  High speed rail likely won't impact Golden Isles
Source: Brunswick NewsMega Millions rolls over again
Source: WSB-TVPower bills to go up
Gov. Sonny Perdue has signed legislation into law that will boost monthly bills for Georgia Power Company customers.
Source: Savannah Morning News/SundayState offices to be closed Monday for Confederate Memorial Day observance
Source: Augusta Chronicle/Sunday• Gainesville honors confederate veterans
Source: Gainesville Times • Confederate Memorial Day is today
State offices will be closed today for Confederate Memorial Day.
Source: Athens Banner Herald • Confederate Memorial Day service held in Savannah
Source: Savannah Morning News Carter Center closed for renovation
The facility will reopen October 1 after a $10 million renovation.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Sunday
 Forsyth County engineer tapped for state board
Danny M. Bennett has been appointed to the state Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
Source: Forsyth County News Rep. Kingston knows waterway needs significant dollars to improve
"As long as intracoastal waterway funding is going to compete with the port, there is always going to be a shortfall because the same committee in Washington that allocates funding for the port is the same that allocates for the intracoastal waterway," Kingston said. "The political support back home is not strong enough to merit any change in the policy direction. It's lower tier."
Source: Brunswick NewsRep. Broun wants probe of NBAF site pick
U.S. Rep. Paul Broun says the manner the NBAF site was chosen was flawed and biased.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald/SaturdayGay activists in Athens want Rep. Broun's vote on hate crimes legislation
Source: Athens Banner-Herald/SaturdayPolitical Notebook, Macon: Dublin official seeks DuBose Porter’s House seat
"A Dublin City Council member has thrown his hat into the ring to replace longtime state Rep. DuBose Porter in the Georgia House of Representatives."
Source: Macon Telegraph/SaturdayRepublicans not jumping to bid for governor
Several prominent Republicans who publicly considered jumping into the governor's race have quickly decided against it.
Source: Marietta Daily Journal/Saturday• Rep. Westmoreland says no to run for governor
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Saturday Cobb County BOC likely to be shaken if Olens wins AG
Source: Marietta Daily Journal/SaturdayPolitical Notebook, Savannah: Constitution means what the justices say it does
"State Sen. Eric Johnson still wants to assure Georgia workers the right to decide by secret ballot whether to be represented by union."
Source: Savannah Morning News/SundayLarry Peterson: 2010 Georgia governor's race a free-for-all
"Even if Georgia's economy remains in the doldrums, there will be an opening for at least one good job next year: governor."
Source: Savannah Morning News/SundayGov. Perdue considers sweeping education reforms
Source: Savannah Morning News/SundayAds urge Barrow to vote for energy legislation
Local TV and print ads are urging U.S. Rep. John Barrow to vote for Democrat-sponsored energy legislation.
Source: Savannah Morning NewsGov. Perdue argues against Voting Rights Act
Perdue says times have changed since 1965 and the law isn't needed.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Sunday
 New website launched by The Albany Herald
Source: Albany HeraldAP awards bestowed on Savannah Morning News
Coverage of the explosion at Imperial Sugar, issues facing the city's youngsters and the feats of area athletes have garnered top awards from the Georgia Associated Press.
Source: Savannah Morning News/Saturday• Augusta Chronicle wins AP awards
Source: Augusta Chronicle/Saturday • Marietta Daily Journal wins awards
The paper won the two top spots in the Public Service reporting category as awarded by the Georgia Associated Press Association.
Source: Marietta Daily Journal/Saturday • Rome News-Tribune wins four awards
Source: Rome News-Tribune/Sunday Economic downturn felt by Savannah antique dealers
Source: Savannah Morning News/SaturdayAmerican Southern Bank fails
The Bank of North Georgia has assumed about $55 million of American Southern's deposits, including all uninsured deposits.
Source: Marietta Daily Journal/Saturday• American Southern Bank seized by regulators
Source: Atlanta Business Chronicle Weekday circulation of AJC falls
However, the company says its audience is growing.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution/SaturdayAT&T to stop CallVantage phone service
Source: Savannah Morning News/SundaySecurity Bank ordered by FDIC to take corrective action
"Cease and desist" orders have been filed by the FDIC for five of its six subsidiary banks.
Source: Macon Telegraph/SundayAJC pullout is official
The Atlanta Journal Constitution has pulled out of Barrow, Clarke and Oconee counties.
Source: Athens Banner HeraldLawsuit filed by Delta over FlexPerks card
Source: Atlanta Business ChronicleFreight car company in Cartersville to idle 650 workers
Trinity North American Freight Car Inc. reported the layoffs in a filing with the state labor department.
Source: Atlanta Business ChronicleCell phone tower construction protested by Berkeley Lake residents
Source: Gwinnett Daily Post/Sunday
 Grady County BOE nixes principal's contract
The Grady County Board of Education has made the decision not to renew Washington Middle School Principal Arthur Anderson's 2009-2010 contract.
Source: Thomasville Times Enterprises Enrollment drops in Rockdale County schools
Rockdale County Public Schools has experienced a significant drop in enrollment since the first day of the school year.
Source: Rockdale Citizen Franklin County school system must tighten up budget again
Source: Franklin County Citizen GBI investigates Tattnall County superintendent
Source: Southeast Georgia TodayAcademy of Richmond County plans 225th anniversary celebration
Source: Augusta Chronicle/SaturdayThousands of high school graduates go uncounted
Statewide, at least 5,680 students graduated, but weren't 'on time' and graduated after the four year norm.
Source: Augusta Chronicle/SundayHOPE scholarship funds could dry up for some
The demand is higher than the amount the lottery is bringing in.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald/Sunday• Georgia lawmakers remove scholarship funding from budget
The Governor's Scholarship Program was removed from the budget lawmakers passed April 3.
Source: Augusta Chronicle Georgia school to become magnet school
Several initiatives are planned to turn around Laney High School.
Source: Augusta Chronicle24 Richmond County teachers won't get new contracts
Teachers who aren't performing won't be asked back to Richmond County classrooms.
Source: Augusta ChronicleCobb BOE's report card panel to meet
The Cobb school board's new report card committee meets for the first time tonight.
Source: Marietta Daily Journal
 Georgia flood victims can get help
Gov. Sonny Perdue has announced that President Barack Obama has approved a Federal Disaster Declaration for Berrien, Tift and Worth and 23 other South Georgia counties.
Source: Tifton Gazette Burn ban to begin in Rockdale County
Beginning Friday, smog alerts will become a daily occurrence and outdoor burning will not be allowed until October.
Source: Rockdale Citizen Outdoor watering restrictions eased in some counties
The state EPD has eased restrictions in Barrow, Clarke, Jackson and Oconee counties.
Source: Athens Banner-Herald/SaturdayNesting season begins soon for turtles
Source: Florida Times-UnionTrees stressed due to drought
The trees are prone to toppling over when heavy winds follow a rain.
Source: Rome News-Tribune/SundayRare ecosystem found on Jekyll Island
Source: Florida Times-UnionSea turtles expected to have good year
State wildlife biologists are optimistic there will be another good year of loggerhead sea turtles.
Source: Marietta Daily Journal
 2009 vaccine useless against swine flu
Source: The Polk Fish Wrap Language problems more frequent at the pharmacy
Source: North Georgia Times-Free PressFuture of Columbus hospital in doubt
Advocates of West Central Georgia Regional Hospital in Columbus believe the mental health facility is in danger of being closed down.
Source: Columbus Ledger EnquirerCDC sits on records
Despite directives from the Obama administration citing the federal Freedom of Information Act, the CDC hasn't released about 4,000 pages of documents on risks to the agency's reputation posed by the AJC.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution/SundayPublic health emergency declared over swine flu
20 cases of the swine flu have been reported in the U.S. so far.
Source: New York TimesToo soon to tell if swine flu is the big global flu pandemic
Source: Philadelphia InquirerMexico cracks down on swine flu
Source: Christian Science Monitor
 Statesboro approves wireless plan
The Statesboro City Council decided Tuesday to move forward with a plan to install a wireless network.
Source: Statesboro HeraldRemoval of I-16 flyover considered by Chatham County commissioners
Commissioners approved the study to remove the flyover.
Source: Savannah Morning News/SaturdayWater tank in Muscogee County collapses overnight
6 million gallons of water were released in the collapse.
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer/SaturdayUGA professor considered suspect in triple shooting
George Zinkhan is being sought in the shooting that happened at about noon Saturday at a community theatre behind The Taylor-Grady House, a National Historic Landmark.
Source: WSB-TV• Police conducting nationwide search for UGA professor
Source: Athens Banner-Herald/Saturday • Shooting in Athens: Gunman still at large
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Sunday • Victiims of UGA shooting mourned
Source: Augusta Chronicle/Sunday • Mourners gather at Athens theatre
Source: Athens Banner-Herald/Sunday • Motive in triple shooting unclear
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution • Marketing professor gave no hints of troubled state
Source: Augusta Chronicle • Bruce family, friends stunned by shooting in Augusta
Source: Augusta Chronicle • Statement from UGA's president
Source: Athens Banner Herald New Augusta stadium still in discussion stage
Source: Augusta Chronicle/SundayAthens' Twilight Criterium draws 30,000 to town
Source: Athens Banner-Herald/SundaySavannah authorities promote road safety
Savannah officials are working to promote safety on the roads between motorists and pedestrians.
Source: Savannah Morning NewsRebuilding Macon repairs homes
Roughly 1,200 volunteers fixed up about 40 homes this weekend in a charitable rebuilding program.
Source: Macon TelegraphTaste of Marietta draws huge crowd
The 16th annual Taste of Marietta was held on Sunday.
Source: Marietta Daily JournalFalse-alarm calls drop in Cobb County
False-alarm calls have dropped by 28 percent in Cobb County.
Source: Marietta Daily JournalMarietta Farmers Market returns
The Marietta Square Farmers Market will return on Saturday.
Source: Marietta Daily JournalRome considers time limit for handicapped parking
Handicap parking spaces in downtown Rome are currently exempt from the two-hour limit, but that could change next month.
Source: Rome News TribuneDunwoody works to balance spending, revenue
Source: Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionGwinnett suburbs, amenities draw drug cartels
Source: Gwinnett Daily Post/Sunday
 Right leader at the right time
"George Christenberry was no detached, ivory-tower academic. He knew as well as any good college president -- perhaps more so -- that part of his academic leadership role also meant being a leader in the community. And for 16 years, he filled that role admirably."
Source: Augusta Chronicle/Saturday Federal assistance comes through to Georgia
"Three weeks after many lost homes and businesses to the flood waters, the welcome news came that the federal government has proclaimed the region a disaster area."
Source: Valdosta Daily Times Dismissal one of convenience
"In politics, nothing happens in a vacuum. Take the case of state Rep. Carol Fullerton, who incensed some Albany and Dougherty County elected officials by co-sponsoring Rep. Ed Rynders' House bill calling for a local vote on whether to consolidate the city and county governments."
Source: Albany Herald Sounds like time for a move-in special
"In the market for a cheap place to live? Apparently 19 mobile homes will be available soon at Arrowood Mobile Home Park on Wrightsboro Road once the bureaucrats get all the paperwork figured out."
Source: Columbia County News-TimesMake the call
"Tuesday's murder of Jayshawn Johnson, who was shot and killed while sleeping with his two young daughters, is heart-wrenching to the extreme."
Source: Savannah Morning News/SaturdayNeighborhood values
"The proposal L to spare Hodge Elementary School from the wrecking ball is a testament to a neighborhood's desire to keep its school and the superintendent's desire to encourage neighborhood support for public schools."
Source: Savannah Morning News/SaturdayCartoon: Mark Streeter -- The economic weather...
Source: Savannah Morning News/Saturday• Rick McKee -- Obama administration terrorist interrogation techniques...
Source: Augusta Chronicle/Saturday • Mark Streeter -- Passing on the left...
Source: Savannah Morning News/Sunday • Rick McKee -- Augusta clowns...
Source: Augusta Chronicle/Sunday • Mike Luckovich -- Coming clean....
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Sunday Dick Yarbrough: Zell wouldn't let Georgia get like this
"I miss the heck out of Zell Miller. I wish he would come back and straighten out the mess under the Gold Dome. And he could, too. His detractors - mostly liberal weenies these days - go apoplectic at the mention of his name. (That isn't particularly noteworthy; liberal weenies go apoplectic at the mention of my name, too.) However, most Georgians are not liberal weenies and think ol' Zell hung the moon."
Source: Gwinnett Daily Post/SaturdayEd Tant: The Progressive marks a century
"So wrote Wisconsin Sen. Robert La Follette, the founder of The Progressive magazine, in 1909. Some things don't change. With its current issue, the magazine celebrates 100 years as one of America's oldest and most aggressive political periodicals."
Source: Athens Banner-Herald/SaturdayAround Town: Wake-Up Call?
"The angry, boisterous crowd at the school board meeting Thursday night should have been a wake-up call for Superintendent Fred Sanderson and his blindly loyal board supporters Lynnda Crowder-Eagle and Holli Cash that their credibility - and that of the school system - is under siege."
Source: Marietta Daily Journal/SaturdayJ. C. Bradbury: Braves 1, taxpayers 0
"On April 17, the Gwinnett Braves began play at their new home in Gwinnett County. The publicly funded stadium was initially slated to cost $45 million, but the price quickly ballooned to $64 million, with no word yet on what the final construction tab will be. In addition, the county has been unable to sell naming rights to the stadium, which the county anticipated returning $500,000 annually to cover 20 percent of the debt service."
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution/SaturdayFace reality
"Any Savannah-Chatham school board member who's mulling a property tax hike to balance the 2010 budget should take a cold shower and face reality."
Source: Savannah Morning News/SundayGeveryl Robinson: 'Me, myself and I' syndrome
"On April 12, Robert Carter, his wife Delisia, and their two children, Kayla, 9, and Ethan Blake, 2 months, were headed to Sunday brunch after attending Easter church service. They never made it."
Source: Savannah Morning News/SundayTom Barton: Take me out to this ballpark
"I was cautioned early in life not to trust love at first sight. Fortunately, I'm a selective listener. Grayson Stadium is a case in point."
Source: Savannah Morning News/SundayTime out on the field
"Apparently the train hasn't yet left the station. That's a good thing for everyone involved. Baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. and Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver announced April 16 that work on a new downtown riverfront baseball stadium could begin later this year."
Source: Augusta Chronicle/SundayMurmurs of meddling
"It's hard to know whom to believe when you're getting two polar opposite stories. But someone in a position of leadership in this community is lying through his or her teeth."
Source: Augusta Chronicle/SundayRep. Paul Broun: It's Debt Day -- and government is digging a deeper hole
"There comes a point in every fiscal year when the federal government starts paying for its overstretched spending by borrowing money rather than using its own revenue. Today is that day -- Debt Day 2009. The federal government is going to spend all of its revenue even before Barack Obama's 100th day in office."
Source: Augusta Chronicle/SundayAgencies give aid, expand missions
"Recently, during the aftermath of the local disasters that damaged a number of families' homes, the American Red Cross of Augusta and CSRA Habitat for Humanity volunteers teamed up to form Operation Helping Hands."
Source: Augusta Chronicle/SundayDusty Nix: Delayed return
"The new National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center is a magnificent facility built to honor Americans who risked, and in many cases paid, the ultimate price for our country."
Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer/SundaySenate sets state's clock to bad times
"In the waning days of this year's state legislative session, members of the Georgia Senate reached near-unanimous consent on the terms under which they believe Georgia can secede from the United States, and under which the United States itself can be dissolved."
Source: Athens Banner-Herald/SundayJim Thompson: Secession wrong play for GOP
"There's no question Senate Resolution 632, a legislative proposal that should have been packaged with cases of survival rations and bottled water, a stash of automatic weapons, a mountain hideaway and enough tinfoil to make fashionable headgear for the entire family, was a Republican play to a hard-core segment of its conservative base."
Source: Athens Banner-Herald/SundayBill Shipp: Put Newt Gingrich at head of an elephant parade
"After losing last year's presidential election, the national Republican Party seems to have lost its way."
Source: Athens Banner-Herald/SundayCharles Richardson: Governor can prevent the state from driving off into the abyss
"If you listen to various legislators touring the state they may convince you that this year’s General Assembly session was difficult, but that they achieved much in a down economy. They have said with pride the cuts they made were absolutely necessary. Few talk about the tax breaks that were handed out, particularly the last-minute capital gains tax cut."
Source: Macon Telegraph/SundayKenny Burgamy: A unified community
"The expression “our community” gets tossed around so much I don’t know if anyone really considers what it truly means. Webster’s online dictionary has the following definition for community: An interacting population of various kinds of individuals in a common location."
Source: Macon Telegraph/SundayRoy Fickling: Quietly going about the state’s business effectively
"Last week, The Telegraph published a column penned by Councilman Erick Erickson titled “Seven years of what?” opining about Gov. Sonny Perdue’s lack of accomplishments during his seven years of service. I usually agree with the author’s opinions and insights pertaining to Georgia politics, but I am compelled to publicly disagree with this one. Honestly, it is understandable, even expected, given Gov. Perdue’s low-key style that one might come to such a conclusion. Headlines, however, don’t tell the story."
Source: Macon Telegraph/SundayThe Raptor
"President Obama swept into office in January promising to create 4 million jobs. But one of his first substantive "accomplishments" on the job front was to effectively kill 25,000 jobs - including 2,000 in Marietta - with his administration's decision to pull the plug on further production of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter jet."
Source: Marietta Daily Journal/SundayBill Kinney: 'Change'
"'Change' is the watchword these days, and that's true at Kennesaw State University, too, reports President Dr. Dan Papp."
Source: Marietta Daily Journal/SundayWalter C. Jones: Business prospects focus on quality of everything
"In a few weeks, 15,000 of the world's top biotech entrepreneurs will flock to the state for their industry's premier convention, and many state officials are hoping they'll stay and see Georgia."
Source: Savannah Morning NewsOops! There go those horses!
"Strangely enough, Pakistan has treated its ungovernable northwest territory like it's the United States' problem. "
Source: Augusta ChronicleRonnie Chance: Keep government at bay and watch the revenues soar
"When the federal government spends a trillion more than it takes in, many Americans simply give up hope of fiscal responsibility. It’s almost as if Congress and the president believe the money they spend came out of a Parker Brothers Monopoly game."
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution/SundayMaureen Downey: Tax cuts made at risky time and with no sense
"To understand the skewed priorities of our state Legislature, imagine that you come home to discover that your house is ablaze. Do you pour water on it? Or gasoline? The General Assembly would choose gasoline."
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution/SundayJim Wooten: Governor race likely to depart from tradition
"The Georgia General Assembly, the traditional way station for gubernatorial candidates en route to West Paces Ferry, is left with a single Republican and Democrat in next year’s governor’s race."
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution/SundayUGA's party-school ranking gets right reactions
"There's something remarkable about Playboy magazine's recent seventh-place ranking of the University of Georgia on its list of the nation's top party schools."
Source: Athens Banner HeraldGovernor can prevent the state from driving into abyss
"If you listen to various legislators touring the state they may convince you that this year’s General Assembly session was difficult, but that they achieved much in a down economy. They have said with pride the cuts they made were absolutely necessary. Few talk about the tax breaks that were handed out, particularly the last-minute capital gains tax cut."
Source: Macon TelegraphA unified community
"The expression “our community” gets tossed around so much I don’t know if anyone really considers what it truly means. Webster’s online dictionary has the following definition for community: An interacting population of various kinds of individuals in a common location."
Source: Macon TelegraphDon McKee: Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle has record of beating the odds
"Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle's surgery is scheduled today for the degenerative spinal and neck condition that forced him out of the governor's race in a surprising turn of events less than two weeks ago."
Source: Marietta Daily JournalJay Bookman: Slowly, green shoots of optimism appear
"In battle, sports, business and other areas of life, faith in leadership can get you through bad times. The instinct to rally around a leader is genetic, a tribal survival mechanism honed over generations."
Source: Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionGeorgia left in the dust
"As if the people of Georgia needed another reason to vilify a state legislature and transportation agency that have steadfastly refused to develop a coherent plan for transportation infrastructure and funding, word came last week that President Barack Obama wants to make an $8 billion investment in a national high-speed rail network."
Source: Rome News TribuneTarnishing a great legacy
"It probably comes as a surprise to a lot of people, even now, that Martin Luther King Jr.’s image and his immortal “I Have a Dream” speech aren’t in the public domain."
Source: Rome News TribuneChip Pearson: Principle of states’ rights is neither new nor ‘radical’
"Thousands of discontented Georgians lined the streets around our state Capitol on April 15 to protest excessive Washington spending and an increasingly burdensome tax code. In response to a federal government that thinks it knows how to spend your money better than you do, and continues to grow nearly unchecked, the Georgia Senate voted to reaffirm our rights as a sovereign state to prevent the federal government from continuing to expand."
Source: Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionPolitical Insider: Neatness could count in GOP race
"A political party’s field of candidates is much like the inkblot of a Rorschach test. The blob that looks like an intimidating army to one soul might resemble a weak-kneed B team to another. Appearances depend on the extent of your ambition and, quite possibly, the state of your wallet."
Source: Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionAlert performance
"Bravo to the University for its response to the triple murder that occurred in Athens Saturday afternoon alledgedly involving University professor George Zinkhan III."
Source: Athens Banner HeraldJimmy Carter: What happened to the ban on assault weapons?
"The evolution in public policy concerning the manufacture, sale and possession of semiautomatic assault weapons like AK-47s, AR-15s and Uzis has been very disturbing. Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and I all supported a ban on these formidable firearms, and one was finally passed in 1994."
Source: New York Times 'Green' buildings sprouting over local landscape
"LEED-certified construction is on the rise in Gwinnett and that's good for you, for the environment and for business."
Source: Gwinnett Daily Post/Sunday |