Miami begins to feel first effects from Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma's strong winds and outer rain bands lashed the Florida Keys on Saturday as the Category 3 storm pushed toward the state amid dire warnings of devastating gales, heavy rain and a potentially deadly storm surge. With sustained winds at 125 mph, Irma slowly began turning from Cuba's northern coast up into the Florida Strait on Saturday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said.

Irma eyes Southeast as it lashes Caribbean

SEPTEMBER 06: Alexis Ramos looks out to sea at Luquillo Beach prior to the passing of Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The category 5 storm is expected to pass over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands today, and make landfall in Florida by the weekend.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency for six counties ahead of any potential impacts of Major Hurricane Irma. Ahead of Hurricane Irma, I've issued an executive order prohibiting price gouging and waiving rules and regulations for motor vehicles transporting supplies, equipment, personnel, goods and services associated with disaster assistance and relief.

Traffic on Interstate 95 northbound Thursday morning, Sept. 7.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency for 30 counties ahead of any potential impacts of Major Hurricane Irma. The 30 counties under a state of emergency are: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Jenkins, Jeff Davis, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne and Ware Counties.

Candidates for governor make pitches at Barrow Gop BBQ

Four of the five Republican candidates to succeed Gov. Nathan Deal in next year's election brought their campaign messages to Barrow County Saturday evening, as each of them vowed to provide conservative leadership for the state. Secretary of State Brian Kemp, state senators Hunter Hill and Michael Williams, and Marc Alan Urbach made brief pitches to a crowd of well over 200 people at the Winder Lions Club during the Barrow County GOP's annual large barbecue fundraiser.

Carrollton teacher to serve on state charter commission

Carrollton High School culinary arts teacher Carmen Dill has been named to the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia, a state-level, independent charter school authorizing entity. Appointed to fill an unexpired term by Gov. Nathan Deal, she attended her first meeting Aug. 30 and will continue service on the commission through January 2019.

Top StoryStatue of Martin Luther King Jr. unveiled in his hometown

The daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. stood beside her father's newly unveiled statue Monday, just a few blocks from where he grew up, handing out hugs and telling each well-wisher: "It's about time." The statue paying tribute to King made its public debut Monday on the Georgia Capitol grounds in front of around 800 people including Gov. Nathan Deal, many other state political leaders and several members of the King family.

Statue of Martin Luther King Jr. unveiled in his hometown

The daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. stood beside her father's newly unveiled statue Monday, just a few blocks from where he grew up, handing out hugs and telling each well-wisher: "It's about time." The statue paying tribute to King made its public debut Monday on the Georgia Capitol grounds in front of around 800 people including Gov. Nathan Deal, many other state political leaders and several members of the King family.

Georgia unveiling Martin Luther King Jr. statue on capitol grounds featuring Confederates

Officials are placing a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. in the Georgia state capitol in Atlanta on the same property where two statues of Confederate officials stand, according to The new statue of the civil rights leader is expected to be unveiled Monday - 53 years after King delivered his famous "I have a dream" speech. It will stand on the opposite side of the state capitol as a statue of John Brown Gordon, who was a Confederate general and reportedly a leader of the Klu Klux Klan, NPR reported.

Statue of rights leader rises as other icons fall in South

The sculpted clay was dry and the bronze would soon be cast, but artist Martin Dawe still found himself waking with a start before dawn, worried that he didn't get the details of the famous man's face exactly right. On Monday, Dawe will find out if he succeeded when officials unveil his statue of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on the Georgia state Capitol's grounds for the 54th anniversary of the March on Washington.

Crawford: It’s time to show some common sense on tax breaks

Is Georgia doling out too many tax breaks? You could certainly make that argument. In this year's General Assembly session, lawmakers passed 10 bills granting various forms of tax breaks and exemptions that totaled nearly half a billion dollars: $483 million over the next five years, by one estimate.

Campus carry of firearms among new Georgia laws taking effect

Dozens of new laws are now in effect with the start of Georgia's fiscal year, including an end to a ban on guns on the state's public college campuses. Gov. Nathan Deal signed 275 measures into law after the General Assembly adjourned at the end of March, and more than 100 of them took effect as of July 1. The rest became effective with Deal's signature or were written to take effect at later dates.

Georgia: Sheriff suspends self after indecency allegation

A Georgia sheriff recently arrested by an officer who accused him of exposing himself in a park has suspended himself for one week. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports DeKalb County Sheriff Jeff Mann emailed sheriff's office employees Tuesday, saying he imposed the maximum penalty for conduct that "has a tendency to destroy public respect."

Legislative forum turns testy on climate change

State Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, left, speaks during a Monday forum hosted by the Athens-Clarke County Federation of Neighborhoods at Cine in downtown Athens. The Republican contingent of the local legislative delegation, comprising Sen. Frank Ginn, R-Danielsville, second from left, Rep. Regina Quick, R-Athens, and Rep. Chuck Williams, R-Watkinsville, addressed issues ranging from climate change to redistricting.

New school superintendent:Dr. Levett a solid choice

Board members had gone to great lengths to hide the identities of the four people who were vying for the position being vacated by 12-year Superintendent Thomas Lockamy, who is retiring next month. State law allows the board to legally withhold identities in such matters until only three names are on the short list.

Georgia governor to sign limits on drug treatment centers

Gov. Nathan Deal's office says he'll sign the bill, which also limits the number of treatment centers that can open in parts of the state Thursday morning. Deal also is expected to sign bills allowing the sale of an overdose-reversing drug called naloxone over the counter and expanding the state's prescription drug-monitoring program, which aims to prevent over prescribing of opioids .