Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane jailed on assault charge

ATLANTA (AP) - Rapper Gucci Mane was being held in jail on an assault charge after a fan told police the artist smashed a champagne bottle on his head in a downtown Atlanta nightclub.

Sources to AP: Gingrey to announce US Senate bid

Study: Health overhaul to raise claims cost 32 pct

Ga. lawmakers OK resolution seeking border shift

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia lawmakers are seeking to redraw the state's border with Tennessee and have authorized the state attorney general to file a lawsuit if negotiations fail.

Consumer confidence falls in March

Metro Atlanta residents discuss forming new city

TUCKER, Ga. (AP) - Some metro Atlantans are considering forming a new city.

Pawnshop owner angered by cable firm gun ad policy

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia pawnshop owner is angry about a cable company's decision not to run his advertising if it shows firearms.

Bars test limits of legal-marijuana laws in WA, CO

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - John Connelly leaned forward on his barstool, set his lips against a clear glass pipe and inhaled a white cloud of marijuana vapor.

Calif. gay marriage argument at high court Tuesday

US stocks fall on broad concern about Europe

Stocks reversed an early rise on Wall Street Monday as traders returned to worrying about the European economy.

Surprise abortion fight breaks out in Ga. Senate

ATLANTA (AP) - A bill making changes to employee benefits at a single state agency has evolved into an argument over abortion.

Lawyer says 17-year-old not guilty in baby killing

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) - The lawyer for a suspect in the shooting death of a baby who was killed in his stroller says his client is "absolutely" not guilty.

US stocks rise after teetering Cyprus gets bailout

Bike trail discussed for old rail route in N. Ga.

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Officials in Georgia are talking about the possibility of creating a bike trail where the former Gainesville and Northwest Railroad connected Gainesville and Helen.

Court: GA driver's license law is constitutional

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia's highest court has rejected a Mexican national's argument that part of a state law that requires a Georgia-issued driver's license to get behind the wheel is unconstitutional because it discriminates against non-Georgia citizens.

Joint Chiefs: Looming cuts would 'hollow' military

WASHINGTON (AP) - The military's top leaders are warning Congress that automatic spending cuts looming in March would force the Pentagon to slash operating budgets, weakening the armed forces and possibly forcing furloughs of 800,000 civilian employees. The Joint Chiefs say in a letter to Congress that the cuts would create a "hollow force" and would require aircraft to be grounded and warships to return to port. The chiefs said the troops on the front ...

Dow edges lower, still headed for stellar January

EW YORK (AP) - The Dow drifted lower Thursday, but stayed on track for its best start to the year in more than two decades.

Ala. child hostage standoff in 2nd day at bunker

MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) - A standoff in rural Alabama went into a second full day Thursday as police surrounded an underground bunker where a retired truck driver was holding a 5-year-old hostage he grabbed off a school bus after shooting the driver dead.

2 dead after storms rake South, take aim at East

ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Kandi Cash trudged in rain through the splintered debris of her grandparents' home, hoping to salvage photos and other keepsakes after violent storms raked the Southeast, leaving two people dead before the vast storm front moved on to pummel the East Coast.

Syria and Iran threaten retaliation against Israel

BEIRUT (AP) - Syria and Iran have threatened to retaliate for an Israeli air raid near the capital Damascus.

State forecast for georgia

...Wind advisory in effect until 4 pm est this afternoon for North and central georgia... .Today...Sunny. Highs 45 to 60. .Tonight...Mostly clear. Patchy frost after midnight. Lows 26 to 35. .Friday...Sunny. Highs 39 to 63. .Saturday...Mostly clear. Patchy frost. A slight chance of rain Showers. Lows 22 to 31. Highs 48 to 64. ...

Storms destroy homes, kill two

ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. (AP) - A massive storm system raked the Southeast on Wednesday, spawning tornadoes and dangerous winds that overturned cars on a major Georgia interstate and demolished homes and businesses, killing at least two people.

Israel conducts rare airstrike on Syria

BEIRUT (AP) - Israel conducted a rare airstrike on a military target inside Syria near the border with Lebanon, foreign officials and Syrian state TV said Wednesday, amid fears President Bashar Assad's regime could provide powerful weapons to the Islamic militant group Hezbollah.

Stocks edge lower after economy report

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks edged lower after a report that showed the U.S. economy unexpectedly contracted in the fourth quarter, putting the brakes on a January rally that has pushed stocks toward record levels.

Home demolished, cars overturned by storms

ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. (AP) - A storm that roared across northwest Georgia has left overturned vehicles on Interstate 75 northwest of Atlanta, and crews were responding to reports of people trapped in storm-damaged residential and commercial buildings, authorities said.

1 confirmed dead in Bartow County, Ga.

ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. (AP) - A massive storm system raking the Southeast hammered a Georgia town on Wednesday, overturning cars on an interstate and killing at least one person there, authorities said.

US economy shrinks 0.1 pct., 1st time in 3½ years

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. economy unexpectedly shrank from October through December for the first time since 2009, hurt by the biggest cut in defense spending in 40 years, fewer exports and sluggish growth in company stockpiles. The drop occurred despite stronger consumer spending and business investment. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that the economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter. That was a sharp slowdown from ...

Man shoots Ala. bus driver, takes child

MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) - Police, SWAT teams and negotiators were at a rural property where a man was believed to be holed up in a homemade bunker Wednesday after fatally shooting the driver of a school bus and fleeing with a 6-year-old child passenger, authorities said.

Trees down, outages as storms rake US

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A large storm system packing high winds, rain and some possible tornadoes tore across several states in the South and central U.S. on Wednesday, blacking out power to thousands, downing trees and damaging homes.

Updates with tornado watch issued for 9 counties in northwest Georgia.

ATLANTA (AP) - Forecasters say a storm system approaching Georgia will bring the threat of widespread damaging winds and isolated tornadoes to the state.