HOPE Passes Senate - The Georgia Senate on Wednesday passed a bill dramatically overhauling the cash-strapped HOPE scholarship program. The bill is part of Gov. Nathan Deal's plan to keep lottery programs like HOPE and prekindergarten from going broke. It passed 35-20. The bill would cut scholarships for all but the state's highest-scoring students.

New revenue numbers show collections are up significantly from this time last year. The state netted $148 million more last month over February 2010. The $715,270,000 taken in is up 26%. Individual income tax collection drove the rise, more than doubling to $185 million. But state officials attribute the jump to an accounting change.

Deal Amends Planned Pre-K Cuts - Governor Nathan Deal says an outcry from parents and teachers made him rethink his original plan for cuts to Georgia’s pre-kindergarten program. Yesterday Deal amended that plan to keep the full day for Pre-K students and expand class sizes by two students each. But he announced the school year will be trimmed from 180 days to 160 days.

Gov. Nathan Deal Monday appointed three new members to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Authority Monday. The three new members are: - Rose Lane Leavell, a third-generation tree farmer from Twiggs County; - Dr. Timothy Stapleton, a Macon orthopedist; and - Charley Humbard, an Atlantan who is the CEO of the Gospel Music Channel.

The state Senate Ethics Committee Monday unanimously approved a bill that would allow regulated utilities to contribute to political campaigns in Georgia. A coalition of ethics watchdogs said they were disappointed in the vote.