Thursday: Restaurant updates for Rome, Cartersville.

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Dining updates

-El Toro Tex-Mex Grill now expected by May 1: The opening of El Toro Restaurant at 2115 Shorter Ave. is delayed because of state liquor licensing. "We're just waiting on our state license. We hope to open in another week but I don't know. Hopefully by the first of May for sure," says Jaime Castro, co-owner of El Toro. His partner is Pasquel Caldera, who cooked for the old "La Chiva" Mexican Restaurant in West Rome about 15 years ago. The duo also own J&P Construction in Rome. Castro says they've invested about $160,000 in labor and equipment into refitting the former West Rome Pizza Hut, along with another $50,000 in materials from the building owner, Martin's Real Estate. An outdoor patio area has been added along with other changes. The menu will feature Tex-Mex favorites along with an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for $6.50. (Natalie Simms)

-Gametime Sports Grille West opens; alcohol sales start Friday: Cartersville's second Gametime replaced Beef O Brady's, which closed several months ago. Delays in state liquor permitting slowed the arrival of Gametime West at 70 Douthit Ferry Road. The original is behind Slope's off Tennessee Street. The timing is key with the NFL draft, NBA and NHL playoffs, and baseball season> GT

-Ribbon cutting at Chick-Fil-A Dwarf House's new patio is at 10 this morning: Look for live entertainment there tonight as well.

-Rome's pending Steak N Shake appears to be part of new prototype trend: Earlier this month in New York, Biglari Holdings, parent company of Steak N Shake, talked about the new look planned for its restaurants --as well as deals just signed in Rome and elsewhere. The new design is a "3,200-square-foot prototype (that) will cost about $1.5 million to build, down from the existing 4,200-square-foot model, which costs $2.2 million." The Rome site, which is being backed by Wayne Robinson and Brooke Temple, is a 3,200-square-foot restaurant. The plan is to clear the existing Johnny Carino's building and start new from there. A midsummer opening is planned. (click)

-Later today: Updated public health restaurant inspection scores> Dining

Thursday's Buzz:

-May 8/Phyllis Tickle, author and founding editor of the Religion Department of Publishers Weekly, will be the featured speaker at Shorter College's May 8 spring commencement ceremonies> Shorter

Banking updates

-Due later today: United Community Banks.

-Wells Fargo/Wachovia posts $2.5 billion profit in first quarter> Details

-SunTrust reports $229 million loss in first quarter> Details

-Synovus, parent company of Citizens First and GB&T in Calhoun, posts $215.7 million first-quarter loss> Details

-Regions lost $255 million> Details

Updated weather: Stormy Saturday ahead?

-Pollen count: Details

-Thursday: Sunny, high of 80.

-Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, low of 52.

-Friday: Sunny, high of 85.

-Friday night: 20% chance of rain, low of 58.

-Saturday: 70% chance of thunderstorms, high of 78.

-Extended forecast> Click  / Regional radar

PowerBall's $259 million jackpot goes to ticket in Missouri> Lottery

-Wednesday night's numbers: 11-34-41-49-55 and PowerBall: 20.

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey 

- Why quit at the top of your game? Here's a list of early sports' retirees.

Rome Braves> Sports 

-Rome wins, 3-1, to even series with Kannapolis.

-Thursday: Kannapolis at Rome, 7 p.m.

-Mills Fitzner's latest game photos> Click