US orders new visa reviews for arriving students

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Homeland Security Department ordered border agents "effective immediately" to verify that every international student who arrives in the U.S. has a valid student visa, according to an internal memorandum obtained Friday by The Associated Press. The new procedure is the government's first security change directly related to the Boston bombings.

Bombing probe takes investigators into Mass. woods

Ga man charged with fondling child in store

CARROLLTON, Ga. (AP) - A west Georgia man is being held without bond on a child molestation charge after allegedly fondling a 6-year-old girl in a Walmart store.

States fear loss of health care aid

Police warn motorists of 'bumping' carjackings

ATLANTA (AP) - Atlanta police are warning motorists to be on guard for a type of carjacking that occurs after vehicles are bumped in traffic.

Boston Marathon suspect's remains claimed

Stocks surge in early trading after hiring climbs

Deluge of rain could lead to flooding in north Ga.

ATLANTA (AP) - More than two-dozen counties in north Georgia are under a flood watch as storms approach the state.

Police say they didn't release Witherspoon video

ATLANTA (AP) - The Georgia State Patrol says it did not release the video from a state trooper's dash-camera showing a combative Reese Witherspoon confronting the officer during a traffic stop in Atlanta.

Fresh off victory, NRA holds convention in Houston

Driver killed by falling tree in western Georgia

CARROLLTON, Ga. (AP) - Georgia State Patrol officials say a driver in Carroll County has been killed by a falling tree.

New documentary examines the lives of porn stars

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Ever wonder what makes young, pretty, "good" girls pursue careers in porn?

Official: Shiny dog bowl sparks Calif. house fire

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) - A Northern California couple might be able to blame this one on the dog.

Witherspoon: I lied about pregnancy during arrest

BC-US--Reese Witherspoon Arrest,5th Ld-Writethru/260

Kingston promises 'common sense' in Senate race

Falcons stadium debate puts focus on priorities

ATLANTA (AP) - State and local officials are contemplating using millions of dollars generated by a special hotel tax to help finance a new stadium for the Atlanta Falcons, a move that has some residents wondering: Why, when so much needs to be done to shore up roads, mass transit and struggling schools?

Charges added in Southeast sex trafficking case

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - More suspects have been charged in connection with what federal prosecutors say was a sex trafficking ring that forced women into prostitution and traded them like slaves between cities in Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas.

Ga. House passes $19B amended budget

ATLANTA (AP) - An amended $19 billion budget plan for Georgia now heads to the state Senate.

Postal Service lost $1.3 billion over quarter

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Postal Service lost $1.3 billion in the final three months of last year despite a blizzard of campaign advertising for the fall political elections and a big holiday mail and shipping season.

Broun says he wants automatic budget cuts to occur

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - Traveling across Georgia to tout his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, Republican Rep. Paul Broun said Friday that he sees $100 billion in automatic budget cuts as Washington's only realistic option for trimming spending. Even with the Pentagon warning that the cuts would devastate the military, Broun said: "I want to see it go into place."

Man acquitted in fight over stinky feet

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - An Augusta man jailed after police said an argument over stinky feet left his roommate with a minor wound has been acquitted.

Stocks edge higher after trade deficit report

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks are edging higher in early trading on Wall Street after a report showed that the U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in December. Stocks were also boosted by strong earnings reports. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 66 points to 14,010 shortly after the opening bell Friday. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up eight points at 1,517 and the Nasdaq composite rose 28 points at 3,192. The ...

Massive manhunt on for ex-cop accused of killing 3

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Thousands of police officers throughout Southern California and neighboring states hunted Thursday for a disgruntled former Los Angeles officer wanted for going on a deadly shooting rampage that he warned in an online posting would target those on the force who wronged him, authorities said. Police issued a statewide "officer safety warning" and police were sent to protect people named in the posting that was believed to be written by ...

Gov. Deal: HOPE will be expanded for tech grants

ATLANTA (AP) - Gov. Nathan Deal and state lawmakers have reached an agreement to lower the grade requirements to qualify for HOPE grants at Georgia technical schools.

Obama pushes 2nd term agenda to House Democrats

LEESBURG, Va. (AP) - President Barack Obama predicted a tough road ahead as he urged House Democrats on Thursday to stick to their principles on guns, immigration and the economy in legislative fights with Republicans.

Boy charged with making threat involving school

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Authorities say a seventh-grade student at a Hall County school is accused of making a terroristic threat after they say another student heard the 14-year-old make a comment about "shooting up the school."

Senate poised to renew Violence Against Women Act

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate is poised to strengthen the principal federal anti-domestic abuse law, spreading its protection to gays, lesbians, immigrants and Native American women.

Weak earnings outweigh jobs news; stocks slip

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks remained in a holding pattern Thursday. Major indexes edged lower after a report that showed the jobs market is maintaining a slow, but steady, recovery failed to inspire investors.

1 lane remains closed on I-16 after fiery crashes

MONTROSE, Ga. (AP) - One westbound lane of Interstate 16 remained closed Thursday morning, a day after more than two dozen cars and trucks collided in a fiery pileup.

Movie makers plan sprawling GA studio

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Several investors in metro Atlanta have announced plans to build what would be the largest film studio complex in Georgia.