Perdue, lawmakers press Georgia's case for biolab

Gov. Sonny Perdue joined with most of Georgia's congressional delegation to present a united front in the state's bid to win a national biodefense lab near the University of Georgia.

Perdue and others met with Homeland Security and Agriculture Department officials Thursday as well as key lawmakers overseeing the project to promote the Georgia proposal, which is competing with four other sites.

In a press conference on Capitol Hill, the leaders said Athens will win the project if the competition is judged on merits.

The $450 million Homeland Security project would house at least 300 lab-related jobs, with research focused on some of the most lethal biological threats, including deadly animal diseases and bioterrorism threats through the nation's food supply.

(The Associated Press)

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Congressman bids to keep guns out of Atlanta airport

The chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee wants the federal government to continue a gun-free designation for Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Some Georgia lawmakers are at odds with the airport after a state law took effect July 1st allowing licensed gun owners to carry guns in public places like public transportation. The city of Atlanta and airport officials have said the law does not apply to the airport, which is under city authority. Mississippi Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson wrote to the Transportation Security Administration this week that, "It is my understanding that federal law prohibits individuals from carrying firearms in all areas of an airport and that TSA has the authority to enforce these restrictions."

Federal funds for rural emergency responders

Emergency responders throughout Georgia will share a new $600,000 grant from the federal government. The money will go to 38 police and fire departments statewide. The goal of the funding it to help smaller and rural communities buy technology and equipment. The money comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency at the Department of Homeland Security.

New Homeland Security Director announced

Georgia has a new director of Homeland Security. Today Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Charley English to the post. English will also continue to serve in his current role as head of Georgia’s Emergency Management Agency. English fills the seat left vacant by Major General Terry Nesbitt who recently became head of Georgia’s National Guard.

UGA upping ME languages for Homeland Security

The University of Georgia is bringing in Middle East and southeast Asia instructors to teach languages deemed critical for national security.

UGA's religion department will hire four scholars from Iran, Indonesia, Turkey and Tunisia to teach their native languages.

The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistants Program is federally-funded, and trains students for government and other homeland security posts here and abroad.

Alan Godlas, a UGA religion and Middle Eastern culture professor, told the Athens Banner-Herald:

"Language is the key to learning a culture," adding,"It makes students cultural ambassadors for what the state department calls 'public diplomacy.'"

Over 300 colleges offer some type of instruction in homeland security, according to The Associated Press. The trend began soon after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001.

Some focus on man-made threats, while others, like a new degree program at Savannah State University, train students to help with natural disasters.

Georgia gets 40-million for homeland security

40-million dollars in grants has been awarded to Georgia by the U-S Department of Homeland Security for use in continued security efforts around the state. The announcement was made by Governor Sonny Perdue's office. Perdue says over the next 60 days, he will announce which communities who will receive the grant money.

Heard Co. vandals release 1 million gallons of water

Officials in Heard County say vandals over the weekend tampered with 15 fire hydrants in the area, and released at least one-million gallons of water. The suspects could face up to 10 years in prison. Federal Homeland Security laws prohibit tampering with a public utility.

Heard County is one of four in the state banning all outdoor watering. The county recently has had its two main sources of water nearly dry-up, and has had to buy water from neighboring Carroll County.

Valdosta court bars Muslim woman wearing headscarf

Officials in Valdosta who last week refused to admit a Muslim woman to a local court, say there were justified because the woman refused to remove her headscarf. Aniisa Karim says she went to court to contest an outstanding parking ticket. Sheriff's deputies, however, refused to admit Karim to court, citing homeland security concerns and because they say wearing the traditional headscarf would be disrespectful to the judge. A spokesperson for the city of Valdosta said court officers acted properly but did offer apologies if Karim was offended. Since Karim's story was made public, anti-Muslim postings to an Internet blog suggest she go home. Karim however, is African American and says she been wearing her headscarf since she was a child. Valdosta City officials say they'll review their court admittance policy this coming week.