Albany Herald

ALBANY — These are the most-read stories on Albanyherald.com for the week of Jan. 4 through Jan. 11, 2013. Click on the headlines to read the full story.

1. Downtown restaurant closing

ALBANY — One of the mainstays of Albany’s downtown district announced Wednesday afternoon plans to pull up stakes.

2. Insecticide barrels rupture, cause widespread odor

CORDELE — An inadvertent release of a chemical pesticide at a Crisp County chemical manufacturer was behind a pungent odor that wafted through several counties early Wednesday morning.

3. Alleged sexual assault reported

ALBANY — A 26-year-old man is charged with sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman in the back seat of an SUV as an acquaintance drove, reported a Dougherty County Police Department official.

4. Downtown business opening second location

ALBANY — A Downtown Albany boutique is opening up a second location on Dawson Road, officials say.

5. ASU returns funds to Ray Charles Foundation

ALBANY — Albany State University has refunded the money donated by famed singer and Albany native Ray Charles after the Charles Foundation went to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office for assistance in reclaiming the funds, officials say.

6. Fast-food robber suspect returns to eat, is arrested

PONTIAC, Mich. — Officials say a suspected robber of a suburban Detroit restaurant who apparently returned months later to get some food is under arrest after being recognized by employees.

7. Dawson leaders square off

DAWSON, Ga. — An ongoing political/business feud involving former friends and allies at the highest levels of local government here has erupted into a war of words that has leaders in this small community accusing each other of gross criminal misconduct.

8. Cocaine bust interests DEA agents

ALBANY -- A man who tossed what authorities said was a kilogram cocaine package off the Oakridge Drive bridge into the Flint River caught the interest of federal agents.

9. Bush steps down as BOE chairman

ALBANY — Dougherty County Board of Education Chair James Bush has relinquished his seat as the head of the board, but will stay on as a voting member for the remainder of his term.

10. Norovirus hits Southwest Georgia

ALBANY -- While the seasonal flu is still making its rounds, another bug is making its presence felt in Southwest Georgia.