Severe weather likely tonight; continuing coverage. Complete update on Bartow's next primary (beyond March 1). Shorter employees: Retirement benefit cut. Later today: Bartow County Jail reports, Cartersville Police reports.

Where your news day starts: www.bartowheadlines.com:

 

Today's headlines:

• Shorter employees say retirement benefits have been cut. Shorter
• Local Democrats, Republicans gearing up for busy election season with qualifying March 7-11; next primary is May 24. Voting
• Big opening day for Rome Civic Center voting. Advance
• Only in Rome: Couple wed at Krispy Kreme just hours before today's opening. Couple
• Rome City Commission OK's Courtyard by Marriott deal. WRGA
• Georgia Northwestern Technical College offering free driver's ed classes beginning in March. Driver's Ed
• Maj. Mark Wallace named assistant Floyd County chief of police. Wallace
• Buzz: North Rome Commons to hear about Neighborhood Enhancement Program Feb. 29. Help 'Stop Hunger Now.' Latest chambers updates (plural). Buzz
• Second Silver Creek septic system meeting set for Tuesday; money available for homeowners in Silver Creek Watershed. Health
• Georgia Health News: Program to help children angers parents, draws legal challenge. GHN
• Smile Report: Nearly 5,400 items collected for annual Scouting for Food drive in Floyd, Polk, Chattooga counties. Smile
• Remembering Charles William 'Bill' Hamilton, Mr. Charles Ernest Swearinger. Obituaries
• Latest Public Health restaurant inspection scores.  Dining
• Area arrest reports brought to you by Dr. Miniyar's Pediatrics. CrimeWatch

Regular features:

• Northwest Georgia traffic conditions via Google Maps or Waze.
• Today's business headlines from  Georgia Trend
• Northwest Georgia's best source for job leads. Click Career Builder

Chick-fil-A Dwarf House Sports Report

• College baseball, softball rained out today. Some high school games already canceled as well.
• Update on Berry Baseball's David Beasley as he enters the local sports hall of fame.
• High school basketball: Model to play Putnam County on Friday at 4:45 p.m. in Milledgeville; Calhoun boys face Jenkins on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Augusta.
• The Rome Braves announce Fourth Annual No Excuses 5K, Health Walk, & Hot Dog Fun Run will take place on Saturday, April 16.
• AAU Basketball tryouts on March 2-3.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition on WRGA 98.7 FM.
-Please join us from 7-9 a.m. with our guests including:

• At 7:40 a.m.: Adam Baker, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, on what we can expect over the next 24 hours in terms of severe weather and rain.
• At 8:10 a.m.: Rome Braves General Manager Mike Dunn live from the Braves' spring training camp.