3/15: Stroke belt study points to greater risks for black men

The Tennessean: Stroke belt study points to greater risks for black men

The stroke belt -- Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina -- is highlighted in a new study, "Reasons for Geographic and Racial Difference in Stroke." The study shows that certain groups, including blacks, are at greater risks for health problems such as abnormal heart rhythms or high blood pressure.

For people in the stroke belt, there's a greater risk for a stroke, up to 50 percent greater if they're lifelong residents. And black men are 60 percent less likely to know they are at risk of stroke and 75 percent less likely to be treated for the risks.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Budget becomes priority as legislative session winds down

ARKANSAS: Eleven candidates and incumbent vie for U.S. Senate seat

FLORIDA: Bill would tie teachers' wages to student performance instead of tenure

GEORGIA: State schools superintendent wants to raise lottery ticket price to benefit schools

KENTUCKY: Costs of state's weak public education system are increasing

LOUISIANA: Opinion: Smart tactic: Tax tobacco

MISSISSIPPI: Animal cruelty bill fails in House

NORTH CAROLINA: Textiles find new niche in state's economy

SOUTH CAROLINA: Budget for next year may be 'bloodbath'

TENNESSEE: 120,000 in state have Alzheimer's disease, says Alzheimer's Association

VIRGINIA: A look at Gov. McDonnell's first legislative session

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

1/15: NC, VA consider privatizing liquor sales

Stateline: North Carolina, Virginia consider privatizing liquor stores

North Carolina and Virginia (and Washington) are considering eliminating state-run liquor stores, turning over the sale of booze to the private sector. Currrently, nineteen states control their liquor sales.

Virginia's Gov.-elect McDonnell, who will be sworn in as the state's governor on Saturday (Jan. 16), made privatization of the state’s 300 liquor stores a central theme of his winning campaign last fall. He said it would raise about $500 million in one-time money for transportation, but critics say it will never pass the General Assembly because the state would have to give up about $100 million a year in revenue that helps pay for public schools, human services, prisons and other services.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Legislature rejects plan to furlough state workers

ARKANSAS: State official says Medicaid could face big deficit in 2012

FLORIDA: State sets new foreclosure record in 2009

GEORGIA: Gov. Perdue wants regional sales tax to pay for transportation

KENTUCKY: House Speaker Stumbo favors rollback of sales tax

LOUISIANA: State's education system gets a C grade from Quality Counts

MISSISSIPPI: Recovery in Mississippi to be slower, harder says Economic Outlook 2010

NORTH CAROLINA: State law doesn't address freed sex offenders

SOUTH CAROLINA: State Dept. of Natural Resources faces budget crisis, plans layoffs

TENNESSEE: House may act today on teacher tenure legislation

VIRGINIA: Opinion: For Virginia politicians, is a Southern accent a bad thing?

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

12/17: Tainted, toxic -- but legal -- tap water

New York Times: Tainted, toxic -- but legal -- tap water

A 35-year old federal law regulating tap water is very out-of-date -- and scientists say that what Americans are drinking from the tap can pose serious health risks, but still be legal in the eyes of the government. Only 91 contaminants are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, yet there are more than 60,000 chemicals used in the U.S. which can find their way into the drinking water.

A study found that various contaminants were often associated with increased incidents of disease. However, that research — like all large-scale studies of human illnesses — sometimes cannot definitively say that chemicals in drinking water were the sole cause of disease.

Take a look at water quality, state-by-state. This may drive filter sales.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State's 2011 education funding request considered 'unrealistic'

ARKANSAS: State enacts tougher penalties for animal abusers

FLORIDA: Rail bill signed by Gov. Crist

GEORGIA: V. P. Biden to announce funds for high-speed internet to rural areas

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear bans text messaging by workers driving state-owned vehicles

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal's office to push legislation to give board of ethics appeal power

MISSISSIPPI: Lawmakers say fees may spike, not taxes

NORTH CAROLINA: State is #1 in number of certified teachers for 14th year in a row

SOUTH CAROLINA: House panel votes down Sanford impeachment plan

TENNESSEE: State leaders and advocacy groups participate in Copenhagen climate conference

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine may renew car tax debate

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