Politics, Business, Weather. Final hours of candidate qualifying; final surprises, too? 80 new jobs heading our way. Mohawk rebounds. Soggy weekend, soggy week's start?

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'Campaign Jam,' now through noon, as final candidates qualify

-Between now and noon, some hard decisions will be made about qualifying for local and legislative offices. By lunchtime, the deadline hits and the July 20 primary ballot will be set. Several races could go uncontested. Continuing updates all morning.

Some key developments:

-Barry Loudermilk remains the sole state Senate District 52 qualifier as of this morning. The Cass Republican gave a farewell address to House members last  night after six years of representing District 14 (East Floyd, Bartow County). We expect a Democratic opponent; rumored Republican challengers did not develop beyond a flurry of calls started when Preston Smith opted to run for attorney general..

Around the region, as of this morning:

-Senate District 31: Bill Heath, R-Bremen, in GOP primary by Pete Bridges.

-Senate District 52: Barry Loudermilk, R-Cass.

-District 12: Republicans Rick Jasperse and Truett Moss II, and Jeff Nally, a Pine Log Democrat, have qualified. (Seat was held by Tom Graves)

-District 14: Greg Bowen, R-Adairsville. Christian Coomer, R-Cartersville. Shep Helton, 39, R-Cartersville. Look for a GOP runoff in August.

-District 15: Paul Battles, R-Cartersville, v. Republican Hayden Collins

-Track today's qualifiers:. 

-Congress: U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., District 11, still unopposed.

-State Senate  / State House / Superior Court Judges / Supreme, Appeals Court

-Statewide offices (governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, etc.)

Heavy rain in Sunday, Monday's forecasts: The predictions continue to call for two to four inches of rain. Hometown Headlines will have updates Friday, all day Saturday and all day Sunday.

Mohawk posts $21 million first quarter profit: The Calhoun-based company's optimistic report compares to a loss of $106 million loss in the first three months of 2009> Details

LG Hausys breaks ground on $50 million expansion; adding 80 jobs: LG Hausys America broke ground Thursday on the new plant near the Gordon-Bartow County line that will rise next to its current campus> Details

Rome's no. 144 in 'Best Small Places' business, career list :

-So much for Forbes' Hail, Rome,' plaudit a few years ago. Rome ranks 144th among Forbes' list of Best Small Places for Business and Careers, according to the latest survey. The highest-ranking small place in Georgia was Athens at 26 followed by Gainesville at 47 and Warner Robins at 59. Rome with No. 8 followed by Dalton at 172 and Albany at 179> The list

Harbin Clinic names 19 physicians Dr. Warren Best Practice winners: Several dozen honored for their "clinical excellence and patient satisfactions."> Health

-Check the snapshot of Rome, other cities> Click

Founding members announce start of Northwest Georgia Regional Angel Investors Network; how to join them, what to pitch> Business

GOP county qualifers as of this morning:

-County school  board candidates Lamar Grizzle, John Howard, Post 1; Roger Maier, Dr. Davis Nelson, Post 2; Angie Cornett, David Palmer, Post 3. Source: Bartow GOP.

Thursday update/Bartow County Jail 'in-take' reports> Click

Your weekend forecast:

-Friday: Sunny with a high of 84.

-Friday night: low of 62; 20% rain chance.

-Saturday: 50% rain chance; high of 82.

-Saturday night: 30% chance of rain, low of 67.

-Sunday: 60% rain chance; high of 84.

-Sunday night: 70% chance of rain, low of 64.

-Extended forecast> Click  / Regional radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey 

-If you don't believe Alabama will rule the SEC, answer this: Who's going to beat the Tide?

Rome Braves> Sports 

-Eight straight loss, fourth straight shutout for Rome Braves. Greensboro wins, 3-0.

-Tonight-Saturday at 7 p.m. at Greensboro.

-Mills Fitzner's latest home game photos> Click