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Georgia farmers plant most peanuts since '90s; looking good
ATLANTA (AP) -- Georgia farmers have planted the largest peanut acreage in more than 20 years, and experts say the crop is looking great so far.
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension peanut agronomist Scott Monfort says those he's pulled up have great "pod loads."
Georgia farmers began planting in late March and finished in early July. Monfort says 828,000 acres are planted, up nearly 16 percent from last year.
He credits the good-looking plants to timely summer rains in south Georgia. Since about half of Georgia's peanuts are produced on dry land, or land without access to irrigation, growers need rain for a good crop.
Monfort said lower temperatures than normal are expected for the rest of the month, and that also will be good for the plants.
American Girl's first Native Hawaiian doll set to go on sale
HONOLULU (AP) -- American Girl has made its first Native Hawaiian doll.
The doll's name is Nanea Mitchell and she goes on sale today. The doll is 18 inches tall and is priced at $115.
Her character grows up during World War II. Her wardrobe includes 1940s-era outfits, hula attire and many accessories.
A five-member advisory board helped ensure historical accuracy and cultural authenticity when creating the doll, the company said.
"We hope Nanea's powerful story of resilience, responsibility to others, and contributing for the common good -- or kokua, as it's known in Hawaii -- will resonate with girls and show them they have the power within to face the obstacles that come their way," said Katy Dickson, president of American Girl.
To celebrate the doll's launch, American Girl will be collecting donations for the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program through the end of the year, matching every dollar made at its website and stores up to $75,000.
Mastermind of lottery fraud faces 25-year prison sentence
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- A former lottery computer programmer who's pleaded guilty in Iowa to running a criminal scheme that allowed him to collect $2 million in lottery winnings in four states is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday.
A state prosecutor is seeking a 25-year prison term for former Multi-State Lottery Association security director Eddie Tipton.
Assistant Iowa Attorney General Rob Sand said in court documents that Tipton's "depth of deceit is dumbfounding." He says justice requires a lengthy prison sentence.
Tipton pleaded guilty in June and admitted writing code that allowed him to predict winners. His attorney is seeking a much lighter sentence of two to three years.
Sand says Tipton has detailed for authorities how he manipulated lottery computers to win lottery games in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
Mississippi Power to buy $100M solar facility's electricity
MERIDIAN, Miss. (AP) -- Regulators are approving plans for Mississippi Power Co. to buy electricity from a solar facility to be built in eastern Mississippi.
The Mississippi Public Service Commission on Thursday voted for the $100 million solar farm to be built in Lauderdale County by Silicon Ranch of Nashville, Tennessee.
A unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co., Mississippi Power will buy all the power from the facility for 25 years. The 570,000 solar panels will be able to supply 53 megawatts of electricity at peak, enough to power about 8,000 homes. Operation is projected to start by December 2019.
Mississippi Power said its 160 megawatt solar capacity will be the largest of any Mississippi utility. Other facilities are in Sumrall, Hattiesburg, at Naval Air Station Meridian and Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport.
New law on virtual currency, online transactions in Alabama
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama has a new law on virtual currency and online transactions.
Al.com reports that the Alabama Monetary Transmission Act became law this month and replaced the 1961 "Sale of Checks Act." The state's legislature passed it in May.
The new law covers bitcoin to regulation of money transfers and provides law enforcement new tools to track international financial crimes.
Alabama Securities Commission Director Joseph Borg said the passing of the new law is important for the state.
"This significant legislation will help streamline our regulatory and enforcement activities to meet the challenges presented by modern technology," Borg said, "such as the use of cyber currency, online money transmissions and further assists law enforcement in preventing money laundering and activities involving the illegal international transfer of funds."
Officials said the previous law did not have administrative and enforcement authority and predated the digital age.
The Alabama Monetary Transmission Act includes "virtual" currency such as bitcoin, and lays out a record-keeping process. It allows the Alabama Securities Commission to audit those records and regulates money transmitters and covers non-banking entities that engage in checks and money transfers, as well as debt management services.