ATLANTA -- The U.S. Small Business Administration announced Monday that it will accept applications for loan assistance for Georgia enterprises in 12 counties affected by the drought.

The aid program targets farm-related and other entities not covered by aid from the Department of Agriculture.

The eligible counties are Banks, Barrow, Cherokee, Dawson, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin and White.

The loans are intended to cover fixed costs such as payroll and scheduled debt payments. They are capped at $2 million with terms up to 30 years. Interest rates are 3 percent for non-profits and 4 percent for small businesses. The SBA determines the amounts and specific terms.

More information for potential applicants is available by calling 800-659-2955 or going online to sba.gov.

The application deadline is Apr. 22, 2013.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Despite early activity, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predict a near-normal hurricane season in 2012 Fulton County Health Services’ Office of Emergency Preparedness recommends that concerned residents start to prepare now.  The predictions are about normal for the Atlantic hurricane season, but come after several busier-than-average hurricane seasons.  There were 19 named storms in both 2011 and 2010.  NOAA's forecast is consistent with previous forecasts issued by the Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University and the National Hurricane Center.
 

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An enormous sunspot group has taken shape on the surface of the sun, hinting that our star may soon start spouting off some powerful storms.