New Interchange On Slate

The joint Georgia-South Carolina agency building a port on the Savannah River supports a new interchange on Interstate 95 to serve the terminal. The board of the Jasper Ocean Terminal Joint Project on Tuesday endorsed the $122 million interchange project. Officials say the interchange would create 4,000 construction jobs and open up hundreds of acres to commercial and residential development. The states are cooperating on a $500 million shipping terminal on the South Carolina side of the river just downstream from Savannah.

(Associated Press)

Fears over stolen guns

In northwest Georgia, law enforcement officials in Pickens County fear dozens of guns stolen from a Jasper sporting goods store may be on the streets of Atlanta. The cache of weapons were taken during a smash-and-grab robbery on Nov. 8. Jasper Police say three men entered the Bargain Barn, an outdoor store on Highway 515. He said the suspects snatched more than 40 guns, 35 semiautomatic handguns and six semiautomatic rifles.

(Associated Press)

Two Georgia soldiers die in Afghanistan

U.S. military officials report two Georgia soldiers were among nine killed in an insurgent raid over the weekend in Afghanistan. The dead include 24-year-old Corporal Johnathan Ayers of Snellville, and 27-year-old Corporal Matthew Phillips from Jasper. The nine killed represent the deadliest incident for U.S. troops in Afghanistan since June of 2005.