Georgia Headlines

ATLANTA | The House voted overwhelmingly Friday for changes in legislative district boundaries approved last year despite Rep. Mark Hatfield’s charges they “murdered my constituents.” His Friday morning comments to the full House brought denials by Reps. Roger Lane and Alex Atwood during debate and harsh words from House Speaker David Ralston afterward. read more

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA. | A woman was in critical condition Friday after a car struck her as she was running in the dark, the Georgia State Patrol said. Amanda McGuire, 31, was crossing Demere Road in front of the St. Simons Health and Fitness Club at 6:30 a.m. Friday when a Pontiac heading east struck her on her left side, Senior Trooper Robbie Jump said. McGuire was transported to Southeast Georgia Health System’s Brunswick hospital, then transferred by helicopter to Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, where she was in critical condition, Jump said. read more

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, but for the first time since April 28, it’s probably not from the Honey Prairie Fire. The small crew that is monitoring the 309,200-acre fire flew over it this week and saw no smoke, said Arthur Webster, supervisory ranger of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The fire had been smoldering in recent weeks, but with winter’s cool weather, higher humidity and showers, the Honey Prairie had not advanced in months. read more

Welcome to Pod Rods, the weekly look at automotive stuff happening in Northeast Florida and elsewhere. We've got a special jacksonville.com look at the history on display at Daytona last week, a look at two Super Bowl ads, and rumors of a Lambo. To check out more car news, head on over to our news partner's First Coast Gears.   Now here's some automotive news from near and far:   read more

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA. | A woman is in critical condition after a car struck her as she was jogging in the dark this morning, the Georgia State Patrol said. Amanda McGuire, 31, was crossing Demere Road in front of the St. Simons Health and Fitness Club at 6:30 a.m. when a Pontiac heading east struck her in her left side, Senior Trooper Robbie Jump said. read more

Lawyer Desiree Watson has to complete the necessary paperwork and forward it to legislators if there are to be any changes made in the bylaws of the Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water and Sewer Commission. The Brunswick City Commission left her stymied when it decided Wednesday to delay action on a resolution calling for expanding the water and sewer panel membership from five to seven and to pay members $500 a month. It would also reduce the number of city and county commission members from four to two and drop “Joint” from the name. read more

BRUNSWICK - Usually the competition on the gym floor at College of Coastal Georgia is five against five with a basketball. But once each year, hundreds of young science students compete in the Coastal Georgia Regional Science & Engineering Fair. In this, the 28th year, there are 202 projects entered by elementary through high school students, said Kimberly Pause Tucker, a biology professor at the college. read more

ATLANTA - There was no shortage of witnesses Thursday eager to recount to a new House committee about how government regulations cause frustration and add expense. However, many of the witnesses complained about problems the General Assembly can do little about. And speakers provided little documentation on how the government burdens stifled job creation. House Speaker David Ralston tasked Griffin accountant Rep. David Knight with chairing the Small Business & Job Creation Committee and to conduct “Red Tape Watch” meetings. read more

ATLANTA - Legislation is moving through the General Assembly that would repeal nearly three-dozen education laws, many enacted during the stormy tenure of ex-Superintendent of Schools Linda Schrenko. Others were outdated or never implemented. The list of things to nix came from a commission appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal that looked at ways to give more flexibility to local school districts to help them cope with tight budgets. “It’s an ongoing process,” said Rep. Mike Dudgeon, R-Cumming. read more

FRIDAY, FEB. 3 The Big Read, through March 12, various venues. Events based on “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett. All events free unless noted otherwise. (912) 262-6934 or goldenislesarts.org. read more

ONGOING African-American Art Exhibit multi-media show of work by local African-American artists, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, Southeast Georgia Health System Outpatient Care Center Art Gallery, Starling Street, Brunswick. (912) 262-0628, shgh.org or artdowntown.net. SATURDAY Soulful Night of Keys, presented by Ritz Jazz Jamm, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum, 829 N. Davis St. Features Lonnie Liston Smith, Brian Jackson and Mark Adams. $21 in advance, $25 at the door. (904) 632-5555. read more

The Times-Union will have a reporter and photographer in the courtroom today. The day's developments will be reported live on jacksonville.com beginning at 10 a.m., when the media will be briefed on logistics for the 1 p.m. court appearance.  read more

Nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine was seized Wednesday when a Columbia County deputy stopped two men for speeding on Interstate 75, authorities said. The drug found in a plastic container is the largest bust of the drug in recent memory, according to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Two Georgia men were arrested. Sgt. Chris Sharpe stopped the northbound red Honda Civic about 5:45 p.m. and was allowed to search the vehicle. Sharpe found a plastic container with an estimated $150,000 of methamphetamine inside. read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. | The two schools involved in a post-game brawl that left a high school football coach severely injured will now play in different subregions. The Augusta Chronicle reports that the Georgia High School Association's Reclassification Committee has moved Hancock Central to a different subregion in Region 7-A to separate it from Warren County. GHSA Executive Director Ralph Swearngin says people in the region thought it was best to have the two schools in different subregions. read more

LILBURN, Ga. | The South's iconic groundhog, Gen. Beauregard Lee, waddled out of his "Weathering Heights" mansion and failed to see his shadow on the Georgia red dirt. The development bodes well for warm weather: No shadow means an early spring, hundreds of spectators were told as the prediction was made around 7:30 a.m. today outside Atlanta. The groundhog emerged to make the prediction moments after a crowd cheered, "Go Beau, Go Beau, Go Beau!" read more