Across Georgia

1 killed, 1 injured in collision with truck

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SANDERSVILLE --- A Sandersville man is dead and his grandson is critically injured after their car collided with a logging truck on Georgia Highway 24 on Tuesday.

Washington County coroner E.K. May said Ralph Jackson died when his Mercury Grand Marquis collided with a logging truck driven by Wyman Landers of Stapleton about 10:30 a.m.

May said the grandson, Chris Jackson, suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Medical College of Georgia Hospital in Augusta, where he is in critical condition.

May says no charges were being filed against Landers. Investigators believe the Mercury pulled out in front of the logging truck.

Lawyers hope to keep soldier's trial in U.S.

SAVANNAH --- Lawyers for a Fort Stewart soldier charged with making threats in an angry hip-hop song he recorded have asked a federal judge to stop the Army from transferring him to Kuwait for his court-martial.

The Army has said it plans to fly Spc. Marc A. Hall overseas to allow witnesses in his infantry now serving in Iraq to testify without returning to the U.S. Hall was charged in December with making threats in conversations with fellow soldiers and in a song he posted on his Web site called Stop Loss that lambasts the Army.

Hall's attorneys say the Army would violate his right to a fair trial by moving his case to a "war zone" where few civilian witnesses or lawyers would travel to defend him.

Hall, 34, has so far been jailed in southern Georgia.

A motion filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Savannah seeks a judge's order to force the military to keep Hall's court-martial in the U.S.

Senate OKs Economic Development Council

ATLANTA --- Lawmakers are weighing the creation of a group aimed at making Georgia more attractive to business.

The Senate approved 50-0 a legislative oversight committee that would be called the Economic Development Council. The council would be aimed at reviewing funds and programs designed to bring business and jobs to the state.

Under the proposal, the council will look at the Department of Economic Development's activities and evaluate its overall strategic vision. Next year's budget includes nearly $158 million for economic development projects, and the council would keep an eye on those funds.

The departments of economic development, community affairs and agriculture, along with One Georgia Authority and the University System of Georgia currently dispense dollars for economic development.

Mother takes her life after drowning child

BRUNSWICK --- Police say a Glynn County mother tried to drown her two children -- killing one -- before committing suicide Tuesday.

Glynn County Coroner Jimmy Durden identifies the dead as 21-year-old Julia Murray and her 4-year-old daughter, Ansli.

Her 2-year-old son, Creighton, was in stable condition at a Brunswick hospital Tuesday afternoon.

Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering says a woman identifying herself as Julia Murray made a 911 call to Glynn/Brunswick emergency dispatchers about 9:50 a.m. Tuesday. She told authorities she had just drowned her two children and asked for an ambulance.

While still on the phone with the dispatcher, police say the woman shot herself.

-- Associated Press