Georgia stumbles on school reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Federal officials say schools in Georgia, Maryland and the District of Columbia have stumbled in making progress under the Obama administration's Race to the Top grants.
The Washington Post reports the Education Department flagged the three jurisdictions Thursday in a progress report on states that received $4 billion in grants. The states are in the third year of the four-year grants.
None of the grantees has been ordered to return funds. But Georgia has been moved into a "high risk" category.
12 tornadoes ID'd from storms
NASHVILLE - The number of confirmed tornadoes has grown to 12 as forecasters assess damage from Wednesday's storms in Tennessee.
All of the confirmed touchdowns were in Middle Tennessee, although there was severe damage from microbursts that produced high winds in West Tennessee.
The strongest of the tornadoes -- EF-2 strength -- struck Mount Juliet in Wilson County and near the Coble community in Hickman County.
Other counties with tornado damage include Cheatham, Dickson, Macon, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner and Williamson.
Cleveland man to lead ORU
TULSA, Okla. - Oral Roberts University has picked a Tennessee ministry leader as the school's next president.
ORU announced Thursday that William Wilson, who goes by Billy, would serve as the fourth president in the Christian university's history. School officials say Wilson was selected from a pool of more than 170 nominees.
Wilson now serves as executive director of the International Center for Spiritual Renewal in Cleveland, Tenn. He will take over as ORU president on July 1 when outgoing president Mark Rutland steps down.
Wilson served as vice chairman of Oral Roberts' board of trustees before his election as president.
Newborns tested for heart defects
MEMPHIS - Newborns are being tested for heart defects under a new Tennessee law.
The inexpensive and noninvasive test measures the saturation level of oxygen in an infant's blood. A low level can indicate one of seven heart abnormalities.
Le Bonheur Children's Hospital cardiologist Dr. Jean Ballweg calls the law "parent-driven legislation" and told The Commercial Appeal it reduced the risk of newborns being sent home from hospitals with undetected critical health problems.