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Web site reveals parolee locations
Last week, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles unveiled
a Web site that allows Georgia residents to find out if parolees
live in their neighborhoods. The site allows users to search
by ZIP code, or by a parolee's name or prison ID number. Once
found, the parolee's record includes a link to a photograph,
home address, physical description, beginning and ending parole
date and their most serious offense. Augusta
Chronicle
Gas prices inching lower
While Georgia often has the cheapest gasoline in the nation,
drivers have been irked by rising prices. Now that prices
are falling, it's not so much a cause for celebration as a
sigh of relief. Macon
Telegraph
- Prices at the pump finally starting to fall
Savannahians have seen a 9-cent drop in regular unleaded
since war began. Savannah
Morning News
Kerry, Dean court Georgia votes
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) used a presidential campaign appearance
before Georgia Democrats on Thursday night to fire back at
Republicans who criticized his statement this week that "it's
time for a regime change" in America. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
A lethal mystery: WHO visits SARS' ground zero
Health investigators visited ground zero of the severe acute
respiratory syndrome outbreak Thursday, entering China's Guangdong
province nearly five months after the first recognized case
of the mysterious illness occurred there. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
- * Local officials keep
watchful eye on SARS virus
When LaGrange resident Duncan Allen left on his international
flight Wednesday, he carried with him hand sanitizer and
a breathing mask.
LaGrange Daily News
- * Hall
is ready to fight SARS
A mysterious pneumonia that's spreading rapidly around the
globe may never reach Hall County. But if it does, local
health officials are prepared. Gainesville
Times
War coverage in The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Schools delay some field trips, citing Iraq
war
With the war in Iraq raising concerns of terrorist attacks,
both Cobb County and Marietta City Schools have cancelled
school-sanctioned trips to New York, Washington and overseas.
Marietta
Daily Journal
Six degrees of separation on state flag
Members of the House Rules Committee offer six suggestions
for picking new flag. Columbus
Ledger-Enquirer
- Debate over flag possibilities begins
The latest battle over the emotional state flag issue will
wait at least one more day, as lawmakers sift through competing
plans for a public vote on the banner. Athens
Banner-Herald/Morris
- Ga. House leaders again postpone decision on flag.
Macon
Telegraph
- Rules Committee hears flag ideas, will debate more.
Atlanta
Business Chronicle
- Make-or-break negotiations on flag referendum set today
The fight over the state flag ducked behind closed doors
Thursday after a House committee balked --- for the moment
--- at dropping the Confederate battle cross from Gov. Sonny
Perdue's proposed flag referendum. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Official e-mails open, state says, but county
cautious
The question of whether elected officials' e-mails should
be open to the public is drawing attention in state government
offices as well as in Athens-Clarke County. Athens
Banner-Herald
B&W workers protest governor's tax plan
About 50 Brown & Williamson employees protested the governor's
proposed tax increase on cigarettes at a town hall meeting
in Bibb County Thursday. Macon
Telegraph
Ethics reform battle escalates
A legislative showdown looms Tuesday over rival ethics reforms
proposed by House Democrats and Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
In Cobb, Perdue touts school plan
Flanked by members of Cobb’s legislative delegation at
Brumby Elementary on Thursday, Gov. Sonny Perdue blasted the
Democrat-controlled state House for dragging its feet on passing
his proposed education reform bill. Marietta
Daily Journal Perdue visits school, focuses on state
budget woes. Savannah
Morning News
Perdue tours for agenda
Gov. Sonny Perdue took his case for higher tobacco taxes,
stronger ethics laws and ongoing school reform to the public
Thursday during a four-city tour that stretched from Marietta
to Savannah. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
House stymies Sandy Springs
Lawmakers who want to clear the way for a new city in Sandy
Springs wrestled Thursday with the latest obstacle in their
path: a resolution filed by a crucial House leader that would
delay a vote until next year. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
State panel OKs disputed high-volt power
line bill
Legislation regulating the placement of high-voltage power
lines passed a House committee Thursday, but citizen activists
say the bill will do little to help consumers. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Burns to conduct town-hall meetings
U.S. Rep. Max Burns, R-Sylvania, will host town hall meetings
later this month in Crawfordville and Athens. Burns represents
the 12th Congressional District, stretching from Athens to
Savannah. Athens
Banner-Herald
GOP official gets state to foot legal bill
Legislative leaders agreed Thursday to pay for a $175-an-hour
lawyer to defend the Senate's top Republican in a redistricting
lawsuit because he doesn't think the state's Democratic attorney
general would represent his interests. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Sen. Lamutt announces bid for 6th district
seat
State Sen. Robert Lamutt quietly announced his candidacy for
the 6th Congressional District on Thursday as he worked on
the state’s budget from his Capitol office. Marietta
Daily Journal Lamutt kicks off House bid. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Car dealer brings Saab back to Augusta area
Augusta's Johnson Motor Co. has picked up the franchise to
sell the Swedish luxury sports car in the Augusta market,
the first company to do so in more than a decade.
Augusta Chronicle
* Arthur Blank
to quit Post Properties board
Arthur M. Blank will resign from the Atlanta-based Post Properties
Inc. board of directors at the company's annual shareholders
meeting on May 22. Atlanta
Business Chronicle
Embattled Delta chief cuts his pay
Hoping to quell controversy over executive pay at Delta Air
Lines, chief executive Leo Mullin said he would dock his current
pay and stock awards and give up any bonuses he might receive
for this year. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, * Atlanta
Business Chronicle
- Delta execs' pension choice rarely used
Delta Air Lines chose a rarely used vehicle to protect
the retirement benefits of 33 top executives. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Oxford Industries' earnings tripled through
three quarters
Oxford Industries Inc. reported solid earnings growth through
three quarters of 2003. Atlanta
Business Chronicle
* Yamaha closing
3 weeks in July
All divisions of the Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corp. of America
in Newnan plan to shut down for about three weeks in July
as part of the golf cart manufacturer's cost-cutting measures
this year. Newnan
Times-Herald
Fast-growing retail niche in Gwinnett
Entrepreneurs fill demand for Korean goods. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution/Gwinnett
* Cherokee housing
starts increase
Cherokee housing start totals increased last month, bringing
the county’s first-quarter total up to last year’s
pace. Cherokee
Tribune
* Premier Bank
merges with Dalton Whitfield Bank
Chattanooga-based First Security Group has completed its purchase
of Premier National Bank of Dalton by merging the bank with
Dalton Whitfield Bank, a subsidiary of FSG. Dalton
Daily Citizen
Providers Direct Health Plan heads to bankruptcy
Atlanta-based Providers Direct Health Plan of Georgia Inc.
has been ordered into bankruptcy by a Fulton County Judge.
Atlanta
Business Chronicle
Companies back away from Masters
When the prestigious Red Carpet Tour makes its annual stop
at Augusta National Golf Club during next week's Masters Tournament,
executives from Georgia Power will be noticeably absent from
the host group. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Georgia-Pacific closes Mississippi plant
Georgia-Pacific Corp. will close its Oxford, Miss. particleboard
production facility and lay off 170 employees. Atlanta
Business Chronicle
Delta traffic down in March on war
Delta Air Lines Inc. reported its traffic dropped 8 percent,
while total passengers boarded fell 4 percent in March 2003.
Atlanta
Business Chronicle
Perdue: High schools might get state tests
Gov. Sonny Perdue said Thursday he and state Superintendent
of Schools Kathy Cox have discussed eventually expanding state
curriculum testing to high school grades. Macon
Telegraph
Slow start for federal 'No Child' law
It was a bold notion aimed at helping kids trapped in schools
with chronically low test scores: Contract with outside companies
and agencies to provide free tutoring to students whose parents
request it. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
- * Superintendent briefs
Americus board on 'No Child Left Behind'
There was no talk of the ever-controversial mascot at the
called meeting of Sumter County Board of Education Thursday.
There was, however, much discussion of the State of Georgia's
plan for implementation of the federal "No Child Left
Behind" act. Americus
Times-Recorder
Barnett says budget woes may force teacher
layoffs in Marietta
Marietta Superintendent Harold Barnett said the current state
budget crunch could result in layoffs of teachers and other
employees in the city school system. Marietta
Daily Journal
Buckhead school crowding may ease
The Atlanta school board on Thursday unanimously approved
a rezoning plan designed to ease crowding at some Buckhead-area
schools. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
* School officials
talk layoffs in Toccoa
In the midst of extreme state budget deficits, Stephens County
School Board members Thursday examined their options —
including minor millage-rate increase or layoffs — for
creating a balanced budget without sacrificing education.
Anderson
Independent-Mail
St. Marys pupils test river's waters: 4 schools
work on UGa project
A thick cloud of sand gnats swarmed a group of elementary
school pupils participating in an outdoor science class yesterday,
but nobody asked for insect repellent. Florida
Times-Union
Study: Grad schools in state among best
Georgia's graduate school programs continue to rank among
the best in the country, according to a U.S. News & World
Report college guide that goes on sale Monday. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
UGA colleges make rankings
The College of Veterinary Medicine is ranked highest among
UGA's honorees, tied for ninth. UGA's College of Education
is 27th, its School of Law is 31st and the Terry College of
Business is 42nd. Athens
Banner-Herald
* Gwinnett leaders
show students having a baby is hard work
The Dacula High School student went through a weekend program
with a high-tech, lifelike doll that shows teenagers what
responsible parenting requires. It monitors every diaper change,
feeding and head support. Gwinnett
Daily Post
Macon State names head of new WR campus
Macon State College's chief information officer is now the
chief of the institution's new Warner Robins campus. Mike
Hale, 63, has been appointed executive director of the campus
and will report directly to Macon State president David Bell.
Macon
Telegraph
Shorter College: E-mail implicates Baptist
convention
Shorter College attorneys say they have documents indicating
the Georgia Baptist Convention had plans to take control of
the college’s board of trustees. Rome
News-Tribune
Morris Brown official charged with visa fraud
A federal grand jury has indicted the director of foreign
students at Morris Brown College in Atlanta along with two
professors and another man on charges that they conspired
to sell student visas to hundreds of foreign nationals. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
State renews date for gas to be cleaner
The state's top environmental regulator on Sunday will announce
a rule change requiring oil companies to send the cleanest
gas available to metro Atlanta starting in September. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
* Officials compromise on
bridge lights
The new Sidney Lanier Bridge will be lit year-round, but not
all of it. Some of its aesthetic lighting will be turned off
from May 1 though Oct. 31, during sea turtle nesting season
and, as it turns out, during the community's main tourist
season. Brunswick
News
* Lanier wastewater plan
up for appeal
The state Environmental Protection Division Thursday filed
a request asking the Georgia Court of Appeals to become involved
in the dispute over Gwinnett County’s wastewater discharge
permit for Lake Lanier. Gwinnett
Daily Post
Gore tapped for water project
James Gore, professor and chairman of Columbus State University's
department of environmental and health sciences, has received
a grant of $50,000 from the Southwest Florida Water Management
District to determine the minimum water flow required to maintain
several different river systems. Columbus
Ledger-Enquirer
Environmental awards
Athens builder Smith Wilson and watershed expert Melanie Ruhlman
earned recognition for environmental responsibility recently
as they were named recipients of the 11th Annual Alec Little
Environmental Award. Athens
Banner-Herald
CDC: No blood risk with mosquito foggers
Truck-mounted mosquito foggers used during the height of last
year's West Nile virus season do not increase body pesticide
levels, federal officials said Thursday. Athens
Banner-Herald/AP
McDonald's may add healthful foods to Happy
Meal
The company is considering adding sliced apples and perhaps
other fruits, vegetables and low-fat yogurt as options in
children's Happy Meals. It also rolled out a new line of premium
salads this month and is testing an all-white-meat chicken
nugget. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Augusta mayor details views on club
Calling the Augusta National Golf Club one of the city's most
significant corporate citizens, Mayor Bob Young spelled out
where his support rests days before Masters Week and accompanying
protests are scheduled to start. Augusta
Chronicle
ARC: Easing traffic just takes money
The head of the Atlanta Regional Commission told Gwinnett
developers Wednesday the 10-county planning agency is making
a dream list of transportation projects that would solve metro
Atlanta's traffic woes by 2030. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution/Gwinnett *
ARC seeks funding for new '30 plan. Gwinnett
Daily Post
* State DOT
installs cameras to study traffic in Dalton
If you are driving around Dalton, you may be on camera. The
state Department of Transportation recently installed 11 closed-circuit
television cameras at intersections and high-traffic spots
around the area, and city and county officials are now watching
monitors to see what the cameras show. Dalton
Daily Citizen
* Athens-Clarke
County ordinance draws criticism
University students voiced their concern Wednesday night about
a proposed rental permit ordinance in Athens-Clarke County
that could affect student housing in future years. Red
& Black
Poydasheff puts spotlight on southside Columbus
Continuing his theme of a "One Columbus," Mayor
Bob Poydasheff announced the creation of a South Columbus
Task Force during a Thursday night town hall meeting sponsored
by the League of Women Voters of Columbus. Columbus
Ledger-Enquirer
* CASA asking
for more help with caseload in Cherokee
Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, also known
as CASA, pleaded with local leaders to fight child abuse and
aid the victims at a Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce breakfast
meeting Thursday. Cherokee
Tribune
Atlanta training agency for the poor is probed
A job training program created for Atlanta's poor is being
reorganized as it faces allegations of mismanagement and theft.
Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
* BellSouth’s
culture at the 18th green. Gwinnett
Daily Post
Report: MWA projects cost more than planned
Many Macon Water Authority expansion projects conducted in
the past several years cost three to five times more than
originally estimated, with several projects running 16 to
18 times the original estimate, according to an authority
report. Macon
Telegraph
* Tornado recovery
shows progress
Federal and state agencies, along with volunteers, are making
progress in helping tornado victims recover in Camilla. Albany
Herald
Liquor request sparks neighborhood protest
in Savannah
Council delays action as West Savannah residents decry activity
outside lounge. Savannah
Morning News
* GTC delays
selection of corridor
Selection of a corridor to house a 230,000-volt transmission
line has been delayed. Georgia Transmission Corporation announced
in a press release dated April 2 that a corridor for the Cumming-McGraw
Ford transmission line will not be selected “until later
this year” because more time is needed to study suggested
alternatives. Forsyth
County News
Baseball Opening Day: GreenJackets open season
with patriotic flair
Patriotism ran high as the Augusta GreenJackets opened their
2003 season at Lake Olmstead Stadium on Thursday night. Augusta
Chronicle
- Braves vs. Sand Gnats
When the voices at Grayson Stadium joined in the time-honored
anthem of baseball during Thursday’s opening game between
the Rome Braves and the Savannah Sand Gnats, the lyrics
rang true in the stands as Romans cheered on their new minor
league team during its first contest. Rome
News-Tribune
- Rome falls: Sand Gnats begin season with 7-2 win over
Braves. Savannah
Morning News
2nd Buford area cabinet business suffers
fire damage
Firefighters have battled a blaze at a second cabinet company
in north Gwinnett in as many days, this time in Buford. AccessNorthGeorgia.com
Macon officials, businesses discussing plans
for 'First Friday'
If Macon officials lift an outdoor-drinking ban for the first
Friday of each month, some city businesses say they would
plan outdoor activities as a way to lure residents and visitors
into the downtown.
Macon Telegraph
* County proposes
to square finances with city
A $47,000 bill presented to the county by the City of Tifton
for a shortfall in the fire protection budget may be deducted
from the $137,000 the county administrator said Tuesday the
city owes for E-911 services. Tifton
Gazette
Group starts recall process in Milledgeville
A group of residents angry over what they perceive as a lack
of representation filed papers Thursday announcing their intentions
to recall half of the City Council. Macon
Telegraph
Proposed speed tables causing division in
Gainesville
A request for a speed table on Memorial Drive on the north
side of Gainesville could have the neighborhood - and the
Gainesville City Council - divided. AccessNorthGeorgia.com
Education reform
"Gov. Sonny Perdue might get some of his education reform
plan to the floor of the state House, but he may not get all
of it. The governor's education plan was unveiled in February
and sent to both the House and Senate. The Senate acted on
the plan first, passing Senate Bills 248 and 249 over to the
House. Meanwhile, corresponding House Bills 115 and 116 have
been in the Education Committee." Columbus
Ledger-Enquirer
Neighborhood web watch
"Georgia is starting to walk a dangerous tightrope in
making the whereabouts and photos of released convicted felons
available through an Internet database that anyone can search
by name, ZIP code and so forth. While on the whole it is fitting,
even proper, there's a consequence to making such information
so easily available that has not yet been addressed."
Rome
News-Tribune
Daylight shifting time
"Saturday night we'll complain about being owed an hour
of sleep for the next six months. Our spouses will insist
we install the new fire alarm batteries we forgot to buy.
And we will all miss at least one clock as we spring forward
hands and digital dials all over the house - the clock we
will see first Sunday morning and thereby make a big mistake
about how much time we have to get ready." Macon
Telegraph
* Schools should plan ahead
for state cutbacks
"Cherokee County’s school system is facing hard
choices that will be required if state funds are reduced,
a prospect that appears certain as a result of legislative
budget slashing." Cherokee
Tribune
School officials right to crack down on kids,
parents for truancy
"Students don't care. Parents are disengaged. Teachers
aren't qualified. Administrators don't lead improvements.
Bureaucrats are meddlesome. Theories on the cause of problems
in public education run far and wide. While the opinions are
as varied as they are plentiful, everyone can agree on one
basic premise: Children won't get an education if they don't
go to school." Athens
Banner-Herald
States positive about water pact
"We're hopeful that a meeting this week of the governors
of Georgia, Florida and Alabama was a positive indicator that
water talks among these three states will result in an agreement."
Valdosta
Daily Times
Bills mired in legislative turf war
"The sandbox squabble that passes for this year's General
Assembly session is illustrated perfectly by 68 House bills,
all of which are local legislation affecting a single county
or municipality, languishing in a Senate committee. It seems
senators, mostly Republicans, are mad because House members,
mostly Democrats, won't bring the Senate's redistricting plan
up for a vote." Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
* Use lottery
model for tax
"Georgia legislators are thinking too narrowly by discussing
a 15- to 17-cent per pack cigarette tax increase. Yes, the
state needs the revenue, but the more important element in
raising the price of tobacco products is the impact it will
have on Georgians' health decades in the future." Albany
Herald
* Gary Reese:
Nursing faces code red: Additional state funds aren’t
likely
"A shortage of nurses has been directly linked to 25
percent of reported medical errors, and to higher death rates
in hospitals, according to a national study. But these new
findings aren’t likely to persuade cash-strapped Georgia
lawmakers to cough up funding to help fix the problem. That’s
the consensus among health care officials, lobbyists, and
legislators." BillShipp.com
Frankie Mewborn: Warm Springs ceremony Saturday
kicks off fund-raising
"Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only U.S. President
elected to serve four terms. His incredible leadership during
some of the most difficult times of the 20th century transcended
political lines, helping him to unite our country in a common
cause against despair and enemies of freedom around the world."
GwinnettForum.com
Elliott Brack: Baseball can tell you a lot about a city
and area
"Change continues. We in Gwinnett particularly know that,
as change has become the by-word in our fast growth mode.
That same change is going on in most of North Georgia, though
at not quite the same clip as Gwinnett. Baseball is part of
change. For instance, just opening up this week in Rome, is
a Class A South Atlantic League farm team of the Atlanta Braves.
The Rome Braves opened the season last night (April 3) in
Savannah, and will play their first home opener April 11 in
their just-being-completed State Mutual Stadium, seating 5,000."
GwinnettForum.com
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