4/21: In bad home market, buying often now beats renting

New York Times: In bad home market, buying often now beats renting

For most of the last decade, renting a home has been a better financial move than buying one. An analysis by the New York Times provides a "rent ratio" comparison -- the purchase price of a house divided by the annual cost of renting a similar one. Using the number 20 as a basis point, a number above 20 points to renting; a ratio well below 20 is considered a good indication of when to buy.

In many metro areas, including Atlanta and areas of south Florida, the average ratio is now 16 or lower, compared with 25 a few years ago. Take a look at some of the cities here. (Note that in North Carolina's Charlotte and Raleigh, the basis is over 25, pointing to renting as a better deal, while Atlanta is ranked 14.9)

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Electronic bingo bill passage still unclear in Alabama

ARKANSAS: Desegregation agreement discussed by attorney general, school leaders

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist to run as independent for Florida Senate

GEORGIA: State Senate preserves arts council funding

KENTUCKY: State launches project to exchange health information electronically

LOUISIANA: State has second-highest auto fatality rate in the nation

MISSISSIPPI: Universities in state to take a $100 million budget cut

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue says legislators have to cut another 2% from budget

SOUTH CAROLINA: Legislators to talk about offshore drilling

TENNESSEE: Bill would ban guns in bars, but not in restaurants

VIRGINIA: Gov. McDonnell expects battle over cutting spending for troubled kids

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

11/6: U.S. unemployment rate hits 10.2%

New York Times: U.S. unemployment rate hits 10.2%

The unemployment rate is at its highest rate in 26 years. The rate, which measures the number of people actively seeking work, continues to climb, and economists do not foresee relief until well into next year.

“There’s no doubt that the slashing and burning of jobs has abated quite a lot,” said Allen L. Sinai, the founder of Decision Economics, a research firm. “The economy is recovering, but it is a very soft recovery.”

The biggest losses came in the construction, manufacturing and retailing sectors. In anticipation of this report, Congress voted Thursday to extend benefits for jobless workers for up to 20 weeks.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State benefits from Kia's Georgia plant as 3,600 jobs go to Alabamans

ARKANSAS: Looking at Arkansas politics for 2010

FLORIDA: State's plan to tear down highway toll plazas comes with alternative pay proposal

GEORGIA: Prescription drug deaths continue to rise in Georgia

KENTUCKY: State gets $350,000 in federal energy grants

LOUISIANA: Senate kills Sen. Vitter's census proposal on way to redraw Congressional maps

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour wants more authority to make deeper budget cuts

NORTH CAROLINA: Lawmakers consider special session to deal with inmate issue

SOUTH CAROLINA: Simulated photos released of what offshore wind turbines would look like

TENNESSEE: 2009 public schools report card shows mixed bag of 'grades'

VIRGINIA: State Supreme Court upholds multistate power line plan

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

11/3: EPA considers new coal ash rules

The Tennessean: EPA considers new coal ash rules

The Environmental Protection Agency is considering new rules for coal ash disposal: If it's wet, it would be considered hazardous; if it's dry, it would be considered non-hazardous if moved to a dry landfill.

However, some environmentalists viewed the new option included in the General Accountability Office report as a potential loophole that would allow industry to avoid regulation.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State ranks seventh in the nation for business climate

ARKANSAS: Per capita income up in Arkansas to 46th in nation

FLORIDA: Symposium experts say offshore drilling poses little risk to coast

GEORGIA: Congressional hearing held on state's bank failures, foreclosures

KENTUCKY: State increases number of children in public health programs

LOUISIANA: Costs of Medicaid now over $300 million in state

MISSISSIPPI: Lawmakers consider ATV safety regulations

NORTH CAROLINA: Golden LEAF foundation criticized in state audit

SOUTH CAROLINA: Rise in college costs could make higher ed unaffordable for SC residents

VIRGINIA: Voters to pick state's next governor today

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

10/27: Survey shows where those without health insurance live

New York Times: Survey shows where those without health insurance live

The Census Bureau conducted a survey last year to find out where those without health insurance live. It was the first survey of its kind.

Red state residents (especially low-income Democrats) are less likely to have health insurance, and more likely to have legislators unwilling to provide it. A chart details coverage by state, showing red states -- like Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and South Carolina -- have low rates of health coverage for all age groups. This chart considers a "red state" one that voted for John McCain for president and with representation by two Republican senators; a "blue state" is one that voted predominantly for Barack Obama with representation by two Democratic senators.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State delays H1N1 vaccines given by school clinics to after Thanksgiving

ARKANSAS: Broadband access across state to be mapped by Connect Arkansas

FLORIDA: State House split over offshore drilling

GEORGIA: Georgia delegation to talk water with Florida, Alabama leaders

KENTUCKY: Opinion: Brad Luttrell: Coal issues need balanced debate

LOUISIANA: This is final week for state's 'tax amnesty' program

MISSISSIPPI: Chevron reports molten sulfur leak into Bayou Casotte

NORTH CAROLINA: Federal investigation of former Gov. Easley begins

SOUTH CAROLINA: State's graduation rate is near bottom in new report

TENNESSEE: Sen. Alexander calls climate change bill a 'job killer'

VIRGINIA: Serious gang crime down, but a rise in middle school offenses has officials concerned

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

10/12: Some states not spending school stimulus funds correctly

NPR: Inspector General says states are not spending school stimulus funds as intended

The Department of Education's Inspector General is taking issue with how states are using school stimulus funds -- instead of boosting funding for schools and colleges and protecting key programs and jobs, some states are using the money to replace what was cut from their education budget.

According to Jon Shure of the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 25 states have cut funding for K-12 education, and 34 have cut higher-education funding. Shure says that the stimulus has covered no more than 30 percent of states' budget shortfalls.

"States are facing such a severe crisis that a lot of the federal money is just helping states stay even and avoid further budget cuts," Shure says.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Some churches begin pushing for recycling, environmental stewardship

ARKANSAS: Historic preservation boosts state's economy

FLORIDA: Senate Majority Leader denies conflict of interest with lobbyist wife on offshore drilling

GEORGIA: Recession hard on homeless shelters, services for the poor

KENTUCKY: State Sen. Joey Pendleton says time is right to legalize industrial hemp

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal straddling health care politics

MISSISSIPPI: Group wants stronger animal cruelty laws in state

NORTH CAROLINA: Legislators to revamp tax system

SOUTH CAROLINA: New study shows growing domestic violence problem in state

TENNESSEE: Two legislative oversight committees are back on task

VIRGINIA: Debate between gubernatorial candidates is tonight

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

9/21: Europeans fear U.S. lacks political will on climate change

New York Times: Europeans fear U.S. lacks political will on climate change

Climate talks are to begin this week at the United Nations, and Europeans are expressing little hope that the U.S. Senate will act on a climate bill before the Copenhagen talks begin in December.

European leaders say the American reluctance to accept any agreement that would require legally binding and internationally enforceable targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could doom the Copenhagen session.

And, inaction in the Senate limits the flexibility of the U.S.'s chief climate negotiator, Todd Stern.

The Copenhagen meeting is in three months.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: New 911 technology could be tested in Alabama

ARKANSAS: Jobless rate falls to 7.1% in state

FLORIDA: Offshore drilling to be pushed again by Florida Energy Associates

GEORGIA: Brutal attack could result in renewed call for hate crime law in Georgia

KENTUCKY: Student test results to be released Wednesday

LOUISIANA: River Bend nuclear power reactor is shut down

MISSISSIPPI: Work begins on state budget

NORTH CAROLINA: State tries new public health insurance program

SOUTH CAROLINA: Immigrants make up 4% of state's population

TENNESSEE: State lawmakers want resolution on highway bill

VIRGINIA: State announces sales tax holiday for appliances

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