ATLANTA -- The recent severe weather in North Georgia has left many residents with tree limbs and debris scattered through their yards.

The city of Atlanta will pick up limbs that are no longer than four feet in length and six inches in diameter. Yard debris is collected the same day as garbage.

Contact the city at 404-330-6333 for disposal of anything that is too big for a standard pick-up.

Atlanta Solid Waste Services

ATLANTA -- Students in Atlanta Public Schools improved their performance in 20 of the 30 grade and subject areas tested by the Criterion Reference Competency Test (CRCT) in 2011.

These gains exceeded state improvements in 15 of the 30 areas. School leaders attribute them to increased rigor and curriculum focus in reading, math and social studies.

"These student achievement gains came admist improvements to APS testing administration and security policies, procedures and protocols for both the 2010 and 2011 CRCT exams," said superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall.

There are two lovely, slaphappy, public office-related messes playing-out right now in Atlanta you won’t want to miss a moment of: the APS cheating scandal and Governor Deal’s trail of dubious dealings.

Thing is, the media attentions applied to both situations are so random and all-over-the-place it’s like Dick Cheney on a quail hunt; you never know where the shots are coming from, nor what they’re going to hit.

There is no clearinghouse of information, so you’re bound to miss something… if you’re not paying close attention.