1/19: The state of King's dream across the South

Southern Political Report: The state of King's dream across the South on MLK Day

"What was the “State of the Dream” on Martin Luther King Day 2010? With an African American in the White House, an especially celebratory mood might have been expected as the national holiday was celebrated across the South. Yet mixed with the joy and pride, there seemed to be a cautionary or even admonitory tone in some of the messages commemorating what would have been King’s 81^st birthday.

"In King’s own Atlanta, Dr. Cornel West of Princeton University, a celebrated author, glazed his social and political message with evangelical passion as he urged the congregation at Ebenezer Baptist Church not to molder MLK’s memory and legacy by relegating the slain civil rights leader to the status of a museum piece. He cited the continuing presence of social oppression as a reason to “correct” President Obama when and if he strays from the mission of helping blacks and disadvantaged people.

"--Several thousand marched at the South Carolina State House in Columbia. Speakers and marchers called for removal of the Confederate battle flag from the capitol grounds, and called for more help for Haitian earthquake victims. " (More)

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State senate considers $1 billion for roads

ARKANSAS: Four, soon maybe five, cities hold urban deer hunts

FLORIDA: Freeze results in at least a 30% crop loss in Florida

GEORGIA: Nearly 600,000 without jobs in Georgia

KENTUCKY: Kentucky Center for African-American Heritage set to open in 2011

LOUISIANA: Number of swine flu cases drops in state

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour wants more authority to make discretionary spending cuts

NORTH CAROLINA: State law requires taxes on illegal substances

SOUTH CAROLINA: Realtors launch media campaign for state tax change

TENNESSEE: Hospital in state to stop hiring employees who smoke

VIRGINIA: Pro- and anti-gun rallies held at State Capitol draw crowds

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

12/30: SPR: Where America really ranks in health care

Southern Political Report: Where America really ranks in health care and hospitals

A report by John Tures of LaGrange College on where the country ranks in health care and hospitals. An excerpt:

"The most cited data comes from the World Health Organization (WHO) which compares countries’ health systems. Data comes from preventable deaths, healthy life expectancy, health performance, and health expenditures, as a percentage of GDP over the last decade.

"Unfortunately, the USA doesn’t fare as we would like it to perform. It currently ranks 37^th in the world, out of 190 countries. France finished first, followed by Italy (2^nd), Spain (7^th), Japan (10^th), Norway (11^th), United Kingdom (18^th), Colombia (22^nd), Germany (25^th), Saudi Arabia (26 ^th), Canada (30^th), Australia (32^nd) and Costa Rica (36^th). We’re two spots ahead of Cuba."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Rep. Artur Davis faces unlikely critics in run for governor

ARKANSAS: New laws go into effect January 1

FLORIDA: Attorney General investigates legality of health insurance mandate

GEORGIA: State tallies cost of DUIs

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear says state budget outlook is far worse than expected

LOUISIANA: Regulation of greenhouse gases protested by Gov. Jindal

MISSISSIPPI: Third year of declining revenue could mean fewer state employees

NORTH CAROLINA: Smoking ban to begin Saturday

SOUTH CAROLINA: State lawmakers sued by residents with disabilities

TENNESSEE: Legislators may delay workers' compensation law

VIRGINIA: Gov.-elect McDonnell urges offshore drilling in state

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

11/30: Commentary on Electoral College and the South

Southern Political Report: John Tures: Electoral College is stacked against the South

"How many times have you heard that a candidate can't win the Electoral College without winning the South, only to find somebody prevails by only taking a handful of states below the Mason-Dixon Line? Well, you may be surprised to learn that the South is largely disenfranchised by the Electoral College. In layman's terms, Dixie is getting gypped out of a lot of votes in the Presidential Election.

"Most Southerners I talk to about the subject don't even realize what's happened. After all, they have some of the largest states in the Electoral College, like Texas (34), Florida (27), Georgia (15) and North Carolina (15). Take those four alone and you're about a third of the way to the White House."

(For more, click here)

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Editorial: Who will lead Alabama recovery?

ARKANSAS: State ranks 40th in overall health as smoking and obesity still problems

FLORIDA: 2009 hurricane season mild for Florida

GEORGIA: State takes more careful approach to public-private toll road planning

KENTUCKY: 'Sin taxes' bring in new revenue for some towns

LOUISIANA: Educators in New Orleans fight hunger in schools

MISSISSIPPI: Alliance built among Southern states to win federal tanker deal

NORTH CAROLINA: State officials see big increase in fake ID labs

SOUTH CAROLINA: A look at state trends in senior tax breaks

TENNESSEE: Lawmakers questioning state program allowing radioactive waste in landfills

VIRGINIA: State's new smoking ban begins December 1

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

11/24: South Atlantic households to spend less this holiday season

Atlanta Business Chronicle: South Atlantic states' residents to spend less this holiday season

A survey published by The Conference Board says states in the South Atlantic will spend an average of $346, while households in the nation as a whole will spend an average of $390. Last year, the national estimate was $418.

"Consumers are approaching the holiday season very cautiously," said Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, in a statement. "Job losses and uncertainty about the future are making for a very frugal shopper. Retailers will need to be quite creative to entice consumers to spend, both in stores and online this holiday season, as consumers most certainly will expect major markdowns and bargains."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Central Alabama high school students struggle to read

ARKANSAS: A look at Gov. Beebe's 'rising star'

FLORIDA: Coalition says pending federal pollution rules won't be worth the cost

GEORGIA: Outside second-hand smoking risks tested by UGA researchers

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear asked to halt executions until death penalty study is complete

LOUISIANA: State says dredged river sediment could be used to rebuild coast

MISSISSIPPI: State sets up new accountability system for all schools

NORTH CAROLINA: Leaky underground oil tanks a problem for the state

SOUTH CAROLINA: Hate crimes on the increase in South Carolina

TENNESSEE: State lawmakers seek delay of workers' comp bill

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine hasn't ruled out tax increases to deal with budget

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

11/10: SPR: 21st Century agenda in works for South

Southern Political Report: Tom Baxter: Group attempts to forge 21st Century agenda for region

"What kind of place do you want the South to be in 2020? That thought-provoking question was the subject which brought together more than 30 planners, politicians, academics and journalists – your humble scribe included – for a conference at Davidson College this past weekend by the Center for a Better South.

"The Center for a Better South is the grandchild of the LQC Lamar Society, which was founded in 1969 by a group of young Southern leaders, including former Mississippi Gov. William Winter, former North Carolina Sen. Terry Sanford, Alabama publisher H. Brandt Ayers and Mississippi writer Willie Morris, to forge a vision for a post-segregation South that would, as Sanford once put it, 'avoid making Northern mistakes in a Southern setting.'

"Proposing an agenda for the region took more courage 40 years ago took more courage than it does today, but arguably it has never been harder, in what the center’s president, Andy Brack, described as 'increasingly partisan and media-saturated world of small soundbites for big problems.'"

(Read more.)

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Editorial: Alabama needs a tougher ethics law and it needs to be enforced

ARKANSAS: Pedestrians in state face more danger than many

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist moves away from previous support of stimulus package

GEORGIA: Smoking ban in state extended to prisons

KENTUCKY: State Chamber says state workers should pay more for health insurance

LOUISIANA: State turns to 'career diplomas' to cut high school dropout rate

MISSISSIPPI: State considers textbook rental system at public universities

NORTH CAROLINA: State pays millions to for state vehicles to sit parked

SOUTH CAROLINA: Wind turbines could be 8 miles offshore in SC

TENNESSEE: Nashville the site of today's Tennessee Solar Symposium

VIRGINIA: Rep. Perriello defends 'yes' vote on health bill

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11/9: Health care plan passes House

New York Times: Health care plan passes House

Saturday night, the House narrowly passed a sweeping overhaul of the health care system in the U.S. The approved plan will cost $1.1 trillion over 10 years.

The new plan would end insurance company practices like not covering pre-existing conditions or dropping people when they become ill. It would also extend coverage to 36 million people not currently covered by insurance.

The Senate will look at the bill next.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: H. Brandt Ayers: South's cultural barriers

ARKANSAS: Cecil Cogburn: Spent fuel a valuable resource

FLORIDA: State may be next to consider medical marijuana

GEORGIA: State bans smoking in mental hospitals

KENTUCKY: One Kentucky vote helps pass health care bill

LOUISIANA: Research paper says 10% of Louisiana to be submerged by 2100

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour to wait until elections of 2010 to answer 2012 queries

NORTH CAROLINA: State begins Web site to help guide 'no smoking' transition

SOUTH CAROLINA: Sen. Lindsey Graham to work on climate change bill

TENNESSEE: Climate fight taken to Green Hills by Al Gore

VIRGINIA: State's transportation board to scale back projects

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