STATE OF HBCUS
Obama's Morehouse visit shines spotlight on HBCUs
ATLANTA (AP) - When President Barack Obama addresses graduates at Morehouse College in Atlanta on Sunday, he'll also be speaking to the broader community of historically black colleges and universities.
It's a proud corner of higher education that has struggled more than most during the last few years of economic distress. HBCUs educate a large share of low-income students who are still dealing with high unemployment rates among blacks and changes to a federal program that made it harder to get loans.
The result is slipping graduation rates. Morehouse's 2011 graduation rate, however, was 55%, among the very highest of HBCUs.
COLD CASE-CHILD SLAYING
SW Ga. police find new leads in 1976 child slaying
OCILLA, Ga. (AP) - Police in southwest Georgia say they're working to generate new leads in the unsolved slaying of a 7-year-old girl nearly four decades ago.
WALB-TV reports police in Ocilla hope new information will lead them to the killer of young Faleshia LaFrance Battle, who was found suffocated in a neighbor's garden in 1976.
Ocillia police Det. Doug Douglas says promising leads and new information have come in since the department reopened the case two years ago. He's been interviewing potential witnesses and says updates in technology could also lead to a breakthrough in the 37-year-old killing.
The slain girl's mother, Arlenda Roberts, has been helping police revisit the crime. She still visits her daughter's grave every week and says, "It's been like a living nightmare."
DOG ATTACK
Man, 2 children injured in dog attack near Atlanta
DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. (AP) - Authorities say two young children and their father were taken to a hospital for treatment after being attacked by dogs in metro Atlanta.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports a man and his children, ages 2 and 4, suffered multiple bite wounds Saturday as they were out walking in a Douglas County subdivision and at least two dogs rushed into the road and charged them.
Douglas County Fire Department spokesman Wes Tallon says the father was injured as he tried to pull the dogs off his children. The dogs' owner was also hurt as he helped get the animals back into his house, but he declined treatment.
Tallon says no one had injuries that appear life-threatening. He says animal control officers will keep the dogs while their vaccination records are checked.
GENARLOW WILSON-MOREHOUSE
Ga. man imprisoned for teen sex now a college grad
ATLANTA (AP) - A young Georgia man whose imprisonment eight years ago sparked a debate over teen sex laws is now graduating from college.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports 27-year-old Genarlow Wilson will graduate from Morehouse College on Sunday, when the commencement address will be delivered by President Barack Obama.
Wilson was sentenced to 10 years in prison for aggravated child molestation in 2005 because the then 17-year-old high school football player engaged in sex acts with a 15-year-old girl. Georgia changed its teen sex laws and the state Supreme Court overturned Wilson's conviction in 2007, calling it "cruel and unusual."
Wilson got a scholarship to Morehouse and earned his degree in sociology. He's a new father of a 2-month-old daughter and says he just wants "to live my life the right way."
GEORGIA REPUBLICANS
GOP US Senate candidates denounce immigration bill
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - The four Georgia Republicans running for U.S. Senate say they are united in opposition to a comprehensive immigration reform bill pending in Washington, saying the legislation doesn't do enough for border security.
U.S. Reps. Paul Broun of Athens, Phil Gingrey of Marietta and Jack Kingston of Savannah, along with former Secretary of State Karen Handel, voiced their opposition at a news conference Saturday as Republicans gathered for the second day of their state convention.
The day began with a breakfast honoring Gov. Nathan Deal and his wife, Sandra. In her speech, Sandra Deal called on the four candidates to "be nice" during what's expected to be a hotly contested race for Georgia's open U.S. Senate seat. Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss is retiring.
Later Saturday, Republicans will elect a state chair.
CHASE SHOOTING
Middle Ga. deputy shoots motorist in police chase
WARNER ROBINS, Ga. (AP) - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says a police chase in middle Georgia ended when a pickup truck driver rammed two patrol cars and was shot by a Houston County sheriff's deputy.
The Telegraph of Macon reports the wounded suspect was in hospitalized in critical condition after the shooting Friday afternoon. Authorities did not immediately release his identity.
The GBI is investigating the shooting. Rodney Wall, special agent in charge of the agency's Perry office, says the pickup driver led authorities on an extended chase before he pulled over onto a roadside. Wall says the driver then began ramming two sheriff's cars with his truck. A deputy shot him.
Wall says he's not sure why the wounded suspect was fleeing from authorities or how the chase started.
MOTORCYCLE DEPUTY KILLED
Augusta deputy dies day after crashing motorcycle
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - A Richmond County sheriff's deputy has died from injuries he suffered in an off-duty motorcycle crash.
The Augusta Chronicle reports Alton Creech died Friday at Georgia Regents Medical Center, where the 32-year-old deputy had been airlifted the previous day after crashing his Harley-Davidson motorcycle into the back of a car on Interstate 20.
Capt. Steve Morris of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office says the motorcycle left skid marks 90-feet long, indicating Creech tried to stop. The driver of the car that was struck wasn't injured.
Richmond County Sheriff's deputy Billy Hultman asked gatherers at a candlelight vigil Friday to pray for Creech's wife and family.
Creech was known at the sheriff's office for his marksmanship skills. He won the agency's "top shot" competition three years in a row.
SAVANNAH MAYOR-TURKEY
Savannah mayor, councilman plan trip to Turkey
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - Savannah's mayor and one member of its City Council are heading overseas to Turkey, where they hope to build relationships that translate to boosting trade and investment back home in Georgia.
The Savannah Morning News reports Mayor Edna Jackson and city Alderman Tom Bordeaux are scheduled to depart for Istanbul on Tuesday and will stay through the end of May.
City officials say the trip was organized by the Istanbul Center in Atlanta.
Jackson says past trips abroad by Savannah officials to countries such as Israel and China have led to student exchanges and foreign government and business leaders coming to visit Savannah.
Savannah taxpayers will foot the bill for the mayor and councilman's airfare, which totals about $2,800, as well as a daily travel stipend of $85 apiece.
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