3/9: Census directs federal funds to states

Charlotte Observer: Census directs federal funds to states

A Brookings Institution study was designed to underscore the importance of ensuring an accurate count. "The hope is that it stimulates participation in the census, that people recognize that there's a connection between their participation and the amount of federal money and federally funded goods and services their community receives," said Andrew Reamer, the report's author.

The report found that North Carolina got $11.8 billion and South Carolina $5.5 billion. (See the report here.)

Most of the money - nearly 60 percent in North Carolina - went to health programs such as Medicaid. Housing, highways and education accounted for the next-largest allocations.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Editorial: Alabama takes hit in tanker decision

ARKANSAS: State BOE approves merging school districts

FLORIDA: Bill has teacher merit pay provision

GEORGIA: Lawmakers scramble to stop Hustler Magazine from getting slain hiker photos

KENTUCKY: Legislator wants cellphone, landline users to pay equally for 911 service

LOUISIANA: State to cut at-risk youth services

MISSISSIPPI: Voter ID to be on November 2011 ballot

NORTH CAROLINA: State hospital inspection data kept from the public

SOUTH CAROLINA: Three groups to get federal funds for renewable energy projects

TENNESSEE: State has huge financial stake in getting accurate Census count

VIRGINIA: Bills would increase financial incentives to companies moving into state

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

2/22: Governors meet in Washington

USA Today: Governors meet in Washington

The winter meeting of the National Governors Association is underway in Washington, and governors from both parties are seeking more financial help from President Obama and Congress. They also want more attention from Washington.

High unemployment in many states has driven down tax collections even as the costs of Medicaid, the joint federal-state health insurance program for low-income people, continue to skyrocket. Thirty-six states have been forced to cut $55.7 billion in fiscal year 2010, the report said, and states eliminated 18,000 jobs in January alone.

And, to add to the problem, 37 governorships -- currently, 19 Democrats and 18 Republicans -- will be decided in November's elections.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: No-bid clause part of electronic bingo bill in Alabama Senate

ARKANSAS: State's efforts on childhood obesity lauded by First Lady Obama

FLORIDA: Former House Speaker Ray Sansom resigns from legislature on Sunday

GEORGIA: Four-day school weeks get more interest from county BOEs

KENTUCKY: Number of uninsured in Kentucky rises sharply, acco. to survey

LOUISIANA: State's wetlands affected by Mississippi's dams along Missouri River

MISSISSIPPI: Editorial: Alabama, Mississippi need stronger voter ID law

NORTH CAROLINA: Opinion: Toward improving imperfect system

SOUTH CAROLINA: Bill seeks to cut corporate income tax

TENNESSEE: Agricultural tourism proves to be a boon for farmers, state

VIRGINIA: House and Senate adopt competing budget plans on Sunday

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

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

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

9/23: House votes to extend jobless benefits to 27 states

LOUISIANA: List of 27 states on House bill to get jobless benefit doesn't include LA

The House has voted to give the jobless in 27 states with unemployment topping 8.5% another 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits. The Senate is set to vote on a similar matter.

One of the 17 Democrats to vote against the bill, Rep. Charlie Melancon of Louisiana, said he did so because the unemployed in his state, with its lower unemployment rate, did not qualify. The jobless in neighboring Mississippi are eligible.

GOP Rep. Geoff Davis of Kentucky, one of the 27 states qualifying for the additional benefits, has a different take on the legislation, saying the need for the legislation was "yet another sign of the failure of this administration's stimulus plan to create jobs."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley offers deal in Medicaid dispute

ARKANSAS: First lottery ticket sale ceremony to be held

FLORIDA: PSC scandals and proposals on rate hikes draw scrutiny

GEORGIA: Assume floodwaters are contaminated, say health officials

KENTUCKY: Reports show most schools are making progress

MISSISSIPPI: Voter ID issue won't be on 2010 ballot, says secretary of state

NORTH CAROLINA: State gets a "D" grade on economy

SOUTH CAROLINA: 17.4% in the state lack health insurance

TENNESSEE: Opponents to guns-in-bars take issue to court

VIRGINIA: State to use federal funds to expand health care access

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

8/17: Reforestation proposed for Central Appalachia

Kentucky: 125 million tree program proposed for Appalachian mine sites

A group is proposing a massive reforestation plan to plant 125 million trees on Appalachia mine sites that were cleared or leveled and is seeking $422 million in federal funds for the project.

The goal is to put back trees on hundreds of thousands of acres where they once stood, but which coal companies reclaimed as grassland after surface mining over the last three decades.

The plan could boost the economy in one of the nation's most chronically poor areas, ultimately providing an estimated 2,000 jobs for forestry technicians, tree-planters, bulldozer operators and others, backers estimate. It could also improve water quality in streams, help soak up carbon dioxide and boost the economy by expanding the wood-products economy.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley signs occupational tax into law to benefit Jefferson County

ARKANSAS: 68 hospitals to become part of state's new trauma system

FLORIDA: Healthcare debate impacted by campaign donations from insurance companies

GEORGIA: Impact of water wars to be reach across the state

KENTUCKY: GOP Senate candidate Rand Paul predicts death of grandmothers under Obama's plan

LOUISIANA: State agencies cutting jobs, reducing work hours as budgets shrink

MISSISSIPPI: GOP spends time, money to push for voter ID on ballot

NORTH CAROLINA: Property rights took a hit this year in General Assembly

SOUTH CAROLINA: A look at how the GOP is doing in aftermath of Sanford affair

TENNESSEE: State's high-cost public insurance experiment fuels health care debate

VIRGINIA: UVA-UM study shows ancient slash-and-burn farming may have altered global climate

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