More Stimulus Road Projects On The Way

Another 22 road projects are set to go for construction next month. The state DOT says the new round of work represents more than $56-million certified from the federal stimulus. The work includes resurfacing 20 miles of road on Interstate 575 in Cobb and Cherokee counties. It also includes bridge replacements in Tattnall, Gordon-Murray, Bulloch, Candler and Atkinson counties, along with safety work to be done in other counties.

The department says that so far 63 highway system stimulus projects valued at $119 million have been awarded. It says another 43 worth an estimated $250 million will be awarded within a few weeks.

Storms thunder through Atlanta, briefly closing airport

Airport officials Saturday night briefly stopped arrivals and departures at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport due to thunderstorms that swept through the area.

The National Weather Service says that 50 m.p.h. wind gusts blew across the tarmac, causing about 100 Delta and AirTran flights to be diverted to nearby airports, according to a report in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

Georgia Power told the newspaper that about 143,000 customers lost electricity at about 10:45 p.m. Officials say they hope to restore power to the majority of customers by 5 a.m. Sunday morning.

Downed trees and power lines were reported mainly in Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb and Cherokee counties.

The southbound lane of I-85 near Tuskeegee Airmen Parkway was closed from downed trees, and some damage and debris was reported downtown.

FEMA denies storm aid

The federal government has turned down Cherokee County's request for disaster aid for victims of a tornado on May 20th. The money would have gone to uninsured victims. The twister caused about $3 million in uninsured damage. FEMA said it denied the request because there was not enough uninsured damage in the county to meet federal requirements.

Perdue requests federal disaster declaration

Governor Sonny Perdue has asked President George Bush to declare north Georgia county a federal disaster area.People in Cherokee county are recovering from the May 20th severe thunderstorms and a tornado.The declaration gives storm victims and the county access to federal aid This week the President declared 42 other storm-damaged counties in Georgia federal disaster areas.