Republican Liberty Caucus

Georgia man accused of mop attack gets 20 years

The 19-year-old Covington man accused of attacking a corrections officer with a mop stick was sentenced to 20 years in prison, the Dothan Eagle reported.

Marietta, Rockdale superintendents among 4 finalists for state’s best

Two Atlanta-area school superintendents have been named finalists for the best in Georgia for 2011.

Future care for uninsured dialysis patients in question

Grady Memorial Hospital said this week it had negotiated a rough agreement with local dialysis clinics to provide care to 38 uninsured immigrants once served by Grady.

Driver killed in crash with gospel tour bus

The driver of a pickup truck that collided Wednesday with a gospel band’s tour bus has died, the Dawson County coroner has confirmed.

1 indicted in bleach-balloon attack

The 17-year-old accused of throwing a bleach-filled balloon at a Lilburn student was indicted by a grand jury Friday, Channel 2 Action News has reported .

Escaped inmate nabbed after trading gun for NASCAR tickets

An escaped Alabama inmate charged with murder was caught this week after he traded a gun for tickets to Sunday’s NASCAR race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Channel 2 Action News reports.

Barnes says Deal’s release of tax returns gives incomplete picture

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Roy Barnes’ campaign complained Friday that its Republican opponent, Nathan Deal, had only offered a peek at his personal finances while Barnes had made more than 1,500 pages of tax returns public.

Study: Flow of illegal immigrants to U.S. declines

A recent Pew Hispanic Center report suggests that the number of illegal immigrants entering the United States has dropped nearly two-thirds in the past decade, reversing a 20-year upward trend.

Marine from Griffin killed in Afghanistan

A Marine from Griffin was killed Wednesday in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense has announced.

Cops: Thieves in drag steal from Walmarts

Four people had their cell phone stealing spree down to a science, allowing them to get away with swiping $9,500 worth of mobile phones in metro Atlanta and Alabama, Channel 2 Action News reported Thursday.

Fox Theatre: Letter to ‘Phantom’ was a misstep

Fox Theatre general manager Allan Vella admitted Thursday that a letter delivered to longtime resident Joe Patten was heavy-handed and gave the misconception that the venue needed the apartment that the 83-year-old man has called home for nearly 31 years.

Georgia’s DNA database cracks 2,000th case

The crime wasn’t very spectacular, but it was remarkable: the 2,000th crime the state’s DNA database solved.

Trucker convicted of hauling weed amid cargo of fruit

A commercial trucker has been convicted on drug conspiracy charges for his role in hauling 911 pounds of marijuana hidden amid a shipment of papaya fruit.

Dr. Louise Gangloff Cording, 68: Specialized in brain injuries

Dr. Louise Cording specialized in treating patients with brain injuries because she was intrigued by how the mind works.

Flag flies after fight with Cherokee neighborhood association

The threat of more than $30,000 in accumulated homeowner association fines wasn’t enough to get Ron Tripodo to take down the pole flying a U.S.

Retired repairman wins $25,000 in lottery game

A retired Carrollton repairman nailed down a $25,000 prize playing All Access, a new Georgia Lottery instant game.

Georgia roads 9th best in U.S.

It’s small consolation when you’re parked on I-285 at rush hour. But for the third straight year, Georgia placed ninth in state highway performance and cost-effectiveness, according to Reason Foundation’s annual ranking released Thursday.

Investigators arrest Section 8 cheating suspects

Georgia investigators started arresting about 80 people around the state Wednesday for allegedly lying their way into federally funded Section 8 housing.

New plan submitted for Ga. grease plant cleanup

The proprietor of a former grease recycling plant has submitted a new plan to clean up the 90-acre site in the Jackson County community of Talmo.

Powerball jackpot rolls over to $47 million

The jackpot for Saturday’s Powerball drawing is at $47 million after no players matched all six numbers drawn Wednesday night.

Soldier found dead at Fort Stewart

FORT STEWART, Ga. — Investigators at Fort Stewart are trying to determine what caused the death of a military policeman whose body was found on the Army post.

Women wanted in bank robbery arrested in Atlanta

SWEETWATER, Tenn. — Police say two women suspected in the robbery of a Tennessee bank have been arrested in Atlanta.

Corrections officer dead after swerving to avoid dog

SAVANNAH - Authorities say a Statesboro corrections officer who tried to save an animal’s life ended up sacrificing her own.

FBI: Marines won’t be charged with hate crime

SAVANNAH - Two U.S. Marines accused of knocking a gay Savannah man unconscious will face only misdemeanor charges in the attack after the Justice Department declined to prosecute them for hate crimes, authorities said Wednesday.

Loaded gun found at Newton County school

Two juveniles are believed to be responsible for bringing a loaded gun to the Challenge Charter Academy near Covington, Newton County police said Wednesday.