Legislature's inaction puts drug effort at risk

ATLANTA (AP) - A new program designed to combat prescription drug abuse in Georgia might run out of money to operate only a few months after it gets under way in June.

Witherspoon ' embarrassed' by arrest; hearing set

ATLANTA (AP) - A court hearing on a disorderly conduct charge is scheduled for actress Reese Witherspoon, who said she's "deeply embarrassed" by what she said to a state trooper during a traffic stop in Atlanta.

The stories of 2 brothers suspected in bombing

Boy Scouts propose to lift gay ban for youth

NEW YORK (AP) - Searching for compromise on a divisive issue, the Boy Scouts of America is proposing to partially lift its long-standing exclusion of gays - allowing them as youth members but continuing to bar them as adult leaders.

Tornado warning for Walton and Morgan counties+

ATLANTA (AP) - The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for areas of Morgan and Walton counties in north central Georgia.

Deal signs bill incentivizing dual credit classes

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has signed a bill to give high school students an incentive to take dual credit courses and earn college credit.

Boston suspect's father says he's a 'true angel'

Official: 12 bodies recovered after Texas blast

Police go door-to-door in search for Boston bomber

WATERTOWN, Mass. (AP) - State police say officers are going door-to-door, but the Boston Marathon suspect is still on the loose.

UGA stadium concert might lead to more shows

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - University of Georgia President Mike Adams says he had some trepidation about hosting a concert at Sanford Stadium, which he said was a great success.

Republican: Boston raises immigration questions

WASHINGTON (AP) - The top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee says the events in Boston make clear the importance of understanding gaps and loopholes in the U.S. immigration system.

IBM tugs Dow lower; S&P 500 up after rough week

Poll: Public pessimism on economy is increasing

Russia's Caucasus: breeding ground for terror

1 of 2 Mass. bomb suspects dead; suburbs shut down

Ga. child care workers likely to face more checks

ATLANTA (AP) - A major change to rules governing child care centers across the state is likely to receive final approval soon as lawmakers, state officials and advocacy groups hail the move as an improvement to children's safety. Legislation passed by the General Assembly in recent weeks calls for every employee of the state's roughly 6,300 licensed child care facilities to undergo a comprehensive, fingerprint-based background check. The bill, which is expected to be ...

2 killed, dozens injured in bus crash near Dallas

IRVING, Texas (AP) - At least two people were killed and more than 40 were hospitalized after a charter bus careened off a North Texas highway and flipped onto its side Thursday, drawing a large emergency response as rescue crews struggled to reach victims inside, authorities said. The Cardinal Coach Line bus was on its way to a casino in Oklahoma when it suddenly weaved across the busy highway and struck two concrete barriers ...

Georgia could expand pre-k plan under federal plan

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia and other states could get billions of dollars over the next decade to expand pre-kindergarten programs.

Hail, damaging winds, tornadoes possible in Ga

ATLANTA (AP) - Forecasters say damaging winds will be the main threat as storms move into Georgia on Thursday, but some tornadoes will also be possible.

Woods favored, but challengers aplenty at Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - Eighty-three-year-old Arnold Palmer punched the air on an overcast morning.

Ga. couple arrested after son suffers brain injury

MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) - A metro Atlanta couple is being held in the Cobb County jail after their special needs son was hospitalized with a brain injury.

5 Ga. firefighters taken hostage; SWAT on scene

SUWANEE, Ga. (AP) - Authorities in northwest Georgia say a barricaded man is holding five firefighters hostage.

98 warrants issued in Ga. child porn investigation

Braves acquire RHP Ayala from Orioles

ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Braves have bolstered their bullpen depth by acquiring right-handed reliever Luis Ayala from the Baltimore Orioles for a minor-leaguer.

Survivor of '63 Ala. church bombing seeks funds

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - The lone survivor of a notorious 1963 Alabama church bombing that killed four black girls is seeking millions in compensation and says she won't accept a top congressional award to honor the victims. Sarah Collins Rudolph tells The Associated Press she feels forgotten 50 years after the Sept. 16, 1963 blast at Birmingham's Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Rudolph says "my sister was killed and I lost my eye" and says ...

Standard & Poor's 500 climbs to an all-time high

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks rose sharply on Wall Street Wednesday, pushing the Standard & Poor's 500 index to an all-time high. Technology stocks, which have lagged the broader market this year, surged after network communication company Adtran reported earnings that were double what Wall Street analysts expected. That's helping boost optimism that spending by businesses on technology equipment will increase. Chipmakers Micron and Intel jumped, as did other network equipment makers like ...

Rogers, Bare, Clement in Country Hall of Fame

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bare and Jack Clement are the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. The trio of trailblazing inductees attended a news conference Wednesday at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to announce the class of 2013. Each had a significant impact on country music in his own way, helping spread the genre far beyond its traditional borders. With songs like the omnipresent "The ...

Senators unveil deal on gun sales background check

WASHINGTON (AP) - Two pivotal senators have announced a bipartisan deal on expanding background checks to more gun buyers. The agreement could build support for President Barack Obama's drive to curb firearms violence. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Sen. Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania said their agreement would help keep firearms from criminals and the mentally ill. The checks would now apply to commercial sales, such as transactions at gun shows ...

Strong storms, possible tornadoes could strike Ga.

ATLANTA (AP) - Forecasters say strong to severe thunderstorms are expected Thursday afternoon into Friday morning across Georgia.

US couple in jail after fleeing to Cuba with kids

MIAMI (AP) - A Florida couple accused of kidnapping their two young sons and fleeing by boat to Cuba were handed over to the United States and imprisoned and their children were returned to their maternal grandparents, who have official custody, authorities said Wednesday. Joshua Michael Hakken and his wife, Sharyn, were being held at the Hillsborough County Jail on a number of charges including kidnapping, child neglect and interference with custody, the Hillsborough ...