The Clarke County School Superintendent who won state School Superintendent of the Year honors last year was named National School Superintendent of the Year last night in California. Dr. Phil Lanoue was named over three other finalists during an education conference in San Diego. Lanoue has been superintendent of Clarke County Schools for the past six years.

Most of the Athens area schools that were closed Thursday--including those in Clarke and Madison counties--are reopening this morning. The Georgia DOT says there remains the threat of black ice on roads in north Georgia, including those in and around Athens.

The 27th annual Red Clay Conference is on tap for today at UGA: the student-run environmental law conference gets underway at 9 o'clock this morning in the University of Georgia's Dean Rusk Hall.

The Board of Trustees for the University of Georgia Foundation meets today at the newly dedicated University office in Washington. UGA cut the ribbon on that DC facility Thursday. An open house for the Washington Center is set for this afternoon.

The 20th annual Athens Home and Garden Show is set for Saturday and Sunday at the Classic Center in downtown Athens. Organizers say some 90 vendors and exhibitors are taking part.

The Wendy’s restaurant on Prince Avenue won’t be serving burgers and fries for a while: the popular eatery was gutted by a Thursday afternoon fire. Athens-Clarke County firefighters battled the blaze. They say there were no injuries, and no word yet on the cause of the fire.

The State Senate votes to prohibit local governments from banning the use of plastic grocery bags. Athens-Clarke County Commissioners have been considering just such a ban.

The Barrow County city of Auburn is hiring a new downtown development manager: Andrew Simpson is an administrator in the Morgan County city of Madison.

Deputy Commissioner Candace Taylor takes over as Tax Commissioner in Jackson County, holding the job on an interim basis until the next elections: longtime Commissioner Don Elrod is retiring, effective today. Elrod has been Jackson County Tax Commissioner since 1989.

Five suspects arrested in Gainesville, booked into the Hall County jail on drug charges: the suspects--men and women ranging in age from 28 to 47 years old--are accused of possessing and trafficking in methamphetamine.

A Gilmer County man is arrested in Hall County: Walter Kirk faces drug fraud charges. Gainesville Police say the 41 year-old from Ellijay used stolen identity documents in an attempt to acquire prescription drugs at a pharmacy in Gainesville.

The funeral for murder victim Steve Singleton is set for 10 o’clock this morning at the Torch Worship Center in Demorest. The 45 year-old from Flowery Branch was shot and killed earlier this week, apparently by former Gainesville Police Officer Anthony Giaquinta, who also shot and killed his ex-wife and wounded two Habersham County law enforcement officers before shooting and killing himself. Funerals for Giaquinta and Kathy Smith are set for Saturday, separate services in Demorest and Clarkesville.

Governor Deal gives the state a passing grade in its response to this week’s winter storm, a weather system that dumped snow and ice on much of north Georgia.

A new study says Atlanta's housing market continues to tick upward: more supply than demand fourth quarter Atlanta housing prices were up 11% from the year before.

The TSA ramps up security at Hartsfield-Jackson after woman carrying a gun flies from Atlanta to Phoenix.

A report from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta says children 5 years old and younger account for 70 percent of pneumonia hospitalizations.

NASCAR is Hampton this weekend, with stock car racing events today, tomorrow, and Saturday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Savannah is considering liberalizing its alcohol laws to allow 18-to-21-year-olds into bars and nightclubs to see live entertainment.

The Georgia House has passed its version of a state budget, preserving health care benefits for some part-time school employees. The spending package now heads to the Georgia Senate.

Deal and a group of state lawmakers are in New Orleans to see how that state turned around failing schools in the district after hurricane Katrina.

The Army National Guard is setting up a cyber protection team that will operate in Georgia, one of ten such teams being established around the country.  There is no word yet on exactly where in Georgia. The cyber security teams will be staffed by National Guard members in Georgia and the other states.

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