Georgia budget leaves Gainesville State College pleased, Lanier Tech 'cautiously optimistic'

Pardon Michael Moye for not getting overly excited about the state legislature's approval of funding for two needed construction projects.

Amicalola, Unicoi go green to save money

Georgia's state parks already have a reputation for being "green," but now they're taking it a step further.

UGA student claims he was profiled

Jim Diffly says he was questioned by the FBI for taking pictures of a Gainesville poultry plant because of how he looks. Local and federal authorities say Diffly was questioned because of what he was doing.

Despite rain, Lanier still far from full

Recent rains have boosted Lake Lanier levels up by half a foot in the past week, according to the National Weather Service. Gainesville received four-tenths of an inch of rain during the last two days of March, and lake levels continued to creep upward. On Friday and Saturday, about 1.5 inches fell in the area, raising water levels from 1,056.57 feet above sea level on March 30 to 1,057.03 feet ...

Iraqi boy to have surgery in the US

All indications are that another Iraqi child has made it the United States to receive life-saving heart surgery thanks to the intervention of a Gainesville native. Maj. Kevin Jarrard, a Marine from Gainesville who is currently in Iraq, has worked closely with the father of little Ammar Haddad Muhammad, a 5-year-old Iraqi boy. Jarrard has been clearing IEDs with father Hammad, who is an Iraqi police captain. According ...

Gainesville police, fire budgeting for growth

Two of the most expensive city-funded departments have asked the Gainesville City Council to consider the effects of city growth when tightening the belt on their departments' budgets.

Bike races in downtown Gainesville lure hundreds of spectators, racers

Hundreds of cyclists turned out Sunday to wheel through the streets of downtown Gainesville for the third leg of the Georgia Cup racing series.

Forest Service plans to assess trail conditions in the Jake and Bull Mountain area

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking public input on the future of a popular trail system near Dahlonega.

Bikers play hand of poker for a good cause

The Association of Recovering Motorcyclists rode through North Georgia on Saturday for a poker run, but the big prize was giving back.

Want a check? You need to file a tax return

Reuben Ivey, 63, sat patiently among 18 others Saturday in Gainesville's Senior Life Center, waiting to get help with paperwork to file an income tax return.

Iraqi boy lands safely in U.S.

Ammar Haddad Muhammad, a 5-year-old Iraqi boy, and his father landed on time Saturday night in Charleston, S.C., to begin the process of getting life-saving surgery thanks to help from a Gainesville Marine. Maj. Kevin Jarrard, a Marine from Gainesville who is currently in Iraq, identified little Ammar, whose father, Hammad, is an Iraqi police captain. Jarrard, a 35-year-old history teacher at Riverside Military Academy, commands Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, ...

Northeast Georgia History Center wraps up annual estate sale

The Northeast Georgia History Center held its third annual Antiques Show and Estate Sale on Saturday, giving local folks a chance to invest in antiques or find out if they already owned a treasure. The antique show featured tables of local and out-of-state antique dealers specializing in a variety of items. Many other items donated to the history center for the sale ranged from sets of wine glasses to a ...

More water is falling, but it isn’t flowing

While Gainesville's water use was expected to rise in March, the city's public utilities department reported that it actually decreased.

Three charged after 12 pounds of marijuana seized

Three people who had a package containing 12 pounds of marijuana mailed from Texas to a Gainesville apartment were arrested Friday, authorities said.

Gwinnett police: Gainesville driver was erratic

A Gainesville man drove his car erratically near the median wall on the left side of an HOV lane on Interstate 85 before veering out of control and triggering a wreck that killed four people Monday, police say in a report released Friday.

Campers learn how to handle loss of loved ones at Camp Braveheart

Campers at Camp Braveheart in Gainesville celebrated with plenty of cake and soda on Friday as they finished their week.

Recent heavy rains delay summer crops for local farmers

On a sunny, steamy Friday morning, Glen Cook harvests kale while his wife, Caroline, picks beets in a nearby field.

Gainesville pushes ahead with ‘island’ annexations

Pet shop owner Kenneth Neidenbach said he thinks Gainesville's plan to annex 115 "island" properties in Hall County is a tax grab that could put him out of business.

Man indicted on charges of stealing bronze eagle in Forsyth County

A Forsyth County man found in possession of a stolen bronze eagle statue was indicted this week on one count of theft by receiving.

Local boy scouts honor America on Flag Day

Local Boy Scouts of America Troop 3 scouts ceremoniously cut the stripes from a worn American flag Friday evening at a flag retirement ceremony behind First Presbyterian Church before burning each stripe as the local Col. William Candler Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution looked on.

Citizens' Academy alumni unite to support sheriff’s office

Gainesville resident Luis Santos-Rivas took the Hall County Sheriff's Citizens' Academy as a curious new resident.

Lake level holds up Hall County culvert project

A full Lake Lanier has put the brakes on a major culvert repair project in West Hall.

Most drownings can be silent and difficult to notice

Like the undisturbed surface of Lake Lanier, sometimes drowning can be calm and quiet.

Gainesville OKs reducing required notifications of annexation

Gainesville City Council unanimously approved amending land development code at a called council meeting Thursday morning.

Hall County formally presents 2014 budget

Hall County formally presented its proposed budget at Thursday's board of commissioners meeting.

Local student wins scholarship to study abroad

In the heat of the summer, 17-year-old Kelsey Kirkpatrick hangs out in the living room with her cat, Rosie.

17-year-old arrested after Wednesday crash in Forsyth County

Strong storms fell trees, knock out power in North Ga.

A strong line of thunderstorms that moved through Northeast Georgia on Thursday evening left about 8,000 homes without power.

Teen injured after being hit by vehicle while jogging

A teenager who jogged into the path of an automobile Thursday morning in Clermont was treated at Northeast Georgia Medical Center and released, authorities said.

Gainesville forms nonprofit to promote city

Gainesville City Council members heard a presentation on the Hotel Motel Tax Fund and information on forming a nonprofit corporation at their Thursday work session.