Albany Herald

These are the most read stories at albanyherald.com for the week of Feb. 15 through Feb. 22. Click on the headline to read the full story.

1. Phillip Phillips' mother charged

ALBANY — The mother of "American Idol" winner Phillip Phillips has been charged with DUI, officials say.

2. Supreme Court rules in favor of FTC in Palmyra acquisition

ALBANY —A slip opinion issued from the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday held that Georgia has not clearly articulated and affirmatively expressed a policy to allow hospital authorities to make acquisitions that substantially lessen competition.

3. Terrell hit and run leaves two dead

DAWSON — Scotty Oxford, 36, surrendered to Eufaula, Ala., police after 1:30 p.m. Friday in connection with the hit-and-run killing of a mother and her daughter, Dawson Police Chief Charlie Whitehead said.

4. Restaurant customer threatened with knife

ALBANY — A customer was threatened with a knife as she waited to buy lunch on Thursday at a local fast food restaurant, according to Albany Police.

5. Study points to Albany self-loathing

ALBANY — Using a sophisticated ranking system analyzing a bank of more than 10,000 words, a new study delves into Twitter use, ranking cities based on the words its residents tweet to determine the “happiest” and “saddest” in the country.

6. ASU responds to Charles' Foundation statements

ALBANY — Albany State University officials have released a statement reiterating their position on a $3 million gift music icon Ray Charles gave the school following critical statements made by the Ray Charles Foundation in a newspaper story Sunday.

7. Pit bull attacks 5-year-old girl

ALBANY — A 5-year-old girl was attacked by a pit bull terrier Wednesday as she was playing with her friends near 407 Lockett Station Road, Albany police officials said.

8. Squawk of the Day - Feb. 15, 2013

"Gas is almost two dollars more a gallon during the Obama administration and the media is silent."

9. Bill offered to close hospital authority loophole

ATLANTA — Weeks before the U.S. Supreme court handed down a ruling critical of Georgia's law regarding hospital authorities and antitrust scrutiny, state lawmakers authored a bill they believe closes the loophole and will keep the federal government out of the medical merger business.

10. ATC confirms interest in buying Southside Middle School

ALBANY — Albany Technical College President Anthony Parker confirmed Thursday that the college and several officials of the Dougherty County School System have had "unofficial preliminary" talks about acquiring Southside Middle School.