Bryan Pirkle

A House bill that would allow some schools to opt out of healthier meal standards drew a veto threat Tuesday from the White House.

Getting African-Americans and other minority voters on board is a priority for the GOP in part because birth rates among whites are shrinking in the U.S.; racial and ethnic minorities are expected to make up a majority of Americans within about 30 years. The number of African-American voters has increased steadily: 12.9 million in 2000, 14 million in 2004, 16 million in 2008 and 17.8 million in 2012.

Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday his office will consult with tribes across the country to develop ways to increase voting access for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

The House Armed Services Committee will investigate the Obama administration's swap of an American prisoner held for five years for five Taliban leaders that caused a political firestorm over the lack of congressional notification and fears the high-level Taliban could return to the Afghanistan battlefield.

Hillary Rodham Clinton's decision on seeking the White House again could stretch into 2015, and she's making no commitments about testifying before a select congressional committee investigating the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya.

Public input meetings begin Tuesday in Hall County on what project categories should be included in the next countywide proposed Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST VII). Officials with Hall County and the cities of Gainesville, Oakwood, Flowery Branch, Lula, Clermont, Gillsville, Buford and Braselton will host the meetings, which will be held at various venues across the county.

What do you know about life jacket safety, the 100-foot law, minimum age limits for boat operators, boating under the influence? These are just a few examples of things you should know before operating a vessel on public waters, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Crews are ready to begin construction of the Mason Street Parking Facility located near the Forsyth County Administration Building in Cumming.

General Motors is recalling more than 89,000 autos because of air bag defects and other problems.

A suspect is in custody following a tense SWAT standoff in Gwinnett County Friday evening.