WSB News

Gov't: Can't Explain Runaway Prius

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:22:05 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) The federal government said Monday it cannot explain a reported incident of sudden, high-speed acceleration in a Toyota Prius on a San Diego, Calif., freeway last week.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement that it continues to investigate but ``we may never know exactly what happened with this car.''

The agency said its engineers are reviewing data from the Prius owned by James Sikes to try to understand what happened with his hybrid. But so far, NHTSA says it has not been able to find anything to explain the incident that Sikes reported.

Sikes called 911 last Monday to report losing control of his Prius as the hybrid reached speeds of 94 mph. A highway patrol officer helped bring the vehicle to a safe stop.

Inspectors in California tried during a two-hour test drive to duplicate the acceleration, but were unable to do so.

John Gomez, an attorney for Sikes said the failure to repeat the incident is insignificant and not surprising.

``They have never been able to replicate an incident of sudden acceleration. Mr. Sikes never had a problem in the three years he owned this vehicle,'' he said Sunday.

But Kurt Bardella, a spokesman for Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said the failure to duplicate the stuck accelerator, along with a vehicle design to prevent such occurrences, raises questions about the driver's story.

``We're not saying Mr. Sikes is wrong or that he lied, we're saying that questions have arisen in the investigation,'' Bardella said.

Toyota Motor Corp. planned to announce preliminary findings of its investigation at a news conference Monday in San Diego.

NHTSA is looking into claims from more than 60 Toyota owners that their vehicles continue to accelerate unexpectedly despite having their vehicles repaired.

Technicians with the NHTSA and Toyota could not duplicate what Sikes said he experienced March 8 on a mountainous but lightly traveled stretch of Interstate 8 east of San Diego, according to a congressional staffer's memo prepared for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

``Every time the technician placed the gas pedal to the floor and the brake pedal to the floor the engine shut off and the car immediately started to slow down,'' the memo read.

According to the memo, a Toyota official who was at the two-day inspection last week in suburban San Diego explained that an electric motor would ``completely seize'' if a system to shut off the gas when the brake is pressed fails, and there was no evidence to support that happened.

``In this case, knowing that we are able to push the car around the shop, it does not appear to be feasibly possible, both electronically and mechanically that his gas pedal was stuck to the floor and he was slamming on the brake at the same time,'' according to the memo.

Toyota has recalled millions of cars because of floor mats that can snag gas pedals or accelerators that can sometimes stick. Sikes' car was covered by the floor mat recall but not the one for sticky accelerators. He later told reporters that he tried to pull on the gas pedal during his harrowing ride, but it didn't ``move at all.''

The Prius is powered by two electric motor-generators and a small gasoline engine, all connected by transmission gears. A computer, which Toyota calls the ``hybrid control computer'' determines what combination of motors is needed and which would be most efficient.

Craig Hoff, a professor of mechanical engineering at Kettering University in Flint, Mich., said that for the Prius to accelerate out of control, at least two systems would have to fail simultaneously. They are the sensor signal that tracks the brake and gas pedal positions when the driver presses on them and the hybrid control computers.

``The chance of them both going wrong, plus the fact that the signal is bad, it just seems very, very, very remote,'' Hoff said. ``Could it happen? Statistically, yes. But it just doesn't seem very likely.''

Several events usually combine to cause problems with cars, and it's difficult to reproduce them, Hoff said.

``It's going to make it really hard to find, because you've got to line up the multiple effects,'' he said.

The congressional memo said both the front and rear brakes were worn and damaged by heat, consistent with Sikes saying that he stood on the brake pedal with both feet and was unable to stop the car. But if the fail-safe system worked properly, the brakes wouldn't have been damaged because power would have been cut to the wheels.

Gomez said the best evidence that his client was frantically slamming the brakes is that a California Highway Patrol officer who was giving Sikes instructions over a loudspeaker smelled burning brakes and saw the lights on.

Spagat reported from San Diego. AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher contributed to this report from Detroit.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Obit: Peter Graves

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:19:18 -0500

LOS ANGELES (AP) Peter Graves, whose calm and intelligent demeanor was a good fit to the intrigue of ``Mission Impossible'' as well as the satire of the ``Airplane'' films, has died.

Graves passed away Sunday just a few days before his 84th birthday outside his home in Los Angeles, publicist Sandy Brokaw said. Graves was returning from brunch with his wife of nearly 60 years and his family when he had what Graves' doctor believed was a heart attack, Brokaw said.

Graves first gained attention of many baby boomers with the 1950s TV series ``Fury,'' but remained best known for the role of Jim Phelps, leader of a gang of special agents who battled evil conspirators in TV's ``Mission: Impossible.''

Normally cast as a hero, he turned in an unforgettable performance early in his career as the treacherous Nazi spy in Billy Wilder's 1953 prisoner-of-war drama ``Stalag 17.''

He also masterfully lampooned his straight-arrow image when he portrayed bumbling airline pilot Clarence Oveur in the 1980 disaster movie spoof ``Airplane!''

Graves appeared in dozens of films and a handful of television shows in a career of nearly 60 years.

The authority and trust he projected made him a favorite for commercials late in his life, and he was often encouraged to go into politics.

``He had this statesmanlike quality,'' Brokaw said. ``People were always encouraging him to run for office.''

Graves was preceded in stardom by his older brother James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on TV's ``Gunsmoke.''

Born Peter Aurness, Graves adopted his grandfather's last name to avoid confusion with his older brother, who had dropped the ``U'' from the family name.

Graves' career began with cheaply made exploitation films like ``It Conquered the World,'' in which he battled a carrot-shaped monster from Venus, and ``Beginning of the World,'' in which he fought a giant grasshopper.

He later took on equally formidable human villains each week on ``Mission: Impossible.''

Every show began with Graves, as agent Phelps, listening to a tape of instructions outlining his team's latest mission and explaining that if he or any of his agents were killed or captured ``the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.''

The tape always self-destructed within seconds of being played.

The show ran on CBS from 1967 to 1973 and was revived on ABC from 1988 to 1990 with Graves back as the only original cast member.

The actor credited clever writing for the show's success.

``It made you think a little bit and kept you on the edge of your seat because you never knew what was going to happen next,'' he once said.

He also played roles in such films as John Ford's ``The Long Gray Line'' and Charles Laughton's ``The Night of the Hunter,'' as well as ``The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell,'' ``Texas Across the River'' and ``The Ballad of Josie.''

Graves' first television series was the children's Saturday morning show, ``Fury,'' about an orphan and his untamed black stallion. Filmed in Australia, it lasted six years on NBC.

In his later years, Graves brought his white-haired eminence to PBS as host of ``Discover: The World of Science'' and A ``Biography'' series.

He noted during an interview in 2000 that he made his foray into comedy somewhat reluctantly.

Filmmakers Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker had written a satire on the airplane-in-trouble movies, and they wanted Graves and fellow handsome actors Lloyd Bridges, Leslie Nielsen and Robert Stack to spoof their serious images.

All agreed, but Graves admitted to nervousness. On the one hand, he said, he considered the role a challenge, ``but it also scared me.''

``I thought I could lose a whole long acting career,'' he recalled.

``Airplane!'' became a box-office smash, and Graves returned for ``Airplane II, The Sequel.''

Graves was a champion hurdler in high school in Minnesota, as well as a clarinet player in dance bands and a radio announcer.

After two years in the Air Force, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota as a drama major and worked in summer stock before following his brother west to Hollywood.

He found enough success there to send for his college sweetheart, Joan Endress. They were married in 1950 and had three daughters Kelly Jean, Claudia King and Amanda Lee and six grandchildren.

'Hooch Warning System Questioned

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:05:20 -0500

BUFORD, Ga. (AP) Yvette Bruno recalls her uncle, Ira Braitsch, as an avid sportsman whose love of the outdoors kept him on the trail of fish or wild game at least four times a week.

Braitsch took all the precautions, his niece said. It's that cautious nature that has his family wondering why Braitsch encountered rough water on the Chattahoochee River, capsizing his jon boat and tossing in Braitsch and a friend.

The trout-fishing trip claimed the life of Braitsch, 64. Relatives contend he got bad information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about whether water would be released through Buford Dam, raising water levels.

``They were definitely told that they were not releasing,'' said Bruno, a New Jersey resident visiting Gwinnett County on Friday to attend Braitsch's funeral.

Following Braitsch's death, river enthusiasts called into question the agency's automated warning system, a recorded public safety service accessible by phone, radio and the Internet.

A corps official defended the warning for Buford Dam water releases, calling the system among the most effective in the United States.

Bob Hove, whose two sons are avid fly fishermen, told the Gwinnett Daily Post the automated system made no mention of water releases late on March 6, the night before Braitsch was on the river. Braitsch and his friend Michael Boyle, 67, who survived reportedly hit a log and went in the water just before noon the next day.

``That's pretty tragic if those two old guys went out thinking there would be no release,'' Hove said.

Tim Rainey, operations manager for the corp, said records show the automated warning was updated at 1:55 p.m. Saturday, alerting Chattahoochee patrons to a release on the Sunday morning of Braitsch's death.

``Judging by all our information, we had everything posted as soon as we got it,'' Rainey said.

Downstream flow rate data provided by the corps show it takes three hours before a typical water release from Buford Dam will affect the area where the boat capsized, near McGinnis Ferry Road. Water completely recedes in that area in six hours.

``There's not like a wall of water or anything,'' said Jerry Waldrip, 65, the Lawrenceville boater and seasoned Chattahoochee trout fisherman credited with pulling Boyle from the water and the last to see Braitsch alive. ``It just rises fast.''

Rainey said there's no protocol governing how long the automated system is updated before water is released. The recording warns river goers that ``schedules can change with hydropower demands or equipment failure'' and that released waters ``are subject to turbulent flows and are dangerous.''

Water is released primarily to create hydropower, but also to evacuate water from an overflowing Lake Lanier and ensure water quality downstream. Schedules change daily and are subject to last-minute switches, particularly during power failures at other generators, Rainey said.

Besides automated messages, the corps sounds a series of four horns near the river before each release. It has warning signs every 300 feet from the dam to Ga. 20 where lifejackets are required.

``I don't know of any other dam in the country that has the complex safety plan that we have,'' Rainey said. ``Usually there's a horn on top of the dam, and that's it. We have four spaced out over 2 1/2 miles.''

Whatever the culprit in Braitsch's death, his niece said he death left a painful void.

She said Braitsch frequented the river since moving to Georgia, and died doing what he loved. He leaves behind a wife, Faye, an 11-year-old granddaughter and his 90-year-old mother, Bruno said.

``My uncle was the greatest guy you would've ever wanted to know,'' she said. ``He would do anything for anyone.''

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Sandy Springs: Mansion Fire

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:00:44 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- A mansion in the Winterthur neighborhood in Sandy Springs burned to the ground overnight.

Firefighters were called to the home near the intersection of Northside Drive and Winterthur Court around 2:30 a.m. Monday.

The 12,000 to 15,000 square foot structure collapsed about an hour after the fire department began attacking the blaze.

No one was hurt and the owner's son told Channel 2 Action News the house was unoccupied at the time of the fire.

Home prices in the Sandy Springs neighborhood where the fire broke out range from $1.8 million to $3.2 million.

Arson investigators are at the scene to determine the cause of the fire.

Government Waste: Golf Hall of Fame

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:45:06 -0500

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) Some lawmakers want to hand over the site of the defunct Georgia Golf Hall of Fame to the city of Augusta for $1, even though state taxpayers will be shelling out $500,000 a year until 2015 to pay off the debt on the never-completed project.

Sen. Hardie Davis, an Augusta Democrat and sponsor of a bill that would give the 17 acres along the Savannah River to the city, said the tract is an eyesore, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Sunday. The city could do something with the land, Davis said.

Others oppose the idea, including Gov. Sonny Perdue.

With the backing of then-Gov. Zell Miller and the General Assembly, the state borrowed $6 million in 20-year bonds for the project along the Savannah River in 1996. The Golf Hall of Fame was promoted as a way to capitalize on the world-famous Masters golf tournament.

The bond money bought land along the city's riverwalk and helped build botanical gardens complete with a fairway, lake, sand bunker and waterfall. Statues of famous golfers adorned the grounds.

There wasn't enough money for a building, however, and the project faltered. Debt payments remain at about $500,000 annually. The state also chipped in $58,000 to $85,000 for operating expenses and some costs, including meals and wine, that were questioned by auditors.

Perdue vetoed the annual funding for the facility, and it closed in 2007. Less than three years later the site is locked, the statues are gone and parts of the property are overgrown with weeds.

Davis said the tract is a ``beautiful piece of property,'' despite its current condition. Some Augusta leaders, including Mayor Deke Copenhaver, hope the hall property can be redeveloped as an entertainment center with a baseball park for the city's minor-league team.

But Bert Brantley, the governor's spokesman, told the Atlanta newspaper it would be illegal for the state to sell the Golf Hall of Fame property for $1. That would be a gift, which is unconstitutional.

The value of the property is unclear, particularly in the current down economy. State taxpayers are still on the hook for $2.85 million in debt service.

``It's a complicated issue in that it's state ownership of a pretty attractive piece of land in the middle of a city that tried to make a go of it and it didn't work out,'' Brantley said. ``Everybody is committed to getting that property to its highest and best use, and it's not there right now.''

The August project is an example of what some say the state can no longer afford to do: fund nonessential programs and attractions that are a drain on state finances.

Georgia politicians established several halls of fame in the late 1980s and 1990s, when state tax collections were growing and the attractions were seen as tourist magnets. Halls of fame for music and sports were built in Macon.

Altogether, the state spent more than $60 million in 15 years on halls of fame and similar facilities.

``We're not going to build any more amusement parks, we're not getting into any museum business right now,'' House Appropriations Chairman Ben Harbin (R-Evans) told the newspaper. In the past, the lawmaker from the Augusta suburb has been a supporter of the Golf Hall.

``We're going to focus on core missions,'' Harbin said. ``You will not see us bring up another Hall of Fame under my watch that is government supported because its not fair to the taxpayers.''

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Inspection: Apt. Complex Where Girl Fell

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:42:08 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- Beginning Monday, Clayton County code enforcement officers and officials with the fire department will start inspecting eight of the nine buildings in an apartment complex where a 3-year-old girl fell through a bathroom floor. Ten of the 20 units in that building have already been condemned, in part, because there was no hot water.

Clayton County Battalion Chief Landry Merkison told WSB the walk through at the Harbour Towne Village Apartments on Riverdale Road in College Park will be "a thorough inspection from top to bottom." Merkison said inspectors plan to "look for serious problems, including the structural integrity of the buildings."

Residents of the apartment complex have complained to owner Robert Monday about a myriad of problems, including roach and rodent infestations, mold, and plumbing and electrical issues.

I-20 Wrong Way Wreck; Marine Killed

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:39:34 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- Charges are pending against an elderly Carroll County man who allegedly drove the wrong way on I-20 Saturday afternoon, causing a deadly head on crash that claimed the life of a young Iraqi war veteran.

Based on information from the Douglas County 911 center and from the Cobb County Police Department, 71-year-old Bruce Quayle of Villa Rica drove his Chevy pickup east in the westbound lanes of the interstate from Lee Road until the accident occurred near Six Flags Drive and Riverside Parkway.

Cobb Police Officer Joseph Hernandez told WSB Quayle is accused of driving his 2008 Silverado right into the path of a Mitsubishi Mirage driven by a couple from Hunstville, Alabama.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, 21-year-old Marine Lance Corporal Gregory Suedmeyer, died about two hours after the accident at Grady Hospital. His wife, 19-year-old Katelyn Suedmeyer, is listed in critical but stable condition at Atlanta Medical Center. The couple's dog was also killed in the wreck. Suedmeyer, who was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was driving home to Alabama at the time of the crash. He had recently completed a tour of duty in Iraq.

Quayle, who suffered non-life threatening injuries, is in stable condition at Grady.

The accident happened just before 5 p.m. Saturday. I-20 was shut down in both directions until 8 p.m. Saturday night.

Investigators have not determined why Quayle was driving the wrong way.

WSB Poll

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:37:13 -0500

Checkerboard of Tornado's Carnage Two Years Later

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:36:19 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- The Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel took the brunt of what's believed to be the only twister to ever strike downtown Atlanta. At least the only one anyone bothered to write down.

But, two years later, the scars of that night still remain. Crews still have to replace about 70% of the hotel's unique windows. Many were shattered when the historic storm struck the city in 2008.

Right now, more than 1,800 have been repaired. There are 6,350 windows in all. Those workers will have to replace every one.

Sunday marks the second anniversary of the historic storm.

Work began on the project in September. Officials said then it should take 12 to 15 months to finish.

The Westin took advantage of the storm to renovate the Sun Dial Restaurant. New wheels were installed on the rotating restaurant to keep it spinning.

Winds of up to 130 mph swept through the city that night. One person was killed.

Three Rescued After Kayak Capsizes

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:51:58 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- Three people were rescued from Sweetwater Creek in Douglas County after their kayak capsized.

A Douglas County firefighter told WSB Radio it happened around 4 p.m. Saturday after at Sweetwater Creek State Park. Firefighters said the creek had been rising from all the rain this week.

The Cobb County water rescue team was called in along with a helicopter to assist Douglas County authorities. The victim's conditions were not immediately released.

Braselton Gets Safelite Distribution Center

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:56:44 -0500

BRASELTON, Ga. (AP) The Safelite Group plans to employ 92 people when it opens a distribution facility in Braselton in September.

The president of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Shane Short, said the distribution center for windshields and other auto glass will be located north of downtown Braselton.

Short said the company, based on Columbus, Ohio, was looking for a site close to Interstate 85 between Atlanta and Charlotte.

The president of the Safelite Group, Tom Feeney, said the new distribution center will replace Safelite's current center in Enfield, N.C. He said Safelite will maintain is windshield factory in Enfield, but had outgrown its distribution facility.

Former Tyrone Officer Charged With Child Porn

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:47:50 -0500

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP) A former Tyrone police officer has been accused of child molestation.

The Fayetteville Police Department reports that 38-year-old Matthew New of Fayetteville was arrested Thursday on a charge of child molestation. Then other charges were filed, including sexual battery, enticing a child for indecent purposes and child pornography.

New was placed on administrative leave by the Tyrone Police Department when Fayetteville police notified them that he was under investigation on Feb. 2. Police officials told WSB-TV that he resigned Feb. 24. He had been with the police department about nine years.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Ebenezer Pastor Taking AIDS Test During Church

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:44:37 -0500

ATLANTA (AP) The senior pastor of historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta plans to take an HIV/AIDS test as part of the worship service at 11 a.m. Sunday.

The Rev. Raphael Warnock says silence, shame and stigma are keeping people from being tested, and the faith community needs to work to change that.

Warnock is taking the test as part of the National Week of Prayer for Healing of AIDS. He will take it while standing at the pulpit once used by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Warnock said he will use a type of test that doesn't require needles and that produces the results in less than 20 minutes.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Ebenezer Pastor Taking AIDS Test During Church

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:44:37 -0500

Study: Hearts May Swoon When Stocks Do

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:42:28 -0500

ATLANTA (AP) Stock market slides may hurt more than your savings. New research suggests they might prompt heart attacks.

Duke University researchers found a link between how a key stock index performed and how many heart attacks were treated at their North Carolina hospital shortly after the recession began in December 2007 through July 2009, when signs of recovery emerged.

The trend weakened after they did a second analysis taking into account seasons of the year. Some research suggests heart attacks are more common in winter, meaning the initial finding could have been a statistical fluke.

However, leading scientists unconnected with the work said they found it plausible and worth further research in a nationwide study.

``I do think there's merit to their first-round conclusion,'' said Dr. James McClurken of Temple University in Philadelphia. He is chairman of the American College of Cardiology's annual conference, where the study results were released Saturday.

Dr. Janet Wright, vice president of quality and science for the cardiology college, agreed.

``This is an intriguing study and yet another example of how stress can affect a person's heart health,'' she said. ``It is important to be aware that personal stressors in this case an economic one can be a trigger for cardiac events.''

Earlier studies have found higher rates of heart problems after World Cup soccer matches, earthquakes, Hurricane Katrina and other stressful events.

Mona Fiuzat, a doctor of pharmacy and researcher at Duke, had the idea for the new study. She tallied all patients who had a heart attack among those coming to the hospital for a test to detect heart disease. There were 965 heart attacks during the study period.

She then researched economic indices and how to best measure financial changes over time.

``This is not as clear as say Sept. 11,'' a specific date, she said. The health effects of bad financial news may emerge over weeks rather than on a single day, so she averaged heart attacks over three months, taking into account a period before and after each one, and compared these with the Nasdaq composite index.

``We felt the Nasdaq was most appropriate for the mainstream because it reflects small businesses'' and therefore would have the most impact on the general public, Fiuzat said.

As stock market values decreased, the incidence of heart attacks rose; the reverse also was true, she found.

The trend did not hold up when adjusted for seasons of the year. However, the study's small size, at a single hospital, may not give enough information to answer the question, some researchers said.

McClurken also questioned how much impact winter in a place like North Carolina would have on heart attack rates.

``Do they really have that much harsh seasonality in that area?'' he said. This winter, yes, but not usually, he said.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Civil War Cannon Found Among Stolen Goods

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:38:09 -0500

ATLANTA (AP) When a 5-foot-long Civil War cannon turned up during a search for stolen goods at a Spalding County house, that was just the beginning of a mystery. Now investigators have to sort through multiple claims and determine who owns it.

There is no shortage of would-be takers.

Georgia officials say the antique artillery piece belongs to them. Atlanta representatives say it's the city's. Federal officials say it could be the U.S. Army's. And then there is Arkansas, where the cannon was once used to train cadets.

Spalding County Sheriff's Investigator Josh Pitts says he's waiting on the proper paperwork to determine the owner. And he knows, ``I'll probably never discover another cannon in my career.''

The 26-year-old lawman said that the 780-pound cannon was discovered when officers searched a home Feb. 8.

First, they found a stolen pickup and a 53-foot trailer full of fireworks. Inside the house was a wooden box. Tucked away in the box was the bronze cannon barrel adorned with an eagle.

``I was never a history enthusiast in school,'' Pitts said. ``But I've learned a lot in the last month.''

The cannon's trip to Georgia began more than 150 years ago in Boston, where the Cyrus Alger Co. produced 12-pound howitzers. Records show that it next went to the Arkansas Military Institute, The Atlanta newspaper reported Saturday. About 10 years later, the institute's cadets used it in the Civil War.

Steve McAteer, director of the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History in Little Rock, said the museum's records trace the cannon to Virginia, where it was lost in battle.

It turned up in 1887 when Georgia officials delivered four cannons, including one with an eagle on the barrel, to the city of Atlanta for display.

Michael Hitt, a Roswell police officer and Civil War enthusiast, said he helped restore the cannons in 1984 in Atlanta's Grant Park, and recorded their characteristics. One, he noted, bore an eagle. It had lost the knob at the barrel's base, like the one recovered in Spalding County.

In the late 1980s, the city moved the cannons, with two going to the Cyclorama at Grant Park and one into storage.

Camille Love, who heads the cultural affairs division of Atlanta's parks department, asserted that the recovered barrel is definitely from Grant Park. She said thieves either stole it from a monument in the park or swiped it while it was in transit to a city storage facility.

McAteer doesn't know how the cannon got to Georgia, but he said he would like to have it in Arkansas at least on an extended loan to mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War in 1861.

The U.S. Army Donations Office in Warren, Mich., also has made contact about the cannon.

David Carmichael, who heads the Georgia Archives, has spoken to Spalding County investigators and wants the cannon to stay in Georgia.

Love said she plans to file a police report and take steps to return the cannon to Atlanta.

Pitts said his message about ownership has never varied: ``You bring me the paperwork, and it's yours.''

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Obama: Brighter Education Futures for Kids

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:29:20 -0500

ATLANTA (AP) President Barack Obama is promising parents and their kids that with his administration's help they will have better teachers in improved schools so U.S. students can make up for academic ground lost against youngsters in other countries.

A plan to overhaul the 2002 education law championed by President George W. Bush was unveiled by the Obama administration Saturday in hopes of replacing a system that in the last decade has tagged more than a third of schools as failing and created a hodgepodge of sometimes weak academic standards among states.

``Unless we take action unless we step up there are countless children who will never realize their full talent and potential,'' Obama said during a video address on Saturday. ``I don't accept that future for them. And I don't accept that future for the United States of America.''

In the proposed dismantling of the No Child Left Behind law, education officials would move away from punishing schools that don't meet benchmarks and focus on rewarding schools for progress, particularly with poor and minority students. Obama intends to send a rewrite to Congress on Monday of the law.

The proposed changes call for states to adopt standards that ensure students are ready for college or a career rather than grade-level proficiency the focus of the current law.

The blueprint also would allow states to use subjects other than reading and mathematics as part of their measurements for meeting federal goals, pleasing many education groups that have said No Child Left Behind encouraged teachers not to focus on history, art, science, social studies and other important subjects.

And, for the first time in 45 years, the White House is proposing a $4 billion increase in federal education spending, most of which would go to increase the competition among states for grant money and move away from formula-based funding.

The blueprint goes before the House Education and Labor Committee on Wednesday as Obama pushes Congress to reauthorize the education law this year, a time-consuming task that some observers say will be difficult. Committee Chairman George Miller, a Democrat from California, praised Obama's plan.

``This blueprint lays the right markers to help us reset the bar for our students and the nation,'' Miller said in a prepared statement.

Meanwhile, the American Federation of Teachers, which represents more than 1.4 million educators nationwide, issued a statement Saturday criticizing the plan, saying ``it just doesnt make sense to have teachers and teachers alone bear the responsibility for school and student success.''

``It appears from our first review that despite some promising rhetoric, this blueprint places 100 percent of the responsibility on teachers and gives them zero percent authority,'' the statement said.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan briefed a handful of governors, lawmakers and education groups on the plan Friday, including Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, a Republican.

``The governor is very supportive of the direction the secretary is going,'' said Perdue's spokesman Chris Schrimpf.

A few other highlights from the blueprint:

By 2020, all students graduating from high school would need to be ready for college or a career. That's a shift away from the current law, which calls for all students to be performing at grade level in reading and math by 2014.

Give more rewards money and flexibility to high-poverty schools that are seeing big gains in student achievement and use them as a model for other schools in low-income neighborhoods that struggle with performance.

Punish the lowest-performing 5 percent of schools using aggressive measures, such as having the state take over federal funding for poor students, replacing the principal and half the teaching staff or closing the school altogether.

Duncan has said the name No Child Left Behind will be dropped because it is associated with a harsh law that punishes schools for not reaching benchmarks even if they've made big gains. He said the administration will work with Congress to come up with a new name.

Amy Wilkins, a vice president with The Education Trust in Washington, D.C., called the blueprint a ``culture shift.''

``One of the things America has not been clear about is what k-12 is supposed to do,'' Wilkins said. ``In this, we're saying K-12 is supposed to prepare kids for college and meaningful careers.''

The nation's first federal education law Elementary and Secondary Education Act was passed in 1965 as part of Lyndon B. Johnson's war on poverty. The law has been reauthorized several times since, most recently in 2001 under President George W. Bush.

It was criticized by educators for focusing too much on testing and not enough on learning. Daniel Domenech, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators, said he is glad to see No Child Left Behind go away.

``We're delighted over that,'' he said. ``We have not been a fan of No Child Left Behind.''

Associated Press writers Christine Armario in Miami and Philip Elliott in Washington contributed to this report.

On the Net:

U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov

The Education Trust: http://www.edtrust.org/

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

1 Dies, 2 Critically Injured in Head-On Collision

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:23:45 -0500

(WSB Radio/AP) Cobb County police said a man died and two others were hospitalized in critical condition after a wrong-way crash on Interstate 20.

Officer Joe Hernandez said the accident happened Saturday afternoon a mile east of the Cobb-Douglas county line. Authorities said a pickup truck going the wrong way in the westbound lanes of the highway struck a car head-on.

Hernandez said the driver of the sedan later died at an Atlanta hospital and his female passenger remained hospitalized Saturday evening.

He said the man driving the pickup, Bruce Joesph Quail of Villa Rica, also was hospitalized. Authorities still are investigating how the crash happened.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

A-AAA HS Basketball Finals

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:20:06 -0500

AAA Boys: Columbia pins first loss on LaGrange

MACON, Ga. (AP) JerShon Cobb scored 20 points to help Columbia win its third Georgia High School Association boys championship in five years, defeating previously unbeaten LaGrange 54-46 for the Class AAA title Saturday night.

Tahj Shamsid-Deen added 14 points and Christopher Grier 11 points for the Eagles (28-5).

Ahead 20-16 at halftime, Columbia broke the game open with an 11-0 run to start the third quarter as LaGrange went scoreless for 5 minutes. The Eagles led 35-22 going into the final quarter.

Dionte Mains scored 11 points and Royal Thomas had 10 for LaGrange (31-1). The Grangers trailed 47-33 before closing to within seven points three times in the final 2 minutes.

The victory completed a Class AAA sweep Saturday night for Columbia, which defeated Carver-Atlanta 40-36 to win the girls championship.

It was the fifth consecutive Final Four appearance for the Columbia boys. The Eagles lost in the Class AAA semifinals last year after being Class AAAA champs in 2006 and 2008 and runner-up in 2007.

All of Columbia's losses this season came to out-of-state schools, including three to teams ranked in the top 12 nationally by USA Today. The Eagles have a victory over Gonzaga of Washington, D.C., which was ranked No. 13 nationally.

LaGrange has won four boys titles, but the last was in 1977. The Grangers lost in the 1984 and 1985 championship games.

AAA Girls: Columbia Comeback Overcomes Carver-Atlanta

MACON, Ga. (AP) Columbia got 11 points from Jemimah Ashby and held Carver of Atlanta to two points in the fourth quarter to win its first Georgia High School Association girls basketball title with a 40-36 comeback victory Saturday night.

Columbia (27-3) trailed 34-31 going into the final quarter but scored the first six points to go ahead. Carver (27-6) made two free throws for its only points in the last eight minutes.

Columbia won three of the four games played this year between the Region 5-AAA rivals.

Frost Zuri's basket put the Eagles ahead for good at 35-34, and she clinched the victory on a layup with 15 seconds remaining.

Carver led 13-10 after the first quarter and 27-21 at halftime.

Neither team had made it to the Final Four before. Columbia lost in the quarterfinals last season, while Carver hadn't gotten as far as that since 1974.

AA Boys: GAC defeats Thomasville

MACON, Ga. (AP) Malcolm Brogdon had 26 points and 15 rebounds as Greater Atlanta Christian defeated Thomasville 77-65 to win the Georgia High School Association Class AA boys basketball title Saturday.

Trent Wiedeman added 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Spartans (32-1). Elliott Long scored 16.

The boys championship was the first since 1977 for GAC, but the fourth title in five years for coach Eddie Martin. He won three straight Class AAAAA titles at Norcross before moving to GAC last season.

Ahead 19-14 at the end of the first quarter, GAC led 42-31 at halftime and was up 55-44 going into the fourth quarter.

Robert Carter had 20 points for Thomasville (24-5). Willie Clayton, the Bulldogs' leading scorer, fouled out early in the fourth quarter. He had 12 points and seven rebounds. Frederick Holton also fouled out with 12 points. He hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter.

Thomasville has never won a boys state title. The Bulldogs lost to Columbia 69-63 in 2006 while making their other appearance in the Class AA championship game.

AA Girls: Buford defeats Vidalia

MACON, Ga. (AP) Andraya Carter scored 20 points as Buford won its second straight Georgia High School Association Class AA girls basketball title with a 50-38 victory over previously unbeaten Vidalia on Saturday.

Buford, which lost eight seniors from the 2009 title team, jumped to a 20-9 lead in the first quarter. The Wolves led 33-21 at halftime and 42-32 after three quarters.

Vidalia came back from a 19-point deficit to beat Greater Atlanta Christian on Thursday in the semifinals, but couldn't mount a similar comeback against Buford (29-4).

Shereese Williams backed Carter with 10 points for Buford. Carter, a sophomore, was the Wolves' only full-time starter returning from the 2009 championship team. Buford had never won a girls title before last season.

Olivia Coleman was the only double-figure scorer for Vidalia (31-1). All except one of her 11 points came in the first half.

A Boys: Wesleyan defeats Whitefield Academy

MACON, Ga. (AP) Andrew Frerking scored 26 points and Wesleyan defeated defending champion Whitefield Academy 63-52 to win the Georgia High School Association Class A boys basketball title Saturday.

Frerking had 14 points in the fourth quarter to keep Wesleyan (26-6) ahead, hitting four of his six 3-pointers. Shane Smith scored 11 points for the Wolves.

The boys championship was the second in three years for Wesleyan, which won the Class AA title in 2008. The victory also gave the Norcross private school its second title sweep in that period, with the girls team winning its third straight championship earlier Saturday.

Tekele Cotton had 18 points to lead Whitefield (27-4). Chris Lovelace scored 16 and Kennard Backman added 11.

It was the sixth trip to the championship game in eight years for Whitefield, which won a Class A boys title in 2003 in addition to last year.

A Girls: Wesleyan beats Savannah Christian

MACON, Ga. (AP) Holli Wilkins scored 17 points and Wesleyan claimed its third consecutive Georgia High School Association girls basketball championship, defeating Savannah Christian 65-49 for the Class A title on Saturday.

Jordan Frazier had 16 points for the Wolves (28-4), who won their second straight Class A title after taking the Class AA championship in 2008.

Wesleyan has won seven titles in the past nine years four in Class AA and three in Class A. The Wolves also appeared in the championship game in 2001 and 2007.

Wesleyan missed its first seven shots against Savannah Christian (21-6) and trailed 17-11 early in the second quarter. But Wilkins scored 11 points and the Wolves rallied for a 35-27 lead at halftime.

The margin was up to 17 points, 51-34, after three quarters and Savannah Christian couldn't mount a comeback. Wesleyan forced 33 Raider turnovers.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Johnson's 26 Power Hawks Past Pistons

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:15:13 -0500

ATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Hawks followed through with their plan to jump on the Detroit Pistons early.

The surprise was after the Hawks led by 28 points in the second quarter, they had to jump on the Pistons again late.

Joe Johnson scored 26 points and the Hawks had their best shooting game of the season but still had to hold off Detroit's late comeback to beat the Pistons 112-99 on Saturday night.

The Hawks took a 28-point lead in the second quarter but suffered a second-half letdown. Atlanta kept its lead in double figures from the 7:17 mark of the opening quarter until Detroit's Ben Gordon scored with 6:45 remaining to cut the lead to 96-87.

The Hawks answered with an 11-4, including seven points from Johnson, run to push the lead back to 16 points.

``We've been letting teams back in games,'' Atlanta's Josh Smith said. ``We were able to get that final push in the fourth quarter.''

The Hawks moved one-half game ahead of Boston in the race for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Hawks made 15 of 18 shots from the field in the second quarter to give the team its highest field-goal percentage in a quarter (83.3) and half (73.0) this season. The Hawks made 63 percent of their shots for the game, another season high.

``It's all about teams making their runs,'' Atlanta's Al Horford said. ``We were able to handle their run. We didn't give them any life.''

Smith had 18 points, a career-high 11 assists and five steals for Atlanta.

``I never thought I'd have a double-double when one of them was not rebounds,'' said Smith, who is averaging 15.9 points and 8.7 rebounds. ``It felt good.''

Jamal Crawford had 17 points and Horford added 15 for the Hawks.

Pistons coach John Kuester said the Hawks ``know how to turn it on when they have to.''

Jason Maxiell led Detroit with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Richard Hamilton had 18 points for the Pistons, who have lost eight of 10.

``It's always tough to come back when you're down by so much,'' Hamilton said. ``The game is about runs, you know. And the run that they were in the first and second quarter, it's really hard to come back. You're fighting an uphill battle the whole game.''

Hamilton wasn't comforted by Detroit's attempted comeback.

``I can't see any positives out of this game,'' he said. ``We lost by 30, 20, whatever. I really can't see any positives out of this game.''

Former Georgia Tech guard Will Bynum had 17 points and seven assists one night after he set a career high with 20 assists in Detroit's 101-87 win over Washington.

Hamilton had 14 points in the third quarter as the Pistons attempted to rally from a 69-41 halftime deficit. The Hawks' strong start was too much to overcome.

``We were a little slow to start the third quarter, but the first half was as good a first half as we've played all year on both ends of the floor,'' Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. ``We did everything we set out to do.''

Atlanta opened with assists on each of its 12 baskets in the first quarter and led 28-7 after an 18-1 run.

The Hawks' 30-12 lead after the first quarter set the stage for even better shooting in the second period. Atlanta stretched its lead to 57-29.

Detroit, already playing without starters Rodney Stuckey (dizzy spells) and Ben Wallace (knee), had forward Jonas Jerebko leave the game midway through the third quarter. Jerebko, a rookie from Sweden, grimaced and grabbed his left shoulder after trying to stop a drive by Smith.

Jerebko returned to open the final period and had nine points and nine rebounds.

NOTES: Detroit's 12 first-quarter points were the fewest allowed by Atlanta this season. ... Bynum and Kuester were called for technical fouls with 6:11 remaining in the first quarter after Bynum complained he had been fouled. ... The Hawks made 7 of 14 3-pointers. Crawford was good on each of his three attempts.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Tech Beats NC State 57-54 in ACC Semifinal

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:12:33 -0500

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) Georgia Tech took the difficult, windy route, but coach Paul Hewitt has his talent-laden team where many felt it should be: the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

Just overlook all those maddening turnovers and blown leads.

Overcoming another near second-half meltdown, the Yellow Jackets ended North Carolina State's surprise run in this ACC tournament full of upsets with a 57-54 victory on Saturday in the semifinals.

With freshman Derrick Favors contributing 17 points and eight rebounds, fellow NBA prospect Gani Lawal posting a double-double and highly touted guard Iman Shumpert making another key defensive play late, the seventh-seeded Yellow Jackets (22-11) advanced to Sunday's final against top-seeded and No. 4 Duke.

Despite his team coughing up a 10-point halftime lead and looking rattled against the press in the second half, Hewitt was smiling after being a target of criticism for what some argue is serial underachieving.

Georgia Tech had recently tumbled out of the rankings and entered the tournament with five losses in seven games.

``The fans have been great, that's the one thing that has been consistent. There are other areas where some cheap shots have been taken,'' Hewitt said. ``When I walk through the airports and go out to dinner with my family, you would be really shocked at how this stuff has turned. Now everybody goes out of their way to say, 'Hey coach, we respect what you're doing.'''

They may be a little louder now after Georgia Tech halted 11th-seeded N.C. State's dream of stealing the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

In a sloppy game where both teams showed the fatigue of playing for a third straight day, the Wolfpack made more mistakes down the stretch.

Tracy Smith had 15 points for N.C. State (19-15), which shot 31 percent. Javier Gonzalez had a chance to atone for a key turnover and intentional foul in the final 2 minutes, but he missed a game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds.

``It's tough. We're hurting right now,'' Smith said. ``Everybody's disappointed. We thought we had the game in our hands.''

The Yellow Jackets reached the final for the first time since losing to Duke in 2005, and again can thank Shumpert's defense.

A day after knocking the ball away from Maryland's Greivis Vasquez to preserve Georgia Tech's upset win on Friday, Shumpert ripped the ball away from Gonzalez at midcourt with just over 2 minutes left and the Yellow Jackets ahead 49-46.

Shumpert passed to Favors, and Gonzalez grabbed his jersey from behind, spun him around and was called for an intentional foul with 1:29 left.

``I got hit a little bit on my arms, and I lost control of the ball,'' Gonzalez said. ``They were about to score, and I saw Favors. He shoots like 50 percent (from the foul line), so the only thing I was able to do was grab a piece of jersey.''

Officials had to separate players from both teams before Favors hit 1 of 2 free throws. On the ensuing possession, Favors scored inside to make it 52-46.

``Obviously that affects the game. No question about it,'' N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe said. ``Not just from the point standpoint, but just emotionally, them getting jacked up, everyone is jumping around like their 6-10 guy just got killed or something by a 6-foot kid.''

N.C. State wasn't finished, and Gonzalez hit a 3-pointer with 12.4 seconds left to cut the lead to 55-54. But Georgia Tech's D'Andre Bell then hit two free throws, and Gonzalez's 3 from the right wing bounced off the rim.

``Favors backed up a little bit, and I had enough room to get it off,'' Gonzalez said. ``I got it off, but I missed.''

Gonzalez had nine points, but was just 3 of 14 from the field. Dennis Horner (2 for 12) also struggled to make shots, leaving the Wolfpack hoping for an NIT bid.

``I certainly feel that we deserve it, no question,'' Lowe said. ``I think they've shown that they're capable of playing with the best teams in the country.''

Georgia Tech, likely safely in the NCAA tournament, didn't look the part of a top team for much of the second half in blowing a 29-19 halftime lead. With the Yellow Jackets abandoning the inside game and throwing the ball away in the backcourt, Gonzalez hit consecutive 3s in a 17-4 run gave N.C. State its first lead of the game.

But Favors, Lawal (12 points and 10 rebounds), Shumpert (seven points, seven rebounds) and Bell (6 of 6 free throws) did just enough to overcome 16 turnovers.

``Unfortunately, we've been very inconsistent because we've inconsistently gotten the ball inside,'' Bell said. ``Just doing what we know, playing to our strength, and we'll be fine.''

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Cobb Police Find Suspect in Cold Case

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:42:07 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- The periodic check of Georgia prison inmates' DNA against the DNA police gather at crime scenes paid off in a big way for Cobb County detectives.

Cobb Police Officer Joe Hernandez told WSB's Pete Combs the story began as a woman was walking past a construction site near Home Center Drive while on her way to work -- 14-years ago.

"The male actually grabbed the female and dragged her into the construction site, where the assault and rape occurred," Hernandez told WSB. "Then the male fled the scene" and completely disappeared. Or so it seemed.

Hernandez says investigators now know the rest of the story. GBI lab technicians performing a routine comparison of inmate DNA and crime scene DNA got a possible match. Hernandez said Cobb investigators then confirmed that the DNA in this case came from 37-year old Carlos McDowell.

McDowell went to prison sometime after that attack in 1996, convicted of sexual assault. He was sentenced to 15-years and is still being held at Central State Prison in Bibb County.

Before these latest charges, he might have been released next year.

"It was excellent for investigators to clear this case out," Hernandez said. "For the public... and especially for the victim, I think it's good closure."

Man Shot and Killed in Bedroom of Gwinnett Home

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:39:28 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- One person was shot and killed in what police describe as an atypical home invasion.

Gwinnett police officer Brian Kelly told WSB Radio, the suspect broke into the home off Adams Landing Court in unincorporated Lawrenceville just after 2 a.m. Saturday.

"An unknown male entered the residence through the front door. There is no signs of force to the door," Officer Kelly said. "He found the victim's bedroom door closed, tried to enter for whatever reason, was unsuccessful and fired one gun shot."

Officer Kelly said the victim was shot in the entry-way to the bedroom. The suspect fled in a dark-colored sedan.

Three other adults were at the home during the shooting. Police said they are fine and are being questioned by police as witnesses. They apparantly rent rooms from the victim.

The victim's name was not immediately released. Investigators don't know if he knew the shooter.

Dems Look to Add Loan Plan to Healthcare Bill

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:37:12 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) Congressional Democrats want a stalled overhaul of college aid programs to get strapped onto a fast-track health care bill, giving both Obama administration priorities a better chance of passage.

The student loan measure would be the biggest change in college assistance programs since Congress created them in the 1960s. The bill would end federal subsidies to private lenders and have the government originate all loans to needy students.

Democrats in the House and Senate were working to incorporate the legislation, which passed the House last September but bogged down in the Senate, into a single, expedited budget bill that could pass in the Senate with a simple majority.

After a presidency marked by stalemate, the strategy would give President Barack Obama the best opportunity to achieve simultaneous victories on two of his top priorities in a single, swift act of Congress.

Consolidating the college aid package with health care would create a double sweetener for Democrats. It would make it easier to pass the college aid plan in the Senate, where it seemed unable to muster 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles. And it would give House Democrats a popular incentive to ease their anxieties over voting for health care changes.

The health care bill ``is a controversial, difficult bill for a lot of people,'' said Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J. ``The more things that you can go home and say were in the bill that are sort of universally popular, yeah, it helps.''

Sen. Tom Harkin, the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said lawmakers had an opportunity for a ``twin victory'' by joining the student loan measure to the health care package.

And White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the budget package, known as a ``reconciliation bill,'' would be a means to pass the student aid plan. ``This is an important reform for the president,'' he said.

To ease the way for the far-reaching health care legislation, Democrats have had to resort to a fast-track process. The House would pass an already approved Senate version of the bill, then use a separate measure to make changes more to their liking. Under the special process, Senate Democrats could approve that second ``fix-it'' bill with a simple majority.

Momentum for linking the health and college aid measures increased Thursday when the Senate parliamentarian ruled that any budget package that made budgetary fixes to health care would also have to include adjustments to legislation under the jurisdiction of Harkin's committee.

By ending subsidies to banks and other private lenders, the original House bill would have saved $87 billion between 2010 and 2019, with the money used to provide needy students with Pell Grants. But colleges have been shifting to more direct government lending, already reducing the subsidies paid by the government to private lenders. As a result, the savings for 2011-2020 are now estimated at $67 billion.

At the same time, a spike in higher education enrollment caused by the bleak job market has created a massive shortfall in the Pell Grant program.

The student loan plan also would pay for construction at K-12 schools and for new preschool programs.

House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., said the student loan measure would have to undergo adjustments to address the new, smaller savings picture, likely reducing the size of the grants and other spending. He said Democrats would also address the Pell Grant red ink.

The bill initially envisioned using the subsidy savings to increase the maximum Pell Grant by $1,400 to $6,900 over the next decade. That number would have to be adjusted.

Adding the student loan measure in the Senate could cost Democrats a vote or two, but with the party controlling 59 votes, it can afford some erosion. Even a 50-50 split in the Senate would spell success for Democrats because Vice President Joe Biden would cast the tie-breaking vote.

Republicans broadly oppose both the student loan measure and the attempts to link it to the health care package.

``I'm not sure the public thinks this current debate is about that issue,'' said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. ``And it would show again the lengths to which they were willing to go to have the government expand its tentacles into absolutely everything.''

Associated Press Special Correspondent David Espo contributed to this report.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

4 Sentenced for Multi-State Gun Trafficking

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:26:03 -0500

ATLANTA (AP) Four people have been sentenced in federal court in Atlanta for their roles in a gun trafficking ring that operated in Georgia and California.

U.S. Attorney Sally Yates on Friday announced the sentencing of 26-year-old Jeffrey Martin Colon Moore, his girlfriend 26-year-old Crystal Davis, her father 56-year-old Danny Bill Davis, all of Canton, Ga., and 36-year-old Alexander Quinn of Oakland, Calif.

Prosecutors say Moore recruited the Davises to buy at least 65 guns at dealers and gun shows in the Atlanta area. He then shipped the guns to Quinn.

Yates says several guns sold in this case were recovered in the San Francisco area in the possession of convicted criminals.

Moore and Quinn were both sentenced to jail to be followed by probation, while the Davises were sentenced to home confinement followed by probation.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Senators Question $1M Pay for Charity's CEO

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:23:03 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) A group of Republican senators is questioning high salaries and expensive travel bills for executives at the Boys Girls Clubs of America, raising issues that could jeopardize millions in federal funding for the national charity.

The four senators said they were concerned that the chief executive of a charity that has been closing local clubs for lack of funding was compensated nearly $1 million in 2008. They also questioned why in the same year officials spent $4.3 million on travel, $1.6 million on conferences, conventions and meetings, and $544,000 in lobbying fees.

``The question is whether or not a very top-heavy organization might be siphoning off federal dollars that should be going to help kids,'' said Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee.

The senators sent a letter to the head of the charity's board of governors Thursday seeking detailed financial information about executive compensation, travel and lobbying expenses, and how the national charity awards grants to local clubs.

The issues they raise could threaten the reputation of a popular charity that supports 4,300 local Boys Girls Clubs serving about 4.8 million children. The timing threatens a bill moving through the Senate that would provide up to $425 million in federal money to the national organization over the next five years.

``That bill isn't going anywhere until we get the answers to these questions,'' said Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla.

Along with Grassley and Coburn, the letter was signed by Republican Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona and John Cornyn of Texas. The senators noted in their letter that the organization posted a $13.6 million loss in 2008, according to tax records.

``We find it hard to reconcile this loss with the amount spent on executive salaries, perks, and lobbying expenses,'' the senators wrote. ``We are especially concerned because it is our understanding that some independent clubs have closed or are on the cusp of closing because of a lack of funding.''

Community Boys Girls Clubs are all locally governed, but most receive tens of thousands of dollars each year from the Atlanta-based national charity. In 2008, the national charity reported receiving $41 million in government grants and $51 million in other gifts and contributions.

That same year, the national organization spent $57.6 million on grants to local clubs and $37.5 million on salaries and benefits, according to tax records.

In 2009, the Justice Department awarded the Boys Girls Clubs of America a $44 million grant for mentoring services. The money came from the economic recovery package enacted last year. The grant was more than twice the size of the next largest, $19 million, which went to Goodwill Industries International.

Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO of the Boys Girls Clubs of America, received a total compensation of $988,591 in 2008, according to the charity's tax filings. She got a base salary of $360,774, a bonus of $150,000 and other compensation of $83,152, for a total of $593,926. She also received $385,500 in deferred compensation, most of which went to a retirement plan, and $9,165 in nontaxable benefits.

The organization listed two registered lobbyists among its highest paid employees. Glenn Permuy, a senior vice president, received $427,355 in total compensation, including $22,500 deferred. Kevin McCartney, senior vice president of government relations, had $217,859 in total compensation, including $13,502 deferred.

Evan McElroy, senior vice president of communications for the Boys Girls Clubs of America, said the charity would respond to the letter before the March 29 deadline set by the senators. He declined to answer questions about the charity's finances when contacted Thursday but said in an e-mail that Spillett's base salary has not increased since 2006.

In the e-mail, McElroy said the charity's compensation committee follows Internal Revenue Service guidelines for nonprofit organizations. He said Mercer, a human resources consulting firm, analyzed executive compensation and found it was ``appropriate for a large, national, tax-exempt, youth organization.''

Despite recent closings, Spillett has overseen significant growth in the number of local Boys Girls Clubs since becoming president of the national organization in 1996. During that time, the number of local clubs grew from 1,850 to 4,360.

Experts were split on whether Spillett's pay was excessive for a charity with revenues of $107 million in 2008, the latest year available.

``It's certainly not unusual to see people leading major charities, which after all, are very large, complex operations, making substantial salaries,'' said Brian Vogel, a senior principal with Quatt Associates, a management consulting firm in Washington.

Vogel said ``$500,000 or $600,000 wouldn't be outside the marketplace. ... Remember, these are organizations that can be as hard to manage as a major for-profit business.''

Annual compensation averaged $462,000 last year for the CEOs of charities with expenses of more than $100 million, according to a compensation study by Charity Navigator, a Web site that evaluates charities.

``The people who use our site, donors, would be appalled by a salary like this,'' Ken Berger, president and CEO of Charity Navigator, said of Spillett's compensation. ``If you want to be a millionaire, go and work in the for-profit sector.''

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Roethlisberger Hires Private Investigator

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:11:39 -0500

ATLANTA (AP) An attorney for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has hired a private investigator to look into a sexual assault allegation made by a 20-year-old Georgia college student.

Police in the college town of Milledgeville continue to investigate, but have released little information since the accusation was made a week ago.

The two-time Super Bowl champ's lawyer, Ed Garland, said he has hired his own investigative team.

``Any lawyer representing anyone needs to know all the facts so that he can perform his duties,'' he said.

Roethlisberger has not been charged, and Garland said ``no criminal conduct took place.''

Carl Cansino, a lawyer for the club where the woman says the assault took place, said he was contacted Friday by the private investigator, Charles Mittelstadt. Cansino was also on hand when authorities interviewed club manager Rocky Duncan Wednesday.

Police Chief Woodrow Blue said at a Monday news conference that investigators expected to speak to Roethlisberger this week. He said Friday that the investigation continues at a steady pace but declined to comment on any details, including whether authorities had interviewed Roethlisberger or asked him for a DNA sample.

``We haven't set any kind of timetable,'' he said. ``Where the investigation leads us will determine that.''

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is also working on the case, but agent Tom Davis in Milledgeville did not return calls seeking comment. Agency spokesman John Bankhead said only that the investigation is ongoing.

Lawyers for the woman who accused Roethlisberger released a statement earlier in the week saying their client is cooperating with authorities and asking the media to respect her privacy. They have not responded to calls and e-mails from The Associated Press seeking additional comment.

Photos have also surfaced online of Roethlisberger smiling alongside the officer who wrote the initial incident report early on March 5. The police chief said the photos were taken hours before the allegation was made.

Blue said Friday he wasn't concerned about the photos, saying the officer, Sgt. Jerry Blash, and others had seen Roethlisberger earlier in the evening. Beyond filing the report, Blash has not been involved in the investigation, Blue said.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

VA Investigating Atl. Medical Record Breach

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:08:42 -0500

ATLANTA (AP) The U.S. Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General has launched a criminal investigation into a security breach of veterans' medical information at the Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that a physician assistant stored unauthorized clinical information on her personal laptop regarding veterans who were seen at one of the VA specialty clinics. The newspaper sites an internal document it obtained.

Katie Roberts, the press secretary for the VA, confirmed the investigation.

The newspaper reports the agency has yet to determine how many veterans are affected or the degree to which the data contained personal and medical information.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Former Georgia Tech Player Charged

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:57:02 -0500

ATLANTA (AP) A former Georgia Tech cornerback was charged with terroristic threats and aggravated assault.

WSB-TV reports that Reuben Houston surrendered Friday to the Cobb County Jail on outstanding warrants for terroristic threats, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Houston, who started two years with a career seven interceptions at Georgia Tech, was sentenced in 2006 to charges of conspiracy and attempt to distribute 92 pounds of marijuana. He was kicked off the team stemming from the arrest.

Houston, who finished his career with 158 tackles and seven interceptions, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2006 and later released the same year.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Rangers Beat Thrashers 5-2

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:53:40 -0500

ATLANTA (AP) Henrik Lundqvist called it ``do or die'' hockey between two struggling teams in danger of losing all hope in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.

Vinny Prospal and Marian Gaborik gave New York the lead with goals 41 seconds apart in the first period and the Rangers beat Atlanta 5-2 on Friday night for the Thrashers' fifth straight loss.

Lundqvist made 29 saves to help the Rangers end a four-game losing streak. The goalie said the Rangers must use the win to establish momentum for a playoff push.

``It's still do or die for us,'' Lundqvist said. ``We're still in a really tough position. I hope we can compete.''

The Rangers are ninth in the Eastern Conference, three points ahead of Atlanta.

Prospal had two goals and an assist, Gaborik had a goal and two assists, and Michael Del Zotto and Ryan Callahan into an empty net also scored for New York in the critical game for each team's fading playoff hopes.

The Rangers scored two power-play goals while taking a 3-0 lead in the first period.

``Our power play stepped up,'' said Lundqvist, who bounced back after being pulled in the second period of a 6-3 loss at New Jersey on Wednesday night.

``We had good intensity and energy and confidence, and we got some bounces, too. That always helps.''

Clarke MacArthur and Ron Hainsey scored for Atlanta.

Defenseman Chris Chelios, the 48-year-old 11-time All-Star, blocked two shots in his home debut for the Thrashers. He was recalled from Chicago of the AHL on Wednesday.

The Thrashers' five straight losses, including three at home, have come in eight days since they briefly held eighth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They have scored only six goals in the five losses all in regulation to fall to 11th.

``You have to keep things simple,'' Chelios said. ``You have to play playoff hockey. Every goal is huge.''

Hainsey said the Thrashers played ``OK'' for the opening few minutes ``and then they had one go in and we just didn't respond.''

Coach John Anderson said the Thrashers have been ``playing not to lose.''

Anderson called the opener of a five-game homestand a must-win game for Atlanta, which began the night tied for 10th in the conference, a point behind the Rangers. The Thrashers didn't answer the call.

``Obviously, we have to win some games,'' Anderson said. ``I think we pretty much have to win out at home, since we have a lot of home games. ... It looks bleak, but it can change very quickly.''

Prospal scored on a shot past Johan Hedberg's catching glove 7:49 into the first period. Gaborik, who set up Prospal's goal, added a rebound shot on the power play 41 seconds later for a 2-0 lead. Prospal's second goal of the opening period, also on the power play, pushed the lead to 3-0.

``That's always a big positive,'' said Prospal of the early lead. ``When you get a three-goal lead, especially on the road, it gives you confidence and lets you relax a little.''

The Thrashers, who won the first three games of the season against the Rangers, were denied their first season sweep since 2002-03.

NOTES: Rangers F Sean Avery was a healthy scratch for the first time this season. He missed five games early in the season due to an injury. Enver Lisin replaced Avery after sitting out five of the last seven games, including the last three. ... The five-game losing streak is the longest for Atlanta since a nine-game streak from Dec. 19 through Jan. 5. ... Hedberg made 30 saves.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)