News Nearby: Riley Reports from GOP Convention; Isaac, Holiday Could Raise Gas Prices

– Johns Creek Patch

Johns Creek's State Rep. Lynne Riley (District 50) says she's looking forward to her first time serving as a delegate at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., which starts this week.

Riley is paying for all of her own expenses, too. "I consider this an investment in a better future for our country," she said. .

– Alpharetta-Milton Patch

The lead architect for Alpharetta's City Center revealed two proposed major changes to the downtown property's site plan that would save a large oak tree and enlarge the city park on the property to just over 5 acres.

The 450-space parking garage was shown reorinted to north-south to shift it away from a 48-50 inch oak tree. The shfit also moved a main pedestrian access point to the parking garage much closer to the City Hall and Alpharetta library branch locations, which was another concern voiced in prevoius updates at City Council meetings. .

– Canton-Sixes Patch

Good news for Labor Day travelers: is suspending all scheduled and ongoing construction-related lane closures in Northwest Georgia.

In an effort to ease traffic congestion throughout the long weekend, the suspension begins Friday at noon and continues until Tuesday at 5 a.m., according to the press release.

"The only exception would be for emergency maintenance work in the case of traffic accidents and other unpredictable types of transportation incidents," District Engineer DeWayne Comer said at GDOT's office in Cartersville. .

– Cartersville Patch

Extreme heat and a drought this summer have affected crops throughout the country, and local farmers say crops in Bartow County are no exception.

One man, who buys produce from farmers from Moultrie to Tennessee to resell at the in downtown , said that his suppliers have had a hard summer with the heat, lack of rain and more bugs than usual, an effect of last year’s mild winter.

“I have two providers up there, and they’ve lost all their crops,” he said. .

– Suwanee Patch

The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners District 3 election drama is not over.

Mike Beaudreau, the incumbent District 3 commissioner, has requested a recount after a close runoff with Tommy Hunter earlier in August. Gwinnett County spokesperson Joe Sorenson has confirmed this to Patch.

Beaudreau is in last Tuesday's runoff election by just 56 votes. .

– Duluth Patch

Already, gas prices in Duluth are rising, in some cases above the national average. And two factors -- Tropical Storm Isaac and Labor Day weekend -- could push them higher.

As the storm bears down today, Aug. 28, on the U.S. Gulf Coast, where much of the nation's gasoline is produced, many oil companies are considering shutting down their refineries in that area.

According to cbsnews.com, refineries with the combined capacity to refine 1 million barrels of oil per day are in the process of shutting down. The U.S. consumes about 19 million barrels of oil products per day. .