Ken Stanford

The nomination of veteran Sen. Max Baucus as U.S. ambassador to China reflects the importance to Washington of advancing the economic relationship with the Asian power despite recent strains on security issues.

Spain's conservative government on Friday approved tight restrictions on abortion, allowing the practice only in the case of rape or when there is a serious health risk to the mother or fetus.

Metro Gainesville led the state in November in the number of first-time claims for unemployment insurance (UI).

Citing strong progress on the economy, President Barack Obama said at his annual year-end news conference Friday that 2014 "can be a breakthrough year for America" after a long season of recession and slow recovery.

With Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, the Georgia Department of Transportation anticipates more travelers than usual during the holiday week. Motorists should expect congestion near malls and retail centers throughout the week.

Stocks are closing higher on Wall Street after the U.S. raised its estimate for economic growth in the third quarter.

Some stores are ending the holiday shopping season the same way they began it - with round-the-clock, marathon shopping hours.

Holiday travelers in the Midwest and parts East and South were keeping a leery eye Friday on a band of foul weather stretching across the nation's midsection that was threatening to mar the opening weekend of one of the year's busiest travel periods.