Deal Pushes Back Retirement

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Nathan Deal is pushing back his resignation date from Congress citing the looming vote on health care.

Deal said in a statement on Thursday that he would step down from the U.S. House on March 31, instead of March 8, as originally planned. He added that he changed his mind after President Obama pledged to push for a quick vote on health care.

Critics had blasted Deal's decision to leave arguing it would make it easier for Democrats to push through a health care overhaul bill. Deal, of Gainesville, said he was stepping aside to focus full-time on his GOP gubernatorial bid.

He has represented the 9th District in north Georgia since 1992.

Woman Shoots Herself At Smyrna Hospital

A woman walked into Emory-Adventist Hospital on South Cobb Drive early Thursday morning and shot herself in the head, according to police.

The woman, 20-30 years old, survived and no one else was hurt in the shooting. Detectives from the Smyrna Police Department are investigating.

Children Find Mother's Body; Police Seek Boyfriend

Police said early this morning they are seeking the boyfriend of a woman found stabbed to death at the Centennial Place Apartments in downtown Atlanta Thursday evening.

The slain woman has been identified as Yolanda Johnson, 35. The victim is the mother of four.

The victim's mother told Stouffer that her daughter was discovered by three of her children when they came home from school Thursday afternoon. Police said the woman's boyfriend is not a suspect, but they do want to interview him.

There were signs of a fight between Johnson and her attacker, according to police.

"During the altercation, the suspect produced a knife and stabbed the victim, at least 4-5 times," said Major Keith Meadows of the Atlanta Police Department.

Johnson's children found her on the bathroom floor of their apartment. Johnson's mother, Barbara Moon, said her daughter worked as an assistant manager at a Dollar Tree store.

Two Students Taint Teacher's Drink

For two straight days, two Cherokee County elementary school students put something into their teacher's drink, police said.

The teacher is fine. But the students have each been charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct, according to Mike McGowan, school district spokesperson.

The incident apparently happened on Feb. 9 and 10 at Johnston Elementary School in Woodstock, according to the school system police report. School police were notified on Feb. 12.

Georgia Girl Wins 'Beautiful Baby' Contest

A child from metro Atlanta was named the winner of the Beautiful Baby Search on "Live with Regis and Kelly" this morning. Maggie Sue Romeo, 3, from Braselton won the contest over four other finalists.

She received $125,000 from Gerber, toward a college education. John Jeffrey Simmons from Mableton also made the list of finalists. Viewers were able to vote for their favorites at the "Live with Regis and Kelly" website.

WSB; Atlanta Journal-Constitution