Across the region

Police want to ask man about homicides

BAMBERG, S.C. - Authorities were looking for a man Monday they think might have some information about two sisters who were found dead in their Bamberg home.

Netha Barnwell, 89, and Louise Smith, 75, died Sunday afternoon after being struck in the head with a blunt object, Bamberg County Coroner Willard Duncan said. A neighbor discovered the bodies when she went to check on one of the women a few hours later, authorities said.

The State Law Enforcement Division said it wants to talk to Charlie Beard, of Bamberg. Authorities said Mr. Beard is not considered a suspect.

Men repairing roof are shocked; one is killed

SAVANNAH, GA. - One man was electrocuted and two others injured after being shocked while repairing a roof of a Tybee Island home Sunday afternoon.

The three men were moving a ladder from the side of a house when the ladder struck a live electric wire, according to Lt. William Moseley, of the Tybee Police Department.

An ambulance transported Vic Borris to Memorial Health University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Matt Loflin was taken to Memorial by helicopter. The third worker, who refused to give his name, drove himself to Memorial, Lt. Moseley said.

HIV testing soon might be part of physical

ATLANTA - Testing for the AIDS virus could become part of routine physical exams for adults and teens if doctors follow new U.S. guidelines expected to be issued by this summer.

Federal health officials say they'd like HIV testing to be as common as a cholesterol check.

The guidelines for voluntary testing would apply to every American ages 13 to 64, according to the proposed plan by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

One-quarter of the 1 million Americans with the AIDS virus don't know they are infected, and that group is most responsible for HIV's spread, CDC officials said.

DNR might change status of species

ALBANY, GA. - The robust redhorse, a mystery fish that dropped off the scientific radar screen for 121 years until it was discovered in the Oconee River near Dublin, would become a rare, rather than endangered species, under a proposed new list of Georgia's protected species.

In the first comprehensive revision of the state's protected species lineup since 1992, there are proposals to change the status of some species, such as the redhorse, a sucker fish that can grow to 17 inches and weigh 30 pounds.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources took nominations for the new list from the public and the scientific community earlier this year.

State Senate overrides Sanford's rejection

COLUMBIA - The state Senate on Monday overrode Gov. Mark Sanford's veto of a measure calling for higher fines for drivers who don't properly secure children in vehicles.

The 26-3 vote came after a brief debate in which Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Camden, questioned why Mr. Sanford would reject a bill aimed at protecting children by raising the fines for not restraining them to $150 from $25.

Mr. Sanford said the legislation intruded on parental responsibility. The governor also said he was following a promise to veto legislation that did not hold people responsible in civil lawsuits for failing to wear seat belts.

Road decision to come after funds allocation

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The state Infrastructure Bank will wait to see whether lawmakers add more to the $300 million in the bank's coffers before deciding which South Carolina highway projects will get the money.

The bank has applications for $1.1 billion in projects but has less than a third of that.

The projects being reviewed include widening a deadly stretch of U.S. Highway 17 through the Lowcountry; finishing the Mark Clark Expressway in Charleston; and completing the Carolina Bays Parkway along the Grand Strand.

Deputy accused of exposing himself

COLUMBIA - A Charleston County sheriff's deputy has been arrested and charged with three counts of indecent exposure.

William Crews, 38, would raise the blinds of his bathroom window and expose himself to his neighbor, the State Law Enforcement Division said Monday in a news release.

Deputy Crews would first knock on the window or wave a towel to get the neighbor's attention, according to arrest warrants. He was being held Monday at the Charleston County jail.

- Edited from wire reports