Mississippi

Georgia was the first state in the country to introduce universal pre-k.

Oklahoma has the highest percentage (68 percent) of four-year-olds in state pre-k programs.

Alabama pre-k programs met all 10 quality benchmarks in the 2007 NIEER assessment.

Mississippi has no pre-k program.

Not sure what we mean? Here's Cookie Monster:

Answer: Mississippi. Southern states have been leaders in providing state support for quality pre-k programs, but Mississippi is the only state in region that does not have a publicly-financed pre-k program.

A daily diary of developments in the world of blockbuster democracy:

SILENCE IN MISSISSIPPI: Today is the presidential primary in the Magnolia State, the newest addition to the map of initiative states. But only 23 initiatives have been filed since Mississippi added the initiative in 1992. And there isn't a measure on today's ballot.

NEIGHBORS BACKED CALIFORNIA TRIBES: The support of neighbors of California tribes with fast-expanding casinos was important to the victory of four compacts -- Propositions 94-97 -- on the Feb. 5 ballot, according to this analysis from the Press Enterprise.

CHALLENGE TO STEM CELL: In California, something calling itself the San Jose Group has filed an initiative that seeks to roll back the funding mechanism of Prop 71, the stem cell measure passed by voters in 2004. The measure is here.