5 things to know today: Senate confirms Tom Price as health chief

Representative Thomas "Tom" Price, a Republican from Georgia and chairman of the House Budget Committee, holds up a copy of the House Republicans' Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal titled "A Balanced Budget for a Stronger America" during a news conference with other members of the budget committee in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, March 17, 2015. U.S. House Republicans propose to balance the federal budget in less than 10 years by cutting spending by $5.5 trillion without raising taxes, the chamber's budget committee chairman said Tuesday in an opinion article. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Tom Price

Credit: Andrew Harrer

Credit: Andrew Harrer

Representative Thomas "Tom" Price, a Republican from Georgia and chairman of the House Budget Committee, holds up a copy of the House Republicans' Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal titled "A Balanced Budget for a Stronger America" during a news conference with other members of the budget committee in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, March 17, 2015. U.S. House Republicans propose to balance the federal budget in less than 10 years by cutting spending by $5.5 trillion without raising taxes, the chamber's budget committee chairman said Tuesday in an opinion article. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Tom Price

1. Tom Price wins Senate approval. Senators voted early Friday to confirm Georgia U.S. Rep. Tom Price as the 23rd secretary of health and human services, elevating the former orthopedic surgeon to a Cabinet-level position that will be at the crux of efforts to remake health care policy in America. [Read here] 

2. Appeals court keeps President Trump's travel ban on hold. A federal appeals court based in San Francisco has decided against reinstating President Donald Trump's sweeping travel ban on visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations and refugees from around the world. In a unanimous 29-page decision issued Thursday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration's request to lift a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge in Seattle. [Read here]

3. What Hank Aaron has to say about the Braves. On the Braves' outlook for the 2017 season, the baseball great says, "I think the Braves are going to do well. Are they ready to win a championship? I don't think so, not right now. But I think they're going to be much better off than they were last year." [Read here] 

4. Anti-Trump protests planned at Perdue, Isakson event. The protests that have rocked Republican town hall meetings across the nation are coming to Georgia – even if the congressmen themselves are no-shows. Dozens of protesters are expected at a meeting on Friday in Greensboro hosted by aides to U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Johnny Isakson and Rep. Jody Hice. The trio of Republicans, though, won't be there. [Read here] 

5. It's freezing in metro Atlanta. You'll need a coat, not a jacket, on the way in to work or school Friday. Current temps are 31 degrees in Atlanta, 22 in Blairsville and 32 in Griffin, according to Channel 2 Action News. Temps will, however, recover quickly, hitting 57 by 2 p.m. and 58 by 4 p.m. in Atlanta. [Read here]