Senate Democrats on track to pass budget

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats controlling the Senate moved on Friday toward approving their first budget in four years, promising another, almost $1 trillion round of tax increases on top of more than $600 billion in higher taxes on the wealthy enacted in January.

Punxsutawney Phil 'indicted' over spring forecast

Tolls on Georgia 400 to end before Thanksgiving

ATLANTA (AP) - Transportation officials say the tolls on Georgia 400, a busy commuter route on the north side of Atlanta, will end later this year.

UGA student reports attack by mime

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - A University of Georgia student told police she was attacked by a woman who appeared dressed as a mime.

3 dead, including suspect, in Marine base shooting

Ex-children's hospital worker accused of abuse

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - A former employee of Children's Hospital of Georgia is accused of sexual battery involving patients at the Augusta facility.

Obama health law anniversary finds two Americas

Survey: Low-wage workers missing out on training

WASHINGTON (AP) - As they struggle to get ahead, many low-wage workers are not taking advantage of job training or educational programs that could help them make the leap to better-paying jobs. They are often skeptical about whether such programs are even worth the trouble, a new survey shows.

Universe ages 80M years; Big Bang gets clearer

Ga. jobless rate hits lowest level since early '09

ATLANTA (AP) - State labor officials say Georgia's unemployment rate has dropped 8.6 percent, its lowest level in the past four years.

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.

Stocks slip following homebuilding slowdown

NEW YORK (AP) - Caterpillar helped drag the stock market lower Wednesday after the industrial giant reported weaker worldwide sales. A mixed report on housing also weighed on the market. News that Apple's major supplier, Foxconn, stopped hiring at its largest plant in China helped push down Apple's stock. Foxconn reportedly said the hiring freeze was not caused by slumping orders for iPhones. Apple fell $7.29 to $452.70. Trading turned choppy after the ...

Ga. House approves regulations for pain clinics

ATLANTA (AP) - The Georgia House of Representatives has approved a proposal that calls for the state to license and regulate businesses that call themselves pain management clinics.

More scare tactics from Obama administration

WASHINGTON (AP) - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told Congress on Wednesday that if automatic government spending cuts kick in on March 1 he may have to shorten the workweek for the "vast majority" of the Defense Department's 800,000 civilian workers. They would lose one day of work per week, or 20 percent of their pay, for up to 22 weeks. Panetta also said the across-the-board spending reductions would "put us on a path toward ...

It's Congress fault

WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State John Kerry says the greatest challenge to U.S. foreign policy is not emerging China or Middle East instability. It's Congress.

State asks U.S. Court to halt execution

ATLANTA (AP) - The state of Georgia is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to vacate a federal appeals court order temporarily halting the execution of a death row inmate.

Greek yogurt popular with adults, will kids bite?

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) - Greek yogurt is taking over the dairy aisle, but will kids bite?

Administration developing penalties for cybertheft

WASHINGTON (AP) - Evidence of an unrelenting campaign of cyberstealing linked to the Chinese government is prompting the Obama administration to develop more aggressive responses to the theft of U.S. government data and corporate trade secrets. The Obama administration is expected to announce new measures Wednesday, including possible fines and other trade actions against China or any other country guilty of cyber-espionage. Officials familiar with the administration's plans spoke on condition of anonymity because ...

Delta jet slides off runway at Savannah airport

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - Delta Air Lines apologized to passengers arriving in Savannah after a jet veered off a runway and ended up in a grassy area.

Gingrich: GOP failing to grasp new demographics

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says President Barack Obama and Democrats are "eight to 10 years ahead" of the Republican Party in understanding the rapidly changing face of the American electorate.