When Rep. Ron Forster, R-Ringgold, decided not to run for another term as the House member from District 3, he left the field wide open in the heavily Republican district that covers most of Catoosa County and part of Whitfield County.

Chattanooga is a natural at attracting retirees, and a couple of concerted efforts have built on that advantage.

In one short school year, Ooltewah High School coach Norma Nelson has seen some of the best — and the worst — of her students.

County elections officials in North Georgia are preparing for record turnout in next month’s primary and even more in November, based on the increase in new voter registration.

The barn at Greenway Farm that burned to the ground in April will be rebuilt, hopefully in time for the next peak summer season of the city’s OutVenture program, Chattanooga officials said.

Georgia officials continue to fight a lawsuit by 51 mostly rural school districts, including Murray County, that claims a lack of state money prevents them from providing an “adequate” education for students.

Despite tens of thousands of people flocking downtown for the Riverbend Festival, Greyfriar’s, a coffee shop on Broad Street, closes down about five hours earlier this week.

As families look to cut expenses in tough economic times, the rite of summer camp isn’t one of them.

The barbecue pits are already smoking along M.L. King Boulevard, and lucky lunchers might be able to find a vendor or two already willing to sell a taste of tonight’s Bessie Smith Strut.

Festival-goers will have a chance to do something constructive at this year’s Riverbend.

The nature of Georgia’s U.S. senators’ earmark requests doesn’t differ much from last year, with money sought for defense projects, research and infrastructure improvements for local governments topping the list.

Gen. William T. Sherman’s Atlanta campaign was bad news for the Confederacy in 1864. But almost 150 years later, it’s good news for Georgia’s economy. With Gov. Sonny Perdue’s final approval of $3 million in bonds last month, local and state officials believe the development of a Resaca Battlefield park near the Gordon-Whitfield county line is secured.

No one recalls exactly how or from where it came — except for a few “Marietta Manufacturing 1953” markings — but it’s been center stage at the Riverbend Festival for almost 25 years. Actually, the 196-foot long by 50-foot wide barge is the music extravaganza’s center stage.

With far less political tension than four months ago, Steve Farrow, an attorney and a former state senator from Dalton, was elected Thursday to the Transportation Board by North Georgia legislators.

Dalton, Ga., attorney Stephen Farrow, a former Democratic state senator who also was chairman of the state ethics commission has been elected to the state Department of Transportation board.

Kevin Harris, chairman of the Republican Party for Georgia’s 9th Congressional District, was selected this month to be one of 60 Georgia Republicans to attend the Republican National Convention this summer in Minnesota.

Water officials in Northwest Georgia’s Coosawattee River basin had considered building a reservoir long before historic drought gripped the area, and way before legislation passed to help with costs and permitting.

OutVenture’s popular summer kayak tours will go on, thanks to local businesses and residents, program officials said this week.

Protesters ended early their pro-vegetarian demonstration near Miller Park this morning after they said city officials asked them to leave.

Red Bank regulars flocking back to reopened shake, burger joint.

Georgians may be able to save some gas by ordering their favorite wines from home rather than making a trip to a farm winery, since Gov. Sonny Perdue last week signed a long-sought direct shipping law.

LaFAYETTE, Ga. — When Judge Ralph Hill hears guilty pleas, everyone in the courtroom knows they’re in for a long day.

Tennesseans, guard your water.

Gov. Sonny Perdue wielded his veto pen more lightly this year than last, but he used it to poke Dalton, Ga., in the eye.

Gov. Sonny Perdue wielded his veto pen more lightly this year than last, but he used it to poke Dalton, Ga., in the eye.

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue this afternoon signed a resolution from the General Assembly that urges him to negotiate with Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen for a re-examination of the Georgia-Tennessee state line.

Despite signing dozens of bills into law this week, Gov. Sonny Perdue still has hundreds of pieces of legislation from this year’s session on his desk, and a Wednesday deadline to decide their fate.

Forget the NBA playoffs. The best come-back sports stories of the season can be found at the Chattanooga District Senior Olympics this week.

It’s only a scheduling coincidence that La Feria Hispana falls on the eve of the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo, but La Paz de Dios officials said the Sunday events at the First Tennesse Pavillion exposes the Chattanooga community to a variety of Spanish-speaking cultures.

Local races and issues will be a major reason voter turnout will be strong in November, even though they don’t get the same billing as the nation’s presidential contest, election officials said.

The qualifying deadline Friday brought a couple surprises for North Georgia legislative races, both state and federal.

COALMONT, Tenn. — A biodiesel program started at Grundy County High School a year ago as a way to spark student interest in alternative fuels may soon help the district curb the cost of running buses.

Despite losing most of the kayak fleet for the city’s OutVenture tours in a Hixson barn fire this weekend, “not having a program is not an option,” Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Administrator Larry Zehnder said today.

North Georgia voters will see mostly the same choices for state legislators on the ballot in November as they did in 2006 — even in the Democratic challengers to the heavily Republican districts.

Growing up, Pam Kober swore she’d never be a “secretary.” Today, she finds herself not only with 22 years as an administrative assistant at Alstom, but also the president of the Chattanooga chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

Army Sgt. William Elliott Allmon didn’t just take the lead in convoys on the streets of Baghdad, he also dove right into the lives of his children and family when he was home.

Army Sgt. William Elliott Allmon, a Floyd County native, was remembered as a red-headed “prankster” and “one of the best” soldiers by about 100 friends, family and colleagues this afternoon at a funeral service with full military honors.

Erlanger hospital executives have begun “preliminary discussions” with Georgia officials to seek state dollars in payment for providing the highest level of trauma care to Georgians.

With the qualifying period for Georgia elected offices just 10 days off, state Rep. Ron Forster, R-Ringgold, said he may seek a Public Service Commission post instead of re-election to his District 3 seat.

ATLANTA — The Georgia General Assembly didn’t pass a resolution urging support for a high-speed rail link between the Chattanooga and Atlanta airports, but nothing about the endeavor is derailed, officials agree.

ATLANTA — North Georgia wineries are almost toasting a victory on direct shipping laws that will allow them to sell wine to customers via the Internet.

Top Republican leaders tried to show unity Wednesday as Gov. Sonny Perdue gathered them to review accomplishments of the legislative session that ended last week.

With $3 million in the budget passed by the Legislature last week, construction of a visitors center at Resaca Civil War battlefield could start by the end of this year, the project’s chief engineer said.

Legislation crucial to the proposed hotel at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center in Dalton rests where it failed last year — on the desk of Gov. Sonny Perdue.

With four minutes left, three votes kept Sen. Jeff Mullis, RChickamauga, from achieving a yearlong effort to find more money for transportation.

ATLANTA — House members agreed Wednesday to a Senate version of tax incentives for developers of tourism-related hotels — the bill upon which hung the prospects for a hotel at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center in Dalton.

Lawmakers worked down to the wire on the legislative session’s 40th day Friday to reach compromises on priorities Republican leaders had laid out from the beginning.

ATLANTA — After an expected nod from the Senate, Gov. Sonny Perdue will be officially authorized to begin border dispute negotiations with Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen — and told to file suit if talks fail.

ATLANTA — With today the last of the 40-day legislative session, Georgia lawmakers worked behind the scenes Thursday to broker deals and assure votes on key bills before they head home to campaign.

Taking a cue from Tennessee state lawmakers’ refusal to form a border commission and discuss the state line dispute, Georgia legislators will try a different approach.