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Water still on the rise
The rain that poured into Northwest Georgia’s rivers
and streams dominated the task of area emergency workers Wednesday.
Rome
News Tribune
Ample rainfall does right by Ga. peaches
The first Georgia peaches are showing up at Whole Foods Markets.
With all the rain, the fruit is sizing up and looking beautiful,
a nice change from the last five years of drought.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
* Gates opened
at Lake Sinclair
Although two gates were open overnight at Lake Sinclair, the
Oconee River is not expected to flood near Dublin. According
to Mark Fuchs, a National Weather Service hydrologist at Peachtree
City, the Oconee River will only rise to about 18 feet in
the coming days. Dublin
Courier Herald
Georgia’s cheapest gas in Calhoun
Gasoline prices in Calhoun were the lowest in Georgia, according
to GeorgiaGasPrices.com, which compares prices reported by
consumers. Gasoline prices in Calhoun range from $1.139 to
$1.269 per gallon, with retailers speculating on what the
prices will do next. Rome
News Tribune
Taxing results of 26-cent hike on tobacco
First "sin tax" hike in 30 years has tobacco businesses
concerned about future; health officials relieved funding
still intact. Savannah
Morning News
Georgia tax revenue up in April, down on
year
Georgia's revenue from tax collections was up 1.9 percent
in April 2003, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue.
Atlanta
Business Chronicle State tax revenue up 1.9% for April.
Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Threatened loggerheads return to Georgia
beaches
Any day now the turtles should be back. In early May,
female loggerheads return to the beach where they hatched
decades before. Digging in the dark, they lay clutches of
more than 100 eggs. Florida
Times-Union
Ad campaign recalls era of official racism
The public service announcements are designed to drum up financial
and emotional support for the open-air sculpture and exhibit
by picturing the world as it might be without King's dream
of equality. The Washington-based Martin Luther King Jr. National
Memorial Project is seeking to raise $100 million. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Perdue won't take flag blame
Gov. Sonny Perdue is disappointed the legislation he will
sign this morning to change the state flag won't include the
Confederate battle cross. But he refuses to accept blame for
removing that emotional symbol from a statewide referendum.
Macon
Telegraph
- Georgia's 2001 flag flies for the last time
Georgia's flag was called a political masterstroke when
it was adopted in 2001, replacing a divisive banner dominated
by the Confederate battle cross. Just two years later, Georgia's
busy blue banner will be retired, likely forever. Gov. Sonny
Perdue plans to sign a bill Thursday to take down the flag
and replace it with a simpler design, inspired by a national
Confederate flag but without the famous cross of stars.
New
York Times/AP
- Perdue signs new state flag into law today. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Georgia senator threatens to sue Senate
Georgia Republican Saxby Chambliss is considering the extreme
measure of suing the Senate where he serves, hoping to break
a filibuster that has prevented two of President Bush's judicial
nominees from getting a confirmation vote.
Athens Banner-Herald/AP
- Georgia senators seek nomination reform
Miller, Chambliss want to change filibuster process.
Columbus
Ledger-Enquirer
- Georgia Republican threatens to sue Senate over judicial
nominees
Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., is probing the option of suing
the Senate to break the filibuster that has held up two
controversial nominees to appellate courts. Savannah
Morning News
- 2 GOP senators consider lawsuit to break filibuster.
Atlanta
Journal Constitution
- * Senator could file suit
to ease logjam
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss mulls suing his own chamber to
force a vote on judicial nominees. Albany
Herald
How a bill gets hijacked
Thanks to some deft maneuvering by the state's powerful soft
drink industry, a bill initially intended to ban smoking in
vehicles that contain children in car seats suddenly morphed
into legislation that permits MARTA riders to drink bottled
water on trains and buses. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Edwards' campaign slates Atlanta events
Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina brings his Democratic
presidential campaign to Georgia on Friday, starting with
a visit to Atlanta's Grady High School. Edwards will use his
appearance at the Midtown school to highlight his support
for education. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Foster kids may live with Perdues
Gov. Sonny Perdue, arguably the state's best-known foster
parent, said Wednesday that he and first lady Mary Perdue
might open their hearts and the Governor's Mansion to foster
children. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Nextel brings new services to Augustans
After testing the Augusta market since March, wireless phone
company Nextel Partners Inc. is coming out. Augusta
Chronicle
Upgrade boosts shares of Coke
A key beverage industry analyst upgraded his rating on Coca-Cola
stock Wednesday, citing several positive signs at the company
and an "internal cultural makeover" under the leadership
of a new president. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
For $795,000, this could be your hometown
The town of Rocky Ford is up for auction, and for the bargain
price of $795,000 it can be yours. The town, 11 miles southeast
of Millen, has been for sale since 1998. The original asking
price of $3.75 million has seen no takers, but owner Greta
Newton is optimistic that someone with a love for history
will snatch up the rural town. Augusta
Chronicle
A dramatic new challenge
Exec who fathered TNT's 'We Know Drama' campaign will try
to pep up TBS Superstation. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
NDCHealth's TechRx acquisition to cost $110M
Atlanta-based NDCHealth (NYSE: NDC) expects to fund the entire
purchase price from its existing cash reserves. The acquisition
is expected to close on or about May 28, 2003. Atlanta
Business Chronicle
HealthSouth founder wins ruling
Richard M. Scrushy, HealthSouth Corp.'s fired chief executive,
may use his assets for any purpose, a federal judge ruled
Wednesday, denying a government motion to freeze his money
and property pending his civil trial for accounting fraud.
Atlanta
Journal-Constitution/Bloomberg
* Atlanta March unemployment
rate flat at 4.7%
The unemployment rate in metro Atlanta in March was flat February
at 4.7 percent, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.
Atlanta
Business Chronicle
MCSi Inc. will relocate to Atlanta
Dayton, Ohio-based MCSi Inc., an audio-visual and broadcast
systems integration company, plans to move its headquarters
to Atlanta, cut a quarter of its staff and restructure by
the end of August. Atlanta
Business Chronicle
* First National Bank merging
with GB&T
GB&T Bancshares has announced the signing of a definitive
agreement for the merger of the $131 million asset First National
Bank of the South, with offices in Milledgeville and at Lake
Oconee, into the $742 million asset Gainesville based financial
services organization. Milledgeville
Union Recorder
Hartsfield Airport contract contested
Corey Airport Services of Atlanta contends the company that
was awarded the contract, Clear Channel, has a minority partner
that is well connected politically but does not qualify as
a "disadvantaged business enterprise." Having a
disadvantaged business enterprise designated in a bid can
be a key to winning city contracts. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
* Commissioners deny AT&T
permit in Harbins
Gwinnett County commissioners knocked down one cell tower
proposal Tuesday and approved another, but not before one
commissioner questioned if the structures should be allowed
on county land. Gwinnett
Daily Post
Worldspan scraps plans for new office tower in Cobb
Dewberry Capital's plans for a new Worldspan L.P. project
in Cobb County have crash landed. Atlanta
Business Chronicle
Architecture firms merge, form Steven &
Wilkinson Stang & Newdow Inc. Atlanta
Business Chronicle
Cambria opens fabrication facility in Alpharetta
Cambria began its expansion into the Southeast by opening
a new 46,000-square-foot fabrication facility in Alpharetta.
Atlanta
Business Chronicle
Clarke County school board will get heads-up on budget
Clarke County school board members will get a look tonight
at preliminary budget plans for the upcoming school year,
although the belt could be drawn even tighter in upcoming
weeks, after officials receive final word on the amount of
state dollars the county can expect. Athens
Banner-Herald
* Cox addresses
Darton graduates
About 200 students of all ages, colors and backgrounds marched
into Darton College's gym to "Pomp and Circumstance"
to receive degrees and certificates Wednesday night. Georgia
Secretary of State Cathy Cox delivered the commencement speech,
reminding students there are many definitions of success.
Albany
Herald
Gwinnett to check disciplinary data
Starting next school year, Gwinnett Schools will institute
error checks of discipline data every two weeks to make certain
serious offenses and punishments are properly being reported.
Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
- * Gwinnett administrators,
principals meet to discuss errors
Gwinnett County school administrators Wednesday met with
principals to explain the underreporting of more than 23,000
discipline incidents during 2001-02. Principals from Gwinnett’s
85 high, middle and elementary schools gathered in shifts
at school offices in Lawrenceville to learn what went wrong
and how they could help. Gwinnett
Daily Post
Richard Arnold sale revoked, then re-awarded
at higher price
After a nearly three-hour meeting in which most discussion
had nothing to do with the sale, the board reaccepted a new,
higher offer from Rhangos Brothers LLC, the same bidders who
had originally been awarded the sale. The new amount is $1,305,000.
Rhangos Brothers, a local developer and co-owner of Savannah
Hardscapes, previously had been awarded the property for $1,050,000.
Savannah
Morning News
Greenspace protection boosts property taxes
A study released by the University of Georgia has found that
preserving undeveloped land can actually put more tax dollars
into local-government coffers. Athens
Banner-Herald/Morris
* 92% support
Etowah restrictions in poll by environmental groups
An overwhelming majority of residents support increased protection
of the Etowah River, according to a survey conducted by several
environmental agencies. Cherokee
Tribune
* Clean Air
Campaign offers ‘Cash for Commuters’
Gwinnett County residents who drive to work by themselves
can get cash for changing their commuting habits. On Wednesday
The Clean Air Campaign kicked off its “Cash for Commuters”
program, which offers up to $180 to metro Atlanta residents
who try carpooling, mass transit or other alternatives during
a five-month period. Gwinnett
Daily Post
Air study: Macon not heaviest polluter
If the city of Macon somehow completely stopped creating ozone,
it would still have an ozone problem. A Fall Line Air Quality
study has shown that only about 10 percent of Macon's ozone
levels is caused by Macon, said Georgia Tech researchers Wednesday.
The rest comes from Atlanta, nearby Georgia Power plants,
or other sources outside the metropolitan area, they said.
Macon
Telegraph
* Buford residents
want walking trails. Gwinnett
Daily Post
* Recycling
centers raise neighbors’ ire in Covington
What started out as an organized discussion at the Covington
City Council Monday night, turned into an all-out war of words
as residents on Nelson Drive vigorously complained about nearby
recycling plants Scrap Metal Processors Inc. (formerly Newton
Recycling) and L&B Recycling on Ga. 81. Rockdale
Citizen
Athens program targets mosquito larvae
A mosquito control program was approved by commissioners,
effective immediately, for which they allocated $39,000 from
this year's general fund to help kill mosquitoes before they
reach adulthood. Athens
Banner-Herald
Macon Behavioral plans expansion
Macon Behavioral Health System, formerly Charter Lake on Riverside
Drive, plans to add 66 long-term beds in June. The treatment
center, which opened in March, can now hold 40 youths as part
of a short-term residential mental health program, said Ramsay
Youth Services spokeswoman Isa Diaz. Macon
Telegraph
Nonstop SARS investigation stretches CDC
The CDC's investigation of severe acute respiratory syndrome
--- now in its eighth week --- has challenged the agency more
dramatically than any event since the 2001 anthrax attacks.
Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Counselors say return can test troops
With troops expected to be coming home from Iraq within the
next few months, Army staff are preparing for the emotional
aftereffects of the war. Augusta
Chronicle
Glynn hospital authority bids to purchase
site
The Brunswick-Glynn Hospital Authority is offering $1 million
each to the city and county to buy the land outright, a change
in ownership that hospital officials say would allow them
to entice more physicians to a planned ambulatory care center.
Florida
Times-Union * County to
sell property to hospital board. Brunswick
News
VA adopts system to find hospital errors
Working in an emergency department for 10 years means forming
tight bonds with colleagues, said LaDonna Jenkins, a licensed
practical nurse at the Augusta Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Centers. And even though she has seen only one medication
error in that time, she knows witnessing an incident also
means being put in a tight spot. Augusta
Chronicle
Athens mayor will sign rental ordinance
Athens-Clarke County commissioners approved a hotly debated
rental registration ordinance 6-4 Tuesday after receiving
a total of more than 16 hours of public input in recent weeks,
both in favor and against the ordinance. Athens
Banner-Herald
- State ban not targeting A-C, lobbyists say
Legislation prohibiting cities from requiring rental registration
was aimed at stopping Atlanta-area governments, not Athens-Clarke
County, according to the lobbyists who pushed it. Athens
Banner-Herald/Morris
$17 million windfall means Fort Stewart
project can begin immediately
A new barracks complex at Fort Stewart is getting a significant
jump start because of a shift in funding priorities at the
Department of Defense. U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., announced
Tuesday that $17 million has been made available for the project.
Savannah
Morning News
Ga. 124 squeeze sparks action
Curse the two-lane bottleneck on Ga. 124 while you still can.
A widening project is on the way for the 3.8-mile section
between Centerville and Snellville, perhaps as early as next
month. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
* Norcross residents
must register to vote on mixed-drink referendum. Gwinnett
Daily Post
Plantation east of Atlanta needs help on
restoration
An hour and a half east of Atlanta, in Hancock County, Glen
Mary is a beautiful, isolated, important piece of the past.
Yet it exists in an undercapitalized twilight zone between
restoration and decay, between revival and obscurity. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
* Cobb residents
to vote on SPLOST renewal
Cobb voters will have the opportunity to vote to extend the
county’s one-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales
Tax for another five years during a referendum scheduled for
Sept. 16. Marietta
Daily Journal
Columbus bridge '99.9 percent,' should open in June
The new overpass on Veterans Parkway in downtown Columbus
will likely be open by the middle of next month, if not sooner.
Columbus
Ledger-Enquirer
* Cobb store
vows fight over adult films
A local video store is prepared to go to court to defend its
right to sell X-rated material in Cobb County. Marietta
Daily Journal
* Duluth, Snellville
mayors join metro Atlanta coalition
Metro Atlanta mayors formed a coalition this week, with plans
on offering solutions to some of the area’s problems.
Snellville’s Brett Harrell and Duluth’s Shirley
Fanning-Lasseter participated in a meeting Tuesday to adopt
by-laws and elect officers. Gwinnett
Daily Post
Train accidents won't derail passengers
Tuesday's early morning fatal train wreck in Liberty County
may have raised heart rates for rail riders across the country.
But the number of passengers will likely remain the same,
Amtrak officials say. Savannah
Morning News
- Engineer dies from injuries
A second person has died after Tuesday's Amtrak passenger
train collided with a delivery truck in Hinesville. Savannah
Morning News
- Railroad official: Close crossing that was site of
fatal wreck
A dangerous intersection at U.S. 84 and Ga. 196 causes more
drivers to travel across that railroad crossing instead
of making a left turn on the highway. Savannah
Morning News
White County commission working on occupational tax
White County Commissioners are in the process of establishing
an occupation tax for unincorporated areas of the county.
AccessNorthGeorgia.com
* Henry County officials
clash on three fronts
The county's chief magistrate is suing the Henry County Board
of Commissioners, the commissioners hired a lawyer to work
on the chief tax appraiser and auditors are questioning the
probate court judge. McDonough
Daily Herald
Fulton County property tax bills may increase
On average, Fulton County property owners will see an increase
in their tax bills this year if county commissioners stick
with the preliminary numbers they approved Wednesday. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Changing faces
Dramatic traditions in Savannah are getting new homes
and new shows, and new theater groups are emerging. Savannah
Morning News
* Laurens commissioners give
formal nod to SPLOST vote
The Laurens County Board of Commissioners have called for
a referendum seeking voter approval for a 1-percent Special
Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST, that will raise nearly
$18 million over 33 months. Dublin
Courier Herald
Artists make bulldogs fanciful focal points all over
Athens
The Athens-Oconee Junior Woman's Club sold nearly 3 dozen
4-foot tall bulldog statues in a "We Let the Dogs Out"
event to raise money for charity and draw tourists' attention.
The statues, painted by local artists, will be placed around
town. Athens
Banner Herald
* Gainesville stores bank
on Latinos for sales
Hispanic market growth outshines others. Gainesville
Times
Fulton 'hamlet' gets go-ahead
The mastermind of a plan to conserve 40,000 rural acres
in south Fulton received zoning approval Wednesday from Fulton
County to create a hamlet. In a swift 5-0 vote, the County
Commission said yes to Steven Nygren, the former Atlanta restaurateur
who now owns a bed-and-breakfast in Chattahoochee Hill Country.
Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Carter Project moves forward
"In just seven days in June, an entire neighborhood of
new houses will be created in Valdosta and become home to
25 families. This great accomplishment will be due to the
sweat of each family, the generosity of numerous businesses
and groups and the humanity of a former president." Valdosta
Daily News
Flawed process caught A-C commission in the
middle of rental fight
"If six Athens-Clarke commissioners were hoping for closure
when they voted in favor of a rental registration ordinance,
they didn't get it. The fact is no matter which way the commission
vote went the results were going to be the same: continued
conflict and uncertainty." Athens
Banner-Herald
Half a glass
"The good news for Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue in a recent
poll for Morris News Service was that just over half of voters
approve of his performance this past legislative session.
The bad news for the governor is that just over half of voters
approve of his performance this past legislative session.
Yes, he got half - at 53 percent - but that's pretty modest.
A score of 53 in school doesn't move you on to the next grade
level." Augusta
Chronicle
Secret Halliburton deal endangers U.S. credibility
"After repeated assurances that the United States had
no intention of handing control of Iraq's oil reserves to
American companies, the news comes out that a no-bid contract
granted to a company controlled by Halliburton --- Vice President
Dick Cheney's old employer --- goes beyond emergency repair
of Iraqi oil infrastructure to include running Iraq's oil
business and distributing its products." Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Filibuster follies
"Friday is the two-year anniversary of the day President
Bush sent to Capitol Hill his first judicial nominees. But
there's little to celebrate. Of those original 11, only three
have received hearings by the Senate Judiciary Committee,
and the eight remaining nominees have now waited a full year
for hearings. This despite the fact that Supreme Court Chief
Justice William Rehnquist has described the number of vacancies
on the federal bench as a 'crisis.'" Savannah
Morning News
Environment, military can coexist
"The Bush administration is trying to use the current
public goodwill toward the military to disguise an assault
on some of the nation's key environmental laws. It's a cheap
shot, and totally unnecessary. A proposal in the Senate would
exempt the Department of Defense from five major environmental
protection laws, ranging from cleanup of hazardous waste sites
to the Clean Air Act to the Endangered Species Act. The exemptions
would become part of the main defense authorization bill being
considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee this week.
Committee members in both parties have expressed concern that
the exemptions are too broad and point out that there is no
documented need for them." Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
Don't forget Rome
"In the fall, the University of Georgia plans to hold
a forum at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government on the
problems facing the state's "forgotten part," its
medium-sized metropolitan areas. According to Jim Youngquist
of UGA, the purpose is to give these areas, where about one
out of every four Georgians live, more political clout and
let their officials discuss common problems. Attending will
be folks from Athens, Albany, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah
and the Chattanooga, Tenn., suburbs. Conspicuous by its absence
from the list: Greater Rome." Rome
News-Tribune
* Smoking ban
health issue
"Leesburg will be in good company if it follows through
with a permanent smoking ban within the city, a move prompted
by a policeman who requested that City Hall be smoke free."
Albany
Herald
Perry should consider alcohol issue
"Perry City Council is taking the public's pulse on whether
or not to hold a public vote on permitting restaurant alcohol
sales on Sunday. Despite opposition expressed at a meeting
Tuesday night, the council would be wise not to take response
from this one meeting as the final answer. Perry is a rapidly
growing community which may very well find that its residents
are more in line with those of other Georgia cities that permit
alcoholic drink sales by food service establishments."
Macon
Telegraph
* James Hope: High-stakes
testing doesn’t benefit anyone
"I would like to thank the Georgia Association of Educators
for this tremendous honor for saving my career as a teacher.
There is not one shred of professional research that supports
high-stakes testing as a valid form of assessment. In theory
that should be the end of the debate. But I will share what
happens when this kind of test is implemented." Gwinnett
Daily Post
Dick Yarbrough: Why not to live in California
"I want us to focus on something positive, like why we
are privileged to live in the Great State of Georgia and not
some place like California. That epiphany came to me during
our recent earthquake. The quake was a big deal to us. Earthquakes
are so frequent in California they don't even make the evening
news unless San Francisco ends up somewhere in Mexico."
Athens
Banner-Herald
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