"Federal child welfare authorities have fined Georgia $4.3 million for failing to adequately address a critical review of services to find homes for foster children and protect children from abuse.

The Administration for Children and Families, part of U.S. Health and Human Services Department, also said Georgia had not done enough to involve parents of children in the system and had not adequately provided for the children's physical and mental health."

They go on to blah blah say the system has improved since 2004. HA - what about the Jackson Bortz case or the 2 year old that died very recently under their 'protection?' What about the sky high number of abuse cases happening to Georgia children while IN foster custody?

FIRE Mary Dean Harvey and the agency might stand a chance. (That part is my opinion, but I stand by it. lol)

Georgia DFCS fined by federal oversight - failure to provide services

There's a survey on the site.

"Channel 2 was told the incident began after something happened at lunch to spark a verbal argument between two 6th graders. The verbal argument turned physical and a school resource officer with the Jonesboro Police Department says she had to resort to using a taser.

School officials confirm that an 11-year-old, 6th grade male was tasered by a school resource officer. They say the boy was physically assaulting a female 6th grader and refused to listen to verbal commands to stop. As a last resort the officer tasered the boy twice – once to get the students separated and a second time when the boy tried to attack the girl again.

The male student was taken to juvenile detention – the female was treated by emergency personnel and released to her parents.

Opinions are split on whether this kind of force should be used a school"

(I hope they consider why the students were not immediately separated & out of concurrent sight as soon as the verbal altercation started.)

6th grader Tasered at Middle School in Georgia

"ATLANTA -- Officials announced Friday they have charged Michael William Ledford with the brutal murder of Jennifer Ewing along the Silver Comet Trail earlier this week.

Officials say he could face the death penalty.

He went to the Dallas Police Department around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, bleeding profusely from a wound in his genital area, according to investigators. Police say Ledford claimed he was negotiating with a prostitute for sex when she bit him on his genitals.

Officers took him to the hospital for treatment."

(I heard she bit his penis very badly & that he was bleeding quite bad, so much that his whole pants were blood soaked by the time he got to the hospital. SHe really did fight as best she could.)

Convicted Rapist Now Charged in Death of Jennifer Ewing

This was a friend. She was such a sweet person.

My little boy is upset. They said on tv that her clothing was torn off, and her shorts were missing. My son said 'OMG I know what that means' and he ran to the bathroom. I just started crying. We found out she was missing this morning and then this afternoon they found her dead.

My sister rides that Silver Comet Trail every weekend. Now she won't do that anymore. Is that not terrorism?

When an older woman who just loves her family and children gets brutally raped and murdered it is heartbreaking and terrifying.

Why isn't it a safe world for women?

This was a friend....and now she's dead...

The Homeschool Herald is a newspaper by the local Atlanta and North Georgia homeschool community. It is starting to be distributed in and around Atlanta and North Georgia.

I find it just adorable. My own son has 3 pictures in this month's issue, but I know all of these kids and they are some really great kids, so I am proud of them all.

Homeschool Herald - A local newspaper by kids

House Bill 179 Concerning Evolution

Here's the bill on evolution

Here's the SB5- the proposed Law on Eminent Domain. Also known as the Georgia Public-Private Infrastructure Act. Expands rights of developers. Although still alive, this bill has been rewritten, mainly because of attacks from Democrats. Its been replaced with SB6, and the eminent domain part has been pretty much gutted.

Here's the SB5- the proposed Law on Eminent Domain

What an ugly site, and it seems like some pretty rabid rhetoric, but I totally do not understand the need for this law...

Links to the bill in question...and
From the website:

"On January 10, 2005, the Speaker of the Georgia
House, convinced legislators to pass a rule giving him
absolute power to win every vote, in every committee
that comes though the State House of Representatives.
Not just his party. Him.

This power, the power of a dictator, does not exist in
any other state in these United States. Not now, not
ever. All he needs to control every vote are his Hawks.
(Hawks is their term. It is even on their name badges.)

The Speaker’s Hawks are floaters. They may vote in
any committee, at any time, on any piece of legislation
at the discretion of the speaker. The fact that the Hawks
only vote at the discretion on the speaker is where the
dictatorship part comes in. And none of them have to
listen to all the lengthy discussion and boring debate.
...
Republicans kept their promise.
A dictatorship is the simplest form of government."

Ga. Legislature - Pending Ga. Law - Stop the Hawks Website