Unusually massive line of storms aim at Midwest

Girl, 16, dies while 'car surfing' on vehicle hood

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Authorities say a Dawson County teenager has been killed while riding on the hood of a moving vehicle in a stunt known as "car surfing."

Hands-free texting still distracting for drivers

WASHINGTON (AP) - Using voice commands to send text messages and emails from behind the wheel, which is marketed as a safer alternative for drivers, actually is more distracting and dangerous than simply talking on a cellphone, a new AAA study found.

Southern Baptists re-elect first black president

HOUSTON (AP) - The Southern Baptist Convention has re-elected its first black president, the Rev. Fred Luter Jr.

Death of south Ga. sheriff ruled accidental

COLQUITT, Ga. (AP) - State investigators have ruled the death of a south Georgia sheriff who was found in a pond behind his house was accidental.

Deal: Georgia needs to examine forfeiture laws

ATLANTA (AP) - Gov. Nathan Deal says Georgia needs to examine changes to the state's civil forfeiture laws and called for more financial transparency.

Petition drive begins over funding of Ga. stadium

ATLANTA (AP) - A watchdog group says it's officially launched a petition drive to place a measure before Atlanta voters calling for the end of public financing for a new Falcons stadium.

Ga. pastor: Banned scouts welcome at her church

Threat prompts evacuations at 5 sites near Capitol

ATLANTA (AP) - Authorities say five state buildings near the Georgia Capitol were evacuated after a bomb threat.

US stocks follow global markets lower

Monument to Michelle Obama ancestor toppled in Ga.

REX, Ga. (AP) - Police in Georgia are investigating after a monument dedicated to one of first lady Michelle Obama's relatives was knocked over in suburban Atlanta.

Possible explosion causes power outage at airport

ATLANTA (AP) - Firefighters have been called to Atlanta's airport after reports of an apparent explosion at a maintenance shed.

Teen shot while selling candy in suburban Atlanta

JONESBORO, Ga. (AP) - Authorities in suburban Atlanta say a teenage girl has been hospitalized after being shot while she was selling candy.

New radios at Ga. Army base jamming garage doors

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - A new radio system being installed at a Georgia Army base is frustrating hundreds of homeowners in the Augusta area who have been locked out of their garages because of jammed remote-control signals.

US leaker faces hard choices while in hiding

HONG KONG (AP) - Edward Snowden, the former CIA employee who leaked top-secret documents about U.S. surveillance programs, has few options to stay one step ahead of the authorities while in apparent hiding.

Too many crocodiles, S.Africa police say

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Calling all crocodile experts - South African police say you're needed to help capture thousands of crocs out on the lam.

Court: Obama appointments are unconstitutional

WASHINGTON (AP) - In an embarrassing setback for President Barack Obama, a federal appeals court panel ruled that he violated the Constitution in making recess appointments last year, a decision that would effectively curtail a president's ability to bypass the Senate to fill administration vacancies.

Sen. Chambliss won't seek re-election

WASHINGTON (AP) - A congressional aide says Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia won't seek re-election to a third term.

Wells Fargo plans to hire 200 in Georgia

ATLANTA (AP) - Wells Fargo has announced plans to hire 200 new employees in the metro Atlanta region.

Jindal: GOP should change 'just about everything'

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is calling on the Republican Party to "recalibrate the compass of conservatism" as party leaders on Thursday promised fundamental changes to help stave off future losses.

Apple's sales slowdown tugs Nasdaq index lower

NEW YORK (AP) - A sharp drop in Apple's stock pulled the Nasdaq down with it after the tech giant warned of weaker sales. Other stock-market indexes eked out slight gains.

Gov't probes possible USAID bid rigs

WASHINGTON (AP) - Documents obtained by The Associated Press show the Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation into possible contract rigging by the general counsel at the government agency that distributes foreign aid.

White House says Obama supports women in combat

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says allowing women to serve in combat marks another step toward the country's founding ideals of fairness and equality.

US hit by new stomach bug spreading around globe

NEW YORK (AP) - A new strain of stomach bug sweeping the globe is taking over in the U.S., health officials say.

Arizona sends Upton to Braves in 7-player deal

PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona has traded outfielder Justin Upton to the Atlanta Braves in a seven-player deal that sends former All-Star infielder Martin Prado to the Diamondbacks.

Apple's sales slowdown tugs Nasdaq index lower

NEW YORK (AP) - A sharp drop in Apple's stock is pulling the Nasdaq down with it after the tech giant predicted weaker sales. Other market indexes were mixed.

How states fared on unemployment benefit claims

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level in five years, a positive sign that layoffs have fallen and hiring may pick up.

S&P 500 breaks through 1,500, first time since '07

NEW YORK (AP) - The Standard & Poor's 500 index traded above 1,500 for the first time since December 2007 following a sudden drop in claims for unemployment benefits, another sign that the labor market is healing.

Driver caused 15 crashes, damage, death

SNELLVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Police are blaming a motorist for causing 15 crashes that left one person dead and another critically injured.

Congress charts new collision course over deficit

WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's sharp disagreements over taxes and spending are on a re-routed collision course, as Senate Democrats launch a plan that includes new taxes and House Republicans vow to speed up their plan to balance the federal budget with spending cuts alone.