Americana Music Festival returns to Athens

Twilight Americana Music Festival, a showcase of local folk, country and bluegrass music featuring the region's finest Americana acts, will return April 25-28 to Athens.

Gainesville public utilities department looks to pay refunds

More than $26,000 in refunds hasn't been claimed for water accounts with the Gainesville Public Utilities Department, according to a news release from the city.

Forsyth County man arrested; $34K of suspected meth seized

A joint law enforcement investigation has resulted in one arrest and the seizure of an estimated $34,000 in suspected methamphetamine.

Designs for Forsyth County jail, courthouse enter the final stages

The designs for a new courthouse and jail in downtown Cumming have entered the final stages before construction starts in July.

Pacers roll past Hawks 113-98 for 2-0 series lead

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana had everything covered Wednesday night. When Atlanta tried to get tough, the Pacers buckled down and got even tougher. When the Hawks tried to run, the Pacers simply slowed them down. And when the Hawks tried to rally, well, the Pacers punched back with Paul George, George Hill or any other open shooter. The result was the same. George scored 27 points, his second straight playoff career high, Hill finished with 22 ...

High school scoreboard: April 24

White County carded a team score of 313 to finish in first place at the Region 7-AAA golf tournament on Wednesday in Cleveland.

Braves fall to Rockies in 12 innings 6-5

DENVER - Even Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel blows saves from time to time.

Internet provider is subject of state probe

The Governor's Office of Consumer Protection has launched an investigation into Windstream for possible consumer violations by the Internet provider.

Class Notes: Earthquake doesn’t disrupt trip by Brenau

A Brenau University delegation was in Hong Kong when a devastating earthquake struck southwestern China on Saturday, school spokesman David Morrison said.

Your Views: Boston manhunt stretched the limits of US constitutional law

Am I the only one that is concerned about the forfeiture of the Fourth Amendment during the Boston manhunt?

Your Views: Job performance motivated some to cheat on tests

The viewpoint of Professor Lynn Stout of Cornell Law School in Sunday's Times is that the cheating scandal of the Atlanta Public Schools reveals "the dark side of offering incentives." She is really saying that test scores should not be used to measure a teacher's performance.

Chard and cheese pasta please

No matter how unimpeachable whole-wheat pasta is in terms of nutritional cred, I've always found it off-putting.

Upton brothers homer back to back as Braves complete doubleheader sweep

DENVER - B.J. Upton and his brother Justin hit back-to-back homers for the first time, leading the Atlanta Braves past the Colorado Rockies 10-2 Tuesday night to complete a doubleheader sweep that began with the coldest game at Coors Field.

High school scoreboard: April 23

Flowery Branch swept the doubles matches as the Lady Falcons defeated East Paulding 3-1 in the first round of the Class AAAAA state playoffs on Tuesday in Flowery Branch.

College Football Playoff to replace BCS

PASADENA, Calif. - The Bowl Championship Series will be replaced by the College Football Playoff.

Hawks still considering coaching options

ATLANTA - More than a week after getting bounced from the NBA playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks are still trying to figure out who's going to coach them next season.

Ga. 369 closed in Forsyth after striping truck overturns

School News

Hanh Nguyen, a 2013 graduate of West Hall High School in Oakwood, has been awarded a scholarship from the Baldor Electric Company Foundation for the 2013-14 school year.

Racing to the front

JEFFERSON - It was anything but a regular school day for the 15 local middle schools students who participated in the Jackson Electric Membership Corporation Junior Solar Sprint competition May 3. Using one of the Earth's brightest resources, the sun, students put their hand-built solar sprinters to the test in a fast-paced race competition at Road Atlanta in Braselton.

Braves lose third straight to Giants in series finale

SAN FRANCISCO - Fredi Gonzalez left the Atlanta Braves for two games following a series-opening victory at San Francisco to attend his daughter's college graduation in Georgia.

Tri-state water feud plays out in Congress

ATLANTA - The water dispute between Alabama, Florida and Georgia is provoking hardball politics in Congress, where Georgia lawmakers derailed a proposal that could restrict metro Atlanta's water supply.

Commentary: Proposed trade helps Big Pharma, other corporate sectors, not workers

WASHINGTON - The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a very special trade agreement. It is so special that our government officials who are negotiating it want to keep it completely secret from us.

Commentary: To protect American jobs, we need more global trade, not less

WASHINGTON - Those who think we can protect U.S. jobs by turning inward have got it exactly backward.

Perfect pink present for mom

Editor's note: North Hall High School junior Catherine Sartain, 16, wrote this column for her journalism class about Mother's Day.

Cato/Mitchell

Ed and Judy Cato of Hoschton announce the engagement of their daughter Carla Leann Cato to Stephen Fields Mitchell Jr., son of Steve and Garnie Mitchell of Cordele.

Births

Agans, a girl, Amelia Faith, May 3, Haley Agans and John Agans, Dahlonega.

Buffkin/Failyer

Timothy and Janice Buffkin of Buford announce the engagement of their daughter Ivy Catherine Buffkin to Matthew Lee Failyer, son of Katheryn R. Failyer of Gainesville and the late Danny Failyer.

Kitchen Inspections for April 12-17

April 12

Newsmakers in Business, May 12

Financial adviser Baldwin earns Edward Jones honors

Our Views: Grads, it's time to cut the apron strings

What a perfect mesh of milestones: Mothers Day and graduation, when a parent's pride intersects with a young person's ascent into the world as an independent adult.