Thursday, March 26th

The state Labor Department reports another dip in the Athens unemployment rate: it was 5.7 percent in February, down from 5.8 percent in January. Gainesville checked in with the lowest jobless rate in the state, with 5.1 percent unemployment last month. That’s down from 5.2 percent unemployment the month before.

The annual Georgia Science and Engineering Fair takes place today, with more than 700 middle and high school students from around the state showing their science and engineering exhibits at the Classic Center. Activities continue through Saturday. It’s sponsored by the Georgia Center and the University of Georgia’s Office of Public Service and Outreach.

Athens-Clarke County Police are investigating a reported armed robbery in which a University of Georgia student was the victim: it happened in downtown Athens, near the corner of East Broad and Arch streets. A 21 year-old woman says she was pistol-whipped by the one of the two gunmen she says robbed her. She was treated by medics. The robbery suspects remain at-large.

There is an afternoon meeting of the Athens-Clarke County Commission’s downtown master plan committee. It’s a 5 o’clock session at City Hall.

The Athens-Clarke County Board of Assessors meets today, 5:30 at City Hall.

*Today is day two of parent-teacher conferences for parents and teachers in the Clarke County School District, and another day of early releases for Clarke County students: elementary students are out at 12:30; middle and high schoolers at 1:30 this afternoon.  Those parent-teacher conferences continue tomorrow.

The Clarke County School Board’s legislative affairs committee meets this afternoon, 5:30 at School District Administrative Offices on Mitchell Bridge Road.

*Oconee County Commissioners meet this afternoon, 2 o’clock at the courthouse in Watkinsville.

Dan Martin, the project manager for Athens-Clarke County SPLOST projects, and former Athens Mayor Gwen O’Looney will talk about the citizens advisory committee that provide oversight for those projects in Athens. They’ll talk with concerned Oconee County citizens in a 7 o’clock forum at the Oconee County Library in Watkinsville.

*Gainesville police call her the "thieving mom."  She's wanted for passing bad checks all over north Georgia and metro Atlanta.  Police say the female suspect drives a black Ford Fusion with a "Baby on Board" sticker in the rear window.  She's allegedly cashed stolen checks at banks across the north metro area, including Forsyth County, Johns Creek, Marietta, and Canton.  Gainesville Police investigators say the checks were likely stolen out of another vehicle.

*This evening’s Hall County Commission meeting starts at 6 at the Hall County Government Center in Gainesville.

Lights, camera, and action in Hall County: movie production could make for traffic delays again today on Shirley Road in north Hall. No word on what the movie is or who is in it.

Gwinnett County Police are asking for the public's help in finding a thief who is breaking into homes in two subdivisions in Lawrenceville.

Fire leads to the closure of a building at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta: CDC officials say work has not been interrupted and public health is not in jeopardy.

A fully operational meth lab is busted in Atlanta: Atlanta Police investigators say it might be the biggest they have ever seen.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed travels to Tel Aviv: cyber-security talks in Israel.

Forbes Magazine's annual ranking of Major League Baseball franchise values puts the Atlanta Braves at $1.15 billion. That's an increase of 58 percent over last year.

A lecturer at Kennesaw State University is accused of assaulting an Uber driver.

It happened at a bank in Cobb County: a customer tackles and holds down a would-be bank robber until Cobb Police arrived.

The Georgia House gives final approval to the much-discussed medical marijuana bill: Governor Nathan Deal’s signature is expected Friday. The Georgia House has signed off on a proposal for a controversial constitutional amendment: it’s already been approved by the Senate. If voters approve in 2016, the state will be allowed to take over failing schools in Georgia.

Legislation that would open the door to up to six casino resorts in Georgia will be introduced in the state House today.