Romney touts endorsement in Savannah

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney flew into Savannah yesterday hoping to boost his Georgia poll standing with a key local endorsement.

U.S. Congressman Jack Kingston was said to be flirting with Rudy Giuliani, but the 8th term Savannah Republican threw his name behind Romney. The former Massachusetts governor is now fourth among Georgia Republicans in a Strategic Vision poll which showed him at 10%, a number Romney appeared to allude to at a brief airport news conference.

"Anytime I can get endorsed by somebody who's more popular than me, that's a good thing," Romney said. "Having somebody like Congressman Kingston's endorsement can only help my campaign."

Other Georgia Congressmen to endorse Romney include Phil Gingrey and Tom Price, but John Linder recently switched from Romney to Mike Huckaby. Yesterday, Romney took a swipe at the surging Huckaby, calling Huckaby's gubernatorial pardoning record liberal.

Romney also addressed the mortgage crisis and health care.

Emory to archive Alice Walker papers

Emory University announced today that Pulitzer Prize winning author Alice Walker is placing her literary archive at the school in Atlanta. Walker, a native of Eatonton, Georgia, won the prize for her 1983 work “The Color Purple” which focuses on the struggle of Southern blacks, particularly women. Walker periodically visits Emory for readings and meetings with faculty – a relationship the author cited as explanation for her decision.

Murphy memorial at capitol

Deceased Georgia House Speaker Tom Murphy will lie in honor at the state Capitol on Friday. Governor Sonny Perdue announced the public memorial after the family changed its mind on strictly private services. Murphy died Monday following complications from a stroke three years earlier. He was 83.

Gainesville teacher charged with molestations

A Gainesville elementary school teacher has been charged with molesting four female students. Police say school officials received complaints from a teacher and parents about alleged inappropriate conduct. The third-grade teacher, Jerry Norman Jones of Commerce, resigned from his position on December 11th.

Hall Co. fire leaves one dead

An early-morning fire at a subdivision in Hall County has left one person dead and four houses damaged. The fire began around 3:30 AM Tuesday in the Madison Creek subdivision near Flowery Branch. Officials say it’s too early to say what caused the fire.

Young Cobb Co. vandals assisted

Cobb County police have charged a 46-year-old Marietta man for allegedly helping middle school students vandalize neighborhood Christmas decorations. Officials say John Scott Hayes drove the students around in the back of his pick-up truck as they went house to house damaging holiday displays.

Power rates going up

Rates are going up for Georgia Power's 2.3 million customers.

The deal approved Tuesday by the Georgia Public Service Commission would mean about $5.24 more on the average monthly household bill of $94.55.

Rate increases would be frozen for about three years after.

"It will help us maintain competitive rates for our customers," says Lynn Wallace, a Georgia Power spokeswoman. "It will also help us with the critical infrastructure that we need."

The new rates will generate about $323 million, and will take effect in January.

Industrial groups and the governor's office agreed with the deal.

But a group of major retail businesses refused to sign off on it.

Georgia Power had initially asked for a rate increase that would have generated $407 million, with more in the following year.

That would have potentially doubled the increase for consumers.

You can view public documents related to the rate increases at www.psc.state.ga.us/media/ratecase.asp

Perdue: Most Localities Met Water Goals

Lake Allatoona: mudflats caused by the drought are seen here encroaching on the marina, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007. (Dave Bender)

Water systems in drought-stricken northern Georgia have exceeded a state mandate to reduce the region's consumption by 10 percent, an early sign that the state's conservation efforts are working, Gov. Sonny Perdue said Tuesday.

But some providers actually increased their water use compared to this time last year. Some 31 of the region's 97 largest water providers didn't come close to meeting the goal, while another 17 were "oh so close," said Carol Couch, the state's top environmental official.

Still, Perdue said he was "amazed and surprised" that the 61 counties reduced their water use by about 13 percent - about 348 million gallons a day.

"This is enough water to supply 1.7 million Georgia households everyday," he said.

With reservoir levels at record lows, Perdue ordered public water providers and utilities with water withdrawal permits throughout north Georgia in October to cut their withdrawals by 10 percent. He warned then that systems could face fines from the state's Environmental Protection Division if they don't comply.

Data released by the state Tuesday revealed, though, that dozens of those under the order hadn't met the mandate, including electric utility Georgia Power. Six of the company's 10 power plants didn't meet the state's order, and several used more water than they did in the same period last year.

That includes Plant Hammond, north Georgia's biggest water user, which used nearly 550 million gallons of water a day in November - an increase of almost 50 million gallons of water a day over last year. The region's second-largest water user, Plant McDonough, also increased its water use by 13 million gallons a day compared with the previous year.

Georgia Power spokesman Jeff Wilson said 93 percent of the water its plants use is returned to the water body from which it was withdrawn. He said the power plants that consume the water are baseload plants that run continuously to supply the state's electrical needs.

"Generating facilities have been actively implementing measures to reuse water and reduce water where feasible," he said. "We will continue to work to identify additional conservation and reuse practices."

He also said the company is trying to more aggressively detect leaks and suspend all "nonessential water use."

Perdue wouldn't say whether the state will move to fine providers that didn't meet his order.

"We're not saying what consequences will or will not be," he said. "We think most people will do their part. We haven't focused on the consequences. We focused on how to diagnose how systems aren't successful."

The dry conditions have also given a new sense of urgency to to settle a water fight that's lasted almost 20 years over how the federal government manages water in the region.

At a meeting on Monday, the governors of Georgia, Florida and Alabama and the federal government agreed not to reduce the minimum amount of water flowing into Florida's Apalachicola Bay, and pledged to come up with a plan for doling out the region's water by March.

Click here for more on that story, and other ongoing GPB News and multimedia coverage of the drought.

(The Associated Press)

5 Falcons Fined for Vick Messages

White. (NFLplayers.com)

Roddy White and four other Atlanta Falcons were fined by the NFL for violating uniform regulations with tributes to Michael Vick during last week's Monday night game.

Vick, Atlanta's suspended Pro Bowl quarterback, was sentenced to 23 months in prison on federal dogfighting charges the morning of Dec. 10. The Falcons played at home against New Orleans that night.

After scoring a touchdown, White displayed a "Free Mike Vick" T-shirt under his jersey.

He, along with tight end Alge Crumpler and cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Chris Houston, were fined $10,000 each. Crumpler, Hall and Houston all wore black eye strips with written tributes to Vick, which the league called "displaying an unauthorized personal message."

Wide receiver Joe Horn was fined $7,500 for pulling up White's jersey to show the black T-shirt with handwritten white lettering. The fines were confirmed Tuesday by NFL spokesman Randall Liu.

Hall also had a poster of Vick on the field during pre-game introductions.

The Falcons lost the game 34-14.

(The Associated Press)

Click here for more GPB News coverage about Vick and dogfighting.

SE Georgia U.S attorney named

A career government lawyer has been confirmed by the Senate to become the top federal prosecutor for the Southern District of Georgia. Edmund Booth will follow Lisa Godbey Wood, who was appointed as a judge in the district earlier this year. Booth has worked in the district’s Augusta office for nearly 40 years. He’s an Athens native with undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia.

Former Georgia House Speaker Tom Murphy dies

Tom Murphy. (Governor's Office)

Governor Sonny Perdue called him a "dominant figure in Georgia politics for more than a quarter-century"--words to describe Tom Murphy, who passed away last night at the age of 83. The longtime Georgia House Speaker had been in declining health for some time according to friends. He had suffered a stroke in 2004.

Murphy served nearly three decades as House Speaker, from 1974 to 2002. A native of Haralson County, the Democrat oversaw a time with five Democratic governors, right up until the time Republicans took control of both chambers and the office of the governor.

Details for state ceremonies to honor Murphy are still being worked out. All state buildings and grounds will have flags flying at half-staff, ordered by Governor Perdue.

Timetable Signals Truce in the Water Wars

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, left, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, left center, U. S. Department of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, right center, and Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, right, sit for a photo opportunity before their southeast water meeting, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, in Tallahassee. (Associated Press)

The three leaders and the Secretary of the Interior met at the Florida governor's mansion to discuss access to water that flows from the Atlanta area south into the Gulf of Mexico.

They agreed to a come up with a water sharing plan by Feb. 15.

Governor Sonny Perdue told reporters, that the weekend weather helped start the meeting off on an optimistic note: "The thing that changed it was, the rainfall that we got over the weekend."

Alabama Governor Bob Riley said after the six-hour parley,"I don't think that I've been at a more productive meeting."

Florida Governor Charlie Crist agreed, saying, "We identified a lot of issues that are important to each and every one of our states."

The four agreed upon a revised schedule to address the short- and long-term needs of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) and Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) river basins.

“Water conservation is precious to our three states and I thank my friends for traveling to Florida to discuss this tremendously important issue,” Governor Crist said. “The people of our state have suffered due to the recent reduction of water flow. Due to recent rainfall, we see increased amounts of water entering Florida that will assist our oystermen. I’m also pleased that we agreed to remove the June 1 deadline imposed by the Army Corps and have agreed to a new date of March 15th to allow state and federal partners to develop improved drought strategies.”

Regarding the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers, the Governors agreed to send a high level staff delegation to Washington, DC in early January to discuss steps needed to move toward a new drought protocol for all three states. It was also agreed that the Governors would meet in February to conclude the tri-state water protocol that would take effect on March 15, 2008.

Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service also participated in today’s meeting to provide factual information on current conditions of both the ACF River Basin and the ACT River Basin (Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa).

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the water crisis.

(With The Associated Press)

Drought weighs heaviest on Georgians' minds

According to the latest Peach State Poll, the drought is the most serious problem that has ever faced the state. 41% of the public surveyed for the poll believe that the drought is Georgia’s most important problem. This is the first time in the poll’s history that any issue has received more than 30% of the vote.

The next two issues of concern on the list came in way behind – crime with 11% and education with 9%. A vast majority of the 800 adults randomly polled think there may not be enough water 10 years from now. 71% of Georgians say that the drought has affected their daily activities. About one-half to two-thirds would not oppose a 5 to 10 dollar annual fee to improve water quality overall.

Experts: Traffic deters economic growth

Traffic is the biggest obstacle to Atlanta’ economic growth. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports that was the message today from experts during a transportation forum. Experts said other southern cities could get an edge over Atlanta because they’re improving transportation. They say companies won’t want to relocate to Atlanta – nor bring jobs with it – because of intolerable traffic.

Chambliss proposes military housing bill

Today Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss introduce legislation that could impact a military housing project in Georgia. The bill enhances oversight of military housing privatization projects. Chambliss says because the U.S. Air Force failed to oversee a contractor building homes at Moody Air Force Base near Valdosta, only two of 400 homes are finished and millions of dollars have been wasted. Chambliss says bases around the county have similar problems.

Georgia's newest U.S. Attorney

The Southern District of Georgia has a new United States Attorney. Edmund Booth replaces Lisa Godbey Wood, who stepped down to become a U.S. District Judge for the district. Booth is an Athens native who attended the University of Georgia for his undergraduate and law degrees. He has served as the First Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia since 1986.

Upstream diversions concern Savannah water officials

Drinking water in the coastal city of Savannah could become more expensive and harder to come by if state agencies approve more water diversions on the Savannah River. Potential water diversions include proposals to keep North Georgia supplied with Savannah River water and one to cool new reactors at a nuclear power plant on the Savannah River.

The city of Savannah's chief water official said, he's closly following the plans since the city takes 40 million gallons a day from the Savannah River for drinking water. Harry Jue says, less water downstream means saltier and more contaminated water for the city.

"Getting clean, good raw water means lower production costs," Jue says. "Let's say you get a lot of bad water coming into our intakes, if it's possible to treat it, it's going to be higher production costs, which we'll have to pass on to our consumers."

In extreme circumstances, the city's intake facility could be forced to shut down. The backup is an underground source.

Environmental groups also fear effects on crabs, shrimp and marsh grass.

Daughter of Atlanta mayor pleads guilty

The daughter of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin pleaded guilty today to helping launder money for her ex-husband. 35-year-old Kai Franklin entered the plea in federal court in Greenville, South Carolina. Her ex-husband Tremayne Graham is serving life in prison for his involvement in a drug dealing operation. Graham ran from authorities for three years, during which time Franklin admits paying their mortgage with postal money order to hide from the IRS.

Several state officials endorse Clinton

Today presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton picked up endorsements from the state's only two black statewide elected officials. Attorney General Thurbert Baker and Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond threw their support behind the New York senator. Baker referred to Clinton as "a tested leader," while Thurmond called her "the change agent Georgians are looking for." Also endorsing Clinton today was Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin, the nation's longest serving agriculture Commissioner.

CSU To Test Emergency Notification System

Columbus State University will test its new emergency notification system, CougarAlert, on Wednesday, sending a message to thousands of e-mail addresses and phone numbers at once.

The Dec. 19 test will be only for faculty and staff. A broader test, including an emergency drill and student notification, is planned for early 2008, according to the university.

The university bought the system during the summer, and officials spent the fall collecting and compiling emergency contact information from students, faculty and staff. Each group was asked to update online their emergency contact information to ensure the system’s effectiveness.

CougarNet and local media outlets will also be used to inform faculty, staff and students about an emergency. The university’s newly revised emergency action plan is at: http://police.colstate.edu/emergencies.asp.

The school reminds recipients that the Dec. 19 message is only a system test and that no action will be required. For more information, go to http://www.colstate.edu/CougarAlert.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of events at CSU.

Tallahassee Talks in Water Wars (Video)

The governors of Georgia, Alabama and Florida are meeting in Tallahassee to figure out how to break the decade-long water-usage impasse between the three states, during a record-breaking drought.

Click to watch the report.


Click here for more GPB News coverage of the water crisis.

Georgia sports for Monday, December 17th

The Atlanta Falcons played their first game since the sudden departure of head coach Bobby Petrino last week. With Emmitt Thomas at the helm as interim coach, the result for the Falcons was the same that it has been most weeks this season--defeat. The Falcons were blistered at Tampa Bay Sunday afternoon, 37-3. On the third play from scrimmage for Atlanta, QB Chris Redman was intercepted by Ronde Barber, who returned the mistake 29 yards for a touchdown--the Buccaneers never looked back. The Falcons with the loss saw their record fall to 3-11, with only 2 games left in the season.

5 high schools are celebrating state football championships from the weekend. Lowndes was the winner in class 5A; Northside-Warner Robins took the 4A crown; Carver-Columbus won the 3A title game; Buford rolled to victory in 2A, and Emanuel County Institute took the championship in 1A.

On the college gridiron, there is celebration in Valdosta as well, after the Blazers of Valdosta State won the Division-II national football championship Saturday. VSU defeated Northwest Missouri 25-20 in Florence-Alabama--it was Valdosta State's second title in four years.

Appeals court rules on life-support issue

The choice to end a loved one’s life should be left to family members, not hospitals--that decision by a lower court was upheld by the Georgia State Court of Appeals. Its ruling also say that the state’s two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death claims does not apply to children. The appellate court decision addressed a 2006 case of a teenage mother in metro Atlanta who was taken-off life support, after giving birth to her premature son while she was in a coma. The woman’s mother says she never gave consent for the hospital to take her daughter off life support, two days after the baby’s birth.

Clayton Co. system investigated second time

The south's regional accrediting agency is investigating the Clayton County school system for financial mismanagement and abuse of power.

It's the second time in five years the school system has been investigated by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The probe puts thousands of students at risk of losing their HOPE scholarships, and makes it difficult for them to be accepted to some universities.

The association says it is investigating allegations that one board member had a football coach fired for not handing-over a game film featuring her son. Another board member apparently spent more than $500 of school money at an Atlanta hotel.

This is the first time in the last 15 years that the group has investigated a Georgia school district twice in such a short period of time. No school district in the state has ever lost accreditation.

The association is considering asking Governor Sonny Perdue to impeach the entire school board.

The Clayton school board chairwoman said the district will fully comply with the probe.

Lakes Drying as Governors Hold Water Talks

Lake Lanier marina: Mud flats in foreground are fast approaching the boat berths. If the drought increases, the docks will be unusable. (Susanna Capulouto)

The governors of Georgia, Florida and Alabama are meeting today in Tallahassee for White House-backed water talks as drought conditions worsen in the region.


Lake Allatoona: Boats docked at nearly unusable marina. (Dave Bender)

The three states have been fighting over rights to the water in the Chattahoochee River for well-over a decade. North Georgia is in a record-setting drought and rains over the weekend didn't help much. Reservoir levels have been dropping fast.


Allatoona: Empty berths. (Dave Bender)

After a White House meeting November 1st, the governors of the three states agreed to talk some more, and the US Army Corps of Engineers has since slowed down the releases of water out of Lake Lanier -- Atlanta's main drinking water source. Florida needs water out of the river for the ecosystem in the Apalachicola Bay, and Alabama needs it for power plants.

Today's meeting could be the beginning for talks towards a permanent water pact that would end the tri-state water wars.


Allatoona: Receding shoreline, near bridge to Red Top Mountain State Park. (Dave Bender)


Allatoona: View to the south, from the bridge. (Dave Bender)


Allatoona: Shoal markers, high and dry. (Dave Bender)

Click here for ongoing GPB News coverage of the water crisis.

Captain Charged With Possessing Stolen Firearms

Wallace, released on a $10,000 bond. (Ken Caruthers/Rome News Tribune)

Barry Wallace, 40, of Cedartown, Georgia, was indicted on Friday by a federal grand jury on charges of stealing firearms while employed as a captain by the Polk County Police Department.

Wallace made his initial appearance and was granted $10,000 bond by a United States Magistrate Judge Friday afternoon.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of the case, “The integrity of law enforcement officers, the vast majority of whom serve with great distinction, is essential to the administration of justice. Wallace used his position as captain in charge of the evidence room to steal guns from the evidence room that he either kept for himself or gave away to others. His actions were dishonest and dangerous to the community. We will continue to prosecute officers who violate the public trust.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Gregory Jones said:

"Public corruption investigations are an unpleasant but very vital tasking of our agency. Law enforcement officers are often faced with difficult decisions and presented with opportunities that might challenge their integrity and ethical foundations. While we, as members of the law enforcement community ourselves, understand this, we also understand the tremendous damage that can result, to include the public's loss of confidence, when an officer strays from those foundations."

According to the indictment, from in or about April 2003 through July 2007, Wallace knowingly received, possessed, concealed, stored and disposed of twenty firearms that he knew were stolen. Information at Friday's hearing indicated that Wallace was demoted from Captain to Sergeant, and resigned the police department three months ago.

The indictment charges seven counts of stolen firearms. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Assistant United States Attorney Glenn D. Baker is prosecuting the case. This investigation is being handled by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, according to a Department of Justice statement.

Atlanta: Rain, Winds, Possible Tornadoes in S. Ga.

Click here or on the map for real-time weather updates from the National Weather Service.

There were reports of tornadoes in south and southwest Georgia Saturday night, while metro Atlanta was hit with wind and scattered showers.

The National Weather Service office in Tallahassee, Fla., said there were no confirmed reports of any tornadoes in the state of Georgia.

But they said there were two weather events they suspect were tornadoes, one in Worth County and the other in Turner County, both Saturday night.

A third weather event in Early County Saturday evening was reported as a tornado but has not been confirmed. Trees were reported down in all three incidents. There was minor property damage as well.

Meteorologist Kelly Godsey said there were no reports of any injuries.

Worth and Turner counties are in south Georgia. Early County is in southwest Georgia.

Although the Atlanta area has been drenched with rain, the National Weather Service says it may not be enough to put a dent in the state's drought or avoid a record-low year for rainfall.
Meterologist Robert Beasley of the National Weather Service says four-tenths of an inch of rain has fallen in the Atlanta area.

The low amount of rain this year - about 27.66 inches of rain as of Saturday - puts the area on pace to break a record low of 29.14 inches of rainfall set in 1931, according to the National Weather Service.

Beasley says the area likely will get up to 2-1/2 inches of rain before the end of the year.

(The Associated Press)

Click here for more GPB weather coverage.

Georgia Artifacts May Point to de Soto's Trail

A team from Atlanta's Fernbank Museum of Natural History discovered this rusty iron blade in Jacksonville, Ga. (Stephen Morton, AP)

The rusty, diamond-shaped iron blade, its sharp point jutting from the dirt where it was discovered, could be a centuries old clue that sheds surprising new light on the obscure path taken by the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto.

Irene Frankofsky, center, and Melanie Wing, left, use trawls to scrape away dirt around shards of Indian pottery in Jacksonville, Ga. (Stephen Morton, AP)

For archaeologist Dennis Blanton it has erased most doubts that the patch of ground in southeast Georgia was visited more than 460 years ago by some group of Spanish explorers — if not de Soto himself.

"It's pretty much case-closed," says Blanton, standing in a clearing among planted pines where his archaeologists have dug about 18 inches into the dirt in an area the size of a small house. "If you had to deduce the most plausible source, it would be de Soto."

But it also presents a mystery: The site is 90 miles from where most experts agree that de Soto traveled. And it highlights the challenge of deducing the route taken by de Soto — an explorer who left few traces of his journey.

Hernando de Soto became the first European to explore the interior of present-day Georgia in 1540, when he and 600 men arrived nearly two centuries before the British founded the colony of Georgia in 1733.

Historians and archaeologists have long debated his exact path, and scant evidence of Spanish artifacts along his trail has been found. Blanton says, cautiously, his findings in rural Telfair County may provide some physical proof of de Soto's presence.

Blanton of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta and his team have been digging on-and-off for 18 months on private land used for growing pine trees in rural Telfair County, about 120 miles west of Savannah.

Along with shards of Indian pottery, Blanton's team has uncovered two scraps of iron and five ornate, pea-sized glass beads. Blanton says he's convinced the beads and iron were brought by Spanish explorers to trade with Indians.


View Larger Map

However, the site where Blanton's team found its artifacts near the Ocmulgee River lies about 90 miles southeast of where most experts believe de Soto crossed the river near Macon. The few known written accounts by de Soto's companions are short on landmarks other than rivers and long-vanished Indian villages.

Historians agree de Soto and his men entered present-day Georgia near its southwest corner and worked their way northeast into South Carolina on the first leg of a winding trek that took de Soto 4,000 miles from northern Florida to Arkansas, where he died of fever in 1542.

"Everything changed instantly," Blanton said, "as soon as those Spaniards emerged from the woods and came up the riverbank."

(The Associated Press)

Hawks Player Carjacked at Gunpoint

Williams in action. (Gregory Smith: AP)

Atlanta forward Shelden Williams was carjacked at gunpoint Saturday before the Hawks' game against Charlotte, and two suspects were arrested with his car hours later.

Douglasville City Police said two suspects were arrested late Saturday afternoon at Arbor Place Mall in Douglas County, near Atlanta. The suspects were in Williams' car and were attempting a robbery, according to an officer who answered the phone at the Douglasville Police Department.

Fulton County Police spokesman Gary Syblis said Williams was approached by two men outside a barber shop. One man pulled out a gun and demanded Williams' keys to his 2008 Chrysler, according to Syblis.

Hawks spokesman Arthur Triche says Williams provided police with the license plate number of the vehicle used by the carjackers, leading to a search that led to two suspects being arrested at a mall in Douglas County. Williams' car was found at the scene.

"I'm just glad that he's safe," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "Cars and things like that, jewelry, money, all that can be replaced."

Triche said the car was damaged when found.

Williams reported to Philips Arena before the game but missed the team's shootaround. He made his first appearance in the game against the Bobcats late in the third quarter.

Williams told Woodson and other team officials about the incident when he reported for the game. He said the car was stolen outside a barber shop.

Syblis said Williams, a second-year player from Duke, did not identify himself as a player for the Hawks.

Syblis says the incident occured outside a barber shop on Cascade Road in Atlanta.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the Atlanta Hawks.

(The Associated Press)

Allegedly Abducted Toddler Found Safe

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says a 3-year-old boy allegedly taken from his west Georgia home by his uncle was found safe today, and the uncle was arrested.

Robert Russell, III, was seen driving his nephew, John Jack Russell, Jr., Friday in a silver Chrysler Town & Country van with North Carolina tags, said Sergeant Marc Griffith with the Carroll County Sheriff's Office.

An updated e-mail alert sent out by the GBI around 1 p.m. Saturday said the boy and his uncle were safely in custody. The GBI says the uncle was arrested in Atlanta, though it was not immediately clear what, if anything, he was charged with.

According to the Georgia Department of Corrections Web site, the elder Russell was released from Scott State Prison in 1997 after serving two years on a robbery conviction. According to the DeKalb County's online offender database, he also has been arrested four separate times in DeKalb County from 2003 to 2007 -- once for a probation violation, twice for theft and once for failure to appear in court.

According to the Web site, Russell was last released from the DeKalb County Jail in October. Griffith said Russell's family told authorities he has a history of drug abuse.

(The Associated Press)

Lawmakers Lobby for Georgia-Made F-22

Marietta facility. (Lockheed Martin)

Georgia lawmakers are pressuring the Pentagon to change its plans for ending production of the F-22A fighter jet, with some 2,000 Atlanta-area jobs at stake.

The Defense Department so far is standing by its decision to phase out the high-tech plane after 2009. But some analysts say the department may be reconsidering, particularly as a deadline approaches for keeping the manufacturing supply chain going.

"They're getting down to fish or cut bait time," said John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org, a defense research group. "They'll have to find the money from somewhere ... but I think they have a pretty good chance."

Georgia lawmakers are leading the charge for new purchases. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson and Rep. Phil Gingrey recently circulated letters of support among other lawmakers whose states host work on the jet. The aircraft is made by Lockheed Martin, with work done in 44 states.

Along with the plane's economic impact, the lawmakers cite strong support for the F-22A among Air Force brass and the need to replace an aging fleet of F-15 fighter jets. Last month, the Air Force grounded the F-15 after investigating a crash and finding "possible fleet-wide airworthiness problems."

"We believe (ending F-22A production) would be ill-advised and premature," Gingrey, who is from Marietta, where the planes are assembled, wrote in his letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Sixty-eight House members signed the Gingrey letter, while 28 senators joined the Senate effort, the lawmakers said.

F-22A Raptor (Lockheed Martin)

A successor to the F-15, the F-22A Raptor is among the Air Force's most expensive planes. It carries a total price of about $140 million apiece - and almost $350 million when research and testing expenses are included.

Air Force leaders have lobbied to get about 380 of the aircraft, touting its unprecedented combination of supersonic speed, radar stealth and superior air-to-air combat maneuverability.
But the Defense Department has requested 183, questioning the need for more in the post-Cold War era.

Last year, Congress approved a three-year purchase through 2009 for the last 60 F-22As in that allotment.

Pentagon spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin said the department has not changed its position on holding production at 183 planes.

Lockheed Martin is slated to deliver the last batch in 2011. Without funding for future purchases in next year's spending bills, the supply chain would gradually shut down beginning in late 2008, the company says.

Along with the lawmakers, the Air Force recently requested that the Pentagon shift budgeted funding for closing out production toward buying a new batch of planes.

Click here for more GPB business news coverage.

(The Associated Press)

Final: GHSA State Football 5A Championship

North Gwinnett 6 Lowndes 34

Lowndes defeated North Gwinnett 34-6 on Saturday night in Valdosta to win the Class 5A state football championship. Lowndes is 5-0 all-time in title games.

For the Vikings of Lowndes, along with leaning on their stifling defense, it was riding the backs of their running game with the efforts of Greg Reid and Darriet Perry. Reid rushed for 184 yards on the night, including a 91-yard touchdown romp early in the 1st quarter. He later added a 15-yard TD run. Perry ran for 100 yards, and touchdown scores of 3 and 22 yards.

Lowndes finished the season with a 14-1 record. The Bulldogs of North Gwinnett wrapped their campaign going 13-2.

Final: GHSA State Football 2A Championship

Lovett 0 Buford 50

The Buford Wolves on their home field rolled to an easy 50-0 win over Lovett to take the crown as 2A state football champions in 2007.

Buford's Cody Getz scored 3 early touchdowns to set the tone, while Demetris Murray ran for 150 yards and a score in the game.

Buford's Wolves earned their 5th football title, to add to their collection of crowns from the 1978, '01, '02, and '03 seasons. Buford this season went perfect at 15-0.

The Lions of Lovett ended their season with a 12-3 record.

Final: GHSA State Football 3A Championship

Carver-Columbus 16 Cairo 13

The Tigers of Carver-Columbus won the 3A state football championship Saturday night in Cairo, knocking-off the homestanding Syrupmakers.

Carver quarterback DeRon Furr scored a 24-yard touchdown with 1:01 remaining to propel the Carver Tigers to the 16-to-13 victory.

The Tigers found themselves trailing with 3:11 to go after Cairo's Reginald Bryant scored a one-yard touchdown to give the Syrupmakers a 13-to-9 advantage. Furr and the Tigers responded with a 10-play, 80-yard game-winning drive. Furr passed for 38 yards and rushed for 36 on the game-winning drive.

It was the first football state championship for Carver-Columbus and capped a perfect 15-0 season.

Final: GHSA State Football 1A Championship

Emanuel County Institute 41 Wilcox County 21 (played in Cordele)

ECI won the Class A football title Friday night, the school's first championship in any sport in GHSA competition.

ECI set the tone early with scores on its first 3 possessions. It was another big evening for talented ECI running back Washaun Ealey. The junior ran for 261 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ealey finishes the 2007 season with 2,971 yards and a state-record 58 touchdowns.

The matchup was the first championship game appearance for both schools. The game was played on the campus of Crisp County High in Cordele, in order to handle the overflow crowd. Wilcox County was the host school, and had received permission to move the contest to a bigger venue by outselling their own stadium's capacity by 3-thousand tickets.

Final: GHSA State Football 4A Championship

Northside (Warner Robins) 20 Ware County 14

Northside's Eagles won their 2nd straight championship in Class 4A Friday night in Waycross.

Trailing 14-10 late in the 4th quarter, Northside tailback Tijuan Green took a direct snap, and hit Nick Bass on a 40-yard touchdown strike and the go-ahead score with 5:23 remaining. The Eagles would add a field goal with just over 2-minutes left to close the scoring.

Green finished with 232 yards of total offense to help lead Northside to victory. The Eagles were able to comeback and win, overcoming 4 turnovers. Ware County's Gators weren't able to muster much on offense, with only 98 total yards on the night.

Northside is the 7th team in Georgia history to finish back-to-back 15-0 seasons.

Atlanta to host Baptist convention

Baptists from more than 30 denominations are planning on descending on Atlanta come January. Among the guests, former Vice President Al Gore, former President Clinton and Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Charles Grassley of Iowa.

The gathering is part of an effort, called the New Baptist Covenant, that's meant to pool the resources of the many Baptist groups and escape the shadow of the conservative Southern Baptist Convention. The 16.3 million-member Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Protestant group in the country.

Among the conference topics are evangelism, criminal justice, preaching, interfaith relations, racism, HIV/AIDS and religious liberty. The meeting is scheduled for January 30th through February 1st.

Harvesting gas from Georgia landfills

Georgia is set to get its second-ever plant to harvest methane gas from landfills. The Athens Banner-Herald reports the plant would be built in Winder near the Oak Grove and Speedway landfills. Winder would sell methane gas to the plant, which would harvest it to turn into natural gas to re-sell to city residents. The project is still in permitting phase but could be up and running by 2010. It’s projected to be able to heat 20,000 homes for the next 20 years. The only other plant like it in Georgia is set to open next year in DeKalb County.

In midst of drought, Athens hospitals dig wells

Hospitals in Athens aren’t taking any chances on running out of water during Georgia’s drought. The Athens-Banner Herald reports that St. Mary’s Hospital and Athens Regional Medical Center have drilled wells. Athens Regional already has a working well, and recently drilled another one near the hospital’s new parking deck. The water in the new well has yet to be tested. St. Mary’s recently applied for a pump house permit on a well it drilled several months ago.

Last Vick co-defendant sentenced

All of the defendants in the Michael Vick dog fighting conspiracy have now been sentenced. Today the fourth and last defendant in the case got two months in prison. Tony Taylor of Hampton pleaded guilty to conspiring with Michael Vick’s dog fighting operation in Virginia. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback was sentenced to 23 months on Monday.

Suicide rate up for middle-aged Americans

The suicide rate among middle-aged Americans has reached its highest point in at least 25 years, according to a government report released yesterday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta reported that the suicide rate rose by about 20 percent in recent years for ages 45 through 54. That far outpaced increases among younger adults. Experts said they don't know why the suicide rates are rising so dramatically in that age group. Roughly 32,000 suicides occur each year in the U.S.

Baker says sex offender law now clear

Georgia’s attorney says he’s now clear on how to enforce the state’s sex offender law. State Attorney General Thurbert Baker says sex offenders in George are only exempt from the state's strict residency requirements if they own property. Last month the state Supreme Court issued a ruling that seemed to completely toss a provision barring sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of any place where children congregate. Now, Baker’s office says that provision is only null and void for sex offenders who own property within 1,000 feet.

$1M boost for Infantry Museum

Georgia’s new National Infantry Museum has a $1 million-dollar boost. The Columbus-Ledger Enquirer reports At&T stepped in with the donation to the future Columbus museum. The museum is slated to be built next to Fort Benning, where the nation’s infantry is based. Organizers have raised $77 million dollars.

Lawmakers seek records in Nichols case

Lawmakers investigating defense funding in the case of accused courthouse shooter Brian Nichols want to see expense requests made by Nichols’ lawyers. The special house committee’s aim is to determine whether Judge Hilton Fuller is mishandling the case – and wasting money. Nichols’ defense has already cost more than 2-million dollars. The state’s public defender’s council says Nichols’ case has run their budget dry.

Georgia sports for Friday, December 14th

The Georgia high school football championship games are set for this weekend. There are two games this evening,with three slated for Saturday. Tonight at 7:30, Ware County hosts Northside-Warner Robins in 4A. That contest can be seen live on GPB-TV. The other game Friday night is in class 1A matches Emanuel County Institute and Wilcox County. For Saturday, the three games include the battle in 5A with North Gwinnett at Lowndes. This contest can also be seen on GPB-TV, 7:30 Saturday. Also for Saturday: The 3A title game features Carver-Columbus at Cairo. 2A has Buford home to Lovett.

11 former Atlanta Braves were among the dozens of major leaguers named in the Mitchell Report, detailing the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. The ex-Braves' names include David Justice, Gary Sheffield and John Rocker.

GA-SC port gets approval from Palmetto State

A joint partnership deal between Georgia and South Carolina to build a port on the Savannah River is now one-third approved. The South Carolina State Ports Authority has okayed the deal on their side by unanimous vote. The deal still needs the "yes" vote from the Georgia Ports Authority--meeting next week--and Georgia's Department of Transportation. The DOT owns the land in South Carolina where the port is to be built, across the river from Savannah in Jasper County.

Waycross football rally brings in community

Hundreds of residents in Southeast Georgia's Ware County turned out last night to rally their hometown football team ahead of tonight's high school championship game. Gator fans dressed in "In It To Win It" T-shirts waved signs, cheered and danced -- or at least gyrated -- to the marching band.

It was the first time Gary Griffin could remember a big pre-game rally not held at the school or stadium, but in downtown Waycross. Griffin edits the local Herald-Journal and says, the town has come together since wildfires devastated the county earlier this year. "The fire kind of galvanized the community," Griffin says.

Then again, football is so big in South Georgia, maybe a fired-up rally for the GHSA AAA title would've happened anyway. Ware County's athletic trainer Randy Sharp says, the team is prepared. "Well, we're in great shape," Sharp says. "This time of year, everyone's a little knicked up and we are too but we're in great shape, ready to go and real excited."

The team faces Warner Robbins at 7:30pm. Tickets go on sale at 5pm, with about 4,000 available at the door and many prepared to wait in line.

House committee mulls reform of eyewitness evidence collection

More extensive training for criminal investigators who collect eyewitness identification may be on the horizon.

A house committee is making its final revisions to a bill that will require law enforcement agencies to standardize the way they collect eyewitness evidence.

Current procedures are under scrutiny after seven Georgia men have been exonerated from false rape convictions based on eyewitness testimony.

Aimee Maxwell with the Georgia Innocence Project spoke to the committee about the high cost of false convictions, especially when compensating exonerees.

“First off it’s a cost to society to leave them in prison, every single day that costs us, and then Clarence Harrison, they gave him a million dollars for the time he spent in. But probably more importantly, the societal cost. We leave the right person on the street to hurt people.”

Lawmakers estimate the cost of reform at 20 to 40 thousand dollars.

AT&T: $1 Million to Nat'l Infantry Museum

Officials, press gather at museum ceremony, June, 2007. (file photo/Dave Bender)

AT&T Inc. says it's donating $1 million to the National Infantry Foundation for the construction of the new National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. NIF president, Jerry White:

"This gift not only affirms AT&T's commitment to the communities it serves, it demonstrates the company's allegiance to soldiers and their families and the sacrifices they make for our freedom."

The museum, being built in Columbus alongside Ft. Benning, is set to open in 2008.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the museum's construction.

Ex-Braves listed in baseball steroid report

Nine former Atlanta Braves players are among dozens of major leaguers named in a report linking them to steroid use in baseball.

Hall of Famers David Justice and Braves broadcaster Joe Simpson pose at their induction. (Atlanta Braves)

The names include David Justice, Gary Sheffield, John Rocker and Mike Stanton. Justice was just inducted into the Braves’ Hall of Fame this summer. His alleged connection to steroids was said to have occured while with the Yankees in 2000 and 2001. The other former Braves in the report: Denny Neagle, Paul Byrd, Kent Mercker, Todd Pratt, and Matt Franco.

The ex-Braves are among 80-plus past and present major leaguers listed in the long-awaited Mitchell Report. It’s the investigation commissioned by baseball to uncover how widespread performance-enchancing drug use is in the game.

Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell led the 20-month investigation. At a news conference earlier today, Mitchell said everyone involved in baseball the past two decades is responsible to some extent for the steroids era.

Of the big names around baseball named, those include current Yankees Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. The game’s home run king, Barry Bonds, is named--he’s under federal indictment for lying to a grand jury concerning steroid use.

Mitchell’s recommendation to baseball is to hold-off on punishment of players except in cases where conduct so serious calls for discipline to preserve the integrity of the game.

Columbus soldier dies in Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Gregory Elam died on Tuesday. Stationed in Afghanistan since June, the 39-year-old father of two was assigned to the 54th Quartermaster Company, 49th Quartermaster Group, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), located at Fort Lee, Va. Elam died of a "non-combat related illness," according to the Department of Defense. The Army has opened an investigation into the circumstances of his death.

Georgia sports for Thursday, December 13th

The Atlanta Falcons are moving ahead from the sudden departure of their head coach. One of the assistants on the staff, Emmitt Thomas, will serve as interim head coach for the Falcons' final three games of the season. The team has been hit hard all season long. The punches have included star quarterback Michael Vick landing in prison for a dogfighting conviction, and then the abrupt resignation of coach Bobby Petrino Tuesday night. The Falcons are 3-10.

From the ice, the Atlanta Thrashers suffered the 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins in action from Atlanta Wednesday night. The Thrashers fell to a record of 14-15.

West Georgia has hired Daryl Dickey as its new head football coach. Dickey comes to Carrollton via Florida State's program, where he served as quarterbacks coach for six seasons. He replaces Mike Ledford, who resigned in November.

Certain Georgia inmates eligible for cut in sentences

More than 700 prison inmates in Georgia will be eligible for reductions in their sentences for crack cocaine. The U.S. Sentencing Commission will make retroactive the recent rollback of such sentences. Over 19-thousand inmates nationwide are included. Numbers from the Commission’s website show about 299 cases of inmates from Georgia’s middle district would be affected--269 from the Southern district, and 142 from the Northern district. Most eligible could get no more than a two-year cut in prison terms. Federal judges get final say.

Lawmakers push to keep fighter production in Georgia

Three Georgia lawmakers are pushing hard in Washington to move the Pentagon to change its plans for ending production of the F-22A fighter jet. The Raptor jet is made at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, and involves two-thousand area jobs. The Defense Department had earlier announced it would phase-out production after 2009, but may be reconsidering. Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, along with Representative Phil Gingrey have been circulating letters of support among lawmakers in 44 states that host work on the jet. The F-22A fighter is among the most expensive planes in the Air Force, about 140 million dollars each. It's nearly 350 million when research and testing expenses are included.

New state DOT commish details mass problems

Only eight days into her term as new commissioner of Georgia’s Department of Transportation, Gena Abraham has delivered a sobering assessment of where things stand. Abraham told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that her new staff is unable to indicate how many projects the department has in the works or who’s overseeing projects. She also says over 15-hundred lawsuits are unresolved, and projects from the Governor’s Fast Forward program are 4.2 billion dollars over cost estimates.

Abraham had the support of Governor Sonny Perdue to replace Harold Linnenkohl as DOT commissioner. Abraham was chosen in a one-vote margin by the board over a candidate supported by House Speaker Glenn Richardson.

GAO Report: Sharp Spike in Army Move Costs

Maneuver Center of Excellence. (Fort Benning)

A new report says the massive military relocation project for Fort Benning will have a much larger price tag than previous estimates.

The Base Realignment and Closure Program – BRAC, for short – was projected to cost taxpayers 21-billion dollars. Now, the figure is nearly 700 million dollars higher.

The Army says the added costs are for roads, sewers and infrastructure for the BRAC project which includes opening some bases, closing others, and moving 123,000 service personnel nationwide.

Georgia is the focus of a major BRAC initiative — moving the Army's Armor school from Ft. Knox, Kentucky to Fort Benning, near Columbus. It involves bringing some 30,000 troops and their families to the Columbus area.

The GAO says it may be the most expensive move in US military history. A Pentagon official says nationwide BRAC will, in his words, “enhance defense capabilities."

Click here for more GPB coverage about Ft. Benning.

Falcons' brass vent over Petrino resignation

One day after their head coach abruptly quit the team after only 13 games, top officials with the Atlanta Falcons vented their anger over the situation.

Team owner Arthur Blank used the words "betrayed", "let-down", and "abused" to describe how he felt in the wake of Bobby Petrino’s sudden departure late Tuesday afternoon. By late last night, Petrino had been introduced as head coach at the University of Arkansas.

Over the weekend, Petrino gave Blank some issues of concern with the team. On Monday afternoon, the two were joined by general manager Rich McKay to hash-out the issues. Blank said it appeared there was resolution of Petrino's concerns. At the end of the meeting, Petrino shook Blank’s hand and said "I’m your coach". Monday night the Falcons lost at home to New Orleans to fall to a record of 3-10 on the season.

Petrino quit 24 hours later.

Blank today spoke of broken commitments.

"My issue is not that he elected to go back to coaching in college. That is not my issue. My issue is timing, my issue is responsibility, my issue is commitment that was made to this organization, and made to everyone connected to this organization. That is my issue".

The Falcons’ season has been marred by star quarterback Michael Vick’s conviction and resulting prison sentence for dogfighting.

The team’s defensive backs coach, Emmitt Thomas, will serve as interim head coach the final three games.

Springfield, Rincon join Effingham alcohol vote

The Southeast Georgia cities of Springfield and Rincon have decided to join Effingham County in asking voters whether to approve liquor sales at restaurants.

Voters throughout Effingham County will decide in February whether to approve restaurant liquor sales county-wide. But officials in Springfield and Rincon say just in case it doesn't pass on the county level, they want to give voters the option of approving restaurant liquor sales for their towns.

The two cities will add it to their local ballot in February.

Area ministers haved formed a church-based strategy for the "no" votes. Contractor Charles Kea leads a pro-business group organizing the "yes" votes.

Kea says, Effingham is growing too close to Savannah's Chatham County to give it the edge over Effingham in attracting restaurants. Kea says, "If we can't pour alcohol and Chatham County can, they'll line up from our county line back into Chatham and anybody who wants to eat at those restaurants will have to leave the county and we'll lose those tax dollars."

Kea says, his surveys suggest broad support for the measure. The ministers disagree, saying residents moved to Effingham to escape Savannah's problems.

Slain soldier's family adopts his military dog

The Marine Corps announced today a Georgia-based military dog whose handler was killed in Iraq will be adopted by the soldier’s family. The 8-year-old German shepherd named Lex will join the family of fallen Marine Corporal Dustin Jerome Lee. Lex was wounded in the same explosion March 21st that killed Lee. This marks the first time the U.S. military has granted early retirement to a working dog so it could live with a former handler's family. Lee's family from Quitman, Missississippi, is scheduled to pick up Lex from the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany on December 21st.

CSU Graduation Set For Saturday

CSU belltower. (file photo/Dave Bender)

Columbus State University will recognize about 450 degree recipients in a commencement on Saturday.

The ceremony also will feature an honorary degree presentation to Thomas B. Buck Jr., a senior member of the CSU Foundation Board of Trustees. A well-known business and civic leader, Buck is credited for playing an important role in the growth of CSU and Columbus.

Expanded graduating classes in the past three years reflect a 35 percent enrollment increase since 2001, the university said in a statement released to the press.

A live Webcast will be available at http://graduation.colstate.edu. A high-speed connection is recommended, and a room in Lumpkin Center and Fine Arts Hall auditorium will be set up for attendees seeking an alternative viewing location, the statement said.

Click here for more GPB News about CSU.

Chambliss attacks Air Force over housing problems

Prompted by a military housing scandal in Georgia Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss is joining the fight to fix the problem. Chambliss is among eight U.S. Senators who have sent a letter to the Air Force.

The letter criticizes the Air Force’s oversight of housing privatization projects at bases in Arkansas, Florida, Massachusetts, and at Moody Air Force base near Valdosta. The letter says poor management has led the projects to be delayed or halted for moths at time, and that they are tens of millions of dollars over budget. The Senators say local communities are “traumatized” and that military families deserve better.

At Georgia’s Moody Air Force Base, 400 homes were supposed to be built for military families, but only two are completed. Chambliss is set to co-sponsor legislation this week to enhance oversight of how the military picks private contractors for housing projects.

Local officials slam state water plan

Shoal-marker and vegetation, both once submerged in West Point Lake, show extent of drought. (file photo/Dave Bender)

An eleventh hour change in the plan seeks to allocate water according to so-called “service delivery regions,” and not by watershed.

That concept didn't sit well with Bob Tant, Columbus Water Works vice-president:

"They introduced this change right at the last minute, and it was such a major change, it almost begs anyone who follows this process to have to bail out on the plan."

Critics decried what they say was a lack of local influence in decision-making. They fear the water plan serves political and business needs of Atlanta, more than those of communities downstream.

About 40 officials and experts attended the final round of these statewide meeting.

The final draft will go before the state legislature in January.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the water crisis.

Petrino quits Falcons, takes new job same night

In the midst of a difficult season for the Atlanta Falcons, another sudden twist has hit the team. Its head coach quit late Tuesday afternoon, then six hours later was introduced for a new head coaching job.

Bobby Petrino called Falcons officials yesterday afternoon to say he was resigning his post, with still three games to go in the season. By late last night, he had flown to the Midwest and was introduced as the new coach for the University of Arkansas.

Petrino goes back to the college ranks, from where he came previously--leaving Louisville to join the Falcons last January. Petrino in his comments to the media in Arkansas last night.

"It was very difficult to leave Atlanta and what we had started there. Difficult to leave the staff, the players and the fans. The timing of it was probably the thing that made it the most difficult. Certainly would have liked to have stayed and finish the season and have it all work out".

But those comments didn't sit well with at least one Falcon player when he heard of the sudden news on Tuesday--defensive back DeAngelo Hall.

"I don't have any respect for him. To just turn his back on the organization like that, it just doesn't make any tpye of sense". Coach comes in after every tough game, every tough loss and tells us to keep fighting, that he's not going to quit....for him to jump ship like that, it's very disheartening".

The Falcons are only 3-10 this season. The spectre of the team's star quarterback, Michael Vick, has hung over the franchise all season. Vick on Monday was sentenced to 23 months in prison for his role in a dogfighting operation.

The Falcons are holding an afternoon news conference to address their coaching situation.

Petrino quits as Falcons' head coach

In a season of unprecedented adversity for the Atlanta Falcons, the team sustained another blow early Tuesday evening--its rookie head coach quit after 13 games. The team has confirmed Bobby Petrino resigned his post. Reports indicate that he will return to the college gridiron to coach the University of Arkansas.

The abrupt move by Petrino comes only a day after the team's once-star quarterback, Michael Vick, was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for his involvement in a dogfighting operation. Monday night, the Falcons lost for the 10th time in 13 games this season--a 34-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Petrino in January signed a 5-year, 24.5 million dollar contract to leave his college job at Louisville and coach the Falcons. Soon after, troubles out of his control began--mainly revolving around Vick. On January 17th airport officials in Miami seized a water bottle from Vick with a hidden compartment. Later tests revealed there was no illegal substance, with Vick cleared of wrongdoing. But in April an investigation of Vick's Virginia residence turned-up evidence of a dogfighting operation. Vick's major legal troubles grew from there, resulting in his prison sentence Monday. The absence of Vick and dark cloud over the team from off-the-field distractions has been a factor in the Falcons' dismal on-field performance.

Some Falcon players at different times this season have had vocal issues with how Petrino has handled the team.

Before Monday night's game, Petrino reportedly was asked by team owner Arthur Blank whether he intended to be with the Falcons in 2008. Petrino told Blank he definitely would return as coach. That changed late Tuesday afternoon.

The Falcons have called a 2pm Wednesday news conference to address their coaching situation.

Former Congresswoman on presidential run

McKinney at "School of the Americas" protest in November, 2007. (File photo/Dave Bender)

Former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney stopped in Wisconsin today as part of her run for president. McKinney is seeking the nomination of the Green Party, which gained fame when Ralph Nader ran as its candidate for president in 2000. McKinney, who served five terms in Congress as a Democrat representing a district east of Atlanta, said she is pushing a "true peace" agenda and advocating "radical common sense."

Proposed museum could bring in millions

Organizers behind a civil and human rights museum planned for downtown Atlanta in 2010 say it could attract more than one billion dollars and thousands of jobs to Georgia over the next decade. The Center for Civil and Human Rights announced the findings of its financial feasibility and economic study today. The facility will feature documents from the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection. A site is expected to be named by spring.

Critics: Nov. elections prove photo ID law problematic

Georgia election officials announced nearly 60 people were forced to cast provisional ballots during November's local elections. That's because they lacked the required state issued photo identification. So far, less than 40 of the state's 159 counties have reported their November elections findings to state officials. Still, critics say they're wary of the law. Charlie Lester is spokesperson for Georgia Election Protection. "We're worried that people won't know the requirements, won't have gotten picture IDs. We're concerned about potentials for misinformation, actual voter fraud, telling people that democrats vote on Wednesday instead of on Tuesday." Georgia voters have until January 7th, 2008 to register for the February 5th Presidential primary.

Jobs could be lost as GA realigns computer needs

Governor Perdue has announced a plan he says will make Georgia a more modern and well managed state. It would also affect over a thousand state jobs. The plan calls for consolidating and outsourcing computer operations which state agencies use to process information like driver's licenses, welfare and child support payments. Governor Perdue says such a move is necessary, because the state cannot guarantee the safety of its current technology. "This is a confession. Today, I can't even assure Georgians that we have the basic essential security and disaster recovery levels worth of a 24-hour operation serving the needs of over 9 million Georgians." Private contractors will handle day-to-day operations of the state's information technology, meaning that more than a thousand people could see their jobs eliminated or shifted to the private sector. The Georgia Technology Authority will oversee the plan.

Georgians donate $1M through tax refunds

Georgians donated more than $1.1 million dollars to charitable causes on their 2006 income tax returns. The state Department of Revenue says taxpayers make the contributions either by redirecting part of their tax refund to the cause of their choice, or by increasing the amount of taxes they owe. Examples include $310,000 to the Georgia Cancer Research Fund; $318,000 to the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund; $222,000 to the Georgia Fund for Children and Elderly; $114,000 to the Georgia National Guard Foundation.

DNA frees convicted rapist

A man who spent nearly three decades behind bars for a rape he didn’t commit is free today. DNA evidence cleared 48-year-old John Jerome White of the crime. White left Macon State Prison last night, 27 years after a jury in Meriwether County convicted him of sexually assaulting an elderly woman. The Georgia Innocence Project worked to clear White of the crime.

Student diagnosed with tuberculosis

A high school junior in Atlanta has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Parents and teachers at North Atlanta High School were notified Monday. Fulton County health officials are offering free testing for other students at the school.

Atlanta schools ban saggy pants

Atlanta public school students are now banned from wearing sagging pants. Last night the city’s school board voted unanimously to bar students from wearing pants that expose underwear. It will still be up to the principals of Atlanta’s 96 schools to determine when there is a violation and what to do about it.

Rape suspect dies after stun gun shocks

A rape suspect is dead after deputies shocked him with a stun gun. Walton County police say they confronted 41-year-old Leroy Patterson Junior yesterday at his tractor trailer. Authorities say they shot Patterson twice with a stun gun. The deputy who used the stun gun is on paid leave pending a review by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

State lawmaker updates push for new dogfighting laws

A day after Michael Vick was sentenced to prison for dogfighting, a state senator called a news conference for an update on legislation against the activity in Georgia.

Republican Chip Rogers from Woodstock says he hopes the Vick media focus will push his dogfighting bill over the top in January’s legislative session.

Rogers’ bill would make it a felony to stage, promote, bet on, or watch fights in Georgia. It would also raise the financial penalty. Currently, someone has to be caught at a fight to face prosecution. And the penalty Rogers says, is too low.

"If you’re only going to fine the person, if caught and convicted 5-thousand, and they could potentially win 20 or 30-thousand…as you can see, it may be a good risk on the person involved in this type of activity to go ahead and do it. We want to take that risk away, and we want the penalty to be severe".

Rogers wants a fine of 20-thousand dollars and prison time for a 1st offense.

He says Georgia’s current dogfighting laws are some of the weakest in the nation.

Water Council Holds Last Policy Draft Session

Once-floating boat dock, now high and dry at West Point Lake, due to drought. (File /Dave Bender)

A series of public meetings on the statewide water plan wraps up today. The plan was drafted by the Georgia Water Council, under the direction of Georgia's Environmental Protection Division.

The agency's asking for public input in this last round of meetings, one of which will be in Columbus.

Community leaders outside Metro Atlanta have long-criticized what they view as the capital's water-guzzling policies. They fear that the water plan favors metro Area.

But the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce has countered that notion saying the proposed Water plan does not make preferences.

The water Council will submit the final draft to the state legislature when they convene in January. The plan asks for 30 million dollars to actually plan some more, so that Georgia can avoid critical water shortages experienced in North Georgia right now.

Click here for more GPB coverage of the water crisis.

Georgia sports for Tuesday, December 11th

With the news of Michael Vick’s prison sentence still fresh in their minds, the Atlanta Falcons in the prime time focus of Monday Night Football were blistered at home by the New Orleans Saints, 34-14. Saints-QB Drew Brees shredded the Falcon-defense for 328 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. Chris Redman got the start at QB for the Falcons—he threw for 298 yards and 2 touchdowns. The 34 points surrendered by the Falcons was a season-high. In their last 4 games, the Falcons have been outscored 124-50.

In the game, a few Falcon players showed their support for teammate Michael Vick. Defensive back Deangelo Hall ran onto the field before the game holding a Vick-poster, and had MV7 written on his eyeshades. Receiver Roddy White lifted his jersey after scoring a touchdown to reveal a shirt that read Free Mike Vick. Earlier in the day, Vick was sentenced in Virginia federal court to 23 months behind bars for his admitted role in a dogfighting operation.

The Georgia Tech athletics family has lost a Hall of Famer. George Morris, who starred at linebacker during the Yellow Jackets’ perfect 1952 season, died at the age of 76 of an apparent heart attack. Morris played on teams coached by Bobby Dodd that went 23-0-1 in 1951 and ’52. The perfect season of 52 included a win over Mississippi in the Sugar Bowl. Morris is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Pro basketball from last night saw the Atlanta Hawks win their 3rd straight game, 98-87 at Orlando.

Monday men’s college hoops action: Georgia Southern a winner at home over Fort Valley State, 93-78.

More federal help for farmers hit by drought

Congressional Democrats say Congress plans to extend a disaster relief deadline so that farmers hit by drought this year can get cash assistance to offset losses. The extension will be included in a massive spending bill that lawmakers are expected to take up this week. Farmers and ranchers nationwide would be eligible, but the extension would be particularly beneficial to Southern growers facing one of the worst droughts on record. Many farmers in the region already are eligible for low-cost loans.

NFL prefers Georgia hospital

A Georgia hospital is among 15 chosen by the National Football League to perform surgery on retired players. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports St. Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta is on the list. The NFL and the players’ union created the list of preferred hospitals for joint replacement surgery.

Georgia ID theft groups gets federal grant

A Georgia-based identity theft victims organization is getting $200,000 from the federal government. Atlanta Victim Assistance Incorporated helps both victims and witnesses of identity theft and fraud. The group will use the money to educate people on how to prevent identity theft and what their rights are if it happens.

Effingham pastors discuss alcohol vote

A group of pastors in Southeast Georgia's Effingham County met Monday to oppose to a ballot measure on liquor sales at restaurants.

Effingham County is a fast-growing bedroom community to nearby Savannah and business groups say, potential Effingham tax dollars are going to the city every time an Effingham resident leaves the county to go there for dinner. They say, Effingham could attract more restaurants if highly profitable liquor were on the menu.

County commissioners decided to put the matter before voters in the February primary.

The Rev. Bob Rogers of First Baptist Church in Rincon is organizing a church-based campaign to get residents to vote no. "Liquor can be a fool's gold," Rogers says. "The people think it's going to bring a lot of riches. It can also bring some heartaches."

Effingham County currently allows beer and wine at restaurants, but not distilled spirits. A referendum five yeas ago to allow liquor by the drink failed by 57%.

Lawmakers craft new sex offender bill

House Republicans are pushing a new bill that would limit where sex offenders may live in Georgia. The state Supreme Court overturned a previous bill’s ban on sex offenders living within a thousand feet of any place where children congregate. The new bill would create exceptions including allowing a sex offender who owns a home to stay if a place like a day care center opened up within a thousand feet. Another exception would allow sex offenders with established employment to keep their jobs if a day care center opened nearby.

Delta launches etiquette videos

Airplane etiquette is the subject of a new campaign by Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines. 25 videos on the carrier’s website are meant to raise awareness on how passengers should behave on flights. The video are humorous, with snippets including a middle-seat bully; unruly children and the passenger who raises or closes the window shade without considering other passengers.

State workers defy Perdue's water ban

Some state workers reportedly defied an order not to wash their cars. However some, including Highlands College President J. Randy Pierce, say it was an honest mistake. Pierce and other state employees used state credits cards to pay for car washes after the October 24th ban. Governor Sonny Perdue issued the ban on car washes and landscaping expenses in response to Georgia’s historic drought.

Trees for Troops Makes Delivery to Ft. Benning

ROTC students from Jackson High School load Christmas trees donated to the national Trees for Troops program by Georgia growers in 2006. (Georgia Farm Bureau)

The Trees for Troops program, sponsored by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and FedEx Corp., stopped at Ft. Benning on Monday, to deliver some 700 Christmas Trees to troops and military families.

The program is a part of a nationwide organization that provides transportation and logistical assistance for community and non-profit organizations, according to a statement by the company.

This year, more than 11,000 trees from 27 states are expected to be delivered to 25 military bases in the United States and overseas. In 2005, the program delivered more than 4,300 trees to bases across the United States.

Click here for more GPB News about Ft. Benning.

Vick gets 23 months for dogfighting

Suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick today was sentenced to 23 months in prison for his bankroll and involvement in a dogfighting operation.

Vick could have received the maximum of five years behind bars from U.S District Court judge Henry Hudson. Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a term of 12-18 months. Last week, two of Vick’s co-defendants were sentenced to terms of 18 and 21 months respectively.

Vick appeared in Richmond-Virginia federal court dressed in a black and white prison jumpsuit. In the 90-minute hearing, he acknowledged using "poor judgement" and that he was willing to "deal with the consequences".

Vick in August admitted guilt to financing the dogfighting operation, and executing some dogs who didn’t perform up to expectations.

Vick’s legal troubles are not over. He and his three fellow co-defendants face state charges next year. Vick also is being sued by two banks for repayment of loans and lines of credit. His team, the Atlanta Falcons, is seeking repayment of bonus money from his 130-millioin dollar contract.

Georgia sports for Monday, December 10th

The final chapter in the Michael Vick legal saga is set to be revealed this morning. The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback will be in a Richmond-Virginia federal courtroom to learn his sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation. Vick could get the maximum of five years--prosecutors have recommended a term of 12-18 months. U.S. district court judge Henry Hudson will hand-down the sentence. Vick reported to prison last month to get a jump on serving his time.

Vick's old Falcon teammates will be in action tonight in Atlanta to face the New Orleans Saints. The game is set for the 8:30 kickoff from the Georgia Dome.

The high school football championship game matchups are set following a weekend of semifinal action from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. In Class 5A, North Gwinnett has earned a trip to its first-ever title game--they'll face Lowndes on Saturday. For Class 4A, Northside-Warner Robins and Ware County will tangle on Friday night. The Class 3A championship will match Carver-Columbus against Cairo on Saturday. The 2A final will pit Lovett against Buford Saturday, while 1A will feature the matchup of Emmanuel County Institute and Wilcox County Friday.

Women's college basketball out of yesterday included Georgia at home scoring the 79-65 victory over Davidson.

Metals plant explosion claims a life

The explosion at a metals plant in west Georgia last month has taken a life. 26-year-old Kenneth Walton died over the weekend from injuries sustained in the November 29th explosion at G-and-S Metal Consultants in Manchester. Walton was burned over 75-percent of his body, and was being treated at Atlanta’s Grady Hospital. Walton was one of seven people injured in the explosion--he was one of three takn to Grady. Authorities believe the plant's explosion was caused when water accidentally came in contact with boiling aluminum.

Vick to receive sentence today

Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick this morning will appear in Virginia federal court to learn his sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation. Vick's hearing is scheduled for 10am in Richmond, in front of U.S. District Court judge Henry Hudson. Vick faces a maximum of five years, but sentencing guidelines and recommendations call for a term of 12-18 months. Prosecutors have recommended the low end of that suggested term. Vick reported to prison last month to get a jump on his expected sentence. Two of Vick's co-defendants were sentenced last week. Purnell Peace got 18 months--Quanis Phillips received 21 months behind bars. A third co-defendant will learn his sentence Friday.

GHSA Football Semifinals Summary

Wilcox County heads to its first Class A Championship next week against the Emmanuel County Institute Bulldogs with their state touchdown record-breaker Washaun Ealey. Lovett and Buford dominated their semifinal games and will pair up to fight for Class AA championship.

Class AAA teams Carver-Columbus and Cairo will face off after both teams pulled out late wins in the semifinals. The Northside-Warner Robins Eagles also pulled out a late win and will play in the Class 4A finals against the Ware County in the Bulldogs first finals appearance in nearly half a century. First-time Dome visitors North Gwinnett will travel south to play Lowndes for the 5A championship.

All semifinal games and band performances will be available for free on-demand viewing at the Georgia Public Broadcasting web site within the next few days. Copies of the games can also be purchased on VHS or DVD from gametapes.com.

2007 Georgia High School Football Semifinals Summary
CLASS A
Wilcox County 32		Athens Academy 14
ECI at Wilcox County Friday, December 14 - 8:00 pm
Clinch County 14		ECI 35
. . .
CLASS AA
Buford 48		Dublin 0
Lovett at Buford Saturday, December 15 - 6:00 pm
Lovett 29		Cook 16
. . .
CLASS AAA
Carver-Columbus 26		Chamblee 24
Carver-Columbus at Cairo Saturday, December 15 - 3:00 pm
Cairo 42		North Hall 21
. . .
CLASS AAAA
Tucker 28		Northside-Warner Robins 31
Northside-Warner Robins at Ware County Friday, December 14 - 7:30 pm Live on Georgia Public Broadcasting and online at gpb.org
Thomas County Central 7		Ware County 10
. . .
CLASS AAAAA
Walton 28		North Gwinnett 31
North Gwinnett at Lowndes Saturday, December 15 - 7:30 pm Live on Georgia Public Broadcasting and online at gpb.org
Lowndes 10		Camden County 0

Lowndes Wins Hard Fight

It wasn't a game if you like to see touchdowns, but the Lowndes Vikings took the AAAAA semifinal match against the Camden County Wildcats with a first half touchdown and a second half field goal. Final score on the rough-and-tumble game, 10-0. Lowndes will have the home field advantage next Saturday when they face the North Gwinnett Bulldogs for the 5A championship.

Abducted woman found near Six Flags

McConnell-Hancock. (Final Harvest Church)

A pregnant Ohio attorney who had been missing since Wednesday was found alive Saturday behind a suburban Atlanta amusement park, and police said she reported having been abducted. There were no immediate arrests.

Karyn McConnell-Hancock, 35, who is six months pregnant, told Cobb County police that two men and a woman abducted her. She was last seen outside a juvenile court building in Toledo, Ohio, around 9 a.m. Wednesday, police spokesman Sgt. Dana Pierce said.

The suspects reportedly dumped her out of a vehicle in Georgia on Saturday morning, and she wandered to a back gate to the Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park, Pierce said. The woman flagged down a motorist, who called police at about 6:45 a.m. The park is located in Austell, 15 miles northwest of Atlanta.

She appeared to be in good health. The motorist she flagged down described her as disoriented, according to Toledo police spokeswoman Capt. Diana Ruiz-Krause.

Details on where she was between Wednesday and Saturday, descriptions of her alleged abductors and the vehicle they were driving were unclear. Ruiz-Krause said McConnell-Hancock called her husband Thursday afternoon to say she had been kidnapped. Police were unable to trace the call, which was brief.

The woman's car has not been located, Ruiz-Krause said.

By midday Saturday, the FBI had been called in to assist, Pierce said. An FBI spokesman in Atlanta, Stephen Emmett, declined to comment, referring questions to his counterpart in Ohio. The FBI office there declined to make a spokesman available for comment.

McConnell-Hancock had been having trouble with a client and had received suspicious phone calls, her husband told police in Ohio.

Georgia authorities were interviewing McConnell-Hancock Saturday. Toledo police were making arrangements to travel to Georgia and escort her back to Ohio.

McConnell-Hancock is a former city councilwoman in Toledo.

(Associated Press Writers Stephen Majors and Emily Zeugner contributed to this report from Columbus, Ohio)

North Gwinnett Wins In First Dome Visit

The North Gwinnett Bulldogs are headed to the AAAAA finals next week after defeating the Walton Raiders today in the GHSA Football Semifinals. Going into the second half, the Bulldogs led the Raiders 24-0. Both teams picked up a single touchdown in the last half, for a final score of 31-7. This was the first trip the Georgia Dome for North Gwinnett.

Next week, North Gwinnett will play the winner of the Lowndes - Camden County game.

Andrew Young: Obama's Too Young

Young. (Ric Field/Associated Press)

Civil rights icon Andrew Young says Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is too young and lacks the support network to ascend to the White House.

In a media interview posted online, Young also quipped that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton has her husband behind her, and that "Bill is every bit as black as Barack."

Sen. Barack Obama. (AP /J. Scott Applewhite)

"He's probably gone with more black women than Barack," Young said of former President Clinton, drawing laughter from a live television audience. Young, 75, was quick to follow his comment on Bill Clinton with the disclaimer, "I'm clowning."

Young, a former United Nations ambassador and lieutenant of Martin Luther King, Jr., made the comments at an appearance at "Newsmakers Live," an urban media forum that interviews prominent Atlanta personalities and political figures.

Excerpts of the interview were posted on Newsmakers Journal, the Newsmakers' Web site, though the date of the appearance was not included with the video posting. Young was scheduled to appear on "Newsmakers Live" on Sept. 5, according to a press release.

Repeated efforts by The Associated Press to reach Young were unsuccessful.
Young's comments were prompted by a member of the audience who inquired about his opinion on Obama's candidacy.

"I want Barack Obama to be president," Young said, pausing for effect, "in 2016."

"It's not a matter of being inexperienced. It's a matter of being young," Young said. "There's a certain level of maturity ... you've got to learn to take a certain amount of (expletive)."

Young went on to say that Obama needs a protective network that he currently lacks - a quality that could hurt him if he were to be elected. He said Hillary Clinton already has that kind of network, including her husband to back her up.

"There are more black people that Bill and Hillary lean on," Young said. "You cannot be president alone. ... To put a brother in there by himself is to set him up for crucifixion. His time will come and the world will be ready for a visionary leadership."

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the Democratic Party, and here for political coverage.

(The Associated Press)

Johnson Leaves Navy for Georgia Tech Job

Johnson. (AP Photo)

Navy football coach Paul Johnson is headed to Georgia Tech after turning around a struggling program in six years at the military academy.

Johnson informed the team at an 11:45 a.m. meeting at Ricketts Hall, where the football offices are located, said Scott Strasemeier, Navy's associate athletic director for sports information.
Georgia Tech has scheduled a news conference for Friday at 5:30 p.m. EST, when athletic director Dan Radakovich will announce a new head coach.

Johnson, a former Georgia Southern coach, also negotiated with Southern Methodist and Duke this week.

He will replace Chan Gailey, who was fired one day after a 7-5 regular season ended with his sixth straight loss to Georgia. Gailey had four years left on his contract at $1 million per season.

The Midshipmen had a miserable 1-20 record in the two seasons before Johnson took over. He had a 2-10 record in his first season, but turned things around quickly. He led the Midshipmen to five straight bowl games, a school record. Navy will play Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 20 in San Diego.

Johnson was 45-29 at Navy. He was also successful against the other service academies. He got his sixth straight win against rival Army last week, an unprecedented streak.

Click here for more GPB News coverage.

(The Associated Press)

Cairo Third Quarter Surge Earns Team AAA Finals Spot

After a slow first half, the Cairo Syrupmakers beat the North Hall Trojans 42-21. The first half belonged to the Trojans, with the Syrupmakers only picking up 7 points to the North Hall's 14. Twelve seconds into the third quarter, the Syrupmaker's Reginald Bryant ran 80 yards for the first touchdown, followed quickly by another 48 and 62 yard run touchdowns by Cairo's Ronnie Wooten. By the end of the third quarter, Cairo had added 35 points. It held the lead and only allowed North Hall another 7 for the last half.

The Syrupmakers next week will face the Carver-Columbus Tigers, who pulled out a late win yesterday against the Chamblee Bulldogs, in the AAA finals.

Lovett Lions To Face Buford Wolves

The Lovett Lions bested the Cook Hornets 29-16 in second AA semifinal game this afternoon at the Georgia Dome. The first half belonged entirely to the Lions, and included a 67 yard intercepted touchdown by linebacker Campbell Wilson. The Hornets rallied in the 4th and picked up 16, but couldn't overcome the Lions lead.

The Lovett Lions will face the Buford Wolves next week in AA finals.

Buford Wolves Headed to Finals

The Buford Wolves dominated the Dublin Fighting Irish today at the Georgia Dome, winning 48-0. The Wolves had already racked up 35 points by halftime, with player Tyler King taking three touchdowns. With the strong lead, the clock automatically ran down at the beginning of the 3rd and 4th quarters to bring the game to quick finish.

The Wolves will be watching the game at noon between the Lovett Lions and Cook Hornets to see who they will face next week in Class AA finals.

GHSA Football Semifinals Friday Wrap-up

Wilcox County heads to its first Class A Championship next week against the Emmanuel County Institute Bulldogs with their state touchdown record-breaker Washaun Ealey. Class AAA Carver-Columbus will be watching the match at 3 pm today to see who they will face next week after pulling out a win in the last six minutes of the game over Chamblee. The Northside-Warner Robins Eagles also pulled out a late win to play in the Class 4A finals against the Ware County in the Bulldogs first finals appearance in nearly half a century.

GHSA Football Semifinals Summary - Friday 7 December 2007
A	Wilcox County 32	Athens Academy 14
A	ECI 35	Clinch County 14
AAA	Carver-Columbus 26	Chamblee 24
AAAA	Northside-WR 31	Tucker 28
AAAA	Ware County 10	Thomas County Central 7

The GHSA football semifinals start up again today at 9 am to settle who will be headed to the Class AA finals next week. The games continue throughout the day to settle the who will face Carver-Columbus in the Class AAA finals. By midnight, we will know which of the Class 5A semifinalists have made all the way through to play in the much-watched finals next week.

GHSA Football Semifinals Schedule - Saturday 8 December 2007
9 am	AA	Buford Wolves vs. Dublin Fighting Irish
12 pm	AA	Lovett Lions vs. Cook Hornets
3 pm	AAA	Cairo Syrupmakers vs. North Hall Trojans
6 pm	AAAAA	Walton Raiders vs. North Gwinnett Bulldogs
9 pm	AAAAA	Lowndes Vikings vs. Camden County Wildcats

All games will broadcast live all day starting at 9 am on Georgia Public Broadcasting television and online at the GPB web site.

Ware County pulls out the victory over Thomas County Central

In a defensive battle between two quality programs, the Ware County Gators pulled out a 10-7 victory over Thomas County Central. Next week the Gators will face Northside for the Class AAAA championship.

Don't forget to check in with us on Saturday as we will continue to update all game information throughout the day.

If you are enjoying the GHSA football semifinals, please take the time to show your support of GPB by visiting us at www.gpb.org and becoming a member.

Comeback victory advances Northside to the Class AAAA championship

With a final score of 31-28, Northside came back from a 28-7 deficit to defeat Tucker. Northside will advance to the Class AAAA championship game and will face the winner of the Thomas Co. Central vs. Ware County contest . The go ahead score came with 14 seconds left in the 4th quarter when Northside kicker Devon Pike made a 19 yard field goal. Tucker played a solid game but their last drive came up short as time expired as they drove down the field.

Coming up next: AAAA - Thomas Co. Central (13-0) vs. Ware County (11-2)

Carver comes from behind to head to the Class AAA championship

Capped by a 3 yard touchdown run by Carver quarterback Deron Furr, Carver wins by a score of 26-24 over Chamblee. Carver scored 20 unanswered points to narrowly defeat a good Chamblee team. Carver-Columbus will play the winner of the Saturday matchup between Cairo and North Hall for the Class AAA championship.

Up next: 6:00 p.m. AAAA - Tucker (13-0) vs. Northside-WR (13-0)

Hootie & the Blowfish coming to Augusta

Hootie & the Blowfish will headline the Rock Fore! Dough concert in Augusta on April 8, during the week of the Masters Tournament, event organizers announced Friday. The group will also headline the concert in 2009.

The concert benefits The First Tee of Augusta, which exposes children to life skills and leadership through golf.

For more information, visit www.thefirstteeaugusta.org.

Final Score Alert: Emanuel County 35-14 over Clinch County

Led by a big day on the ground by ECI running back, Washaun Ealey, Emanuel County Institute advances to the Class A championship and will face off against Wilcox County.

Up next: 3:00 p.m. AAA - Carver-Columbus (13-0) vs. Chamblee (12-1)

Branford Marsalis to perform in Augusta

Jazz musician Branford Marsalis will appear in concert in Augusta on May 3.

The saxophonist and three-time Grammy winner will perform at PAYBACK, a concert honoring the late soul singer James Brown, sponsored by the Augusta Museum of History, the museum announced Thursday.

For more information, go to www.AugustaMuseum.org.

Wilcox County advances to the Class A championship

The Georgia High School football semifinals are underway. In the 9 a.m. Class A game, the Wilcox County Patriots have defeated the Athens Academy Spartans by the final score of 32-14. Wilcox County will be playing in their first Class A championship game.

Latest High School football scores

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Masters reaches out to youngsters

The Masters Tournament and Augusta National Golf Club will offer youngsters aged 8-16 a ticket to the Masters each year beginning in 2008.

Masters officials say one child will be allowed in on tournament days for each accredited patron.

The Masters will also televise its Par 3 Contest on ESPN on Wednesday, April 9, 2008. Children of the players serve as caddies in the contest, which is not a part of the official tournament.

Masters officials say these developments are part of a wider effort to reach out to a younger audience.

For more information about the Masters tournament, go to www.masters.org.

Carrolton County commissioner slammed over slur against Hispanics

A county commissioner has prompted calls for him to apologize after using a derogatory term for Hispanics during a meeting.

But Carroll County Commissioner Bill Head stands by his use of the word "wetback" and said he will not apologize.

During a work session Tuesday, Head, 82, said the county needed more jail space because of criminals from nearby Atlanta and "the wetbacks from down south."

None of the other commissioners commented on Head's remarks during the work session or the following business meeting. But Commissioner John Wilson now says Head's use of the term was "inappropriate" and that he should apologize to Hispanics.

"Many of them are here legally ... To me it's no different than saying a racial slur to a black person; it's the same principle," Wilson said. "I thought he was out of line."

Head told the Times-Georgian his remark was referring only to illegal immigrants.

"Wetbacks can come from anywhere," Head told the newspaper. "They can come from Cuba; they can from any of the (Caribbean) islands; they can come from Mexico. Anyone is a wetback if they're illegal."

He also said he would not apologize.

"I am very forward in what I think and what I say and I will not back up one bit," Head said.
Dr. Jorge Gaytan, a professor at the University of West Georgia and president of the Hispanic Business Council of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, said he was not surprised by Head's comments.

"In my six-and-a-half years here, I have met several individuals who are racist, but they hide under the anti-immigration face," Gaytan said.

Carrollton is about 40 miles west of Atlanta.

Savannah weighs in on upstream lake levels

U.S. Army Corp of Engineers officials say, they could cut back the amount of water being sent down the Savannah River should the region's drought continue.

Corp officials told about 40 people who attended a public meeting in Savannah yesterday that Lakes Hartwell and Thurmond have enough reserve water to keep downstream flow at current levels through next summer.

The next few months will be critical, though. Hydrologists said, without a wet winter, they could be forced to reduce flows, a prospect shrimper Mike Dubberly said, would hurt his harvest.

"If it's going to be a shortage of drinking water, I can understand the need for them maybe not to release as much," Dubberly said. "But just to make someone have ten or fifteen feet of water at their dock, I don't see that's a reason to change the way they're doing things."

Savannah's chief water official said less water could make the city tap more expensive. Nuclear watchdogs raised the prospect of a shut down power plant. And a tour company operator said any less water and recreational boating would dry up.

Plane crash victim identified

A teen-age employee of a Georgia aviation company was identified today as the pilot who died when his plane crashed into the side of a synagogue in Augusta.

Ron Baker, 19, was flying a single-engine Piper Arrow when it crashed last night at Congregation Children of Israel's Walton Way Temple, according to the Associated Press.

Baker worked for Phoenix Air of Cartersville.

No one on the ground was injured.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

Bomb threats at schools

Even top school administrators can't escape bomb threats.

Dr. Dana Bedden experienced one on his first day of school in Richmond County.

It happened on August 13.

Bedden, who had taken the reins of the school system in Augusta less than two weeks earlier, had just arrived at Glenn Hills Middle School for a visit when it happened.

"I'm pulling up to one of our middle schools and they were just going through a bomb threat, evacuations, as soon as I pulled into the parking lot." He said he hoped "that this is not an indication of what the year's going to look like, that we're not going to have a repeat of last year."

The Richmond County school system reported numerous bomb threats last year. Officials say 70 of those threats occurred at only two schools.

A bomb threat also happened at a high school in Jefferson, Georgia, in October, just as Kathy Cox, the state schools superintendent, was paying a visit there.

State schools take on bomb threats

Officials in Augusta say their schools are getting far too many bomb threats.

They're joining school boards across the state in an effort to punish the parents of students who make those threats.

Officials say 70 bomb threats came in to schools alone in Richmond County last year.

The public safety response to each threat typically costs the county about $4000 to $8000.

The Georgia School Boards Association says bomb threats are a problem across the state.

Now, they want the legislature to pass a law holding parents accountable for a student's terroristic threats, school violence and theft.

"When we're taking and diverting resources from safety personnel to respond to a false alarm, that means someone else is not getting service and we are passing on a burden of cost to taxpayers that shouldn't be there, because of something that was not a real issue to them," says Dana Bedden, the Richmond County school superintendent.

The threats also disrupt classes, since principals often evacuate the students.

Suspects are often students, according to officials with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.

In Richmond County, officials say some of the suspects are middle schoolers.

Albany remembers Ray Charles

(Photo credit: www.raycharles.com)

On Friday, the city of Albany will honor one of its own, with the dedication of a waterfront plaza named in honor of the late Ray Charles. The plaza, on the banks of the Flint River, will feature a life size bronze statute of the jazz and blues legend, seated at a baby grand. Stage lighting and music will help to create the illusion of Ray Charles in concert.

Cullena Moreman is project coordinator for Albany Tomorrow.

"Ray's memory is very important. A lot of people say he didn't spend a lot of his time here in Albany. But whether he was here for six months or six years, no other place in this world can claim to be the birthplace for Ray Charles Robinson."

The day long event will feature musicians from throughout Georgia, including Albany's Willie Moody. Moody performed with Charles in 1979. On April 24th of that year, Ray Charles sang for the Georgia legislature, performing his signature song, Georgia on my Mind.

Georgia sports for Thursday, December 6th

In men's college basketball, Georgia Tech made the trip of only a couple of miles in Atlanta to Georgia State's arena for action last night. Tech's Yellow Jackets had to fight hard to fend-off the homestanding Panthers before winning 72-67. From a tied halftime score of 32, Georgia State scored the first 8 points of the 2nd half to grab the lead. It wasn't until 6:24 left in the contest did Tech regain the lead for good. Lewis Clinch of Tech led all scorers with 22 points. Leonard Mendez paced State with 20. The Yellow Jackets improved their record to 4-4, while the Panthers fell to 2-5.

From pro hockey, the Atlanta Thrashers got their record back to .500 for the season in the 4-3 win over the New York Islanders.

Out of baseball, former Braves' outfielder Andruw Jones appears close to finalizing a deal to join the Los Angeles Dodgers. The contract is reported to be for 36-million dollars over 2 years.

Florida to Army Corps: reassess water flow

Florida’s top environmental official says the reduced flow of water into the Apalachicola River has already changed the makeup of the water, and is killing oysters. The official says the Army Corps of Engineers needs to reassess its decision to cut the flow of water that is sent downstream in the Chattahooche River, from Georgia’s Lake Lanier. Georgia’s Sonny Perdue will meet the governors of Florida and Alabama December 17th to talk water issues once again.

Plane hits synagogue in Augusta

A small plane crashed into the side of a synagogue in Augusta last night. Authorities report the pilot was killed. A rabbi with the Congregation Children of Israel’s Walton Way Temple said about a dozen congregants were inside the building cooking a meal for Hanukkah, but no one was injured. The plane was en route from Charleston, S.C. to Cartersville. Authorities say the pilot of the single-engine piper did report engine problems to air traffic control.

Group Offers Soldiers Low-Cost Housing Loans

"Soldiers who protect the American dream can now get help buying into the American dream," according to a Columbus housing association.

NeighborWorks Columbus, a local organization that supports low-cost housing, says the organization's new Hallock Soldiers Fund offers counseling, down-payment assistance and low-interest loans.

NeighborWorks President Kathy Williams says the aid is specifically aimed at Ft. Benning personnel:

"We're trying to assist the lower-ranking soldier families, especially those who are going to be coming to Ft. Benning through the BRAC process. moving around from base-to-base for soldiers can often create for soldiers, obstacles to home ownership... it gives them an opportunity to really be able to invest in the community and build an asset for their family.”

Williams says none of the 483 Columbus residents who have taken part in the Neighborworks assistance program in the last five years have fallen into foreclosure.

Military homebuyers who have utilized the fund, NeighborWorks and Ft. Benning officials will be available for details at a press conference on-post on Friday at 1:30 pm. The event will be held at 7371 Ingersoll Street.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of Ft. Benning and the BRAC realignment.

Wheeler's falls victim to housing slump

In business for more than half a century, Rome-based Wheeler's Building Materials is one of many forced to downsize because of reductions in new home construction. According to the Rome News Tribune, the company will reduce its 1,000 member workforce to less than 500.

Experts say Georgia has lost nearly 10,000 manufacturing jobs in 2007 and that additional losses in 2008, could mean a rocky road ahead. Jeff Humphreys directs the Selig Economic Forecast center at UGA's Terry School of Business.

"Prepare for subdued growth but recognize that the risk of recession is unusually high about 40 percent. So, we're close to a tipping point. It looks like we'll be safe. But there is a huge downside risk and the risk is greatest during the first half of 2008."

Not all economic news was bad news for the state. Humphreys says look for growth in the health care industry, as well as expansion in the Columbus area, where changes at Ft. Benning are expected to mean thousands of new jobs.

U.S. Supreme court rules against Georgia

The United States Supreme court has ruled against the state of Georgia in a case about property taxes. The ruling means railroad companies can challenge the way the state values their property and subsequent tax bill. The court sides with CSX Transportation Inc, which sued Georgia over a tax calculation that boosted tax bills by nearly 50%. A federal law bars states from discriminating against railroads by taxing their property more heavily than other commercial property.

Commissioner: Georgia should prepare for labor shortages

Georgia can expect immigration reform to bring labor shortages, according the State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. He spoke at a conference Wednesday on Georgia's workforce.

Thurmond calls immigration reform inevitable and says business owners should expect a "severe shortage" of cheap, undocumented workers, especially from Mexico.

The Commissioner doesn't have specific figures. But he says industries like agriculture, construction and hospitality could be hurt if Congress and a new President tighten the tap on immigration.

"Where will the workers come from?" Thurmond asks. "The primary focus of this conference will be to help employers and business leaders see how you can access what I refer to as marginalized workers."

For example, people with criminal records have had some success taking jobs commonly filled by foreign workers, such as in poultry plants and restaurants. The Georgia Workforce Conference continues through Friday.

School administrators face tougher training

Starting next fall, training to be a school administrator in Georgia will no longer be as simple as getting a graduate degree. The University System of Georgia has revamped the requirements to include less “seat time” in college classes and more time spent training in schools. Graduates also have to complete an additional education specialist degree within five years of getting a master's to receive a principal's license from the state.

Long-time college president to step down

The longtime president of Coastal Georgia Community College is retiring. Dorothy Lord has been president of the college since 1991. She was the first woman named president of a Georgia community college. Under her leadership, the college's enrollment has doubled to about 3,000 students.

'08 Tour de Georgia gets 5 new stops

Next year’s Tour de Georgia includes some new cities on the race course, but comes at the expense of other major stops from previous years.

The cycling event will have five new cities in the week-long race next April. Tybee Island will host the start, and is followed by newcomers Statesboro, Washington, Braselton, and Suwanee. Returning host cities include Atlanta, Augusta, and Brasstown Bald.

Cities left out for 2008 include Macon and Rome. Event director Chris Aronhalt says crafting the new route only had to do with letting residents in other communities share the Tour experience .

"It has nothing at all to do with the support. In fact the race would have loved to go back to those communities like Macon and Rome".

Tour organizers also had to be mindful of the route’s mileage, and incorporating mountain and coastal stages.

Aronhalt says the race expects to be financially healthy, with new headline sponsors to be announced at the start of the year.

Clayton County schools face second accreditation challenge

Charges of misconduct have triggered an ethics probe of the Clayton County School Bboard, by a school accreditation group. The investigation includes allegations of misspent money, intimidation of teachers, and unethical behavior.

School board vice chair Rod Johnson filed the complaint with the non-profit Southern Association of Colleges and Schools ("SACS"). He alleges at least three of members of the board overstepped their authority.

"We can suggest things anytime we feel like we want to suggest things, but to take actual steps and actions, which they have done, they went to meetings and called meetings, they went beyond their duties and descriptions, in terms of a board member."

This is the second time the Clayton County School Board has been investigated. In 2003, the school board was penalized for interfering with day-to-day operations of district schools.

Nearly 52 thousand students attend public school in Clayton County. Without a stamp of approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, those students aren't eligible for HOPE scholarships.

The school district has until December 12th to turn over meeting minutes, bid proposals and other documents to SACS to determine the truth of Johnson's allegations.

A spokesperson for the schools denied our request for an interview. However, a statement on the group's website says it will cooperate fully with the investigation.

New Food Safety Rule

Georgia's new food safety code just got three times longer, but the new rules are meant to make people safer.

Among the changes that took place December 1st, a new restaurant scoring system. Restaurants will now receive both a letter and a number grade, similar to a report card. That report must be posted no more than 15 feet from the door.

Donna Cadwell is with Bibb County's Environmental Health Division in Macon. She supervises four inspectors and over 600 food establishments. She says employees will also be required to wear gloves, whenever they handle food like sandwiches.

"Once the food is ready, food beverage or ice is ready to go in a customer's mouth to be consumed, than the employee cannot handle that without a utensil or glove."

Restaurants will also be required to purchase commercial equipment. The new guidelines are similar to a federal code.

Convicted Georgia felons re-arrested

Two illegal immigrants with criminal convictions in Georgia face deportation after coming back into the U.S. The Border Patrol says agents near Tucson, Arizona arrested the two Monday. Tomas Reyes Lopez had been deported in January after serving prison time for negligent homicide and driving without a license convictions in March 2001 in Appling County. Francisco Ortiz Falcon was convicted of a "peeping Tom" felony in Carroll County, Georgia, and of writing bad checks in Cherokee County, Georgia.

No bond for officer's husband

A federal magistrate judge has ordered a police officer's husband held without bond in a porn case. 47-year-old Terrill Crane was indicted for photographing a minor engaged in sexual activity. Crane’s wife is a sergeant with the Atlanta Police Department. She is on paid leave after allegedly destroying potential evidence. Federal authorities say the Department had some of the pictures seven years ago but took no action.

Airport offers flu shots

You can now get a flu shot at Georgia’s largest airport. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has gateside kiosks and health stations offering flu shots. The cost ranges from $15 to $35. Some also offers a pneumonia shot.

Case over against former police chief

In northwest Georgia … a grand jury has decided not to re-indict former Jefferson police chief Darren Glenn. Glenn faced charges that he used police computers and equipment while working on cases for his wife's private investigation firm. A judge dismissed the first indictment because Glenn had not been allowed to testify before the grand jury.

Augusta school officials oppose tax reform plan

School officials in Augusta are going on record against a controversial tax reform plan.

The Richmond County school board has voted to formally oppose the tax plan for education proposed by Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram).

They will take their opposition before legislators at a breakfast on Thursday.

The plan would eliminate a portion of property taxes, replacing education dollars with expanded sales taxes.

But school officials in Augusta fear they would lose control of local education funds.

"Now, we're working under a system where the local authorities have the ability to cut taxes or raise taxes to support a system that the public will support," said Jack Padgett, a Richmond County school board member. "I'm just not sure that anytime you send money away that you would get it all back."

Richardson eventually wants to eliminate all property taxes.

"Property taxes are rising faster than people's ability to pay them, and it is time that local governments stop balancing their checkbooks on the backs of homeowners," said Clelia Davis, a spokeswoman for Richardson. "All we are asking is for the citizens of Georgia to have the right to vote and decide whether they want to eliminate property taxes and change the system. That is the ultimate form of local control."

The Georgia School Boards Association, meanwhile, says only a few school systems so far have asked them for assistance in drafting resolutions opposing the plan. Richardson has dubbed the plan GREAT, which stands for Georgians for the Repeal of Every Ad Valorem Tax.

Georgia sports for Wednesday, December 5th

The Atlanta Braves fortified a couple of needs in a trade with the Chicago Cubs Tuesday. The Braves sent reliever Jose Ascanio to Chicago--in return, Atlanta got reliever Will Ohman and utility infielder Omar Infante. The trade satisfies a pair of needs for the Braves--filling the gap for a left-handed reliever, and getting a backup infielder. Braves' officials are with those from other teams at baseball's winter meetings in Nashville.

Pro basketball out of Tuesday--the Atlanta Hawks were losers at home to Detroit, 106-95.

CSU Names Presidential Search Committees

Brown plans to retire on June 30, 2008. (Courtesy CSU)

Columbus State University is looking for a new president.

Dr. Susan Herbst, University System of Georgia executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer is to announce the appointment of two committees charged with implementing a national search to replace President Frank Brown, who announced on Aug. 13, that he would
retire on June 30, 2008.

Brown, currently the longest-serving president in the University System of Georgia, will have been president of CSU for 20 years upon his retirement, a CSU statement said.

George Stanton, CSU vice president of academic affairs and search committee chairman will lead an informal, public discussion about the presidential search process at four p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, in room 215/216 at the Cunningham Center on the main campus.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of CSU.

Southeast immigrant fugitive arrests up sharply

Southeastern immigration agents who focus on finding fugitives, arrested four times the number of illegal immigrants in fiscal 2007, compared to the previous year. Among 24 units nationwide that specialize in catching fugitives, the Georgia-North Carolina territory had the third-highest number of arrests. Only Los Angeles and Miami had more. Agents on these teams focus on finding people who have not shown up for immigration hearings, or stayed in the U.S. after orders by a judge to leave.

Former state welfare worker pleads guilty

A former state welfare worker has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Department of Family and Children Services out of 105-thousand dollars. Fulton County prosecutors say 43-year-old Gayla Owens made up fake clients and collected payments. Owens was a 15-year veteran of DFCS. She received 15 years probation, ordered to pay back the money and perform 200 hours of community service. Three other former DFCS employees accused of stealing money still face prosecution.

Survey ranks walking in Atlanta

Atlanta is the 14th most walkable urban places according to a new Brookings Institution survey. The rankings are based on walkability relative to the area’s population. Washington, D.C. tops the list with Boston and San Francisco rounding out the top three.

Georgia surges in arrests of known illegal aliens

Arrests of illegal immigrants on the lam have quadrupled in the Southeast in the last year. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports the increase puts Georgia and North Carolina just behind Los Angeles and Miami for such arrests. Two teams of officers based in Atlanta, along with a team in Raleigh and Charlotte, arrested nearly 2, 300 people from October 2006 to October 2007. That’s up from over 500 arrests in the previous year.

Governor bullish on GA economy

Governor Sonny Perdue was decidedly optimistic about the economic health of the state, as he addressed business leaders at the 25th annual Economic Forecast Luncheon in Atlanta today. And, although UGA economists predict a rocky start to the new year, the state's chief executive officer says he's bullish on Georgia's economy.

However, Perdue was careful to balance his optimism with a bit of caution.

"We cannot stick our heads in the sands and assume that the housing troubles may not affect Georgia. We'll always have challenges in the airline industry. But our economy is dynamic, it will follow and lead the national economy in many ways."

Experts at UGA's Terry College of Business say despite this year's record breaking - and costly -- drought, the state's economy will continue to outpace the national average. Just not by as much as in previous years. A spokesperson for UGA's business school, says the state can expect an economic growth rate of 1.1 percent in 2008 versus a 1.3 percent growth rate for 2007.

Water flows cut from Lake Allatoona

Some good news for Lake Allatoona. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has decided to reduce the flow of water out of Allatoona by 40 to 50 percent. It’s an effort to make sure Allatoona remains a lake. The Corps has not said whether it has similar plans for nearby Lake Lanier, which is metro Atlanta’s main water source.

Tri-state water meeting postponed

Governor Sonny Perdue’s meeting the governors of Alabama and Florida to hash out a water agreement has been pushed back a week. The meeting was scheduled for Monday in Tallahassee. It was postponed to Dec. 17 due to scheduling conflicts. The three states have been fighting over southeastern water resources for nearly two decades. This month's meeting is expected to be a key step in hashing out a permanent pact.

Police informant sues Atlanta

The man Atlanta police officers claimed was their confidential informant in a botched drug raid that killed a 92-year-old woman is suing the city. Alex White claims that police kidnapped and held him against his will for hours in hopes he would help them cover up their mistakes during the raid last November. The raid ended in the death of Kathryn Johnston at her northwest Atlanta home. Two police officers pleaded guilty in the incident.

New director for Georgia Sea Grant Program

The Georgia Sea Grant program has a new director. Charles Hopkins starts January 1st at head of the program housed at the University of Georgia in Athens. Hopkins was a UGA marine scientist for 10 years before moving to Massachusetts in 1989. The Georgia Sea Grant Program works with communities to conserve coastal and ocean resources.

Perdue Lights Christmas Tree

Governor Sonny Perdue, poses with members of the Atlanta Boys Choir, led by conductor David White. (V. Edwards)

Governor and Mrs. Sonny Perdue kicked off the 2007 Holiday Season with the annual lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree. Joining Perdue were members of the Armed Ground Forces Brass Band Quintet, and representatives of the Marines Toys for Tots Program. This year's tree was donated by the John Biagi family.

TV Ad Outs Unregistered Pedophiles

r
Screenshot of announcement with number to call. (Courtesy Muscogee County Sheriff's Dept)

A west Georgia Sheriff's Department is calling on the public to report missing sex offenders. And the department is using a tv advertisement to do it.

The 30-second spot shows photos and names of nine sex offenders who haven't registered where they live in Muscogee County.

Major Joe McCrea of the County Sheriff's Office says the response has been exceptional:

"As of today, we should have five of those nine in custody... the one that is scheduled to turn himself in today, has actually called, himself, and is making arrangements to turn himself in -- as a result of this CSA."

The spot began airing just before Thanksgiving.

McCrea says they intend to continue running the community service announcement several more weeks, due to the public response.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of this issue, and here for coverage of the "To Catch a Predator" program.

Cobb May Need New Water Source

Cobb county may soon have to find other water options. Right now, the gate on Lake Allatoona that provides almost half of Cobb County with water is less than 10 feet away from being exposed. The gate pulls water from the lake into the pipes that transfer it to Cobb County. Two other gates are already out of commission.

Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority Manager, Glen Paige, said there is one gate left, 7 feet deeper than the other three. No one knows if it even works; it’s never been used. But, Paige said not to worry, there are other options.

“If the lake level continues to fall, we will need to take other measures, including what we’re considering, which is installing some temporary pumps nearly a mile away in a deeper pool in the lake,” said Paige.

Before the deepest gate can be used, two or three feet of silt have to be removed and the gate must be tested. That process will cost a hundred thousand dollars. Temporary water pumps would cost six times as much.

Delta adjusts to rising fuel costs

Delta Air Lines today announced a partial hiring freeze among steps it’s taking to deal with soaring fuel costs.

Delta and other carriers are trying to manage the rising expense of fuel in their budgets. From a mid-January average price of $1.73 a gallon for fuel, the jump has been substantial--to an average $2.55 a gallon at the end of November.

Atlanta-based Delta says it’s holding-off on new hires for positions that are not face-to-face with the public, such as in office and administrative areas. A spokesperson says there will not be job cuts.

The airline also plans to reduce the number of flights for off-peak times on particular routes. Also, it will go ahead with the return of 13 leased jets from a fleet of around 450.

In a web-cast of an investors conference earlier today, Delta president Ed Bastian said its operating profit margins for the 4th quarter of this year, will come in flat or down 2-percent. Its earlier projections called for profits of 3-5 percent.

Georgia sports for Tuesday, December 4th

Men's college basketball last night included wins for Georgia and Mercer. Georgia's Bulldogs were home in Athens, scoring the 81-74 decision over Augusta State. Sundiata Gaines led scorers with 24 points. Georgia improves its record to 5-1. Mercer tripped-up Charleston-Southern in the final second. James Florence hit the winner with :01 showing on the clock. He finished with 28 points.

From pro basketball, the Atlanta Hawks were winners on the road at Philidelphia 88-79. Josh Smith paced the Hawks with 22 points--Atlanta improves its season record to 7-9.

Off-season news from the Atlanta Braves. The team has announced a deal with the Chicago Cubs. The Braves send reliever Jose Ascanio to Chicago--in return, Atlanta gets reliever Will Ohman and utility infielder Omar Infante. The trade satisfies a pair of needs for the Braves--filling the gap for a left-handed reliever, and getting a backup infielder. Braves' officials are with those from other teams this week at baseball's winter meetings in Nashville.

Gwinnett County city approves King holiday

Lawrenceville became the 12th city in Gwinnett County to adopt Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday as a holiday. The city voted yes to the measure last night. Grayson and Lilburn are the remaining holdouts in Gwinnett that do not recognize the King holiday. The two cities however will take-up the issue in their December meetings.

AT&T internet outage affects southeast

A massive internet service outage affected customers of AT&T last night for several hours. The company says digital service line subscribers in the southeastern U.S. were affected because of an equipment problem. DSL service was restored around 11pm according to AT&T. The outage affected customers in Georgia and eight other states.

Runoff elections in Georgia--lawsuit out in Riverdale

It is election day across the state, as various runoff races are being determined.

In Riverdale, a city council runoff will be held there as scheduled. A judge on Monday threw out a lawsuit that aimed to disqualify a transgender city council member. Michelle Bruce is looking to get re-elected to her seat--she’s in a runoff with second-place finisher Wayne Hall from November’s elections. Third-place finisher Georgia Fuller had filed the suit, claiming election fraud. The complaint identified Bruce as "Michael Bruce", and said voters were misled by the female identity.

State Patrol Targets Agressive Drivers

Tomorrow, the Georgia State Patrol will put a second wave of officers on the road to ticket aggressive drivers. The jump in patrols is part of the Targeting Aggressive Cars and Trucks program, which aims at preventing accidents between cars and semi-trucks.

Major Chris Long from Georgia’s Department of Public Safety said the main goal of TACT is to educate drivers on how a semi-truck works. He said many don’t know and they put their lives at risk.

“The passenger vehicles, naturally, they can make stops more quickly than a commercial vehicle can. You’re talking 6, 000 lbs vs. 80.000 lbs. or more on a commercial vehicle. Those truckers can’t stop as fast a car can. So, that’s one of the dangers,” said Long.

Long said two-thirds of fatal accidents involving a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck are caused by passenger vehicles.

Officers are now patrolling Interstate 75, from Cartersville down to Marietta. In January, the program expands to Interstate 95 in the South East.

State announces recycling grants

Georgia communities can now apply for state money for recycling and garbage programs. The 2008 Georgia Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant program has $223,000 dollars. The grants can be used for collection events and activities or for recycling infrastructure. Past projects have included construction of recycling centers, purchase of necessary recycling equipment, composting programs, public education and innovative or demonstration projects. Applications will be accepted through January 30, 2008 and are available here www.gefa.org.

UGA student dies of bacterial infection

A 22 year-old University of Georgia student died Saturday from a bacterial infection believed to be septicemia. Doctors initially thought Michael Hendrickson died from meningitis. Autopsy results are expected to confirm the cause of death. In both cases, the infection is caused by a bacterium spread through close contact with others, such as sharing eating utensils, kissing, or being coughed upon. UGA health officials say they’ve given preventive antibiotics to 30 people who had contact with Hendrickson. Liz Rachun, a spokeswoman for the UGA Health Center, says that although the disease is very rare, students should know the symptoms: “[They include] fevers and chills, very severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and purplish rash, which is definitely a sign of meningitis.” Officials expect Hendrickson’s infection is an isolated case. UGA has not had a documented case of meningitis since 1998.

Police versus media in open records case

Today lawyers tangled in the Georgia Supreme Court over a case that could force police departments to release documents in unsolved crimes. The argument deals with the police use of the term "pending investigation" to refuse media requests for public information. Open records lawyers say that term is being abused by authorities to withhold public information. The case stems from an unsolved murder in Athens-Clarke County, but similar squabbles between media and police over documents play out throughout the state.

HIV rates higher than previously reported

Federal health officials are revising their estimate of how many people are infected by HIV each year, and advocacy groups say the new numbers could be higher. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been estimating about 40,000 new HIV cases occur in the nation each year. At a national HIV prevention conference in Atlanta this week, however, advocates claim the new estimate is 55,000 or higher. The CDC says new numbers will be official early next year.

Hundreds of students sickened by virus in Evans

Most of the students sick with stomach flu at a Columbia County school have returned to classes today. Only 80 students were absent from Lewiston Elementary School in Evans today. School officials say 345 students, about half of the student population there, were absent on Friday. Most of the students had the norovirus. Some parents had checked their children out of school as a precautionary measure. The bug typically causes nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, and lasts one or two days. It is highly contagious. School officials say they've shown students a video about proper handwashing, and have cleaned classrooms and multiuse areas.

Georgia could get bad news in water war fight

A decision will come soon from a federal appeals court that could invalidate a 2003 agreement between the Army Corps of Engineers and Georgia, over water rights to Lake Lanier. In that agreement, Georgia secured rights to about a quarter of the water from the Lanier federal reservoir. Alabama and Florida have claimed the deal is illegal. Last month, the federal appeals court's Washington circuit heard oral arguments over the case--another chapter in the long running water wars.

Gwinnett cities to vote on King holiday

Three cities in Gwinnett County will decide this month whether to recognize the Martin Luther King holiday in January. The city of Lawrenceville will vote tonight on the issue. Officials with Lilburn and Grayson will discuss the idea at meetings later this month. On November 12th, the city of Snellville in Gwinnett voted to recognize King Day as a holiday.

Flap over bonuses for lottery officials

Some top Georgia Republicans have called for a review of bonuses paid to Georgia Lottery officials. Nearly three-million dollars in bonuses were collected this year by Lottery president Margaret DeFrancisco and her employees. Some state legislators are baffled by the amounts, in the wake of tightened requirements for the lottery-funded HOPE scholarship. House Higher Education Committee Chair Bill Hembree has called the bonus figures "insane". Lottery officials say the bonuses are needed to stay competitive and keep employees focused. They also say funding to HOPE has increased.

Giuliani visits Georgia Sunday

Repubican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani made another stop in Georgia Sunday--he was north of Atlanta in Marietta to meet voters there. Giuliani continued his push with talk of low taxes, and kept up this attack on Democratic rivals. He was joined by Senator Johnny Isakson in a stroll through the town. Giuliani on his stop dropped by the Brumby Chair Company, which supplied the White House with four rocking chairs when Jimmy Carter was President. Marietta is considered one of Georgia's most conservative districts.

Georgia sports for Monday, December 3rd

NFL action from Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons lost on the road at St. Louis, 28-16. Chris Redman replaced Joey Harrington at quarterback for the Falcons, and threw a pair of touchdown passes in the 4th quarter. In the end, it wasn’t enough to prevent the Falcons from falling to their 9th defeat in 12 games this season.

The college football bowl games were announced last night. For Georgia, their hopes of moving up from their number-4 ranking and reaching the Bowl Championship Series title game were dashed. Losses on Saturday by the top 2 teams in the nation created the possibility, but the BCS selected LSU and Ohio State for the championship game. Georgia will be headed to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl New Year’s evening to face undefeated Hawaii. Georgia Tech is going to a lesser bowl, the Humanitarian—to be played on December 31st. They’ll face Fresno State in Boise-Idaho.

Women’s college basketball out of Sunday saw the 7th-ranked Georgia Lady Bulldogs hold-off rival Georgia Tech, 71-64.

From pro hockey, the Atlanta Thrashers lost on the road at New Jersey, 3-2.

Judge Signals Vick Can Expect a Long Prison Stay

Vick. (Haraz N. Ghanbari / AP)

Michael Vick can't say he wasn't warned. The man with the little white dog did just that a few months ago when Vick stood before him and admitted that not only did he sponsor dog fights, but also killed some of the losers.

"You're taking your chances here," Judge Henry Hudson told him. "You'll have to live with whatever decision I make."

Vick won't have to wait long to find out what decision that is. A week from Monday he'll go before Hudson again and find out the price he will pay for crimes that horrified dog lovers everywhere.

Unfortunately for the disgraced quarterback, Hudson seems to be one of them.

"You may have thought this was sporting, but it was very callous and cruel," Hudson told one of Vick's co-defendants before sentencing him to 21 months in prison Friday.

Vick wasn't in the courtroom to see two friends sent away to prison. He's already in jail himself, nearing the end of his second week at the Northern Neck Regional Jail, where he enrolled just in time to catch the special Thanksgiving Day feast.

Vick was never going to get the maximum five-year sentence, because first-time offenders never do no matter how famous. But Hudson, a bichon frise owner, signaled he won't err on the side of leniency, sentencing Quanis Phillips and Purnell Peace to the upper end of federal sentencing recommendations.

Vick's attorneys did well in negotiating a proposed sentence of 12 to 18 months, with federal prosecutors agreeing to recommend the lower end. But the judge is not bound to accept that deal. With Vick already the poster child for animal abuse, you can expect he will be treated even harsher by the judge.

It's not just the prison time that will hurt Vick. The clock is also ticking on whatever chance he has of playing in the NFL again.

A few months could make a big difference for the 27-year-old's hopes. If he gets 18 months he could conceivably be out in time for the 2009 season, but a 24-month sentence would push a possible return date back another year.

Vick, meanwhile, has even more things to worry about as he ponders the reality of prison life. He faces a possible April 2 trial on similar charges brought in state court against he and his co-defendants, and his financial future is in the hands of another federal judge as he tries to hold onto nearly $20 million in bonuses that the Atlanta Falcons are trying to get back.

The good news is the dogs who once fought for him will now be enjoying the good life. Vick agreed earlier this week to demands from prosecutors to set aside $928,000 to care for the pit bulls seized from the dogfighting operation.

(Click here for more GPB coverage about Michael Vick)

TV host apologizes over threat against fan

Williams. (Courtesy Paramount)

A producer from "The Montel Williams Show" has invited a newspaper intern to a taping of the show during which the host would apologize for an angry confrontation with her.

Williams, who was in Savannah Friday to promote free prescriptions for poor people, had already issued a statement of apology to the Savannah Morning News high school intern who had asked him questions related to rising drug costs.

The intern, Courtney Scott, then received on Saturday a letter from Williams sent from the e-mail address of Melanie McLaughlin, president and executive producer of Mountain Movers, Inc., which produces Williams' talk show.

"Regrettably I reacted childishly to the situation and for that I truly apologize to all concerned. I would like to invite Courtney and her family to appear on my show for a public apology," the e-mail said.

"I'll accept, if he's really going to do it," Scott said Saturday. "I don't really think it's his statement. I think his people put it out."

Williams, a patient advocate since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, terminated the Friday interview with Scott after she asked him: "Do you think pharmaceutical companies would be discouraged from research and development if their profits were restricted?"

Later, he confronted her and two other reporters after mistakenly believing they followed him to the Westin Savannah Harbor. But they were there to cover an unrelated assignment.

Williams walked up to Scott and told her that "I can look you up, find where you live and blow you up," according to Joseph Cosey, a Web content producer for the newspaper.

Scott said she filed a police report because of Williams' behavior although she said it was unclear what Williams meant during his confrontation.

(The Associated Press)

Ill Beluga Whale at Georgia Aquarium Dies

Beluga whale at the Georgia Aquarium. (File photos/Dave Bender)

Marina, a female beluga whale that had fallen ill at the Georgia Aquarium, died early Saturday morning, aquarium officials said. The female whale died about 2 a.m. Saturday, said Jeff Swanagan, the aquarium's president and executive director.

"She was showing increased disorientation in her swimming behavior. Then she stopped swimming and stopped breathing," he said.

Officials do not know why the whale died. The aquarium was to have conducted a necropsy on Saturday to determine the cause of the whale's death, focusing on the whale's central nervous system.

Marina was the second-oldest of four beluga whales at the aquarium. She was one of three whales that were transferred in November 2005 from Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium.

"We are saddened by the death of Marina," officials from the New York Aquarium said in a statement. "Georgia Aquarium's staff worked very hard to care for Marina during this critical time."


Belugas at the Georgia Aquarium. (File photo/Dave Bender)

The three other beluga whales at the Georgia Aquarium — Nico, Maris and Natasha — are eating normally, the aquarium said.

Click here for more GPB News coverage about the Aquarium.

(The Associated Press)

Call for Georgia Lottery probe

Top Georgia Republicans are calling for a review of the bonuses awarded to Georgia Lottery officials. Georgia Lottery President Margaret DeFrancisco and her employees collected nearly $$3 million in bonuses this year, a sum that has mystified Georgia legislators.

(The Associated Press)

Richt: Georgia should be in nat'l championship games