GNB Update

Here's what's happening for Thursday on GNB...

College students in Georgia could walk into bigger classes this fall. That's the word coming from college presidents statewide. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that while students can expect their classes to be bigger in the next academic year, they also could see more professors on campus. University of Georgia President Michael Adams told the AJC he plans to use part of the $17.5 million it has to bring 25 new faculty members to Athens.

Bad news for Georgia education. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports that the Peach State is ranked 35th reading proficiency among fourth graders. That's according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The study says that chronic absenteeism, low-performing schools, and loss of learning during the summer were blamed for the low ranking. The complete 62-page study can be read here.

A professor at a northwest Georgia college gets a rare honor. The Rome News-Tribune reports that Berry College biology professor Martin Cipollini will lead a tour of that institution's American chestnut orchard this Saturday. It's part of a national effort to save the declining tree. The orchard was first planted in 2007.

GNB is online at georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, on Twitter at twitter.com/georgianewsbeat, on Facebook, and via e-mail at georgianewsbeat@gmail.com.