News from across the Region

• (GA) Student testing not make-or-break with state's No Child Left Behind waiver The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• (AL) Diverting money from education fund won't hurt students, state finance director says The Huntsville Times
• (GA) Ga. to spend $3.6M on recruiting rural educators The Athens Banner Herald
• (NC) Mooresville’s Shining Example (It’s Not Just About the Laptops) The New York Times
• (NC) Data Tools Aim to Predict Student Performance Education Week
• (FL) It’s Gov. Rick Scott vs. state officials in effort to raise tuition rates The Palm Beach Post
• (KY) Kentucky bill for charter schools stalls The Louisville Courier-Journal
• (VA) Senate spikes McDonnell's teacher-contract overhaul The Richmond Times-Dispatch
• (TN) Tenn. Gov. Haslam gets pushback on plan to change rules on classroom size The Chattanooga Times-Free Press
• (LA) Jindal backing ‘trigger’ law for La. schools The Baton Rouge Advocate
• (VA) Va. House budget plan has $140M more for schools The Virginian Pilot
• (KY House approves bill to raise dropout age to 18 The Lexington Herald-Leader
• (MO) Missouri Supreme Court to consider school transfer case on Wednesday The Columbia Missourian
• (FL) Fewer dollars flowing into statewide school repairs fund The Miami Herald
• (FL) Battle lines drawn in Tallahassee over push for prayer in schools The Palm Beach Post
• (SC) Panel: Education progress stagnant, change needed The Columbia State
• (FL) Florida graduation rate plunges under new federal rules The Orlando Sentinel
• (TN) Class size, testing worry Middle TN teachers The Tennessean
• (VA) McDonnell's education agenda advancing The Richmond Times-Dispatch
• (WV) Bills advance to increase state's teacher pool The Charleston Gazette
• (KY) Dropout-age bills advance, but key issues still uncertain The Bowling Green Daily New
• (KY) Educators discuss pros, cons of charter schools The Louisville Courier-Journal
• (VA) Va. House passes bill making teachers easier to fire The Virginian-Pilot
• (TX) Central Texas districts vary on handling of new end-of-course exams The Austin American-Statesman
• (TX) Seeking Money, Texas Schools Turn to Advertisements The New York Times
• (MO) Bill to break up KC school district passes Missouri Senate committee The Kansas City Star
• (US) Home-schooling demographics change, expand USA Today
• (US) Leak Offers Glimpse of Campaign Against Climate Science The New York Times
• (SC) Charter schools fear pension exclusion The Charleston Post and Courier
• (TN) Haslam loses Republican support on class-size bill The Tennessean
• (GA) Scholarship donations returned to Ga. taxpayers The Athens Banner-Herald
• (US) Bills Prod Schools to Hold Back Third-Graders The Wall Street Journal
• (GA) Black Caucus proposes HOPE changes The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• (US) Colleges looking beyond the lecture The Washington Post
• (KY) UK program helps first-generation college students The Louisville Courier-Journal
• (TN) Student loan group suffers harsh audit The Tennessean
• (FL) Senate budget would have FAU, other universities, dig into reserves The Palm Beach Post
• (MO) MU gets $5.5 million gift The Jefferson City News-Tribune
• (LA) Jindal backs easing TOPS rules for veterans The Baton Rouge Advocate
• (TN) Donations to TN colleges fell 5 percent in 2011 The Tennessean
• (TN) Debt toll is rising for TN college students The Tennessean
• (FL) State colleges fear they're becoming unaffordable The South Florida Sun-Sentinel
• (MO) Missouri Senate endorses college transfer credit bill The Columbia Missourian
• (TX) To boost grant funding, UT may opt for tobacco-free campus The Austin American-Statesman
• (NC) UNC Board of Governors votes today on average 8.8% tuition hike The Raleign News and Observer
• (US) Groups target textbook prices to rein in college costs USA Today
• (SC) Money crunch may force changes at SC State The Columbia State
• (TX) UT Regents Vote to Revamp Review Process for Professors The Texas Tribune
• Broad Changes Ahead as NCLB Waivers Roll Out Education Week
• $5 Billion in Grants Offered to Revisit Teacher Policies The New York Times
• Obama to Propose Community College Aid The New York Times
• Obama College-Cost Plan Aims to Go Beyond Access Education Week
• Money Urged for Colleges to Perform Job Training The New York Times
• On-base schools under review for cuts in Kentucky The Louisville Courier-Journal
• Obama Budget Touts Selective Boosts in Ed. Funding Education Week
• Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Say The New York Times
• New analysis makes case for higher ranking for U.S. schools USA Today
• Wealthy Colleges See Spike In Fundraising National Public Radio
• Preschool Assessments: A Look Across the States Education Week
• (AZ) Bill aims to censor Ariz. teachers' speech USA Today
• (CA) Hold On To Your Tuba: Brass Bandits Hit L.A. Schools National Public Radio’s All Things Considered
• Beekeeping bill keeps moving in Senate after League of Cities drops its stinger The Florida Current
• Requests triple for well permits in Georgia Atlanta Business Chronicle
• Smaller Texas herds means better pay for Georgia beef producers The Athens Banner Herald
• Missouri animal measures spurred by compromise The Jefferson City News Tribune
• White House to honor MCNC leader The Raleigh News and Observer
• Senate considering bill regulating ownership of exotic animals The Charleston Daily Mail
• Will there be a 2012 Farm Bill? Ag Policy Pennings
• House subcommittee votes to kill Sunday hunting The Virginian-Pilot
• Spending cuts trump farm subsidies for many voters The Columbia State
• Insurance cuts would hit farmers Agriculture Online
• FCC derails LightSquared’s plan Brownfield Network
• Ohio announces new Director of Agriculture Brownfield Network
• Strong starting salaries in ag related fields Brownfield Network
• Iowa bill to allow raw milk sales takes first step Brownfield Network
• MILC payments may start-up again Brownfield Network
• EDF says cuts to conservation could be costly Brownfield Network
• Producers facing elimination of direct payments Delta Farm Press
• Local wineries boosting US economy Western Farm Press
• Glyphosate reliance recoils on US agriculture Western Farm Press
• Ethanol industry urges tax extensions in farm bill Western Farm Press
• Environmental groups end RFS challenge Western Farm Press
• U.S., EU agree to organic trade partnership Southeast Farm Press
• Ag economist: Farm bill unlikely this year Southeast Farm Press
• Kentucky farmers, Extension, state police partner for safer roads Southeast Farm Press
• Ex-legislator Flider to get top Illinois agriculture post The Peoria Journal-Star
• Florida only state in US with an official chef The Associated Press
• ID: Senate Committee Passes Animal Cruelty Bill The Magic Valley Times-News
• Feral swine invade New Mexico farm and rangeland, threaten agriculture Southwest Farm Press
• Rumors Swirl of a Big U.S. Corn Sale to China The Wall Street Journal
• Man destined to lead China insists on return to rural Iowa The Sydney Morning Herald
• Rural loophole curbing Pennsylvania pipeline inspections The Philadelphia Inquirer
• Obama's Proposed 2013 Budget Allots $27 Billion for the Department of Energy Energy Boom
• Audit endorses State Department review of Keystone XL pipeline The Los Angeles Times
• (FL) “Modest” renewable energy bill advances without controversial amendment The Herald-Tribune
• (GA) Georgia nuke projects could spur growth, official says The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• (GA) Requests triple for well permits in Georgia The Atlanta Business Chronicle
• (LA) Drillers adjusting on low gas price The Advocate
• (MS) Casinos raise questions on offshore drilling The Sun-Herald
• (NC) Seismic research linked to fracking The News & Observer
• (SC) Report: More trees could be cut for biomass plants The State
• (TX) Lawmakers press regulators to explain how electricity reserves have suddenly waned The Austin American-Statesman
• (TX) Texans Are Baffled by the Keystone Decision (opinion) The Wall Street Journal
• Natural Gas Boom Energizing The Chemical Industry NPR
• Federal funds flow to clean-energy firms with Obama administration ties The Washington Post
• Proposed water safety standards criticized CNN
• Obama administration slows environmental rules as it weighs political cost The Washington Post
• Many Jobs May Be Gone With The Wind Energy Credit NPR
• Solar power: cheap electricity for world’s poor The Christian Science Monitor
• Oil up on Greek austerity measures, Iran tensions Reuters
• Iran threatens to cut some oil exports to Europe, touts nuclear advances The Washington Post
• TransCanada hopes for 2015 Keystone startup date The Journal-Star
• Will Japan hold a referendum to scrap nuclear power? The Christian Science Monitor
• World's Largest Offshore Wind Farm Now Operating in Britain Energy Boom
• (CA) Feds approve ban on dumping along California coast Stateline
• (MD) Fracking might be years off, but the bills pile up The Gazette
• (NJ) Lawmakers try again on fracking ban in N.J. The Asbury Park Press
• Self-Insured Complicate Health Deal The New York Times
• Teen pregnancy rates hit 40 year low CNN
• (KY) Medicaid firms try to explain drug system The Courier-Journal
• (NC) Update: State Supreme Court weighs trials for hospital bills The News-Record
• (NC) US OKs later cap on NC insurer profits, overhead The Winston-Salem Journal
• (TN) Ruling says TennCare now meets requirements The Tennessean
• (WV) Health officials say W.Va. can reverse its chronic disease numbers The Gazette
• (FL) Bill to privatize prisons dies in Senate The Miami Herald
• (GA) Lawmaker proposes ‘Caylee's Law' for Georgia The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• (TN) Tennessee safety commissioner talks about governor's plans to stiffen domestic violence penalties The Chattanooga Times-Free Press
• (TX) More Young Inmates Attack One Another The Texas Tribune
• (VA) Virginia House votes to expand capital punishment The Virginian-Pilot
• (WV) Bill aims to ease crowded prisons The Gazette
• Birth-control controversy heads toward more debate The State
• Marijuana nearly doubles risk of collisions CNN
• Fake drugs are becoming big business The News & Observer
• HHS Unveils Requirements For Consumer Insurance Labels Kaiser Health News
• New GOP Medicare plan features accelerated transition to private insurance for seniors Fox News
• Obese children outgrowing kids' clothing and furniture CNN
• New program helps teen girls with weight issues CNN
• Air pollution may increase stroke, heart attack risk CNN
• Some states weigh opt-out laws for mandatory immunizations USA Today
• Express Scripts, Medco respond to FTC on deal Reuters
• (CA) Struggling Cities Turn to a Crop for Cash The New York Times
• (CA) California sets trends in health regulation CNN
• (CA) Lance Armstrong campaigns for California cigarette tax measure The Los Angeles Times
• (IN) Ind. Senate panel OKs state withdrawal from Medicare, Medicaid The Northwest Indiana Times
• (NE) Bill would promote healthy food choices The Journal-Star
• (NH) Representatives approbate health care compact The Concord Monitor
• (AL) Proposal would cut Alabama mental health facilities
• (FL) Florida House panel rejects food stamp sweets ban
• (FL) Senate sets stage for do-or-die vote on South Florida prison privatization
• (FL) Unions sue over plan to privatize prison health care system
• (FL) Senate plan includes big cuts to mental health programs
• (FL) Florida executes killer after 31 years on death row
• (FL) Drug use among Florida youngsters drops, survey says
• (FL) Federal oversight needed to ensure Florida Medicaid serves those in need (opinion)
• (GA) Critics blast bill to require drug tests for welfare
• (GA) Georgia hospitals rated on infections
• (GA) Speech therapist gets prison for stealing $60K from Georgia Medicaid
• (KY) Care home screenings targeted
• (KY) Kentucky Medicaid managed-care firms acknowledge problems
• (LA) Legislator wants welfare restriction
• (LA) Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, LSU play hot potato over hospital cuts
• (LA) Agency urged to pay ex-workers’ premiums
• (LA) Louisiana settles federal lawsuit over sexual harassment
• (MS) Parole Board could undergo changes in size, makeup
• (MS) Anti-abortion plan pushed
• (OK) Oklahoma voters to decide whether to remove governor from parole process
• (OK) Oklahoma lawmaker says by cutting funds to Planned Parenthood, bill harms women, children
• (SC) SC senators advance choice for DHEC director
• (SC) Stress, poor diet, lack of exercise plague state
• (TN) TN public safety leaders work to ease plan's jail burden on counties
• (TX) Invest in care for our aging Texas inmates (opinion)
• (TX) Prisons running low on execution drugs again, but prison agency withholds details
• (TX) To boost grant funding, UT may opt for tobacco-free campus
• (TX) Sonogram law draws complaints about two-day process
• (VA) Senate backs crackdowns on drug dealers, sex offenders, people who exploit the elderly
• (VA) Rally urges senators, Bolling to back 'personhood' bill
• (WV) Senate unanimously passes measure against meritless inmate lawsuits
• (WV) Plan for W.Va. retiree costs heads to governor
• (WV) W.Va. children’s health ranks 44th in survey
• (WV) Anti-abortion groups tout personhood bill in state
• (WV) W.Va. lawmakers reviewing gov's anti-drug bill
• (WV) Legislation seeks harsher penalties for fatal DUIs
• (WV) W.Va. Senate passes its graffiti bill
• (WV) W.Va. Senate receives child abuse bill
• (WV) Legislation puts roll-your-own cigarette shops in jeopardy
• (WV) Bill to bar felons from office advances
• (WV) Strict mental hygiene policies hurt West Virginians, officials say
• (WV) Hurricane sex-offender law might go too far
• (WV) W.Va. needs to study its commitment system (opinion)
• (FL) Darden now has Florida's biggest privately owned solar array
• (FL) Florida fish and wildlife commission sued by 2 environmental groups
• (GA) Ga. lawmakers introduce renewable energy bill
• (LA) Hearing delayed on salt water
• (NC) Davidson College protests plans for gas pipeline
• (NC) Planned Pisgah Forest burn postponed
• (NC) A warm winter takes its toll on Progress Energy sales
• (NC) Greenpeace targets Duke Energy
• (OK) Lawmakers should press on to develop water plan, House speaker says
• (OK) Amicable resolution to Oklahoma water dispute seems unlikely
• (SC) SC senators advance choice for DHEC director
• (SC) SC senators consider 'light bulb freedom' bill
• (SC) White House environmental adviser visiting SC
• (US) IKEA Marches Toward 100% Renewable Energy
• (WV) Bonds proposed to recoup state utility fuel costs
• (WV) Delegate calls for limit on ethanol in gas
• (WV) Legislation to curb copper theft comes under criticism

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