MACON, Ga. (AP) — A middle Georgia government plans to buy a former school that was rapidly turned into a homeless shelter after two men froze to death on Christmas.

MACON, Mo. (AP) — State and local health officials are warning of a potential for Legionnaires’ disease exposure at a hotel in Missouri.

Two people were diagnosed with the severe form of pneumonia after using the hot tub or the pool late last month while staying at a Comfort Inn & Suites in Macon, KMIZ-TV reports.

MACON, Ga. (AP) — A tire plant will spend $21.8 million to expand production in middle Georgia.

Kumho Tire and Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller announced the expansion Thursday.

The plant, which opened with a capacity of about 4 million tires a year, will be able to make another 500,000 tires a year.

MACON, Ga. (AP) — The leader of middle Georgia's largest county said Monday he wants to spend $3 million to replace some cell doors that inmates can force open, as the county seeks to reassure jailers of their safety after an inmate recently stabbed and killed a guard with the guard's knife.

Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller and Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said the money is already including in next year's jail budget, but they hope to make it available sooner, if county commissioners approve.

MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) — A sheriff’s deputy was stabbed to death with his own knife by an inmate at a Georgia jail early Tuesday, authorities said. Another law officer was injured, but later released from a hospital.

Deputy Christopher Knight, 30, was stabbed in the neck and died shortly before dawn Tuesday after being taken to a hospital following the stabbing in Macon, Georgia, Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones said.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Georgia Senate voted 35-18 Tuesday to pass Senate Bill 67, which would require voters to share identification when applying for an absentee ballot. A yes vote was to pass the bill, while a no vote was to defeat the bill. Voting yes were 34 Republicans and one Democrat. Voting no were 18 Democrats. Three Democrats were absent.

Chattanooga (18-6, 9-6) vs. Mercer (14-9, 7-8)

Hawkins Arena, Macon, Georgia; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Chattanooga goes for the season sweep over Mercer after winning the previous matchup in Chattanooga. The teams last faced each other on Jan. 13, when the Mocs created 14 Mercer turnovers and turned the ball over just seven times en route to an 83-80 victory.

ATLANTA (AP) — Nearly 40 missing or endangered children have been rescued by federal and state agents during a law enforcement operation in Georgia, authorities say.

The U.S. Marshals Service announced Thursday that 13 missing children were found and an additional 26 endangered children were rescued during the two-week operation centered on Atlanta and a city to its south, Macon.

MACON, Ga. (AP) — A man sent some illegal holiday cheer to a woman in jail and he ended up getting arrested himself, officials in a Georgia county say.

News outlets report 40-year-old Timothy Lee Snow sent the woman a Christmas card filled with drugs.

Bibb County Jail inmate Mary Beth Odum, 40, had told Snow over the phone how to put meth and other drugs into a card to send to her in jail, county sheriff’s officials said Monday.

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. (AP) — An Arizona company is announcing plans to build one of the South's largest solar plants.

Tempe, Arizona-based First Solar intends to build a 2,000-acre solar facility in Georgia's Twiggs County, just south of Macon.

Don Moreland, chairman of the Georgia Solar Energy Association's board of directors, says he believes the announcement bodes well for the state's solar industry.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A large hospital system in North Carolina is joining a health organization in Georgia.

Media outlets reported Charlotte-based Carolinas HealthCare Systems plans to combine with Navicent Health of Macon, Georgia.

The move comes a day after Carolinas HealthCare System announced its new name, Atrium Health.

MACON, Ga. (AP) — An alligator has been apprehended at a park in central Georgia after a sheriff's deputy wrestled the creature.

The Telegraph reports (http://bit.ly/2p0pt00) that Bibb County Sheriff's deputy Clay Williams and Animal Welfare officer Bruce Rozier were dispatched to round up the 4-foot alligator Monday morning in Macon.