Warmer temperatures keep crops safe overnight

Warmer than expected temperatures had growers with tender fruit crops breathing a sigh of relief on Wednesday. A freeze warning had been issued for most of the Northern half of the state for 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday. However, the low temperature at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport in Gainesville was 39 degrees at 6 a.m. By 9 a.m., the temperature had risen to 51 degrees, the same temperature recorded at midnight.

Oakwood receives transportation funds

The Georgia Department of Transportation awarded the city of Oakwood $100,000 for phase two of its downtown sidewalk improvement program.

Georgia poultry plants not among those raided

Nearly 300 people were arrested Wednesday in immigration and identity theft raids at Pilgrim's Pride poultry plants in five states.

Apartment fire victims still critical

A young girl and her 61-year-old grandfather remained in critical condition Tuesday at an Atlanta hospital, more than a day after being severely burned in a fire at Spring Street Apartments, a fire official said.

Sheriff says competition, inmate transfers will curb revenues from Hall County Jail

Bed space, bodies and some unwanted competition may lead Hall County Sheriff's officials to revise their initial revenue estimates for the new $54 million jail.

Homeowners unhurt in Flowery Branch blaze

A log cabin near Flowery Branch was destroyed after a fire broke out at about 8 a.m. Tuesday. No one was hurt.

One year after Va. Tech massacre, local campuses have improved security

With the shock not completely worn off, colleges nationwide are operating or putting in place security measures to help prevent a repeat of the Virginia Tech massacre, which happened a year ago today.

Man gets 7 years for exploitation

A 49-year-old man who sexually exploited his teenage wife must serve seven years in prison and can't contact her when he gets out, a Hall County judge ruled Tuesday.

Advocates encourage reporting of elder abuse

In observance of National Victims' Rights Week, the Georgia Department of Human Resources is urging people to report suspected cases of elder abuse.

North Hall soccer teams escape injury in I-85 bus wreck; games canceled

No one was injured aboard a Hall County school bus that was involved in a wreck on Interstate 85 while carrying members of the North Hall High School boys and girls soccer teams, officials said.

Heart surgery on Iraqi boy called a success

The open-heart surgery on a 5-year-old Iraqi boy ended Tuesday and officials at the Medical University of South Carolina are calling the four-hour operation a success. Ammar Muhammad was breathing on his own in a surgical recovery room at the Charleston hospital. He was born with a condition called tetralogy of Fallot, which is normally treated when the child is an infant. However, the surgical procedure to correct the condition ...

Corps issues new water plan

WASHINGTON - The Corps of Engineers on Tuesday proposed a new southeastern water-sharing plan that would allow lower river flows into Florida's Apalachicola Bay during extreme drought - a move that the Corps acknowledged is likely to harm threatened species there.

Tax day brings protesters and procrastinators, but post office lines are shorter

It's the day that many dread. The scramble for lost forms, the need to write a check to the government and just plain old procrastination are the reasons many taxpayers give for waiting until the final hours of the final day to file their annual state and federal returns.

Ex-Delta pilots say Northwest merger is necessary, but won't be easy

Two Gainesville residents who spent decades working as pilots for Delta Air Lines say the merger with Northwest Airlines is necessary for the survival of the airline industry, but they say the creation of the "mega-airline" will definitely take a good bit of tweaking.

16 laptops taken in Davis Middle burglary

Sixteen laptop computers were stolen during a weekend burglary at Davis Middle School in South Hall.

More than $85,000 in aid to be delivered to Oklahoma

Syfan Logistics received an "overwhelming" amount of donations from the community in response to its relief effort for the Oklahoma tornado victims.

Memorial Day travel to remain busy

If you plan to travel this Memorial Day holiday weekend, you may find things just a little bit less crowded. But don't count on it.

Dogs available for adoption after seized in hoarding case

Some dogs are already in new homes since being seized May 16 in an animal hoarding case, with the rest being prepared for adoption.

Hall leaders discuss library budget request

Hall County commissioners heard two budget requests for 2014 at their meeting Wednesday afternoon from the Hall County Library System director and Superior Court clerk.

Veterans killed in action remembered

Members of the American Legion Post 7, Unit 7, in Gainesville, along with area Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, were busy Wednesday ahead of the Memorial Day holiday. Legion members and scouts were placing flowers on veterans' graves in observance of the holiday, celebrated on the last Monday in May to recognize Americans who have died while serving.

Gainesville pedestrian bridge to close temporarily

The pedestrian bridge in downtown Gainesville will close Tuesday through May 31 for sidewalk repairs on the City Hall side.

Buford: Burglaries reported in county’s flooded areas

The Hall County Sheriff's Office is checking out reports of burglaries and entering auto incidents near flooded areas in the area of the Hall and Gwinnett county line in Buford.

Driver succumbs to injuries in wreck

Covington: Fox bites students attending school

Principal Coleman says goodbye to friends and school

Mark Coleman and the late Chris Mance spent the last few years preparing for retirement.

Hall County schools looking at new visitor identification system

Visitors to Hall County schools could have a new security checkpoint to go through beginning next school year.

German tourists learn about diversity

A Wednesday visit to Hall County by several German tourists served to illuminate a reality prominent in the U.S., and increasingly in the forefront of modern Europe - the tide of immigration.

Ex-bank manager from Murrayville charged in theft

Class Notes: Uzbekistanis visit Lanier Tech

A group of 11 Uzbekistanis, including farmers, businessmen and a representative of the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management recently visited Lanier Technical College to learn about its refrigeration program.

Local political group protests IRS focus

Area residents took to the sidewalk in front of the local Internal Revenue Service office, waving signs and encouraging people driving by to honk in protest of the agency and revelations that some conservative groups have been targeted by IRS agents.