the News
Feb. 28, 2015
Volume 6, Issue 46
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mrand@rockdalenews.com
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he Georgia House of Representatives approved of a bill that will legalize cannabis oil that can be used to treat seizures and a number of other medical disorders. Haleigh’s Hope Act, H.B. 1, passed the House with a 158-2 vote, with only state Rep. Darrel Ealum, D-Albany, and state Rep. Darlene Taylor, R-Thomasville, voted against the bill. The bill still needs to be approved by the Georgia Senate and Gov. Nathan Deal’s signature before it becomes law. The measure would allow users to legally possess up to 20 fluid ounces of the THC oil as long as the individual has a medical prescription from a physician. A physician can only write a prescription if a patient has is suffering from seizures, cancer, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and others.
Safe Zone RCSO area for Craigslist meetup transactions, PAGE 2
A Higher Purpose
The Georgia House of Representatives has passed a bill for medical cannabis oil, and it’s now headed to the Senate
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OP-ED: Being pro-life means being procannabis oil Page 5
State Rep. Pam Dickerson, D-Conyers, says that that house believed it was “good decision” to pass the help its citizens. “We have to start somewhere with helping these individuals suffering from these diseases,” she said. Another condition allowed to be treated under the bill is sickle-cell anemia, which also contributed to Dickerson giving approval of the bill. “(Sickle-cell) affects a lot of African-American women and this oil could help,” she said. State Rep. Tom Kirby, R-Loganville, also voted yes for the bill and says that by the House passing the bill is a good step in the right direction to helping people afflicted with one of the medical conditions
See LEGISLATION on PAGE 8
What’s in store with the Georgia Milestones By Michelle Kim, Kristen Oliver mkim@rockdalenews.com
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Serving Rockdale County and Conyers
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By Martin Rand III
STAR STUDENTS
The word “assessment” might make students, parents and even some teachers nervous. With the new Georgia Milestones Assessment System underway this year, many parents and students may wonder what the end-of-the-year tests mean and how they can prepare for them. The Georgia Milestones is designed to give students information about their own achievement. It’s also an
“accountability tool” for parents and the public to measure the quality of local schools. The assessment is also a way for the state to consolidate its accountability measures. “We test so much,” said Melissa Fincher, deputy superintendent for assessment and accountability. Fincher spoke at a symposium Jan. 9 hosted by the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. “One of the things we
See MILESTONES PAGE 3
Parents can prepare their children for the examination at home by taking online practice exams: • Online exams at learnoas.ctb.com/GA/ • Parents can also find guides for each grade and more practice questions at http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/ Pages/Georgia-Milestones-End-ofGrade-Assessment-Guides.aspx • The RCPS Page with links http://portal.rockdale.k12.ga.us/parents/Pages/ GeorgiaMilestones.aspx