1. Ga. Senate backs effort to close disciplinary proceedings for judges.
A measure that would clean house at Georgia's judicial watchdog agency and allow it to be even more secretive about its efforts to weed out bad judges narrowly passed the state Senate late Tuesday over the objections of bipartisan critics who said it would jeopardize the judiciary's independence. House Bill 808, and a related constitutional amendment, would overhaul the seven-member Judicial Qualifications Commission, created 40-plus years ago to investigate complaints against judges. An amendment tacked on last week would also shut the public out of a judge's disciplinary hearing before the JQC for the first time. Read more.
2. New campus top cop sought after another Georgia State crime.
As the investigation continued into a double shooting on campus, the Georgia State University president announced the search would begin for a new police chief. The move came the day after two people, including one Georgia State student,exchanged gunfire in a dormitory parking lot during a suspected drug deal. Both were recovering from gunshot wounds Tuesday at Grady Memorial Hospital, and both have been charged, police said Tuesday. A series of crimes on campus and nearby in recent months, including robberies at the library and a shooting outside a Forsyth Street restaurant, had already made safety a priority for students and employees. Read more.
It's not the NCAA tournament, but it is postseason basketball. That's sufficient for Georgia Tech guard Marcus Georges-Hunt, who is clearly enjoying the Yellow Jackets' run through the NIT. After two wins, he and his team have the opportunity to make the experience even richer. If Tech defeats San Diego State in its own arena in Wednesday night's quarterfinal matchup, the Yellow Jackets will advance to the NIT semifinals in New York's Madison Square Garden. It would be just the second time that a Tech team has reached that stage. Read more.
4. Atlanta students accused of cheating in online classes.
Nineteen students accused of cheating on online courses have been suspended froman Atlanta high school. An Atlanta Public Schools spokeswoman called the case "an isolated incident." The alleged cheating comes after staff at the same school warned the school board that students in online classes were awarded grades they did not earn. And it comes a year after students at another Atlanta high school used a teacher's account to change online course grades. In Atlanta, as in many districts nationally, more students are taking classes online as part of regular instruction and to make up credit for failed classes. Atlanta's expanding use of online classes includes the use of "blended learning" at Crim, which entailsonline courseworksupervised by in-person teachers. Read more.
5. Senator defends Ga. 'religious liberty' bill, but opposition remains.
One of the key authors of Georgia's "religious liberty" bill defended the measure Tuesday while more groups and independent analysis questioned why it's needed. State Sen. Greg Kirk, R-Americus, said House Bill 757 should become law. He read from a collection of articles and reports from Canada and the United Kingdom that he said showed parents losing control of what their children are taught in schools, and pastors and churches being forced to perform gay weddings as the result of the legalization of same-sex marriage last year. Read more.
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