4/5: High school dropout 'epidemic' threatens AL's future

Montgomery Advertiser: Editorial: High school dropout 'epidemic' threatens state's future

"A health problem affecting 40% of a segment of the population certainly would qualify as an epidemic, so the use of that term is well justified in discussions of Alabama's disturbing high school dropout rate. The state's long-term well-being is decidedly threatened when such a large percentage of its students don't graduate from high school.

"That grim reality makes the recently released findings of the Alabama Select Commission on High School Graduation particularly important. The commission is chaired by state Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, who also was the sposnor of important legislation -- supported by this editorial page -- that raised the state's legal dropout age from 16 to 17.

"The fiscal cost of such a high dropout rate is staggering -- billions of dollars in lost income potential over the lifetimes of dropouts, with corresponding losses in tax revenue. But more importantly the human cost is incalculable, a terrible toll in stunted human potential, in lives far less productive and satisfying than they might have been." (More)

Also in the South:

ARKANSAS: Clean Energy potential of Arkansas explored at forum

FLORIDA: Debate prompted by legislature's merit-pay plan for teachers

GEORGIA: Study shows state's day care classrooms offer low-quality care

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear is expected to sign landmark autism bill

LOUISIANA: Cap-and-trade could unlock new reserves in state

MISSISSIPPI: Shortage of doctors in state about to get worse

NORTH CAROLINA: State's business taxes among lowest in the nation

SOUTH CAROLINA: Opinion: Will S.C. reapply for massive education grant?

TENNESSEE: Alcoa expands aluminum can recycling operation in East Tennessee

VIRGINIA: U.S. Rep. McHenry upset over anti-Census conservatives

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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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2/1: VA, MD want to trap pollutant-filled runoff

Washington Post: Virginia, Maryland want to trap pollutant-filled runoff in Chesapeake Bay

When rain falls on cities and suburbs in the Chesapeake Bay's watershed, it washes road grease, trash and pet waste into storm sewers and then into bay tributaries.

Virginia and Maryland want real estate developers to trap the runoff water, put it into grassy fields or gravelly pits and let it sink in naturally. Environmentalists are all for that idea. However, developers think new requirements set by the states are too tough -- and could backfire by encouraging sprawl.

In Virginia, former Gov. Kaine approved the new rules, but a state board has suspended them. A spokeswoman for Gov. McDonnell said on Friday that he will re-evaluate the issue. Maryland lawmakers haven't backed away from the idea as of yet. But developers are gearing up to lobby against the runoff rules.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State Senate moving slowly on bills -- none have passed yet

ARKANSAS: Legislative committee to consider lottery bill

FLORIDA: Hiaasen: Fast trains are cool...and very expensive

GEORGIA: Rules revolution in Georgia House

KENTUCKY: Governor's task force urges renewable energy requirement

LOUISIANA: State to pay CA firm $5.3 million to collect $460 million in back taxes

MISSISSIPPI: State senate committee considers reducing number of legislators

NORTH CAROLINA: State enforces gluten-free claims to cheers across the country

SOUTH CAROLINA: Senate uses parliamentary tactic on voter ID bill

TENNESSEE: State BOE approves Bible class for public schools

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9/11: States continue to streamline budgets

Stateline: States continue to streamline budgets

In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal this year created a new panel to address the question of where the state can find savings.

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has announced he would lay off 593 state employees, The Roanoke Times reported. Tens of thousands of other state workers will be forced to take an unpaid furlough day in May. The moves come as Kaine tries to address a $1.5 billion shortfall; it’s the fourth time in the current two-year budget cycle that the governor has had to resort to cuts in spending.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State drops high school graduation tests

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe says state can be major player in wind energy industry

FLORIDA: State's economic recovery lags behind other states

GEORGIA: Georgia Works program grows, acts as model for other states

KENTUCKY: Marijuana farming rebounds in tough economy

LOUISIANA: More Louisiana students test at the 'basic' level

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour announces initiative for small businesses

NORTH CAROLINA: Census report shows drop in poverty in state

SOUTH CAROLINA: Constituents comment on Rep. Wilson's outburst

TENNESSEE: State delays approval of megasite, but still supports project

VIRGINIA: Governor's race issues: Taxes, electricity rates

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