4/27: Florida is No. 1 in mortgage fraud

St. Petersburg Times: Florida is No. 1 in mortgage fraud

Florida is the No. 1 state in mortgage fraud, a position it has held for four years in a row. An annual ranking by the Mortgage Asset Research Institute showed that the state has close to three times the expected amount of reported loan fraud and misrepresentation.

The failure to stop Florida's epidemic of mortgage fraud imperils the state's already weak economy.

Georgia ranks 8th in mortgage fraud for the second year in a row.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Venture capital funding lags in Alabama, South

ARKANSAS: State is at the top in broadband competition

GEORGIA: State environmental groups want bill on new water rules to pass

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear vetoes bill giving General Assembly oversight over more gov't contracts

LOUISIANA: Fragile coastal wetlands threatened by oil spill

MISSISSIPPI: CDC says Mississippi needs stronger anti-tobacco regulations

NORTH CAROLINA: State to distribute radiation-fighting pills to 120,000 living near nuclear plant

SOUTH CAROLINA: Editorial: 50 cents is the least we can do

TENNESSEE: Voter registration dispute leads to TBI investigation, legislature battle

VIRGINIA: Moose lodges in Virginia raided for illegal video gambling

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

3/18: Report says most power plants still emitting toxic mercury

McClatchy: Report says most power plants still emitting toxic mercury

The nonpartisan Environmental Integrity Project reported that 10 plants with the highest amount of mercury emitted are in Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Alabama, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Alabama has one of the top five highest mercury emitting plants in the U.S., and Arkansas has two plants, ranked 32nd and 33rd on the list.

Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury pollution, generating more than 40 percent of U.S. emissions. Mercury released into the air settles in rivers and lakes, where it moves through the food chain to the fish that people eat.

Mercury exposure can harm the brain development of infants and children. Each year more than 300,000 babies may have an increased risk of learning disabilities as a result of exposure to mercury before birth, the report said.

Also in the South:

ARKANSAS: Attorney General rejects proposals on recall, term limits

FLORIDA: Lawmakers seek tax breaks, fee cuts despite budget shortfall

GEORGIA: State's unemployment rate hits record high of 10.5%

KENTUCKY: Senate passes bill to block some drug offenders from buying cold medications

LOUISIANA: State officials make pitch to get federal school funding

MISSISSIPPI: State prison to stop segregating HIV-positive inmates

NORTH CAROLINA: A look at state guidelines on government e-mails

SOUTH CAROLINA: House approves 30-cent tobacco tax increase

TENNESSEE: State senate votes to approve fish, birds in barbershops

VIRGINIA: AG's office confirms state will sue over health care

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

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

3/3: FL spends nearly $10 billion a year on food-borne illnesses

Tampa Tribune: Florida spends nearly $10 billion a year on food-borne illnesses

A nationwide review on contaminated food has been released today by the Produce Safety Project, an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts. In the U.S., food-borne illnesses such as e. Coli and salmonella cost the nation $152 billion a year. Florida's portion of that is nearly $10 billion, representing 4.9 million people. The average cost of treating a patient with a food-borne illness is $1,984, the second-highest in the nation.

This report comes as the U.S. Senate considers legislation that would require more government inspections of food manufacturers and give the FDA new authority to order recalls, among other things.

"The takeaway message from the report is that this estimate demonstrates that food-borne illness is a serious burden to our society," said Sandra Eskin, director of Pew's food safety campaign.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State Senate votes 19-16 in favor of legalizing electronic bingo

ARKANSAS: State officials say sexual assault claims are under-reported

GEORGIA: Poll says voters prefer increased tobacco tax over cuts in education

KENTUCKY: U.S. Sen. Bunning backs down from blockade on unemployment benefits

LOUISIANA: Glitch keeps state out of 17-state education alliance to improve graduation rates

MISSISSIPPI: Residents upset over prospect of no Saturday postal service

NORTH CAROLINA: Long standing school diversity policy voted down in Wake County

SOUTH CAROLINA: State's electric co-ops to study most cost-effective home energy solutions

TENNESSEE: State gets new reputation as a leader in education reform

VIRGINIA: House budget would cut 19 judgeships

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

2/25: Florida considered a 'growing gang capital'

FLORIDA: State is considered a 'growing gang capital'

There are an estimated 49,000 gang members living in Florida, making up 1,100 gangs.

South Florida has the most gang members at 19,685, with Palm Beach County considered a hotbed of gang activity.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Jerry Bailey says data sharing among different agencies and departments is helping bust more bad guys, but adds there is room for improvement.

"We're going to have to be able to talk better, to share more of the information, but the big thing is getting it all into a centralized database so that gang that's working today in Palm Beach County and tomorrow in Leon County, that we can better track their movements and their activities," says Bailey.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State has spent only 7% of $71.8 million stimulus package

ARKANSAS: Legislators prepare to cast final votes on spending plan today

GEORGIA: Pew Center study shows state's children need better dental care

KENTUCKY: Cockfighting supporters want the practice legalized

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal proposes bill to give colleges control over tuition

MISSISSIPPI: Budget battle enhanced by $14 million federal funds windfall

NORTH CAROLINA: Editorial: Governor's order might help create jobs

SOUTH CAROLINA: State House committee passes tobacco tax increase

TENNESSEE: State is ranked #2 in credit card debt

VIRGINIA: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield customers to see double-digit rate increases

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

1/12: Southern states fail at discouraging tobacco use

Reuters: Southern states fail at discouraging tobacco use

The American Lung Association has issued a state-by-state report that grades federal and state governments on cigarette taxes, laws banning smoking in the workplace and elsewhere, tobacco prevention and control efforts, and programs to help smokers quit.

Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia received all failing marks. None of the 50 states excelled in all areas. However, the ALA gave the government credit for giving the FDA the power to regulate tobacco, and credited Congress for more than doubling the federal per-pack cigarette tax, from 39 cents to $1.01 per pack.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Conservation leaders want state to extend land preservation program

ARKANSAS: Gov. Beebe to cut budget another $106 million

FLORIDA: State considers reinstating $44 million back-to-school tax break

GEORGIA: New speaker promises to bring renewal to the 'people's House'

KENTUCKY: Federal judge upholds tough restrictions on tobacco advertising

LOUISIANA: Adult education to bear brunt of State DOE cuts

MISSISSIPPI: Underachieving schools studied by legislative task force

NORTH CAROLINA: State still failing when it comes to tobacco control

SOUTH CAROLINA: State NAACP wants more accurate census count this year

TENNESSEE: Skeptical legislators want more detail on Gov. Bredesen's education bill

VIRGINIA: State ranks among the worst for highway safety

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

11/27: Some states sell or lease public buildings for budget-building

Stateline: Some states sell or lease public buildings for budget-boosting

While it's a quick way of raising cash, some say the strategy of selling or leasing public property is a short-term fix that delays making more difficult budget decisions.

Todd Haggerty, a National Conference of State Legislatures policy associate, said: “States are having to look at anything and everything to close these (budget) gaps. For the most part, easy decisions have already been made, so states are now looking at more difficult options.”

And in the South:

ALABAMA: Editorial: Alabama needs charter schools

ARKANSAS: State approves electric power rate increase

FLORIDA: Congressional primary rescheduled due to Passover conflict

GEORGIA: State is failing to make progress in lung cancer battle

KENTUCKY: Executions suspended by state's highest court

LOUISIANA: Public option on healthcare not likely in Louisiana, some say

MISSISSIPPI: State program aims to keep diabetics out of the hospital

NORTH CAROLINA: Proposed port has small town worried about traffic, noise

SOUTH CAROLINA: Tax-free 'Second Amendment' weekend likely to mean higher gun sales

TENNESSEE: Sex offender tracking gets trickier with wireless devices in use

VIRGINIA: Tobacco-rich Virginia goes smoke-free in restaurants Dec. 1

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

9/8: Florida GOP chairman reverses course on Obama's speech

Washington Post: Florida GOP chairman reverses course on Obama's speech

The speech that President Obama will give to school children today at 1 p.m. has generated a lot of news.

After last week's comments from Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer, who accused the president of trying to "indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda," the actual reading of the remarks elicited a different response. Greer said he'll now let his children watch. "It's a good speech," Greer said Monday. "It encourages kids to stay in school and the importance of education, and I think that's what a president should do."

Some schools will be showing the speech live, while others will record it and show it at another time -- or not at all.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley heads to Europe to recruit businesses

ARKANSAS: State lawmakers taking a look at prison after incidents

FLORIDA: New tax on tobacco results in lower sales of cigarettes

GEORGIA: Budget cuts mean cases piling up in state's courts

KENTUCKY: Global Green Cars to build electric vehicle plant in Kentucky

LOUISIANA: Economist says state's shrimpers face 'fight of their lives'

MISSISSIPPI: AG Jim Hood challenges Gov. Barbour on partial vetoes

NORTH CAROLINA: Outer Banks Ocean Energy Corp. wants to build offshore wind farm

SOUTH CAROLINA: State's lawmakers staking out key roles in the health care debate

TENNESSEE: Solar farm project waiting on federal approval

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine says state employees must take one furlough day

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