Georgia on my Mind

(Newser) - The son of Martin Luther King says the nation can best commemorate the 40th anniversary of his father's assassination by taking concrete action to fight poverty. In an essay in the  Atlanta Journal-Constitution , Martin Luther King III called on the presidential candidates to commit to creating a Cabinet position, one that will "transcend the ceremonial." The poverty rate is 12%, same as 1968, and it now affects 36 million Americans. More »

(Newser) - A group of third-graders in Georgia plotted to kill their teacher before another classmate told authorities, reports the Florida Times Union . Police confiscated a broken steak knife, handcuffs, and duct tape from the kids, who apparently were angry because the teacher scolded a girl for standing on a chair. The 8- and -9-year-olds are too young to be charged with a crime in Georgia. More »

(Newser) - Delta Airlines canceled dozens of flights today and tomorrow after voluntarily grounding 133 of its older jets for inspections, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports. As with American Airlines, Delta is checking wiring on some McDonnell-Douglas jets to ensure compliance with FAA directives. "It's an inconvenience," one traveler said, "but I'd rather be on a safe airplane." More »

(Newser) - The so-called "Barbie Bandits"—two ex-strippers who were caught on video robbing a bank and giggling—were sentenced today in suburban Atlanta. Ashley Nicole Miller, 19, got two years in prison, plus eight of probation; Heather Lyn Johnston, 20, faces 10 years' probation. A male accomplice was also sentenced to 10 years in the 2007 robbery, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. More »

(Newser) - The Georgia hiker kidnapped on New Year’s Day used every ounce of her formidable strength, martial arts training, and wit to stay alive for 3 days, her killer told authorities. Gary Michael Hilton said Meredith Emerson fought back tenaciously when he demanded her ATM card, and managed to stall him for days, amid several brushes with authorities, by giving him false PIN codes. More »

(Newser) - Battered by skyrocketing fuel prices, Delta Air Lines will eliminate 2,000 jobs to cut costs, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. With oil prices driving the airline’s fuel expenditures $900 million higher than expected, the carrier will offer buyouts to some 30,000 employees, aiming to cut 1,300 flight attendant and agent positions in addition to 700 administrative jobs, mostly through voluntary severance and hiring freezes. More »

(Newser) - Waves of thunderstorms clobbered the stunned city of Atlanta today, killing two and wounding at least four others, CNN reports. The storms leveled more than 20 homes and downed power lines, leaving 40,000 people—including 10,000 in Atlanta—without power in northern Georgia. Authorities are warning people to stay home as a storm watch continues overnight. More »

(Newser) - The Smithsonian Institute today handed its top job to Georgia Tech President G. Wayne Clough, marking a return to the museum’s academic roots, the AP reports. Clough follows the troubled tenure of businessman Lawrence Small, who came under fire for raising executive salaries and for focusing more on money than on science. He once billed the institute $1.1 million for hosting official functions in his home. More »