Fresh Loaf

ALL SHOOK UP: Illinois quake measured 5.4 on the Richter scale, was felt in Georgia and as far south as north Florida.

GWCC: Tornado damage is about $100 million, but officials say it will open April 28.

ASPHALT MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER: As Thomas reported yesterday, DOT chairman and commissioner are in love, and the former has resigned. Now Gov. Perdue has to grumble back into town to handle things.

SHOT IN THE DARK: Entire Charter cable TV, phone and Internet service knocked out Wednesday night in Hall County by a single bullet.

COAST IS CLEAR: Vidalia emergency room doctor is one of several volunteers being honored for working to fill potholes and doing other maintenance on coastal wildlife refuges that might otherwise not get done due to budget cuts.

FLU OFF THE HANDLE: Bad vaccine-mixing made 2007-08 the worst flu season in several years.

HONEYTASED HAM: Cops Tase a frenzied pig on I-75 after it falls off the back of a truck, the second time in two weeks a hoofed animal has caused an uproar on the interstate.

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The Georgia World Congress Center, one of downtown’s attractions hit hardest by this weekend’s tornado, will accommodate two scheduled conventions as planned, the center’s authorities say.

The International Window Coverings Expo, scheduled for March 26-29, and National Propane Gas Association, March 29-31, will not be canceled, and the facility will be in shape to host the events. That’s $14 million in economic impact the city’ll enjoy because of around-the-clock repairs by crews at the convention center.

“The collaboration of the hospitality community has saved economic impact that would have been lost,” Spurgeon Richardson, president and CEO of Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, said in a release. “Had it not been for the GWCC, the hotels and so many other stakeholders in Atlanta, we would have seen business go to other cities. Instead, we are ready to roll out the welcome mat for our visitors.”

The bureau also says that only 700 of the city’s 92,000 hotel rooms are closed for repair and that reshuffling of other planned activities will bring 38,000 visitors to town and reap an estimated $18 million.

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