State Senator Ed Tarver (D – Augusta) announced his resignation from the Georgia State Senate, effective 12 noon on November 9. On November 6, the full United States Senate confirmed Sen. Tarver to become the next United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

As Americans celebrate the first anniversary of Barack Obama’s Presidency, Augusta can also celebrate a first…as a local State Senator takes his place on the national stage. WJBF News Channel 6’s Kimberely Scott explains.

President Barack Obama elected Augusta’s own Ed Tarver to become the next U.S. Attorney for the southern district of the Georgia. Thursday, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the State Senator to the post.

It’s a big honor for a local leader. Georgia State Senator Edward J. Tarver has been nominated for the US State Attorney General for the Southern District. If approved, Tarver would replace Edmund Booth, Jr. who is retiring.

Georgia lawmakers are beginning furloughs next month to cut costs amid the economic crisis. The House and Senate lawmakers will take one furlough day each month. They will go on through the end of the year, when legislative leaders will decide whether they should continue.

The head of the state’s Senate education committee wants to create a law that would levy criminal charges against educators who change answers on standardized tests.

It’s been four years since former State Senator Charles Walker, from Augusta, was sentenced to ten years in Federal Prison on conspiracy, mail fraud, and tax charges. But, his supporters are taking to the streets to urge an investigation into what they call a political prosecution. WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

A group organized by Gov. Sonny Perdue is recommending that the state’s community colleges merge with the technical college system. The state’s eight community colleges are part of the University System of Georgia, while the 33 technical colleges have their own governing board. The proposal would create the first comprehensive community college system in the state’s history.

Gov. Sonny Perdue has signed a bill designating April as Confederate Heritage and History Month in Georgia. The new designation is designed to boost tourism at the state’s Civil War battle sites.

Gov. Sonny Perdue has a signed a bill that will hike electric bills for Georgia Power customers to pay for the construction of two nuclear reactors near Augusta. The new law allows Georgia Power to begin to collect some $1.6 billion in costs from ratepayers six years before the reactors go online.

Help may be on the way for tenants facing evictions because of foreclosures. Sometimes, landlords do not tell renters their home is facing foreclosure. Count on WJBF News Channel 6’s Fraendy Clervaud for the story.

State budget writers have taken an axe to research funding for the Medical College of Georgia, but continue to fund allowing MCG to expand to Athens. Augusta has stepped to the plate to help MCG, now are these cuts the thanks the city is getting for its efforts? WJBF News Channel 6’s George Eskola has the story.

A bill to revamp the Augusta Coliseum Authority has passed the Georgia House of Representatives. That bill would replace the 12-member panel with a 7-member version, six of those would be appointed by the Augusta Commission and one by the Legislative Delegation.

MCG could be facing some major budget cuts, under a proposal making its way through the state legislature.

The state Senate’s budget-writing panel has OK’d an $18.6 billion spending plan that funnels more state dollars to Medicaid. State workers, including some who already have been forced to take furlough days off without pay, will pay more for their health insurance, under the proposal.