raises or benefits for existing employees.

In Georgia, a nonprofit, the Southwest Georgia Community Action Counciil, reported saving 935 jobs -- however, there are only 508 people working there.

The latest stimulus report, released Friday, significantly overstates the number of jobs spared with money from programs serving families and children, mostly the Head Start preschool program. The report shows hundreds of the programs used nearly $323 million to provide pay raises and other benefits to their existing employees.

The raises themselves were appropriate -- the stimulus law set aside money for Head Start salary increases -- but converting that number into jobs proved difficult. The Obama administration told Head Start officials to consider a fraction of each employee as a job saved.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Tea Party rally scheduled for today in Huntsville

ARKANSAS: State's tax revenue is again less than expected

FLORIDA: Sex offender restrictions in state may be flawed, says analyst

GEORGIA: Why a white woman may win the Atlanta mayoral race

KENTUCKY: State should budget $64 million more a year for college aid, says study

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal says resignation of justice who refused interracial marriage 'long overdue'

MISSISSIPPI: More prison cuts planned for 2010 budget

NORTH CAROLINA: New rules proposed to help homeowners avoid foreclosure

SOUTH CAROLINA: Ten candidates in running for governor's post talk energy, environment

TENNESSEE: State departments face up to 9% cuts

VIRGINIA: Analyst says policies, not parties, key to GOP win in Virginia

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