Bridge 9/1

When you open with a three-bid, you promise a seven-card suit. It logically follows that a four-bid would be on an eight-bagger. But be wary of opening four of a minor because it takes the auction straight past three no-trump - often our best contract when we have a long, running minor.

Astrograph 9/1

In the year ahead, bonds could become much tighter in a relationship that is important to you. This development could bring about some very pleasant occurrences and give you far greater happiness than you thought possible.

Ask Dr. Gott 9/1

DEAR DR. GOTT: My son-in-law hits the alcohol rather heavily. Anything from beer to mixed drinks. When he's with friends, it's one after another. He is taking medicine for high cholesterol. He claims that his drinking isn't the cause of it being high. I say it is.

Dear Abby 9/1

DEAR ABBY: I have an excellent friend, "Janis." She's nice, funny, and also very pretty.

Judge stays ruling that tossed Iowa’s gay marriage ban, but 1 couple legally marries first

DES MOINES, Iowa - Two men sealed the state's first legal same-sex marriage with a kiss Friday morning, less than 24 hours after a judge threw out Iowa's ban on gay marriage and about two hours before he put the ruling on hold.

Ailing White House press secretary Tony Snow resigns, deputy Dana Perino taking his place

WASHINGTON - President Bush announced Friday that press secretary Tony Snow, who has waged a battle with cancer while manning the White House lectern, will resign and be replaced by his deputy, Dana Perino, on Sept. 14.

U.S. says detainee assaults on Gitmo guards down 60 percent over last year

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Assaults on guards at the Guantanamo Bay prison dropped by more than 60 percent since last year as the camp tightened security and released dozens of prisoners, but mass disturbances nearly doubled, the U.S. military said in a new report.

Bridge 8/31

So far this week, we have looked at weak two-bids. What is the difference if the opening bid is at the three-level? The basic rule of thumb is that at the two-level, you promise a six-card suit, but at the three-level, you will have a seven-bagger -- one more trump equals one more trick.

Man arrested on felony peeping tom charges

Britt qualifies for reelection

Astrograph 8/31

Some alterations you make in your lifestyle will be responsible for a major transformation in handling your affairs that will not only give you an advantage over competitors but bring you glory in the process.

Dear Abby 8/31

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I have been together almost three years (minus five months separated). Whenever the subject of marriage comes up, he says, "... whenever YOU want to ask." In other words, he's putting the responsibility on me! I am old-fashioned when it comes to proposals, Abby. I think the man should ask.

Attacks on lawmakers’ pet projects don’t quench the thirst for them

WASHINGTON - New ethics rules designed to cleanse spending bills of questionable pet projects have done little to quench lawmakers' thirst for them. Demand is up and the battle for them is as fierce as ever.

Report: Va. Tech could have saved lives by notifying students faster; parent calls for firings

RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia Tech's president, facing calls for his ouster, defended his university's response to the nation's deadliest school shooting, saying Thursday that officials couldn't have known the gunman would attack twice.

Justice Department investigating whether resigning Gonzales misled Congress

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department said Thursday it is investigating whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales lied or otherwise misled Congress last month in sworn testimony about the Bush administration's domestic terrorist spying program.

Mental disorder not factor in Pistorius shooting

PRETORIA, South Africa - Oscar Pistorius was not suffering from a mental illness when he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and was able to understand the wrongfulness of what he had done, according to psychiatric reports submitted Monday at the Olympic athlete's murder trial.

My Take: Truly the dawn of a new Georgia Southern era

Did you notice anything different in the air when you woke up Tuesday morning? Was there a sense of newness, wonder and anticipation that wasn't present on Monday?

Sun sets on SoCon for Georgia Southern

It's been long anticipated, but as of today, Georgia Southern is officially an all-sports member of the Sun Belt Conference.

University System of Georgia changes gay couples' benefits

ATLANTA - Married same-sex couples will get tax benefits equal to heterosexual couples through a retirement plan offered by the University System of Georgia, following a Monday vote by the system's governing board.

Obama lauds former CEO as right choice to fix VA

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama sought to turn the page Monday on a humiliating chapter in the history of the Veterans Affairs Department, tapping former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald to take over the sprawling agency.

Statesboro native puts on 'World's Largest Kids Fishing Rodeo'

Statesboro native and former superintendent of schools Dr. Billy Bice and his wife, Florence Ann, retired to St. Simons Island several years ago. Shortly after moving there, he purchased a 22-foot Pathfinder bay boat and began Billy Bee Charters. Billy caters to families, but the focus is on children.

A successful season for Statesboro's Averitt Center

Football and the arts apparently have a lot in common.

Inside Bulloch Business with DeWayne Grice - After 95 years, H.W. Smith Jewelers closing

The year was 1919, President Woodrow Wilson would sign the Versailles Treaty officially ending World War I. Prohibition was in full swing and the city of Statesboro had just completed paving the Main Streets through downtown.

At wet Wimbledon, Murray, Djokovic near rematch

LONDON - As the rain at Wimbledon wreaks havoc with the schedule, and players start to complain, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have found little reason to worry about the weather.

Against Belgium, USA motivated by support

SAO PAULO - The last time the U.S. played in a World Cup in Brazil, just one American reporter was on hand, using vacation time and paying his own way.

Court: Religious rights trump birth control rule

WASHINGTON - A sharply divided Supreme Court ruled Monday that some companies with religious objections can avoid the contraceptives requirement in President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, the first time the high court has declared that businesses can hold religious views under federal law.

Parenting Advice with John Rosemond - Potty training is a process

Q: My 26-month-old daughter will go on the potty happily every hour when told - we're using your "potty bell," and it's working extremely well - and produces every time. As a result, she's having very few, if any, wee incidents. However, we still have to catch her before an impending bowel movement - she usually begins releasing gas - and rush to get her to the potty. She will sit and poop on the potty, but at day care (three days a week), they can't watch her every second; therefore, she often poops in her pants there. How can ...

Obama picks ex-P&G head to lead Veterans Affairs

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama plans to nominate former Procter & Gamble executive Robert McDonald as the next Veterans Affairs secretary, as the White House seeks to shore up an agency beset by treatment delays and struggling to deal with an influx of new veterans returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

'Designing Women' star Meshach Taylor dies at 67

Meshach Taylor, who played a lovable ex-convict surrounded by boisterous Southern belles on the sitcom "Designing Women" and appeared in numerous other TV and film roles, died of cancer at age 67, his agent said Sunday.

Costa Rica beats Greece in penalty shootout

RECIFE, Brazil - Costa Rica beat Greece in a penalty shootout Sunday to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time after defending desperately with 10 men for nearly an hour.