Around the Region: Obama Assassination Column Prompts Resignation, Gingrich Ethics Investigation Resurfaces and Pecan Thefts on the Rise

– East Cobb Patch

The controversial owner and publisher of the The Atlanta Jewish Times resigned on Monday and is putting his newspaper up for sale. 

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported Monday afternoon that it received an e-mail from Andrew Adler, an East Cobb resident, to announce that he is "relinquishing all day-to-day activities effective immediately." 

This comes in the wake of his commentary last week suggesting that Israel consider assassinating President Obama as a possible response to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

In a statement, the federation said Adler's comments were "abhorable" and "irresponsible" and that even though Adler has apologized,"the damage done to the people of Israel, the global Jewish people, and especially the Jewish Community of Atlanta is irreparable."

– Kennesaw Patch

A course Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich taught at  in 1993 and a related ethics investigation against him have resurfaced in recent days.

A day before Gingrich's win Saturday in the South Carolina primary, Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney called for Gingrich to release additional documents relating to the 1997 ethics investigation against him that resulted in a reprimand from the House of Representatives and a $300,000 penalty.

The House report addresses, among other things, a complaint filed against Gingrich in 1994 in regards to a course he taught at Kennesaw State College, now Kennesaw State University, titled "Renewing American Civilization."

Organizers of the course solicited financial support from individuals and organizations with an understanding that the project qualified for tax-exempt status. But the ethics committee concluded that the course did not qualify because it helped achieve a partisan, political goal.

According to the report, approximately $1.2 million was spent on the project over three years.

Ultimately, Gingrich received a reprimand and had to pay $300,000 to reimburse the House for some of the costs of the investigation.

– Loganville Patch

Pecans in Georgia have gone the same way as copper, according to local law enforcement.

“We still have a problem with people stealing – especially copper,” said Walton County Chief Deputy Bruce Wright at the January TRIAD meeting in Loganville. “But now we’re having a problem with pecans too. Since the price of pecans has double, we’ll get a call and there’ll be four or five people on someone else’s property picking up pecans. It’s sort of comical really, but it’s still stealing. People need to understand they can’t just go onto somebody else’s property and pick up pecans.”