Georgia Plant Is Salmonella Source

Federal health officials say now that a south Georgia peanut butter plant is believed to be the sole source of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 480 people nationwide. The outbreak is also possibly linked to six deaths. Still under investigation is peanut paste made at a Blakely,Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America. Federal officials now say more than 125 products have been recalled--everything from cakes to ice cream...to dog biscuits containing peanut butter.

Albany included in nat'l poverty study

A national study examining concentrated poverty nationwide includes a glimpse of Albany. The Brookings Institution detailed its findings Friday in "The Enduring Challenge of Concentrated Poverty in America," a two-year study that profiles 16 high-poverty communities. The study included larger cities, like Miami, down to smaller areas like the eastern region of Albany. The report describes an area with no major commercial or real estate development and few social services, where 90 percent of the money made is spent outside the region, and where year 2000 statistics showed a 45 percent poverty rate. The report says signs of improvement include new subsidized housing - though some national housing experts blame public housing enclaves for concentrating poverty.

(Associated Press)

GA's top judge tackles problem of mentally ill prisoners

Georgia's top judge wants to find a way to tackle the growing problem of mentally illness among Georgia prisoners.

Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears joins other top judges in a national discussion in Atlanta this week over what to do with the increasing number of mentally ill prisoners.

The Georgia Department of Corrections reports that 14-percent of men and nearly half of the women behind bars suffer some form of mental illness, ranging from bi-polar disease, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia to clinical depression.

And most are drug or alcohol addicted.

The task force has not come up with any definitive plans for treating mentally ill inmates.

However, strategies being considered include screening for mental health problems at the time of arrest and training prison staffers to recognize and treat mental illness.


Statistics: GA Department of Corrections:
*Inmates in Georgia Prisons: 52,000 (MALES: 48,922; FEMALES: 3,572)
*Mentally Ill Prisoners: MALES 6,604 13.5%; FEMALES 1,765 49.5%
*Drug or Alcohol Addicted Inmates: MALES 57% FEMALES 58%