Arise Daily News Digest 2-12-2012

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - Mignon Comer Smith, Avondale Mills heiress and philanthropist, dies at 81.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - Alabama unemployment benefits debit card to offer new services.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - Alabama US Rep. Bachus' rivals pounce on ethics issue.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - The Birmingham News: Now it's up to the Legislature to come up with realistic solution to Alabama budget problems.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - Contributor Sue Bell Cobb:  We should fix people, not fill Alabama prisons.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - Contributor Mike O’Dell of the Alabama District Attorneys Association:  Alabama starting to win war on meth.

(MOBILE) PRESS-REGISTER - The Press-Register: Budget standoff will only hurt Alabamians.

(MOBILE) PRESS-REGISTER - Contributor Bradley Byrne:  A passion for football and education, too.

(FLORENCE) TIMES DAILY - NCLB: A failure or a motivator?

(FLORENCE) TIMES DAILY - Brooks on the stump:  US rep. kicks off bid for re-election here.

(FLORENCE) TIMES DAILY – The Times Daily: Selecting nominee.

(FLORENCE) TIMES DAILY – Columnist Clarence Page:  White America may be coming apart.

DECATUR DAILY - The Decatur Daily: Dusting off Amendment 1.

DECATUR DAILY - The Decatur Daily: Bad times for GOP women.

TUSCALOOSA NEWS - Legislators reject Bentley's budget plans:  Budget committees dislike attempt to shift Medicaid funding to education fund.

TUSCALOOSA NEWS – Columnist Tommy Stevenson’s At Large:  Earmarks benefit schools, safety, Medicaid.

TUSCALOOSA NEWS – Reporter Dana Beyerle’s Alabama Exposure:  Proposed budget cuts funding for law institute.

GADSDEN TIMES - Legislators working on state immigration law changes.

GADSDEN TIMES - Group questions oversight of Ala incentives.

GADSDEN TIMES - Group challenges reports on 8-year Ala. oil spill.

ANNISTON STAR - There's a $3.2 billion thicket of taxes, fees and fines hidden in Alabama’s 'third' budget.

ANNISTON STAR – Contributor Stephen Stetson of the Arise Citizens’ Policy Project:  What’s behind Alabama’s job numbers?

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER - Week 1 of corruption trial has interesting moments.

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER – The Montgomery Advertiser: Political posturing on immigration.

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER – Contributor Gov. Robert Bentley:  Bentley says his budgets address challenges.

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER – Contributor Michelle Rhee:  PRO: State's pupils need charter schools.

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER – Contributor Dr. Diane Ravitch:  CON: Say 'no thanks' to charter schools.

OPELIKA-AUBURN NEWS - Senior fellow at Mises on board of controversial PAC:  PAC chairman says government carried out 9/11 attack.

OPELIKA-AUBURN NEWS - Irrigation incentive bill passed in Senate.

DOTHAN EAGLE - Business group proposes post-secondary governance change.

WASHSINGTON POST - Election 2012: Republicans united on goal — beat Obama — divided on how to get there.

NEW YORK TIMES - Even Critics of Safety Net Increasingly Depend on It

NEW YORK TIMES - Romney’s Path to ‘Pro-Life’ Position on Abortion

NEW YORK TIMES – Columnist Thomas Friedman:  We Need a Second Party

NEW YORK TIMES – Columnist Nicholas Kristof:  Beyond Pelvic Politics

NEW YORK TIMES – Columnist Ross Douthat:  Can the Working Class Be Saved?

NEW YORK TIMES – Contributor Michael Grabell:  How Not to Revive an Economy

NEW YORK TIMES - Death Penalty Death Watch: Trouble in Ohio

LOS ANGELES TIMES - Mitt Romney wins Maine caucuses straw poll.