Across Georgia

Reed helped beat ban on internet gambling

ATLANTA - Former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed worked behind the scenes to help defeat a proposed congressional ban on online gambling five years ago.

Despite support among conservative and religious groups, Mr. Reed, now a Republican candidate for Georgia lieutenant governor, fought the proposal on behalf of an online gambling company, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Sunday.

Mr. Reed's aides said he opposed the ban because it exempted some types of online betting.

Lisa Baron, a spokesman for Mr. Reed, said he was not alone in opposing the ban. The Department of Justice strongly opposed the bill, and the Southern Baptist Convention, several anti-gambling organizations and members of Congress withdrew their support "for the same reason Ralph did."

Little Richard concert raises financial ruckus

MACON - The city is rolling out the red carpet for a free Little Richard concert next week, but who's paying the $75,000 tab is a big question.

The announcement of the free concert Friday came with little notice, straining already tense relations between Mayor Jack Ellis and the city's business establishment, some business leaders said.

Before Mr. Ellis announced the concert he asked for financial help from local businesses - including the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce.

After the announcement, four business groups said they would not chip in.

The mayor said he'll turn to local residents and businesses to pay for the show.

Sitter sentenced to life for fatally beating baby

DALTON - A baby sitter convicted of killing a 23-month-old child has been sentenced to life in prison.

Judge William Boyett sentenced Katherine Banta on Saturday in the death of Charisma Wallace.

Earlier in the day, a jury convicted Ms. Banta of felony murder, cruelty to children and making false statements. But she was found not guilty on a charge of malice murder.

Prosecutors said Ms. Banta, 47, beat Charisma, causing a head injury that led to her choking to death on her own vomit.

Authorities link series of trailer park crimes

ELLENTON - Authorities have linked the string of trailer home invasions that left five Mexican immigrants dead and six wounded with an armed robbery last month.

Javier Guzman and Juventino Leon were assaulted in their trailer Sept. 13 by three men wielding chrome pistols and baseball bats, similar to the weapons used Friday.

At least two of the men killed Friday morning in the south Georgia attacks were shot. Others were beaten with aluminum baseball bats, a weapon used in all four attacks. Police released sketches of two attackers based on descriptions from surviving victims, but no arrests had been made Sunday.