Across the region

Moore's new campaign manager starts today

COLUMBIA - Democratic gubernatorial hopeful state Sen. Tommy Moore, of Clearwater, said Monday he has hired a new campaign manager to lead his bid against Republican Gov. Mark Sanford.

Chris Carpenter, 38, was to begin his new job today. Mr. Carpenter, who has been involved in campaigns with former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, graduated from high school and college in South Carolina.

"His vast campaign experience and knowledge of our state will be a great addition to an already exceptional team," Mr. Moore said in a statement.

Nothing is resolved on sex offender rules

ATLANTA - Georgia school boards and local authorities will have to wait to see how to legally deal with a new law that forbids registered sex offenders from living too close to a school bus stop.

Attorneys for both sides emerged Monday after a private meeting with U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper and said nothing had been resolved.

The law, which took effect July 1, prohibits sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of just about anywhere children gather - including schools, churches, parks, gyms and swimming pools.

Suspicious package turns out to be prop

ATLANTA - Authorities evacuated a midtown Atlanta office building for a couple of hours Monday and closed roads for several blocks after a suspicious package was found inside the building.

The package turned out to be a prop to be used in an advertisement, not a live explosive, said Atlanta Fire Department Capt. Byron Kennedy.

The all-clear call was issued at around 1 p.m., he said.

Trailer accident shuts part of Interstate 20

ATLANTA - Interstate 20 was closed in both directions for nearly five hours Monday morning and a motel and two other businesses were evacuated after a tractor-trailer overturned and spilled aviation fluid on Atlanta's western edge.

Traffic resumed on the interstate at about 10 a.m., but Fulton Industrial Boulevard - also known as Georgia Highway 70 - remained closed, Georgia Department of Transportation spokesman Mark McKinnon said.

Man gets life term for killing officer

COLUMBIA - A man who pleaded guilty to killing a Richland County jail officer was sentenced Monday to life in prison without parole.

Circuit Judge G. Thomas Cooper Jr. sentenced Terrion Warren, 31, after he pleaded guilty last week in the death of Officer Alvin S. Glenn, 59, during an attempted jail escape in September 2000.

Officer Glenn was killed while Mr. Warren awaited trial in the shooting death of Leroy Ashford, 23. He was also convicted in that case and sentenced to life in prison.

Mr. Warren did not testify during the sentencing phase of the trial and didn't make a statement in court.

MARTA makes first profit in nine years

ATLANTA - Rising sales tax revenues and a growing number of riders helped MARTA post its first operating profit in nine years.

Transit system officials on Monday reported finishing the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's 2005-06 fiscal year about $19 million in the black. When the year begin, MARTA projected a $16 million deficit.

Rap producer's party ends with 3 injured

DECATUR, GA. - At least three people were injured early Monday after shots were fired at a party thrown by rap producer Jermaine Dupri.

The shooting happened at the Atlanta Peach Ballroom in DeKalb County at the end of a series of weekend parties sponsored by Mr. Dupri's So So Def record label.

DeKalb County police said a man tried to steal another man's necklace just before the shots were fired inside the packed nightclub.

Two women who were hit by the shots were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. A third woman cut her arm in a rush to leave the club after the shooting. She went to Northside Hospital.

The shooting remained under investigation, police said.

- Edited from wire reports