Ga. Senate Outlaws Sanctuary Cities

The Georgia Senate has voted to outlaw sanctuary cities - where officials are prohibited from reporting illegal immigrants.

The bill's sponsor Sen. Chip Pearson, a Dawsonville Republican, said Tuesday that while there are no sanctuary cities in Georgia, there are some 60 across the country. Pearson says several more are in the works and the bill is a pre-emptive strike to make sure none crop up in the state.

The measure drew criticism from some Democrats.

State Sen. Emanuel Jones of Decatur, called it a bill "in search of a problem." State Sen. Nan Orrock, of Atlanta, said it sends "an increasingly hostile message to the international community."

The bill passed 37-9.

S.B. 20: www.legis.ga.gov

(AP)

Gilmer County breaks smog standard

Gilmer County in north Georgia county recorded the state's worst smog yesterday – the first day of smog season. Gilmer County, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, broke federal ozone standards. A spokesperson says it's because Atlanta's air pollution blows north. Other Georgia counties have been caught with high levels of ground-level ozone this year. On April 17th, Augusta, Macon, Athens and the town of Dawsonville violated the limit.

UPDATE: Body of missing hiker found Monday night

A spokeswoman for the family of Meredith Emerson confirmed Monday night that the body of the missing 24-year-old hiker had been found. No other details were given, only to confirm that authorities had recovered the body of Meredith Emerson. A news conference was scheduled for 10pm Monday night in Dawsonville.

The discovery ends a search for Emerson that had extended six days, since her disappearance on New Year's Day.

Earlier Monday, the man charged in the case had his first court appearance in Union County. 61-year-old Gary Michael Hilton did not respond to questions from the judge during a 10-minute hearing. The court appointed public defender indicated that Hilton was not prepared to comment. Bond was denied Hilton, who as of the time of the hearing, was facing a charge of kidnapping with bodily injury. The charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Stay with gpb.org, and GPB's Radio Network for continuing details in this case.