A tropical storm warning was in effect for parts of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida thanks to subtropical storm Beryl, which is forecast to bring rain and cause dangerous surf over the busy Memorial Day weekend.

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Beryl to bring rain, wind to Southeast

Phillip Phillips, a 21-year-old pawnshop employee from Georgia with a gutsy vocal style, won the Fox talent competition “American Idol,” beating out Jessica Sanchez, a vocal prodigy.

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ArtsBeat: Phillip Phillips Wins ‘American Idol,’ Beating Out Jessica Sanchez

A growing number of states are passing laws that allow taxpayer-supported scholarship funds, but they have been twisted to benefit private schools at the expense of the neediest children.

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Scholarship Funds, Meant for Needy, Benefit Private Schools

Aimee Copeland, the 24-year-old Georgia woman who lost both hands and feet to a bacterial infection, is now breathing on her own, her father said.

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Flesh-eating victim breathes on her own

A foundation devoted to education about and treatment of flesh-eating bacteria cites government figures estimating 500 to 1,500 cases occur in the United States each year. But media coverage of these cases is rare, so the story of a Georgia grad student fighting the disease may help raise awareness, the foundation's co-founder says.

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Flesh-eating infections: Scores per year

The University of West Georgia graduate student infected with rare “flesh-eating” bacteria has proven to be “amazingly resilient,” her father said Wednesday, and a second apparent case has been reported.

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New flesh-eating bacteria case reported

The authorities in Georgia have declared a state of emergency and sent troops into the capital, Tbilisi, after severe flooding.

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VIDEO: State of emergency declared in Georgia

Sink your teeth into today's top stories from around the globe. Partially thanks to Mad Men , more companies are exploring the possible benefits of boozing on the clock. – NPR Ever wondered how to make a vegan Wendy's Frosty? No? Well, here's a recipe either way. – Bon Appétit Speaking of veganism, a children's book advocating a lifestyle void of animal products is drawing criticism because of its somewhat exaggerated claims. – Opposing Views “The Georgia militia eating goober peas!” How peanuts sustained the Confederate Army during the Civil War. – Smithsonian Let the whining commence: Wine prices are expected to rise as a grape shortage looms. – TIME

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Box lunch: Boozing at work and rising wine prices

Peter Hanson and Phil Mickelson were set to chase a Masters title on a picture-perfect day at Augusta National on Sunday, but Louis Oosthuizen made the biggest move early with a double eagle on No. 2.

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Oosthuizen Jolts Masters’ Final Round

Peter Hanson and Phil Mickelson are set to chase a Masters title on a picture-perfect day at Augusta National on Sunday.

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Ideal Conditions for Masters’ Final Round

After 20 debates, the leader in delegates says enough is enough.

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The Caucus: End of Primary Debates May Be in Sight

Bombs discovered in Bangkok were similar to devices used this week against Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia, Israel’s ambassador to Thailand said on Wednesday.

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Israeli Envoy Links Bangkok Bombs to India and Georgia Attacks

The new year has brought with it renewed pledges to make 2012 the year we finally take on the childhood obesity epidemic. (See an earlier post about the controversial new tactics officials in Georgia are trying out .) Max Greenberg has his own thoughts on this front. Greenberg works for the National Wildlife Federation and Outdoors Alliance for Kids . He’s an avid promoter of unstructured physical activity to combat the childhood obesity epidemic. (Nearly 20 percent of children and adolescents are obese at last count according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .) Read full article > >

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Advice from a former obese kid

ATLANTA — The Virginia football team was granted entry into the Georgia Dome on Saturday night in large part because it spent the fall listening to all the things it hadn’t accomplished in a long time and then accomplishing those very things. Next item up on the list: The Cavaliers had not concluded a season with a victory since 2005. Read full article > >

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Chick-fil-A Bowl: Virginia football falls to Auburn after injuries on defense, special teams miscues

As Patricia Cornwell’s “ Red Mist ” begins, medical examiner Kay Scarpetta prays that the “roaring and chugging and backfiring” cargo van she’s rented makes it through the Georgia Lowcountry, with its convoluted creeks, moss-webbed trees and kudzu-strangled underbrush. As she does, the reader also enters convoluted terrain — that of a thriller that’s diffuse and serpentine. Read full article > >

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Book World: Patricia Cornwell’s “Red Mist,” reviewed by Gerald Bartell