Emergency Millions For MARTA

When Georgia lawmakers left the Capitol without adopting a transportation funding plan, they also reopened a bitter rift involving Atlanta's transit system that has sent local authorities scrambling for ways to keep the 500,000 riders moving. Transportation officials voted overwhelmingly to shift $25 million in federal stimulus funding to cover some of MARTA's losses. The effort is short-term, and, some opponents say, short-sighted. But the plan's proponents say it's the only proposal on the table to keep the system above water.

(Associated Press)

$800 Million Stimulus for Education

The Georgia school board has approved $760 million in federal stimulus funds for special education programs and Title I schools - institutions in low-income rural and inner city areas. In a specially called meeting Tuesday, the board voted unanimously to begin distributing the money immediately. The funding is part of the multibillion dollar stimulus set aside by the federal government to jolt the country out of an economic slump. Additionally, Georgia schools will receive millions in general funds from the stimulus package. The school board is expected to approve that later this spring.