The scoop on Thursday, April 14: 5 things to know this morning
1. 'Never before in history:' Link between Zika, birth defects proven.
For the first time in history, a mosquito-borne virus has been identified as the cause of devastating brain birth defects. That was the conclusion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which on Wednesday confirmed that the Zika virus is to blame for severe developmental and neurological problems in newborns. Read more.
2. Questioning of jurors in hot car trial begins; most have heard of case.
Questioning of the first set of prospective jurors in the Ross Harris murder trial on Wednesday produced exactly what the court was concerned about: a stream of citizens who know about the case and have already formed an opinion about it. Eight potential jurors, from a pool of about 250 who answered a summons to the Cobb County Courthouse, were interviewed Wednesday. Read more.
3. Some APS educaors convicted of cheating free to return to schools.
A year ago, 11 former Atlanta teachers and school administrators were sentenced to prison, home confinement or jail after a historic test-cheating trial, yet many already are eligible to resume their careers. That's because state officials who oversee educational licensing don't necessarily yank a teacher's certificate when he or she is convicted of a crime. Read more.
4. APS officials: We're still waiting for city to hand over deeds.
The city of Atlanta holds the deeds to dozens of Atlanta school properties and has refused to turn them over to the school district, Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said. That means the school district can't sell four properties currently under contract. But Carstarphen said this week that she was seeking all 44 deeds she said the city holds. Read more.
5. Tuition freeze confirmed for Georgia's public college students.
Georgia's public college students won't see a tuition increase next year and will pay less to enroll in some online courses. The state's Board of Regents, which oversees Georgia's public college and university system, formally approved the tuition freeze and e-course discount Wednesday during a called meeting. Read more.
