GEORGIA

Runoffs draw voters today

Polling places across Georgia open at 7 a.m. today in counties with primary runoff elections.

Heated races in the area include the Catoosa County sheriff and House District 1 contests that will be decided.

In Dade County, five local races are in runoffs including the sheriff's race, clerk of court, Probate Court judge and District 3 Board of Education seat, as well as the House seat race between Republicans Alan Painter and John Deffenbaugh. Whoever wins the Republican primary for sheriff in Dade will face former sheriff Philip Street on the Democratic ticket in November.

In Chattooga County, on the Democratic ballot, incumbent Sheriff John Everett faces challenger Mark Shrader.

The polls will close at 7 p.m. EDT.

MEMPHIS

Ex-Sen. Ford out of prison

Former state Sen. John Ford has been released after serving four years in federal prison for his role in the Tennessee Waltz extortion scandal.

The Commercial Appeal reports a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed Ford was released Monday from a federal prison in Yazoo City, Miss.

The former state senator from Memphis, now 70, went to prison in 2008 after he was convicted of taking more than $50,000 in cash from undercover agents posing as businessmen seeking favors in the Tennessee Legislature. Ten others convicted, including four other former lawmakers, have served their sentences.

ALCOA, Tenn.

City builds tank to make brine

The Smoky Mountains foothills city of Alcoa has built its own brine-making facility in preparation for winter weather.

The Daily Times reported the city used about $32,000 in state street aid funds to build the mixing tank, which is about the size of a two-car garage.

Front-end loaders will dump rock salt into the tank as water is pumped in from below. Equipment in the tank mixes the two into brine that has about a 24 percent saline content.

A truck-mounted tank will be used to spray the brine onto the streets to keep snow from bonding to the pavement as it falls.

NASHVILLE

State offers free hunting Saturday

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has scheduled a free hunting day Saturday.

State residents on that day only can take part in the opening day of squirrel season without needing a hunting license. Hunters also do not need a wildlife management area permit on that day.

Hunter education requirements have not been waived for free hunting day. Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1969, must have successfully completed a hunter education course.