12/3: FDIC report released on bank accounts

AP: FDIC report says South's households more likely to live without banks

Nationwide, of the 1.3 million households that stopped having bank accounts in 2008, more than 31 percent said they closed them because of overdraft fees, service charges or high minimum balance rules. A slightly larger group, 34.1 percent, said they did not have enough money to need an account, the report says.

As noted in Southern Political Report, the South has the highest percentage of households which don't have checking or saving accounts, and Mississippi has the highest percentage in the country with 16.4 percent, followed by Georgia and Alabama.

Instead of banks, those without accounts rely on pawn shops, checking services, payday loans or similar non-bank instruments to meet their financial needs.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Two insurers to cut property owners' Gulf Coast wind coverage

ARKANSAS: 10% of Arkansas households have no bank account

FLORIDA: Rail project is the subject of today's special legislative session

GEORGIA: Ethics complaint considered against House Speaker Richardson

KENTUCKY: State extends unemployment benefits

LOUISIANA: Reasons for farmers to support action against global warming

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour to announce more budget cuts on Thursday

NORTH CAROLINA: New fund created to invest in state businesses

SOUTH CAROLINA: Economists say state's recession will last through 2010

TENNESSEE: Another candidate drops out of governor's race

VIRGINIA: Three days left on tax amnesty

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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