11/11: The Dixie Diet

Like the Dew: The Dixie Diet

A look at prison spending on inmate food -- Some state prisons spend between $1.13 and $1.75 a day. In Tennessee, U.S. District Judge Todd Campbell heard more than five days of testimony, during which inmates stepped on scales in the courtroom to document their weight, with one inmate losing 100 pounds in the 19 months he was incarcerated.

In Alabama, there's a law that allows sheriffs to decide how much of their budgets will go to feed county inmates; they get to pocket the rest. In Georgia, prisoners don't get lunch on the weekends or on Fridays.

What will it take to change this system?

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gubernatorial candidates Davis, Sparks split on health care bill

ARKANSAS: Poll shows Southerners worried about job loss and the economy

FLORIDA: Decision on energy-conservation goals delayed by PSC

GEORGIA: Number of homeless veterans in Georgia is down

KENTUCKY: State lags behind in protecting date-violence victims

LOUISIANA: State sets 2010 taxable wage base

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour says budget could have 'dramatic' restructuring

NORTH CAROLINA: Goldsboro school sells test points for $20 as fundraiser

SOUTH CAROLINA: Judge rules "I Believe" license plates unconstitutional

TENNESSEE: Green energy projects urged by Gov. Bredesen

VIRGINIA: State spent 74% more money in most recent budget due to inflation, population growth

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