Jobless Rate, CRCT Scores Rise

1. Expect to see more rain off and on until 8 p.m. today, the National Weather Service says, with a high of 83 and an overnight low of 68. Thunderstorms are possible. South Cobb Patch has the story and lots of video from one of the worst effects of Wednesday’s storms, the lightning strike that destroyed the steeple of one of Cobb’s oldest churches, in Mableton.

2. The preliminary May unemployment figures are out for cities and counties in Georgia, and there’s not much positive in Cobb County. The Cobb jobless rate rose from 9 percent in April to 9.2 percent in May, the state Department of Labor says, matching the rate in May 2010. The rate in Marietta jumped to 9.6 percent from 9.1 percent in April and 9.2 percent in May 2010. Look for more on the employment picture later today on East Cobb Patch.

3. We did get some good news Wednesday when the state Department of Education reported school districts’ results on the CRCTs, the standardized tests given to all third- through eighth-graders in Georgia. Overall, the scores rose in the , especially for third-, sixth- and seventh-graders. East Cobb Patch will have a full report on the tests this morning.

4. Of course, the big school news today will come out of the Cobb Board of Education’s regular meeting tonight at 7 at the Central Office, 514 Glover St. The board will vote on a from East Cobb board member David Banks to change the start of the school year from Aug. 15 to Aug. 8. We’ll tweet the news (@EastCobbPatch) as soon as the board votes, and you can watch the meeting live on Comcast Channel 24 or at the school district’s website.

5. East Cobb couple , the man charged with November’s , and wife Ariela have reached a settlement in their separation case, helping the wife hold onto their East Cobb house, Dunwoody Patch reports. Expect more details during the day.