Across Georgia

Capitol rally opposes cigarette tax increase

ATLANTA --- Tax increase opponents warned state legislators not to raise taxes to balance the state's budget.

The rally Tuesday was headlined by Grover Norquist, the head of the national anti-tax group Americans for Tax Reform. About 100 protesters gathered on the Capitol steps.

Anti-smoking advocates are pushing for a $1-per-pack increase in the cigarette tax to help fill a growing budget hole. But Norquist said legislators need to address spending.

Body of boy lost in wildlife area found

DARIEN --- Authorities say the body of a lost 15-year-old McIntosh County boy was found in a rugged state wildlife management area after a 12-hour search.

McIntosh County Sheriff Steve Jessup says a Georgia Department of Natural Resources ranger and other searchers found the body of Daniel Head on Monday.

The sheriff says Daniel and his stepfather, Brian Gale, had gone into the Altamaha Wildlife Management Area on Sunday and gotten lost.

Jessup says Daniel became too tired to walk and that Gale carried him as far as he could but finally left him to go for help. The sheriff says the family called the sheriff's office after the two failed to come home Sunday.

In other news

AN ATLANTA GROUP HAS voted down efforts to move a historical black cemetery. The Mount Olive Cemetery is located in Atlanta's pricey Buckhead neighborhood. It is believed to be one of the few remnants of a black community that lived in the area.

-- Edited from wire reports