Athens businessman becomes Republican chairman

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - The new chairman of the Georgia Republican Party says the party won't twiddle its thumbs under his leadership.

Jekyll breaking ground on overdue convention hotel

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. (AP) - Developers are set to start construction on a new convention hotel for Jekyll Island after long delays that largely resulted from difficulties getting a bank loan for the $41 million project.

Fog blankets much of Georgia in wake of storms

ATLANTA (AP) - Fog blanketed much of Georgia in the wake of storms that washed out roads in the northeast part of the state and led to rising streams and rivers.

Atlanta council considers 20-story Ferris wheel

ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta City Council is expected to consider a request to construct a Ferris wheel once used in Paris that would soar 20 stories over downtown Atlanta.

US gas prices up 11 cents over past 2 weeks

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) - The average U.S. price of a gallon of gasoline has jumped 11 cents over the past two weeks.

Ga. man pleads guilty to possession of child porn

ATLANTA (AP) - U.S. Attorney's officials say a 52-year-old man has pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography.

Braves bring Jason Heyward off disabled list

ATLANTA (AP) - Braves right fielder Jason Heyward has been activated from the disabled list and is starting against the Dodgers.

Ga. Republicans gather in Athens for convention

A year after IPO, Facebook aims to be ad colossus

Stocks rise on hopeful signs for the US economy

Handel jumps into crowded US Senate race in Ga.

IRS refuses to turn over documents

30 catalytic converters stolen in past 2 weeks

ATLANTA (AP) - Authorities say more than 30 catalytic converters have been stolen from vehicles during the past two weeks in Atlanta and nearby Decatur.

Brady Campaign sues Ga town over mandatory gun law

NELSON, Ga. (AP) - A group that supports gun control is suing a north Georgia town that passed a law requiring gun ownership.

Ga. Rep. Brooks of Atlanta indicted for wire fraud

ATLANTA (AP) - A federal grand jury has indicted state Rep. Tyrone Brooks over allegations claiming he misappropriated more than $1 million in charitable funds.

Flying routine for Ga. doc, staff killed in crash

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - With four medical clinics across the Southeast, commuting by private plane was a routine day at work for Dr. Steven Roth and his surgical staff. The Augusta-based vascular surgeon would fly at least one day a week to of the practice's satellite clinics in Atlanta, Nashville, Tenn., and Raleigh, N.C., where he and a small team of nurses and technicians would perform surgeries and consult with patients. Now, federal investigators ...

Emory president's essay draws criticisms

ATLANTA (AP) - In recent years, Emory University made a point to acknowledge how the school was once led by slave owners, but an essay by the school president has renewed debate about racial sensitivity on campus. Emory President James Wagner recently wrote about the three-fifths compromise on slavery in 1787 to talk about the value of finding common ground in politics. In the compromise, northern and southern states agreed that three-fifths of the ...

Some patients won't see nurses of different race

DETROIT (AP) - It's been called one of medicine's "open secrets" - allowing patients to refuse treatment by a doctor or nurse of another race. In the latest example, a white man with a swastika tattoo insisted that black nurses not be allowed to touch his newborn. Now two black nurses are suing the hospital, claiming it bowed to his illegal demands. The Michigan cases are among several lawsuits filed in recent years that ...

Dow bounces from 2-day slide to a 3-digit gain

Strong earnings from big U.S. companies pushed the Dow Jones industrial average to a rare triple-digit gain Friday, but the S&P 500 index still posted its first weekly loss of the year.

FDA approves new targeted breast cancer drug

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration has approved a first-of-a-kind breast cancer medication that targets tumor cells while sparing healthy ones. The drug Kadcyla from Roche combines the established drug Herceptin with a powerful chemotherapy drug and a third chemical linking the medicines together. The chemical keeps the cocktail intact until it binds to a cancer cell, delivering a potent dose of anti-tumor poison. Cancer researchers say the drug is an important ...

Sheriff to put idle inmates to work outside jail

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) - Saying he's tired of seeing prisoners sit around and drink coffee and watch TV, a newly elected Georgia sheriff plans to put them to work.

Rat tales abound in NYC after Superstorm Sandy

NEW YORK (AP) - At the height of Superstorm Sandy, city residents watching seawater pour into the subway system couldn't help but wonder: What will become of all the rats?

Ga. executes man who killed college students

JACKSON, Ga. (AP) - Georgia has executed a 38-year-old inmate convicted of killing two college students in 1995.

GOP senators are treading carefully with tea party

WASHINGTON (AP) - Twice burned, Republicans are treading carefully around tea party groups as they pursue a Senate majority that slipped through their fingers in 2010 and 2012.

Harvick wins 1st duel for 2nd victory at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Perfect so far at Speedweeks, Kevin Harvick has positioned himself as the favorite to win the Daytona 500.

Flu shot did poor job against worst bug in seniors

ATLANTA (AP) - This year's flu shot is doing a startlingly dismal job of protecting senior citizens from the harshest strain this season, proving only 9 percent effective, the government said Thursday.

Ga. high court dismisses request to stay execution

ATLANTA (AP) - The Georgia Supreme Court has dismissed a request for a stay by a Georgia death row inmate whose execution is set for Thursday.

NTSB: Plane aborted landing, hit utility pole

THOMSON, Ga. (AP) - A small plane aborted its landing at a Georgia airport before it hit a 60-foot utility pole and crashed, killing five people onboard and leaving two hurt, federal authorities said Thursday. National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt said at a news conference Thursday afternoon that the plane burst into flames after crashing. One of the plane's wings was cut off when it hit the pole, causing the plane to ...

US stocks keep sliding on weak data, Fed qualms

U.S. stocks continued a two-day slide Thursday on weak economic data and concern about the Federal Reserve's resolve to keep juicing the market. European stocks were sharply lower a day after U.S. stocks sustained some of their steepest declines this year. A monthly survey of European executives showed that business activity in the European Union slowed in February, a strong signal that a downturn that began last year will continue into 2013. France's CAC ...

US Supreme Court denies stay for Ga. inmate Cook

ATLANTA (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a request by Georgia death row inmate Andrew Cook to delay his execution.