MLK Memorial gets help from Wal-Mart Foundation

The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial is one step closer to being built in the nation's capitol.

The Wal-Mart Foundation has extended a $12.5 million letter of credit to the project's foundation.

The loan now allows the Memorial Foundation to get the necessary construction permit from the National Park Service.

The memorial to be built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. is expected to be completed in 2010.

Atlanta students take on cold case

A group of criminal justice students in Atlanta college are preparing to launch their own investigation into the 2001 disappearance and slaying of Chandra Levy in Washington, D.C. The 50 students at Bauder College are with the school's Cold Case Investigative Research Institute. The 24-year-old Levy had just finished working as an intern for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons in May 2001 when she disappeared from her apartment. Her body was found in a D.C. park a year later and her death ruled a homicide, but no one has been charged.

Aflac: $2M to lobby Washington in '07

Health and life insurance company Aflac Inc. spent $2 million lobbying the federal government the first half of 2007, according to a disclosure form.

The Columbus -based company lobbied Congress on a bill to expand health insurance for low-income children, an American Indian health care bill and other insurance-related issues, according to the disclosure form posted online Aug. 14 by the Senate's public records office.

Under a federal law enacted in 1995, lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches. They must register with Congress within 45 days of being hired or engaging in lobbying.

(The Associated Press)

Warner Robins Little Leaguers meet President

Warner Robins' Little League world champions met President Bush in a ceremony Thursday at the White House. It was part of a whirlwind day for the boys in Washington D.C.

According to the Macon Telegraph, the team caught an early morning flight to the nation's Capital. First stop was a visit to Capitol Hill for a meeting with Georgia Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss--followed soon after by a pizza break. Next was the visit to the White House, where the boys spent a few minutes with the President and had pictures taken in the Oval Office.

This trip is just another in a long line since Warner Robins beat Japan in the Little League title game in late August. The team recently returned from a visit to the Kennedy Space Center, where they were special guests of NASA to watch last week's launch of the space shuttle.

South Georgia WWII program honored

The founders of a group that has sent more than 200 World War II veterans for visits to Washington D.C. have been honored by a national military organization. The Military Officers Association of America has honored Bert Powell and "Buddy" Johnson. The two formed Honor Flight South Georgia, which sends veterans of the second World War to see the war's memorial in the nation's capital. There are several such programs across the country--the Valdosta and south Georgia program raised more than 100-thousand dollars locally earlier this year.

Civil rights leaders unhappy with action on hate crimes

Today civil rights leaders accused the federal government has been sluggish in dealing with hate crimes. At a news conference at the federal courthouse in Atlanta, the Reverend Al Sharpton called for a march in Washington on November 16th. Sharpton said marchers might circle the Justice Department. The civil rights leaders also called for all Americans not to spend any money on November 2nd as an economic boycott of the federal government's handling of hate crimes.

PeachCare expansion override fails

In Washington, D.C. today, House Democrats failed to override President George Bush’s veto of the children’s health insurance program S-CHIP. In Georgia, the program is called PeachCare, and provides health insurance for a quarter million children of the working poor. Nationwide, the program now subsidizes health care insurance coverage for about six million children. The vetoed bill would have added four million more children.

Macon to D.C. airline

Macon has hired an aviation company to fly between Middle Georgia and Washington D.C. The Macon Telegraph reports that last night the Macon City Council voted to hire an Atlanta-based company to operate “Southern Skyways” airline. One-way fares between Dulles International Airport and Macon’s Middle Georgia Regional Airport will range from $110 to $179 dollars. Once flights get underway, city officials and employees will be able to fly for free.